Pivot limiter for steered wheels

A steered axle assembly comprising:

• a relatively fixed axle member;
• a pair of wheel supports pivotal on the axle member about respective upright wheel pivot axes spaced horizontally apart on the member transverse to a predetermined horizontal travel direction;
• an at least limitedly articulated track rod extending horizontally transverse to the travel direction between the wheel supports and having outer ends pivoted on the respective wheel supports about respective upright track axes spaced in the travel direction from the respective pivot axes;
• actuator means fixed to the axle member and connected to the track rod between the track axes for relatively displacing the rod and axle member horizontally transverse to the travel direction and thereby generally identically pivoting the wheel supports on the member about the respective wheel pivot axes;
• a rod abutment formation fixed on the track rod;
• a member abutment formation fixed on the axle member and confronting the rod abutment formation horizontally transverse to the travel direction;
• and
• means including a spacer fixed to one of the formations and engageable horizontally perpendicular to the travel direction with the other formation for limiting pivoting of the wheel supports in one direction relative to the member beyond an end position with the spacer engaging the other formation, the spacer being U-shaped, having a pair of end faces directed oppositely parallel to the rod and spaced differently from the one formation, and being mountable on the one formation in one position with one of the faces turned toward and engageable with the other formation and in another position with its other face turned toward and engageable with the other formation.

A steered axle assembly comprising:

• a relatively fixed axle member;
• a pair of wheel supports pivotal on the axle member about respective upright wheel pivot axes spaced horizontally apart on the member transverse to a predetermined horizontal travel direction;
• an at least limitedly articulated track rod extending horizontally transverse to the travel direction between the wheel supports and having outer ends pivoted on the respective wheel supports about respective upright track axes spaced in the travel direction from the respective pivot axes;
• actuator means fixed to the axle member and connected to the track rod between the track axes for relatively displacing the rod and axle member horizontally transverse to the travel direction and thereby generally identically pivoting the wheel supports on the member about the respective wheel pivot axes, the actuator means including a hydraulic cylinder mounted on the axle member between the wheel supports and having a piston forming part of the track rod;
• a rod abutment formation fixed on the track rod;
• a member abutment formation fixed on the axle member and confronting the rod abutment formation horizontally transverse to the travel direction;
• and
• means including a spacer fixed to one of the formations and engageable horizontally perpendicular to the travel direction with the other formation for limiting pivoting of the wheel supports in one direction relative to the member beyond an end position with the spacer engaging the other formation.