Vehicle steering drive axle and vehicle

Abstract

The application discloses a vehicle steering drive axle and a vehicle, and relates to the technical field of vehicle engineering. The vehicle steering drive axle comprises an axle body, steering knuckles arranged at both ends of the axle body, fork type displacement structures arranged at the end of the axle body and the end of the steering knuckle, and the fork type displacement structures of the axle body and the steering knuckle are staggered and nested to form a deflection displacement space. The vehicle steering drive axle further comprises a split type taper pin assembly, which is arranged at the staggered and nested position of the axle body and the steering knuckle and is used for hingedly connecting the steering knuckle to the axle body. The fork type displacement structures of the axle body and the steering knuckle are staggered and nested, physical displacement space is provided for large-angle deflection of the steering knuckle, the steering angle limitation of the traditional structure is broken, and motion interference in the steering process is effectively eliminated. Therefore, the vehicle can obtain a larger steering angle and a smaller turning radius, and the maneuverability of the vehicle in a narrow space and complex field working conditions is significantly improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of vehicle engineering technology, and more specifically, to a vehicle steering drive axle and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] In field operations such as forestry, agriculture, and infrastructure construction, engineering vehicles such as hydrostatic forklifts often face harsh working conditions. Under long-term heavy loads and complex road conditions, key components such as the axle and steering knuckles are prone to deformation or even breakage. As a core component of such vehicles, the steering drive axle must simultaneously bear the functions of steering and driving.

[0003] In existing technologies, to avoid motion interference between the steering knuckle and components such as the axle and tires, the maximum steering angle is often limited, resulting in a larger turning radius and insufficient maneuverability in confined spaces. Furthermore, under large-angle deflection and heavy-load conditions, traditional articulated structures experience complex and concentrated stresses, making key components prone to fatigue deformation or even fracture, thus affecting the overall vehicle lifespan and maintenance efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a vehicle steering drive axle and a vehicle, which can solve the problems of limited steering angle and poor load-bearing stability at the articulation point in the prior art.

[0005] A vehicle steering drive axle, comprising: The bridge body, with steering knuckles at both ends; Both the end of the axle body and the end of the steering knuckle are provided with fork-shaped clearance structures, and the fork-shaped clearance structures of the two are interlocked to form a deflection clearance space. It also includes a split tapered pin assembly, which is inserted at the interlocking and nesting point of the axle body and the steering knuckle, for hinged connection of the steering knuckle to the axle body; At the hinge joint between the split tapered pin assembly and the axle body and the steering knuckle, a radial load-bearing assembly and an axial load-bearing assembly for decoupling are provided. The radial load-bearing assembly is used to bear radial loads, and the axial load-bearing assembly is used to bear axial loads.

[0006] The vehicle steering drive axle provided by this invention has, but is not limited to, the following beneficial effects compared to the prior art: By interlocking the fork-shaped clearance structure at the end of the axle and the steering knuckle, physical clearance space is provided for the large-angle deflection of the steering knuckle, breaking through the steering angle limitation of the traditional structure, effectively eliminating motion interference during the steering process, enabling the vehicle to obtain a larger steering angle and a smaller turning radius, and significantly improving maneuverability in narrow spaces and complex field conditions.

[0007] Meanwhile, the use of split tapered pin assemblies to achieve hinges reduces the difficulty of processing and assembly. By configuring decoupled radial and axial load-bearing components at the hinge, the multi-directional forces under complex working conditions are separated and carried separately, avoiding early failure caused by a single bearing bearing compound loads. This improves the service life and operational stability of the steering drive axle under harsh working conditions.

[0008] Furthermore, both the end of the bridge body and the end of the steering knuckle are provided with forks, and the two forks are nested in an interlocking manner to form the fork-shaped clearance structure; The split tapered pin assembly includes at least two tapered pin segments spaced apart along the axial direction, and the tapered pin segments are respectively inserted into the corresponding pin holes of the fork at the end of the axle body and the fork at the end of the steering knuckle.

[0009] Furthermore, the tapered pin segment includes an upper tapered pin and a lower tapered pin; The upper tapered pin and the lower tapered pin are respectively locked and fixed to the axle body or the steering knuckle by fasteners.

[0010] Furthermore, the radial bearing assembly is a sliding bearing, and the axial bearing assembly is a thrust bearing; The sliding bearing is sleeved on the split tapered pin assembly and is used to bear radial loads; The thrust bearing is disposed between the steering knuckle and the axial end face of the axle body and is used to bear axial load.

[0011] Furthermore, the sliding bearing is disposed between the tapered pin section and the hinge hole of the axle body or the steering knuckle; The thrust bearing is disposed between the steering knuckle and the lower tapered pin seat end face of the axle body; The hinge of the split tapered pin assembly is also equipped with a seal.

[0012] Furthermore, the fork-shaped clearance structure provided at the end of the bridge body and the steering knuckle has a reinforcing rib at the transition point of the variable cross-section, and the transition point of the variable cross-section adopts a rounded corner transition design.

[0013] Furthermore, a hydraulic cylinder is fixedly installed on the bridge body. Both ends of the hydraulic cylinder are provided with connecting rods and connecting rod pins. The connecting rods and connecting rod pins cooperate to form a connecting member. Both ends of the hydraulic cylinder are hinged to the steering knuckles on the left and right sides through the connecting member.

[0014] Furthermore, a flange is provided on the outer side of the steering knuckle, and a hydraulic motor is fixedly mounted on the flange. The hydraulic motor is used to drive the wheel rim and tire.

[0015] Furthermore, the hydraulic motor integrates a bearing housing, a sliding bearing, a thrust bearing, and seals. The hydraulic motor's oil circuit is connected to an external hydraulic system via hydraulic steel pipes arranged along the bridge body.

[0016] A vehicle includes a vehicle body and a vehicle steering drive axle as described above, the vehicle steering drive axle being mounted on the vehicle body.

[0017] Since the technological improvements and beneficial effects of the vehicle are at least the same as those of the vehicle's steering drive axle, the vehicle will not be described in detail here. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a vehicle steering drive axle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Wheel rim and tire; 2. Steering knuckle; 3. Axle body; 4. Connecting rod; 5. Hydraulic steel pipe; 6. Hydraulic cylinder; 7. Bearing housing; 8. Connecting rod pin; 9. Bolt; 10. Sliding bearing; 11. Seal; 12. Upper tapered pin; 13. Nut; 14. Hydraulic motor; 15. Thrust bearing; 16. Lower tapered pin. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, specific embodiments of this application are described clearly and completely below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments described in this application without creative effort will fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0021] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application pertains; the terminology used in the specification of this application is for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and is not intended to limit this application; the terms "comprising," "including," "having," "containing," "comprise," etc., in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this application are open-ended terms, indicating that a method comprises one or more steps, or an apparatus comprises one or more elements, but do not exclude the inclusion of other steps or elements. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, or accompanying drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a specific order or primary / secondary relationship. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0022] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0023] In the description of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "attachment" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0024] In this application, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, in this application, the character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0025] See Figure 1 As shown, an embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle steering drive axle, comprising: Bridge body 3, with steering knuckles 2 at both ends.

[0026] Both the end of the bridge body 3 and the end of the steering knuckle 2 are provided with fork-shaped clearance structures, and the fork-shaped clearance structures of the two are interlocked to form a deflection clearance space.

[0027] It also includes a split tapered pin assembly, which is inserted at the interlocking point between the axle body 3 and the steering knuckle 2, and is used to hinge the steering knuckle 2 to the axle body 3.

[0028] At the hinge point between the split tapered pin assembly and the axle body 3 and steering knuckle 2, there are radial load-bearing components and axial load-bearing components for decoupling. The radial load-bearing components are used to bear radial loads, and the axial load-bearing components are used to bear axial loads.

[0029] In this embodiment, the interlocking and nesting of the fork-shaped clearance structures at the ends of the bridge body 3 and the steering knuckle 2 provides physical clearance space for the large-angle deflection of the steering knuckle, breaking through the steering angle limitations of traditional structures and effectively eliminating motion interference during steering. This allows the vehicle to achieve a larger steering angle and a smaller turning radius, significantly improving maneuverability in confined spaces and complex field conditions. Furthermore, it achieves a large steering angle and improves load-bearing stability while ensuring a compact and reliable structure.

[0030] Meanwhile, the use of split tapered pin assemblies to achieve hinges reduces the difficulty of processing and assembly. By configuring decoupled radial and axial load-bearing components at the hinge, the multi-directional forces under complex working conditions are separated and carried separately, avoiding early failure caused by a single bearing bearing compound loads. This improves the service life and operational stability of the steering drive axle under harsh working conditions.

[0031] Specifically, this steering drive axle is adapted to 2.5t hydrostatic off-road forklifts and is designed for heavy-duty, muddy, and bumpy field operations such as forestry, farmland, and construction sites. Both the axle body 3 and the steering knuckle 2 are welded from high-strength wear-resistant steel plates. The fork-shaped staggered nesting structure provides ample clearance for the steering knuckle 2 to deflect at large angles, completely solving the defects of traditional integrated pin shafts, single-fork structures with limited steering angles, and interference between tires and the axle body 3. The split tapered pin assembly, combined with radial and axial load-bearing components, distributes the vehicle's weight, lateral impact, and steering shear force across different channels, preventing rapid wear and cracking of a single bearing under combined loads. This significantly improves the structural reliability of the entire axle under long-term heavy-duty conditions. At the same time, the overall structure is compact and does not occupy additional chassis installation space, adapting to the small frame layout requirements of forklifts.

[0032] Optionally, both the end of the bridge body 3 and the end of the steering knuckle 2 are provided with forks, and the two forks are nested together to form a fork-shaped yielding structure.

[0033] The split tapered pin assembly includes at least two tapered pin segments spaced apart along the axial direction. The tapered pin segments are respectively inserted into the corresponding pin holes at the fork ends of the axle body 3 and the fork ends of the steering knuckle 2.

[0034] In this embodiment, the fork at the end of the bridge body 3 and the fork of the steering knuckle 2 are arranged in an interlocking and nested manner, and sufficient deflection clearance can be reserved between them. The maximum deflection angle of the steering knuckle 2 is effectively improved compared with the traditional single pin structure, which can reduce the minimum turning radius of the whole vehicle.

[0035] The split tapered pin assembly is segmented into upper and lower sections, replacing the traditional continuous pin shaft. It can be disassembled for processing and assembled independently, reducing the difficulty of machining the coaxiality of the pin holes of large parts. During later maintenance, there is no need to disassemble the entire steering knuckle 2. The bearing and sealing structure can be replaced by disassembling and assembling a single section of the tapered pin, making maintenance operations convenient.

[0036] Optionally, the tapered pin section includes an upper tapered pin 12 and a lower tapered pin 16.

[0037] The upper tapered pin 12 and the lower tapered pin 16 are respectively locked and fixed to the axle body 3 or the steering knuckle 2 by fasteners.

[0038] In this embodiment, the fasteners include a nut 13 and a bolt 9. The upper end of the upper tapered pin 12 extends to the top surface of a fork-shaped relief structure. The rod body is machined with external threads and fitted with a nut 13 to achieve axial locking. The nut 13 presses upward to restrict the upper tapered pin 12 from moving upward due to bumps and impacts.

[0039] The bottom of the lower tapered pin 16 has an internal threaded hole. Bolt 9 is inserted from the bottom of the axle body 3 and tightened upwards to pull the lower tapered pin 16 upwards, thus counteracting the downward axial force brought by the weight of the whole vehicle.

[0040] The differentiated locking methods of the upper tapered pin 12 and fasteners, and the lower tapered pin 16 and fasteners, are adapted to the open assembly space on the upper part of the axle body 3 and the narrow ground clearance at the bottom, respectively. The bidirectional limiting completely eliminates the axial movement clearance of the tapered pins, ensuring long-term stability of the articulated structure without steering play. When the vehicle experiences bumps or vibrations during extreme steering, it effectively prevents axial movement and circumferential rotation of the tapered pins, ensuring stable articulation clearance between the axle body 3 and the steering knuckle 2, and avoiding steering play and abnormal noise problems. Both the upper tapered pin 12 and the lower tapered pin 16 are made of tempered alloy steel with surface hardening treatment, making them wear-resistant and impact-resistant, suitable for continuous impact conditions on gravel and pothole roads in the wild.

[0041] Optionally, the radial bearing assembly is a sliding bearing 10, and the axial bearing assembly is a thrust bearing 15.

[0042] The sliding bearing 10 is mounted on the split tapered pin assembly and is used to bear radial loads.

[0043] The thrust bearing 15 is located between the axial end faces of the steering knuckle 2 and the axle body 3 to bear axial loads.

[0044] In this embodiment, the sliding bearing 10 bears the lateral and radial shear forces generated when the forklift turns and crosses bumps, while the thrust bearing 15 bears the axial pushing load from the vehicle's weight and tire impacts. The sliding bearing 10 and thrust bearing 15 have clearly defined functions and completely decoupled loads, overcoming the design flaws of traditional single bearings simultaneously bearing combined radial and axial forces, effectively reducing bearing wear rates. The sliding bearing 10 uses a copper-based oil-impregnated self-lubricating material, while the thrust bearing 15 employs a planar rolling thrust structure, providing strong load-bearing capacity and smooth, unhindered rotation under low-speed, heavy-load conditions.

[0045] Optionally, the sliding bearing 10 is disposed between the tapered pin section and the hinge hole of the axle body 3 or the steering knuckle 2.

[0046] The thrust bearing 15 is located between the steering knuckle 2 and the lower tapered pin seat end face of the axle body 3.

[0047] The hinge of the split tapered pin assembly is also equipped with a seal 11, which is used to prevent the lubricating medium from leaking out.

[0048] In this embodiment, sliding bearings 10 are individually installed between the upper tapered pin 12, the lower tapered pin 16, and the corresponding hinge holes. The two sliding bearings 10 at the upper and lower locations simultaneously share the radial load, dispersing the force at a single point. The thrust bearings 15 are concentrated on the end face of the tapered pin seat of the lower tapered pin 16, which is the concentrated area of ​​the axial load of the entire vehicle, making the load-bearing arrangement more reasonable. The hinge position is equipped with multiple annular seals 11, which are made of mud-resistant and aging-resistant rubber oil seals. The outer side prevents mud and sewage from entering the bearing mating surface, while the inner side locks in the grease, preventing the loss of lubricating medium, reducing bearing corrosion and dry friction damage under field conditions, and extending the bearing maintenance cycle.

[0049] Optionally, the fork-shaped clearance structure at the ends of the bridge body 3 and the steering knuckle 2 is provided with a reinforcing rib at the transition point of the variable cross-section, and the transition point of the variable cross-section adopts a rounded corner transition design.

[0050] In this embodiment, the reinforcing ribs can improve the local structural strength. The transition point of the variable cross-section has a bend, which is addressed by using rounded corners to eliminate stress concentration at sharp angles and solve the problem of cracking and deformation at the fork root after long-term heavy loads in traditional structures. After overall welding, stress-relief annealing is performed to further release residual welding stress and improve the fatigue resistance of the bridge body 3 and steering knuckle 2.

[0051] Further structural analysis reveals that the combination of split tapered pin components with hinges not only facilitates assembly and maintenance but also allows for the placement of reinforcing ribs or the use of rounded corners in the variable cross-section transition area of ​​the fork-shaped yielding structure. This effectively alleviates stress concentration and improves the structural strength and fatigue resistance of key components.

[0052] Optionally, a hydraulic cylinder 6 is fixedly installed on the bridge body 3. Both ends of the hydraulic cylinder 6 are provided with connecting rods 4 and connecting rod pins 8. The connecting rods 4 and connecting rod pins 8 cooperate to form a connecting member. Both ends of the hydraulic cylinder 6 are hinged to the steering knuckles 2 on the left and right sides through the connecting member.

[0053] In this embodiment, the hydraulic cylinder 6 is centrally located in the middle of the axle 3, serving as the power source for vehicle steering. The connecting rods 4, symmetrically arranged at both ends of the hydraulic cylinder 6, can move under the extension and retraction drive of the output end of the hydraulic cylinder 6, thereby synchronously driving the left and right steering knuckles 2 to deflect in the same direction. This results in good steering synchronization and no unilateral steering lag or deviation. A grease filler is provided at the hinge position between the connecting rod 4 and the connecting rod pin 8, allowing for direct grease filling during routine maintenance and reducing dry friction noise at the hinge point.

[0054] Optionally, a flange is provided on the outside of the steering knuckle 2, and a hydraulic motor 14 is fixedly mounted on the flange. The hydraulic motor 14 is used to drive the rim tire 1.

[0055] In this embodiment, the flange and steering knuckle 2 are integrally cast, resulting in high structural strength. The hydraulic motor 14 is fixed to the end face of the flange, eliminating the need for an intermediate transmission mechanism, thus shortening the power transmission path and minimizing transmission losses. The direct-mount hydraulic motor 14 is easy to install and disassemble. In case of motor failure, it is not necessary to disassemble the axle 3 or steering knuckle 2; the hydraulic motor 14 can be removed separately for inspection and replacement, significantly reducing the difficulty of field maintenance and improving equipment uptime efficiency.

[0056] Optionally, the hydraulic motor 14 integrates a bearing housing 7, a sliding bearing 10, a thrust bearing 15, and a seal 11.

[0057] The hydraulic motor 14 is connected to an external hydraulic system via hydraulic steel pipes 5 arranged along the bridge body 3.

[0058] In this embodiment, the hydraulic motor 14 integrates a complete radial and axial bearing assembly, which can independently withstand the impact load from the wheel rim and tire 1 during travel, without transmitting additional load to the hinge position between the axle 3 and the steering knuckle 2, thus reducing the load on the main hinge area. The hydraulic steel pipes 5 are neatly arranged and secured along the outer wall of the axle 3, with gentle bends to prevent pressure buildup and leakage. They are uniformly connected to the vehicle's external hydraulic oil supply system, ensuring stable oil supply and return, and guaranteeing continuous high torque output from the hydrostatic drive, suitable for heavy-duty climbing and mud-related extrication operations of off-road forklifts. The external hydraulic system is integrated above the axle 3, with a neat layout that does not occupy space on either side of the chassis and will not interfere with the tires or frame.

[0059] In another embodiment, a vehicle is provided, including a vehicle body and a vehicle steering drive axle as described above, the vehicle steering drive axle being mounted on the vehicle body.

[0060] Since the technological improvements and benefits of the vehicle are at least the same as those of the vehicle's steering drive axle, the vehicle will not be described in detail here.

[0061] The above-disclosed embodiments are merely a few specific examples of the present invention. However, the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and any variations that can be conceived by those skilled in the art should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle steering drive axle, characterized in that, include: The bridge body (3) is provided with steering knuckles (2) at both ends; Both the end of the bridge body (3) and the end of the steering knuckle (2) are provided with fork-shaped clearance structures, and the fork-shaped clearance structures of the two are nested in an interleaved manner to form a deflection clearance space. It also includes a split tapered pin assembly, which is inserted at the interlocking nesting point of the axle body (3) and the steering knuckle (2) to hinge the steering knuckle (2) to the axle body (3). At the hinge joint between the split tapered pin assembly and the bridge body (3) and the steering knuckle (2), a radial bearing assembly and an axial bearing assembly for decoupling are provided. The radial bearing assembly is used to bear radial loads, and the axial bearing assembly is used to bear axial loads.

2. The vehicle steering drive axle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Both the end of the bridge body (3) and the end of the steering knuckle (2) are provided with forks, and the two forks are nested in an interlocking manner to form the fork-shaped yielding structure; The split tapered pin assembly includes at least two tapered pin segments spaced apart along the axial direction. The tapered pin segments are respectively inserted into the corresponding pin holes of the fork at the end of the axle body (3) and the fork at the end of the steering knuckle (2).

3. The vehicle steering drive axle as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The tapered pin section includes an upper tapered pin (12) and a lower tapered pin (16). The upper tapered pin (12) and the lower tapered pin (16) are respectively locked and fixed to the bridge body (3) or the steering knuckle (2) by fasteners.

4. The vehicle steering drive axle as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The radial bearing assembly is a sliding bearing (10), and the axial bearing assembly is a thrust bearing (15). The sliding bearing (10) is sleeved on the split tapered pin assembly and is used to bear radial loads; The thrust bearing (15) is disposed between the steering knuckle (2) and the axial end face of the axle body (3) to bear axial load.

5. The vehicle steering drive axle as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The sliding bearing (10) is disposed between the tapered pin section and the hinge hole of the bridge body (3) or the steering knuckle (2); The thrust bearing (15) is disposed between the steering knuckle (2) and the lower tapered pin seat end face of the axle body (3); The hinge of the split tapered pin assembly is also equipped with a seal (11).

6. The vehicle steering drive axle as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The fork-shaped clearance structure provided at the ends of the bridge body (3) and the steering knuckle (2) is provided with a reinforcing rib at the transition point of the variable cross section, and the transition point of the variable cross section adopts a rounded corner transition design.

7. The vehicle steering drive axle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A hydraulic cylinder (6) is fixedly installed on the bridge body (3). Both ends of the hydraulic cylinder (6) are provided with connecting rods (4) and connecting rod pins (8). The connecting rods (4) and connecting rod pins (8) cooperate to form a connecting member. Both ends of the hydraulic cylinder (6) are hinged to the steering knuckles (2) on the left and right sides through the connecting member.

8. The vehicle steering drive axle as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The steering knuckle (2) has a flange on its outer side, and a hydraulic motor (14) is fixedly installed on the flange. The hydraulic motor (14) is used to drive the rim tire (1).

9. The vehicle steering drive axle as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The hydraulic motor (14) integrates a bearing housing (7), a sliding bearing (10), a thrust bearing (15), and a seal (11). The hydraulic motor (14) is connected to an external hydraulic system via a hydraulic steel pipe (5) arranged along the bridge body (3).

10. A vehicle, characterized in that, It includes a vehicle body and a vehicle steering drive axle as described in any one of claims 1-9, the vehicle steering drive axle being mounted on the vehicle body.

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