Telehandler Having Tilt Axle With An Extendable Track

Abstract

A telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track preferably includes a base frame, a front axle assembly and a rear axle assembly. The front axle assembly is pivotally retained on a lengthwise axis of the base frame at a front thereof and the rear axle assembly is pivotally retained on the lengthwise axis of the base frame at a rear thereof. Each axle assembly includes an axle beam, a left pivoting axle and a right pivoting axle. A front pivot cylinder is used to pivot the front axle assembly. A rear pivot cylinder is used to pivot the rear axle assembly. Left and right steering cylinders are used to pivot the left and right pivoting axles relative to the axle beam, respectively. Left and right extension cylinders are used to extend the left and right pivoting axles outward from the base frame and pivot with the axle beam.

Claims

1. A telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track, comprising: a front axle assembly including a front axle beam, a right front pivoting axle and a left front pivoting axle, said right front pivoting axle is pivotally engaged with one end of said front axle beam, said left front pivoting axle is pivotally engaged with an opposing end of said front axle beam; a rear axle assembly including a rear axle beam, a right rear pivoting axle and a left rear pivoting axle, said right rear pivoting axle is pivotally engaged with one end of said rear axle beam, said left rear pivoting axle is pivotally engaged with an opposing end of said rear axle beam; and a base frame having said front axle assembly pivotally engaged with a front of said base frame, said rear axle assembly is pivotally engaged with a rear of said base frame, wherein said right and left front pivoting axles are extendable outward from opposing sides of said base frame, said right and left rear pivoting axles are extendable outward from opposing sides of said base frame.

2. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 1, further comprising: a right front extension cylinder for extending said right front pivoting axle, a left front extension cylinder for extending said left front pivoting axle, a right rear extension cylinder for extending said right front pivoting axle and a left front extension cylinder for extending said left front pivoting axle.

3. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 2 wherein: said base frame including a front cross plate and a rear cross plate.

4. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 3, further comprising: a front extension cylinder yoke is pivotally engaged with said front cross plate, a rear extension cylinder yoke is pivotally engaged with said rear cross plate.

5. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 4 wherein: one end of said right and left front extension cylinders are pivotally engaged with said front extension cylinder yoke, an opposing end of said right and left front extension cylinders are pivotally engaged with said right and left front pivot axles; and one end of said right and left rear extension cylinders are pivotally engaged with said rear extension cylinder yoke, an opposing end of said right and left rear extension cylinders are pivotally engaged with said right and left rear pivot axles.

6. A telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track, comprising: a front axle assembly including a front axle beam, a right front pivoting axle and a left front pivoting axle, said right front pivoting axle is pivotally engaged with one end of said front axle beam, said left front pivoting axle is pivotally engaged with an opposing end of said front axle beam; a rear axle assembly including a rear axle beam, a right rear pivoting axle and a left rear pivoting axle, said right rear pivoting axle is pivotally engaged with one end of said front axle beam, said left rear pivoting axle is pivotally engaged with an opposing end of said front axle beam, each said pivoting axle includes a lengthwise base member, a drive hub and a steering cylinder, one end of said cylinder is pivotally engaged with said lengthwise base member and an opposing end is pivotally engaged with said drive hub; and a base frame having said front axle assembly pivotally engaged with a front of said base frame, said rear axle assembly is pivotally engaged with a rear of said base frame, wherein said right and left front pivoting axles are extendable outward from opposing sides of said base frame, said right and left rear pivoting axles are extendable outward from opposing sides of said base frame.

7. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 6, further comprising: a right front extension cylinder for extending said right front pivoting axle, a left front extension cylinder for extending said left front pivoting axle, a right rear extension cylinder for extending said right front pivoting axle and a left front extension cylinder for extending said left front pivoting axle.

8. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 7 wherein: said base frame including a front cross plate and a rear cross plate.

9. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 8, further comprising: a front extension cylinder yoke is pivotally engaged with said front cross plate, a rear extension cylinder yoke is pivotally engaged with said rear cross plate.

10. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 9 wherein: one end of said right and left front extension cylinders are pivotally engaged with said front extension cylinder yoke, an opposing end of said right and left front extension cylinders are pivotally engaged with said right and left front pivot axles; and one end of said right and left rear extension cylinders are pivotally engaged with said rear extension cylinder yoke, an opposing end of said right and left rear extension cylinders are pivotally engaged with said right and left rear pivot axles.

11. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 6 wherein: said drive hub includes a wheel base, a drive motor and a steering hub yoke, said drive motor extends from said drive base, said steering hub yoke extends from said drive base, said hub yoke is pivotally engaged with one end of said steering cylinder.

12. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 6, further comprising: a front beam cylinder having one end pivotally engaged with an end of said front axle assembly, an opposing end of said front beam cylinder is pivotally engaged with a side of said base frame; and a rear beam cylinder having one end pivotally engaged with an end of said rear axle assembly, an opposing end of said rear beam cylinder is pivotally engaged with an opposing side of said base frame.

13. A telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track, comprising: a front axle assembly including a front axle beam, a right front pivoting axle and a left front pivoting axle, said right front pivoting axle is pivotally engaged with one end of said front axle beam, said left front pivoting axle is pivotally engaged with an opposing end of said front axle beam; a rear axle assembly including a rear axle beam, a right rear pivoting axle and a left rear pivoting axle, said right rear pivoting axle is pivotally engaged with one end of said front axle beam, said left rear pivoting axle is pivotally engaged with an opposing end of said front axle beam, each said pivoting axle includes a lengthwise base member, a drive hub and a steering cylinder, one end of said cylinder is pivotally engaged with said lengthwise base member and an opposing end is pivotally engaged with said drive hub; and a base frame having said front axle assembly pivotally engaged with a front of said base frame along a lengthwise axis of said base frame, said rear axle assembly is pivotally engaged with a rear of said base frame along a lengthwise axis of said base frame, wherein said right and left front pivoting axles are extendable outward from opposing sides of said base frame, said right and left rear pivoting axles are extendable outward from opposing sides of said base frame.

14. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 13, further comprising: a right front extension cylinder for extending said right front pivoting axle, a left front extension cylinder for extending said left front pivoting axle, a right rear extension cylinder for extending said right front pivoting axle and a left front extension cylinder for extending said left front pivoting axle.

15. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 14 wherein: said base frame including a front cross plate and a rear cross plate.

16. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 15, further comprising: a front extension cylinder yoke is pivotally engaged with said front cross plate, a rear extension cylinder yoke is pivotally engaged with said rear cross plate.

17. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 16 wherein: one end of said right and left front extension cylinders are pivotally engaged with said front extension cylinder yoke, an opposing end of said right and left front extension cylinders are pivotally engaged with said right and left front pivot axles; and one end of said right and left rear extension cylinders are pivotally engaged with said rear extension cylinder yoke, an opposing end of said right and left rear extension cylinders are pivotally engaged with said right and left rear pivot axles.

18. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 13 wherein: said drive hub includes a wheel base, a drive motor and a steering hub yoke, said drive motor extends from said drive base, said steering hub yoke extends from said drive base, said hub yoke is pivotally engaged with one end of said steering cylinder.

19. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 13, further comprising: a front beam cylinder having one end pivotally engaged with an end of said front axle assembly, an opposing end of said front beam cylinder is pivotally engaged with a side of said base frame; and a rear beam cylinder having one end pivotally engaged with an end of said rear axle assembly, an opposing end of said rear beam cylinder is pivotally engaged with an opposing side of said base frame.

20. The telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track of claim 13, further comprising: said drive hub is self-propelled by hydraulic fluid or electricity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is a top view of a telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track in accordance with the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 is a top view of a telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track with front and rear axle assemblies in an extended orientation; and a lift mechanism and cab removed to show a base frame thereof in accordance with the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view taken from FIG. 2 of left and right front extension cylinders pivotally connected to left and right extension dual cylinder yokes of left and right left front pivoting axles of a telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track in accordance with the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of a rear axle assembly without a right rear pivoting axle; with a left extension cylinder connected to the left rear pivoting axle and a rear cross plate and a front cross plate of a telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track in accordance with the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 5 is a top view of a left rear pivoting axle of a telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track in accordance with the present invention.

[0023] FIG. 6 is a rear view of a left rear pivoting axle of a telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track in accordance with the present invention.

[0024] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a right extension cylinder, a rear dual extension cylinder yoke, a rear extension base plate, a pivot pin and other components of a telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track in accordance with the present invention.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a front view of a telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track in accordance with the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 9 is a front view of a telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track with front and rear axle assemblies in an extended orientation in accordance with the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 10 is a front view of a telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track with front and rear axle assemblies in a tilted and extended orientation in accordance with the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 11 is a top view of a telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track with a lift mechanism and cab removed to show a base frame thereof in accordance with the present invention.

[0029] FIG. 12 is a bottom view of a telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track with a lift mechanism and cab removed to show a base frame thereof in accordance with the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a front wheel assembly pivotally retained on a front of a base frame of a telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0031] With reference now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a top view of a telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track 1. With reference to FIGS. 2-3, the telehandler having a tilt axle with an extendable track 1 preferably includes a frame 10, a cab 12, a lift mechanism 14. The frame 10 preferably includes a base frame 16, a front axle assembly 18 and a rear axle assembly 20. The base frame 16 preferably includes a first side plate 22, a second side plate 24, a pair of front-end plates 26, 28, a pair of rear end plates 30, 32, a front cross plate 34 and a rear cross plate 36. The pair of front-end plates 26, 28 are secured between the first and second end plates 22, 24 at a front thereof. The pair of rear end plates 30, 32 are secured between the first and second end plates 22, 24 at a rear thereof. The front cross plate 34 is located between the first and second side plates 22, 24 and behind the front-end plate 28. The rear cross plate 36 is located between the first and second side plates 22, 24 and behind the rear end plate 32. With reference to FIGS. 7-12, a front cylinder bracket 38 extends outward from the second side plate 24, adjacent the front-end plate 28. A rear cylinder bracket 40 extends outward from the first side plate 22, adjacent the rear end plate 32.

[0032] With reference to FIGS. 4-6, the front axle assembly 18 preferably includes a front axle beam 42, a left front pivoting axle 44, a right front pivoting axle 46 and a vertical front cylinder bracket 48. The vertical front cylinder bracket 48 is secured to an end of the front axle beam 42, adjacent the front cylinder bracket 38. A front beam pin 50 is inserted through a middle of the pair of front end-plates 26, 28 and a center of the front axle beam 42. One end of a front beam cylinder 52 is pivotal engaged with the front cylinder bracket 38. An opposing end of the front beam cylinder 52 is pivotally engaged with the vertical front cylinder bracket 48. The left front pivoting axle 44 preferably includes a left front axle base 54, a left front wheel hub 56 and a left front steering cylinder 58. The left front axle base 54 includes a lengthwise base member 60, an offset beam pivot member 62 and a pair of obtuse wheel pivot plates 64. The offset beam pivot member 62 extends outward from one end of the lengthwise base member 60 and the pair of obtuse wheel pivot plates 62 extend outward from an opposing end of the lengthwise base member 60. A left steering yoke 66 extends outward from the lengthwise base member 60, adjacent the obtuse wheel pivot member 64. A left beam yoke 68 is formed in the one end of the lengthwise base member 60 to receive an end of the front axle beam 42. An extension cylinder yoke 70 extends from a bottom of the left beam yoke 68. An axle pivot pin 72 is inserted through the left beam yoke 68 and one end of the front axle beam 42 to pivotally engage the left front pivoting axle 44 with the front axle beam 42.

[0033] The left front wheel hub 56 preferably includes a left wheel base 74, a left drive motor 76 and a left steering hub yoke 78. The left drive motor 76 extends outward from the left wheel base 74. A wheel 80 is removably secured to the left drive motor 76. A thickness of the left wheel base 74 is sized to be received by inside surfaces of the pair of obtuse wheel pivot plates 64. A left wheel pivot pin 82 is inserted through an end of the pair of obtuse pivot plates 64 and the left wheel base 74 to pivotally engage the left front wheel hub 56 with the left front axle base 54. One end of the left steering cylinder 58 is pivotally engaged with left steering yoke 66 and the opposing end is pivotally engaged with left steering hub yoke 78.

[0034] A front extension base plate 84 is preferably attached to the front cross plate 34. A front extension cylinder yoke 86 is pivotally engaged with the front extension base plate 84 and the front cross plate 34 with front base pivot pin 88. The front extension cylinder yoke 86 includes a yoke base plate 90 and a front dual cylinder yoke 92. The front dual cylinder yoke 92 extends from the yoke base plate 90. One end of a left extension cylinder 94 is pivotally retained in the front dual cylinder yoke 92 with an extension pivot pin 96. The other end of the left extension cylinder is pivotally retained in the extension cylinder yoke 70 with a left extension pivot pin 98.

[0035] The right front pivoting axle 46 preferably includes a right front axle base 100, a right front wheel hub 102 and a right front steering cylinder 104. The right front axle base 100 includes a lengthwise base member 106, the offset beam pivot member 108 and the pair of obtuse wheel pivot plates 110. The offset beam pivot member 108 extends outward from one end of the lengthwise base 106 member and the pair of obtuse wheel pivot plates 110 extend outward from an opposing end of the lengthwise base member 106. A right steering yoke 112 extends outward from an opposing side of the lengthwise base member 106, adjacent the obtuse wheel pivot plates 110. A right beam yoke 114 is formed in the one end of the lengthwise base member 106 to receive an opposing end of the front axle beam 42. An extension cylinder yoke 116 extends from a bottom of the right beam yoke 114. A right axle pivot pin 118 is inserted through the right beam yoke 114 and the opposing end of the front axle beam 42 to pivotally engage the right front pivoting axle 46 with the front axle beam 42.

[0036] The right front wheel hub 102 preferably includes a right wheel base 120, a right drive motor 122 and a right steering hub yoke 124. The right drive motor 122 extends from the right wheel base 120. A wheel 81 is removably secured to the right drive motor 122. A thickness of the right wheel base 120 is sized to be received by the inside surfaces of a pair of obtuse wheel pivot plates 110. A right wheel pivot pin 126 is inserted through an end of the pair of obtuse pivot plates 110 and the right wheel base 120 to pivotally engage right front wheel hub 102 with the right front axle base 100. One end of the right steering cylinder 104 is pivotally engaged with right steering yoke 112 and the opposing end is pivotally engaged with right steering hub yoke 124. One end of a right extension cylinder 128 is pivotally retained in the front dual cylinder yoke 92 with an extension pivot pin 130. The other end of the right extension cylinder 128 is pivotally retained in the extension cylinder yoke 116 with a right extension pivot pin 132. The drive motors 76, 122 are driven by hydraulic fluid or electricity.

[0037] The rear axle assembly 20 preferably includes a rear axle beam 134, a left rear pivoting axle 136, a right rear pivoting axle 138 and a vertical rear cylinder bracket 140. The vertical rear cylinder bracket 140 is secured to an end of the rear axle beam 134, adjacent the rear cylinder bracket 40. A rear beam pin 142 is inserted through a middle of the pair of rear end-plates 30, 32 and a center of the rear axle beam 134. One end of a rear beam cylinder 144 is pivotal engaged with the rear cylinder bracket 40. An opposing end of the rear beam cylinder 144 is pivotally engaged with the vertical rear cylinder bracket 140.

[0038] The rear axle assembly 20 is the same as the front axle assembly 18. The front axle assembly 18 is rotated 180 degrees for installation in the rear of the base frame 16. A rear extension base plate 145 is preferably attached to the rear cross plate 36. The rear extension base plate 145 is the same as the front extension base plate 86. One end of the left extension cylinder 148 is pivotally retained in a rear dual cylinder yoke 146 with an extension pivot pin. The other end of the left extension cylinder 148 is pivotally retained in the extension cylinder yoke 128 with a left axle pivot pin. One end of a right extension cylinder 150 is pivotally retained in the rear dual cylinder yoke 146 with an extension pivot pin. The other end of the right extension cylinder 150 is pivotally retained in the extension cylinder yoke 70 with a right axle pivot pin. A frame end of the extension cylinders 94,132,148,150 are allowed to rotate with the front and rear axle assemblies 18, 20 through the front and rear dual cylinder yokes 86,146.

[0039] While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.