Tag axle with rearwardly extending support framework
AssigneePrime Technologies, Inc.
InventorsGordon D. Youmans, Audrey L. Youmans
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A compact tag axle assembly which may be retrofitted to an existing vehicle such as a tilting bed carrier to allow the vehicle to comply with axle load regulations when operated over public roadways. The assembly mounts behind the vehicle's rear axle such that the auxiliary wheels are in close proximity to the rear vehicle wheels, with the support framework of the auxiliary wheels entirely behind the mounting location of these wheels. The assembly consists of two interconnected independently suspended auxiliary wheels which are connected to the vehicle through a centrally located pair of common mounting brackets. The assembly has a minimal longitudinal displacement relative to the main vehicle rear wheels and is easily mounted beneath an existing vehicle.
Claims24
A load shifting tag axle for a vehicle having a load bed supported by a vehicle frame with a front and rear axle, each vehicle axle having opposed main wheels of a specified radial dimension comprising:
- an auxiliary frame connected to the vehicle frame at a mounting location rearward of the rear vehicle axle;
- transversely extending torsion means for independently suspending a pair of vertically movable auxiliary wheels from said auxiliary frame;
- and
- actuator means for raising and lowering said auxiliary wheels, wherein lowering said auxiliary wheels in a ground engaging position tilts the vehicle load bed forwardly such that a load carried on said bed is shifted toward the front vehicle axle.
A load shifting apparatus for a vehicle having a tilting load bed supported by a vehicle frame comprising:
- a set of support wheels on a rear axle of said vehicle frame, said support wheels being in contact with the ground;
- a framework having auxiliary wheels, said framework being mounted beneath said load bed at an attachment location rearward of said rear vehicle support wheels, said auxiliary wheels being suspended from at least one transversely extending torsion axle, said auxiliary wheels having an upper stowed position proximate to said load bed wherein said wheels are not in contact with the ground and a lower ground engaging position;
- and
- means for selectively deploying said auxiliary wheels upwardly and downwardly between said upper and lower positions,
- wherein downward deployment of said auxiliary wheels to said lower ground engaging position exerts a lifting force at said attachment location shifting the load on said rear axle forwardly.
A load shifting apparatus for use with a vehicle having a load bed supported by a vehicle frame comprising:
- a set of opposed main wheels on a rear axle of said vehicle frame;
- first and second horizontal rectangular wheel support frames, each having spaced apart front and rear end members separating exterior and interior side members, each of said support frames having an axle offset extending rearwardly and downwardly from a front exterior corner of said frame to a stub axle and an auxiliary rotor wheel;
- a transverse horizontal connecting shaft parallel to and between the front and rear end members of each of said frames having a first end located above the exterior side member of said first frame and a second end located above the exterior side member of said second frame;
- first and second pairs of parallel L-shaped connectors coupling said connecting shaft to said wheel support frames, each of said L-shaped connectors having first and second ends, with said first end pivotally attached to a rear corner of one of said frames and with said second end rigidly attached to said connecting shaft, said connecting shaft having a vertical tower at each end with each of said vertical towers having biasing means interposed between an upper end of said vertical tower and a front end of the closest exterior side member of said wheel support frames;
- and
- first and second parallel vertical mounting members rigidly coupled to said connecting shaft and adapted to be removably attached to said load bed such that the front end members of said wheel support frames are located forward of said mounting members and rearward of said rear main wheels,
- wherein activation of said biasing means pivots the front ends of said wheel support frames downwardly and rearwardly about said rear end members displacing said auxiliary wheel to a ground engaging position, said auxiliary wheels thereby exerting a lifting force on said load bed shifting the load on said rear axle forwardly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.