US 4,120,509 AGranted

Self-steering tandem axle bogie

OwnerRichard James Reeve, Dennis Raymond Shirleyinventors

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Abstract

A self-steering tandem bogie for the rear of an articulated vehicle. The bogie comprises a front and a rear axle which are universally attached to a pair of longitudinally extending walking beams for sliding motion thereon, affording angular variation of the axles during vehicle turning. The load of the vehicle is transferred to the bogie by a steering unit which is universally attached to the walking beams between the two axles. As the vehicle executes a turn, the steering unit rotates in the direction of vehicle turn, while the walking beams tend to maintain the straight-drive orientation. This relative movement between the steering unit and the walking beams is transmitted to the front axle by a pair of steering arms, causing the front axle to rotate in the direction of turn, and thereby facilitating vehicle turning.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A self-steering tandem axle bogie for a vehicle comprising:

a. a pair of longitudinally extending frame supporting members;
b. front and rear transversely extending wheel axles, opposite end regions of which are universally attached to end regions of the frame supporting members for sliding movement thereon, permitting relative angular movement between the two wheel axles in a common plane and independent tilt of each wheel axle out of said plane;
c. a transversely extending steering unit for transmitting vehicle load to the frame supporting members, said unit being universally attached at opposite ends to the frame supporting members and longitudinally spaced between said front and rear axles;
and
d. a pair of steering arms, each arm coupling one of the end regions of said front axle to the corresponding transverse side of said steering unit by pivotal joining means at each end of said arm, for transmitting, upon vehicle turning occurring, angular movement between said steering unit and said frame supporting members to said front axle to effect angular movement of said front axle, relative to said rear axle, in the direction of vehicle turn.

2 more elements

A self-steering tandem axle bogie for a vehicle comprising:

a. a pair of longitudinally extending walking beams;
b. front and rear transversely extending wheel axles, opposite end regions of which are universally attached to said walking beams for sliding movement thereon, permitting relative angular movement between the two wheel axles in a common plane and independent tilt of each wheel axle out of said plane;
c. a transversely extending steering unit for transmitting vehicle load to the two walking beams, said steering unit being universally attached at opposite ends to said beams and longitudinally spaced between said front and rear axles;
d. a pair of steering arms, each arm coupling one of the end regions of said front axle to the corresponding transverse side of said steering unit by universal joining means at each end of said arm, for transmitting, upon vehicle turning occurring, angular movement between said steering unit and said walking beams to said front axle to effect angular movement of said front axle, relative to said rear axle, in the direction of vehicle turn;
and
e. rear coupling means universally coupling said steering unit to said rear axle.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.