GB587892A - Multiple driving axles of motor road vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

587,892. Motor vehicle driving-gear. SCAMMELL LORRIES, Ltd., HUGH, P. G., HALL, C. R., and DAVIES, E. C. May 24, 1944, No. 10005. [Class 79 (ii)] [Also in Group XXXII] Spring suspension means, which connect the. two driving axles of a motor road vehicle to the vehicle frame, are interconnected by balance arms so that a substantially equal load is supported by each axle, and two separate driving shafts, by which power is transmitted to each axle, are interconnected and driven through differential gearing to ensure an even distribution of power to the two axles. As shown, pairs of driving wheels 3, 4, Fig. 1, are mounted on two axles 1, 2 suspended from the frame members 9 by semi-elliptic springs 5, 6, the front ends of the springs being pivotally connected by bearings 7, 10 to brackets 8, 11 on the frame members and the rear ends of the springs connected by shackles 12, 16 respectively to the front and rear ends of balance arms 13 which are pivotally mounted on trunnions 14 on the frame members. The springs may be replaced e.g. by rigid beams having coiled or rubber springs at one or both ends. The drive is transmitted to each axle through separate propeller shafts 21, 22, Fig. 2, coupled by universal joints 23, 24 at their rear ends to driving shafts 25, 26 mounted in transmission housings 31, 32, and, at their front ends, to the output driving shafts 41, 42 of a gearbox 40, gearwheels 43, 44 on the shafts 41, 42 engaging driving pinions 45, 46, loose on a common driving shaft 47 and driven thereby through differential gearing 48 mounted thereon. Preferably, a combined change-speed and power distributing gearbox, as described in Specification 558,799, is used. The differential may be locked when it is desired to transmit a positive independent drive to each axle.