AU2007201022A1 - Axle Assembly - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors Address for service is: Traxle Pty Ltd Ronald Hugh Trivett Mark Lloyd Main WRAY ASSOCIATES Level 4, The Quadrant 1 William Street Perth, WA 6000 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: Axle Assembly The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -2- SAxle Assembly SField of the Invention 00 This invention relates to an axle assembly for a vehicle.

0The invention has been devised particularly, although not necessarily solely, as an axle assembly for a trailer adapted to be towed behind a towing vehicle.

Background Art Trailers can take various forms, including load-carrying trailers (such as box trailers), boat trailers, camping trailers, caravans and horse floats.

Typically, a trailer has one or more axles, with wheel hub assemblies at the outer ends of the axles to receive wheels. Each wheel hub assembly comprises a hub which is rotatably supported on the end of the axle by a wheel bearing.

Trailers are often exposed to harsh environments and are not necessarily serviced regularly. Trailers can, for example, can spend much (if not all) of their time in outside areas exposed to the weather. Further, boat trailers may be exposed to marine environments, including immersion in water during boat loading and unloading operations.

The exposure to harsh conditions can lead to wheel bearing failure. When a wheel bearing does fail, it is common for the wheel hub assembly to seize, thereby requiring repair before the trailer can be used again. This can present difficulties, particularly in circumstances where the trailer is remote from a repair location. As a consequence, it is often necessary for trailers to be abandoned until such time as they can be repaired.

It is against this background, and the problems and difficulties associated therewith, that the present invention has been developed.

Disclosure of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an axle assembly for OO a vehicle comprising an axle portion, a mounting mean at an end of the axle

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portion for receiving a wheel, and a detachable coupling for releasably connecting N 5 the mounting means to the axle portion, the releasable coupling comprising two acoupling flanges adapted to be releasably connected together, the coupling Sflanges being configured for mating engagement, one flange incorporating a male portion and the other flange incorporating a matching female portion, whereby Oengagement between the male and female portions supports the flanges against lateral movement.

Preferably the male portion comprises a central projection and the female portion comprises a central recess configured to snugly receive the central projection.

Preferably, the central projection is configured as a peg having a cylindrical side wall with a central axis which (in use) is aligned with the axis of rotation of the wheel, and the central recess comprises a hole having a corresponding cylindrical side wall.

In one arrangement, the detachable coupling may be at the end of the axle portion.

In another arrangement, the detachable coupling may be incorporated in the axle portion. In this arrangement, the detachable coupling is preferably adjacent the side of the trailer, outwardly of that section of the axle adapted to bear the load of the trailer. With this arrangement, the axle portion may comprises a central axle section adapted to bear the load of the trailer, and two end axle sections each releasably connected to the central axle section by a respective detachable coupling.

The axle portion may be of any appropriate type, including a rigid axle and a swing axle.

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Preferably, the axle portion has two opposed ends, and one of the mounting means at each end.

o00 Typically the mounting means comprises a wheel hub assembly for removably 0 receiving the wheel.

Preferably, the two coupling flanges are adapted to be releasably connected 0together by releasable fasteners such as bolts.

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The vehicle may comprise a trailer.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle having an axle assembly according to the first aspect of the invention.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a trailer comprising an axle portion, a load bearing frame mounted on the axle portion, and a mounting means at each end of the axle portion for receiving a wheel, and a releasable coupling between each mounting means and the axle portion, each releasable coupling comprising two coupling flanges adapted to be releasably connected together, the coupling flanges being configured for mating engagement, one flange incorporating a male portion and the other flange incorporating a matching female portion, whereby engagement between the male and female portions supports the flanges against lateral movement Preferably, the load-bearing frame is supported on the axle portion by way of a suspension system.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic end view of a trailer according to the embodiment; (Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of an axle assembly forming part of the trailer; Figure 3 is a schematic elevational view of one end of the axle C assembly, showing in particular an axle and a coupling for detachably 0 connecting a wheel to the end of the axle; C 5 Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of one end of the axle assembly, 0showing in particular the coupling; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, except that the coupling is shown in 0section to reveal the interconnection therebetween; Figure 6 is also a view similar to Figure 5, except that the coupling is shown in a separated condition; Figure 7 a view similar to Figure 6, except that the coupling flanges are shown in section to reveal the interconnection between each coupling flange and the adjacent section of the axle portion; Figure 8 is a fragmentary schematic elevational view showing one end of the central axle section; Figure 9 is a schematic elevational view of one end axle section; Figure 10 is a perspective view of the coupling flange associated with the central axle section; Figure 11 is a perspective view of the coupling flange associated with one of the end axle sections; Figure 12 is an elevational view of the coupling flange associated with the central axle section; and Figure 13 is an elevational view of the coupling flange associated with one of the end axle sections.

-6- Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention SReferring to the drawings, there is shown a trailer 10 comprising an axle assembly 00 11 and a load-bearing frame 13 mounted on the axle assembly 11 by way of a 0 suspension system 15 comprising springs 17. Wheels 19 are removably mounted c 5 on the axle assembly 11. The load-bearing frame 13 may be of any appropriate configuration according to the type of trailer involved. In the case of a boat trailer, Sfor example, the load-bearing frame 13 may be configured to carry a boat. In the case of a load-carrying trailer, the load-bearing frame 13 may be configured to Ssupport a deck or tray.

The axle assembly 11 comprises an axle portion 21 incorporating stub shafts 22 at it ends. The stub shafts 22 provide mounting means for receiving the wheels 19 and mounting them on the axle assembly. More particularly, each stub shaft 22 is adapted to receive and support a wheel hub assembly 23 of known kind, as shown in Figure 4. Each wheel hub assembly 23 comprises a wheel hub rotatably supported on wheel bearings 27 in conventional manner. The wheels 19 mounted onto the wheel hub assemblies 23.

The axle portion 21 comprises a central axle section 31 and two end axle sections 33 each releasably connected to the central axle section 31 by a coupling The central axle section 31 carries the suspension system 15 on which the loadbearing frame 13 is supported. With this arrangement, the couplings 35 are located outwardly of the suspension system Each end axle section 33 incorporates a respective one of the stub shafts 22.

Each coupling 35 comprises two coupling flanges 37, 39 adapted to be releasably connected together. One coupling flange 37 is connected to an end of the central axle section 31 and the other coupling flange 39 is connected to the inner end of the adjacent end axle section 33. More particularly, the coupling flange 39 is connected to the respective stub shaft 22.

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The coupling flanges 37, 39 are configured for mating engagement and are adapted to be detachably connected together by bolt assemblies 41 accommodated in aligned bolt holes 43. The mating engagement is provided by a 0 male projection 45 on flange 37 and a matching female portion 47 on flange 39, whereby engagement between the male and female portions locks the flanges N against relative lateral movement; that is, against movement relative to each other Sin a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the axle 21. This reduces shear forces on the bolts 41 interconnecting the flanges 37, 39 when the trailer is carrying a load.

In this embodiment, the male projection 45 comprises a squat projection 51 which is circular in cross-section having a cylindrical side wall 53. The matching female portion 47 comprises a hole 55 having a cylindrical side wall 57 corresponding with the side wall 53, whereby the projection 51 can be snugly received in the hole The interconnected peg 51 and hole 55 define a central axis which is coincident with the axis of the stub shaft 22 and thus the axis of rotation of the respective wheel 19 to be mounted thereon. With this arrangement, the coupling flanges 37, 39 are supported against lateral movement with respect to each other, thereby positioning and maintaining the two stub shafts 22 in alignment with each other and also in alignment with the intended axis of rotation of the wheels 19.

The coupling flanges 37, 39 are configured for alignment when mated. In this way, each wheel 19 is correctly aligned with respect to its intended axis of rotation and direction of travel. In other words, no further alignment of the wheel would be necessary. Such configuration for alignment can be provided by appropriate machining of the contacting surfaces of the coupling flanges 37, 39.

Each end axle section 33 comprises the respective stub shaft 22 and the associated coupling flange 39. In the arrangement shown, the stub shaft 22 has a spigot 61 at its inner end which is received in a socket 63 in the coupling flange 39 to provide an interconnection between the stub shaft and the coupling flange. The two interconnected parts 22, 39 are the welded together, such as by bead welding 65, 67.

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N In the arrangement shown, the central axle section 31 has a spigot 71 at each end which is received in a socket 73 in the respective coupling flange 37 to provide an interconnection between central axle section and the coupling flange. The two 00 0interconnected parts are the welded together, such as by bead welding 75, 77.

N 5 Constructing the central axle section 31 and the two end axle sections 33 in this Oway allows the various parts to be aligned relatively easily during manufacture.

In the event of failure of either of the wheel hub assemblies 23 (such as, for 0 example, through seizure of one the wheel bearing 27), it is possible to detach the respective axle end section 33 from the central axle section 31 at the coupling with the failed wheel hub assembly 23 still attached to the axle end section. This is simply done by first jacking the trailer 10 in the conventional way so that the wheel 19 on the failed wheel hub assembly 23 can be removed. The axle end section 33 is then detached from the axle central section 31 by removing the bolts 41 in the coupling 35, thereby allowing separation of the coupling flange 39 on the axle end section from the mating coupling flange 37 on the central axle section 31. The removed axle end section 33 (with the failed wheel hub assembly still attached thereto) can then be taken for repair. If a spare axle end section and wheel hub assembly is on hand, it can be fitted by simply bolting it to central axle section 31. The wheel 19 can then be re-fitted so that use of the trailer can continue, without the need for alignment of the wheel.

While not shown in the drawings, the axle assembly 11 may be fitted with a brake flange configured to operate in association with the braking system (if any) of the trailer.

From the foregoing, it is evident that the present embodiment provides a simple yet highly effecting arrangement for replacing a failed wheel hub assembly of a trailer. A user of a trailer according to the embodiment may well choose to carry a spare axle end section and wheel hub assembly when travelling with the trailer to locations where trailer repair services or facilities are unlikely to be readily available. In the event of a failure of the wheel hub assembly, this would allow ready replacement of the failed part so that the journey could continue.

SWhile the embodiment has been described in relation to a trailer fitted with a rigid axle, the invention may be applicable to other types of axles, including swing G axles.

o00 Further, the trailer may comprise any appropriate type of trailing vehicle, including c 5 load-carrying trailers (such as box trailers), boat trailers, camping trailers, caravans and horse floats.

The invention is not, however, necessarily limited to trailers, and may be used in relation to other types of vehicles having bodies supported on axles.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims (15)

1. An axle assembly for a vehicle comprising an axle portion, a mounting mean at an end of the axle portion for receiving a wheel, and a detachable coupling for releasably connecting the mounting means to 0 the axle portion, the releasable coupling comprising two coupling flanges adapted to be releasably connected together, the coupling 0 flanges being configured for mating engagement, one flange incorporating a male portion and the other flange incorporating a matching female portion, whereby engagement between the male and female portions supports the flanges against lateral movement.

2. An axle assembly according to claim 1 wherein the male portion comprises a central projection and the female portion comprises a central recess configured to snugly receive the central projection.

3. An axle assembly according to claim 2 wherein the central projection is configured as a peg having a cylindrical side wall with a central axis which (in use) is aligned with the axis of rotation of the wheel, and the central recess comprises a hole having a corresponding cylindrical side wall.

4. An axle assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the detachable coupling is at the end of the axle portion.

An axle assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the detachable coupling is incorporated in the axle portion.

6. An axle assembly according to claim 5 wherein the axle portion comprises a central axle section adapted to bear the load of the trailer, and two end axle sections each releasably connected to the central axle section by a respective detachable coupling. -11- O

7. An axle assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the axle portion has two opposed ends, and one of the mounting means C at each end. 00

8. An axle assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein c 5 the mounting means comprises a wheel hub assembly for removably receiving the wheel.

9. An axle assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the two coupling flanges are adapted to be releasably connected together by releasable fasteners such as bolts.

10.A vehicle having an axle assembly according to any one of the preceding claims.

11. A vehicle according to claim 10 wherein the vehicle comprises a trailer.

12. A trailer comprising an axle portion, a load bearing frame mounted on the axle portion, and a mounting means at each end of the axle portion for receiving a wheel, and a releasable coupling between each mounting means and the axle portion, each releasable coupling comprising two coupling flanges adapted to be releasably connected together, the coupling flanges being configured for mating engagement, one flange incorporating a male portion and the other flange incorporating a matching female portion, whereby engagement between the male and female portions supports the flanges against lateral movement.

13.A trailer according to claim 12 wherein the load-bearing frame is supported on the axle portion by way of a suspension system.

14. An axle assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. -12- O 0

15. A trailer substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 00 S