Vehicles Having Tandem Axle Assembly
First Claim
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1. A vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
a tandem axle assembly supported with respect to the frame and comprising a first axle assembly and a second axle assembly, the first axle assembly comprising a first left wheel and a first right wheel, the second axle assembly comprising a second left wheel and a second right wheel;
a third axle assembly supported with respect to the frame and comprising a third left wheel and a third right wheel, each of the third left wheel and the third right wheel being steerable by an operator to facilitate steering of the vehicle;
an engine coupled with the first axle assembly;
a motor/generator coupled with the second axle assembly, and free of any direct mechanical coupling with the first axle assembly;
an energy storage device; and
a controller attached to each of the motor/generator and the energy storage device.
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Abstract
A vehicle, such as a heavy truck, includes a tandem axle assembly supported with respect to a frame. The tandem axle assembly has first and second axle assemblies which each include respective left and right wheels. A third axle assembly is supported with respect to the frame and includes left and right wheels which are steerable by an operator to facilitate steering of the vehicle. The engine is coupled with the first axle assembly. A motor/generator is coupled with the second axle assembly. A controller is attached to each of the motor/generator and an energy storage device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A vehicle comprising:
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a frame; a tandem axle assembly supported with respect to the frame and comprising a first axle assembly and a second axle assembly, the first axle assembly comprising a first left wheel and a first right wheel, the second axle assembly comprising a second left wheel and a second right wheel; a third axle assembly supported with respect to the frame and comprising a third left wheel and a third right wheel, each of the third left wheel and the third right wheel being steerable by an operator to facilitate steering of the vehicle; an engine coupled with the first axle assembly; a motor/generator coupled with the second axle assembly, and free of any direct mechanical coupling with the first axle assembly; an energy storage device; and a controller attached to each of the motor/generator and the energy storage device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle comprising:
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a frame; a tandem axle assembly supported with respect to the frame and comprising a first axle assembly and a second axle assembly, the first axle assembly comprising a first left wheel, a first right wheel, and a first differential, the first left wheel and the first right wheel being attached to opposite sides of the first differential, and the second axle assembly comprising a second left wheel and a second right wheel; a third axle assembly supported with respect to the frame and comprising a third left wheel and a third right wheel, each of the third left wheel and the third right wheel being steerable by an operator to facilitate steering of the vehicle; an engine; a transmission coupled with the engine; a drive shaft coupled with each of the transmission and the first differential; a electric motor coupled with the second axle assembly and free of any direct mechanical coupling with the first axle assembly; a battery; and a controller attached to each of the electric motor and the battery. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A vehicle comprising:
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a frame; a tandem axle assembly supported with respect to the frame and comprising a first axle assembly and a second axle assembly, the first axle assembly comprising a first left wheel and a first right wheel which are together configured to exert a first longitudinal force upon a roadway, the second axle assembly comprising a second left wheel and a second right wheel which are together configured to exert a second longitudinal force upon a roadway; a third axle assembly supported with respect to the frame and comprising a third left wheel and a third right wheel, each of the third left wheel and the third right wheel being steerable by an operator to facilitate steering of the vehicle; an engine coupled with the first axle assembly; a motor/generator coupled with the second axle assembly; an energy storage device; and a controller attached to each of the motor/generator and the energy storage device, wherein the controller is configured to facilitate variation of the second longitudinal force with respect to the first longitudinal force. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification