Passively steered tandem axle group
First Claim
1. A steering system for steering a vehicle wherein the vehicle has a front end and a rear end, opposite the front end, and wherein the front end of the vehicle is constructed to be coupled to a tractor, comprising:
- a subframe disposed at the rear end of said vehicle for supporting said vehicle, said subframe including pivot means for pivotally coupling said subframe to said vehicle, said pivot means being coupled to said subframe to define a pivot point of said subframe about which said vehicle pivots;
a pair of axles attached in tandem to said subframe, said axles having wheels disposed thereon, said pivot point being offset in the rearward direction from the midpoint of said axles with respect to one another; and
pivot resisting means for partially resisting the pivotable movement of said axles about said vertical axis with respect to said vehicle, said pivot resisting means further including means for varying the amount that the pviotable movement is resisted in response to variations in the load supported by said subframe.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steering system for steering a vehicle, including a subframe disposed at the rear end of the vehicle for supporting the vehicle, the subframe being pivotably connected to the vehicle, a pair of axles attached in tandem to the subframe, the axles having wheels disposed thereon and a pivot restricting mechanism for partially restricting the pivotable movement of the tandem axle with respect to the vehicle. The pivot restricting mechanism exerts a torsional force on the subframe so as to bias the subframe in such a manner as to align the subframe in an aligned position where the wheels are aligned with the vehicle. The pivot point of the subframe is offset in the direction of one of the axles from the midpoint of the axles with respect to one another.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A steering system for steering a vehicle wherein the vehicle has a front end and a rear end, opposite the front end, and wherein the front end of the vehicle is constructed to be coupled to a tractor, comprising:
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a subframe disposed at the rear end of said vehicle for supporting said vehicle, said subframe including pivot means for pivotally coupling said subframe to said vehicle, said pivot means being coupled to said subframe to define a pivot point of said subframe about which said vehicle pivots; a pair of axles attached in tandem to said subframe, said axles having wheels disposed thereon, said pivot point being offset in the rearward direction from the midpoint of said axles with respect to one another; and pivot resisting means for partially resisting the pivotable movement of said axles about said vertical axis with respect to said vehicle, said pivot resisting means further including means for varying the amount that the pviotable movement is resisted in response to variations in the load supported by said subframe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A trailer having an improved steering arrangement for a tractor/trailer unit in which the trailer is pulled by the tractor, comprising:
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a trailer body having a front end and a rear end, said front end including means for coupling said trailer body to the tractor for pivoting movement; a subframe coupled to said rear end of said trailer body for supporting said trailer body, said subframe including pivot means for pivotally coupling said subframe to said vehicle, said pivot means being coupled to said subframe to define a pivot point of said subframe about which said vehicle pivots; a pair of axles attached to said subframe in tandem with one another, said axles having wheels disposed thereon, said pivot point being offset in the rearward direction form the midpoint of said axles with respect to one another; and pivot resisting means for partially resisting the pivotable movement of said subframe with respect to said trailer body, said pivot resisting means further including means for varying the amount that the pivotable movement is resisted in response to variations in the load supported by said subframe. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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19. The trailer 18 wherein the profile of said cammed surface determines the magnitude of said torque.
Specification