Claims:We Claim

1. A mechanism for tilting an axle of a tractor, said mechanism comprising:
a housing (10), said housing (10) comprising a compartment (12) defined therein;
a first hydraulic cylinder (14) positioned within said compartment (12);
a second hydraulic cylinder (16) positioned within said compartment (12) and adjacent to said first hydraulic cylinder (14);
a first slider (18) coupled to said first hydraulic cylinder (14) via a first piston (24) that reciprocates within said first hydraulic cylinder (14), said first slider (18) adapted to be actuated by said first hydraulic cylinder (14) by actuating said first piston (24) that is within said first hydraulic cylinder (14); and
a second slider (20) coupled to said second hydraulic cylinder (16) via a second piston (22) that reciprocates within said second hydraulic cylinder (16), said second slider (20) adapted to be actuated by said second hydraulic cylinder (16) by actuating said second piston (22) that is within said second hydraulic cylinder (16).

2. The mechanism for tilting an axle of a tractor in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said mechanism further comprises a first roller (25) that is secured to said first slider (18), said first roller (25) positioned above the axle of said tractor, and wherein the actuation of said first slider (18) causes a force to be applied on the axle by said first roller (25), thereby causing the axle of said tractor to be tilted.

3. The mechanism for tilting an axle of a tractor in accordance with Claim 2 wherein said mechanism further comprises a second roller (27) that is secured to said second slider (20), said second roller (27) positioned above an opposite second side of the axle of said tractor, and wherein the actuation of said second slider (20) causes a force to be applied on the opposite second side of the axle by said second roller (27), thereby causing the axle of said tractor to be tilted
, Description:Complete Specification:

The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.
Field of the invention
[0001] This invention relates to a mechanism for tilting an axle of a tractor, and more specifically to a mechanism for tilting the axle of the tractor for replacing a tire that is secured to the axle of the tractor.

Background of the invention
[0002] GB 2261640 A describes a tractor for towing an aircraft. The tractor has a main frame carrying drive wheels, and supporting a pivotable beam. One end of the beam carries a replaceable tool for engaging an aircraft nose wheel assembly, and the other end is pivoted to the frame. A piston and cylinder unit is connected to the beam and the frame. In use, the tool engages the nose wheel assembly and then a lifting force is applied by way of the piston and cylinder unit to pivot the beam upwardly relative to the frame. A lifting force is applied to the nose wheel assembly just sufficient to lift the aircraft nose wheel assembly such that a proportion of the aircraft nose wheel weight is transferred to the driving wheels of the tractor, whereby the effective weight of the tractor is increased enough to move the aircraft.

Brief description of the accompanying drawing
[0003] Figure 1 illustrates a mechanism for tilting an axle of a tractor in one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments
[0004] Figure 1 illustrates a mechanism for tilting an axle of a tractor. The mechanism comprises a housing 10, the housing 10 comprising a compartment 12 defined therein. A first hydraulic cylinder 14 is positioned within the compartment 12. A second hydraulic cylinder 16 is positioned within the compartment 12 and adjacent to the first hydraulic cylinder 14. A first slider 18 is coupled to the first hydraulic cylinder 14 via a first piston 24 that reciprocates within the first hydraulic cylinder 14, the first slider 18 adapted to be actuated by the first hydraulic cylinder 14 by actuating the first piston 24 that is within the first hydraulic cylinder 14. A second slider 20 is coupled to the second hydraulic cylinder 16 via a second piston 22 that reciprocates within the second hydraulic cylinder 16, the second slider 20 adapted to be actuated by the second hydraulic cylinder 16 by actuating the second piston 22 that is within the second hydraulic cylinder 16.

[0005] The housing 10 comprises a compartment 12 defined therein. The compartment 12 is bounded by a first sidewall, a second sidewall, a third sidewall, and a fourth sidewall, wherein each sidewall is adjoining one another to form an enclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, a first hydraulic cylinder 14 is positioned within the compartment 12 and is coplanar with a longitudinal axis of the compartment 12. In addition, a second hydraulic cylinder 16 is positioned within the compartment 12, and is coplanar with the longitudinal axis of the compartment 12. In the exemplary embodiment, the second hydraulic cylinder 16 is adjacent to the first hydraulic cylinder 14.

[0006] A first slider 18 is coupled to the first hydraulic cylinder 14 by means of a first piston 24. More specifically, when the first piston 24 is actuated by channeling hydraulic fluid into the first hydraulic cylinder 14, the first slider 18 is adapted to be actuated by the first hydraulic cylinder 14 by actuating the first piston 24 that is within the first hydraulic cylinder 14. Therefore, the first slider 18 is adapted to be actuated within the compartment 12 outwardly from the first hydraulic cylinder 14 towards the end portion of the compartment 12. As the first slider 18 is actuated within the compartment 12 outwardly from the first hydraulic cylinder 14, the first slider 18 is moved along an inclined portion of the compartment 12 towards the end portion of the compartment 12. A second slider 20 is coupled to the second hydraulic cylinder 16 by means of a second piston 22. More specifically, when the second piston 22 is actuated by channeling hydraulic fluid into the second hydraulic cylinder 16, the second slider 20 is adapted to be actuated by the second hydraulic cylinder 16 by actuating the second piston 22 that is within the second hydraulic cylinder 16. Therefore, the second slider 20 is adapted to be actuated within the compartment 12 outwardly from the second hydraulic cylinder 16 towards the end portion of the compartment 12. As the second slider 20 is actuated within the compartment 12 outwardly from the second hydraulic cylinder 16, the second slider 20 is moved along an inclined portion of the compartment 12 towards the end portion of the compartment 12.

[0007] The mechanism further comprises a first roller 25 that is secured to the first slider 18. The first roller 25 that is secured to the first slider 18 is positioned on a first side of the axle of the tractor. Therefore, when the first slider 18 is moved along the inclined portion that is located at the end portion of the compartment 12, the first roller 25 is translated along the direction of translation of the first slider 18. Due to the first slider 18 that moves along an inclined portion that is located at the end portion of the compartment 12, the first roller 25 is translated and moved downwardly against the resistive force of the first side of the axle of the tractor. The first roller 25 that is positioned above the first side of the axle of the tractor when actuated by the first slider 18 causes a downward force to be applied on the first side of the axle by the first roller 25. The downward force that is applied on the first side of the axle by the first roller 25 causes the axle of the tractor to be tilted in the direction of the downward force that is applied on the first side of the axle.

[0008] The mechanism further comprises a second roller 27 that is secured to the second slider 20. The second roller 27 that is secured to the second slider 20 is positioned on an opposite second side of the axle of the tractor, wherein the first side of the axle of the tractor and the opposite second side of the axle of the tractor are separated by a pivot of the axle. Therefore, when the second slider 20 is moved along the inclined portion that is located at the end portion of the compartment 12, the second roller 27 is translated along the direction of translation of the second slider 20. Due to the second slider 20 that translates along the inclined portion that is located at the end portion of the compartment 12, the second roller 27 is translated and moved downwardly against the resisting force of the opposite second side of the axle of the tractor. The second roller 27 that is mounted on the second slider 20 when actuated by the second slider 20 causes a downward force to be applied on the opposite second side of the axle by the second roller 27. The downward force that is applied on the axle by the second roller 27 causes the axle of the tractor to be tilted in the direction of the downward force that is applied on the opposite second side of the axle.

[0009] A working of the mechanism for tilting the axle of the tractor is described as an example. When it is required to rotate the axle of the tractor in the direction of the first slider 18, the engine control unit actuates the first slider 18 to translate from a first portion of the compartment 12 and along the inclined portion towards the end portion of the compartment 12. Due to the translation of the first slider 18 along the inclined portion towards the end portion of the compartment 12, the first roller 25 that is secured to the first slider 18 is also translated in the direction of the first slider 18 along the inclined portion towards the end portion of the compartment 12. Due to the inclined portion of the compartment 12, the first roller 25 that is secured to the first slider 18 translates downwardly against the resistive force of the first side of the axle of the tractor. The first roller 25 that is mounted on the first slider 18 when actuated by the first slider 18 causes a downward force to be applied on the first side of the axle by the first roller 25. The downward force that is applied on the first side of the axle by the first roller 25 causes the first side of the axle of the tractor to be tilted in the direction of the downward force that is applied on the first side of the axle.

[0010] When it is required to rotate the axle of the tractor in the opposite second side of the axle, the engine control unit actuates the second slider 18 to translate from a first portion of the compartment 12 and along the inclined portion towards the end portion of the compartment 12. Due to the translation of the second slider 20 along the inclined portion towards the end portion of the compartment 12, the second roller 27 that is secured to the second slider 20 is also translated in the direction of the second slider 20 along the inclined portion towards the end portion of the compartment 12. Due to the inclined portion of the compartment 12, the second roller 27 that is secured to the second slider 20 translates downwardly against the resistive force of the opposite second side of the axle of the tractor. The second roller 27 that is mounted on the second slider 20 when actuated by the second slider 20 causes a downward force to be applied on the opposite second side of the axle by the second roller 27. The downward force that is applied on the opposite second side of the axle by the second roller 27 causes the opposite second side of the axle of the tractor to be tilted in the direction of the downward force that is applied on the opposite second side of the axle.

[0011] It must be understood that the embodiments explained above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure. Many modifications in the embodiments with regard to dimensions of various components are envisaged and form a part of this invention. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims