Detachable multi-axle assembly
First Claim
1. A multi-axle assembly, comprising:
- an axle frame configured to move in a first travel configuration;
a first axle assembly attached to a first end of the axle frame, wherein the first axle assembly comprises a first axle rotationally coupled to one or more wheels;
a second axle assembly attached to a second end of the axle frame opposite the first end, wherein the second axle assembly comprises a second axle rotationally coupled to one or more wheels, and wherein a common axis of rotation passes through both the first axle and the second axle in the first travel configuration;
a first vertically extendable and retractable axle mount coupled at a first end to the first axle and rotatably coupled at a second opposite end to the axle frame to rotationally couple the first axle to the axle frame, wherein the first axle assembly is configured to be repositioned via the first axle mount to a second travel configuration in which the first axle is rotationally offset from the common axis of rotation in the second travel configuration; and
a second vertically extendable and retractable axle mount coupled at a first end to the second axle and rotatably coupled at a second opposite end to the axle frame to rotationally couple the second axle assembly to the axle frame, wherein the second axle assembly is configured to be repositioned via the second axle mount to the second travel configuration in which the second axle is rotationally offset from the common axis of rotation, and wherein the second axle is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first axle along a length of the axle frame in the second travel configuration.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-axle assembly includes an axle frame configured to move in a first travel configuration, a first axle assembly attached to the axle frame and including a first axle, and a second axle assembly attached to the axle frame and including a second axle. A common axis of rotation passes through both the first axle and the second axle in the first travel configuration. A first axle mount that operably couples the first axle assembly to the axle frame, and a second axle mount that operably couples the second axle assembly to the axle frame. Both the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly may be repositioned to a second travel configuration in which the first axle and the second axle are rotationally offset from the common axis of rotation.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A multi-axle assembly, comprising:
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an axle frame configured to move in a first travel configuration; a first axle assembly attached to a first end of the axle frame, wherein the first axle assembly comprises a first axle rotationally coupled to one or more wheels; a second axle assembly attached to a second end of the axle frame opposite the first end, wherein the second axle assembly comprises a second axle rotationally coupled to one or more wheels, and wherein a common axis of rotation passes through both the first axle and the second axle in the first travel configuration; a first vertically extendable and retractable axle mount coupled at a first end to the first axle and rotatably coupled at a second opposite end to the axle frame to rotationally couple the first axle to the axle frame, wherein the first axle assembly is configured to be repositioned via the first axle mount to a second travel configuration in which the first axle is rotationally offset from the common axis of rotation in the second travel configuration; and a second vertically extendable and retractable axle mount coupled at a first end to the second axle and rotatably coupled at a second opposite end to the axle frame to rotationally couple the second axle assembly to the axle frame, wherein the second axle assembly is configured to be repositioned via the second axle mount to the second travel configuration in which the second axle is rotationally offset from the common axis of rotation, and wherein the second axle is substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first axle along a length of the axle frame in the second travel configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A multi-axle assembly, comprising:
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an axle frame configured to move in a first travel configuration associated with a transverse orientation of the axle frame relative to a direction of travel of the multi-axle assembly; a first axle; a second axle; a first vertically extendable and retractable axle mount coupled at a first end to the first axle and rotatably coupled at a second opposite end to the axle frame, wherein the first axle is configured to be rotationally offset via the first axle mount to a second travel configuration; and second vertically extendable and retractable axle mount coupled at a first end to the second axle and rotatably coupled at a second opposite end to the axle frame, wherein the second axle is configured to be rotationally offset via the second axle mount to the second travel configuration, and wherein the second travel configuration is associated with a substantially longitudinal orientation of the axle frame relative to the direction of travel. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of moving a multi-axle assembly having a first axle assembly including a first axle rotatably attached about a first vertical axis to an axle frame and a second axle assembly including a second axle rotatably attached about a second vertical axis to the axle frame, wherein the method comprises:
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in a first travel configuration associated with moving the multi-axle assembly in a direction of travel, moving the multi-axle assembly such that a common axis of rotation passes through both the first axle assembly and the second axle assembly; rotationally offsetting the first axle assembly relative to the axle frame; rotationally offsetting the second axle assembly relative to the axle frame; and in a second travel configuration associated with moving the multi-axle assembly with a length of the axle frame oriented in a substantially longitudinal orientation relative to the direction of travel, moving the multi-axle assembly such that a first axis of rotation associated with the rotationally offset first axle assembly is parallel to and spaced apart along the length of the axle frame from a second axis of rotation associated with the rotationally offset second axle assembly, wherein the first vertical axis of the first axle and the second vertical axis of the second axle maintain the same positions relative to the axle frame when moving between the first travel configuration and the second travel configuration. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification