GB655996A - Improvements in axle mountings of trailers and other vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

655,996. Vehicle undercarriages. RUBBER BY-PRODUCTS (WARWICKSHIRE). Ltd. Dec. 15, 1948. No. 32405. [Class 108(ii)] A vehicle axle comprises a shaft rotatably mounted at an obtuse angle to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, the shaft having oppositely directed crank arms fixed to its ends, the crank arms being parallel and each carrying a stub-axle so that the stub-axles are in line. The shaft may be carried by the vehicle frame or by one member of a turntable. Normal spring- ing may be provided, or the shaft may be designed to act as a torsion spring. Figs. 3 and 5 show the invention applied to a trailer having a turntable; the lower member 16 of the turntable has secured thereto a channel member 18, which carries bearing 19 at each end for the shaft 20. The bearings may be rubber bushed. The shaft 20 has welded to its ends oppositely directed crank arms 29 each carrying a stub axle 27. As shown in Fig. 5, an obstacle of height 31 encountered by one wheel lowers the other wheel relative to the vehicle, whereby the vehicle is raised by a height 32 only half the height of the obstacle. Rotary movement of the shaft 20 is limited by a diametrical projection 23 with rubber buffers 24. The central portion of shaft 20' may be reduced in section to act as a torsion spring Fig. 7, illustrates how the invention may be applied to the rear wheels 38 of a trailer whose front wheels 37 are steered by lateral movements of the pivoted draw bar 33.