초록 ▼

A quick release hub for the outer tires and wheels of dual wheel assemblies on a vehicle such as a mortar buggy to enable the vehicle to move through a narrow doorway or other passageway having a width less than the total distance between the outermost surfaces of the outer tires. The quick release

A quick release hub for the outer tires and wheels of dual wheel assemblies on a vehicle such as a mortar buggy to enable the vehicle to move through a narrow doorway or other passageway having a width less than the total distance between the outermost surfaces of the outer tires. The quick release hub includes a two component hub secured together by a single fastening device which enables quick and easy removal and replacement of the outer tires and wheels. A combination engine electrical control switch for the mortar buggy engine automatically controls a fuel supply valve to open and close the fuel valve in response to the engine control switch. An operator's platform and brake actuator are mounted at the rear of the mortar buggy with the brake actuator extending transversely at the forward portion of the platform to enable an operator to use either foot to operate the brake actuator.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A quick release hub for outer wheels of a vehicle dual wheel assembly comprising an axle extension between an inner wheel and an outer wheel of a dual wheel assembly, said axle extension including an inner hub component secured to an inner wheel and an outer hub component secured to an outer whee

1. A quick release hub for outer wheels of a vehicle dual wheel assembly comprising an axle extension between an inner wheel and an outer wheel of a dual wheel assembly, said axle extension including an inner hub component secured to an inner wheel and an outer hub component secured to an outer wheel, the inner ends of said hub components including telescopically engaged and abutting surfaces to maintain the hub components in alignment and a single retaining member interconnenting said hub components to enable separation of the outer wheel and outer hub component from the inner wheel and inner hub component and reassembly of the outer hub component onto the inner hub component by manipulating said single retaining member, said inner hub component and outer hub component including a driving connection rigidly engaged when the hub components are telescopically and abuttingly engaged.2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said driving connection includes a plurality of axially extending pins on one hub component and a plurality of axially extending recesses in the other hub component closely telescopially receiving said pins to form a positive drive connection between the hub components.3. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said retaining member is an elongated rod member having a threaded end and a transverse member at an opposite end, said retaining member extending through a bore in the outer hub component and threadedly engaged with a threaded bore in the inner hub component, said transverse member engaging the outer hub component and rigidly retaining said outer hub component in abutting telescopic relation on the inner hub component.4. The device as defined in claim 3, wherein said transverse member includes a pair of projections extending laterally from the transverse member in spaced relation to the rotational axis of the retaining member to enable a rigid rod-like tool to engage with the projections for enabling the retaining member to be threaded and unthreaded in relation to the inner hub component.5. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein said vehicle is a mortar buggy powered by an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply, a fuel supply valve between the engine and fuel supply and a combination electrical engine and fuel shut off associated with the engine and fuel supply valve to automatically close the fuel supply valve when the electrical engine and fuel shut off is moved to a stop position and automatically open the fuel supply valve when the electrical engine and fuel shut off is moved to a run position.6. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein the vehicle having dual wheel assemblies is a mortar buggy with the dual wheel assemblies being located at the forward end thereof to enable the overall width of the mortar buggies to be reduced by removing the single retaining member, the outer hub component and outer wheel of each dual wheel assembly to enable the mortar buggy to pass through a restricted width opening.7. The device as defined in claim 6, wherein an operator's platform is mounted at the rear of the mortar buggy to support an operator of the mortar buggy and a brake actuator mounted at the forward end portion of the platform and extending substantially throughout the width thereof to enable an operator occupying said platform to utilize either foot to manipulate the brace actuator.8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said mortar buggy includes an internal combustion engine having a fuel supply, a fuel supply valve between the engine and fuel supply and a combination electrical engine and fuel shut off associated with the engine and fuel supply valve to automatically close the fuel supply valve when the electrical engine and fuel shut off is moved to a stop position and automatically open the fuel supply valve when the combination electrical engine and fuel shut off is moved to a run position.9. The quick release hub as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vehicle is a mortar buggy, controlled and operated by a stand up operator, said mortar buggy comprising a frame having a laterally spaced pair of dual wheel assemblies mounted adjacent a forward end thereof, a generally horizontal operator's platform mounted at a lower rear area of said frame to support an operator of the mortar buggy in a position to operate controls for said mortar buggy, said platform extending transversely of said frame and dimensioned to receive both feet of an operator and a horizontal rod-like brake actuator pivotally supported at the forward end portion of the platform and extending substantially throughout the transverse width thereof to enable an operator occupying said platform to utilize either foot to pivot the brake actuator.10. A mortar buggy including dual wheel assemblies located on each side at the forward end thereof and a quick release hub for each outer wheel to enable the overall width of the mortar buggy to be reduced by removing the outer wheel of each dual wheel assembly, a single outer wheel retaining member to enable removal and remounting said outer wheels to enable the mortar buggy to pass through a restricted width opening, said retaining member being an elongated rod member having a threaded end engaging an inner wheel, said retaining member extending through a bore in an outer wheel and threadedly engaged with the inner wheel, a retaining device on said retaining member remote from said threaded end and engaging the outer wheel for retaining the outer wheel assembled in relation on the inner wheel.11. The device as defined in claim 10, wherein said retaining device includes a washer and shoulder on an outer end engaging the outer wheel, a transverse member rigidly mounted on said retaining member at its outer end, a pair of projections extending laterally from said transverse member in spaced relation to the rotational axis of the retaining member to enable a rigid rod-like tool to engage the projections for enabling the retaining member to be threaded and unthreaded in relation to the inner wheel.12. In a mortar buggy controlled and operated by a stand up operator including a frame, a horizontal operator's platform mounted at a lower rear end to extend beyond said frame to support an operator of the mortar buggy in a position for actuating mortar buggy controls, said platform extending transversely of said frame and dimensioned to receive both feet of an operator and a horizontal bar brake actuator pivotally supported at a forward portion of the platform and extending substantially throughout the width thereof to enable an operator occupying said platform to utilize either foot to manipulate the brake actuator.13. A quick release hub for an outer wheel of a vehicle dual wheel assembly, said assembly including a drive axle, a brake drum mounted on said drive axle, a plurality of wheel mounting studs and lug nuts mounted on said brake drum, said quick release hub comprising an axle extension between an inner wheel and an outer wheel of said dual wheel assembly, said axle extension including an inner hub component having a peripheral flange at an end thereof between said wheels, said flange on said inner hub component including a plurality of openings receiving said wheel mounting studs on said brake drum and being secured to said brake drum by said lug nuts and an outer hub component having a peripheral flange at an end thereof between said wheels, said flange on the outer hub component having a plurality of openings therein receiving mounting bolts extending through openings in a rim of said outer wheel to secure said outer wheel to said outer hug component, the inner ends of said hub components including telescopially and abuttingly engaged surfaces to maintain the hub components in alignment and provide a positive driving connection between said hub components and said inner and outer wheels, a single retaining member extending through central portions of said hub components and interconnecting said hub components to enable separation of the outer wheel and outer hub component from the inner wheel and inner hub component and reassembly of the outer hub component onto the inner hub component by manipulating said single retaining member, said inner hub component and outer hub component including a driving connection rigidly engaged when the hub components are telescopically and abuttingly engaged.14. The quick release hub as claimed in claim 13 wherein said driving connection includes interengaging axial projections and recess on said hub components, said axial projections and recesses being positioned inwardly of an exterior surface of said hub components forming said axle extension.15. The quick release hub as claimed in claim 14, wherein said axial projections and recesses include a plurality of axial projecting pins in an inner end of one of said hub components and a plurality of axial recesses in an inner end of the other hub component, said flanges on said hub components having a diameter substantially greater than said hub components, said inner hub component having an internally threaded, centrally located bore, said retaining member including a rigid elongated rod having one end threadingly engaged with said threaded bore and its other end engaged with said outer hub component, said other end of said rod having a transverse member rigid therewith to facilitate rotational movement of said rod when connecting or disconnecting said hub components.