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US 6,631,773 B1Granted
Articulated truck for carrying a load through a plurality of work cycles
AssigneeCaterpillar SARL
InventorRichard D. Walker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An articulated truck for carrying a load through a plurality of work cycles is disclosed. An embodiment includes a frame assembly, an articulation. joint, a plurality of axles, a plurality of ground engaging devices, an operator compartment, a body, an engine, a transmission and an apparatus for receiving the torque and transferring the torque to a plurality of drive shafts. The apparatus includes a plurality of gears, an inter-axle differential, and a plurality of drive shafts. The inter-axle differential is located such that the front axle may be suspended to allow oscillation.
Claims19
An articulated truck for carrying a load through a plurality of work cycles, comprising:
- a frame assembly having at least a front portion and a rear portion;
- an articulation joint connecting the front and rear portions and adapted to allow pivotal movement about the joint by the front and rear portions;
- a plurality of axles supporting the frame assembly, including a front axle supporting the front portion;
- a plurality of ground engaging devices attached to the axles;
- an operator compartment supported by the frame assembly;
- a body adapted to carry a load and being connected to the frame assembly;
- an engine for generating torque and being supported by the frame assembly;
- a transmission coupled to the engine for receiving the torque and having a transmission output drive coupling for providing the torque, the coupling having a longitudinal axis;
- and
- an apparatus for receiving the torque from the coupling and transferring the torque to a plurality of drive shafts, including:
- a plurality of gears;
- an inter-axle differential for receiving the torque and adapted to provide the torque to more than one of the plurality of gears and being drivingly connected substantially along the longitudinal axis to the coupling;
- and
- a plurality a plurality of drive shafts each connected to at least one of the more than one of the plurality of gears and adapted to receive a percentage of the torque.
11 more elements
An articulated truck for carrying a load through a plurality of work cycles, comprising:
- a frame assembly having at least a front portion and a rear portion;
- an articulation joint connecting the front and rear portions and adapted to allow pivotal movement about the joint by the front and rear portions;
- a plurality of axles supporting the frame assembly, including a front axle supporting the front portion;
- a plurality of ground engaging devices attached to the axles and for traversing a grade;
- an operator compartment supported by the frame assembly;
- a body adapted to carry a load and being connected to the frame assembly;
- an engine for generating torque and being supported by the frame assembly;
- a transmission coupled to the engine for receiving the torque and having a transmission output drive coupling for providing the torque, the coupling having a longitudinal axis;
- and
- an apparatus for receiving the torque from the coupling and transferring the torque to a plurality of drive shafts, including:
- a plurality of gears;
- a plurality of drive shafts each having a center line, connected to at least one of the plurality of gears and adapted to receive a percentage of the torque;
- and
- an inter-axle differential configured to receive the torque and adapted to provide the torque to more than one of the plurality of gears, the inter-axle differential being drivingly connected to the coupling and located a significantly greater distance from the grade than any of the center lines.
11 more elements
An articulated truck-for carrying a load through a plurality of work cycles, comprising:
- a frame assembly having at least a front portion and a rear portion;
- an articulation joint connecting the front and rear portions and configured to allow pivotal movement about the joint by the front and rear portions;
- supporting the a plurality of axles supporting the frame assembly, including a front axle supporting the front portion;
- a plurality of ground engaging devices attached to the plurality of axles;
- an engine for generating torque and being supported by the frame assembly;
- a transmission coupled to the engine, the transmission being configured to receive torque from the engine, the transmission having a transmission output drive coupling for providing a torque output, the drive coupling having a longitudinal axis;
- an apparatus configured to receive the torque output from the drive coupling and to transfer the torque output to a plurality of drive shafts, the apparatus including:
- a plurality of gears, and
- an inter-axle differential configured to receive the torque output and to provide torque to more than one of the plurality of gears, the inter-axle differential being drivingly connected substantially along the longitudinal axis to the drive coupling;
- and
- a plurality of drive shafts each connected to at least one of the more than one of the plurality of gears and configured to receive a percentage of the torque from the inter-axle differential.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.