GB728123A - Improvements in and relating to multiple axle drives of motor road vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

728,123. Vehicle driving gear. SCAMMELL LORRIES, Ltd. Sept. 19, 1951 [Sept. 20, 1950], No. 23070/50. Classes 79(2) and 79(4). [Also in Group XXXII] In a motor vehicle having a pair of axles arranged one in front of the other the drive is transmitted to the axles through separate propeller shafts from a transposing gear box, universal joints are fitted to the ends of the propeller shafts and each axle is located by a torque member, one end of which is secured to the axle casing and the other end of which is pivoted to the vehicle frame midway between the universal joints of the appropriate propeller shaft, whereby the angles of the universal joints remain substantially equal at all times irrespective of the vertical movements of the axles. As shown a shaft 3 driven through the usual change-speed gear box 2 drives the transposing gear box 4, which may provide a two speed gear. The gear box 4 drives the rear driven axle through a two-part propeller shaft 5, 5a and drives the front driven axle through the propeller shaft 6, the axles being of the solid beam type and driven by bevel gears. The shaft parts 5, 5a are provided with universal joints 12, 13, 14, the middle one being supported in a housing 15 secured to a transverse frame member. The axles are secured in the fore and aft direction by torque arms 18 of triangular shape, the arms being bolted to the axle casings 9, 10 and having a ball-jointed connection with transverse frame nembers. The axles are mounted on the ends of leaf springs 29 (see Group XXXII) pivoted to the frame, the axles being located in the transverse direction by ball-jointed connections with panhard rods 23 similarly connected to the frame.