초록 ▼

An add-on wheel/axle assembly for truck-type vehicles for reducing the effective axle load of the vehicle allowing the carrying of greater payloads without violating governmentally imposed road restrictions. The assembly includes a hydraulically actuatable articulated arm assembly where one end of a

An add-on wheel/axle assembly for truck-type vehicles for reducing the effective axle load of the vehicle allowing the carrying of greater payloads without violating governmentally imposed road restrictions. The assembly includes a hydraulically actuatable articulated arm assembly where one end of a first arm link is pivotally joined to opposed sides of the truck frame proximate its rear end and with wheels mounted on stub axles affixed to the other ends of said arm assemblies. A cross-member offset by a predetermined distance from the stub axles joins the arm assemblies together and a hydraulic cylinder is operatively coupled between the truck frame and the articulated arms for extending and retracting the wheels between a ground-engaging disposition and an elevated disposition. Tie bars and associated bell cranks also cooperate with the articulated arms to draw the wheels in a straddling disposition relative to the truck frame when the wheels are in their elevated disposition.

대표청구항 ▼

In combination with a truck of the type having a longitudinally extending frame including first and second spaced-apart side members supported on a plurality of transversely extending axles, said axles each having one or more wheels affixed to the opposite end thereof, a hydraulically actuatable tag

In combination with a truck of the type having a longitudinally extending frame including first and second spaced-apart side members supported on a plurality of transversely extending axles, said axles each having one or more wheels affixed to the opposite end thereof, a hydraulically actuatable tag axle assembly comprising: (a) first and second articulated arm means, each pivotally attached at one end thereof to said first and second side members of said frame proximate the rear end of said frame members; (b) first and second stub axle means extending perpendicularly outward from said first and second articulated arm means, respectively; (c) further wheel means journal for rotation on said first and second stub axle means; (d) a drop axle, joined between said first and second articulated arm means, said drop axle including a transversely extending bar of length sufficient to span the width dimension of said frame and offset from the rotational axis of said wheels; (e) hydraulic actuator means operatively coupled to said articulated arm means and to said frame for moving said further wheel means between a ground-engaging disposition rearward of the ends of said first and second side members of said frame and an elevated disposition wherein said wheel means straddle the rear portion of said first and second side members of said frame; and (f) non-extendible means for guiding the pivotal movement of said first and second articulated arm means during said movement of said further wheel means between said ground-engaging disposition and said elevated disposition.