LIFT AXLE DRAG REDUCTION SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20180319451A1
• Filed: 05/05/2017
• Published: 11/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Original Assignee: PACCAR Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Jeffrey P.
• Granted Patent: US 10,450,016 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0155 pneumatic unit
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/016 characterised by their responsiveness, when the vehicle is travelling, to specific motion, a specific condition, or driver input B60G17/017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4702 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/62 Adjustable continuously, e.g. during driving
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/0262 Multi-axle trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/39 Brake pedal position
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/12 with variable number of ground engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels for manoeuvring purposes only B60S

Abstract

A disclosed lift axle is suitable for a vehicle that has a first wheel for supporting the vehicle on a road surface. The lift axle system includes a lift mechanism that is coupled to the vehicle and is configured to reciprocate an axle between a stowed position and deployed position. The lift axle system further includes a second wheel coupled to the axle. The second wheel engages the road surface when the lift mechanism is in the deployed position, and the second wheel is disengaged from the road surface when the lift mechanism is in the stowed position. The second wheel has a lower rolling resistance than the first wheel.

Claims

1. A lift axle system for a vehicle comprising a first wheel for supporting the vehicle on a road surface, the lift axle system comprising:

(a) a lift mechanism coupled to the vehicle, the lift mechanism being configured to reciprocate an axle between a stowed position and deployed position; and

(b) a second wheel coupled to the axle, the second wheel engaging the road surface when the lift mechanism is in the deployed position, the second wheel being disengaged from the road surface when the lift mechanism is in the stowed position, wherein the second wheel has a lower rolling resistance than the first wheel.

2. The lift axle system of claim 1, wherein the first wheel comprises a tire filled with a compressed gas, and the second wheel comprising a solid polymeric wear ring disposed on a wheel ring.

3. The lift axle system of claim 1, wherein the lift mechanism comprises a beam rotatably coupled to the vehicle, one end of the beam supporting the axle.

4. The lift axle system of claim 3, wherein the lift mechanism further comprises an actuator operably coupled to the beam, the actuator selectively rotating the beam between a first position and a second position, wherein the lift mechanism is in the stowed position when the beam is in the first position, and the lift mechanism is in the deployed position when the beam is in the second position.

5. The lift axle system of claim 4, wherein the actuator comprises a pneumatic spring.

6. The lift axle system of claim 4, wherein the actuator is one of an electric actuator and a hydraulic actuator.

7. The lift axle system of claim 1, further comprising a controller programmed to control the lift mechanism to selectively move between the stowed position and the deployed position.

8. The lift axle system of claim 7, further comprising a vehicle speed sensor operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is programmed to move the lift mechanism to the deployed position when the vehicle speed sensor senses that vehicle speed has reached a predetermined threshold speed.

9. The lift axle system of claim 7, further comprising a brake sensor operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is programmed to move the lift mechanism to the stowed position when the brake sensor senses that the brake is engaged.

10. The lift axle system of claim 7, further comprising an operator input device operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is programmed to stow and to deploy the lift mechanism in response to operator input from the operator input device.

11. A lift axle system for a vehicle comprising a first wheel for supporting the vehicle on a road surface, the lift axle system comprising:

(a) a beam rotatably coupled to the vehicle;

(b) an axle coupled to the beam;

(c) an actuator operably coupled to the beam to selectively rotate the beam between a stowed position and a deployed position, and

(d) a second wheel coupled to the axle, the second wheel engaging the road surface when the beam is in the deployed position, the second wheel being disengaged from the road surface when the beam is in the stowed position, wherein the second wheel has a lower rolling resistance than the first wheel.

12. The lift axle system of claim 11, wherein the actuator is a first air spring engaging a first end of the beam to bias the beam toward the stowed position.

13. The lift axle system of claim 11, further comprising a second air spring engaging a second end of the beam to bias the beam toward the deployed position.

14. The lift axle system of claim 11, wherein the first wheel comprises a tire filled with a compressed gas, and the second wheel comprises a solid polymeric wear ring disposed on a wheel ring.

15. The lift axle system of claim 11, further comprising a controller programmed to control the lift mechanism to selectively move between the stowed position and the deployed position.

16. The lift axle system of claim 15, further comprising a vehicle speed sensor operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is programmed to move the lift mechanism to the deployed position when the vehicle speed sensor senses that vehicle speed has reached a predetermined threshold speed.

17. The lift axle system of claim 15, further comprising a brake sensor operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is programmed to move the lift mechanism to the stowed position when the brake sensor senses that the brake is engaged.

18. The lift axle system of claim 15, further comprising an operator input device operatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is programmed to stow and to deploy the lift mechanism in response to operator input from the operator input device.