Axle lift assembly

• US 9,637,189 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2016
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saf-Holland Incorporated (SAF-HOLLAND SE)
• Original Assignee: Saf-Holland Incorporated (SAF-HOLLAND SE)
• Inventors: Karel, Jonathon, Hicks, William, Greer, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M
• Application Number:
  US15/237,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20160347388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/27 wherein the fluid is a gas
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 11/28 characterised by means specially adapted for attaching the spring to axle or sprung part of the vehicle
• 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 17/018 characterised by the use of a specific signal treatment or control method
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/31 with two trailing arms rigidly connected to the axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2202/152 Pneumatic spring
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/126 Mounting of pneumatic springs
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/143 on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/43 Fittings, brackets or knuckles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4302 for fixing suspension arm on the vehicle body or chassis
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2204/4702 pneumatically
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/601 Hanger bracket
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/204 Vehicle speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/30 Propulsion unit conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/51222 Pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/52 in tyre
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2400/90 Other conditions or factors
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 5/00 Resilient suspensions for a set of tandem wheels or axles having interrelated movements
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 7/02 Attaching arms to sprung part of vehicle B60G7/006 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/125 : the retractable wheel being a part of a set of tandem wheels resilient suspension for a single set of tandem wheels B60G5/00

Abstract

An axle lift assembly includes a vehicle configured to support a load. A slide assembly has a member that is movable along a longitudinal extent of the vehicle. The slide assembly is operable to secure the member relative to the vehicle at a select position along the longitudinal extent of the vehicle. A swing arm has a first end pivotally coupled with the member and an opposing second end biased away from the vehicle. The swing arm is configured to support a wheel assembly with a tire for contacting a ground surface. An actuator is operably interconnecting the member and the swing arm for raising the wheel assembly toward the vehicle to lift the tire away from the ground surface. The slide assembly and the actuator are configured to respectively adjust longitudinal and vertical positions of the wheel assembly relative to the vehicle for accommodating a condition of the load.

Claims

1. An axle lift assembly, comprising:

a vehicle configured to support a load;

a slide assembly having a member movable along a longitudinal extent of the vehicle, the slide assembly operable to secure the member of the slide assembly relative to the vehicle at a select position along the longitudinal extent of the vehicle;

a support member having a first portion coupled with the member and second portion biased away from the vehicle, the support member configured to support a wheel assembly with a tire for contacting a ground surface in a lowered position;

an actuator operably interconnecting the member of the slide assembly and the support member configured to raise the wheel assembly toward the vehicle to lift the tire away from the ground surface to a raised position, wherein the slide assembly and the actuator are configured to respectively adjust longitudinal and vertical positions of the wheel assembly relative to the vehicle; and

component operable between the support member and the member of the slide assembly for monitoring a condition indicative of the weight of a load carrier by a vehicle, wherein the wheel assembly is moved between the raised and lowered positions when the component detects a condition indicative of a weight that is different than a threshold weight.

2. The axle lift assembly of claim 1, wherein the slide assembly includes a locking mechanism between the member and the vehicle for releasably engaging at the select position along the longitudinal extent to prevent movement between the member and the vehicle.

3. The axle lift assembly of claim 2, wherein the locking mechanism includes a retractable lug on one of the member and the vehicle for engaging an aperture on the other of the member and the vehicle to prevent the axle from sliding longitudinally relative to the vehicle.

4. The axle lift assembly of claim 1, wherein the support member includes a swing arm having a first end pivotably coupled to the member of the slide assembly and a second end biased away from the vehicle;

and further comprising;

a support bracket coupled with the member and protruding downward proximate the first end of the swing arm, wherein the actuator is operable between the support bracket and the swing arm.

5. The axle lift assembly of claim 4, wherein the actuator is located between the support bracket and the swing arm.

6. The axle lift assembly of claim 5, wherein the actuator abuts the support bracket and the swing arm.

7. The axle lift assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator is pneumatically adjustable between a deflated position with the tire contacting the ground surface and an inflated position with the tire lifted away from the ground surface.

31. The axle lift assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator raises the tire assembly from the lowered position to the raised position when the component detects a condition indicative of a weight that is less than the threshold weight.

8. An axle lift assembly for a trailer that is configured to support a load, comprising:

a member configured to slidably couple with the trailer for adjusting a longitudinal position of the member relative to the trailer;

a swing arm having a pivot end coupled with the member;

an axle assembly coupled with the swing arm and configured to support a tire;

an air spring disposed between the swing arm and the member configured to bias the axle assembly away from the member; and

a pneumatic actuator operably interconnecting the member and the swing arm, wherein the pneumatic actuator is adjustable between a deflated position configured for the tire to contact a ground surface and an inflated position configured to lift the tire away from the ground surface; and

a component operable between the swing arm and the member for monitoring a condition indicative of weight of a load carried by a vehicle, wherein the tire is lifted away from the ground surface when the component detects a condition indicative of a weight that is different than a threshold weight.

9. The axle lift assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a locking mechanism between the member and the trailer configured to releasably engage the member along a longitudinal extent of the trailer to prevent movement between the member and the trailer.

10. The axle lift assembly of claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism includes a retractable lug on one of the member and the trailer for engaging a select aperture of a plurality of apertures spaced along the other of the member and the trailer to prevent the axle assembly from sliding longitudinally relative to the trailer.

11. The axle lift assembly of claim 8, further comprising:

a support bracket coupled with the member and protruding downward proximate the pivot end of the swing arm, wherein the pneumatic actuator is operable between the support bracket and the swing arm.

12. The axle lift assembly of claim 11, wherein the actuator is located between the support bracket and the swing arm.

13. The axle lift assembly of claim 12, wherein the actuator abuts the support bracket and the swing arm.

14. The axle lift assembly of claim 11, wherein a lower portion of the support bracket includes a substantially planar surface coupled with and supporting the actuator.

15. The axle lift assembly of claim 8, wherein the pneumatic actuator is inflatable to raise the axle assembly closer to the trailer from a lowered position arranged for the tire to contact the ground surface to a lifted position for the tire to rise away from the ground surface.

32. The axle lift assembly of claim 8, wherein the actuator raises the tire assembly from the lowered position to the raised position when the component detects a condition indicative of a weight that is less than the threshold weight.

16. An axle lift assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a member slidably adjustable along a longitudinal extent of the vehicle;

a swing arm pivotably coupled with the member and biased away from the vehicle for supporting a tire; and

an actuator operably interconnecting the member and the swing arm and adjustable to raise the swing arm toward the vehicle for lifting the tire away from a ground surface; and

a component operable between the swing arm and the member for monitoring a condition indicative of a weight of a load carried by the vehicle, wherein the actuator raises the tire toward the vehicle to lift the tire away from the ground surface when the component is indicative of the weight being less than a threshold weight.

17. The axle lift assembly of claim 16, further comprising:

a locking assembly having a retractable lug coupled with the member for selectively engaging an aperture on a frame member of the vehicle to prevent the member from sliding relative to the frame member.

18. The axle lift assembly of claim 16, further comprising:

a support bracket coupled with the member and protruding downward, wherein the actuator is operable between the support bracket and the swing arm.

19. The axle lift assembly of claim 18, wherein the actuator is located between the support bracket and the swing arm.

20. The axle lift assembly of claim 19, wherein the actuator abuts the support bracket and the swing arm.

21. The axle lift assembly of claim 16, wherein the actuator is pneumatically adjustable between a deflated position with the tire contacting the ground surface and an inflated position with the tire lifted away from the ground surface.

27. The axle lift assembly of claim 19, wherein the actuator abuts the support bracket and the support member.

28. The axle lift assembly of claim 16, wherein the actuator is pneumatically adjustable between a deflated position with the tire contacting the ground surface and an inflated position with the tire lifted away from the ground surface.

22. An axle lift assembly for a vehicle, comprising:

a member slidably adjustable along a longitudinal extent of the vehicle;

a support member coupled with the member and biased away from the vehicle for supporting a tire;

an actuator operably interconnecting the slidably adjustable member and the support member and configured to raise the support member toward the vehicle for lifting the tire away from a ground surface; and

a component operable between the support member and the slidably adjustable member for monitoring a condition indicative of weight of a load carried by the vehicle, wherein the tire is lifted away from the ground surface when the component detects a condition indicative of a weight that is different than a threshold weight.

23. The axle lift assembly of claim 22, wherein the support member includes a swing arm pivotably coupled with the member.

24. The axle lift assembly of claim 22, further comprising:

a locking assembly having a retractable lug coupled with the member for selectively engaging an aperture on a frame member of the vehicle to prevent the member from sliding relative to the frame member.

25. The axle lift assembly of claim 22, further comprising:

a support bracket coupled with the member and protruding downward, wherein the actuator is operable between the support bracket and the support member.

26. The axle lift assembly of claim 25, wherein the actuator is located between the support bracket and the support member.

29. The axle lift assembly of claim 22, wherein the support member is biased away from the vehicle by an air spring.

30. The axle lift assembly of claim 22, further comprising:

a component operable between the support member and the member for monitoring a condition indicative of a weight of a load carried by the vehicle, wherein the actuator raises the tire toward the vehicle to lift the tire away from the ground surface when the component is indicative of the weight being less than a threshold weight.