GB2097342A

GB2097342A - Vehicle axle set

Info

Publication number: GB2097342A
Application number: GB8126145A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Mossbauer & Soehne
Current assignee: Mossbauer & Soehne
Priority date: 1980-12-11
Filing date: 1981-08-27
Publication date: 1982-11-03
Also published as: SE8105400L; ES8206325A1; IT8123908A0; NL8103962A; BE890355A; FR2496015A1; DE3135913A1; IT1139610B; ES505618A0

Abstract

An axle set, particularly for a multi-axle semitrailer of a semitrailer tractor vehicle, comprises at least two axles (11,12) in which the wheels (8) of one or more of the axles can be raised from the road (10) so that only the wheels of a permanent running axle (12) remain in contact with the road. The permanent running axle (12) is movable by a displacing device (9) out of its normal position in the direction of the road (10) in such a manner that the spacing from the axle centre to the load carrying means (3) as a reference plane is increased by a first amount (x). The or each other axle (11) is raisable through coupling means (5) which is connected to the permanent running axle (12), from the road (10) in the direction of the load carrying means (3) by such an amount (y) that contact with the road is eliminated. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vehicle axle set The present invention relates to a vehicle axle set, particularly for a multi-axle semitrailer of a semitrailer tractor vehicle.

In the case of multi-axle freight vehicles, especially semitrailer vehicles, it is known to reduce tyre wear on unloaded journeys by raising at least one axle, i.e. to elevate it from its normal position either mechanically, pneumatically or hydraulically so that contact with the road is eliminated. This does of course result in a relatively complicated and expensive axle construction and there is a particular need for an axle set which, in a relatively simple and thus constructionally inexpensive manner, enables elimination and restoration of the contact between wheels and road.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle axle set comprising a main axle and at least one ancillary axle each provided with road wheels for supporting load carrying means of a vehicle relative to a road surface, displacing means for so displacing such load carrying means relative to the main axle as to increase the spacing therebetween, and coupling means so coupling the or at least one ancillary axle to the main axle that on such displacement of the load carrying means the or said one ancillary axle is displaced relative to the load carrying means to decrease the spacing therebetween by such an amount that in use the wheels of the or said one ancilliary axle are disposed out of contact with a road surface contacted by the wheels of the main axle.

Preferably, the main axle is movable relative to a load deck by an expanding element in such a manner that the spacing from the axle centre to the deck as a reference plane increases by a first amount, and the or each ancilliary axle is raisable through coupling members, which are connected with the main axle, from the road in the direction of the deck by a second amount sufficient to eliminate contact between the road and the wheels of the anciiliary axle or axles.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation of a twoaxle axle set, in normal operation, according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a lowered main axle and raised ancilliary axle of the set; Fig. 3 is a schematic side elevation of a threeaxle set, in normal operation, according to a second embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with lowered central main axle and raised ancilliary axles of the set.

Referring now to the drawings, in Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a two-axle set 1 comprising, at each axial end of the set, a leaf spring unit 5 which serves for the suspension of a semitrailer unit, each leaf spring unit 5 centrally connected to a central support axle 2. The axle 2 is mounted to the underside of the semitrailer loading deck 3 by means of bearing blocks 4. Mounted at the ends 6 of the leaf spring unit 5 are two running axles 7 with carrying wheels 8.

To minimise tyre wear, for example during unloaded journeys, the right-hand and main, permanently running axle 12 can be acted in the direction of the road 10 through an extensible element 9, which is actuated hydraulically, mechanically or, as here for example, pneumatically. In that case, the spacing a from the axle centre is increased by the amount x. At the same time, the spring unit 5 pivots at the support axle 2 to effect raising of the left-hand or ancilliary axle 11 by an amount y, which is sufficient to result in lifting of the axle 11 so that it no longer stands in contact with the road. To prevent excessive displacement of the axle 12, an abutment 1 3 is provided at the axle 11.

In the case of a three-axle axle set 14 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the central axle is constructed as a permanent running axle 1 5 and the other two axles as lifting axles 16 and 17. At each axial end of the set, the axle 1 5 is mounted by a spring unit 20, between two bearing blocks 18, the two balancing rockers 1 9 acting as coupling members.

The rockers 1 9 are pivotable about axles 21 in the bearing blocks 1 8. The lifting axles 16 and 17 are similarly fastened to spring units 22, one end of which is mounted in a respective block 23 and the other end pivotally connected to the associated rocker 1 9.

By means of an extensible element 14 arranged above the axle 15, this axle can be acted on in the direction of the rod 10 to increase the normal spacing a from the deck 3 by the amount x. As a result, the movable ends of the spring unit 22 of the lifting axles 16 and 17 are moved upwardly by means of the rocker 1 9. This has the effect that the two axles 1 6 and 1 7 are simultaneously each raised by the amount y and have no further contact with the road 10.

Through omission of the front or rear lifting axle, a two-axle set (not shown) can be derived from the three-axle set, wherein actuation of the axles takes place as described above for the threeaxle set. The only difference in that case is that the spring unit of the permanent running axle is acted on in downward direction only like a single-armed lever.

1. A vehicle axle set comprising a main axle and at least one ancilliary axle each provided with road wheels for supporting load carrying means of a vehicle relative to a road surface, displacing means for so displacing such load carrying means relative to the main axle as to increase the spacing therebetween, and coupling means so coupling the or at least one ancilliary axle to the main axle that on such displacement of the load carrying means the or said one ancilliary axle is displaced

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Vehicle axle set The present invention relates to a vehicle axle set, particularly for a multi-axle semitrailer of a semitrailer tractor vehicle. In the case of multi-axle freight vehicles, especially semitrailer vehicles, it is known to reduce tyre wear on unloaded journeys by raising at least one axle, i.e. to elevate it from its normal position either mechanically, pneumatically or hydraulically so that contact with the road is eliminated. This does of course result in a relatively complicated and expensive axle construction and there is a particular need for an axle set which, in a relatively simple and thus constructionally inexpensive manner, enables elimination and restoration of the contact between wheels and road. According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle axle set comprising a main axle and at least one ancillary axle each provided with road wheels for supporting load carrying means of a vehicle relative to a road surface, displacing means for so displacing such load carrying means relative to the main axle as to increase the spacing therebetween, and coupling means so coupling the or at least one ancillary axle to the main axle that on such displacement of the load carrying means the or said one ancillary axle is displaced relative to the load carrying means to decrease the spacing therebetween by such an amount that in use the wheels of the or said one ancilliary axle are disposed out of contact with a road surface contacted by the wheels of the main axle. Preferably, the main axle is movable relative to a load deck by an expanding element in such a manner that the spacing from the axle centre to the deck as a reference plane increases by a first amount, and the or each ancilliary axle is raisable through coupling members, which are connected with the main axle, from the road in the direction of the deck by a second amount sufficient to eliminate contact between the road and the wheels of the anciiliary axle or axles. Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation of a twoaxle axle set, in normal operation, according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a lowered main axle and raised ancilliary axle of the set; Fig. 3 is a schematic side elevation of a threeaxle set, in normal operation, according to a second embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but with lowered central main axle and raised ancilliary axles of the set. Referring now to the drawings, in Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a two-axle set 1 comprising, at each axial end of the set, a leaf spring unit 5 which serves for the suspension of a semitrailer unit, each leaf spring unit 5 centrally connected to a central support axle 2. The axle 2 is mounted to the underside of the semitrailer loading deck 3 by means of bearing blocks 4. Mounted at the ends 6 of the leaf spring unit 5 are two running axles 7 with carrying wheels 8. To minimise tyre wear, for example during unloaded journeys, the right-hand and main, permanently running axle 12 can be acted in the direction of the road 10 through an extensible element 9, which is actuated hydraulically, mechanically or, as here for example, pneumatically. In that case, the spacing a from the axle centre is increased by the amount x. At the same time, the spring unit 5 pivots at the support axle 2 to effect raising of the left-hand or ancilliary axle 11 by an amount y, which is sufficient to result in lifting of the axle 11 so that it no longer stands in contact with the road. To prevent excessive displacement of the axle 12, an abutment 1 3 is provided at the axle 11. In the case of a three-axle axle set 14 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the central axle is constructed as a permanent running axle 1 5 and the other two axles as lifting axles 16 and 17. At each axial end of the set, the axle 1 5 is mounted by a spring unit 20, between two bearing blocks 18, the two balancing rockers 1 9 acting as coupling members. The rockers 1 9 are pivotable about axles 21 in the bearing blocks 1 8. The lifting axles 16 and 17 are similarly fastened to spring units 22, one end of which is mounted in a respective block 23 and the other end pivotally connected to the associated rocker 1 9. By means of an extensible element 14 arranged above the axle 15, this axle can be acted on in the direction of the rod 10 to increase the normal spacing a from the deck 3 by the amount x. As a result, the movable ends of the spring unit 22 of the lifting axles 16 and 17 are moved upwardly by means of the rocker 1 9. This has the effect that the two axles 1 6 and 1 7 are simultaneously each raised by the amount y and have no further contact with the road 10. Through omission of the front or rear lifting axle, a two-axle set (not shown) can be derived from the three-axle set, wherein actuation of the axles takes place as described above for the threeaxle set. The only difference in that case is that the spring unit of the permanent running axle is acted on in downward direction only like a single-armed lever. CLAIMS

1. A vehicle axle set comprising a main axle and at least one ancilliary axle each provided with road wheels for supporting load carrying means of a vehicle relative to a road surface, displacing means for so displacing such load carrying means relative to the main axle as to increase the spacing therebetween, and coupling means so coupling the or at least one ancilliary axle to the main axle that on such displacement of the load carrying means the or said one ancilliary axle is displaced relative to the loading carrying means to decrease the spacing therebetween by such an amount that in use the wheels of the or said one ancilliary axle are disposed out of contact with a road surface contacted by the wheels of the main axle.

2. An axle set as claimed in claim 1, the coupling means comprising a plurality of leaf spring units each pivotally connected to mounting means on the load carrying means and connected at each of its ends to a respective one of the main axle and the or said one ancilliary axle.

3. An axle set as claimed in claim 1, comprising two such ancilliary axles, the ancilliary axles being arranged symmetrically of the axis of the main axle.

4. An axle set as claimed in claim 3, the coupling means comprising a respective plurality of leaf spring units supporting each of the axles, and a respective plurality of rockers articulated to and interconnecting the leaf spring units of the main axle and the lead spring units of each of the ancilliary axles, the displacing means being arranged to act on the leaf spring units of the main axle.

5. An axle set as claimed in claim 1, the coupling means comprising a respective plurality of leaf spring units supporting each of the main axle and the or said one ancilliary axle, and a plurality of rockers articulated to and interconnecting the leaf spring units of one plurality with those of the other plurality, the displacing means being arranged to act on the leaf spring units of the main axle.

6. A vehicle axle set substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A vehicle axle set substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A truck trailer unit comprising an axle set as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

9. A truck comprising a tractor unit and a trailer unit as claimed in claim 8.