Abstract: A suspension system for a vehicle in which each suspension system at each wheel has a dual spring rate. An external accumulator is used in connection with the main oil/gas strut but is charged to a higher initial pressure than the pressure of the main strut. Thus, the external accumulator has no effect until the load on the vehicle reaches a predetermined amount. At this time, the external accumulator becomes effective and the total suspension system, including the strut assembly and the accumulator, produces a different spring rate function. In another embodiment load equalization between two rear wheels is obtained by a connecting conduit connecting the oil chambers of the two oil/gas strut systems.

Abstract: A brake system for large off-road vehicles in which the vehicle has a central, non-rotating housing for each wheel supported to and forming a part of the vehicle structure, an outer rotatable wheel section including an outer hub and wheel rim rotatably supported to the housing, an annular brake disc, a caliper supported to the non-rotating housing having pads to contact the annular brake disc, the brake disc being secured at its outer perimeter to the wheel section in a manner permitting free radial expansion and minimal rotational displacement of the brake disc relative to the wheel section.

Abstract: This invention relates to a wheel supported heavy load carrying vehicle which comprises a frame upon which a load may be supported. The frame includes a structural cross-member. Unlike the prior art, the spherical bearing is made an integral part of the cross-member. An axle box assembly is used to support the wheels which support the bulk of the load. The box assembly has a nose cone which has a concave bearing which mates with the spherical bearing on the structural cross-member.

Abstract: An off-highway vehicle systems simulator and control panel testing apparatus produces electrical signals that simulate the electrical signals generated by detectors on the vehicle when it is operating. The electrical signals are generated from four direct current power supplies and an AC frequency generator. The signals are directed to specific circuits within the control panels by a plurality of switches that essentially route the signals to specific pin locations on the control panel. The control panel is electrically coupled to the simulator by a harness having multipin plugs and mulitpin connector elements. Analog and digital monitors measure the output of the so treated panels, which is compared to outputs for correctly operating panels. Indicator lights are used to determine the status of the simulator and various circuits in the control panel.

Abstract: An excavating and pipeline installation system includes an excavating vehicle, an excavating wheel assembly and a plurality of conveyors. The excavating wheel assembly includes a pair of excavating wheels for excavating a pipeline receiving trench at a predetermined location beneath the surface of the earth. The excavating wheel assembly is supported at the front end of the vehicle on a subframe mounted for pivotal movement relative to the vehicle between excavating and traveling positions. The excavating wheels are mounted for rotation about angularly disposed axes and are positioned to receive the pipeline therebetween. Bolster rollers are mounted on the excavating wheel assembly for initially lifting the pipeline, and pipeline rollers are mounted on the vehicle for exerting a downwardly directed force on the pipeline upon insertion thereof into the pipeline receiving trench.

Abstract: A method for mounting a large tire onto a single-piece rim comprising the steps of first securing the rim to a stand having an upwardly extending ram, positioning an oblique cone atop the rim with the ram extending through its center, the majority of the cone is open except for three spaced and sloped segments wherein one segment is more steeply sloped than the two remaining segments, placing the tire on the cone, positioning a presshead having a downwardly extending post and three radially spaced hydraulic cylinder arms above the stand wherein the arms are pivotally mounted on the presshead and extend downwardly therefrom, a first arm having a horizontally disposed foot mounted on its lower end is aligned with the steeper segment, the two remaining arms each having a foot are aligned with the remaining segments respectively, lowering the presshead thereby receiving the ram within the post and having the feet resting upon the upper sidewall of the tire, extending the first foot against a first portion of the

Abstract: A side cutter apparatus for an excavating machine having a plurality of spaced rotating digging wheels mounted on a common horizontal shaft, each wheel having a pair of spaced sidewalls, and having frame rails partially extending into the spaces between adjacent wheels; which includes a base plate affixed to the periphery of a cut-away section of a sidewall adjacent to the open space between the wheels; a pivotal side cutter including a back panel disposed in the cut-away section and pivotally mounted at its lower end on the base plate so as to pivot into the open space, a front panel disposed essentially parallel to the back panel and pivotally mounted at its lower end on a common axis with the back panel so as to be pivotally movable therewith, a cutting tooth affixed to the upper portion of the front panel and extending into the open space, a roller rotatably mounted on an axis perpendicular to the front panel and extending through the same into a vertical space between the panels wherein the roller is dir

Abstract: A crimping tool comprising a top plate, a parallel bottom plate, a rigid arm disposed between the plates and being affixed thereto, a movable arm positioned adjacent the rigid arm and having one end thereof pivotally mounted to the plates adjacent one end of the rigid arm, the rigid arm and the movable arm being positioned and formed so that their free ends comprise opposed crimping jaws for allowing the positioning of a portion of a circle clamp therebetween when the arms are in an open position, the top plate having a sufficient width so as to rest atop the open jaws of a bench vise when the crimping jaws are fully opened, the bottom plate having a width no greater than the combined widths of the arms in order to allow the jaws of the bench vise to close against the arms, a spring for holding the crimping jaws open for facilitating the positioning of a portion of a circle clamp therebetween, and an alignment bolt for holding the crimping tool within the jaws of the bench vise whereby the crimping jaws exten

Abstract: A vent accumulator for a hydraulic integrator of the type having at least three pistons arranged in end-to-end relationship within an elongated housing. Each piston is adapted to move under hydraulic pressure in a direction away from one longitudinal end of the housing towards the opposite longitudinal end. Each of the pistons, except for the last piston adjacent the opposite end of the housing, is provided with a piston rod operatively connected to the piston next adjacent towards one end of the housing. Each piston is defined as having a first side directed towards one end of the housing and a second side directed towards the opposite end of the housing. Each of the pistons, except for the last two pistons in line, is provided with means for receiving hydraulic fluid under pressure from a load cell on its first side and an air vent communicates on it second side.

Abstract: An excavating and pipeline installation system includes an excavating vehicle, an excavating wheel assembly and a plurality of conveyors. The excavating wheel assembly includes a pair of excavating wheels for excavating a pipeline receiving trench at a predetermined location beneath the surface of the earth. The excavating wheel assembly is supported at the front end of the vehicle on a subframe mounted for pivotal movement relative to the vehicle between excavating and traveling positions. The excavating wheels are mounted for rotation about angularly disposed axes and are positioned to receive the pipeline therebetween. Bolster rollers are mounted on the excavating wheel assembly for initially lifting the pipeline, and pipeline rollers are mounted on the vehicle for exerting a downwardly directed force on the pipeline upon insertion thereof into the pipeline receiving trench.

Abstract: Means for driving the back walls of the buckets of an excavating wheel having a plurality of circumferentially arranged digging buckets. Each digging bucket is provided with a pivotal back wall mounted on the excavating wheel. The excavating wheel is rotatably mounted on a central shaft. A central sprocket is freely rotatably mounted on a bucket wheel hub which is mounted on the central shaft. A mounting bracket is attached directly to the main frame of the vehicle and extends outwardly therefrom. An offset sprocket which is smaller in diameter than the central sprocket is rotatably attached to the opposite end of the bracket. The axes of rotation for the central sprocket and the offset sprocket are parallel. A continuous chain passes around the sprockets with the chain constrained to move in a predetermined path. Push rods are pivotally attached at one end to connecting links of the chain so that the push rods are disposed at equal intervals along the length of the chain.

Abstract: A dual vehicular steering system with a primary system for normal operation and a secondary system for emergency operation triggered by pressure sensitive switching and valving means. Both systems have in common a pair of single rod hydraulic steering cylinders with each cylinder being connected to a steerable wheel of the vehicle, a vehicular engine and hydraulic fluid stored in a tank. Cylinder shuttle valves connected to each steering cylinder function as gate devices to separate the primary steering system from the secondary system. The primary system includes a main pump driven by the engine, a high pressure filter, a priority flow divider to divert fluid in excess of an acceptable flow level, a control valve, an integrated valve package to proportionately regulate fluid flow between the cylinders, and means to direct fluid from the tank to the pump, through the filter, through the priority flow divider, through the control valve, through the integrated valve package and to the steering cylinders.

Abstract: An excavating loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly at the front and a plurality of conveyors toward the rear. The conveyors of the excavating and loading system include cross conveyors and a main conveyor for receiving material from the excavating wheels. The main conveyor transports the material rearwardly from the excavating wheel assembly and delivers the material to the opposite end of the vehicle. An auxiliary conveyor assembly is pivotally supported at the rear end of the vehicle to receive material from the main conveyor and to transport the material either laterally or rearwardly. The auxiliary conveyor assembly has inner and outer conveyors mounted with the discharge end of one conveyor adjacent the receiving end of the other conveyor. The conveyors are connected so that the outer conveyor can be folded under the inner conveyor.

Abstract: An excavating wheel is disclosed which includes a plurality of digging buckets each comprising a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. A plurality of cylinders each connected to one of the movable walls are selectively actuated under fluid pressure to pivot each movable wall to the material dumping position. A plurality of springs each connected to one of the movable walls are provided to pivot each movable wall to the material receiving position.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly at the front. This wheel assembly includes plural excavating wheels each comprising a plurality of digging buckets having a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. A spring is connected to each movable wall for normally positioning the wall in the material receiving position. A cam mounted on each movable wall is engaged by a mechanism fixedly supported at a point offset from the rotational axis of the excavating wheel to pivot each movable wall to the material dumping position against the action of the spring associated therewith.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly at the front and a plurality of conveyors toward the rear. The excavating wheel assembly comprises three excavating wheels having an overall width in excess of that of the remainder of the system. Each excavating wheel includes a plurality of digging buckets each comprising a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. The excavating wheel assembly is supported for vertical movement to vary the grade angle of the excavating made by the system, and a moldboard is linked to the excavating wheel assembly for movement therewith. Hydraulic cylinders may be utilized to vary the wheel assembly support provided by the moldboard in accordance with the material being excavated. The conveyors of the excavating and loading system include cross conveyors and a main conveyor for receiving material from the excavating wheels.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly, at the front and a plurality of conveyors toward the rear. The excavating wheel assembly comprises individual excavating wheels including a plurality of digging buckets. Each bucket comprises a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. A plurality of push rods are each connected at one end to the movable wall of one of the buckets. A rigid collar is interconnected to the ends of the push rods remote from the movable walls which collar is rotatably supported at a point offset from the rotational axis of the excavating wheel so that the push rods and the collar cooperate to positively pivot the movable walls of the bucket between material receiving and material dumping positions.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly at the front and plurality of conveyors toward the rear. The excavating wheel assembly comprises individual excavating wheels including a plurality of digging buckets. Each bucket comprises a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. A predetermined cam track is disposed around the axis of rotation of the buckets and is engaged by a plurality of cam followers each connected to one of the movable walls to thereby positively pivot the movable wall of each digging bucket between the material receiving and the material dumping positions.

Abstract: An excavating and pipeline installation system includes an excavating vehicle, an excavating wheel assembly and a plurality of conveyors. The excavating wheel assembly includes a pair of excavating wheels for excavating a pipeline receiving trench at a predetermined location beneath the surface of the earth. The excavating wheel assembly is supported at the front end of the vehicle on a subframe mounted for pivotal movement relative to the vehicle between excavating and traveling positions. The excavating wheels are mounted for rotation about angularly disposed axes and are positioned to receive the pipeline therebetween. Bolster rollers are mounted on the excavating wheel assembly for initially lifting the pipeline, and pipeline rollers are mounted on the vehicle for exerting a downwardly directed force on the pipeline upon insertion thereof into the pipeline receiving trench.

Abstract: An excavating and loading system is disclosed which includes a vehicle with an excavating wheel assembly at the front and a plurality of conveyors toward the rear. The excavating wheel assembly comprises three excavating wheels having an overall width in excess of that of the remainder of the system. Each excavating wheel includes a plurality of digging buckets each comprising a wall supported for pivotal movement between a material receiving position and a material dumping position. The excavating wheel assembly is supported for vertical movement to vary the grade angle of the excavation made by the system, and a moldboard is linked to the excavating wheel assembly for movement therewith. Hydraulic cylinders may be utilized to vary the wheel assembly support provided by the moldboard in accordance with the material being excavated. The conveyors of the excavating and loading system include cross conveyors and a main conveyor for receiving material from the excavating wheels.