Patent ID: 6302233
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: B60K,B62D

Abstract:
A steering axle in a vehicle having a hydrostatic drive system wherein a hydraulic motor assembly is mounted on a steerable wheel of said axle and adapted to be movable with the wheel, said axle comprising:a girder provided with a pair of axle yokes at the opposite ends thereof;a pair of steering knuckles pivotally mounted to said axle yokes at the opposite ends of said girder by means of at least one kingpin assembly aligned with a steering axis of the wheel;said kingpin assembly including a kingpin and a block manifold slidingly engaging said kingpin;said kingpin having a substantially cylindrical first end portion, a second end portion and a substantially cylindrical shank portion disposed therebetween; said shank portion being rotatably coupled to said axle yoke and fixed to one of said steering knuckles;said block manifold rotatably coupled to said first end portion of said kingpin and secured to said axle yoke;said kingpin having a pressure, return and drain fluid passages formed therein and extending from said first end portion to said second end portion through said shank portion;a pressure, return and drain axially spaced annular channels provided around said first end portion of said kingpin, wherein said pressure channel being registered with said pressure fluid passage, said return channel being registered with said return fluid passage, and said drain channel being registered with said drain fluid passage;a plurality of sealing rings adapted for axially separating and sealing said annular channels;said block manifold having a pressure, return and drain axially spaced substantially radially extending manifold passages, wherein said pressure, return and drain manifold passages being in fluid communication with said pressure, return and drain annular channels respectively at one end and being provided with a pressure, return and drain manifold communication ports at the other end; said ports being connected to corresponding fluid lines of a source of pressurized hydraulic fluid mounted on a body of the vehicle;said second end portion of said kingpin having pressure, return and drain fluid ports, each of said ports communicating with said corresponding pressure, return and drain fluid passages, said ports being fluidly connected to corresponding fluid lines of said hydraulic motor assembly.