DUAL-DIRECTION ACTUATING AXLE ASSEMBLY WITH ENHANCED DURABILITY

A dual-direction actuating axle assembly is coupled to a vehicle's pair of wheels and orbital head of a steering column. The axle assembly includes a beam, a first steering knuckle coupled to the beam's first end and a second steering knuckle coupled to the beam's second end, the first and second steering knuckles coupled to the wheels, an actuating assembly coupled to the beam and having an outer cylinder, a rod slidably mounted to the outer cylinder and a piston coupled to the rod, the rod coupled to the first and second steering knuckles. The vehicle's steering column is maneuvered to actuate the piston and rod in a first direction to pivotably adjust the pair of steering knuckles in a first direction. The vehicle's steering column is maneuvered to actuate the piston and rod in a second direction to pivotably adjust the pair of steering knuckles in a second direction.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments herein relate generally to axle assemblies used for connecting wheels in a vehicle. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to a dual-direction actuating axle assembly with enhanced durability and strength.

Ground vehicles generally comprise a plurality of wheels coupled to corresponding axles and suspension assemblies. Commonly used axle assemblies connecting the wheels to the steering system in vehicles such as baggage handler vehicles and tow vehicles for use with small aircraft or equipment such as forklifts have one or more limitations.

In particular, these axle assembles lack durability and are prone to premature wear and/or failure. This results from the design of the axle assembly, which often connects the axle to a steering knuckle and wheel by use of a pair of bushings and a single thrust bearing. The single thrust bearing supports the complete load of the vehicle, which accelerates the rate of wear and/or failure of the component and ultimately the axle assembly. In addition, several of these axle assemblies comprise components that require significant space, thereby making them difficult to accommodate vehicles with different engine configurations.

As such, there is a need in the industry for a dual-direction actuating axle assembly with enhanced strength and durability for use with a vehicle's steering mechanism that addresses the limitations of the prior art. There is a further need for the dual-direction actuating axle assembly that is more compact and space efficient to accommodate a wider variety of vehicles with different engine configurations.

SUMMARY

A dual-direction actuating axle assembly with enhanced durability coupled to a pair of wheels of a vehicle is provided. The actuating axle assembly is mounted to a pair of leaf springs of the vehicle and operably connected to an orbital head of a steering column of the vehicle. The dual-direction actuating axle assembly comprises a beam comprising a first end and a second end, a pair of steering knuckles coupled to the beam and comprising a first steering knuckle and a second steering knuckle, the first steering knuckle coupled to the first end of the beam and the second steering knuckle coupled to the second end of the beam, the first and second steering knuckles coupled to the pair of wheels of the vehicle, an actuating assembly coupled to the beam and comprising an outer cylinder, a rod slidably mounted to the outer cylinder and a piston coupled to the rod, the rod comprising a first end coupled to the first steering knuckle and a second end coupled to the second steering knuckle, wherein the steering column of the vehicle is maneuvered to actuate the piston and rod of the actuating assembly in a first direction to pivotably adjust the pair of steering knuckles in a first direction, wherein the steering column of the vehicle is maneuvered to actuate the piston and rod of the actuating assembly in a second direction to pivotably adjust the pair of steering knuckles in a second direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

As depicted inFIGS. 1-3, dual-direction actuating axle assembly10is mounted to a frame of vehicle12, coupled to a pair of steering wheels, and operably connected to an orbital head of the vehicle's steering column (not shown). Vehicle12preferably is any type of vehicle including, but not limited to, baggage handler vehicles commonly used at airports and tow vehicles designed for use with small aircraft and equipment such as forklifts, and the like. In one embodiment of the invention, the orbital head of vehicle12controls the flow of hydraulic fluid into dual-direction actuating axle assembly10to enable pivotal movement of the pair of connected steering wheels. This allows vehicle12to turn left or right when in motion.

Beam14is preferably made from a central tubular member connected to a pair of outer members mechanically fastened to a pair of steering knuckles16by kingpins22. In a preferred embodiment, the central tubular member of beam14is made from A36 steel and the pair of outer members are made from forged steel. However, alternative materials known in the field may be used instead.

In one embodiment, a pair of mounting sheets36is coupled to the top of beam14. Each mounting sheet36comprises a plurality of openings42configured to receive mechanical fasteners such as bolts (not shown). The bolts secure mounting sheets36to a pair of leaf springs in vehicle12. The leaf springs may be any type commonly used in vehicles in the field. As such, mounting sheets36serve as mounting surfaces that secure the pair of leaf springs of vehicle12to dual-direction actuating axle assembly10. In one embodiment, mounting sheets36are made from A36 steel. However, alternative materials known in the field may be used instead. In alternative embodiments, dual-direction actuating axle assembly10can be fix-mounted or coil spring mounted to vehicle12.

In certain embodiments, the actuating assembly of dual-direction actuating axle assembly10can be configured for hydraulic or pneumatic operations. In a preferred embodiment, the actuating assembly is used in a hydraulic operation. In this embodiment, cylinder18, rod20and piston26of the actuating assembly are coupled to beam14. Specifically, cylinder18is coupled to the central tubular member of beam14using mechanical fasteners such as screws, bolts, nuts, and the like. In an alternative embodiment, cylinder18may be welded to beam14. The central tubular member of beam14comprises a pair of ports19that are operably connected to the orbital head of the steering column of vehicle12. Rod20is slidably mounted to the interior of cylinder18and comprises piston26coupled thereto. Slidable adjustments of rod20permit piston26to slidably adjust along the interior of cylinder18. The components of the actuating assembly are preferably made from A36 steel. However, alternative materials known in the field may be used instead.

A pair of inner and outer tie-rod sets24couple the opposing ends of rod20to the pair of steering knuckles16. The components of inner and outer tie-rod sets24and steering knuckles16are preferably made from A36 steel. However, alternative materials known in the field may be used instead. Each steering knuckle16is coupled to one of the pair of steering wheels of vehicle12as is known in the field using components such as a hub and rotor assembly and bearings. Each inner and outer tie-rod set24comprises a series of linkage arms that pivotably adjust relative to each other, which are configured to transfer movement of rod20to one of steering knuckles16. This transfer of movement of rod20permits steering knuckles16to pivotably adjust.

Mechanical fasteners such as bolts, castle nuts, and the like may be used to couple the ends of rod20to the pair of inner and outer tie-rod sets24. In one embodiment, an axle stop protrusion34is coupled to each inner and outer tie-rod set24. In one embodiment, each axle stop protrusion34comprises a nut disposed around a protruding shaft.

Each steering knuckle16is coupled to an end of beam14by kingpin22. As depicted inFIG. 7, kingpin22is disposed through each adjacent pair of steering knuckle16and an end of an outer member of beam14. Mechanical fasteners are used to secure kingpin22to beam14and steering knuckle16. Specifically, anti-rotation pin32is coupled to a first end of kingpin22. Castle nut30is coupled to the second end of kingpin22and retained in place by hair pin38. A pair of tapered thrust bearings28are disposed around kingpin22and in contact with steering knuckle16. In a preferred embodiment, the first thrust bearing28is positioned on an upper portion of kingpin22and the second thrust bearing28is positioned on a lower portion of kingpin22.

The pair of thrust bearings28in this configuration are advantageous because they reduce friction during pivotal movement of steering knuckle16relative to beam14. In addition, thrust bearings28together support the load of vehicle12and help to minimize wear of the components at the pivoting joints in dual-direction actuating axle assembly10.

In one embodiment, a grease fitting is coupled to dual-direction actuating axle assembly10to provide grease to the pair of thrust bearings28. This ensures thrust bearings28are sufficiently lubricated to ensure the smooth pivotal movement of steering knuckles16relative to beam14. Grease seals40are coupled to the pair of thrust bearings28to prevent grease from leaking out the grease fitting. Grease seals40also prevent water, other fluids and debris from entering the grease fitting. In a preferred embodiment, grease seals40are made from a steel and vulcanized rubber combination. However, alternative materials known in the field may be used instead.

In operation, a user operates vehicle12in a conventional manner. The user rotates the steering wheel of vehicle12to rotate the steering column shaft of vehicle12. Since the steering column shaft is operably connected to the orbital head of vehicle12, the rotation of the steering column shaft permits the orbital head to control the flow of hydraulic fluid via one or more valves to ports19of cylinder18of the hydraulic assembly as depicted inFIGS. 4-5.

FIG. 4depicts an operation when the hydraulic assembly of dual-direction actuating axle assembly10is actuated to turn the pair of steering wheels of vehicle12left. In this operation, the rotation of the steering wheel of vehicle12counterclockwise permits hydraulic fluid from the orbital head to travel through first port19into cylinder18and out of second port19as illustrated by the arrows inFIG. 4. The pressure created by the movement of hydraulic fluid on piston26within cylinder18causes rod20to slidably adjust relative to cylinder18, which pivotably adjusts the pair of steering knuckles16in a first direction to permit vehicle12to travel in a left turn path.

Similarly,FIG. 5depicts an operation when the hydraulic assembly of dual-direction actuating axle assembly10is actuated to turn the pair of steering wheels of vehicle12right. In this operation, the rotation of the steering wheel of vehicle12clockwise permits hydraulic fluid from the orbital head to travel through second port19into cylinder18and out of first port19as illustrated by the arrows inFIG. 5. The pressure created by the movement of hydraulic fluid on piston26within cylinder18causes rod20to slidably adjust relative to cylinder18, which pivotably adjusts the pair of steering knuckles16in a second direction to permit vehicle12to travel in a right turn path. During the operation of the hydraulic assembly, it shall be appreciated that the same amount of hydraulic fluid is displaced through cylinder18for both left and right turns of vehicle12.

The pair of axle stop protrusions34are configured to contact beam14and limit the pivotal movement of the pair of steering knuckles16. As such, axle stop protrusions34serve as obstructions that prevent excessive pivotal movement of steering knuckles16that will result in the breakage of the pair of inner and outer tie-rod sets24.

It shall be appreciated that the components of the dual-direction actuating axle assembly10described in several embodiments herein may comprise any alternative known materials in the field and be of any color, size and/or dimensions. It shall be appreciated that the components of dual-direction actuating axle assembly10described herein may be manufactured and assembled using any known techniques in the field.