USRE21685E - Steerable vehicle truck - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 7, A. RQNNlNG STEERABLE VEHICLE TRUCK 5. 193s 2 sheets-sheet 1 Original Fil sd Dec.

ATTORNEY A. RONNING STEERABLE VEHICLE TRUCK Jui. 11,941.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y I Original Filed Dec.

INVENTOR 4004 PH @GNN/N6 ATTORNEY Patents Nos.

Ressued Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE rial No. 244,019, December 5, 1938.

Application for reissue August 23, 1940, Serial No.

23 Claims.

This invention relates to steerable supporting units or trucks for Wheeled vehicles, particularly of the self-propelled type, and the primary object is to provide a novel, efficient, and practical means for mounting a pair of closely spaced wheels so that they will steer about a common or central vertical axis but yet have freedom for relatively vertical or up and down movement to equalize load stresses to the two wheels, and whereby such equalizng or differential action will greatly facilitate the steering action particularly when the vehicle is traveling and making turns on uneven ground surfaces.

The original application, Serial No. 244,019, upon which this reissue is based, is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 219,369, i'lled July 15, 1938, and for a disclosure .of other forms and modifications oi' generally similar constructions attention is directed to my 2,208,599; 2,208,600; 2,209,093; 2,209,094; and 2,209,095, all issued on July 23, 1940. to my Patent No, 2,222,857 issued on November 26, 1940; and to my Patents Nos. 2,217,816, 31,217,817 and 2,217,818, issued on October 15, 1940; and to my copendingl applications Serial No. 259,361, filed March 2, 1939; Serial No. 311,330, flied December 28, 1939; Serial No. 330,344, filed April 18, 1940; and Serial No. 332,763, filed May 1, 1940.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present inventive concept- Fig, 1 is a side elevation of the fore part of a tractor 'illustrating the application of my improved steering truck.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the tractor as shown in Fig. l, and with a part of the steering mechanism in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front end elevation of the housing used in mounting the wheels, butwith the wheels removed from the extended stub shafts.

Fig, 4 is a side elevation of the housing with one side section removed to expose the differential mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a cross section through the housing and enclosed parts, as on line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section through a modified form of the device.

Fig` 'I is a horizontal section on line 1-1 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 illustrates a tandem arrangement of tractors in which the steerable truck of the rear tractor is attached to the draw bar of the forward tractor in such a manner that the tractors may (ci. 28o- 87) trail and be guided one behind the other and without interfering with the vertical action of the truck wheels so guided.

The structure illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, and applied in Fig. 8, is identical with subject matter illustrated but divided out from my aforesaid application Serial No, 219,369, and to that extent the present application is considered as a continuation in part from said other application.

Referring to the drawings more particularly and by reference characters, A designates the frame of a tractor in the front end of which is secured a vertical bearing B in which is journaled a steering post C. At its rear the tractor is provided with the usual transversely spaced traction wheels D, as shown at the right in Fig. 8, which not only support the rear end but also impart the necessary lateral stability. As shown in Fig. 2, the upper end of post C has a worm gear E, operated by worm F on shaft G, and which shaft is in turn rotated by hand wheel H (Figs. 1 and 8) manipulated by the tractor operator on seat I, When the tractors are operated in tandem ,arrangement the steering-wheel H of the rear tractor is not used. In this case a draft link 9 connects the steerable truck of the rear ,tractor to the draw bar J of the front tractor so that the forward or angular position of the front tractor will guide such truck to steer the rear tractor, and in this case it may further be noted that the worm drive E-F is so pitched that the teeth will not lock but will be free to rotate in response to the steering action imparted by the connecting link 9. Referring now to Figs. 1-5, it will be seen that the bearing sleeve B is supported on the neck I0 of a housing I I made up of two complemental sections rigidly secured together by bolts I2. The neck portion I0 is rigidly secured to the lower end of the post so as to turn with it about the post axis.

The ground wheels K, preferably of the pneumatic tire type, are closely spaced inasmuch as they are not designed to give lateral stability to the tractor and also because it is desirable to have them travel between crop rows when vthe tractor is to be used for row crop Work, These wheels Aare mounted on spindles I3, extending rigidly from the rear ends of crank arms I 4 and I5, disposed at opposite sides of the housing I I and provided rat their forward ends with stub shafts I6 and Il, respectively, which extend coaxially into the housing and are journaled in anti-friction bearings I8 'I'he spindles I3 are slightly sloped outwardly, as shown inFig. 3, to give the desired camber to the wheels, as indicated in Fig.

2. It should be noted, however, that any relative up and down movement of the wheels and cranks, about the axes of stub shafts I6-I1, will not disturb either the fixed camber angle of the wheels or their relative angle with respect to the steering post, nor will they produce any relatively transverse motion as between the wheels that would result in transverse frictional ground contact. It should also be noted that while the housing II projects forwardly from neck I0, the cranks I 4-I 5 both extend rearwardly, with a result that the axes of the wheels K operate directly opposite the post C and in the vertical transverse plane thereof, and consequently their positions or points of ground contact will in no way resist the steering or wheel angling eort.

The inner ends of the stub shafts IB-II are rigidly splined, as shown in Fig. 5, in bevel gear segments I8 and I9, respectively, and the gear sectors are operatively connected through an intermeshing, intermediate bevel gear pinion 20. This pinion has an integral stub extension 2| which journals in a bore 22 of the housing,y The member 20-2I may be convenientlyv provided with a duct 23A by which oil contained in housing II may be conducted to the gearing bore 22 to lubricate the same.

It will be understood that as the weight of the front end of the tractor is imposed on the housing Ill-II it will be transmitted to the wheels K through the gears I9-20, shafts IG-I'I, cranks I4-I5, and spindles I3, all of which will remain relatively stationary when traveling over level terrain. When uneven ground surface is encountered, however, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, then the pinion 20 will differentially function to permit the wheels to assume relative vertical positions, one gear (I8 or I9) and its associated crank (I4 or I5) being free to oscillate upwardly while the other moves correspondingly downwardly, while at the same time continuing to distribute the applied tractor weight evenly to both wheels.

'I'here is, of course, a limit to the relative vertical movements of the wheels, and to eliminate objectionable Jars or'destructive contacts whenl .such movement limits are reached, I provide shock absorber or bumper in the form of springs 24 (Figs. 4 and 5). Each of these springs is anchored at its middle, as at 25, to the front wall of the housing Il, and its upper and lower ends extend resiliently forward to contact the respective upper and lower ends of the adjacent gear segment and thereby yieldingly restrain forward movement thereof as the ground wheels approach their maximum limits of vertical movement.

It may here further be noted that the splining of the shafts I6 and I1 in the respective gear segments is such that by removing nuts 26, after housing I I has been opened, the segments can be removed and resecured on the shafts in selectively rotated positions, with a result that the composite :or normal working angles of cranks I4I5 may.

be adjusted when necessary. 'I'his adjustment is also of course operative to regulate the elevation of the tractor with respect to both of the wheel spindles I3.

In the embodiment of the invention as exemplied by Figs. 6, '7, and 8, the gear case or housing 21 is of more elongated form than that illustrated in Figs. 1-4 and has a.v neck 2l fixed to the lower end of post C by pin 23. The casing is preferably of solid or integral construction throughout except for a bottom opening shown as closed by a cover plate 21a, secured by bolts 3|. In this instance the wheel carrying assemblies include cranks 3| and 32, which support the Wheel spindles I3, and exten-d forwardly and rearwardly, respectively, from the hinge acting stub shafts 33 and 34 that are journaled in opposite, fore and aft ends of the housing, so that, as before, the axes of the wheels will be disposed centrally or in the transverse vertical plane of the steering post C.

Non-rotatably secured on the shafts 33, 34, and within the housing, is a pair of spur gear segments 35, connected by an intermediate, intermeshing spur gear 36 which, it will be seen, has the same compensating action or differential function as that described in connection with the pinion 2li of Figs. 1-5. It may be noted that while the intermediate member 36 has been shown as a full gear, the extreme upper end lower teeth thereof (as seen in Fig. 6) at no time engage the segments 35, and the gear portion which does connect the segments 35 does so in the capacity and with the full effect of a rocker or lever, which lever is fulcrumed on the central pin that extends through it and is anchored in the side walls of the longitudinally extending housing 21.

It will be noted that the housing closure plate 21a is provided with a pair of depending lugs 3l adapted to receive bolts 38 which rigidly secure to the plate a forwardly extending b ar 39. The rear end of draft bar 3 is pivoted to this bar 39, as at 40, so that the draftbar can swing vertically but when swung to either side will turn the housing 2l with it to thereby steer the ground wheels K when the tractors are connected in tanl dem as shown in Fig. 8. The forward end of the draft bar 9 is universallyconnected, as at 4I, to the draw bar J of the tractor so as to provide for 4the necessary flexibility of movement at this point.

It may be mentioned that in the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 8 the rear vehicle would not necessarily have to be a tractor as a steerable truck embodying my improved features could as well be applied to any kind of drawn vehicle or 4 wheeled implement.

Referring back to-Figs. 3 and 4, it will be seen that I have there also provided means in the form of a depending flange Ila, by which a similar trailer attachment might be connected with to i apply draft power directly to the steerable truck in that case.

It is understood that suitable modifications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit an-d i scope of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a vehicle, a steerable truck supporting e one end thereof and comprising a pair of wheel supported cranks mounted for vertical oscillating movements about transverse centers in vertical planes, and for steerable movements about a common vertical axis the transverse plane of e which is substantially coincident with a vertical planethrough the axes of the wheels, and gear means differentially connecting the cranks causing them to oscillate in opposite vertical directions. 7

2. A steerable vehicle supporting truck comprising a member mounted for oscillation about a generally vertical axis to effect steering, a pair of cranks journaled in the member for simultaneous movement ltherewith about said axis, ground 7 wheels rotatably secured .to said cranks. and gear means din'erentially connecting the journaled i ends of the cranks and operative to cause opposite up and down movements thereof and to cause the imposed vehicle weight to be transmitted lengthwise through the cranks and equally distributed to the wheels when and as the truck travels overirregular ground surfaces.

3. A steerable vehicle supporting truck comprising a member mounted for oscillation about a generally vertical axis to effect steering, a pair of cranks journaled in the member for simultaneous movement therewith about said axis, ground wheels rotatably secured to said cranks, gear members connected with 4the respective cranks, and an intermediate gea-r differentially connecting said gear members.

4. In a steering truck for vehicles, a mounting member rotatable about an upright axis, wheel supported members secured to the mounting member, one at each side thereof, for oscillating movements, and a gear train differentially connecting said wheel supported members.

5. In a steering truck for vehicles, a mounting member rotatable about an upright axis, a pair of wheel supported cranks carried at opposite sides of the member for oscillation about respective axes spaced with respect to each other, a pair of gear segmentsconnected one with each of said cranks, and a gear member interposed between and differentially connecting said gear segments.

6. In a steering truck for vehicles, a mounting member rotatable about an upright axis, a pair of wheel supported cranks carried at opposite sides of the member for oscillation about a common axis, a pair of opposed bevel gear segments connectedone with each crank, and a bevel pinion meshing with and differentially operating the gear segments.

7. In a vehicle, a mounting member, a pair of cranks oscillatably journaled in the mounting member, one at each side thereof, a pair of gear segments attached to the respective cranks -to oscillate therewith, means for adjustably attaching one of the segments to the corresponding crank whereby the crank and segment may be relatively adjusted about the common axis thereof, and a gear member differentially connecting the segments.

8. In a vehicle adapted to be drawn. a steerable truck supporting the front end .thereof and comprising a mounting member movable about a vertical axis, a pair of wheels mounted one at each side of the member for opposite up and down movements while retaining predetermined face angles with respect to said axis. means, op-

erative from a position on the vehicle, for turning the mounting to steer thev wheels, and draft means, independent of said turning means, extending forwardly fromv the truck for applying pulling and steering action thereto.

9. A vehicle supporting device comprising a housing, a pair of wheel supported crank arms iournaled in the housing, and gear means in the housing dierentially connecting the journaled ends of the crank arms, said crank arms being iournaled for movement about longitudinally spaced axes and extending in opposite directions therefrom.

10. In a vehicle, a pair of crank arms journaled at longitudinally spaced outer ends with respect to the vehicle and with their inner ends separately supported on axially aligned wheels, a pair of gear segments connected with the respective cranks, and differential mechanism connecting the arms within the housing .to move them and their respective wheels in opposite directions.

12. A steerable vehicle supporting truck comprising a member mounted for movement about a generally vertical axis to effect steering, a pair of cranks fulcrumed in the member for simultaneous movements .therewith about said axis, ground wheels rotatably secured to said cranks, and a rotatable member differentially connecting.the cranks at a point nearer the crank fulcrurns than are the axes of the ground wheels to the crank ful-crums to oscillate the cranks and ground wheels in opposite directions.

13. A steerable vehicle supporting truck comprising a member mounted for movements about a generally vertical axis to effect steering, a pair of cranks journaled in ythe member for simultaneous movement therewithl about said axis, ground wheels rotatably secured to said cranks and with their axes disposed approximately inv the .transverse plane through said generally vertical axes, and a rotatable member differentially connecting the cranks to oscillate the latter in opposite directions, said cranks being mounted for oscillating movements about a common transverse axis and extending in the same general direction therefrom.

14. A steerable vehicle supporting truck comprising a member mounted for rotation about av vertical axis to effect steering, a pair of cranks journaled in the member for simultaneous movetions, and gear means in the housing dineren` tially connecting the cranks.

16. In a vehicle, a steerable truck therefor v comprising a housing mounted for turning movement about a generally upright axis, a pair of transversely spaced wheel supported cranks journaled in the housing for oscillating movements in longitudinally extending planes, and y gear means in the housing differentially connecting the cranks, said gear means including gear elements connected to the respective cranks and an intermediate gear element connecting said gear l elements. y

17. In a vehicle, a steerable truck therefor comprising a housing mounted for turning movement about a generally upright axis, a pair of transversely spaced wheel supported cranks Journaled in the housing for oscillating up and down movements, differentially acting gear means connecting the cranks, and yieldable stop means limiting the oscillating movements of the cranks, said stop means including a resilient member cooperatively associated with the gearmeans.

18. In a vehicle having a frame, a pair of crank arms pivoted with respect to the frame for movements in transversely spaced paths, ground wheels rotatably secured to the arms, differential mechanism connecting pivoted ends i' the arms and operative to distribute imposed 'vehicle' weight equally through both'arms to the respective wheels, and means for adjusting the mean working angle of the arms with respect to the horizontal.

19. In a vehicle having a frame, a pair of transversely spaced crank arms pivoted with respect to the frame for oscillating movements while supporting the frame, ground wheels rotatably secured to the arms, gear acting elements connected to the respective arms and at least one of which elements is adjustable with respect to its arm so as to produce angular adjustments of both arms4 with, respect to the horizontal and thereby vertically adjust the frame, and a gear differentially connecting said 'elements 20. In a vehicle, a longitudinal member rigid throughout its length, a pair of wheel-carrying assemblies, a horizontal wheel-spindle in each assembly,`said wheel-spindles extending in opposite directions, said assemblies hinged to said member for up and down movement in planes` spaced constantly .the same distance from said member, compensating means connecting said assemblies, said compensating means including a rocker pivotally mounted on a rigid portion of the longitudinal member.

21. In a vehicle, a longitudinal member rigid throughout its length, a pair of wheel-carrying assemblies,` a horizontal wheel-spindle in each assembly, said wheel-spindles extending in opposite directions, said assemblies hinged to said member for up and down movement in planes spaced constantly the same distance from said member, compensating means connecting said assemblies, said compensating means including an oscillatable member mounted on a rigid portion of the longitudinal member and in a position such that it will be intersected by a transverse vertical plane passing through the axes of said wheel-spindles.

22. In a vehicle, a longitudinalmounting member, a pair oi.' wheel supported cranks fulcrumed to the mounting member for movement of the wheels in transversely spaced parallel planes, compensating means controlling relative movements of the cranks in said planes comprising an oscillatable member fulcrumed to the mounting member for movement about a transverse axis, and connecting members between the cranks and oscillatable member movable on axes parallel with respect to the transverse fulcrum axis of the oscillatable member.

23. In a vehicle, a longitudinal mounting member, a pair oi' wheel supported cranks fulcrurned to the mounting member for movement of the Wheels in transversely spaced parallel planes, compensating means controlling relative movements of the cranks in said planes comprising an oscillatable member fulcrumed to the mounting member, and connecting members between the cranks and oscillatable member movable on axes parallel with respect to the fulcrum axis 0f the oscillatable member, said mounting member being of rigid construction whereby the fulcrum axes for the oscillatable member and cranks will be retained in relatively fixed positions.

ADOLPH RONNIN G.

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