Self-steering trucks with side bearings supporting the entire weight of the vehicle

摘要

A vehicle truck embodying articulated subtrucks or steering arms having a plurality of wheelsets, with steering arm interconnections establishing coordinated steering motions of the wheelsets, the truck also having elastic restraining devices for stablilizing steering and other motions of conventional rotating axle wheelsets and still further having linkage interrelating relative lateral motions of the truck and body of the vehicle, which add to the stability and steering to trucks having rotating axle wheelsets and which will provide steering for wheelsets equipped with independently rotatable wheels. A method and structure is provided for adapting or "retrofitting" existing equipped truck structures with rotating axle wheelsets in a manner to enhance the steering and stablilizing characteristics. Four-point suspension of car bodies and truck side frames adapted to function as swing hangers in truck equipped with steering is disclosed.