ES362986A1 - Self-steering axle for load carrying vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A self-steering axle for a lorry, van, articulated vehicle or trailer comprises steel axles 5 which each have associated therewith means defining king-pin axes disposed both forwardly and rearwardly of the stub axles, and means for fixing the position of the forward or rearward axes as the vehicle is driven forwardly or rearwardly respectively so that wheels on the stub axles will self-steer about the appropriate axes as the vehicle turns. The stub axles 5 are carried by respective end links 4, each connected by pivot pins 10 to a pair of bars 8, 9 which are connected by a common pivot pin 7 to the respective forked end 6 of an axle beam 1 for mounting transversely of the vehicle. Projecting portions 8c, 9c of the bars 8, 9 are connected by pivot means 11 to respective transverse link rods 2, 3. Locking means 12, 13 are provided for preventing movement of either the rod 2 or the rod 3 relative to the beam 1 so that the position of either the foremost or rearmost pair of pivot pins 10 is fixed to define king-pin axes about which the end links 4 can swivel. In order that the free ends of the end links 4 and the associated ends of the corresponding arms 8 or 9 connected thereto may move along different arcs centred on the fixed pivot pins 10 and the pivot pins 7 respectively, each pivot pin 10 has two eccentrically disposed portions, one of which can rotate in the end link 4 and the other in the associated bar 8 or 9. Actuation of the locking means 12, 13 may be controlled manually or may be effected automatically upon selection of forward or reverse gear. The axle may be converted to power operation by providing hydraulic or pneumatic power means which turns the stub axles about the pivot pins appropriate to the direction of travel in dependence on rotation of the steering wheel of the vehicle or on relative rotation of the sections of an articulated vehicle.