GB851944A - A power driven steerable wheel assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

851,944. Driving steering-wheels of motor vehicles. PITTSBURGH CONSOLIDATION COAL CO. Feb. 14, 1958 [Feb. 26, 1957], No. 4879/58. Classes 79(2), 79(3), 79(4) and 79(5). Power driven steerable wheel assemblies 58 Fig. 5 are attached to the sides of a vehicle frame 46 by a bracket 50 having a pivot 84 for the spindle carrier 98 and having an inwardly open circular recess 74 in which the differential drive unit 32 is located. The bracket 50 has vertical flanges 68 Fig. 6 for attachment by bolts 72 to corresponding flanged supports 52 on the vehicle frame 46. The differential 32 is attached in the recess 74, outside the frame 46, by bolts 172 and is held against rotation by pins 174, the bracket 46 and support 52 being cut away at 88, 90 for the longitudinal power input shaft receiving portion 150. The frame 46 and bracket wall 66 are cut away as at 86 for the differential output shafts 168, 170 one of which is coupled by a shaft 42 Fig. 1 to the wheel on the opposite side. The other output shaft 170 is coupled by universal joint 60 to a small driving pinion 62 carried on bearings 134, 136 in a spindle bracket cover 94 and engaging a large pinion 64 on an inwardly extending wheel hub 126 which runs on bearings 128, on the spindle carrier 98. In one application the wheel assemblies are attached to the sides of a mine haulage vehicle having an electric motor 14 Fig. 2 mounted longitudinally on one side and coupled by a shaft 18 to a change speed gear 16 disposed on one side between the wheels and having a pair of forwardly and rearwardly extending output shafts 28, 30 driven from a differential 26 and coupled to the differentials 32 at each axle. The differentials 32 Fig. 4 are interchangeable with shaft couplings 44 so that they be attached on alternative sides of the vehicle and have cylindrical side walls 142, 144 of the same size so that they may be attached to the brackets 50 on either side and may be turned over to reverse the drive. A power take-off shaft 20 extends rearwardly from the gear box 16 and is coupled through a clutch 24 to a conveyor drive mechanism 22. In a modification (not shown) the brackets 50 may be attached to opposite ends of an equaliser axle with a central pivotal mounting. The ends of the axle are the same shape as the frame supports 52 so that the wheel assemblies 38, differentials 32 or shaft couplings 44 are interchangeable.