Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D55/00—Endless track vehicles
  • B62D55/08—Endless track units; Parts thereof
  • B62D55/104—Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames
  • B62D55/108—Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames with mechanical springs, e.g. torsion bars
  • B62D55/1083—Torsion-bar springs
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B35/00—Axle units; Parts thereof ; Arrangements for lubrication of axles
  • B60B35/02—Dead axles, i.e. not transmitting torque
  • B60B35/08—Dead axles, i.e. not transmitting torque of closed hollow section
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B35/00—Axle units; Parts thereof ; Arrangements for lubrication of axles
  • B60B35/02—Dead axles, i.e. not transmitting torque
  • B60B35/10—Dead axles, i.e. not transmitting torque adjustable for varying track
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G11/00—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs
  • B60G11/18—Resilient suspensions characterised by arrangement, location or kind of springs having torsion-bar springs only
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G3/00—Resilient suspensions for a single wheel
  • B60G3/02—Resilient suspensions for a single wheel with a single pivoted arm
  • B60G3/12—Resilient suspensions for a single wheel with a single pivoted arm the arm being essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle
  • B60G3/14—Resilient suspensions for a single wheel with a single pivoted arm the arm being essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle the arm being rigid
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G3/00—Resilient suspensions for a single wheel
  • B60G3/02—Resilient suspensions for a single wheel with a single pivoted arm
  • B60G3/12—Resilient suspensions for a single wheel with a single pivoted arm the arm being essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle
  • B60G3/14—Resilient suspensions for a single wheel with a single pivoted arm the arm being essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle the arm being rigid
  • B60G3/145—Resilient suspensions for a single wheel with a single pivoted arm the arm being essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle the arm being rigid the arm forming the axle housing
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G7/00—Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof
  • B60G7/001—Suspension arms, e.g. constructional features
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D55/00—Endless track vehicles
  • B62D55/08—Endless track units; Parts thereof
  • B62D55/14—Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers
  • B62D55/15—Mounting devices, e.g. bushings, axles, bearings, sealings
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
  • F16F1/00—Springs
  • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
  • F16F1/14—Torsion springs consisting of bars or tubes
  • F16F1/16—Attachments or mountings
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60B—VEHICLE WHEELS; CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
  • B60B35/00—Axle units; Parts thereof ; Arrangements for lubrication of axles
  • B60B35/02—Dead axles, i.e. not transmitting torque
  • B60B35/025—Dead axles, i.e. not transmitting torque the wheels being removable
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2200/00—Indexing codes relating to suspension types
  • B60G2200/10—Independent suspensions
  • B60G2200/13—Independent suspensions with longitudinal arms only
  • B60G2200/132—Independent suspensions with longitudinal arms only with a single trailing arm
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2200/00—Indexing codes relating to suspension types
  • B60G2200/40—Indexing codes relating to the wheels in the suspensions
  • B60G2200/46—Indexing codes relating to the wheels in the suspensions camber angle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2200/00—Indexing codes relating to suspension types
  • B60G2200/40—Indexing codes relating to the wheels in the suspensions
  • B60G2200/462—Toe-in/out
  • B60G2200/4622—Alignment adjustment
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2200/00—Indexing codes relating to suspension types
  • B60G2200/40—Indexing codes relating to the wheels in the suspensions
  • B60G2200/464—Caster angle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2202/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of spring, damper or actuator
  • B60G2202/10—Type of spring
  • B60G2202/13—Torsion spring
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
  • B60G2204/61—Adjustable during maintenance
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2206/00—Indexing codes related to the manufacturing of suspensions: constructional features, the materials used, procedures or tools
  • B60G2206/01—Constructional features of suspension elements, e.g. arms, dampers, springs
  • B60G2206/10—Constructional features of arms
  • B60G2206/11—Constructional features of arms the arm being a radius or track or torque or steering rod or stabiliser end link
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2300/00—Indexing codes relating to the type of vehicle
  • B60G2300/32—Track vehicles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
  • B62D55/00—Endless track vehicles
  • B62D55/08—Endless track units; Parts thereof
  • B62D55/104—Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames
  • B62D55/108—Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames with mechanical springs, e.g. torsion bars
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
  • F16F1/00—Springs
  • F16F1/02—Springs made of steel or other material having low internal friction; Wound, torsion, leaf, cup, ring or the like springs, the material of the spring not being relevant
  • F16F1/14—Torsion springs consisting of bars or tubes

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a road wheel arm.
• the present invention relates to an adjustable road wheel arm for use with tracked vehicles.
• Tracked vehicles use endless tracks rather than tyres to contact terrain over which they are driven.
• the endless tracks are configured to travel over a drive sprocket, a plurality of road wheels and a tensioning wheel, and have an external surface that comes in to contact with the terrain and an internal surface that comes in to contact with the drive sprocket, road wheels and tensioning wheel.
• Many tracks will also feature a plurality of guide horns that project from the internal surface and locate within guide slots provided in the drive sprocket, road wheels and tensioning wheel in order to guide the track during movement of the vehicle.
• Road wheels are attached with respect to the vehicle via road wheel arms, where the road wheel arms are typically formed as a unitary body comprising a spindle providing a support surface for accommodating a hub on which a road wheel is mounted and rotates with respect thereto.
• the road wheel arms are pivotally connected with respect to the vehicle via a torsion spring and bearing arrangement.
• the road wheel arm is also configured to accommodate a damping arrangement, such as a hydropneumatic damper extending between the road wheel arm and the vehicle.
• the external surface of the track will often be configured to accommodate track pads that are replaced as they are worn out. If the camber or toe of the road wheel results in a misalignment with the track, uneven and/or undesirable wear of the track pads and/or guide horns may occur. This misalignment may occur for a number of reasons, including poor vehicle manufacturing tolerancing, and the road wheel arm flexing in response to variances in the weight of the vehicle.
• Tracked vehicles may also be able to be equipped with a variety of different track types, where the dimensions vary between tracks, for example the thickness of the track between the external and internal surface. This variation in thickness may result in an undesirable variation of the position of the road wheel and road wheel arm with respect to the vehicle. This may also result in an undesirable variation in the ride height of the vehicle.
• a road wheel arm assembly for supporting a road wheel for a tracked vehicle, comprising a road wheel arm comprising a first end configured to pivotally rotate with respect to the vehicle around a first axis, and a second end configured to accommodate a removable spindle, and a removable spindle configured to rotatably support the road wheel, comprising a spindle shaft having a shaft axis that defines the axis of rotation for the road wheel.
• the second end of the road wheel arm comprises a spindle receiver having a receiver axis, wherein the spindle receiver is configured to receive the spindle.
• the spindle further comprises a base having a base axis and being configured to be received by the spindle receiver, such that the base axis and receiver axis are coincident, and wherein the spindle shaft extends from the base in a first direction.
• the spindle further comprises a locating projection extending from the base in a second direction, wherein the spindle receiver and locating projection comprise complimentary surfaces, such that when the spindle is received by the spindle receiver, the spindle is prevented from rotating with respect to the road wheel arm.
• the shaft axis and the base axis are non-coincident so as to adjust any one or a combination of camber, caster or toe of the road wheel.
• the locating projection comprises a triangular cross-sectional shape.
• the locating projection comprises a cross-sectional shape of a curvilinear triangle.
• the locating projection comprises a cross-sectional shape of a Reuleaux triangle.
• a road wheel arm assembly for supporting a road wheel for a tracked vehicle, comprising a road wheel arm comprising a first end configured to pivotally rotate with respect to the vehicle around a first axis, and a second end configured to accommodate either of at least two interchangeable spindles, each spindle configured to rotatably support the road wheel, and comprising a spindle shaft having a shaft axis that defines the axis of rotation for the road wheel.
• the second end of the road wheel arm comprises a spindle receiver having a receiver axis, wherein the spindle receiver is configured to receive either of the at least two interchangeable spindles.
• each spindle further comprises a base having a base axis and being configured to be received by the spindle receiver, such that the base axis and the receiver are coincident, and wherein the spindle shaft extends from the base in a first direction.
• each spindle further comprises a locating projection extending from the base in a second direction, wherein the spindle receiver and locating projection comprise complimentary surfaces, such that when either spindle is received by the spindle receiver, the spindle is prevented from rotating with respect to the road wheel arm.
• the shaft axis and the base axis of the first spindle are coincident, such that the shaft axis is coincident with the receiver axis, and wherein the shaft axis and the base axis of a second spindle are non-coincident, such that the shaft axis is non-coincident with the receiver axis, so as to adjust any one or a combination of camber, caster or toe of the road wheel.
• the vehicle may be configured in at least two alternate configurations, wherein the first spindle may be used with the vehicle is in a first configuration and the second spindle may be used when the vehicle is in a second configuration.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a road wheel arm assembly, according to an embodiment
• Figure 2 is a front exploded view of the road wheel arm assembly of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a rear exploded view of the road wheel arm assembly of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a top view of the road wheel arm assembly of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 5 is a side view of the road wheel arm assembly of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 6 is a front view of the road wheel arm assembly of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 7 is a top view of a road wheel arm assembly, according to an alternate embodiment
• Figure 8 is a side view of the road wheel arm assembly of Figure 7 ;
• Figure 9 is a front view of the road wheel arm assembly of Figure 7.
• a road wheel arm assembly 1 comprising a road wheel arm 100 and a number of interchangeable spindles 200, 300 being configurable to adjust the camber, toe or caster angle, or any combination thereof, of a road wheel carried by the spindles 200, 300.
• the road wheel arm 100 also known as a swing arm, has a first end 101 configured to pivotally connect with respect to the vehicle via a torsion sleeve 110.
• the torsion sleeve 110 is configured to be accepted by a bearing arrangement (not shown) provided on the vehicle, providing support for pivotal motion of the road wheel arm 100 around a first axis 103 with respect to the vehicle.
• the torsion sleeve 110 is further configured to accommodate a first end of a torsion bar (not shown), wherein a second end of the torsion bar is connected with respect to the vehicle, the purpose of the torsion bar being to act as a spring, forcing the road wheel arm 100 toward the vehicle track, so that the vehicle track maintains contact with the terrain.
• the road wheel arm 100 is also configured to connect to the vehicle via a damping arrangement, such as a hydropneumatic damper (not shown) acting between an intermediate portion 120 of the road wheel arm 100 and the vehicle.
• a damping arrangement such as a hydropneumatic damper (not shown) acting between an intermediate portion 120 of the road wheel arm 100 and the vehicle.
• the second end 102 of the road wheel arm 100 comprises a spindle receiver 130 having a second axis 133, configured to removably accommodate the interchangeable spindle 200 in such a manner that the spindle 200 is prevented from rotating with respect to the road wheel arm 100.
• the spindle receiver 130 and spindle 200 comprise complimentary features that allow for the spindle 200 to correctly locate with respect to the road wheel arm 100 (the importance of which will be detailed below).
• the spindle 200 comprises a circular base section 201 having a base axis 202, from which a spindle shaft 203 extends in a first direction, where the spindle shaft 203 provides a support surface for accommodating a hub on which a road wheel is mounted and rotates with respect thereto.
• the orientation of the spindle shaft 203 defines a shaft axis 204 around which the road wheel rotates.
• the spindle receiver 130 comprises a circular socket 132 located around the receiver axis 133, in which a portion of the base 201 of the spindle 200 is received, where it will be appreciated that the base and receiver axes 202, 133 are coincident.
• the spindle 200 also comprises a locating projection 205 extending in a second direction from the base 201, the locating projection 205 has an approximately triangular section configured to extend through a complimentarily shaped through hole 131 provided by the spindle receiver 130.
• the spindle 200 is inserted into the spindle receiver 130, by correctly orienting the locating projection 205 with respect to the through hole 131.
• a spindle may be secured to the road wheel arm via a bolt (not shown) received in a threaded bolt hole 206 in the locating projection 205, which bears against the road wheel arm 100 when tightened.
• the road wheel arm assembly 1 is configured to adjust camber, toe or caster, or any combination thereof, of the road wheel supported by the spindle 200. This is achieved by providing a number of different interchangeable spindles with varying axes of alignment.
• a road wheel arm assembly 2 is shown with an alternate spindle 300.lt can be seen that in this example the shaft axis 304 is parallel with, but separated by a predefined distance from the base axis 302. In this particular configmation, it will be appreciated that this separation of axes represents an adjustment to the caster of the road wheel arm assembly 1, effectively allowing for an adjustment in the effective length of the road wheel arm 100.
• a spindle may be configured to adjust any one or a combination of caster, camber or toe of the road wheel.
• the approximately triangular shape of the locating projection and through hole 205, 131 of the spindle 200 and road wheel arm 100 assists in correctly orienting the spindle 200 with respect to the road wheel arm 100, with the shape assisting in the transferring of forces from the spindle to the road wheel arm, while also preventing rotation of the spindle 200 with respect to the road wheel arm 100. While it will be appreciated that the approximately triangular shape allows the spindle 200 to be inserted in three possible orientations with respect to the road wheel arm 100, alignment markings (not shown) provided on both the road wheel arm 100 and spindle 200 will ensure that correct orientation is achieved.
• the cross-sectional shape of the locating projection 205 may also be referred to as a curvilinear triangle or a Reuleaux triangle, where, it will be appreciated, that unlike a circle, this shape prevents rotation of the locating projection 205 relative to the through hole 131, while load is still equally distributed on all three sides without having corners providing stress concentration points.
• the vehicle may have a typical or default configmation (such as a typical or default weight or weight range and a typical or default track thickness or thickness range) and that when in this configmation, the base and receiver axes correspond to the correct or desired axis of rotation for the road wheel. Accordingly, a default spindle may be used where the base and shaft axes me coincident. It will further be appreciated that when variations me made to the vehicle configmation, that various alternate spindles may be used, having non-coincident base and shaft axes configured to maintain the correct or desired axis of rotation for the road wheel.
• the road wheel arm assembly 1 may be used on a vehicle platform that may have a variety of configurations, such that in one configuration the vehicle may have a default weight of approximately 35 tonnes, and then in another configuration the vehicle may weigh approximately 50 tonnes. It will be appreciated that this additional weight may cause the road wheel arms to elastically deform or flex in such a way that the orientation of the second end of the road wheel arm varies from the correct or desired axis of rotation. In order to accommodate this change in orientation, each spindle can be swapped out for one that provides the correct or desired axis of rotation for the road wheel.
• the road wheel arm assembly 1 may be used on a vehicle platform that may be equipped with a variety of different track types, where the dimensions vary between tracks, for example, the thickness of the track between the external and internal surface. This change in track thickness may result in an undesirable variation in the ride height of the vehicle.
• each spindle can be swapped out for one that provides a change in caster, thereby providing the correct or desired ride height for the vehicle.
• a single embodiment may, for succinctness and/or to assist in understanding the scope of the disclosure, combine multiple features. It is to be understood that in such a case, these multiple features may be provided separately (in separate embodiments), or in any other suitable combination. Alternatively, where separate features are described in separate embodiments, these separate features may be combined into a single embodiment unless otherwise stated or implied. This also applies to the claims which can be recombined in any combination. That is a claim may be amended to include a feature defined in any other claim. Further a phrase referring to “at least one of’ a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover: a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=86538426

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Family Cites Families (9)

• 2022
  • 2022-11-23 EP EP22896868.1A patent/EP4436788A4/de active Pending
  • 2022-11-23 WO PCT/AU2022/051401 patent/WO2023092176A1/en not_active Ceased

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