GB1566860A

GB1566860A - Axle assemblies for trailers and semi-trailers

Info

Publication number: GB1566860A
Application number: GB4801776A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Bergische Achsen Kotz Soehne
Current assignee: Bergische Achsen Kotz Soehne
Priority date: 1975-12-16
Filing date: 1976-11-18
Publication date: 1980-05-08
Also published as: DE2556531B2; DE2556531A1; FR2335366A1; DE2556531C3; FR2335366B1; DE7540023U; IT1065264B

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO AXLE ASSEMBLIES FOR TRAILERS AND SEMI-TRAILERS (71) We, BERGISCHE ACHSEN FABRIK FR. KOTZ & SOHNE, a Kommanditgesellschaft organised and existing under the laws of the Federal Republic of West Germany, of 5276 Wiehl 1, Am Ohlerhammer, Federal Republic of Germany, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a tandem axle assembly for trailers and semi-trailers.

According to the present invention there is provided a tandem axle assembly for trailers or semi-trailers, the assembly comprising two wheel axles, a pair of leaf springs each extending between the axles such that the leaf springs and axles together form a quadrilateral, the leaves of each spring being stacked vertically one on another, and a support axle pivotally mounting the leaf springs at their centre portions, the axles being fixed to the ends of the leaf springs in a manner such that the angles between the wheel axles and the leaf springs are stable, this fixing being effected by means of spring tension housings and U-bolts the latter of which pass through holes in plates rigidly secured to the ends of the leaf springs.

An embodiment of an axle assembly in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a tandem axle assembly in plan view; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the tandem axle assembly, partly sectioned on line II-II of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a section on the line III-III of Figure 1, but with the axles themselves omitted; Figure 4 is a side view of one end portion of a leaf-spring.

Figure 5 shows the end of the leaf spring of Figure 5 in plan view; Figure 6 is a cross-section, to an enlarged scale, of the support bearing illustrated in section in Figure 3; and Figure 7 shows a rubber bush and a steel bush in cross-section.

The tandem axle assembly illustrated in Figures 1 to 3 consists of two axles 1 and 2, which are secured in an angularly fixed orientation by means of resilient tension housings 3 to the ends of two leaf springs 4 and 5 the leaves of which are vertically stacked on one another. The axles 1,2 and the leaf spring 4,5 together form a quadrilateral. The two leaf springs 4 and 5 are secured at their centre portions by stirrups 6 to housing 7 of support bearings 8 and 9.

The support bearings 8 and 9 are for their part mounted on a support axle 10, which can be secured to the vehicle chassis by a mounting frame 11 of bifurcated construction.

A rubber bush 12 is incorporated in each of the two support bearings 8 and 9, and is forced into a space between the housing 7 and a steel bush 13. In the relaxed condition the rubber bush 12 has inclined end edges 14 (Figure 7) and in the centre an annular recess 15 in order to facilitate its insertion into the space and to prevent, after insertion, an excessive volume of the rubber projecting laterally from the space between the housing 7 and the steel bush 13. The steel bush 13 is clamped between a lock nut 16 and an annular spacer member 17 on the support axle 10. Because of this it is not necessary to machine the seating for the steel bush 13 on the support axle 10. In the embodiment illustrated by way of example, the rubber bush 12 is securely vulcanised onto the steel bush 13.The volume of the rubber bus 12 must be such that it can accommodate the relative movements arising during operation between the housing 7 and the steel bush 13, without slip.

Plates 18 are riveted to the end portions of the two leaf springs 4 and 5, which are provided with bores 19 for the insertion of U-bolts 20. The end portions of the leaf springs 4 and 5 are inserted together with the plates 18 between the parts of the spring tension housing 3 and are secured together by use of the U-bolts 20 to give a fixed angle in relation to the two axles 1 and 2. Both axles 1 and 2 and both leaf springs 4 and 5 consequently form, in plan view, a rigid rectangle which provides lateral guidance for the two axles l and 2.

A tandem axle assembly as hereinbefore described has the advantage that the radial thrust forces can be accommodated in the support bearing alone by the rubber bushes.

The support bearings themselves do not need maintenance, have low wear and are inexpensive. A further advantage consists in that the support bearing is not required to provide simultaneous lateral guidance for both the axles, since these are angularly stable, the spring tensioning housings being firmly secured to the ends of the leaf springs. Both axles and the leaf springs connected thereto form a rigid rectangle.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A tandem axle assembly for trailers or semi-trailers, the assembly comprising two wheel axles, a pair of leaf springs each extending between the axles such that the leaf springs and axles together form a quadrilateral, the leaves of each spring being stacked vertically one on another, and a support axle pivotally mounting the leaf springs at their centre portions, the axles being fixed to the ends of the leaf springs in a manner such that the angles between the wheel axles and the leaf springs are stable, this fixing being effected by means of spring tension housings and U-bolts the latter of which pass through holes in plates rigidly secured to the ends of the leaf springs.

2. A tandem axle assembly according to claim 1 wherein the leaf springs are mounted on the support axle by means of bearings having housings to which the leaf springs are attached, each bearing being mounted on the support axle and including a steel bush and a rubber bush interposed between the steel bush and the housing.

3. A tandem axle assembly. substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. and the steel bush 13, without slip. Plates 18 are riveted to the end portions of the two leaf springs 4 and 5, which are provided with bores 19 for the insertion of U-bolts 20. The end portions of the leaf springs 4 and 5 are inserted together with the plates 18 between the parts of the spring tension housing 3 and are secured together by use of the U-bolts 20 to give a fixed angle in relation to the two axles 1 and 2. Both axles 1 and 2 and both leaf springs 4 and 5 consequently form, in plan view, a rigid rectangle which provides lateral guidance for the two axles l and 2. A tandem axle assembly as hereinbefore described has the advantage that the radial thrust forces can be accommodated in the support bearing alone by the rubber bushes. The support bearings themselves do not need maintenance, have low wear and are inexpensive. A further advantage consists in that the support bearing is not required to provide simultaneous lateral guidance for both the axles, since these are angularly stable, the spring tensioning housings being firmly secured to the ends of the leaf springs. Both axles and the leaf springs connected thereto form a rigid rectangle. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A tandem axle assembly for trailers or semi-trailers, the assembly comprising two wheel axles, a pair of leaf springs each extending between the axles such that the leaf springs and axles together form a quadrilateral, the leaves of each spring being stacked vertically one on another, and a support axle pivotally mounting the leaf springs at their centre portions, the axles being fixed to the ends of the leaf springs in a manner such that the angles between the wheel axles and the leaf springs are stable, this fixing being effected by means of spring tension housings and U-bolts the latter of which pass through holes in plates rigidly secured to the ends of the leaf springs.