Patent ID: 6145610
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: B62D,B66C,E02F,Y10S

Abstract:
Apparatus for locking together structure for varying the gauge of a variable gauge undercarriage (18), comprising:tracks (2) connected by intermediate beams (3) supported by a frame (6) mounted on support guides (12), provided with annular plates (11) facing the tracks (2), the beams (3) comprising beam elements (3a,3b) mounted telescopically within one another so as to be guided for relative movement (7, 10);telescopic cylinders (5) within the beams (3) and connected to the beam elements (3a, 3b) so as to cause relative telescopic movement thereof towards and away from each other;a device (1) for remote control (30) of the telescopic cylinders (5) for actuating the relative sliding of the beam elements (3a, 3b);play-compensation apparatus (4) operatively located between the support guides (12) of the frame (6) and the beams (3);a limit means (10; 31; 32) for limiting the telescopic extension of the beam elements (3a, 3b);a pair of slots (10a, 10b) formed in facing walls of the beam elements (3a, 3b); andan interference element (7) engaged in the slots (10a, 10b) and carried by the undercarriage (18) in the middle of the latter, wherein:the limit means limits the length to which the beam elements (3a, 3b) move apart,the interference element locks the beam elements (3a, 3b) upon achievement of the desired gauge of the undercarriage (18), andthe interference element (7) reacts against opposite ends (90) of the slots (10a, 10b) at the minimum and maximum gauge.