Spring band for an axle assembly

Abstract

A self-steering auxiliary axle assembly having an elastic member for use as a steering damper is provided. The axle assembly has a frame with an axle supported by the frame in spaced relation therefrom with retracted and highway positions. At least one air spring is arranged between the axle and the frame. The air spring is actuateable between an operative mode for damping the axle in the highway position and a non-operative mode when in the retracted position. The axle has opposing ends with spindle assemblies pivotally supported thereon for permitting rotation of said spindle assemblies relative to said axle. Steering arms extend from the spindle assemblies. A control rod interconnects the steering arms for linking the spindle assemblies together. The elastic member interconnects one of the steering arms and the axle for damping the rotation of the spindle assemblies relative to the axle. The steering damper has opposing connections movable relative to one another with the opposing connections joined by the elastic member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.