US 6,070,893 AGranted

Vehicle wheel retention system

OwnerRobert J. Thorndyke, Wendell E. Thorndykeinventors

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Abstract

A wheel retention system for use on the chassis of a large motor vehicle such as a tractor-trailer. Three support members are removably secured to the chassis and the support members support a retaining member positioned proximate to and parallel with the outer sidewalls of the wheels of the vehicle, forming a perimeter around the wheels. A pair of cylindrical sleeves axially and rotatably mounted upon the retaining member, the sleeves being positioned to confront a rotating wheel upon dislodging of the wheel from the chassis. The pair of support members comprise square tubing and completely pass from one side of the chassis to the other side of the chassis. The middle portion of each support member comprises an axle-retaining portion to trap an axle of the vehicle, should the axle disengage from the chassis. Each support member has a bore in its opposite end to accommodate a retaining member on either side of the vehicle such that the retaining member is positioned proximate to and parallel with the outer sidewalls of the wheels of the vehicle, forming a perimeter around the wheels.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A wheel retention system for use on a vehicle of the type having a chassis with opposing sides, a body supported on the chassis, and one or more sets of wheels propelling the vehicle over a road surface, and having outer sidewalls and being rotatably supported beneath the chassis on one or more axles such that the outer sidewalls of the wheels extend not beyond the edge of the body, the wheel retention system comprising:

at least a first and a second support member secured to the chassis, said second support member parallel to said first support member, each said support member passing from one of the opposing sides of the chassis to the other and having opposed ends and a middle portion, each of said ends extending a predetermined distance away from each side of the chassis toward the edge of the body without extending substantially beyond the edge of the body, said middle portion being dimensioned and configured to retain a free axle which has become disengaged from the chassis;
a first and a second retaining member, each said retaining member connected to each said end of each said support member, each said retaining member being positioned in operative relation to the outer sidewalls of the wheels without extending substantially beyond the edge of the body.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.