Steerable axle support linkage

A linkage for connecting a steerable axle to a vehicle chassis comprising:

• a first pivot joint carried by said vehicle chassis to define a generally vertically extending first pivot axis, said steerable axle being connected to said vehicle chassis at said first pivot joint for movement relative thereto about said first pivot axis;
• a carrier member pivotally supported by said vehicle chassis by a second pivot joint carried by said vehicle chassis and defining a second pivot axis extending generally horizontally and being aligned with said first pivot joint;
• a first link member connected at one end to said carrier member by a third pivot joint defining a third pivot axis extending generally horizontally and being aligned with said first pivot joint, said first link member being connected at a remote second end to said steerable axle by a fifth pivot joint defining a fifth pivot axis extending generally horizontally and being aligned with said first pivot joint;
• and
• a second link member connected at one end to said carrier member by a fourth pivot joint transversely spaced from said third pivot joint, defining a fourth pivot axis extending generally horizontally and being aligned with said first pivot joint, said second link member being connected at a remote second end to said steerable axle by a sixth pivot joint transversely spaced from said fifth pivot joint, defining a sixth pivot axis extending generally horizontally and being aligned with said first pivot joint.

In a vehicle having a chassis, a transverse axle pivotally supported from said chassis for lateral movement relative thereto, said transverse axle having a pair of steerable wheels pivotally connected to the opposing transverse ends of said axle, and a steering mechanism operably connected to said steerable wheels to control the pivotal movement thereof relative to said axle for controlling the direction of travel of said vehicle, said steering mechanism including means for effecting relative pivotal movement between said axle and said chassis in response to the pivotal movement of said steerable wheels, an improved linkage pivotally interconnecting said transverse axle and said chassis comprising:

• a first spherical pivot joint carried by said vehicle chassis to define a generally vertically extending first pivot axis, said transverse axle being connected to said chassis at said first pivot joint for movement relative thereto about said first pivot axis;
• a carrier member pivotally supported by said vehicle chassis by a second pivot joint carried by said vehicle chassis and defining a second pivot axis extending generally horizontally and being aligned with and passing through said first pivot joint;
• and
• pivot connection means interconnecting said transverse axle and said carrier member to define at least a third pivot axis extending generally horizontally and being aligned with and passing through said first pivot joint, said pivot connection means allowing a generally lateral pivotal movement of said transverse axle about said first pivot axis in a parallel orientation relative to said chassis.