Support assembly for semi-trailers or the like

A support member for semi-trailers or the like comprising two driven spindle-jacks each with two telescoping inner and outer tubing and each with one bevel-gear drive, one of these drives being actuated by spur-gearing itself actuated by a handcrank, the bevel-gear shaft of this bevel-gear drive penetrating the spur-gearing and forming part of same and being supported at the opposite end as well as between its ends in the outer tubing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to a support assembly for semi-trailers or the like 
and consists of two driven spindle-jacks each with two telescoping inner 
and outer tubing and each with one bevel-gear drive, one of these drives 
being actuated by spur-gearing itself actuated by a handcrank, the 
bevel-gear shaft of this bevel-gear drive penetrating the spur-gearing and 
forming part of the same and being supported at the opposite end as well 
as between its ends in the outer tubing. 
It has been conventional practice so far in spindle-jacks used in such 
support assemblies to support the bevel-gear shaft at one end as well as 
between its ends in the outer square-section of a spindle-jack and to 
support it at its other end in the spur-gear drive-housing, and to do this 
by means of a plurality of sleeve bearing, e.g., three bearings. However, 
to prevent undue friction and accordingly low efficiency, the sleeve 
bearings must be carefully aligned in the assembly of the jack, whereby 
difficulties are encountered in mass production, as the spindle jacks in 
question are welded together, extruded, molded or rolled components being 
used in part. For instance the roller outer square-sections may not be 
satisfactorily right-angular in cross-section. If the sleeve bearings are 
improperly aligned, the bevel-gear shaft may cant, or the angularly offset 
seating of the bevel-gear may result in the further drawback that the 
bevel-gear rests by its shoulder against the inside wall of the outer 
square tubing and thereby moves within it only on one side, whereby there 
is degradation in the functioning of the spindle-jack. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention addresses the problem of eliminating the problems 
cited above and to create equipment, namely a support-assembly with 
spindle-jacks, wherein the support of the bevel-gear shaft and the 
installation of the spur-gearing is simplified under the conditions cited 
above, and whereby improved functioning and efficiency is achieved. 
This problem is solved by the present invention for a support-assembly of 
the initially discussed type in that the support of the bevel-gear shaft 
between its ends is achieved using an anti-friction bearing, i.e., a 
roller or ball bearing, in the form of an annular oblique bearing of which 
the outer race comprises a radially outward, annular projection at the 
inside end, the bearing resting by means of said projection in a suitable 
bore in the outer tubing, in that the spur-gear drive housing by means of 
a suitable bore plugs in self-centering manner on a shoulder extending 
from the inside end of the outer race to the outside, and in that the gear 
and bevel-gear adjacent to the bearing are maintained by the inside race 
at an axial distance from the outer race and, where appropriate, from the 
inside wall of the gear housing or the outer tubing. 
The annular oblique bearing is fixed in place by means of the annular, 
outwardly radial projection, and upon subsequent installation of the 
gearing housing, the latter is properly positioned on the outwardly 
projecting shoulder of the outer race, so that the input or drive shaft of 
the spur-gearing is made to assume a position substantially parallel to 
the bevel-gear shaft, even when for instance the angles made by the sides 
of the outer square section when viewed in cross-section deviate from the 
proper angles. After this emplacement of the gearing housing on the outer 
tube of the spindle-jack, the gearing housing may for instance be welded 
or screwed on the outer tube. Because the inside race of the bearing 
maintains the adjacent bevel-gear and the gear axially away from the outer 
race and from the inside wall of the outer tube, or the gearing housing, 
the friction is reduced compared to the state of the prior art and the 
efficiency of the spindle-jack is further improved. The elimination of the 
previously conventional third support bearing for the bevel-gear shaft in 
view of its overhung support in turn results in an advantageous 
simplification in construction. Because of the above steps of the 
invention a sensible increase in efficiency compared to the prior state of 
the art is made possible and achieved. 
According to a further embodiment of the invention, the bearing is designed 
to be self-latching by means of a split lock washer on a radially offset, 
axial extension of the inside race, and the inside race is provided with a 
toothed spline, whereby an easily installed and dismantled roller bearing 
is achieved, of which the inside race is reliably moved along by the 
bevel-gear shaft, which shaft anyway is equipped with bevel-gearing for 
the rotationally-secure mounting of the bevel-gear and of a further 
spur-gear, the inside race then also meshing with said bevel gearing. 
To prevent erroneous installation of the bearing, a further embodiment of 
the invention provides, for instance, several wart-like protrusions or the 
like at the inside of the gearing housing near the bore and inside the 
outer diameter of the projection at the ouer race of the bearing. These 
protrusions immediately reveal an erroneous emplacement of the bearing on 
the bevel-gear shaft because the adjacent spur gears then do not permit 
being put into their proper assembly positions on the bevel-gear shaft. 
The invention may also be implemented in an especially economical manner 
when the inside and/or outside race of the bearing is an extruded or 
molded component. 
As discussed above, the oblique annular bearing serves both to support the 
bevel-gear shaft between its ends and as a centering means to emplace the 
input or drive shaft in the spur-gearing housing parallel to the 
bevel-gear shaft when assembling the spur-gearing housing to the outer 
tubing, whereby the gears of the driving unit will properly mesh. When the 
spur-gearing housing is welded to the outer tubing, it is necessary 
however to carefully cover the exposed parts of the annular oblique 
bearing--which at this time is in its assembly position--, to prevent 
soiling from the welding procedure. It is alternatively possible when 
assembling the spur-gearing housing to the outer tubing of the 
spindle-jack, to use first a centering template the shape of the annular 
oblique bearing in lieu of the actual one, and to remove it after welding 
and replacing it by the genuine annular oblique bearing. This annular 
oblique bearing comprises an outer race with two stepped, annular 
sections, of which only one is centered or matchingly integrated into a 
bore in the outer tubing or in a bore in the spur-gearing housing, the 
section with the larger diameter resting against the inside of the outer 
tubing and/or the outside of the spur-gearing housing. This embodiment 
offers the advantage that only one particular bore in the outer tubing or 
spur-gearing housing and only one of the stepped, annular sections of the 
outer race require precise machining, so that the assembly of the annular 
tapered bearing into the spindle-jack is simplified. The axial thrust 
generated by the bevel-gear in spindle-jack operation is transmitted 
through the outer race to the outer tubing and/or the gearing housing, or 
reliably absorbed by these components. 
A further feature of the invention is that the inside race of the bearing 
keeps the bevel-gear against a stop on the latter's shaft so as to be 
precisely meshing with its opposite bevel-gear. Accordingly, the inside 
race serves advantageously an additional function.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The two spindle-jacks 10, also termed spindle-props, shown in FIG. 1, are 
of the same design and while spaced apart are fastened by securing-plates 
11 to the underside of a semi-trailer at its front part, so that after 
separating the semi-trailer from its tractive means, it will rest on these 
spindle-jacks. 
Each spindle-jack 10 comprises two relatively displaceable inner and outer, 
substantially square sections of tubular form 12 and 13, rollers or 
articulating feet (not shown) being mounted to the lower end of the inside 
square section 12 to prop the semi-trailer on the ground. The relative 
motion of the inside and outside square sections is implemented by 
rotating a threaded spindle 14 which is held axially fixed but 
rotationally displaceable in a bearing plate 15 welded into the outer 
square tubing 13 and which holds a nut 16 fastened to the upper end of the 
inside square tubing 12. 
A bevel-gear 17 meshing with another bevel-gear 18 is pinned to the upper 
end of the threaded spindle 14, bevel-gear 18 being rigidly mounted with 
respect to relative motion on a bevel-gear shaft 19 and 19a. Bevel-gear 
shaft 19, as shown in FIG. 1, extends leftwards and into a spur-gearing 
housing 20 consisting of two molded or stamped pieces 21 and 22, which are 
joined together at 23. Two gears 24 and 25 are mounted so as to be secured 
against relative rotation on that part of the bevel-gear shaft 19 which 
enters the spur-gearing housing 20, one of which (FIG. 2) meshes with gear 
24 by means of pinion 26, while gear 25 meshes with gear 27. Pinion 26 and 
gear 27 are mounted on an axially displaceable drive shaft 28 which can be 
rotated by a hand-crank (not shown), the various set positions of drive 
shaft 28 being secured by a spring 29. This spring lock 29 functions by 
means of annular grooves 30 in drive shaft 28. FIG. 2 shows the 
spur-gearing in a particular setting corresponding to operation under 
load. When the equipment is set for rapid (unloaded) operation, gear 27 
meshes with gear 25. 
FIG. 1 discloses that the bevel-gear shafts 19 and 19a are drive-connected 
by means of a ganging shaft 31, so that when this shaft rotates, both 
spindle jacks 10 are actuated simultaneously. However, each spindle-jack 
may also be provided with its own hand-crank drive. 
The bevel-gear shaft 19 is supported at one end in a bearing sleeve 32 
mounted to the outside square tubing 13 and furthermore between its ends 
in a ball bearing 33 which is designed as an annular oblique bearing. That 
part of the bevel-gear shaft 19 supporting gears 24 and 25 projects freely 
into gearing housing 20, that is, it "overhangs" or is cantilevered. 
Bearing 33 is provided with an outer race 34 and an inner race 35, and is 
designed to remain in place by itself. To that end a split lock-washer 37 
is mounted in a corresponding groove on a radially offset, axial extension 
36 of the inner race 35. The outer race 34 comprises at its inside end an 
annular, radially outward projection 38 fitted to and inserted into a bore 
39 in the outer square tubing 13. Component 21 of gearing housing 20 is 
provided with a bore 40 through which passes with a close fit an outwardly 
extending shoulder 41 of outer race 34. When gearing-housing part 21 is 
slipped on this shoulder, the required alignment of gears 26 and 27 with 
respect to gears 24 and 25, respectively, is ensured, shafts 19 and 28 
assuming substantially axially parallel positions. After slipping this 
component 21 onto shoulder 41, component 21 can be connected with the 
outer square tubing 13, for instance, by welding or bolting, as indicated 
in FIG. 2 at 42. 
Bevel-gear shaft 19 is provided with toothed spline sections 43 and 44; 
bevel-gear 18, inside race 35 and gear 24 are mounted by means of matching 
splines on section 43, secured on same against relative rotation, while 
gear 25 is seated on section 44 with a respective matching spline, also 
secured against relative rotation. A spacing bush 45 is mounted between 
gears 24 and 25 and a split lock washer 46 seated in a groove 47 of the 
bevel-gear shaft 19 secures components 25, 45, 24, 35 and 18 to bevel-gear 
shaft 19 in the positions shown. 
Inside race 35 extends axially in both directions beyond outer race 34, 
thereby ensuring that bevel-gear 18 and gear 24 are axially spaced from 
outer race 34. Several wart-like protrusions 48 provided at the inside of 
component 21 of gearing-housing 20--only one being shown in FIGS. 1 and 
2--prevent incorrect assembly of bearing 33. 
Bearing 33 is slipped on the splined section 43a of bevel-gear shaft 19a 
and corresponds to the bearing discussed above. Shoulder 41 of outside 
race 34 in this case extends however through a bore 49 in the mounting 
plate 11, and the inner race 35 and the bevel-gear 18 are axially fastened 
to bevel-gear shaft 19a by means of a split lock-washer 51 mounted in a 
groove 50 in this instance. In this variation, the inside race 35 again 
serves to space the bevel-gear 18 laterally away from the outer race 34 to 
prevent frictional losses. 
The outer race 34 of ball bearing 33a in FIG. 3 is inserted as a close fit 
by means of its annular section 38 in a bore 39 in the outer square tubing 
13, while the annular and offset section 41' of the outer race extends 
with radial play into a bore 40' of gearing-housing 20. Therefore, only 
bore 39 and the outer circumference of section 38 require precise 
machining. The required coaxial arrangement of bores 39 and 40' and of the 
bore seating the bearing sleeve 32 (FIG. 1) is implemented by using a 
template (not shown) corresponding to the annular oblique bearing 33a when 
welding the gearing-housing 20 to the outer square tubing 13, or 
alternatively by first welding the gearing-housing to the outer square 
tubing and then machining in one stage all the bores for the bevel-gear 
shaft 19, for instance, by means of a step-drill, namely axially parallel 
to the drive shaft 28 of the spur-gearing. 
Whereas in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the annular section 38 with the larger 
diameter is installed in close fitting manner into bore 39 of the outer 
square tubing 13, the offset annular section 41 according to the 
embodiment of FIG. 1 and comprising the ball bearing 33b, and of a smaller 
diameter, is installed centered or ready-to-match in bore 40 of the 
spur-gearing housing 20. Between section 38' with the larger diameter and 
bore 39', there is a radial play, that is, neither section 38' nor bore 
39' require precise machining. 
According to a further characteristic of the invention, the inner race 36 
keeps the bevel-gear 18 forced against a stop 52 formed by the left rim of 
an enlarged-diameter section 53 of the bevel-gear shaft 19, whereby 
precise meshing between bevel gears 18 and 17 is ensured. The axial 
thrusts exerted when operating the spindle-jack by bevel-gear 18 toward 
the spur-gearing are transmitted by the inner race 35, by the balls of the 
annular oblique bearing and by the outer race 34 to gearing-housing 20 and 
are absorbed by it, because the annular section 38 of outer race 34 with 
the larger diameter fully rests against the outside 54 of this housing 
(FIGS. 3 and 4). The above description also applies to the annular oblique 
bearing 33 slipped on the splined section 43a of bevel-gear shaft 19a.