GB321767A - Improvements in motor vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

321,767. Whitby, H. Sept. 22, 1928. Springs, arrangement of; equalizing load on wheels.-In a motor-vehicle having more than four wheels, particularly a six-wheeled rigid frame vehicle, of the kind in which certain of the wheels, e.g. the four rear wheels, are adapted automatically to position themselves in a coordinated manner when steering or turning movements are being effected, and in which a common spring suspension for the vehicle frame is associated with the axles of the wheels having such co-ordinated movements, the rear axle or axle casing is adapted, when the vehicle is being driven forwardly, to move parallel to itself, while the intermediate axle pivots about a fixed point on the frame. In the construction shown, the frame 4 is supported at either side of the vehicle on longitudinal springs 7, 8, Figs. 1 and 2, to the centres of which are pivoted girders 11, 12 of inverted channel section the' connection comprising a D-shaped bearing-member 13, Figs. 3 and 4, and a vertical pivot or bolt 14 having a certain amount of lateral play, so that the girders 11, 12 may have a horizontal swivelling and also a rocking movement in relation to the springs 7, 8. At their forward ends the connections between the girders 11, 12 and the casing 5 of the front axle 6 are such as to allow each girder to pivot about a vertical axis, to slide longitudinally and to rock about an horizontal axis relative to the axle 6, while at their rear ends the girders are connected to the rear axle 40 by ball-and-socket joints. The axle casing 5 is attached to a torque tube 1 which is ball-jointed at 2 to a cross-member 3 of the vehicle frame. In this manner, when a turning movement is being effected as shown in Fig. 2, the axles 6, 40 undergo lateral displacement and the axle 6 becomes inclined, while rocking movements of the frames due to unevenness of the ground are also permitted. If desired, the springs 7, 8 may be inserted, being pivoted at their centres to the frame 4 and connected at their ends to the girders 11, 12 or to the axle casings, and a fifth rear wheel may be centrally disposed between the axles 6, 40. In a modification, the axle 40, instead of being restrained always to move parallel to itself, may, through the medium of push-rods actuated by the front axle, be given an inclined position when the vehicle is being backed and turned simultaneously ;. while, in a further modification, the axle 40 is arranged to carry one central wheel only instead of two side wheels.