Vehicle comprising at least two axles, the wheels of which are parallel

• US 8,770,601 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin
• Original Assignee: Compagnie générale des établissements Michelin, Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Albert, Loic, Marlier, Fabien, Mansuy, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck, Karen
• Application Number:
  US13/388,041
• Publication Number:
  US 20120187645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 280/81.1, 280/407.1, 280/405.1, 280/86.5, 280/676, 152/535
• US Class Current: 280/81.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/001 Tyres requiring an asymmetric or a special mounting
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/068 having devices to equalise or modify the load between the fifth wheel and the rear wheels adjustable couping saddles per se B62D53/0807; load transfer devices to permit coupling or uncoupling B62D53/0857; anti jack-knifing devices B62D53/0871

Abstract

A vehicle (3) comprising at least two axles (6, 7, 8) fitted with at least two tires the axis of rotation of which are always mutually parallel from one axle to another. The tires of at least one axle (7) have a cornering stiffness greater than that of the tires of another axle (6, 8).

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a first and a second axle, each being fitted with at least two tires and having an axis of rotation which is always mutually parallel from one of the first and second axles to another; and

at least one intermediate axle fitted with at least two tires and having an axis of rotation which is always mutually parallel with that of the first and second axles,

wherein a set of all tires of the intermediate axle has a cornering stiffness greater than that of a set of all tires of each of the first and second axles, and

wherein at least one axle comprises tires that have a tread strip width greater than those of the tires of at least one other axle.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cornering stiffness of the set of all tires fitted to the intermediate axle is at least 10% greater than the set of all tires fitted to each of the first and second axles.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cornering stiffness of the set of all tires fitted to each of the first and second axles is the same.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the cornering stiffness of the set of all tires fitted to each of the first and second axles is different.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each axle bears at least 10% of the load of the vehicle and wherein, during running, said intermediate axle bears a different load from the loads borne by each of the first and second axles.

6. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein, during running, said intermediate axle bears a load at least 15% greater than the load borne by another axle.