The present invention pertains generally to multi-axle transport vehicles for moving heavy loads, and more particularly to a suspension system for such vehicles.
Heavy hauling vehicles for moving transformers, cranes, boats, industrial equipment, and other heavy objects are well known in the art. An example of such a vehicle is given in U.S. Pat. No. 4,943,078 which discloses a heavy load hauler for traveling on conventional roadways for moving heavy construction equipment such as cranes or the like from one work site to another. The hauler includes a front tractor drawn carriage, a rear carriage, and a load unit disposed between and carried by the carriages. The front carriage is supported upon a multiplicity of independent wheel and axle units. There is a first fifth wheel coupling at the leading end of the front carriage for connecting to the fifth wheel coupling of a tractor. A second fifth wheel coupling is spaced rearwardly. The load carrying rear carriage is also supported upon a multiplicity of independent wheel and axle units. There is a fifth wheel coupling intermediate the leading and trailing ends of the carriage. The load unit has forwardly and rearwardly projecting goosenecks. Each gooseneck has a fifth wheel coupling. The one on the forwardly projecting gooseneck connects to the fifth wheel coupling on the front carriage. The one on the rearwardly projecting gooseneck connects to the fifth wheel coupling on the rear carriage. The load unit may be either the crane itself or a flatbed upon which the crane is carried. At least some of the independent wheel and axle units are steerably mounted on their carriages. Each wheel and axle unit has its wheels supported by a hydraulic suspension. Hydraulic circuitry interconnects all of the suspensions so as to equally distribute the load among all of the wheel units. Steering of the independent wheel and axle units is interphased for the front and rear carriages by a pair of operatively associated interrelated inline valve cylinder units.
Other heavy hauling vehicles are sold by Goldhofer Fahrzeugwerk G.m.b.H. of Memmingen, Germany; Nicolas of Champs Sur Yonne, France; and Talbert of Rensselaer, Ind.
Improved systems having automatic steering at all speeds and suspension systems that respond rapidly to the varying road conditions imposed by higher speeds would greatly reduce the time and effort required to move the vehicle to the load, move the load, and return the vehicle to storage.
The present invention is directed to a suspension system for a heavy load transport vehicles which tends to resist axle yaw. The body of the suspension system is connected to the axle by an axle linkage member which is connected to the body at four different pivotal locations. This four-point connection stabilizes the axle linkage member and substantially reduces any tendency to yaw when exposed to road induced forces. The suspension system employs two fluid activated cylinders rather than the conventional one cylinder. This feature allows the use of smaller diameter cylinders for a given system pressure. The cylinders are mounted on the outside of the suspension system for ease of maintenance.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a suspension system for a transport vehicle includes a body which is pivotable about a first axis, the body has a first attachment station separate and spaced apart from a second attachment station. An axle is disposable along a second axis which is perpendicular to the first axis. An axle linkage member has a third attachment station which is spaced apart from a fourth attachment station, the third attachment station of the axle linkage member is pivotally connected to the first attachment station of the body, and the fourth attachment station of the axle linkage member is pivotally connected to the second attachment station of the body. The axle linkage member is pivotable about a third axis which is parallel to the second axis. The axle is pivotally connected to the axle linkage member; the axle is pivotable about a fourth axis perpendicular to the first, second and third axes. Two separate and spaced apart fluid activated cylinders are pivotally connected between the body and the axle linkage member, wherein the two fluid activated cylinders are disposed outside of the first, second, third, and fourth attachment stations. When the two fluid activated cylinders are extended, the axle linkage member pivots away from the body. When the two fluid activated cylinders are retracted, the axle linkage member pivots toward the body.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, when the transport vehicle is traveling on a road, the connection of the first attachment station to the third attachment station, the connection of the second attachment station to the fourth attachment station, and the connection of the two fluid activated cylinders between the body and the axle linkage member combine to reduce yaw of the axle.
Other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
Because axle linkage member 604 is connected to body 602 at only one point 605, the stresses encountered during travel can cause axle linkage member 604 and therefore axle 608 to yaw (refer also to
Suspension system 600 is typically designed as a split system so that dollies on the right side of the transport vehicle can be raised and lowered independently from dollies on the left side of the vehicle.
An axle 34 is disposable along a second axis 36 which is perpendicular to first axis 24. Axle 34 is nominally aligned with second axis 36. However, axle 34 can pivot or roll with respect to second axis 36 as a function of the road surface (also refer to
An axle linkage member 38 has a third attachment station 40 spaced apart from a fourth attachment station 42. Third attachment station 40 of axle linkage member 38 is pivotally connected to first attachment station 26 of body 22, and fourth attachment station 42 of axle linkage member 38 is pivotally connected to second attachment station 28 of body 22. Axle linkage member 38 is pivotable about a third axis 44 which is parallel to second axis 36.
Axle 34 is pivotally connected to axle linkage member 38 and is pivotable about a fourth axis 46 which is perpendicular to first axis 24, second axis 36, and third axis 44 (refer also to
At least one fluid activated cylinder 48 is pivotally connected between body 22 and axle linkage member 38. Preferably, two spaced apart fluid activated cylinders 48 are pivotally connected between body 22 and axle linkage member 38. The two fluid cylinders 48 are disposed outside of first, second, third, and fourth attachment stations 26, 28, 40, and 42. As defined herein, outside means that cylinders 48 reside closer to tires 35 than the four attachment stations 26, 28, 40, and 42, and that the two cylinders 48 are therefore spaced wider apart than the two pairs of attachment stations.
The preferred embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations, and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve an equivalent result, all of which are intended to be embraced within the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation of patent application having Ser. No. 10/443,550 filed on May 22, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,232 issued on Sep. 13, 2005, and claims priority therefrom which in turn claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/383,554, filed May 24, 2002, each of which are included herein by reference.
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3334912 | Mauck | Aug 1967 | A |
3420543 | Scarpatetti et al. | Jan 1969 | A |
3479050 | Bloise | Nov 1969 | A |
3582104 | Eggert, Jr. | Jun 1971 | A |
3953040 | Unruh et al. | Apr 1976 | A |
4053170 | Hyler et al. | Oct 1977 | A |
4053171 | Hyler | Oct 1977 | A |
4441730 | Damm | Apr 1984 | A |
4943078 | McGhie et al. | Jul 1990 | A |
5997013 | Claxton | Dec 1999 | A |
6012724 | Pitkanen | Jan 2000 | A |
6371505 | Turner, II | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6942232 | McGhie | Sep 2005 | B1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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2 007 603 | Nov 1978 | GB |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60383554 | May 2002 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10443550 | May 2003 | US |
Child | 11185417 | US |