JP2021130443A - Lift axle device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a lift axle device that enables lifting and lowering of an axle by manual operation as much as possible without violating a law.SOLUTION: A lift axle device 20 is a device for lifting and lowering a second axle between a down position and a lift position in response to a load acting on a first axle. The lift axel device 20 includes: a connection signal acquisition unit 21 for acquiring a connection signal indicating whether there is connection of a trailer to a vehicle or not; a switch 22 for switching between an ON state in which a lifting function of lifting and lowering the second axle is validated in response to the load acting on the first axle and an OFF state in which the second axle is controlled at the down position regardless of the load; and a switch control unit 23 that performs control so as to invalidate the switching of the state by the switch and validate the lifting function when the connection signal indicates connection of a trailer, and validates switching of the state by the switch when the connection signal indicates that no trailer is connected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a lift axle device.

In a large vehicle having two axles on the rear wheels such as a tractor of a freight vehicle, the wheels of one of the two axles are kept in contact with the ground, and the axles of the other wheel are brought into contact with the wheels. A lift axle device that raises and lowers between a position and a lift position where the wheels are not in contact with the ground is known. For example, there is known a lift axle device that detects the load value of an axle on which the wheels are in contact with a sensor and raises and lowers the axle according to the detected value (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2019-038326

In a vehicle equipped with a lift axle device, if the axle that can be raised and lowered is set to the down position when the trailer is not connected, the wheels may lock due to insufficient load during braking. Due to the possibility of wheel lock during braking, it is legal in some countries to adopt a configuration that allows the driver to manually lower the axle to the down position regardless of the state of load on the axle. It may be a violation. However, there is a strong demand from drivers to allow the axles to be manually lowered to the down position as needed.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a lift axle device capable of raising and lowering an axle by manual operation as much as possible without violating laws and regulations.

The lift axle device according to the present invention has a second axle that is different from the first axle of the plurality of axles in a vehicle having a plurality of axles, depending on the load applied to the first axle of the plurality of axles. A lift axle device that raises and lowers an axle between a down position where the second wheel, which is a wheel connected to the second axle, is in contact with the ground, and a lift position where the second wheel is not in contact with the ground. The connection signal acquisition unit that acquires the connection signal indicating whether or not the trailer is connected to the vehicle, the ON state that enables the elevating function that raises and lowers the second axle according to the load applied to the first axle, and the first A switch that switches to either the OFF state that controls the second axle to the down position regardless of the load applied to the first axle, and the state by the switch when the connection signal indicates that the trailer is not connected. It is provided with a switch control unit that disables the switching of the above and controls so that the elevating function is enabled, and enables the switching of the state by the switch when the connection signal indicates that the trailer is connected. ..

In this lift axle device, when the trailer is not connected, the lifting function that raises and lowers the second axle according to the load applied to the first axle is enabled regardless of the state of switching. Violation of laws and regulations is prevented. On the other hand, when the trailer is connected, the switching of the switch state is enabled, and it is possible to switch between the ON state in which the elevating function is enabled and the OFF state in which the second axle is controlled to the down position. , The driver can lower the second axle to the down position as needed.

Further, in the lift axle device according to the present invention, the elevating control unit that controls the elevating and lowering of the second axle depending on the presence or absence of power supply, the first circuit that connects the power supply and the elevating control unit, the elevating control unit and the power supply. A first signal control unit that controls the presence or absence of power supply to the elevating control unit, a control circuit that controls the first signal control unit, and a control circuit that is provided between and open and close according to the load applied to the first axle. A switch circuit that is grounded via a pressure switch is provided, and the switch is provided between the control circuit and the power supply to connect the control circuit and the power supply when it is in the ON state and when it is in the OFF state. The control circuit and the power supply are disconnected, and the first signal control unit supplies power to the elevating control unit when the control circuit is connected to the power supply and the switch circuit is grounded, and the switch control unit Short-circuits the power supply and the control circuit when the connection signal indicates that the trailer is not connected, and unshort-circuits the power supply and the control circuit when the connection signal indicates that the trailer is connected. You may do it.

According to this lift axle device, it is possible to control the raising and lowering of the second axle depending on whether or not electric power is supplied to the raising and lowering control unit. The power supply to the elevating control unit is controlled by the first signal control unit. The first signal control unit supplies power to the elevating control unit when the control circuit is connected to the power supply and the switch circuit is connected to the ground. The connection between the control circuit and the power supply is controlled by a switch. When the trailer is not connected, the power supply and the control circuit are short-circuited, so the second axle is raised and lowered depending on the presence or absence of the ground connection of the switch circuit regardless of the state of the switch, which violates the law. Is prevented from becoming. On the other hand, when the trailer is connected, the power supply and the control circuit are not short-circuited, so that the second axle can be lowered to the down position by operating the switch.

Further, in the lift axle device according to the present invention, the switch control unit is composed of a second control relay provided between the control circuit and the power supply, and the second control relay indicates that the trailer is not connected. The power supply and the control circuit may be short-circuited when a connection signal is input, and the power supply and the control circuit may be non-short-circuited when a connection signal indicating that the trailer is connected is input. ..

According to this lift axle device, a switch control unit that short-circuits or does not short-circuit the power supply and the control circuit according to the connected state of the trailer indicated by the connection signal is realized by the second control relay.

Further, in the lift axle device according to the present invention, the first signal control unit is composed of a first control relay that closes the first circuit when the control circuit is energized, and the control circuit of the first control relay is used as a power source. When the switch circuit is connected and the switch circuit is connected to the ground, the power is turned on and the first circuit may be closed.

According to this lift axle device, the first signal control unit that controls the supply of electric power to the lift control unit is energized when the control circuit is connected to the power supply and the switch circuit is grounded. It is realized by a first control relay configured to close a first circuit that supplies power from a power source to an elevating control unit.

Further, in the lift axle device according to the present invention, the elevating control unit is composed of an elevating control valve that elevates and lowers the second axle according to the presence or absence of power supply, and the elevating control valve is via the first signal control unit. When power is supplied, the second axle is controlled to the lift position, and when power is not supplied via the first signal control unit, the second axle is controlled to the down position. May be good.

According to this lift axle device, the second axle is controlled to the lift position when power is supplied via the first signal control unit, and the second axle is lowered when power is not supplied. The lift control unit is realized by the lift control valve configured to control the position.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lift axle device capable of manually raising and lowering an axle as much as possible without violating laws and regulations.

It is a figure which shows the example of the vehicle which is equipped with the lift axle device which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and has the 1st and 2nd axle of a rear wheel, and a trailer is connected. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle in which the second axle that can be raised and lowered is controlled to the down position. FIG. 2B is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle in which the second axle is controlled to the lift position. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the state which is the schematic structure of one implementation mobile phone of a lift axle device, and the trailer is connected. It is a figure which shows typically an example of the state which is the schematic structure of one implementation mobile phone of a lift axle device, and the trailer is not connected.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same or equivalent elements will be designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle on which the lift axle device according to the embodiment is mounted, which has first and second axles of rear wheels and a trailer is connected. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 is, for example, a tractor to which a trailer 15 can be connected. The vehicle 10 has a first axle 11 and a second axle 12 on the rear wheels.

The vehicle 10 has a lift axle device 20. The lift axle device 20 has a down position and a second position in which the second axle 12, which is a wheel connected to the second axle 12, is in contact with the ground in response to a load applied to the first axle 11. 2 This is a device that raises and lowers the wheels to and from the lift position where they are not in contact with the ground.

As will be described in detail later, the lift axle device 20 has a connection signal acquisition unit 21 configured to be able to acquire a connection signal indicating whether or not the trailer 15 is connected.

The connection signal acquisition unit 21 acquires, for example, a detection signal from a predetermined sensor device capable of detecting the presence / absence of connection of the trailer 15 as a connection signal. The sensor device does not limit the type of device and the detection principle as long as it can detect the presence or absence of connection of the trailer 15.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle in which the second axle that can be raised and lowered is controlled to the down position. FIG. 2B is a diagram showing an example of a vehicle in which the second axle is controlled to the lift position. As shown in FIG. 2A, the lift axle device 20 has a second axle 12 when a predetermined condition is satisfied, for example, when the load on the first axle 11 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. Is controlled to the down position where the wheels are in contact with the ground.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the lift axle device 20 has a second lift axle device 20 when a predetermined condition is satisfied, for example, when the load on the first axle 11 is equal to or less than a predetermined value. The axle 12 is controlled to a lift position where the wheels are not in contact with the ground.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a schematic configuration of an implementation mobile phone of the lift axle device 20 in a state where the trailer 15 is connected. As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of left and right first air suspension 61, second air suspension 62, second bellows 63, air source 64, and first axle control valve 66 are provided.

The first air suspension is provided between the vehicle body frame of the vehicle 10 and the first axle 11, and the vehicle height of the vehicle 10 is increased by the compressed air supplied from the air source 64 via the first axle control valve 66. The position of the first axle 11 is controlled so as to be maintained at the set vehicle height.

The second air suspension 62 is provided between the vehicle body frame of the vehicle 10 and the second axle 12, and is provided by the compressed air supplied from the air source 64 via the second axle control valve group 65. The position of the second axle 12 is controlled so that the height is maintained at the set vehicle height.

The second bellows 63 is provided between the vehicle body frame of the vehicle 10 and the second axle 12, and is contracted or expanded by compressed air supplied from the air source 64 via the second axle control valve group 65. , The second axle 12 is controlled to the down position or the lift position.

The air source 64 supplies compressed air to the second axle control valve group 65 and the first axle control valve 66.

The second axle control valve group 65 puts the second air suspension 62 in the air supply state or the exhaust state according to the air pressure indicating the load applied to the first axle 11 and the supply / exhaust of the compressed air from the elevating control unit 26. By controlling, the position of the second axle 12 is controlled.

Further, the second axle control valve group 65 exhausts or supplies the second bellows 63 according to the air pressure indicating the load applied to the first axle 11 and the supply and discharge of compressed air from the elevating control unit 26. By controlling to, the second axle 12 is controlled to the down position or the lift position.

The first axle control valve 66 controls the position of the first axle 11 by supplying and exhausting the first air suspension 61 with compressed air from the air source 64.

The lift axle device 20 has the above-mentioned connection signal acquisition unit 21, switch 22, switch control unit 23, and first signal control unit 24 as a configuration for controlling the supply and discharge of compressed air to the second axle control valve group 65. , A pressure signal control unit 25, an elevating control unit 26 and a power supply 27, and a first pressure switch 41 and a second pressure switch 42.

The connection signal acquisition unit 21 acquires a connection signal indicating whether or not the trailer 15 is connected, and sends the acquired connection signal to the switch control unit 23.

The switch 22 is in the ON state, which enables the elevating function of raising and lowering the second axle 12 according to the load applied to the first axle 11 by opening and closing the electric contacts, and regardless of the load applied to the first axle 11. The second axle 12 is switched to one of the OFF states in which the second axle 12 is controlled to the down position. The switch 22 can be operated in the driver's seat of the vehicle 10.

Specifically, the switch 22 is provided between the control circuit 30 that controls the first signal control unit 24 and the power supply 27. The switch 22 connects the control circuit 30 and the power supply 27 when the electric contact is closed, and disconnects the control circuit 30 and the power supply 27 when the electric contact is open and is in the OFF state.

When the connection signal indicates that the trailer 15 is not connected, the switch control unit 23 controls so that the state switching by the switch 22 is invalidated and the elevating function is enabled. On the other hand, the switch control unit 23 enables the switching of the state by the switch 22 when the connection signal indicates that the trailer is connected.

Specifically, the switch control unit 23 short-circuits the power supply 27 and the control circuit 30 when the connection signal indicates that the trailer 15 is not connected, and the trailer 15 is connected by the connection signal. When indicated, the power supply 27 and the control circuit 30 are not short-circuited.

More specifically, in the present embodiment, the switch control unit 23 is composed of a second control relay provided in parallel with the switch 22 between the control circuit 30 and the power supply 27. The second control relay constituting the switch control unit 23 is, for example, a relay configured to close the circuit when the power is off and open the circuit when the power is on.

The second control relay is configured to be de-energized when a connection signal indicating that the trailer 15 is not connected is input, and short-circuits the power supply 27 and the control circuit 30. As a result, the switching of the state by the switch 22 is invalidated, and the elevating function becomes effective.

On the other hand, the second control relay is configured to be energized when a connection signal indicating that the trailer 15 is connected is input, and the power supply 27 and the control circuit 30 are not short-circuited. As a result, the switching of the state by the switch 22 is enabled. In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the connection signal indicating that the trailer 15 is connected is input to the second control relay from the connection signal acquisition unit 21, the state switching by the switch 22 is effectively controlled. There is.

The first signal control unit 24 is provided in the first circuit 31 that connects the elevating control unit 26 and the power supply 27, and controls whether or not power is supplied to the elevating control unit 26. The first signal control unit 24 is composed of, for example, a first control relay configured to close the first circuit 31 when the control circuit 30 is energized.

The first control relay is configured to be energized and close the first circuit 31 when the control circuit 30 is connected to the power supply 27 and the switch circuit 32 is connected to the ground. The switch circuit 32 is grounded according to the load on the first axle 11.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the control circuit 30 is not connected to the power supply 27, the first control relay does not close the first circuit 31. Therefore, the first signal control unit 24 does not supply electric power to the elevating control unit 26.

The pressure signal control unit 25 controls the ground connection of the switch circuit 32 together with the first pressure switch 41 and the second pressure switch 42. The pressure signal control unit 25 is composed of a pressure signal control relay that is energized when power is supplied to the elevating control unit 26. The pressure signal control relay connects the switch circuit 32 to the ground via the second pressure switch 42 when the power is on. In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the pressure signal control relay constituting the pressure signal control unit 25 is in a non-energized state, the switch circuit 32 is not provided with a ground connection via the second pressure switch 42. ..

The first pressure switch 41 is a switch that connects the switch circuit 32 to the ground according to the load value applied to the first axle 11 via the first air suspension 61. Specifically, the first pressure switch 41 connects the switch circuit 32 to the ground when the load value applied to the first axle 11 is less than the first threshold value, and the load value applied to the first axle 11 is changed. When it is equal to or higher than the first threshold value, the switch circuit 32 is ungrounded.

The second pressure switch 42 is a switch that connects the switch circuit 32 to the ground via the pressure signal control unit 25 according to the load value applied to the first axle 11 via the first air suspension 61. Specifically, the second pressure switch 42 provides a ground connection to the pressure signal control unit 25 when the load value applied to the first axle 11 is greater than the first threshold value and less than the second threshold value. When the load value applied to the first axle 11 is less than the second threshold value, the pressure signal control unit 25 is not provided with a ground connection.

The elevating control unit 26 controls the elevating and lowering of the second axle 12 depending on whether or not electric power is supplied. The provision of electric power to the elevating control unit 26 is controlled by the first signal control unit 24 as described above. Specifically, the elevating control unit 26 is composed of, for example, an elevating control valve that elevates and lowers the second axle 12 depending on whether or not electric power is supplied.

The elevating control valve constituting the elevating control unit 26 supplies compressed air to the second axle control valve group 65 when power is supplied via the first signal control unit 24, and the air is supplied. The second axle 12 is controlled to the lift position through the control of the second axle control valve group 65 and the second bellows 63. On the other hand, the elevating control valve closes the air supply path for the second axle control valve group 65 when power is not supplied via the first signal control unit 24, and the second axle control in which air is not supplied. The second axle 12 is controlled to the down position through the control of the valve group 65 and the second bellows 63.

The power supply 27 supplies a predetermined electric power to the elevating control unit 26 via control by the first signal control unit 24.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing an example of a schematic configuration of an implementation mobile phone of the lift axle device 20 in a state where the trailer 15 is not connected. In the example shown in FIG. 4, a connection signal indicating that the trailer 15 is not connected is input from the connection signal acquisition unit 21 to the second control relay constituting the switch control unit 23.

In this case, when the second control relay is de-energized, the power supply 27 and the control circuit 30 are short-circuited, so that the state switching by the switch 22 is invalidated. Therefore, since the power supply is always connected to the first control relay constituting the first signal control unit 24, the first signal control unit 24 depends on whether or not the switch circuit 32 is connected to the ground. It controls the supply or non-supply of electric power to the elevating control valve constituting the elevating control unit 26. That is, it is controlled so that the elevating function of raising and lowering the second axle 12 is effective according to the load applied to the first axle 11.

In the example shown in FIG. 4, since the pressure signal control relay constituting the pressure signal control unit 25 is in the energized state, electric power is supplied to the elevating control unit 26, and the power is supplied to the elevating control unit 26 via the second axle control valve group 65. The axle 12 of 2 is controlled to the lift position.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the trailer 15 is not connected, the elevating function for raising and lowering the second axle 12 according to the load applied to the first axle 11 does not depend on the switching state of the switch 22. Since it is activated, it is prevented from violating the law. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, when the trailer 15 is connected, the switching of the state of the switch 22 is enabled, the elevating function is enabled, and the second axle 12 is controlled to the down position. Since it is possible to switch to the OFF state, the driver can lower the second axle 12 to the down position as needed.

The present invention has been described in detail above based on the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof.

10 ... vehicle, 11 ... first axle, 12 ... second axle, 15 ... trailer, 20 ... lift axle device, 21 ... connection signal acquisition unit, 22 ... switch, 23 ... switch control unit, 24 ... first signal Control unit, 25 ... pressure signal control unit, 26 ... elevating control unit, 27 ... power supply, 30 ... control circuit, 31 ... first circuit, 32 ... switch circuit, 41 ... first pressure switch, 42 ... second pressure switch, 61 ... 1st air suspension, 62 ... 2nd air suspension, 63 ... 2nd bellows, 64 ... air source, 65 ... 2nd axle control valve group, 66 ... 1st axle control valve.

Claims (5)

In a vehicle having a plurality of axles, a second axle different from the first axle of the plurality of axles is assigned to the second axle according to a load applied to the first axle of the plurality of axles. A lift axle device that raises and lowers between a down position where the second wheel, which is a wheel connected to the axle of the vehicle, is in contact with the ground and a lift position where the second wheel is not in contact with the ground.
A connection signal acquisition unit that acquires a connection signal indicating whether or not the trailer is connected to the vehicle,
The ON state that enables the elevating function that raises and lowers the second axle according to the load applied to the first axle, and the down position of the second axle regardless of the load applied to the first axle. A switch that switches to either the OFF state that controls
When the connection signal indicates that the trailer is not connected, the switch disables the state switching and controls the elevating function to be effective, and the connection signal connects the trailer. A switch control unit that enables switching of the state by the switch when it is indicated that
Lift axle device with. An elevating control unit that controls the elevating and lowering of the second axle depending on the presence or absence of power supply,
The first circuit that connects the power supply and the elevating control unit,
A first signal control unit provided between the elevating control unit and the power supply and controlling the presence / absence of power supply to the elevating control unit.
A control circuit that controls the first signal control unit and
A switch circuit that is grounded via a pressure switch that opens and closes according to the load applied to the first axle.
With
The switch is provided between the control circuit and the power supply, and connects the control circuit and the power supply in the ON state, and disconnects the control circuit and the power supply in the OFF state. ,
The first signal control unit supplies electric power to the elevating control unit when the control circuit is connected to a power source and the switch circuit is connected to the ground.
The switch control unit short-circuits the power supply and the control circuit when the connection signal indicates that the trailer is not connected, and the connection signal indicates that the trailer is connected. The power supply and the control circuit are not short-circuited.
The lift axle device according to claim 1. The switch control unit is composed of a second control relay provided between the control circuit and the power supply.
The second control relay short-circuits the power supply and the control circuit when the connection signal indicating that the trailer is not connected is input, and the connection indicating that the trailer is connected. When a signal is input, the power supply and the control circuit are not short-circuited.
The lift axle device according to claim 2. The first signal control unit is composed of a first control relay that closes the first circuit when the control circuit is energized.
The first control relay is energized when the control circuit is connected to a power source and the switch circuit is connected to the ground, and closes the first circuit.
The lift axle device according to claim 2 or 3. The elevating control unit is composed of an elevating control valve that elevates and elevates the second axle according to the presence or absence of power supply.
The elevating control valve controls the second axle to the lift position when power is supplied via the first signal control unit, and power is supplied via the first signal control unit. If not, the second axle is controlled to the down position.
The lift axle device according to any one of claims 2 to 4.

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