Sack Truck News

Casters mounts on a vehicle steering shaft which has a threaded end portion. The steering wheel assembly comprises a steering wheel armature, an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device supported on the steering wheel armature, an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, a hub fixedly attached to the steering wheel armature and for non-rotatable attachment to the steering shaft, and a rotatable fastener rotatably supported on the hub for axially forcing the hub onto the steering shaft upon rotation of the fastener in a first direction. The fastener has a first end portion including gearing for rotating the fastener and a second end portion for threadedly engaging the threaded end portion of the steering shaft upon rotation of the fastener. A retainer plate spaced from the inflator is fixedly attached with the steering wheel armature. The retainer plate overlies the first end portion of the fastener and retains the fastener on the steering wheel armature.

1. Casters to be mounted on a vehicle steering shaft which rotates about an axis to steer a vehicle and which has a threaded end portion, said steering wheel assembly comprising:

a rotatable fastener rotatably supported on said hub and for axially forcing said hub onto the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener in a first direction, said fastener having a first end portion including gear means for rotating said fastener and a second end portion for threadedly engaging the threaded end portion of the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener; and

a retainer plate spaced from said inflator and fixedly attached with said steering wheel armature, said retainer plate overlying said first end portion of said fastener and retaining said fastener on said steering wheel armature;

said retainer plate having a peripheral portion partially encircling a central portion, said central portion being axially offset from said peripheral portion.
2. Casters to be mounted on a vehicle steering shaft which rotates about an axis to steer a vehicle and which has a threaded end portion, said steering wheel assembly comprising:

a steering wheel armature;

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device supported on said steering wheel armature;

an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

a hub fixedly attached to said steering wheel armature and for non-rotatable attachment to the vehicle steering shaft;

a rotatable fastener rotatably supported on said hub and for axially forcing said hub onto the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener in a first direction, said fastener having a first end portion including gear means for rotating said fastener and a second end portion for threadedly engaging the threaded end portion of the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener; and

a retainer plate spaced from said inflator and fixedly attached with said steering wheel armature, said retainer plate overlying said first end portion of said fastener and retaining said fastener on said steering wheel armature;

said second end portion of said fastener extending axially from said first end portion, said first end portion of said fastener including a projection extending axially from said gear means in a direction opposite said second end portion;

said retainer plate including an opening for receiving said projection of said fastener;

said retainer plate including a reaction surface surrounding said opening which is engaged by said first end portion of said fastener when said fastener is rotated in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said reaction surface reacting against said first end portion of said fastener when said fastener is rotated in said second direction to create a axial force tending to remove said hub from the steering shaft.

3. Casters to be mounted on a vehicle steering shaft which rotates about an axis to steer a vehicle and which has a threaded end portion, said steering wheel assembly comprising:

a steering wheel armature;

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device supported on said steering wheel armature;

an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

a hub fixedly attached to said steering wheel armature and for non-rotatable attachment to the vehicle steering shaft;

a rotatable fastener rotatably supported on said hub and for axially forcing said hub onto the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener in a first direction, said fastener having a first end portion including gear means for rotating said fastener and a second end portion for threadedly engaging the threaded end portion of the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener; and

a retainer plate spaced from said inflator and fixedly attached with said steering wheel armature, said retainer plate overlying said first end portion of said fastener and retaining said fastener on said steering wheel armature;

said retainer plate partially encircling said fastener and leaving a peripheral portion of said gear means uncovered.

4. Casters to be mounted on a vehicle steering shaft which rotates about an axis to steer a vehicle and which has a threaded end portion, said steering wheel assembly comprising:

a steering wheel armature;

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device supported on said steering wheel armature;

an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

a hub fixedly attached to said steering wheel armature and for non-rotatable attachment to the vehicle steering shaft;

a rotatable fastener rotatably supported on said hub and for axially forcing said hub onto the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener in a first direction, said fastener having a first end portion including gear means for rotating said fastener and a second end portion for threadedly engaging the threaded end portion of the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener; and

a retainer plate spaced from said inflator and fixedly attached with said steering wheel armature, said retainer plate overlying said first end portion of said fastener and retaining said fastener on said steering wheel armature;

said steering wheel armature including a mounting member, said hub and said retainer plate being fixedly secured to said mounting member.

5. Casters to be mounted on a vehicle steering shaft which rotates about an axis to steer a vehicle and which has a threaded end portion, said steering wheel assembly comprising:

a steering wheel armature having a rim portion, a ring portion, and a plurality of spokes interconnecting said rim portion and said ring portion;

a mounting member attached to said ring portion, said member having a hub fixedly attached to said steering wheel armature;

a rotatable fastener rotatably supported by said hub and for axially forcing said hub onto the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener in a first direction, said fastener having a first end portion including gear means for rotating said fastener and a second end portion for threadedly engaging the threaded end portion of the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener; and

a retainer plate fixedly attached to said mounting member and overlying said first end portion of said fastener, said retainer plate retaining said fastener on said mounting member;

said retainer plate having planar peripheral portion partially encircling a planar central portion, said central portion being axially offset from said peripheral portion.

6. The steering wheel assembly of claim 5 wherein said peripheral portion of said retainer plate extends less than 360° around said central portion of said retainer plate so that a peripheral portion of said gear means is exposed.

7. Casters to be mounted on a vehicle steering shaft which rotates about an axis to steer a vehicle and which has a threaded end portion, said steering wheel assembly comprising:

a steering wheel armature having a rim portion, a ring portion, and a plurality of spokes interconnecting said rim portion and said ring portion;

a member attached to said ring portion, said member having a hub fixedly attached to said steering wheel armature;

a rotatable fastener rotatably supported by said hub and for axially forcing said hub onto the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener in a first direction, said fastener having a first end portion including gear means for rotating said fastener and a second end portion for threadedly engaging the threaded end portion of the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener; and

a retainer plate fixedly attached to said member and overlying said first end portion of said fastener, said retainer plate retaining said fastener on said member;

said retainer plate having a planar peripheral portion partially encircling a planar central portion, said central portion being axially offset from said peripheral portion;

said first end portion of said fastener having radially extending first and second surfaces, said first and second surfaces defining an axial thickness for said first end portion;

said hub and said central portion of said retainer being separated by an axial space having an axial height, said height of said axial space being greater than said axial thickness of said first end portion of said fastener;

said first end portion of said fastener including a cylindrical projection extending axially from said first surface, said second end portion of said fastener extending axially from said second surface of said first end portion;

said central portion of said retainer plate including an opening for receiving said cylindrical projection of said first end portion of said fastener;

said central portion of said retainer plate including a reaction surface surrounding said opening which is engaged by said first surface of said fastener when said fastener is rotated in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said reaction surface reacting against said first surface of said fastener when said fastener is rotated in said second direction to create a axial force tending to remove said hub from the steering shaft.

8. Casters to be mounted on a vehicle steering shaft which rotates about an axis to steer a vehicle and which has a threaded end portion, said steering wheel assembly comprising:

a steering wheel armature including a mounting member;

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device supported on said steering wheel armature;

an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device;

a hub fixedly attached to said steering wheel armature and for non-rotatable attachment to the vehicle steering shaft;

a rotatable fastener rotatably supported on said hub and for axially forcing said hub onto the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener in a first direction, said fastener having a first end portion including gear means for rotating said fastener and a second end portion for threadedly engaging the threaded end portion of the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener; and

a retainer plate fixedly attached with said steering wheel armature and located axially between said inflator and said mounting member, said retainer plate overlying said first end portion of said fastener and defining an axial space between said hub and said retainer plate, said fastener being disposed in said space and being retained on said steering wheel armature by said retainer plate.

9. The steering wheel assembly of claim 8 wherein said first end portion of said fastener comprises a spur gear.

10. The steering wheel assembly of claim 8 wherein said second end portion of said fastener extends axially from said first end portion, said first end portion of said fastener including a projection extending axially from said gear means in a direction opposite said second end portion.

11. The steering wheel assembly of claim 10 wherein said retainer plate includes an opening, said projection on said fastener being disposed in said opening.

12. The steering wheel assembly of claim 8 wherein said retainer plate includes a reaction surface which is engaged by said first end portion of said fastener when said fastener is rotated in a second direction opposite to said first direction, said reaction surface reacting against said first end portion of said fastener when said fastener is rotated in said second direction to create a axial force tending to remove said hub from the steering shaft.

13. The steering wheel assembly of claim 8 wherein said hub includes a bore having a tapered surface, said second end portion of said fastener being disposed in said bore.

14. Casters to be mounted on a vehicle steering shaft which rotates about an axis to steer a vehicle and which has a threaded end portion, said steering wheel assembly comprising:

a steering wheel armature having a rim portion, a ring portion, and a plurality of spokes interconnecting said rim portion and said ring portion;

a mounting member attached to said ring portion, said member having a hub fixedly attached to said steering wheel armature;

a rotatable fastener rotatably supported by said hub and for axially forcing said hub onto the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener in a first direction, said fastener having a first end portion including gear means for rotating said fastener and a second end portion for threadedly engaging the threaded end portion of the steering shaft upon rotation of said fastener; and

a retainer plate fixedly attached to said mounting member, said retainer plate overlying said first end portion of said fastener and defining an axial space between said hub and said retainer plate, said fastener being disposed in said space and being retained on said mounting member by said retainer plate.

15. The steering wheel assembly of claim 14 wherein said retainer plate has a planar peripheral portion partially encircling a planar central portion, said central portion being axially offset from said peripheral portion.

16. The steering wheel assembly of claim 15 wherein said first end portion of said fastener has radially extending first and second surfaces, said first and second surfaces defining an axial thickness for said first end portion.

17. The steering wheel assembly of claim 16 wherein said axial space has an axial height that is greater than said axial thickness of said first end portion of said fastener.

18. The steering wheel assembly of claim 17 wherein said first end portion of said fastener includes a cylindrical projection extending axially from said first surface, said second end portion of said fastener extending axially from said second surface of said first end portion.

19. The steering wheel assembly of claim 18 wherein said central portion of said retainer plate includes an opening for receiving said cylindrical projection of said first end portion of said fastener.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is related to Casters which is mounted on a steering shaft of a vehicle and which is rotatable to steer the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A vehicle steering wheel is typically attached to a vehicle steering shaft by a splined connection. The splined connection non-rotatably attaches the steering wheel to the steering shaft and transmits torque from the steering wheel, namely, torque generated during turning of the steering wheel, to the steering shaft. The steering wheel is additionally secured to the steering wheel by a nut to prevent relative axial movement between the steering wheel and the steering shaft. The nut is screwed onto a threaded extension located on the end of the steering shaft which extends into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Usually, the nut is accessed by an installer through the center of the steering wheel once the steering wheel has been placed onto the steering shaft. An air bag module is then typically mounted in the center of the steering wheel and covers the nut.

Another type of connection for connecting a vehicle steering wheel to the steering shaft utilizes tapered surfaces on the steering shaft and inside a hub portion of the steering wheel. A gear-headed bolt is used to bring the tapered surfaces into non-rotatable engagement. Threads on the bolt engage an internally threaded surface on the steering shaft to pull the steering wheel onto the steering shaft. The gear head of the bolt is driven by a tool which is inserted into the steering wheel from the side (i.e., perpendicular to the axis of rotation).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is Casters to be mounted on a vehicle steering shaft which rotates about an axis to steer a vehicle and which has a threaded end portion. The steering wheel assembly comprises a steering wheel armature, an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device supported on the steering wheel armature, an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, a hub fixedly attached to the steering wheel armature and for non-rotatable attachment to the steering shaft, and a rotatable fastener rotatably supported on the hub for axially forcing the hub onto the steering shaft upon rotation of the fastener in a first direction. The fastener has a first end portion including gear means for rotating the fastener and a second end portion for threadedly engaging the threaded end portion of the steering shaft upon rotation of the fastener. A retainer plate spaced from the inflator is fixedly attached with the steering wheel armature. The retainer plate overlies the first end portion of the fastener and retains the fastener on the steering wheel armature.

In the operation of a construction machine over terrain strewn with debris, there is a tendency for the debris to work itself into areas of sealing interface such as between an axle and the final drive assemblies of the machine. When this occurs the seals and possible the life of the drive components can be greatly reduced. The present invention comprehends a castors assembly that has a bracket member that is positioned on an axle adjacent a cylindrical hub defined by the wheels. The castors assembly utilizes a plurality of plates positioned within, above and laterally spaced from the hub of an adjacent wheel to prevent the ingress of foreign material into the hub. The hub and the sealed interfaces and other components housed therein are thereby protected from possible damage as a result of contact with the foreign material.

1. A castors assembly for a compactor wheel, comprising:

a housing;

a wheel having an inner cylindrical portion defining a cylindrical recess, an outer drum and a pair of side walls positioned to extend radially therebetween, said wheel being mounted to the housing for relative rotation with respect thereto, with a portion of the housing being positioned within the cylindrical recess; and

a bracket assembly having a first segment that is generally cylindrical in configuration and a second, generally semi-cylindrical segment that extends from an upper portion of the first segment, said bracket assembly being adapted for mounting on the housing in a manner wherein the first segment is positioned within the inner cylindrical recess of the wheel and the second segment is positioned outwardly of the cylindrical recess to restrict the ingress of foreign material into the cylindrical recess.

2. The castors assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the housing includes an axle assembly having a first and second end portions and a drive mechanism mounted to each of the end portions of the axle assembly for rotation with respect thereto.

3. The castors assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the inner cylindrical portion of the wheel defines a mounting flange within the cylindrically shaped recess.

4. The castors assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the drive mechanism is a final drive assembly having a mounting flange defined thereon, each mounting flange being engageable with mounting flange defined one of a pair of wheels for rotation therewith.

5. The castors assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein at least one sealed interface is defined between the drive mechanism and the respective end portions of the axle assembly, said sealed interface being positioned within the cylindrical recess defined by the wheel between the first segment of the bracket assembly and the mounting flange of the wheel.
6. The castors assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the bracket assembly further includes:

a mounting bracket having a first side;

a generally semi-cylindrical plate secured to a first side thereof;

a shroud member having a generally semi-cylindrical configuration, said shroud member being mounted to the mounting bracket in overlying relationship with respect thereto and being positioned on the mounting bracket such that at least a portion thereof is in complementary adjacent relationship to the generally semi-cylindrical plate to define the generally cylindrical segment therewith;

a first cover plate having an opening formed therein and being mounted to a second side of the mounting bracket; and

a second cover plate having an opening formed therein and being mounted to the first cover plate and the shroud member, said opening of the second cover member being aligned with the opening defined by the first cover plate to define an aperture that has a size sufficient for receiving a end portion of the axle assembly therein.

7. The castors assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the first segment defined by the mounting bracket and shroud member is positioned within the cylindrical recess defined by the wheel and the first and second cover plates are spaced axially from the first segment and are positioned in a transverse orientation to a centerline defined by the axle assembly.

8. The castors assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the aperture defined by the first and second cover plates is sized such that it is only slightly larger than the axle assembly to define a space of a preselected size therebetween thereby preventing the ingress of foreign matter larger than said preselected size from entry into the cylindrical recess.

9. The castors assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein an outer periphery of the semi-cylindrical plate mounted to the mounting bracket is defined by a radius that is slightly less than that of the cylindrical recess and is mounted on the mounting bracket in a manner to extend below the mounting bracket at a location that substantially closes off a lower portion of the cylindrical recess to restrict the entry of foreign matter into the cylindrical recess from a location beneath the mounting bracket.

10. The castors assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein the mounting bracket is mounted to an underside of the axle assembly with the semi-cylindrical plate member positioned below the axle assembly and the shroud member positioned above the axle assembly.

11. A castors assembly, comprising:

an axle assembly having a pair of end portions, a final drive assembly mounted to each of the respective end portions for relative rotation with respect thereto;

a pair of wheels, each having a hub portion defining a generally cylindrical recess and being mounted to each final drive assembly for rotation therewith about an axis; and

a bracket assembly mounted on the respective end portions of the axle assembly adjacent the respective wheels, each bracket assembly having a mounting bracket having first and second sides, said mounting bracket being mounted to the end portion of the axle assembly; a generally semi-cylindrical plate member mounted to the first side of the mounting bracket and being positioned to extend into the cylindrical recess of the adjacent hub portion, said semi-cylindrical plate member being positioned adjacent a lower portion of the cylindrical recess in concentric, closely spaced relation thereto; a shroud member having a generally semi-cylindrical configuration and first and second portions, said shroud member being mounted to the mounting bracket with the first portion thereof in complementary adjacent relationship to the semi-cylindrical plate member to define a generally cylindrical segment therewith, said shroud member being positioned with the first portion thereof within an upper portion of the adjacent cylindrical recess in concentric, closely spaced relationship thereto and the second portion thereof axially spaced from the first portion in overlying relation to the mounting bracket and the axle assembly.

12. The castors assembly as set forth in claim 11, wherein a first cover plate having an opening defined therein is mounted to the second side of the mounting plate with the end portion of the axle assembly received within the opening.

13. The castors assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein a second cover plate having an opening defined therein is mounted to one of the first cover plate and the shroud member with the end portion of the axle assembly received within the opening, said opening of the second plate member being alignable with the opening of the first plate member to define an aperture that substantially encloses the end portion of the axle assembly to restrict the passage of foreign matter between the plate members and the axle assembly toward the hub of the wheel.

14. The castors assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the relative rotation between the respective final drive assemblies and the end portions of the axle assembly occurs along a sealed interface, said sealed interface being positioned within the cylindrical recess.

15. The castors assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein the semi-cylindrical plate is positioned transversely with respect to the cylindrical recess to substantially close off the recess from a location beneath the axle assembly to restrict the ingress of foreign matter into the cylindrical recess toward the sealed interface.

16. The castors assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein the semi-cylindrical shroud member is defined by a radius that is slightly smaller than that of the cylindrical recess and is positioned to extend axially from the cylindrical member toward the axle assembly and is secured in overlying relationship to the mounting bracket to restrict ingress of foreign matter into the cylindrical recess from an area above the axle assembly.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a castors assembly and more particularly to a castors assembly for a wheel assembly that is rotatably mounted to an axle assembly.

BACKGROUND ART

In the operation of construction machines, it is a common practice to operate over terrain that is littered with foreign material and various types of debris. In fact, in the type of machine known as a landfill compactor, the intended purpose is to maneuver over trash and refuse to “compact” the material, so that more material may be brought in to the landfill and the most efficient use of the available land is attained. In doing so, it is a common and vexatious problem to encounter the wrapping of wire, cable, hoses, textile material, long strips of plastic and other strands of material around the wheels and axles of the machines. Not only does this require frequent and costly machine maintenance to continually remove this material, the strands of material may be drawn tightly around the axle or even layered around it. When this happens, the strands tend to find their way into the area of the hubs of the wheels. This is an area where the final drive or other rotating axle components are located, forming a sealed interface with the stationary, or non-rotating axle housing. In many instances, the wrapped material will become lodged in the area of this sealed interface. When this happens destruction of the seals is likely to occur and, if operation of the machine continues in this condition, destruction of one or more of the drive components can also result.

In some instances, it has been known to provide an external cylindrical portion that extends outwardly from the recess to encompass the entire axle assembly. While this has been known to provide some relief, the open end portion around the axle will still allow wire and cable to be wound around the axle and work itself into the area of the seal interface. In addition, since the outer cylindrical extension surrounds the axle the same distance below as above, the ground clearance is greatly reduced, causing the axle assembly to pick even more debris.

The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention a castors assembly for a compactor wheel is provided. The castors assembly includes a housing and a wheel that is mounted to the housing for relative rotation with respect thereto. The wheel has an inner cylindrical portion defining a cylindrical recess, an outer drum and a pair of side walls positioned to extend radially therebetween. The wheel is mounted on the housing such that a portion of the housing is positioned within the cylindrical recess. A bracket assembly is included that has a first segment that is generally cylindrical in configuration. A second, generally semi-cylindrical segment is positioned to extend from an upper portion of the first segment. The bracket assembly is adapted for mounting on the housing in a manner wherein the first segment is positioned within the inner cylindrical recess of the wheel and the second segment is positioned outwardly of the cylindrical recess to restrict the ingress of foreign material into the cylindrical recess.

In another aspect of the present invention, a castors assembly is provided for an axle assembly. The axle assembly has a pair of end portions and a final drive assembly mounted to each of the respective end portions for relative rotation with respect thereto. A pair of wheels is included, each having a hub portion defining a generally cylindrical recess. Each wheel is mounted to each final drive assembly for rotation therewith about an axis. A bracket assembly is mounted on the respective end portions of the axle assembly adjacent the respective wheels. Each bracket assembly has a mounting bracket that has a first and second side are mounted to the end portions of the axle assemblies. A generally semi-cylindrical plate member is mounted to the first side of the mounting bracket and is positioned to extend into the cylindrical recess of the adjacent hub portion. The semi-cylindrical plate member is positioned adjacent a lower portion of the cylindrical recess in concentric, closely spaced relation thereto. A shroud member has a generally semi-cylindrical configuration and first and second portions and is secured to the mounting bracket with the first portion thereof in complementary adjacent relationship to the semi-cylindrical plate member to define a generally cylindrical segment therewith. The shroud member is positioned with the first portion thereof within an upper portion of the adjacent cylindrical recess in concentric, closely spaced relationship thereto and the second portion thereof axially spaced from the first portion in overlying relation to the mounting bracket and the axle assembly.

With the castors assembly as set forth above, the ingress of foreign matter from virtually and direction surrounding the wheels is substantially eliminated. In doing so, not only is the down time associated with the continued clean up of this area greatly reduced, risk of damage to the sealed interface between the final drive and the axle housing is also substantially eliminated.

radius allows relative rotation between the wheel 10 and the plate 48 without interference.