GB792982A - Improvements in or relating to driving and steering mechanism for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

792,982. Motor vehicle driving and steering gear. LEVERSTART, Ltd., and SWEET, C. W. July 25, 1955 [Aug. 3, 1954], No. 22553/54. Classes 79(2) and 79(5) In a vehicle a unit comprising the mounting of two driving wheels 15, a part of the driving mechanism therefor and a part of the steering mechanism for rotating the mounting about an upright axis, is arranged to rock about a fore and aft axis on the vehicle against resilient restraint, the input shaft 34 of the driving mechanism part is arranged coaxial with the axis and the steering mechanism embodies a flexible drive to permit the rocking movement. As shown the wheels 15 are carried by half-shafts 14 rotatably mounted at 13 in a housing 10 and at 16 in a differential gear carrier 17, the shafts 14 being connected by the differential gear 18 to an upright shaft 23 carried by bearings 24 in a casing 25 bolted at 26 to the housing 10. The shaft 23 and, hence, the wheels 15 are driven through bevel gearing 27, 35 through the shaft 34 which is supported by a bearing 33 in a hollow trunnion 32 secured to a casing 29 supported by a thrust bearing 30 on the housing 10. The casing 29 also carries a plate 43 carrying a bearing for the upright shaft 23 and a trunnion 31 coaxial with the trunnion 32. The fore and aft trunnions 31, 32 are journalled at 40 in transverse frame members 42 and a cross member 44 secured to the plate 43 is connected at its end to longitudinal frame members 45 by springs 46. The wheels 15 are steered about the axis of the shaft 23 by the casing 25 being formed with a wormwheel 39 engaged by a worm 38 on a shaft 37 supported in bearings in the casing 29, the shaft 37 being rotated through a chain and sprocket drive (not shown) comprising the flexible drive. The invention is stated to be applied to a fork lift truck.