Modular dual wheel suspension and drive arrangement for trucks
AssigneeCaterpillar Tractor Co.
InventorRobert N. Stedman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The main frame of a truck has a pair of dual wheel suspension and drive arrangements pivotally mounted rearwardly thereon and disposed in laterally spaced relationship relative to each other. Each arrangement comprises a hollow sub-frame having its forward end pivotally mounted on the main frame by a ball and socket connection and its rearward end pivotally connected under the main frame by a suspension cylinder. A pair of roadwheels are rotatably mounted on either side of the sub-frame and driven by a common drive axle. The power input to the drive axle comprises a drive motor mounted on an inboard side of the sub-frame and drivingly connected to the axle by an intermediate gear train disposed within the hollow sub-frame.
Claims11
A modular axle suspension and drive arrangement attached to a main frame of a vehicle comprising
- a hollow sub-frame, said main frame at least partially overlying said sub-frame,
- connection means universally pivoting a forward end of said sub-frame to a rearward end of said main frame,
- a drive motor, having an output shaft, mounted on said sub-frame,
- at least one roadwheel rotatably mounted on said sub-frame, and
- drive means disposed entirely within said sub-frame and drivingly interconnected between the output shaft of said drive motor and said roadwheel for driving the same.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.