GB844992A - Improvements in and relating to devices for raising and lowering spare wheels of vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

844,992. Spare wheel carriers. TATRA NARODNI PODNIK; Dec. 10, 1958 [Jan. 27, 1958], No. 39897/58. Class 136(1). A device for raising and lowering the spare wheel of a vehicle comprises a supporting arm 1 having one end pivotally mounted in a bearing member 3 and the other end arranged to receive a vehicle spare wheel 6, a catch 24 being, provided to co-operate with a securing lever 9 when the supporting arm 1 is in the raised position, and a pneumatic cylinder 14 and piston 17, the piston 17 being connected by a rocker arm 18 to a pull rod 16 and the rod 16 being connected to a toggle linkage 20, 22 one end of which is pivoted at 21 to the arm 1, the arrangement being such that movement of the piston 17 operates the toggle linkage 20, 22 to raise or lower the supporting arm 1. As shown in Fig. 2, two oppositely directed wheel supporting arms 1, 15 are provided and the toggle linkage 20, 22 is pivoted at each end to one of the supporting arms. The wheels 6, 10 are supported on tiltable members 5 each carrying two longitudinally extending arms 8 between which is pivoted a suspension arm 31 carrying the catch 9. The locking position of each arm 1, 15 when not loaded with spare wheels, is secured by a strut 25 pivoted at one end to a bearing 26 and secured at its other end by a hook 29 To lower one of the spare wheels the appropriate securing lever 9 is released and the lever 12 of an overflow air valve 13 is partly turned, compressed air is thus caused to escape from the air cylinder 14 and, at the same time the air inlet from an air reservoir (not shown) is closed. The arm 1 or 15 and its' spare wheel 6 or 10 are thus free to drop under their own weight pulling the rod 16 down, the piston 17 being pushed up through the medium of the rocker arm 18. To raise the spare wheels the outlet of compressed air from the air cylinder 14 is closed by means of the lever 12 and compressed air from the reservoir is admitted into the cylinder 14. This pushes the piston 17 down and the pull rod 16 moves up through the medium of the rocker arm 18, whereby either strut 20 or 22 abuts against a firm pin 21 and the other strut which is stationary pushes the arm 15 or 1 up together with the spare wheel 10 or 6 to its upper position where it is locked by means of the lever 9.