WO1989000125A1 - Articulated vehicle with steerable wheels - Google Patents

Articulated vehicle with steerable wheels Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1989000125A1
WO1989000125A1 PCT/AU1988/000231 AU8800231W WO8900125A1 WO 1989000125 A1 WO1989000125 A1 WO 1989000125A1 AU 8800231 W AU8800231 W AU 8800231W WO 8900125 A1 WO8900125 A1 WO 8900125A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ground engaging
articulated vehicle
vehicle
wheels
engaging wheels
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AU1988/000231
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Kimberly Grant Greirson
Original Assignee
Kimberly Grant Greirson
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kimberly Grant Greirson filed Critical Kimberly Grant Greirson
Publication of WO1989000125A1 publication Critical patent/WO1989000125A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D12/00—Steering specially adapted for vehicles operating in tandem or having pivotally connected frames
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D9/00—Steering deflectable wheels not otherwise provided for

Definitions

  • THIS INVENTION relates to an articulated wheel vehicle having greatly improved manoeuvrability in limited areas.
  • the invention has been devised particularly but not solely to an articulated crane having steerable and drivable front and rear wheels.
  • Articulated vehicles are well known in the art.
  • the articulation joint allows an improved manoeuvrability of the vehicle eg. semi trailers on roadways.
  • such articulated vehicles have steerable front wheels (ie. forward of the articulation joint) and non-steerable rear wheels (ie. rearward of the articulation joint) .
  • steerable front wheels ie. forward of the articulation joint
  • non-steerable rear wheels ie. rearward of the articulation joint
  • articulated vehicles are those with steerable wheels on both the portion forward of the articulation joint and portion rearward of the articulation joint.
  • the articulation joint is such to allow articulated movement mainly about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle to result in a vehicle able to traverse sharply undulating terrain.
  • these vehicles possess at least 6 wheels and the portion of the vehicle rear of the articulation joint is merely a storage area or a trailer.
  • articulated vehicles having a portion forward of the articulation joint and a portion rearward of the articulation joint wherein, each portion is provided at least one steerable wheel and possessing a particular relationship between the wheels and the articulation joint to result in improved manoeuvrability have not been realized.
  • the invention resides in an articulated vehicle comprising a first and second portions, pivot means interconnecting said first and second portions for pivotal movement relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis, each portion being provided with a plurality of ground engaging wheels wherein at least one ground engaging wheel of each portion is steerable and at least one ground engaging wheel is drivable.
  • the first portion comprises a cabin part and the second portion of the articulated vehicle comprises an engine part.
  • the spacing between the pivot means interconnecting said first and second portions and the ground engaging wheels on each portion is approximately equal.
  • the invention resides in an articulated vehicle comprising first and second portions, pivot means interconnecting said first and second portions for pivotal movement relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis, each portion being provided with a plurality of ground engaging wheels, the axes of rotation of the ground engaging wheels of each portion being substantially aligned when the vehicle is travelling along a straight path, at least one ground engaging wheel of each portion being steerable and one ground engaging wheel being drivable.
  • the articulated vehicle additionally comprises a crane assembly mounted on the articulated vehicle.
  • the crane assembly comprises a boom pivotally supported at or near one end thereof by a pivot means, said pivot means being disposed on a support secured to the first portion of the vehicle and extending towards said second portion thereby overlying said second portion.
  • Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of an articulated vehicle
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the articulated vehicle of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a rear elevation view of the articulated vehicle of Fig. 1.
  • the embodiment is directed to an articulated vehicle comprising two body sections and a crane assembly mounted to one of the body sections.
  • the articulated vehicle comprises a forward cabin portion 10 and a rearward engine portion 11.
  • the forward cabin portion contains a driver's seat and steering and engine control mechanisms (not shown) , and is supported by a pair of ground engaging wheels 13 on each side of the cabin portion.
  • the wheels are rotatably supported on respective axles which are substantially aligned when the vehicle travels along a straight path.
  • the rearward engine portion 11 comprises an engine (not shown) which provides power to the articulated vehicle.
  • the rearward portion is supported by a pair of ground engaging wheels 15 on each side of the rearward portion, and which are also rotatably supported on respective axles which are substantially aligned when the vehicle travels along a straight path.
  • the ground engaging wheels of both portions are drivable by the engine through conventional drive means and are also steerable by conventional steering means.
  • the cabin portion 10 and engine portion 11 are interconnected by a pivot means 14 to allow the cabin and engine portions to pivot relative to each other about an axis which is substantially vertical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
  • the pivot means is positioned midway between the front and rear ground engaging wheels and typically comprises a pin type hinge to allow pivotal movement about a vertical axis but will not allow pivotal movement around a horizontal axis extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
  • the front and rear steerable wheels can be caused to turn in the same direction or in opposite directions, according to the wishes of the driver of the vehicle. This feature provides the vehicle with a high degree of manoeuvrability.
  • a crane assembly 12 is provided on the articulated vehicle and comprises a boom 16, a hook 17 and pivot means 18 positioned adjacent the rear of the boom to allow pivotal movement of the boom absent a substantially horizontal axis transverse to the longitudinal axes of the vehicle.
  • the boom comprises a plurality of telescoping segments, thereby allowing the length of the boom to be expanded or contracted when necessary.
  • the pivot means 18 is in the form of an elongate pin (see Fig. 3) each end of which is secured to a support 19a and 19b, each support being secured towards one side and the rear of the cabin portion 10 and extending past the pivot means 14 to a position to overly the rearward engine portion 11 (see Fig. 1) .
  • the load from the crane assembly is substantially equally supported by all four of the wheels of the vehicle.
  • the vehicle can manoeuvre into small areas by the combination of the steerable wheels and the pivot means and as the rear wheels follow the tracks of the front wheels, any obstacles avoided by the front wheels will also be avoided by the rear wheels.
  • the combination of the steerable and drivable wheels allows the articulated vehicle of this invention to be extremely manoeuvrable and useful in areas of limited space.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

An articulated vehicle which is extremely manoeuvrable and particularly suited for use in areas of limited space. The vehicle comprises first and second portions (10, 11) and pivot means interconnecting said first and second portions for pivotal movement relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis. Each portion is provided with ground engaging wheels (13, 15) which rotate about axes which are in alignment when the vehicle is travelling along a straight path. The wheels are both steerable and drivable.

Description

"ARTICULATED VEHICLE WITH STEERABLE WHEELS"
THIS INVENTION relates to an articulated wheel vehicle having greatly improved manoeuvrability in limited areas. The invention has been devised particularly but not solely to an articulated crane having steerable and drivable front and rear wheels.
Articulated vehicles are well known in the art. The articulation joint allows an improved manoeuvrability of the vehicle eg. semi trailers on roadways. In the vast majority of cases, such articulated vehicles have steerable front wheels (ie. forward of the articulation joint) and non-steerable rear wheels (ie. rearward of the articulation joint) . In such vehicles there are normally additional non-steerable drive wheels slightly forward or rearward of the articulation joint, which power the vehicle.
Lesser known examples of articulated vehicles are those with steerable wheels on both the portion forward of the articulation joint and portion rearward of the articulation joint. In such vehicles (ie. Australian Patent No. 254911) the articulation joint is such to allow articulated movement mainly about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle to result in a vehicle able to traverse sharply undulating terrain. Typically, these vehicles possess at least 6 wheels and the portion of the vehicle rear of the articulation joint is merely a storage area or a trailer.
Hitherto, articulated vehicles having a portion forward of the articulation joint and a portion rearward of the articulation joint wherein, each portion is provided at least one steerable wheel and possessing a particular relationship between the wheels and the articulation joint to result in improved manoeuvrability have not been realized. In one form the invention resides in an articulated vehicle comprising a first and second portions, pivot means interconnecting said first and second portions for pivotal movement relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis, each portion being provided with a plurality of ground engaging wheels wherein at least one ground engaging wheel of each portion is steerable and at least one ground engaging wheel is drivable.
In. a preferred form, the first portion comprises a cabin part and the second portion of the articulated vehicle comprises an engine part.
In a further preferred form, the spacing between the pivot means interconnecting said first and second portions and the ground engaging wheels on each portion is approximately equal.
In another form, the invention resides in an articulated vehicle comprising first and second portions, pivot means interconnecting said first and second portions for pivotal movement relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis, each portion being provided with a plurality of ground engaging wheels, the axes of rotation of the ground engaging wheels of each portion being substantially aligned when the vehicle is travelling along a straight path, at least one ground engaging wheel of each portion being steerable and one ground engaging wheel being drivable.
In a preferred form, the articulated vehicle additionally comprises a crane assembly mounted on the articulated vehicle. In yet a another preferred form, the crane assembly comprises a boom pivotally supported at or near one end thereof by a pivot means, said pivot means being disposed on a support secured to the first portion of the vehicle and extending towards said second portion thereby overlying said second portion.
The invention will be better understood by reference to the description of one specific embodiment thereof in which:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of an articulated vehicle;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the articulated vehicle of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 3 is a rear elevation view of the articulated vehicle of Fig. 1.
The embodiment is directed to an articulated vehicle comprising two body sections and a crane assembly mounted to one of the body sections.
The articulated vehicle comprises a forward cabin portion 10 and a rearward engine portion 11. The forward cabin portion contains a driver's seat and steering and engine control mechanisms (not shown) , and is supported by a pair of ground engaging wheels 13 on each side of the cabin portion. The wheels are rotatably supported on respective axles which are substantially aligned when the vehicle travels along a straight path. The rearward engine portion 11 comprises an engine (not shown) which provides power to the articulated vehicle. The rearward portion is supported by a pair of ground engaging wheels 15 on each side of the rearward portion, and which are also rotatably supported on respective axles which are substantially aligned when the vehicle travels along a straight path. The ground engaging wheels of both portions are drivable by the engine through conventional drive means and are also steerable by conventional steering means. The cabin portion 10 and engine portion 11 are interconnected by a pivot means 14 to allow the cabin and engine portions to pivot relative to each other about an axis which is substantially vertical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The pivot means is positioned midway between the front and rear ground engaging wheels and typically comprises a pin type hinge to allow pivotal movement about a vertical axis but will not allow pivotal movement around a horizontal axis extending laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.
The front and rear steerable wheels can be caused to turn in the same direction or in opposite directions, according to the wishes of the driver of the vehicle. This feature provides the vehicle with a high degree of manoeuvrability.
A crane assembly 12 is provided on the articulated vehicle and comprises a boom 16, a hook 17 and pivot means 18 positioned adjacent the rear of the boom to allow pivotal movement of the boom absent a substantially horizontal axis transverse to the longitudinal axes of the vehicle. The boom comprises a plurality of telescoping segments, thereby allowing the length of the boom to be expanded or contracted when necessary. The pivot means 18 is in the form of an elongate pin (see Fig. 3) each end of which is secured to a support 19a and 19b, each support being secured towards one side and the rear of the cabin portion 10 and extending past the pivot means 14 to a position to overly the rearward engine portion 11 (see Fig. 1) . In this manner the load from the crane assembly is substantially equally supported by all four of the wheels of the vehicle. In use the vehicle can manoeuvre into small areas by the combination of the steerable wheels and the pivot means and as the rear wheels follow the tracks of the front wheels, any obstacles avoided by the front wheels will also be avoided by the rear wheels.
Additionally, the combination of the steerable and drivable wheels allows the articulated vehicle of this invention to be extremely manoeuvrable and useful in areas of limited space.
Various other changes and modifications can be made to the embodiments described without departing from the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An articulated vehicle comprising a first and second portions, pivot means interconnecting said first and second portions for pivotal movement relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis, each portion being provided with a plurality of ground engaging wheels wherein at least one ground engaging wheel of each portion is steerable and at least one ground engaging wheel is drivable.
2. The articulated vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first portion comprises a cabin part and the second portion comprises an engine part.
3. The articulated vehicle of claims 1 or 2 wherein the spacings between the pivot means and the ground engaging wheels on each portion are approximately equal.
4. The articulated vehicle of any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein each portion has only one pair of ground engaging wheels.
5. The articulated vehicle of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the ground engages wheels of each portion comprise a pair of steerable ground engaging wheels.
6. The articulated vehicle of any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the ground engaging wheels of each portion comprise a pair of driven wheels.
7. The articulated vehicle of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the ground engaging wheels of each portion are substantially aligned when the vehicle is travelling along a straight path and are both steerable and drivable.
8. An articulated vehicle comprising first and second portions, pivot means interconnecting said first and second portions for pivotal movement relative to each other about a substantially vertical axis, each portion being provided with a plurality of ground engaging wheels, the axes of rotation of the ground engaging wheels of each portion being substantially aligned when the vehicle is travelling along a straight path, each ground engaging wheel of at least one portion being steerable, and one ground engaging wheel .being drivable.
9. The articulated vehicle of claim 8 wherein all ground engaging wheels are steerable.
10. The articulated vehicle of claims 8 or 9 wherein all ground engaging wheels are drivable.
11. The articulated vehicle of any one of claims 8 to 10 wherein the first portion comprises a cabin part and the second portion comprises an engine part.
12. The articulated vehicle of any one of claims 8 to 11 wherein the spacing between the pivot means and the ground engaging wheels on each portion are approximately equal.
13. The articulated vehicle of any one of claims 1 to 12 additionally comprising a crane assembly.
14. The articulated vehicle of claim 13 wherein the crane assembly is secured to the first portion of the articulated vehicle.
15. The articulated vehicle of claims 13 or 14 wherein the crane assembly comprises a boom pivotally supported at or near one end thereof by a pivot means, said pivot means being disposed on a support secured to the first portion of the vehicle and extending towards said second portion thereby overlying the second portion.
16. An articulated vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
PCT/AU1988/000231 1987-07-02 1988-07-01 Articulated vehicle with steerable wheels WO1989000125A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU284387 1987-07-02
AUPI2843 1987-07-02
AU691688 1988-02-19
AUPI6916 1988-02-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1989000125A1 true WO1989000125A1 (en) 1989-01-12

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU1988/000231 WO1989000125A1 (en) 1987-07-02 1988-07-01 Articulated vehicle with steerable wheels

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1989000125A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19645651C1 (en) * 1996-11-06 1998-06-10 Schaeff Karl Gmbh & Co Biaxial work vehicle

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE600957C (en) * 1930-07-04 1934-08-03 Fried Krupp Akt Ges Motor vehicle consisting of a main car with steerable guide wheels and a z. T. is supported on the main car front car, the guide wheels are steered by the driver
AU923043A (en) * 1943-05-07 1944-07-20 William Hardman Laurie Improvements in and connected with portable cranes
GB964713A (en) * 1960-04-07 1964-07-22 Hildebrandt Willi Improvements relating to imparting steering movements to twin axle bogies of trailers or semi-trailers
GB1156381A (en) * 1966-01-07 1969-06-25 Huet Aloysius T Van Improvements in or relating to Multi Axle Bogies
DE2456165A1 (en) * 1974-11-28 1976-08-12 Daimler Benz Ag Articulated road vehicle - has trailer axle steered by lever in accordance with angle between vehicle halves
AU2300077A (en) * 1976-03-19 1978-09-14 Clark Equipment Company Fairlead and implement hitch
AU5175379A (en) * 1978-12-11 1980-06-19 Deere & Company Tractor implement hitch

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE600957C (en) * 1930-07-04 1934-08-03 Fried Krupp Akt Ges Motor vehicle consisting of a main car with steerable guide wheels and a z. T. is supported on the main car front car, the guide wheels are steered by the driver
AU923043A (en) * 1943-05-07 1944-07-20 William Hardman Laurie Improvements in and connected with portable cranes
GB964713A (en) * 1960-04-07 1964-07-22 Hildebrandt Willi Improvements relating to imparting steering movements to twin axle bogies of trailers or semi-trailers
AU307061A (en) * 1960-04-13 1963-04-04 L. Gamaunt Roger Vehicle
GB1156381A (en) * 1966-01-07 1969-06-25 Huet Aloysius T Van Improvements in or relating to Multi Axle Bogies
DE2456165A1 (en) * 1974-11-28 1976-08-12 Daimler Benz Ag Articulated road vehicle - has trailer axle steered by lever in accordance with angle between vehicle halves
AU2300077A (en) * 1976-03-19 1978-09-14 Clark Equipment Company Fairlead and implement hitch
AU5175379A (en) * 1978-12-11 1980-06-19 Deere & Company Tractor implement hitch

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19645651C1 (en) * 1996-11-06 1998-06-10 Schaeff Karl Gmbh & Co Biaxial work vehicle

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