Roller suspension apparatus for a belted vehicle
AssigneeCaterpillar Tractor Co.
InventorsRonald L. Satzler, Samuel B. Stevens
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Roller suspension apparatus are useful for example in belted vehicles. The heretofore known roller suspension apparatus impart a shear force to the spring due to the geometry and the relationship between the roller mounting arms, the walking beam, and the pivot pins to which the arms and beam are pivoted. The subject roller suspension apparatus has a pair of arms and a force transmitting beam pivotally connected to a single pivot shaft. The mounting surfaces to which a pair of springs are attached are then arranged relative to the pivot shaft such that substantially only compressive forces are imparted to the springs. Thus, the full shock absorbing potential of the springs is fully utilized.
Claims11
A roller suspension apparatus adapted for use on a belted vehicle having a frame comprising:
- a single pivot shaft adapted to be connected to the vehicle frame;
- a pair of arms each pivotally connected at one end to the pivot shaft and extending in opposite directions from the pivot shaft, each of said arms having a mounting surface at a distal end portion thereof;
- a pair of roller mechanisms individually connected to the distal end portions of said arms;
- a force transfer beam pivotally connected at its mid-portion to the pivot shaft and having first and second mounting surfaces individually generally facing a respective one of the mounting surfaces of said arms defining two pairs of facing mounting surfaces;
- and
- spring means positioned between each pair of facing mounting surfaces in load bearing and force transferring relation;
- and
- wherein said mounting surfaces are arranged relative to the pivot shaft so that substantially only compressive forces are tranmitted to the spring means upon movement of the mounting surfaces of each pair of facing mounting surfaces toward one another.
A roller suspension apparatus adapted for use on a belted vehicle having a frame comprising:
- a pair of arms disposed in end to end relationship with each of said arms having a mounting surface at an outer end portion thereof;
- a pair of roller mechanisms individually connected to the outer end portions of said arms;
- a force transfer beam generally overlying the arms and having first and second mounting surfaces individually generally facing a respective one of the mounting surfaces of said arms and defining two pairs of facing mounting surfaces;
- spring means positioned between each pair of facing mounting surfaces in load bearing and force transferring relation;
- and
- a single pivot shaft having the inner ends of said arms and the midportion of the force transfer beam commonly pivotally connected thereto, said pivot shaft adapted to be connected to the vehicle frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.