Lift axle drag reduction system and method
AssigneePACCAR Inc
InventorJeffrey P. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A disclosed lift axle is suitable for a vehicle that has a first wheel for supporting the vehicle on a road surface. The lift axle system includes a lift mechanism that is coupled to the vehicle and is configured to reciprocate an axle between a stowed position and deployed position. The lift axle system further includes a second wheel coupled to the axle. The second wheel engages the road surface when the lift mechanism is in the deployed position, and the second wheel is disengaged from the road surface when the lift mechanism is in the stowed position. The second wheel has a lower rolling resistance than the first wheel.
Claims19
A lift axle system for a vehicle having a first axle, a first wheel, and a tire for supporting the vehicle on a road surface, the lift axle system comprising:
- (a) a lift mechanism coupled to the vehicle, the lift mechanism being positioned adjacent to the first axle and configured to reciprocate a second axle between a stowed position and a deployed position;
- (b) a second wheel coupled to the second axle, the second wheel comprising a road-engaging element for engaging the road surface when the lift mechanism is in the deployed position, the road-engaging element being disengaged from the road surface when the lift mechanism is in the stowed position, and
- (c) a controller configured to cause the lift mechanism to selectively move the second axle between the deployed position and the stowed position,
- wherein the controller is configured to cause the lift mechanism to move the second axle from the deployed position to the stowed position based on receipt of a service brake signal indicative of a service brake engaged condition, and wherein the road-engaging element has a lower rolling resistance than the tire of the first wheel.
A lift axle system for a vehicle having a first axle, a first wheel, and a tire for supporting the vehicle on a road surface, the lift axle system comprising:
- (a) a beam positioned adjacent to the first axle and rotatably coupled to the vehicle;
- (b) a second axle coupled to the beam;
- (c) an actuator operably coupled to the beam to selectively rotate the beam between a stowed position and a deployed position;
- (d) a second wheel coupled to the second axle, the second wheel comprising a road-engaging element for engaging the road surface when the beam is in the deployed position, the road-engaging element being disengaged from the road surface when the beam is in the stowed position;
- and
- (e) a controller configured to cause the actuator to selectively rotate the beam between the stowed position and the deployed position,
- wherein the controller is configured to cause the actuator to move the beam from the deployed position to the stowed position based on receipt of a vehicle speed signal indicative of a condition that the vehicle speed has fallen below a predetermined threshold speed, and wherein the road-engaging element has a lower rolling resistance than the tire of the first wheel.
A method for controlling a lift axle system for a vehicle having a first axle, a first wheel, and a tire for supporting the vehicle on a road surface, the lift axle system having a lift mechanism positioned adjacent to the first axle, a second wheel coupled to the second axle and comprising a road-engaging element for engagement with the road surface, and a controller, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the controller, a service brake signal indicative of a service brake engaged condition;
- and
- based on receipt of the service brake signal by the controller, causing the lift mechanism to move the second axle from a deployed position, wherein the road-engaging element of the second wheel engages the road surface, to a stowed position, wherein the road-engaging element disengages from the road surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.