Axle Assembly for a Vehicle with a Double Kingpin Hinge Arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016144891-A1
Application number	US-201414900417-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 1, 2014
Priority date	Jul 2, 2013
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An axle assembly for a vehicle includes an axle having opposite axle ends and a pair of axle hubs. The axle assembly has a pair of double kingpin hinge arrangements, each including a first pivot pin connected with a respective one of the axle ends, a second pivot pin operatively associated with a respective axle hub, and a knuckle interconnecting the first pivot pin and the second pivot pin. At least one steering cylinder is associated with each double kingpin hinge arrangement. Each steering cylinder is interconnected between the axle and the knuckle or the axle hub.

First claim

1 . An axle assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
an axle having opposite axle ends; and a pair of axle hubs; a pair of double kingpin hinge arrangements, each said double kingpin hinge arrangement including a first pivot pin connected with a respective one of said axle ends, a second pivot pin operatively associated with a respective said axle hub, and a knuckle interconnecting said first pivot pin and said second pivot pin; and at least one steering cylinder associated with each said double kingpin hinge arrangement, each said steering cylinder being interconnected between said axle and said knuckle or said axle hub.

2 . The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein each said knuckle is an inboard knuckle, and each said double kingpin hinge arrangement further includes an outboard knuckle, each said first pivot pin interconnecting one end of said inboard knuckle with said one axle end, each said second pivot pin interconnecting an opposite end of said inboard knuckle with said outboard knuckle, each said outboard knuckle being connected with a respective said axle hub.

3 . The axle assembly of claim 2 , wherein each said double kingpin hinge arrangement further includes a mechanical stop which limits a rotation of said inboard knuckle about said first pivot pin in a direction toward said one axle end, whereby said outboard knuckle can rotate about said second pivot pin when said inboard knuckle engages said mechanical stop.

4 . The axle assembly of claim 3 , wherein each said mechanical stop comprises one of:
a stop surface associated with a respective axle end; and a fluid cylinder interconnected between said axle and said inboard knuckle.

5 . The axle assembly of claim 3 , wherein said first pivot pin defines a first pivot axis and said second pivot pin defines a second pivot axis, and wherein said mechanical stop is located relative to a stop angle between a transverse axis which is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said axle, and a line extending between said first pivot axis and said second pivot axis, said stop angle being between approximately 0° to 20°.

6 . The axle assembly of claim 2 , wherein each said double kingpin hinge further includes at least one lock, each said lock configured for locking said inboard knuckle relative to said axle or said outboard knuckle, each said lock comprising:
a cam and pin lock arrangement which locks said inboard knuckle and said outboard knuckle relative to each other; a pin lock arrangement which locks said inboard knuckle and a respective said axle end relative to each other; or a fluid cylinder lock arrangement which locks said inboard knuckle relative to said axle or said outboard knuckle.

7 . The axle assembly of claim 2 , wherein said at least one steering cylinder includes at least one of:
a pair of rear steering cylinders interconnected between said axle and a respective said inboard knuckle; a front steering cylinder associated with said tie rod; and a pair of front steering cylinders interconnected between said inboard knuckle and a respective said outboard knuckle.

8 . The axle assembly of claim 7 , further including a tie rod extending between said outboard knuckles.

9 . The axle assembly of claim 2 , wherein said at least one steering cylinder is configured for selectively at least one of:
steering the axle hubs at a narrow wheel stance; extending the axle hubs to an extended wheel stance; steering the axle hubs at the extended wheel stance; retracting the axle hubs from the extended wheel stance to the narrow wheel stance.

10 . The axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein each said second pivot pin is connected to a respective said axle hub, and each said double kingpin hinge arrangement further includes a first circular member coupled with and having a first axis generally coincident with a first pivot axis of said first pivot pin, and a second circular member having a second axis generally coincident with a second pivot axis of said second pivot pin, said second circular member being rotationally coupled with said first circular member.

11 . The axle assembly of claim 10 , wherein first circular member is non-rotatable about said first pivot axis, and said second circular member is rotatable about said second pivot axis.

12 . The axle assembly of claim 11 , wherein said first circular member comprises a first gear, and said second circular member comprise a second gear which is driven by said first gear.

13 . The axle assembly of claim 12 , wherein said second gear is driven by said first gear by an intervening gear or is directly enmeshed with said first gear.

14 . The axle assembly of claim 11 , wherein said first circular member comprises a first pulley, and said second circular member comprise a second pulley which is driven by said first pulley.

15 . The axle assembly of claim 11 , wherein said first circular member and said second circular member each have a selected diameter providing a selected drive ratio therebetween.

16 . An agricultural work vehicle, comprising:
a body; and an axle assembly carried by said body, said axle assembly including:
an axle having opposite axial ends;
a pair of axle hubs; and
a pair of double kingpin hinge arrangements, each said double kingpin hinge arrangement including a first pivot pin connected with a respective one of said axle ends, a second pivot pin operatively associated with a respective said axle hub, and a knuckle interconnecting said first pivot pin and said second pivot pin; and
at least one steering cylinder associated with each said double kingpin hinge arrangement, each said steering cylinder being interconnected between said axle and said knuckle or said axle hub.

17 . The axle assembly of claim 16 , wherein each said knuckle is an inboard knuckle, and each said double kingpin hinge arrangement further includes an outboard knuckle, each said first pivot pin interconnecting one end of said inboard knuckle with said one axle end, each said second pivot pin interconnecting an opposite end of said inboard knuckle with said outboard knuckle, each said outboard knuckle being connected with a respective said axle hub.

18 . The axle assembly of claim 16 , wherein each said second pivot pin is connected to a respective said axle hub, and each said double kingpin hinge arrangement further includes a first circular member coupled with and having a first axis generally coincident with a first pivot axis of said first pivot pin, and a second circular member having a second axis generally coincident with a second pivot axis of said second pivot pin, said second circular member being rotationally coupled with said first circular member.

19 . The axle assembly of claim 18 , wherein said first circular member is non-rotatable about said first pivot axis, and said second circular member is rotatable about said second pivot axis.

20 . The axle assembly of claim 19 , wherein said first circular member comprises a first gear or a first pulley, and said second circular member comprises a mating second gear or a second pulley.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Reubens Sam
• Vandendriessche Jean-Pierre
• Verheye Carlos J A
• De Lathauwer Tom A

Classifications

• B62D7/18 Primary

  Steering knuckles; King pins · CPC title

• B62D7/06

  for individually-pivoted wheels, e.g. on king-pins · CPC title