JPH02267002A - Tread adjusting device for steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) Zero shouting relates to the tread adjustment device of the vehicle's steering wheels.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as a tread adjustment device for a steering wheel in a vehicle such as a tractor, supports for supporting the steering wheel are slidably inserted into both left and right ends of an axle case suspended on the vehicle body. The supporting body is made to expand and contract using a hydraulic cylinder (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 57172802), or a worm gear mechanism is provided in place of the hydraulic cylinder, and the supporting body is expanded and contracted by this worm gear mechanism. (Utility Model Publication No. 59-28883).

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, this type of device has the disadvantage that the front axle case must be lifted with a jack or the like when adjusting the tread, making the adjustment operation complicated.

In view of such conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily adjust the tread by using a steering mechanism.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A feature of the present invention is that in a vehicle having an alignment in which the left and right steering wheels 18 create running resistance in the direction of returning straight when steering left and right, the left and right steering wheels 18 The left and right supports 12 supporting the wheels 18 are provided to be movable left and right, and the left and right steering tie rods 34 of the left and right steering wheels 18 are provided to be extendable and retractable to the left and right, so that the left and right supports 12 can be moved left and right with respect to the vehicle body. A support regulating means 13 for releasably regulating is provided, and a tie rod regulating means 54 for releasably regulating left and right expansion and contraction of each of the left and right tie rods 34 is provided.
This tie rod regulating means 54 is hydraulically driven, and each of the left and right tie rods 34 is connected to the first rod 50 and the first rod 5.
0, an inner cylindrical body 57 externally fitted onto the first and second rods 50, and an outer cylindrical body 57 externally fitted onto the inner cylindrical body 57. A cylindrical body 62;
A slider 64 is installed between the inner and outer cylindrical bodies 57, 62 so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and the inner cylindrical body 57 is fixed to one of the first and 20th rods 50, 51 so as not to be axially movable. A positioning body 59 is disposed between the other of the first and second rods 50, 51 and the inner periphery of the slider 64 and is axially slidable relative to the inner cylinder 57. A plurality of recesses 60 are interposed and removably engaged with the positioning body 59, and are formed in parallel in the axial direction on the other outer periphery of the first and twentieth ends 50, 51. A hooking part 67 is recessed in the positioning part 67 and has a part 67a that prevents movement of the positioning body 59 and the recess 60 in the disengagement direction, and a part 67b that allows it. The point is that the relative position of each part 67a, 67b of the hooking part 67 with respect to 59 is changed. In this case, a plurality of positioning bodies 57 are provided, and
Preferably, the first and second rods 50.51 are arranged at irregular intervals in the circumferential direction.

(Function) According to the above configuration, one of the left and right tie rods 34 is made telescopic, and when the other one is operated with the expansion and contraction restricted, one of the left and right tie rods 34 expands and contracts. Therefore, one of the left and right steering wheels 8 can be placed in a straight-ahead state, and the other can be placed in a steered state. The support body 12 on the side of the steering wheel 18 in this steering state is made to be movable left and right with respect to the vehicle body, and the expansion and contraction of the tie rod 34 on the side of the steering wheel 18 is restricted, and the vehicle is driven.

Then, the running resistance caused by the alignment of the steering wheel 18 generates a force that returns the steering wheel 18 that has been in the steering state to the straight traveling state, and the steering wheel 18 moves while expanding and contracting the support body 12 with respect to the vehicle body. Return to straight running condition. If the other of the left and right tie rods 34 is telescopic, the other steering wheel 18
The side supports 12 are similarly expanded and contracted. This allows the tread adjustment of the steering wheel I8.

Further, by hydraulically driving the expansion and contraction of the left and right quirods 34, remote control becomes possible.

Further, since the tie rod regulating means 54 is formed so as to surround the outer periphery of the tie rod 34, it does not protrude significantly in the radial direction.

Furthermore, by arranging a plurality of positioning bodies 59 at unequal intervals in the circumferential direction, when restricting the expansion and contraction of the tie rod 34, the slider 64 is placed against the tie rod 34.6, and
It is possible to press biased in the radial direction.

As a result, even if there is a gap necessary for relative sliding between the tie rod 34 and the inner cylinder 57 or between the outer and outer cylinders 57, 62 and the slider 64, the expansion and contraction of the tie rod 34 is restricted. can eliminate rattling.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

5 and 6 show a first embodiment (such a vehicle - an agricultural tractor as an example). At the lower front end of the vehicle body 1, a front axle case 2 is connected to a pair of front and rear center axles 3 and 4. It is swingably suspended via axle brackets 5 and 6. A front wheel differential device 8 is disposed in the center of the front axle case 2, and a front wheel differential device 8 is disposed in the center of the front axle case 2. A pinion shaft 11 with a herbinion of 1° is inserted,
This pinion shaft 11 is interlocked and connected to an engine (not shown).

A cylindrical movable case (
A support member) 12 is inserted slidably in the axial direction.

A gear case 14 is attached to the outer end of the movable case 12, and a front wheel case 16 is attached to the gear case 14 so as to be freely steerable around a king pin 15. A front wheel 18 is supported by this front wheel case 16 via an axle 17. The front wheels 18 have an alignment that creates running resistance in the direction of returning straight forward movement at the same time as left and right steering.

A support regulating means 13 is provided for releasably regulating the sliding movement of the movable case 12 with respect to the front axle case 12 at any position. As shown in FIG.
The rotor turbine 20 is provided with a contour turbine 20 that can move toward and away from the flat surface 19, and is configured to be operated by a hydraulic cylinder 21 to move the turbine 20 in the direction toward and away from the flat surface 19. That is,
By pressing the Kotsu turbine 20 against the flat surface 19, the movement of the movable case 12 is restricted, and by moving it away from the flat surface 19, the restriction on the movement of the movable case 12 is released. Note that the rod turbine 20 is housed in a rod insertion hole 22 of the front axle case 2, and is connected to a piston 21a of a hydraulic cylinder 21 via a rod 23. The hydraulic cylinder 21 is of a double-acting type and is fixed to the front axle case 2, and its control valve (not shown) can be operated by an operator seated in the driver's seat of the tractor.

At the rear of the movable case 12, a tide stop member 24 for preventing rotation of the movable case 12 is arranged parallel to the movable case 12, and its outer end side is fixed to the flange portion 25 of the movable case 12. The tide stop member 24 is slidably inserted into a guide hole 26 formed in the rear part of the front axle case 2, and its sliding is regulated by a tide stop locking means 27 such that it can be released at any position. be done. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the tide stop locking means 27 includes a knot turbine 29 that can move toward and away from the flat surface 28 of the tide stop member 24, and a complex turbine that operates in the same way as the support regulating means 13. A dynamic hydraulic cylinder 3o is provided, and the hydraulic cylinder 3o can be operated by an operator in the driver's seat.

A power steering hydraulic cylinder 31 is provided on the front side of the front axle case 2.
1 has left and right piston rods 33 that slide in the left and right directions in conjunction with the operation of the handle. Each piston rod 33 constitutes a part of left and right steering tie rods 34, and a Quirod main body 35 is pivotally attached to the outer end thereof and is pivotally attached to the front wheel case 16.

The front wheel differential device 8 includes a differential cork shaft 45, a transmission shaft 46 spline-fitted thereto, a bevel gear mechanism 47 in the gear case 14, a king pin 15, and a front wheel case 16.
Power is transmitted to the left and right front wheels 18 via a final reduction mechanism or the like inside.

Each piston rod 33 of the left and right tie rods 34 is left and right telescopic. That is, Figures 1 to 4
As shown in the figure, the piston rod 33 has a first
It is formed by a rod 50 and a second rod 51 on the outer end side,
A second rod 51 is slidably inserted into an insertion hole 52 formed along the axis of the first rod 50 . In addition,
A connecting ball joint 53 of the tie rod body 35 is attached to the outer end of the second rod 51.

A tie rod regulating means 54 is provided for releasably regulating the expansion and contraction of the left and right piston rods 33. This tie rod regulating means 54 is hydraulically driven.

That is, the first rod 50 has a male threaded portion 5 on the outer periphery of the outer end.
5 is formed, and a tenth nut 5 is attached to this male threaded portion 55.
6 and the cylindrical body 57 are screwed together. The inner cylindrical body 57 has a stepped inner cylindrical shape, extends axially outward from the first rod 50, and is slidable in the axial direction relative to the outer circumference of the second rod 52.

Two ball holding holes 58 are formed in a portion of the inner cylindrical body 57 that surrounds the outer periphery of the second rod 52 .

The opening positions of the pole holding holes 58 are provided at irregular intervals in the circumferential direction of the inner cylindrical body 57.

A positioning hole 59 is fitted into the ball holding hole 58. Furthermore, circumferential groove-like recesses 60 into which the five positioning balls are removably engaged are formed on the outer periphery of the first rod 50 at desired intervals in the axial direction.

Then, at the stepped portion 61 on the outer periphery of the axially intermediate portion of the inner cylinder body 57,
An outer cylindrical body 62 is fitted onto the outside through an oil seal 63. Between the outer cylinder body 62 and the inner cylinder body 57, both cylinder bodies 57,
A cylindrical slider 64 concentric with the oil seal 65
, 66, and are fitted so as to be slidable in the axial direction. On the inner periphery of this cylindrical slider 64, a circumferential groove-shaped hooking portion 67 that engages with the positioning pawl 59 is formed.

This hooking portion 67 is connected to the positioning ball 59 and the recessed portion 60.
It has a portion 67a deep enough to prevent disengagement from the engagement, and a portion 67b deep enough to allow disengagement.

Further, an annular closure body 68 is fitted onto the outer periphery of the outer end in the axial direction of the inner cylinder body 57, and a male threaded portion 69 is formed. The body 68 is maintained in contact with the outer end surfaces of the inner and outer cylindrical bodies 57 and 62.

A space surrounded by the inner and outer cylindrical bodies 57, 62 and the slider 64 is an oil chamber 71, and a pressure oil supply lower 2 to the oil chamber 7 is formed in the outer cylindrical body 62. This pressure oil supply lower 2 is connected to a pump (not shown), a control valve, and an oil tank mounted on the tractor through piping (not shown), and the control valve can be operated by an operator in the driver's seat to control the supply of pressure oil. It will be done. Further, a return spring 73 is installed in a space surrounded by the outer cylinder 62, the slider 64, and the closure body 68.

As a result, by supplying pressure oil to the oil chamber 71, the slider 6
4 moves to the left from the state shown in FIG. 1 against the elastic force of the return spring 730. Then, as shown in the second diagram, the positioning pole 59 can be freely disengaged from the recess 60, so that the second rod 51 can freely move in the axial direction with respect to the first rod 50, that is, the piston rod 33 can freely expand and contract. . Then, as shown in FIG. 3, after the positioning pole 59 engages with a recess 60 different from that shown in FIG. The positioning ball 59 is prevented from disengaging from its recess 60, and the expansion and contraction of the piston rod 33 is restricted.

With the above configuration, the lud of the front wheels 18, which are steering wheels, can be adjusted by alternately expanding and contracting the left and right supports 12.

For example, to first extend the left side, the tractor is moved straight, and the left tie rod regulating means 54 releases the extension/contraction restriction of the left piston rod 33, which is a part of the left tie rod 34, as described above. Thereafter, by operating a steering handle (not shown), the hydraulic cylinder 31 is actuated to steer to the right. Then, the right front wheel 18 rotates around the kingpin 15 in a stationary state, but the left front wheel 18 remains in a straight forward state and the left tie rod 34 extends.

When the left piston rod 33 reaches a desired length, the tie rod regulating means 54 regulates the expansion and contraction of the left piston rod 33 as described above. Further, the restriction on movement of the left movable case 12 by the left support restricting means 13 is released as described above. Furthermore, the sliding restriction of the left fitting member 24 by the left tide locking means 27 is released as described above.

Next, the steering wheel is operated from the right steering state to the straight forward steering state. Then, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 8, the left front wheel 18 rotates around the king pin 15 so that its front side faces outward by the amount that the left piston rod 33 has expanded. If the vehicle continues to travel forward in this state, the left front wheel 1B attempts to return to the straight traveling state due to the running resistance caused by the front wheel alignment, and rotates around the king pin 15 so that its rear side faces outward. As a result, the movable case 12 moves outward by a distance corresponding to the extension of the left screw I/front 33, as shown by the imaginary line in the eighth section, and the left front wheel 18
is in a straight line state. After that, the left support regulating means 1
3 restricts the movement of the left movable case 12, and the left passage lock means 27 restricts the sliding of the fitting member 24. This completes the left side tread adjustment, and the right side tread adjustment is completed in the same manner as the left side.

Also, when shortening the tread, piston rod 3
After the expansion/contraction restriction in step 3 is lifted, the handle is operated so that the piston rod 33 is shortened, and when the handle is returned, the steering direction is opposite to that shown in FIG. 8, and the other operations are the same.

FIG. 9 relates to a second embodiment, in which parts similar to those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and differences will be explained.

First, as a difference in the configuration, the return spring 73 is not provided on the tie rod regulating means 54, and the space surrounded by the outer cylinder body 62, slider 64, and closing body 68 is used as an oil chamber 75, and the pressure to this oil chamber 75 is The oil supply lower 4 is formed in the outer cylinder body 62. This supply lower 4 and a supply lower 2 similar to the first embodiment are connected to a pump (not shown), a control valve, and an oil tank mounted on the tractor via piping (not shown).

As a result, the slider 64 can be moved to the right in the figure by supplying pressure oil to the oil chamber 71 and draining the oil in the oil chamber 75 to the tank, and the slider 64 can be moved to the right in the figure. This is accomplished by supplying pressure oil to the oil chamber 75 and draining the oil in the oil chamber 71 to a tank. Note that oil seals 76, 77, and 78 are interposed between the inner cylindrical body 57 and the slider 64, between the inner cylindrical body 57 and the closing body 68, and between the closing body 68 and the outer cylindrical body 62, respectively. ing.

FIG. 10 relates to a third embodiment, in which parts similar to those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and differences will be explained.

First, the difference in structure is that the tie rod regulating means 54 is provided with an oil chamber 75, a pressure oil supply lower 4, and oil seals 76, 77, and 78, similar to the second embodiment. The return spring 73, the oil chamber 71, the pressure oil supply lower 2, and the oil seals 63, 65, 66 are not provided, and the inner and outer cylinder bodies 57, 62 are not provided.
A return fly 79 is placed in the space surrounded by the slider 64 and the slider 64.
It's decorated.

As a result, the slider 64 is moved to the left in the figure by draining the oil in the oil chamber 75 into the tank and by the action of the elastic force of the return spring 79.
The movement to the right in the figure is achieved by supplying pressure oil to the oil chamber 75 to resist the elastic force of the return spring 79.

FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 relate to the fourth embodiment, and the same parts as in the first embodiment are indicated by the same reference numerals, and only the different parts will be explained.

First, as a difference in the configuration, a front wheel rotation restricting means 80 releasably restricts rotation of the front wheel 18 with respect to the movable case 12.
is provided. This allows a lock bin 83 to be inserted into and removed from a bracket 81 that protrudes from the front wheel case 16 and a bracket 82 that protrudes from the gear case 14. When the lock bin 83 is inserted, rotation of the front wheel 18 is restricted, and its removal is restricted. The restrictions will be lifted if you take off your clothes. Note that a hydraulic cylinder may be provided to remove and remove the lock bin 83.

As a result, the tread angle of the front wheels 18 can be adjusted by alternately expanding and contracting the left and right supports.

For example, in order to extend the left side, the tractor is moved straight, and the rotation of the right front wheel 18 is restricted by the right front wheel rotation restricting means 80. Further, the restriction on expansion and contraction of the right piston rod 33, which is a part of the right tie rod 34, by the right tie rod restriction means 54 is released. On the other hand, the restriction on movement of the left movable case 12 by the left support body restriction means 13 is released. Further, the sliding restriction of the left fitting member 24 by the left passage locking means 27 is released. In this state, when the cylinder 31 is actuated by turning the steering wheel to the left, the left front wheel 1
8 rotates around the king pin 15 so that the front side faces outward. At this time, the right front wheel 18 remains in a straight-ahead state,
The tie rod 34 on the right side is extended. If you continue to move forward in this state, the left front wheel 18 will return to the forward state as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. Move the distance corresponding to the bone. Thereafter, the movement of the left movable case 12 is restricted by the support body regulating means 13 on the left side, the sliding of the fitting member 24 is restricted by the tide stopper means 27 on the left side, and the right piston is restricted by the tie rod regulating means 54 on the right side. The expansion and contraction of the rod 33 is restricted, and the rotation restriction of the right front wheel 18 by the right front wheel rotation restriction means 80 is released. This completes the left side tread adjustment, and the right side tread adjustment is completed in the same manner as the left side.

Also, when shortening the tread, piston rod 3
After the expansion/contraction restriction in step 3 is released, the handle may be operated so that the piston port 33 is shortened, and the front wheel 18 is rotated in the opposite direction to that shown in FIG.

(Effects of the Invention) According to the present invention, by making the steering tie rod expandable and retractable, tread adjustment can be performed using the alignment of the steering wheel, and there is no need to jack up the vehicle as in the past. This makes adjustment work extremely easy. In addition, since the tie rod regulating means is hydraulically driven, it can be operated at far corners by an operator seated on the vehicle seat, so the present invention, in which tread adjustment is performed while the vehicle is running, can improve the efficiency of the adjustment work. It is something.

Further, since the tie rod regulating means does not protrude significantly in the radial direction, it is preferable to be applied to a space-limited area such as around a tie rod of a vehicle.

Moreover, by arranging the plurality of positioning bodies at unequal intervals in the circumferential direction, it is possible to prevent uneven wear and generation of abnormal noise due to rattling in the tie rod regulating means.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings relate to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a plan sectional view of the tie rod regulating means, FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views of the same side, and FIG.
5 is a plan sectional view of the tread adjustment device, FIG. 6 is a front view of the same, FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the main part, FIG. The figure is a side sectional view of the tie rod regulating means according to the second embodiment, FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the tie rod regulating means according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a plan cross section of the tie rod adjusting device according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view of the same effect. 12-support, 13-support regulating means, 18-steering wheel,
34- Tie rod, 54- Tie rod regulating means. Patent applicant Kubota Iron Works Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a vehicle in which the left and right steering wheels (18) have an alignment that causes running resistance in the direction of returning straight when steering left and right, left and right supports (12) that support the left and right steering wheels (18) are provided on the vehicle body side. is provided so that it can be moved left and right, and the left and right steering wheels (
The left and right steering tie rods (34) of 18) are provided to be extendable left and right, and the support regulating means (1) releasably regulates the left and right movement of each of the left and right supports (12) relative to the vehicle body.
3) is provided, and a tie rod regulating means (54) is provided for releasably regulating the left and right expansion and contraction of the left and right tie rods (34).
), this tie rod regulating means (54) is hydraulically driven, and each left and right tie rod (34) is provided with a first rod (
50), a second rod (51) fitted to the first rod (50) so as to be relatively movable in the axial direction, and an inner cylinder fitted onto the first and second rods (50) and (51). body (57)
An outer cylinder (62) is fitted onto the inner cylinder (57), and a slider (64) is installed between the inner and outer cylinders (57, 62) to be slidable in the axial direction. , inner cylindrical body (5
7) is fixed to one of the first and second rods (50) (51) so as not to be able to move in the axial direction, and is slidable in the axial direction to the other. ) and the inner periphery of the slider (64).
) is interposed in the inner cylindrical body (57) so as to be immovable in the axial direction,
A recess (6) that removably engages with this positioning body (59).
0) are formed in parallel in the axial direction on the other outer periphery of the first and second rods (50) and (51), and
) is provided on the inner periphery of the recess with a hooking portion (67) having a portion (67a) that prevents movement of the positioning body (59) and the recess (60) in the disengagement direction and a portion (67b) that allows the movement. Each part (67a) of the hooking part 67 is attached to the positioning body (59) by the hydraulic movement of the slider (64).
A tread adjustment device for a steering wheel of a vehicle, characterized in that the relative position of (67b) is changed. (2) Vehicle operation according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of positioning bodies (57) are provided and are arranged at unequal intervals in the circumferential direction of the first and second rods (50) and (51). Tread adjustment device for the facing wheels.