Axle, in particular of a universal carrier frame

Abstract

An axle in particular of a universal carrier frame, which includes an arm of the axle, a power drive unit, swivel drive units, swivel distribution systems, travel distribution systems. At one end of the arm of the axle, a front portal suspension of a front wheel is rotatably arranged. At the other end of the arm of the axle, a rear portal suspension of the rear wheel is rotatably arranged. The front portal suspension of the front wheel and the rear portal suspension of the rear wheel comprise an angular chain transmission comprising a drive shaft having a longitudinal axis, a driven shaft having a longitudinal axis, a link chain for connecting the drive shaft and the driven shaft, and a pulley angular system of the link chain to define the angle (a) between the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft and the longitudinal axis of the driven shaft.

Claims

1. An axle comprising: (a) an arm having first and second ends; (b) a front portal suspension disposed at the first end of the arm; (c) a rear portal suspension disposed at the second end of the arm; wherein each of the front portal suspension and the rear portal suspension comprises an angular chain transmission; wherein the angular chain transmission of each of the front portal suspension and the rear portal suspension comprises (i) a drive shaft having a longitudinal axis, (ii) a driven shaft having a longitudinal axis, (iii) a link chain for connecting the drive shaft and the driven shaft, and (iv) a pulley angular system tensions the link chain and defines an angle () between the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft and the longitudinal axis of the driven shaft.

2. The axle according to claim 1, comprising a front wheel rotatably arranged in the front portal suspension and a rear wheel rotatably arranged in the rear portal suspension.

3. The axle according to claim 2, wherein the axle comprises a power drive unit for providing drive torque and means for distribution of the drive torque from the power drive unit to the front and rear portal suspensions.

4. The axle according to claim 3, wherein the means for distribution comprises swivel drive units, swivel distribution systems and travel distribution systems.

5. The axle according to claim 3, wherein the drive unit is selected from the group consisting of internal combustion engines, hydraulic motors and electric motors, and the means for distribution comprises distribution systems selected from the group consisting of belts, driving V-belts, toothed belts, transmission chains and gears.

6. The axle according to claim 1, wherein the angle () between the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft and the longitudinal axis of the driven shaft of each of the front portal suspension and the rear portal suspension is 90.

7. The axle according to claim 1, wherein each of the front portal suspension and the rear portal suspension comprises a bearing flange, and wherein the front portal suspension and rear portal suspension are mounted on the axle to provide unrestricted 360 rotation about the respective longitudinal axes of the drive shafts of the respective front and rear portal suspensions.

8. A universal carrier frame comprising the axle according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will be clarified on the basis of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention based on the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary axle of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrating transmission of the drive torque and bending torque through swivel distribution systems to the front and rear wheels of the portal suspensions;

(4) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a simplified exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrating the transmission of the bending torque and the drive torque to the front wheel of the portal suspension;

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F in FIG. 3 of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a pulley angular link chain system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E of FIG. 6 to an exemplary construction of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) In accordance with the present invention, the axle with the portal suspension 3a and 3b of the wheels 4a and 4b has been developed, providing unrestricted 360 rotation.

(10) Each portal suspension 3a and 3b accommodates an angular chain transmission 24 comprising a drive shaft 9, a driven shaft 10 and a link chain 11.

(11) The drive chain 11 transmits the drive torque from the drive shaft 9 to the driven shaft 10, the link chain 11 being tensioned by a pulley angle system 12.

(12) On the axle 1, portal suspensions 3a and 3b are provided with wheels 4a and 4b, a power drive unit 5, swivel drive units 6a and 6b, swivel distribution systems 7a and 7b and travel distribution systems 8a and 8b.

(13) The swivel and travel distribution systems 7a, 7b and 8a, 8b are preferably selected from the group consisting of belts, V-belts, toothed belts, transmission chains, gears and the like.

(14) The drive units 5, 6a and 6b are preferably selected from the group consisting of internal combustion engines, hydraulic motors, electric motors and the like.

(15) The solution according to the invention is characterized in particular by the following features for each portal suspension 3a and 3b:

(16) In principle, the vertical longitudinal axis 13 of the drive shaft 9 in the portal wheel suspension 3a and 3b makes an angle with the horizontal axis 14 of the driven shaft 10 in particular of 90,

(17) the portal wheel suspensions 3a and 3b due to its mounting into the axle 1 via a bearing flange 23 allow in principle unrestricted rotation around the longitudinal axis 13 of the drive shaft 9 over an angle range 360.

(18) For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that, to explain the features of the present invention, the general terms and technical terms used in the specification and claims generally have the following meanings:

(19) The drive unit is a device for providing the drive torque for an axle and a wheel suspension, generally internal combustion engines, hydraulic motors, electric motors and the like,

(20) The distribution system represents mechanical machine elements for providing the transmission of the drive torque, selected from the group consisting of belts, driving V-belts, toothed belts, transmission chains, gears and the like.

(21) A preferred exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in the accompanying drawings.

(22) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the axle 1, in particular of a universal carrier frame, bears the arm 2 of the axle 1, which may be, for example, a welded housing in which

(23) the swivel drive unit 6a of the front wheel 4a,

(24) the swivel drive unit 6b of the rear wheel 4a,

(25) the power unit 5, are mounted.

(26) These units may be, for example, electric motors, hydraulic motors and the like.

(27) The front portal suspension 3a and the rear portal suspension 3b allow unrestricted 360 rotation by means of the swivel distribution systems 7a and 7b, which may be, for example, chain and belt torque distributions.

(28) The drive torque for travel of the front wheel 4a is further distributed by the travel distribution system 8a of the front wheel 4a to the driven shaft 10 of the front wheel 4a.

(29) In the arm 2 of the axle 1, the front portal suspension 3a is mounted at one end and the rear portal suspension 3b is mounted at the other end, both of which comprising a bearing flange 23, wherein the mounting thereof in the axle 1 provides an unrestricted 360 rotation about the longitudinal axis 13 of the drive shaft 9.

(30) Each portal suspension 3a and 3b comprises an angular chain transmission 24 comprising a drive shaft 9 and a driven shaft 10 which, by means of a link chain 11, transmit the drive torque from the power drive unit 5, which is formed, for example, by a hydraulic motor.

(31) The substantially vertical longitudinal axis 13 of the drive shaft 9 makes an angle of 90 with the substantially horizontal longitudinal axis 14 of the driven shaft 10.

(32) The link chain 11, which transmits the drive torque from the drive shaft 9 to the driven shaft 10, is tensioned by a pulley angular system 12.

(33) The pulley angular system 12 according to the invention is formed, for example, by a pair of tensioning levers 15 with a pulley 16, which are mounted by means of a pin 19 in the portal suspensions 3a and 3b, the tensioning lever 15 allowing a rotary motion.

(34) The pulley angular system 12 of the link chain 11 comprises a pair of wedges 22 that press against the fitting pin 18 of the tensioning lever 15.

(35) Each wedge 22, housed in the guide bar 21, is secured by one tension spring 20, which is engaged in a respective portal suspension 3a, 3b.

(36) The tension lever 15 comprising a pulley 16 further comprises a locating compression spring 17 which determines the tension of the link chain 11. The tension lever 15 is connected to the given portal suspension 3a and 3b by a pin 19.

(37) Upon loosening the link chain 11, one of the tensioning wedges 22 housed in the guide bar 21 is lowered by the force of one of the compression springs 20. The fitting pin 18 transmits the above movement and tilts the tensioning lever 15 in order to tension the link chain 11 and to create an optimal tension clearance of the link chain 11.

(38) The pulley angular system 12 of the link chain 11 comprises a compression spring 17 on the tensioning lever 15, which ensures optimum tension of the link chain 11.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(39) According to the present invention, the axle has been developed, at the ends of which the portal suspensions are located, which by their mounting via the bearing flange and by means of swivel drive units allow unrestricted rotation about their longitudinal axis of the drive shaft within the angle of 360.

(40) The axle further includes a power drive unit that distributes drive torque over the distribution system to the drive shaft.

(41) Each portal suspension comprises an angular chain transmission comprising a drive shaft and a driven shaft spaced at an angle of 90 to each other, the drive torque being transmitted by means of a link chain with a tensioning system.

(42) The invention has solved a low installation space for an axle using an angular chain transmission in the portal suspension of the wheel, and hence the use of low cost elements.

(43) The invention has solved the unrestricted rotation of the portal wheel suspension in the axle within an angle of 360.

(44) The angular chain transmission axle in the wheel suspension according to the invention finds an application, for example, in frames of cars or universal carriers.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(45) 1axle 2arm 2 of the axle 1 3afront portal suspension 3brear portal suspension 4afront wheel 4a of the front portal suspension 3a 4brear wheel 4b of the rear portal suspension 3b 5power drive unit 6aswivel drive unit 6a of the front wheel 4a 6bswivel drive unit 6a of the rear wheel 4b 7aswivel distribution system 7a of the front wheel 4a 7bswivel distribution system 7b of the rear wheel 4b 8atravel distribution system 8a of the front wheel 4a 8btravel distribution system 8b of the rear wheel 4b 9drive shaft 10driven shaft 11link chain 12pulley angular system 12 of the link chain 11 13longitudinal axis 13 of the drive shaft 9 14longitudinal axis 14 of the driven shaft 10 15tensioning lever 16pulley 17compression spring 18fitting pin 19pin 20tension spring 21guide bar 22wedge 23bearing flange 14angular chain transmission angle between the longitudinal axis 13 of the drive shaft 9 and the longitudinal axis 14 of the driven shaft 10