Shifting gear for the steering system of vehicle wheels

Claim 2

A shifting mechanism for steering systems of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of the wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a first pivot member operatively connected with the steering gear, a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means adapted to be uncoupled and coupled, siad first and second pivot members being arranged substantially coaxially to one another, a coupling lever means pivotally supported at said second pivot member, said coupling lever means including coupling means for selectively coupling said first pivot member and locking said second pivot member at a fixed part, said coupling means consisting of at least one claw element provided on said coupling lever means and at least one recess provided on said first pivot member, said claw element and said recess being adapted to be brought into mutual engagement in the radial direction with respect to the axes of said pivot members to couple said first and second pivot members, guide surface means extending approximately circularly about the axis of said pivot members provided on one of said pivot members for guiding said claw element into engagement with said recess to couple said pivot members, the pivot axis of said coupling lever means extending substantially parallel to the axis of said pivot members, and a cylinder-piston-unit acutated by a pressure medium interconnected between said second pivot member and the coupling lever means for the actuation of the latter.

Claim 3

A shifting mechanism for steering systems of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a first pivot member operatively connected with the steering gear, a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means adapted to be uncoupled and coupled, said first and second pivot members being arranged substantially coaxially to one another, a coupling lever means is pivotally supported at one of these two pivot members including coupling means for the selective coupling with the other of the two pivot members, and a cylinder-piston means actuated by a pressure medium interconnected between the pivot member carrying the coupling lever means and the coupling lever means for the actuation of said coupling lever means.

Claim 4

A shifting mechanism for steering systems of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a first pivot member operatively connected with the steering gear, a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means adapted to be uncoupled and coupled, said first and second pivot members being arranged substantially coaxially to one another, a coupling lever means is pivotally supported at one of these two pivot members including coupling means for the selective coupling with the other of the two pivot members, and a cylinder-piston means actuated by a pressure medium interconnected between the pivot member carrying the coupling lever means and the coupling lever means for the actuation of said coupling lever means.

Claim 5

A shifting mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said coupling lever means is pivotally supported at said second pivot member and said coupling means selectively couples said first pivot member, and locks said second pivot member at a fixed part.

Claim 6

A shifting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said fixed part is a clutch claw.

Claim 7

A shifting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said fixed part is a vehicle part.

Claim 8

A shifting mechanism according to claim 5, wherein said vehicle part is an axle part.

Claim 9

A shifting mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the pivot axis of the coupling lever means extends substantially parallel to the axis of the pivot members.

Claim 10

A shifting mechanism according to claim 2, wherein several pivot members are operatively connected with the steering gear, each of said pivot members being adapted to be selectively connected with a further pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means.

Claim 11

A shifting mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the vehicle has a multi-axle steering system.

Claim 12

A shifting mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the pivot axis of the coupling lever means extends substantially parallel to the axis of the pivot members.

Claim 13

A shifting mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said coupling means selectively couple said first pivot member with said second pivot member and selectively locks said second pivot member at a fixed part, said coupling means for coupling said second pivot member with said first pivot member being arranged at the radially inner side relative to the pivot axis of said coupling lever means and the coupling means for coupling said second pivot member with the fixed part being arranged at the radial outer side of said coupling lever means.

Claim 14

A shifting mechanism according to claim 11, wherein said coupling lever means is displaceable between two end positions, and wherein a detent means under force-locking action is provided for retaining said coupling lever means in at least one of said end positions.

Claim 15

A shifting mechanism according to claim 12, wherein said detent means holds said coupling lever means in both end positions.

Claim 16

A shifting mechanism according to claim 13, wherein said detent means is under spring action.

Claim 17

A shifting mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said coupling lever means is displaceable between two end positions and wherein a detent means under force-locking action is provided for retaining said coupling lever means in at least one of said end positions.

Claim 18

A shifting mechanism according to claim 15, wherein said detent means holds said coupling lever means in both end positions.

Claim 19

A shifting mechanism according to claim 15, wherein said detent means is under spring action.

Claim 20

A shifting mechanism for steering systems of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a plurality of first pivot members operatively connected with the steering gear, each of said pivot members being adapted to be selectively connected with a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means, a coupling lever means pivotally supported at one of these pivot members including engaging means for the selective coupling with the other of the pivot members, said first pivot members, of which one pivot member is coordinated to the wheel means of one axle and the other pivot member to the wheel means of the other axle, being arranged on parallel axes and connected with each other by way of a reversing gear means.

Claim 21

A shifting mechanism for steering systems of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a plurality of first pivot members operatively connected with the steering gear, each of said pivot members being adapted to be selectively connected with a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means, a coupling lever means pivotally supported at one of these pivot members including engaging means for the selective coupling with the other of the pivot members, said first pivot members, of which one pivot member is coordinated to the wheel means of one axle and the other pivot member to the wheel means of the other axle, being arranged on parallel axes and connected with each other by way of a reversing gear means.

Claim 22

A shifting mechanism according to claim 18, wherein said reversing gear means includes a connecting member connected to the respective pivot members to produce movements thereof in opposite directions of rotation.

Claim 23

A shifting mechanism for steering system of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a first pivot member operatively connected with the steering gear, a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means adapted to be uncoupled and coupled, said first and second pivot members being arranged substantially coaxially to one another, a coupling lever means pivotally supported at one of these two pivot members including engaging means for the selective coupling with the other of the two pivot members, said coupling lever means being displaceable between two end positions, and a detent means under force-locking action for retaining the coupling lever means in at least one of said end positions, said detent means including a wedge-shaped detent member cooperating with a pin-shaped counter detent element.

Claim 24

A shifting mechanism for steering system of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a first pivot member operatively connected with the steering gear, a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means adapted to be uncoupled and coupled, said first and second pivot members being arranged substantially coaxially to one another, a coupling lever means pivotally supported at one of these two pivot members including engaging means for the selective coupling with the other of the two pivot members, said coupling lever means being displaceable between two end positions, and a detent means under force-locking action for retaining the coupling lever means in at least one of said end positions, said detent means including a wedge-shaped detent member cooperating with a pin-shaped counter detent element.

Claim 25

A shifting mechanism according to claim 20, wherein said counter detent element is a roller.

Claim 26

A shifting mechanism for steering systems of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a first pivot member operatively connected with the steering gear, a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means adapted to be uncoupled and coupled, said first and second pivot members being arranged substantially coaxially to one another, a coupling lever means pivotally supported at one of these two pivot members including engaging means for the selective coupling with the other of the two pivot members, said coupling lever means being displaceable between two end positions and a detent means under force-locking action for retaining the coupling lever means in at least one of said end positions said detent means including a detent lever forming said detent member provided with wedging surfaces, said detent lever pivotally supported at the pivot member carrying the coupling lever means.

Claim 27

A shifting mechanism for steering systems of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a first pivot member operatively connected with the steering gear, a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means adapted to be uncoupled and coupled, said first and second pivot members being arranged substantially coaxially to one another, a coupling lever means pivotally supported at one of these two pivot members including engaging means for the selective coupling with the other of the two pivot members, said coupling lever means being displaceable between two end positions and a detent means under force-locking action for retaining the coupling lever means in at least one of said end positions said detent means including a detent lever forming said detent member provided with wedging surfaces, said detent lever pivotally supported at the pivot member carrying the coupling lever means.

Claim 28

A shifting mechanism for steering systems of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a first pivot member operatively connected with the steering gear, a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means adapted to be uncoupled and coupled, said first and second pivot members being arranged substantially coaxially to one another, a coupling lever means pivotally supported at one of these two pivot members, said coupling lever means including coupling means for selective coupling with the other of the two pivot members, said coupling means consisting of at least one claw element provided on said coupling lever means, and at least one recess provided on the other of the two pivot members, said claw element and said recess being adapted to be brought into mutual engagement in the radial direction with respect to an axis of said pivot members to couple said first and second pivot members, guide surface means extending approximately circularly about the axis of said pivot members provided on one of said pivot members for guiding said claw element into engagement with said recess to couple said pivot members, and a cylinder-piston-unit actuated by a pressure medium interconnected between the pivot member carrying the coupling lever means and the coupling lever means for the actuation of the latter.

Claim 29

A shifting mechanism for steering systems of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a first pivot member operatively connected with the steering gear, a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means adapted to be uncoupled and coupled, said first and second pivot members being arranged substantially coaxially to one another, a coupling lever means pivotally supported at one of these two pivot members, said coupling lever means including coupling means for selective coupling with the other of the two pivot members, said coupling means consisting of at least one claw element provided on said coupling lever means, and at least one recess provided on the other of the two pivot members, said claw element and said recess being adapted to be brought into mutual engagement in the radial direction with respect to an axis of said pivot members to couple said first and second pivot members, guide surface means extending approximately circularly about the axis of said pivot members provided on one of said pivot members for guiding said claw element into engagement with said recess to couple said pivot members, and a cylinder-piston-unit actuated by a pressure medium interconnected between the pivot member carrying the coupling lever means and the coupling lever means for the actuation of the latter.

Claim 30

A shifting mechanism for steering systems of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a first pivot member operatively connected with the steering gear, a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means adapted to be uncoupled and coupled, said first and second pivot members being arranged substantially coaxially to one another, a coupling lever means pivotally supported at one of these two pivot members, said coupling lever means including coupling means for selectively coupling said pivot member supporting said coupling lever means with a fixed part and for selectively coupling said first and second pivot members, said coupling means consisting of at least one claw element provided on said coupling lever means, and at least one recess provided on the other of the two pivot members, said claw element and said recess adapted to be brought into mutual engagement in the radial direction with respect to an axis of said pivot members to couple said first and second pivot members, and guide surface means extending approximately circularly about the axis of said pivot members provided on one of said pivot members for guiding sAid claw element into engagement with said recess to couple said pivot members, said coupling means for the coupling of said second pivot member with said first pivot member being arranged at the radially inner side relative to the pivot axis of said coupling lever means and the coupling lever means for the coupling of said pivot member supporting said coupling lever means with the fixed part being arranged at the radial outer side of said coupling lever means.

Claim 31

A shifting mechanism for steering systems of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a first pivot member operatively connected with the steering gear, a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means adapted to be uncoupled and coupled, said first and second pivot members being arranged substantially coaxially to one another, a coupling lever means pivotally supported at one of these two pivot members, said coupling lever means including coupling means for selectively coupling said pivot member supporting said coupling lever means with a fixed part and for selectively coupling said first and second pivot members, said coupling means consisting of at least one claw element provided on said coupling lever means, and at least one recess provided on the other of the two pivot members, said claw element and said recess adapted to be brought into mutual engagement in the radial direction with respect to an axis of said pivot members to couple said first and second pivot members, and guide surface means extending approximately circularly about the axis of said pivot members provided on one of said pivot members for guiding sAid claw element into engagement with said recess to couple said pivot members, said coupling means for the coupling of said second pivot member with said first pivot member being arranged at the radially inner side relative to the pivot axis of said coupling lever means and the coupling lever means for the coupling of said pivot member supporting said coupling lever means with the fixed part being arranged at the radial outer side of said coupling lever means.

Claim 32

A shifting mechanism for steering systems of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a first pivot member operatively connected with a steering gear, a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means adapted to be uncoupled and coupled, said first and second pivot members being arranged substantially coaxially to one another, a coupling lever means pivotally supported at said second pivot member provided with a coupling means for selectively coupling said first pivot member with said second pivot member and for selectively locking said second pivot member at a fixed part, said coupling lever means being displaceable between two end positions, the pivot axis of said coupling lever means extending substantially parallel to the axis of said pivot members, a cylinder-piston unit actuated by a pressure medium interconnected between said second pivot member and said coupling lever means for actuation of the latter, said coupling lever means including coupling means consisting of claw elements and groove-like recesses adapted to be brought into mutual engagement in the radial direction with respect to the axis of said pivot members, the coupling means for coupling of said second pivot member with said first pivot member being arranged at the radially inner side relative to the pivot axis of said pivot members and the coupling means for selectively locking said second pivot member with the fixed part being arranged at the radial outer side relative to the pivot axis of said pivot members, guide surfaces extending approximately circularly about the axis of said pivot members and adjoining a respective coupling means being arranged at two parts consisting of said coupling lever means, said first pivot member cooperating therewith and with the fixed part, thereby allowing said claw elements to slide along said guide surfaces to the point of engagement in the respective recess, in case a respective claw element and recess are mutually displaced in the circumferential direction, a detent means under force-locking action for retaining under spring action said coupling lever means in both of said end positions, said detent means including a wedge-shaped detent member cooperating with a pin-shaped counter detent element.

Claim 33

A shifting mechanism for steering systems of vehicle wheel means, which provides a selective uncoupling and coupling of the steering system of wheel means from and to a steering gear, comprising: a first pivot member operatively connected with a steering gear, a second pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means adapted to be uncoupled and coupled, said first and second pivot members being arranged substantially coaxially to one another, a coupling lever means pivotally supported at said second pivot member provided with a coupling means for selectively coupling said first pivot member with said second pivot member and for selectively locking said second pivot member at a fixed part, said coupling lever means being displaceable between two end positions, the pivot axis of said coupling lever means extending substantially parallel to the axis of said pivot members, a cylinder-piston unit actuated by a pressure medium interconnected between said second pivot member and said coupling lever means for actuation of the latter, said coupling lever means including coupling means consisting of claw elements and groove-like recesses adapted to be brought into mutual engagement in the radial direction with respect to the axis of said pivot members, the coupling means for coupling of said second pivot member with said first pivot member being arranged at the radially inner side relative to the pivot axis of said pivot members and the coupling means for selectively locking said second pivot member with the fixed part being arranged at the radial outer side relative to the pivot axis of said pivot members, guide surfaces extending approximately circularly about the axis of said pivot members and adjoining a respective coupling means being arranged at two parts consisting of said coupling lever means, said first pivot member cooperating therewith and with the fixed part, thereby allowing said claw elements to slide along said guide surfaces to the point of engagement in the respective recess, in case a respective claw element and recess are mutually displaced in the circumferential direction, a detent means under force-locking action for retaining under spring action said coupling lever means in both of said end positions, said detent means including a wedge-shaped detent member cooperating with a pin-shaped counter detent element.

Claim 34

A shifting mechanism according to claim 25, wherein said counter detent element is a roller.

Claim 35

A shifting mechanism according to claim 26, wherein said detent member consists of a detent lever provided with wedging surfaces, said detent member being pivotally supported at said second pivot member.

Claim 36

A shifting mechanism according to claim 27, wherein several pivot members are operatively connected with the steering gear, each of said pivot members being adapted to be selectively connected with a further pivot member connected with a steering linkage means of the wheel means.

Claim 37

A shifting mechanism according to claim 28, wherein the pivot members connected with the steering gear, of which one pivot member is coordinated to the wheel means of one axle and the other pivot member to the wheel means of the other axle, are arranged on parallel axes and are connected with each other by way of a reversing gear means.

Claim 38

A shifting mechanism according to claim 29, wherein said reversing gear means includes a connecting member connected to the respective pivot members to produce movements thereof in opposite directions of rotation.

Claim 39

A shifting mechanism according to claim 30, wherein the vehicle has a multi-axle steering system.