Claims
- 1. A dual axle assembly for large off road vehicles comprising:
- an elongated vehicle frame having a longitudinal frame axis;
- a forward axle housing having opposed ends and a forward longitudinal axle axis;
- a first torque arm rearwardly extending from said forward axle housing;
- a rearward axle housing having opposed ends and a rearward longitudinal axle axis;
- a second torque arm forwardly extending from said rearward axle housing, the first and second torque arms being generally parallel to and spaced apart from each other, the first torque arm having an outer end pivotally affixed to said rearward axle housing and the second torque arm having an outer end pivotally affixed to said forward axle housing, said first torque arm being of a generally right angle triangular configuration when taken in a horizontal plane and having a hypotenuse side, the first torque arm having a wide base portion rigidly affixed to said forward axle housing centrally between said forward axle housing opposed ends and a narrower said outer end pivotally affixed to said rearward axle housing at a point of attachment adjacent one of said rearward axle opposed ends, and wherein said second torque arm is also of generally right angle triangular configuration when taken in a horizontal plane and having a hypotenuse side, the second torque arm having a wide base portion rigidly affixed to said rearward axle housing centrally between said rearward axle housing opposed ends and a narrower said outer end pivotally affixed to said forward axle housing at a point of attachment adjacent one of said forward axle housing opposed ends, the hypotenuse sides of said torque arms being closely spaced from and substantially parallel to each other;
- means to spring support said forward and rearward axle housing to said frame in substantially vertical spaced apart parallel planes that are substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane of said frame longitudinal axis; and
- a wheel structure supported at each said opposed ends of each said axle housing.
- 2. A dual axle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said means to spring support said forward and rearward axle housings includes:
- a first pair of spaced apart spring support means interposed between attachment points on said forward axle housing and said frame; and
- a second pair of spaced apart support means interposed between attachment points on said rearward axle housing and said frame.
- 3. A dual axle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said means to support said axle housing to said frame includes drag link means having one end pivotally affixed to said frame and one end affixed to said forward axle housing.
- 4. A dual axle assembly according to claim 2 wherein each said spring support means is in the form of a telescopically compressible strut member.
- 5. A dual axle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said outer ends of said first and second torque arms are pivotally affixed to said rearward and forward axle housings respectively by ball joint means.
- 6. A dual axle assembly according to claim 1 wherein said wheel structures supported at each said opposed ends of each of said axle housings are pivotally supported and including;
- steerage means for simultaneously pivoting said wheel structures for steering purposes.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/638,690 entitled "Dual Steerable Axle Arrangement For Large Vehicles" filed Jan. 8, 1991.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
49502 |
Mar 1983 |
JPX |
435326 |
Sep 1935 |
GBX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
638690 |
Jan 1991 |
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