# US 4,398,617 A · Rear axle-drawbar oscillation support system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,398,617 A - Document ID: US4398617A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/334,024 - Filed: 1981-11-18 - Granted: 1983-08-16 - Earliest claimed: 1981-11-18 - Assignees: Caterpillar Tractor Co. - Inventors: Elmer R. Crabb; Nick D. Hoyle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4398617A ## CPC - B60D 1/44: horizontally - B60D 1/02: Bolt or shackle-type couplings - B60D 1/145: consisting of an elongated single bar or tube - B60D 1/486: {adapted for being mounted to the wheel axle of a vehicle} - B62D 53/02: comprising a uniaxle tractor unit and a uniaxle trailer unit {(see B60B11/00 - B60B11/08)} - B60G 2200/322: with a single pivot point and a straight axle - B60G 2204/418: Bearings, e.g. ball or roller bearings - B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract An oscillating rear axle assembly (30) and associated drawbar (40) which oscillates therewith. The rear axle (24) protrudes from an axle housing (32) which is joined to a support structure (34) extending forwardly therefrom. The support structure (34) is oscillatably joined to a rear frame (14) by two axially separated bearings (36,38) disposed therebetween. The drawbar (40) is laterally guided by the rear axle assembly (30) and a pivot support structure (84) and is axially fixed as well as oscillatably joined to the rear frame (14) by a spherical bearing (52) to permit drawbar oscillation with the rear axle assembly (30). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle (10) comprising: a front frame (12); a rear frame (14) being articulatable relative to said front frame (12) and having a longitudinal axis (AA), said rear frame (14) including a forward end (14a) adjacent said front frame (12) and a rearward end (14b) remote thereto; a rear axle assembly (30) including an axle housing (32) disposed adjacent said rear frame's rearward end and a support structure (34) extending toward said front frame (12) and being connected to said axle housing (32), and having a longitudinal center line (AA); a first (36) and a second (38) bearing disposed between said support structure (34) and said rear frame (14) forwardly of said axle housing (32) for oscillatably connecting said rear axle assembly (30) to said rear frame (14); a drawbar (40) for pulling loads, said drawbar (40) extending below said axle housing (32) and said rear frame (14); means (86,88,90,112) for oscillatably guiding said drawbar (40) with said rear axle assembly (30); and means (52) for oscillatably connecting said drawbar (40) to said rear frame (14) about said longitudinal centerline (AA). ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle (10) of claim 1 further comprising: means (34c,66,62,64) associated with one of said bearings (38) for preventing relative axial movement between said bearing (38) and said rear axle assembly (30). ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle (10) of claim 2, further comprising: means (58) associated with said one bearing (38) for preventing relative axial movement between said bearing (38) and said rear frame (14). ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle (10) of claim 1, further comprising: a drive shaft (46) rotatably supported within said support structure (34) for transmitting power to the interior of said axial housing (32). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle (10) of claim 1, said oscillatable connecting means (52) comprising: a spherical bearing (52) having a body portion (70) with a rear face (72) and a front face (74), said bearing (52) having an opening (76) through said body portion (70) extending between said faces (72,74). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle (10) of claim 5 wherein a portion (77) of said drawbar (40) extends through said spherical bearing's opening (76) and has a shoulder (78) for engagement with the rear face (72) of said bearing (52); and means (80,82) engageable with said spherical bearings front face (72) and said drawbar (40) for preventing rearward displacement of said drawbar (40) relative to said spherical bearing (52). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle (10) of claim 1, said support structure (34) comprising: an axle housing cover (34a) for enclosing said axle housing (32), said axle housing cover (34a) converging toward said centerline (AA) along a direction toward said front frame (12), said axle housing cover (34a) having a first engagement surface (54) for mating with one of said bearings (36); and a support extension (34b) joinable with said axle housing cover (34a) and extending toward said front frame (12) from said axle housing cover (34a), said support extension (34b) having a second engagement surface (56) for mating with the other bearing (38).