WO1993021029A1

WO1993021029A1 - Axle construction for a commercial vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO1993021029A1
Application number: PCT/FI1993/000136
Authority: WO
Inventors: Risto Jurmu
Original assignee: Oy Sisu-Auto Ab
Priority date: 1992-04-08
Filing date: 1993-03-31
Publication date: 1993-10-28
Also published as: FI921561A0; FI921561A; FI91506C; AU3755693A; FI91506B

Abstract

The invention relates to an axle and bogie construction for a commercial vehicle, in which the axle (1) is supported through a triangular support (4) and longitudinal support (7), respectively, to the frame (2) of the vehicle. On both sides of the frame (2), respectively, there is arranged a continuous and flexible load support construction (9) extending from the front end of the axle to its rear end and the axle or axles (1) are supported on said constructions. The construction comprises at least one flexible member (10), preferably resilient means (12) and support means (11), through which it is supported on the axle or axles and the frame so that the construction may pivot with respect to the journalling point of each support means, whereby each axle may turn and in addition to a normal resilient movement move in total conformity with the ground, and whereby the load of the axles in the bogie construction remains essentially constant.

Description

Axle construction for a commercial vehicle

The invention relates to axle and bogie constructions for a commercial vehicle in accordance with the preamble of claims 1 and 10

Steerable axles are used with especially heavy transports, in which it is necessary that one or some of the axles are steerable, as there are typically more than two such axles and as the turning radius of the vehicle is inadequate without steering. It is also crucial that the load is distributed evenly on all axles in uneven terrain.

It is customary to use wheels supported by separate springs, in which case the construction meets both the turning and load distribution requirements.

FI patent application No. 901498 also discloses arrangements as set forth in the preamble of claims 1 and 10, said arrangements additionally including means for pushing and pulling longitudinal supports in order to achieve steering of the axle. In the axle construc¬ tion according to this FI application, the springs of the axle or axles are supported to the frame of the vehicle by means of two substantially downwardly directed suspension rods positioned on the front and rear side of the axle, respectively, the suspension rods being at one end attached by means of joints to the springs and at the other end to the frame of the vehicle, or in the case of suspension rods on the side of an adjacent turning or unturning axle, to equalizer levers which are journalled to the frame on both its sides and by means of which levers the springs of the axles are interconnected.

Although this construction quite well fills the requirements set on it, it is, however, rather compli- cated and expensive to realize. In addition, the possi- bilities to adjust it for different conditions are restricted.

The object of the present invention is to avoid the disadvantages mentioned above and obtain a steerable axle construction that fills the requirements on the controllability of the turning of the axle and on the load distribution as advantageously as possible. This object is achieved by means of the axle constructions of the invention, which are characterized by what is disclosed in the characterizing portion of claims 1 and 10.

The essential element of the invention is a continuous and flexible load support construction fitted on both sides of the frame of the vehicle, the support construction preferably comprising a cable or belt con¬ struction by means of which the axle or axles are supported in the frame of the vehicle and which forms a spring suspension and load balancing system of the axle construction. The load support construction can be supported on the axle or axles by means of sheaves or levers or a desired combination of them. Through these support members it is possible to lead, for example, one contin¬ uous long cable or belt or several continuous long parallell cables.

One of the most important advantages of the axle construction of the invention is that it is possible to divide the load evenly on all axles, even if the ground was very rough. It is easy to arrange spring suspension and shock absorption, if necessary, at the ends of the cables or the like. They can, however, also be arranged, for example, in the supports of the sheaves and/or levers, if necessary, or the levers themselves can be springs. By pulling or slackening at the ends of the load support construction it is possible to adjust the road clearance and inclina¬ tion of the vehicle, even during driving.

Due to its flexible construction the rigid axle can be used as a steering and turning axle. The turning is carried out by moving the supporting arms. Changing the resultant direction of the forces on the load supporting construction may be used as a force retracting the steering.

In addition, the construction according to the invention is simple and inexpensive. Neither does it restrict the number of axles. It is a considerable advantage that between the left and right side and the front and rear end of the vehicle it is possible to build a desired connection in order to improve the driving properties and/or off-the-road properties.

In the following the invention will be described in greater detail by means of some preferred exemplified embodiments with reference to the attached drawings , where Figure 1 is a side view of a bogie construction of the invention;

Figure 2 is a top view of the construction of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of another bogie construction according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a top view of the construction of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of a single-axle construction according to the invention, Figure 6 is a top view of the construction of

Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side view of another single-axle construction according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a top view of the construction of Figure 7. The bogie construction of Figures 1 and 2 comprises three rigid axles 1, which are supported in the frame of the vehicle indicated with reference numeral 2. The wheels attached to the ends of axles 1 are indicated with reference numeral 3. Axle 1 may be a drive axle or an axle which is load-bearing only.

A triangular support 4 is arranged at each axle 1, the support being attached to the axle 1 centrally above it by means of a ball joint 5 and to both sides of the frame 2, respectively, by means of joints 6. This manner of supporting allows the axle 1 to move resili¬ ently in the vertical direction or to pivot in the vertical plane, and it allows a steering pivoting move¬ ment in the horizontal plane, whereas it prevents the movement of the axle 1 in the lateral direction of the vehicle.

Longitudinal supports 7 are attached by means of ball joints 8 beneath the axles 1, symmetrically on the left and right side as seen from the top. The longitudinal supports 7 may be attached with their other ends to the frame 2 or steering members arranged in the frame 2 -^ot shown in the drawings), the steering members enabling steering and turning of the axle 1. The steering members may, for example, be of the type disclosed in FI patent application 901498.

The longitudinal supports 7 together with the triangular support 4 prevent the pivoting of the axle 1 as a result of a torque acting on the wheels 3. They also prevent change of the steering pivoting movement when the steering members are in position.

On both sides of the frame 2 there are arranged continuous, flexible and resilient load support constructions 9 extending from the front end of the axle to the rear end of it and providing support for each axle 1. Both load support constructions 9 comprise a continuous cable 10 extending from the front end of the axle to its rear end, sheaves 11 for supporting the cable 10 alternately on the axles 1 and the frame 2, and resilient members 12 attached between the ends of the cables 10 and the frame 2 and possibly also addi¬ tional flexible members arranged in the supports of the sheaves 11 (not shown in the drawings).

The sheaves 11 at the axles 1 are located higher than the sheaves 11 attached to the frame 2 and thus the sheaves 11 allow the cable and wheel assembly to pivot with respect to the .journalling point of each sheave 11. As a result of this each axle 1 may turn and in addition to a normal resilient movement move in total conformity with the underlying ground while the load of the axles l remains essentially constant.

In the above described construction the vertical load from the frame 2 is transmitted to the axles by means of the cables 10 and the horizontal load by means of the support arms 7.

The construction according to Figures 3 and 4 corresponds in other respects to the construction shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the exception that the sheaves 11 arranged in the frame 2 have been replaced in the load support construction 90 by levers 110 journalled in the middle, which levers comprise a space for the cable 10 and in which means (not shown) for preventing the cable 10 from slipping have been arranged. In addition, the resilient members 12 are attached between the other ends of the foremost and rearmost levers 110 and the frame 2 and not between the ends of the cable 10 and the frame 2 as in Figures 1 and 2. The levers 110 may be springs or rigid members.

The single-axle construction shown in Figures 5 and 6 and the associate load support construction 91 is technically similar to the construction of Figures 1 and 2. Herein three sheaves 11 are provided on both sides of the frame 2, two being located on the front and rear side of the axle 1, respectively. The single-axle construction shown in Figures

7 and 8 and the associate load support construction 92 is, on the other hand, technically similar to the construction of Figures 3 and 4. Herein levers 110 posi¬ tioned on the front and rear side of the axle 1 and a sheave positioned above the axle 1 are provided on each side of the frame 2.

The drawings and the,.accompanying description are only intended to illustrate the idea according to the invention for carrying out an axle construction. The axle construction according to the invention and its details may be realized in many alternative ways within the scope of the attached claims. Thus there can be, for example, more parallell cables or they can be replaced by a belt, belts, a chain structure or similar. The load support construction may be such that it comprises alternately sheaves attached to the frame and levers attached to the axles or a lever attached to the axle. All sheaves may naturally be replaced with levers. As a rule, any combination of cables or the like and sheave members that fills the conditions stated in claims 1 and 10 is possible even if not specifically disclosed herein.

Claims

Claims :

1. A bogie construction^* for a commercial vehicle, comprising - at least two rigid axles (1),

- wheels (3) attached at the ends of each axle

(1),

- triangular supports (4) mounted at each axle

(1), each triangular support being attached at one point by means of a joint centrally to the axle and journalled at two points to the frame (2) on its opposite sides,

- longitudinal supports (7) for each axle (1), the supports being positioned on opposite sides of the frame (2) and each having one end attached by a joint to the axle and the other end attached to the frame of the vehicle, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that on both sides of the frame (2), respectively, there is arranged a continuous and flexible load support construction (9; 90) extending from the front end of the axle to its rear end and each axle (1) is supported on said constructions, the construction being supported alternately on the axles and the frame so that the support points at the axles are positioned higher than the support points connected to the frame, each support point, with the exception of the end attachment points of the load support construction positioned on the front and rear side of the axle, comprising means (11; 110) which allow the portion of the load support construction positioned at each support point to pivot with respect to said support point, whereby each axle may turn and in addition to a normal resilient movement move in total conformity with the ground while the load of the axles remains essen¬ tially constant.

2. A bogie construction according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the load support construction (9; 90) comprises at least one continuous cable (10) or similar extending from the front end of the axle to its rear end, which cable is drawn through said support points.

3. A bogie construction according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that sheaves (11) are arranged in the support points, through which sheaves the cable (10) or similar is drawn.

4. A bogie construction according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that levers (110) journalled in the middle are..arranged in the support points, the levers containing a space for the cable or similar.

5. A bogie construction according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that alternately levers (110) journalled iif the middle and sheaves (11) are arranged in the support points, the cable or similar being drawn through said levers and sheaves.

6. A bogie construction according to one of claims 2 to 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that resilient members (12) are attached between the ends of the cables (10) or similar positioned on the front and rear side of the frame (2) and the axle.

7. A bogie construction according to one of claims 3 to 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that resilient members (12) are arranged in the supports of the sheaves (11) and/or levers (110).

8. A bogie construction according to one of claims 4, 5 and 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that resilient members (12) are arranged between the levers (110) positioned on the front and rear side of the frame (2) and the axle.

9. A bogie construction according to claim 4 or 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the levers (110) are springs.

10. An axle construction for a commercial vehicle, comprising

- a rigid axle (1), - wheels (3) attached at the ends of the axle

(1),

- a triangular support (4) arranged at the axle (1), the support being attached at one point centrally to the axle and journalled at two points to the frame (2) of the vehicle on its opposite sides,

- longitudinal supports (7) arranged for the axle (1) and positioned on opposite sides of the frame (2), the supports having one end attached by a joint to the axle and the other end to the frame of the vehicle, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that on both sides of the frame (2), respectively, there is arranged a continuous and flexible load support construction (91; 92) extending from the front side of the axle to its rear side and the axle (1) is supported on said construction, the construction being supported on the axle and the frame on the front and rear side of the axle so that the support point at the axle is positioned higher than the support points connected to the frame, each support point, with the exception of the end attachment points of the load support construction positioned on the front and rear side of the axle, comprising means (11, 110) which allow the portion of the load support construction positioned at each support point to pivot with respect to said support point, whereby the axle may turn and in addition to a normal resilient movement move in total conformity with the ground.

11. An axle construction according to claim 10, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the load support construction (91; 92) comprises at least one continuous cable (10) or similar extending from the front side of the axle to its rear side, which cable is drawn through said support points.

12. An axle construction according to claim 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that sheaves (11) are arranged in the support points, through which sheaves the cable (10) or similar is drawn.

13. An axle construction according to claim 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that levers (110) journalled in the middle are arranged in the support points, the levers containing a space for the cable (10) or similar.

14. An axle construction according to claim 11, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a sheave (11) is arranged in the support point positioned at the axle (1) and levers (110) journalled in the middle are arranged in the support points at the frame (2), the cable (10) or similar being drawn through said levers.

15. An axle construction according to one of claims 11 to 14, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that resi- lient members (12^~) are attached between the frame (2) and the ends of the cables (10) or similar positioned on the front and rear side of the axle.

16. An axle construction according to one of claims 12 to 15, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that resilient members (12) are arranged in the supports of the sheaves (11) and/or levers (110).

17. An axle construction according to one of claims 13, 14 and 16, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that resilient members (12) are arranged between the frame (2) and the levers (110) positioned on the front and rear side of the axle.

18. An axle construction according to one of claims 13 to 14, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the levers (110) are springs.