Steerable steering knuckle

Abstract

An axle and track drive unit for a vehicle (100) that is powered and steerable; the axle and track drive unit comprising: a drive shaft (302) configured to rotate in a forward and reverse direction about a rotation axis (402); a steerable steering knuckle (202) configured to pivot about a steering axis (600), the drive shaft (302) extending through the steerable steering knuckle (202); a supporting axle housing (214) connected to the steerable steering knuckle (202) and the drive shaft (302) extending through the supporting axle housing (214); a hub (210) mechanically connected to the drive shaft (302); a drive wheel (212) connected to the hub (210); a track drive frame (206) connected to the steerable axle knuckle (202); a plurality of rollers (220, 230) connected to the track drive frame (206); a track (240) coupled to the drive wheel (212) and the plurality of rollers (220, 230); wherein the rotation of the drive shaft (302) about the rotation axis (402) rotates the hub (210) and the drive wheel (212), which rotates the track (240) about the drive wheel (212) and the plurality of rollers (220, 230), wherein the steerable axle knuckle (202) is formed as a single integrated part comprising a chassis support arm (420), and the crawler drive frame (206) is connected to the chassis support arm (420), wherein the chassis support arm (420) has a plurality of mounting holes (422) providing a plurality of mounting options for connecting the crawler drive frame (206) to the chassis support arm (420).

Description

Area of ​​Revelation

[0001] The present disclosure relates to tracked machines, and more particularly to a steerable knuckle on a driven axle for use with tracks. background

[0002] To improve performance, various types of machinery, such as tractors, can be supplied with front-wheel drive. While the front wheels and tires are typically smaller than the rear ones, driving both the front and rear wheels increases the driving efficiency. A mechanical front-wheel drive requires a front drive axle with more components than a front axle without mechanical front-wheel drive. Efforts to further increase driving efficiency have also included axles with dual wheels on each side and axles with tracks on each side.

[0003] Many different designs of steerable knuckles have been used on wheel- and track-driven machines. For wheel-driven machines, the journal on the knuckle supports the weight of the vehicle through the wheel and allows the wheel to turn. Changing from wheel drive to track drive on a steerable axle can be challenging. With tracks, the drive wheel is separate from the track. The track supports the weight of the undercarriage, and the drive wheel drives the track and vehicle. The challenge can be gaining structural support from the vehicle's undercarriage through the steerable knuckle. One solution has been to use an external bearing support that connects the drive wheel to the undercarriage and supports the vehicle's weight through the external bearing support.However, this solution requires an additional bearing carrier and additional hardware to connect the external bearing carrier to the vehicle's axle, and it may require external swing stops to prevent the track from swinging too far forward or backward when traveling over rough terrain.

[0004] US 6,176,334 B1 discloses a steerable crawler drive for a tracked vehicle comprising a crawler track, a drive wheel, idler wheels, and a plurality of rollers. The rollers and idler wheels are supported by a bogie frame that can connect to an inner and an outer wheel carrier, wherein the inner wheel carrier can support the drive wheel. The crawler drive is movably connected via a steering drive to a frame that includes an axle shaft housing and an axle shaft for coupling the steerable crawler drive to a front differential unit.

[0005] US 2001 / 0 025 732 A1 discloses an agricultural tractor with four track suspensions. Each track suspension, slidably mounted on two associated supports, includes a drive wheel assembly mounted on a track wheel carriage to support the track wheels and idler wheels. The track wheel carriage is slidably mounted on the two associated supports and pivotally connected to a track wheel assembly.

[0006] US 2015 / 0 321 709 A1 relates to a tracked vehicle with a track system comprising a frame, a hub mounted on the frame and its hub housing, a drive sprocket, a track chain, and first and second end rollers. The frame comprises an outer and inner frame assembly. The outer frame assembly consists of two spaced-apart plates connected by a bracket, with a bracket between the two plates of the outer frame assembly providing structural support for the frame.

[0007] US 2015 / 0 197 279 A1 discloses a steering knuckle configured to accommodate the vehicle's drive shaft and support the planetary gear assembly. Three mounting areas are located at the front, rear, and bottom of the steering knuckle and are used to secure fasteners. A track system can thus be bolted to the steering knuckle easily yet securely.

[0008] It might be advantageous to have a one-piece integrated knuckle solution that includes a stub axle for transmitting power to a track drive wheel and also structurally supporting the undercarriage to the vehicle. It might also be advantageous to incorporate features into the knuckle that allow the track system to utilize the same axle and knuckle configuration for multiple track settings. Summary

[0009] A steerable steering knuckle and an axle and track drive unit including a steerable steering knuckle are disclosed for a powered and steerable vehicle. The axle assembly includes the steerable steering knuckle, a drive shaft, a supporting axle housing, and a hub. The drive shaft is rotatable about a pivot axis in a forward and reverse direction. The steerable steering knuckle is pivotable about a steering axis, which is typically perpendicular to the pivot axis, and the drive shaft extends through the steering knuckle. The supporting axle housing is connected to the steering knuckle, and the drive shaft extends through the axle housing. The hub is mechanically connected to the drive shaft.The track drive assembly includes a drive wheel connected to the hub, a track drive frame connected to the steerable knuckle, a plurality of rollers connected to the drive frame, and a track connected to the drive wheel and the plurality of rollers. Rotation of the axle's drive shaft about the pivot axis rotates the hub and the drive wheel, which rotates the track around the drive wheel and the plurality of rollers. Rotation of the steerable knuckle about the steering axis rotates the track drive assembly.

[0010] The steerable steering knuckle may include a hollow axle journal, with the drive shaft extending through the hollow axle journal. The steerable steering knuckle may include one or more undercarriage support arms, with the track drive frame connected to one or more undercarriage support arms. The one or more undercarriage support arms may have a plurality of mounting holes allowing for numerous mounting locations for connecting the track drive frame to the undercarriage support arm(s). The steerable steering knuckle may include a kingpin connection, with the steering knuckle connected to the axle housing at the kingpin connection and the steering axle passing through the steering knuckle at the kingpin connection.The kingpin connection may include an upper kingpin connection and a lower kingpin connection, with the steering axis passing through the upper and lower kingpin connections. The steerable knuckle may include a control cylinder connection, with a control cylinder connected to the control cylinder connection being used to pivot the knuckle about the steering axis. The steerable knuckle may include a tie rod connection for connecting a tie rod of the vehicle, wherein the tie rod can control the direction of the corresponding left and right knuckles on opposite sides of the axle assembly so that they steer in the same direction. The steerable knuckle may include a steering angle limiter, with the steering angle limiter limiting how far the knuckle can pivot about the steering axis.The steerable steering knuckle may be a single integrated part comprising a hollow axle journal, the chassis support arm(s), the kingpin connection, the connection to a steering cylinder and the tie rod, and a steering angle limiter. Short description of the drawings

[0011] The above aspects of the present disclosure and the manner in which they are claimed will become more apparent and the disclosure itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the disclosure when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates an example vehicle with tracks; Fig. 2 illustrates an external view of an exemplary track drive assembly mounted on an axle assembly; Fig. 3 illustrates an interior view of the exemplary track drive assembly mounted to the axle assembly; Fig. 4 illustrates an external view of an exemplary axle unit without a track unit; Fig. 5 illustrates an interior view of the exemplary axle assembly without the track assembly; Fig. 6 illustrates an interior view of an exemplary embodiment of a steerable steering knuckle, and Fig. 7 illustrates an external view of the exemplary embodiment of the steerable steering knuckle.

[0012] Corresponding reference numbers are used to mark corresponding parts in the various views. Detailed description

[0013] Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary track drive vehicle 100, in this example a tractor, including a tractor chassis 102, a cab 110, an engine compartment containing an engine 120, front track drive assemblies 130, and rear track drive assemblies 132. Fig. 1 shows only the left side of the vehicle 100 with a front track drive assembly 130 and a rear track drive assembly 132; the right side of the vehicle 100 also includes a front track drive assembly 130 and a rear track drive assembly 132. The tractor chassis 102 supports the operator's cab 110 and the engine 120. The front and rear track drive assemblies 130, 132 support the tractor chassis 102 above the ground and provide the vehicle 100 with the necessary propulsive power. At least the front track drive assembly 130 is steerable to control the vehicle 100, and both the front and rear track drive assemblies 130, 132 are steerable alternately to control the vehicle 100. The driver's cab 110 provides the operator with a clear view of the area being worked on by the vehicle 100.The operator's cab 110 includes controls for the operator to control the engine 120 and the track drive assemblies 130, 132.

[0014] Fig. 2 illustrates an external view and Fig. 3 illustrates an interior view of an exemplary steerable axle assembly 140 used with an exemplary track drive assembly 200. The track drive assembly 200 includes a drive frame 206, a drive wheel 212, idler wheels 220, center rollers 230, and the track 240. The axle assembly 140 includes a steering knuckle 202, a hub 210, a drive shaft 302, a support housing 214, a control cylinder 216, and a tie rod 218. The axle assembly 140 of the vehicle 100 is driven by power from the engine 120.

[0015] Power is transmitted to the hub 210 via the drive shaft 302, which extends through the steering knuckle 202 and the supporting housing 214, to drive the axle assembly 140. The hub 210 may be connected to the drive shaft 302 using a gear set and mechanically connected to the steering knuckle 202 via a bearing set. The control cylinder 216 is connected to the steering knuckle 202 and the supporting axle housing 214. The control cylinder may rotate the steering knuckle 202 about the steering axis to control the direction of the steering knuckle 202 and the hub 210 relative to the tractor chassis 102 for steering the vehicle 100 left or right. The drive frame 206 is connected to the steering knuckle 202 and steers in the direction the steering knuckle 202 is facing. The idler wheels 220 and center rollers 230 are connected to the drive frame 206. The track chain 240 runs over the drive wheel 212, the idler wheels 220, and the center rollers 230.The steering knuckle 202 and the drive frame 206 support the components of the track drive assembly 200. The drive sprocket 212 is connected to the hub 210, rotates with the hub 210, and is oriented in the same direction as the hub 210. The drive sprocket 212 drives the track 240 clockwise or counterclockwise around the drive sprocket 210, the idler wheels 220, and the center rollers 230 to move the vehicle 100.

[0016] Fig. 4 illustrates an external view and Fig. 5 illustrates an interior view of an exemplary axle assembly 140 without a track assembly. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show the steering knuckle 202, the hub 210, the supporting housing 214, an upper kingpin 224, a lower kingpin 222, a tie rod 218, the drive shaft 302 and a pivot axis 402 on which the drive shaft 302 rotates.

[0017] Fig. 6 illustrates an interior view and Fig. 7 illustrates an external view of an exemplary embodiment of the steering knuckle 202. The exemplary steering knuckle 202 is a one-piece, integrated steering knuckle that can be used on a driven, steerable axle for use with tracks. The steering knuckle 202 includes a hollow spindle 410, integrated chassis support arms 420, an upper kingpin connection 430, a lower kingpin connection 432, a tie rod connection 436, and a control cylinder connection 438. The steering knuckle 202 may also include adjustable steering stoppers 446 and / or non-adjustable steering stoppers 442, and the spindle 410 may include axially expanding grooves 412 on its exterior surface.

[0018] The drive shaft 302 extends through the hollow axle journal 410 and is connected to the hub 210 and the drive wheel 212. Rotation of the drive shaft 302 on the pivot axis 402 provides rotational force to the wheel hub 210 and the drive wheel 212 to drive the track 240 and move the vehicle 100 forward or backward. The axle journal 410 provides support to the wheel hub bearings, a final drive wheel set, and the wheel hub 210, on which the track drive wheel 212 is mounted. Track tension acting on the drive wheel 212 is effected by the axle journal 410. The hub 210, for connection to the drive wheel 212, may include drive wheel spacers for various track settings.

[0019] The steering knuckle 202 can pivot about a steering axis 600 that passes through the upper kingpin connection 430 and the lower kingpin connection 432. The steering axis 600, which passes through the upper and lower kingpin connections 430, 432, can include some offsets that can cause the steering axis 600 to deviate by up to 9 degrees from a right angle to the pivot axis 402, which is typically referred to as a right angle. A control cylinder 216 connected to the steering knuckle 202 at the control cylinder connection 438 can control the pivoting of the steering knuckle 202 about the steering axis 600. A tie rod 218 connected to the steering knuckle 202 at the tie rod connection 436 can control the direction of the corresponding left and right steering knuckles 202 on the opposite sides of the axle assembly so that they point in the same direction.The left and right steering knuckles 202 are located on opposite sides of the vehicle 100; for example, the left and right steering knuckles are connected to opposite ends of the front axle assembly or the rear axle assembly of the vehicle 100. The steering angle limiters 442, 446 can define limits for the pivoting of the steering knuckle 202 about the steering axis 600. This pivoting of the steering knuckle 202 about the steering axis 600 allows the control of the track assemblies 200 to steer the vehicle left or right.

[0020] The integrated undercarriage support arms 420 may include a plurality of mounting holes 422 arranged to provide multiple track placement options for incremental track adjustment. Track tension, as well as vertical, forward, backward, and sideways forces, are provided by the support arms 420. The mounting holes 422 of the integrated undercarriage support arms 420 may be evenly spaced or arranged as desired to provide multiple track mounting options to accommodate various track settings or track widths. For example, the track frame 206 may be mounted to the inner or outer mounting holes 422 of the support arms 420 to position the track assembly 200 in the desired track setting.

[0021] While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the illustrations and foregoing description, these illustrations and description are to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in nature, it being understood that the illustrative embodiment(s) have been shown and described, and that it is desired to protect all changes and modifications that are consistent with the spirit of the disclosure. It is understood that alternative embodiments of the present disclosure may not incorporate all of the described features, while still benefiting from at least some of the advantages of such features.Those skilled in the art may well develop their own implementations that incorporate one or more of the features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

[1] An axle and track drive unit for a vehicle (100) that is powered and steerable; the axle and track drive unit comprising: a drive shaft (302) configured to rotate in a forward and reverse direction about a rotation axis (402); a steerable steering knuckle (202) configured to pivot about a steering axis (600), the drive shaft (302) extending through the steerable steering knuckle (202); a supporting axle housing (214) connected to the steerable steering knuckle (202) and the drive shaft (302) extending through the supporting axle housing (214); a hub (210) mechanically connected to the drive shaft (302); a drive wheel (212) connected to the hub (210); a track drive frame (206) connected to the steerable axle knuckle (202); a plurality of rollers (220, 230) connected to the track drive frame (206); a track (240) coupled to the drive wheel (212) and the plurality of rollers (220, 230); wherein the rotation of the drive shaft (302) about the rotation axis (402) rotates the hub (210) and the drive wheel (212), which rotates the track (240) about the drive wheel (212) and the plurality of rollers (220, 230), wherein the steerable axle knuckle (202) is formed as a single integrated part comprising a chassis support arm (420), and the crawler drive frame (206) is connected to the chassis support arm (420), wherein the chassis support arm (420) has a plurality of mounting holes (422) providing a plurality of mounting options for connecting the crawler drive frame (206) to the chassis support arm (420). [2] Axle and track drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the steering axis (600) extends at a right angle to the axis of rotation (402), and / or wherein the steerable steering knuckle (202) comprises a hollow axle journal (410) and the drive shaft (302) extends through the hollow axle journal (410). [3] Axle and track drive unit according to one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the steerable steering knuckle (202) comprises a kingpin connection (430, 432), the steerable steering knuckle (202) is connected to the supporting axle housing (214) at the kingpin connection (430, 432), and the steering axle (600) extends through the steerable steering knuckle (202) at the kingpin connection (430, 432). [4] The axle and track drive unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the steerable steering knuckle (202) further comprises a steering stop, the steering stop being configured to limit the pivoting range of the steerable steering knuckle (202) about the steering axis (600). [5] The axle and track drive unit of claim 1, wherein the steerable knuckle (202) comprises as a single integrated part: a hollow axle journal (410) configured to have the drive shaft (302) extending through the hollow axle journal (410); first and second undercarriage support arms (420) configured to connect the crawler drive frame (206) to the first and second undercarriage support arms (420); a kingpin connection (430, 432), wherein the steering axis (600) extends through the steerable steering knuckle (202) at the kingpin connection (430, 432); a control cylinder connection (438) configured to connect a control cylinder (216) for pivoting the steerable knuckle (202) about the steering axis (600); a tie rod connection (436) configured to connect a tie rod (218), and a steering stop (442, 446) configured to limit the pivoting range of the steerable steering knuckle (202) about the steering axis (600). [6] A steerable steering knuckle (202) for an axle assembly of a vehicle that is powered and steerable and employs a track drive unit comprising a track (214), the vehicle including a drive shaft (302) rotatable in a forward and reverse direction about a pivot axis (402); the steerable steering knuckle (202) comprising: a hollow axle journal (410) configured to allow the drive shaft (302) of the vehicle to extend through the hollow axle journal (410); a first chassis support arm (420) configured to connect the crawler drive unit, and a steering axle (600) extending through the steerable steering knuckle (202), the steerable steering knuckle (202) being configured to pivot about the steering axle (600); wherein rotation of the drive shaft (302) about the rotation axis (402) rotates the track (214) of the track drive unit, and rotation of the steerable steering knuckle (202) about the steering axis (600) rotates the track drive unit, wherein the steerable steering knuckle (202) is formed as a single integrated part comprising the first chassis support arm (420), wherein the first chassis support arm (420) has a plurality of mounting holes which provide a plurality of mounting options for connecting the track drive unit to the steerable steering knuckle (202). [7] The steerable steering knuckle of claim 6, further comprising a second chassis support arm (420) configured to connect the track drive unit such that the track drive unit is connected to both the first and second chassis support arms (420). [8] The steerable steering knuckle of claim 7, wherein each of the first and second chassis support arms (420) has a plurality of mounting holes providing a plurality of mounting options for connecting the track drive unit to the steerable steering knuckle (202). [9] Steerable steering knuckle according to one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the steering axis (600) extends at a right angle to the axis of rotation (402), and / or the steerable steering knuckle further comprises a kingpin connection (430, 432) through which the steering axis (600) extends through the steerable steering knuckle (202) at the kingpin connection (430, 432). [10] Steerable steering knuckle according to one of claims 6 to 9, further comprising a control cylinder connection (438) configured to connect a control cylinder (216) for pivoting the steerable steering knuckle (202) about the steering axis (600). [11] Steerable steering knuckle according to one of claims 6 to 10, further comprising a steering stop (442, 446), wherein the steering stop (442, 446) is configured to limit the pivoting range of the steerable steering knuckle (202) about the steering axis (600). [12] A steerable steering knuckle according to any one of claims 6 to 11, further comprising a tie rod connection (436) for connecting a tie rod (218) of the vehicle (100). [13] Steerable steering knuckle according to claims 7 to 12, wherein the steerable steering knuckle (202) is a single, integrated part comprising a hollow spindle (410), the first and second chassis support arms (420), the kingpin connection (430, 432), the control cylinder connection (438), the steering stop (442, 446) and the tie rod connection (436).

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