GB1054453A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,054,453. Vehicle suspensions. DELATTRELEVIVIER. April 9, 1964 [April 10, 1963], No. 14664/64. Heading B7D. A self-propelled or trailer vehicle and an auxiliary wheel set for attachment to the rear of the vehicle include equalizing means for distributing the load of the vehicle over the existing tandem wheels 26 and the auxiliary wheels 28, the equalizing means automatically coming into action simultaneously with means coupling the auxiliary wheel set to the vehicle. To attach the auxiliary wheels to the vehicle, pins 23 on the frame of auxiliary set are engaged by hooks 22 on screw jacks 20 connected to the vehicle by universal joints 21 and actuated by crank handles 24 to draw ogival studs 11 on a front frame member 8 of the auxiliary set C into frusto-conical holes 14 in a rear frame member 3 of the vehicle. The studs 11 are secured in the holes 14 when fully home by engagement with grooves 13 therein of reduced portions of apertures in locking plates 15 lowered by a hook inserted in a hole therein. Pushrods 41, 42 slidable in bearings 43, 44 engage one another simultaneously with engagement of the studs 11 in the holes 14 to equalize the loads exerted on the wheels 26 and auxiliary wheels 28 through levers 33, 34 held in contact with the pushrods by springs 45, 46. The pushrods 41 may comprise telescopic elements (Fig. 13, not shown) carrying support plates for coil or pneumatic springs or defining oil chambers connected by flexible piping oleo-pneumatic chambers. The wheels 26, 28 are arranged four-in-line on short axles pivotally connected to swing bars 27, 30 carried by the levers 33, 34. A cross-member (Fig. 10, not shown) for attachment to the rear of the vehicle to form an abutment for the pushrods 41 when the auxiliary wheel set is not in use includes an inclined portion acting as a continuation of a loading ramp, and forks for attachment of supporting struts. The rear wheels of the vehicle and the wheels of the auxiliary set are stated to be steerable by means not shown. In another embodiment the wheels of the auxiliary set are carried by a single axle.