Patent GB-571023-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to wheeled vehicles
IPC: B60B33/06
Filed: 1943-07-06
Abstract: 571,023. Vehicle wheel mountings. STANDARD TELEPHONES & CABLES, Ltd., and KING, S. E. J. July 6, 1943, No. 10949. [Class 108 (ii)] Each wheel of a vehicle is mounted in a wheel assembly attached to a frame and means are provided for simultaneously rotating the assemblies about parallel axes fixed with respect to the frame for retracting the wheels to permit the frame to be lowered evenly to rest on the ground, and resilient means are also provided for mounting each wheel in the corresponding wheel assembly in such manner as to allow the centre of the wheel to turn through a limited angle with respect to the assembly, about the same axis as the assembly itself turns. In the four-wheel, hand-propelled truck shown, front and rear wheel assemblies 2, 3 and 5, 6 are rigidly fixed respectively to shafts 4, 7 mounted in the cross-braced steel frame 1, each shaft carrying two cranks 49, 50 and 51, 53, Fig. 7, the end pairs of which are coupled by rods 54, 55 attached to the cranks bv swivel blocks and adjusting nuts. To a central crank 52 on the shaft 7 is fixed a swivel nut 56 for a lead-screw 8 which, when manually rotated raises or lowers the wheel assemblies to lower or raise the frame. Stops fixed to the screw limit its motion in both directions. Figs. 3, 4 show a front wheel assembly comprising a plate 12 fixed to the frame 1 and carrying a bush 13 having a base 14 through which one end of the shaft 4 passes and extends some distance beyond. A sleeve 15 slipped over the projecting end of the shaft 4 contacts the base 14 and forms a bearing for a fork carrying the wheel 30. A plate 17 carrying springs 18, 19 is fixed to a short tube 16 which is slipped over the sleeve 15 into contact with the base 14, and the tube 16, sleeve 15 and shaft 4 are rigidly pinned together. Another short tube 20 carrying a crank arm 21 having stiffening ribs 22, 23, is slipped over the sleeve 15 beside the tube 16 and rotates about the sleeve. A retaining ring 24 holds the parts together while permitting the arm 21 and tube 20 to rotate freely. The wheel fork 26, 27, 28 is carried by the lower end of the arm 21, the upper end of which carries a block 35 sandwiched between and having cups 36, 37 for retaining the springs 18, 19, the other ends of the springs being retained in similar caps 65, 66 threaded on screws having nuts 38, 39 for adjusting the springs. Stops 40, 67 on the plate 17 limit the movements of the arm 21 in both directions. The spring 18 may be supplemented by an additional spring 68. The rear wheel assemblies differ from the front wheel assemblies in that the arm 21 is shaped differently in order to carry a vertical tube in which a spindle projecting upwardly from the wheel fork is rotatably mounted so that the wheel can swivel. Screws 9 may be provided for levelling the frame when it rests on the ground. The vehicle, which may be mechanically propelled, may have three or more than four wheels and additional pairs of wheel assemblies may be mounted on extra shafts coupled in tandem to the two shafts shown. All the wheels may be mounted to swivel for steering purposes. The retracting mechanism may be mechanically driven.