Articulated vehicle
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In the U.S., articulated vehicle is used to refer to vehicles which have a pivoting joint in their construction which is permanent or semi-permanent, allowing the vehicle to turn more sharply. There are many kinds of articulated vehicles, from heavy equipment to buses and trains. Steam locomotives were sometimes articulated in that the driving wheels could pivot around turns.
A vehicle towing a trailer could potentially be described as an articulated vehicle (the word articulated comes from the Latin articulus : small joint). In the UK, the term "articulated lorry" refers to the combination of a tractor and a semi-trailer. In the U.S., this is called a semi-trailer truck, "tractor-trailer" or "semi-truck" and would not necessarily be called articulated.
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[edit] Type of vehicles
[edit] Buses
Buses are articulated to allow for a much longer bus which can still navigate with the turning radius of a normal bus.
[edit] Heavy equipment
Front loaders, graders, dump trucks and other vehicles have been made with articulated joints to greatly reduce their turning radius.
[edit] Trains
Many train cars are made with articulated connections, sharing a common wheel truck between two cars. This reduces costs, weight, vibration and noise.
Trams and Light Rail Vehicles have been made with articulated designs since the 1950s. This was instead of using trailers or multiple units, which had been attempted in the early 1900s. The articulated design allows passengers (and fare inspectors) to move the entire length of the vehicle.
- See also: Articulated locomotive
[edit] Trucks
In the UK, semi-trailers on tractor units are referred to as "articulated lorries."
