Adjustable vehicle axle

In a load carrying vehicle having a body and wheels, an apparatus for adjustable, lateral spacing of the wheels, including:

• a. an axle assembly having elongate, cooperating, first and second intermediate members extending transversely of the vehicle body;
• b. said first intermediate member being fixed to the vehicle body, and said first and second intermediate member having a transverse channel therebetween;
• c. elongate end members having portions at one end thereof with wheels rotatably mounted thereon, said end members seating in the transverse channel between said first and second intermediate members;
• spaced means adjustably connecting said first and second intermediate members for clamping said end members therebetween, where said spaced means comprises:
• 1. a flange at each longitudinal edge of said intermediate members with said spaced transverse apertures disposed therethrough. the apertures in each of said intermediate members being cooperating and aligning;
• 2. a gap defined by the space between adjacent flanges when said end members are seated in said intermediate members;
• and
• 3. fasteners extending through the apertures in said intermediate members and bridging said gap so as to adjustably draw said intermediate members toward each other into non-abutting clamping of said seated end members therebetween;
• and
• e. cooperative engaging means on said end members and said intermediate members to limit transverse movement of said end members relative to said intermediate members, said engaging means comprising:
• 1. first and second stop lugs, extending outwardly from the surface of said end members, between adjacent flanges and longitudinally interjacent a first and second, and a third and fourth fastener respectively, for engaging contact therewith.

In a load vehicle having a body, comprising:

• a. laterally spaced longitudinally extending frame members in a vehicle body and having trnsversely aligned downwardly opening angular recesses therein;
• b. an axle intermediate member being angular in cross-section and engaged in said recesses, said intermediate member having a downwardly opening inverted V-shaped channel extending longitudinally thereof and opening at each end thereof;
• c. means connecting said frame members and said intermediate axle member to fix same together with said intermediate member forming a transverse frame member;
• d. axle end members each having a portion rotatably mounting a ground engaging wheel, and axle end portion being at each end of said intermediate member, said axle end members each having an elongate portion seating in said channel of the intermediate member, and selectively telescoping longitudinally therein to adjust the lateral spacing between the wheels;
• e. an elongate keeper engaged under the elongate axle portions and secured relative to said intermediate axle member for clamping the elongate axle portion to said inermediate member and retaining same in adjusted position;
• f. said elongate keeper being angular in cross-section and having an upwardly opening channel of V-shaped cross-section;
• and
• g. said elongate axle portions having opposed faces defining angular shapes for seating in the channel of the intermediate axle member and keeper.