Patent US3738679A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3738679A
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Auxiliary retraction assembly for pneumatically suspended tandem-axle types
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-05-15
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Granted: 1973-06-12
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Expires: 1992-05-15
Abstract
Abstract For overland drayage vehicles having one or more pneumatically suspended tandem-axles (traditionally comprising a fulcrum supported beam and air-bellows), there is provided an auxiliary retraction assembly that automatically raises the tandem-axle wheels from the underlying substrate whenever the vehicle operator (during periods of reduced cargo) purposely reduces the air-bellows pressure. Preferred embodiments of the auxiliary retraction assembly comprise: an elongate leaf-spring including a restrained-length portion maintained as through a novel bracket at constant elevation and also including a flexural-length portion terminating remote from the restrained-length between the beam fulcrum and the air-bellows, and an upright connector such as a novel pivotal link actuatably extending from the leaf-spring flexural-length to the tandem-axle whereby the leaf-spring flexural-length becomes progressively lower as the air-bellows is inflated and becomes progressively higher as the air-bellows is purposely deflated whereupon a finite spatial gap is created between the tandem-axle wheels and the underlying substrate.
Inventors
- 👤 W Jackson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:08
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D61/00; B62D61/12; B62D61/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
295 words
In combination with a longitudinally extending overland vehicle including at least one transversely extending tandem-axle of a pneumatically suspended type and adapted to carry revolvable depending wheels, said tandem-axle environments comprising on each lateral side of the vehicle lengthwise-axis an elongate longitudinally extending beam medially attached to the tandemaxle and having the beam elongate leading portion pivotably supported at a constant elevation fulcrum through a hanger member depending from the vehicle frame whereby the gravitational-force comprising the weight of the tandem-axle and attached wheels causes the beam to move sufficiently downwardly that said wheels actually contact the underlying substrate, and air-bellows depending from the vehicle frame to the beam elongate trailing portion so as to increase the contact pressure between the tandem-axle wheels and substrate as the air-bellows is purposely controllably inflated, the improvement of an auxiliary retraction apparatus for overcoming the said gravitational-force whenever the air-bellows pneumatic pressure is purposely drastically reduced whereby a spatial gap is created between the tandem-axle wheels and the underlying substrate, said auxiliary retraction assembly being wholly distinct from the air-bellows and any other axle-to-frame cushioning means and further comprising: a longitudinally extending leaf-spring including an elongate restrained-length and also including an elongate flexural-length portion terminating as a leaf-spring free-end vertically offset from the tandem-axle and located between the fulcrum and airbellows, the leaf-spring flexural-length being actuatably associated with the tandem-axle through an upright connector whereby the leaf-spring free-end terminus is forced to progressively lower elevations as the air-bellows pneumatic pressure is purposely increased, the restrained-length being rigidly associated at substantially constant elevation with the vehicle frame so as to be relatively unaffected by the airbellows pressure and the leaf-spring through the upright connector is capable of upwardly raising the tandem-axle and attached wheels away from the underlying substrate.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
295 words
In combination with a longitudinally extending overland vehicle including at least one transversely extending tandem-axle of a pneumatically suspended type and adapted to carry revolvable depending wheels, said tandem-axle environments comprising on each lateral side of the vehicle lengthwise-axis an elongate longitudinally extending beam medially attached to the tandemaxle and having the beam elongate leading portion pivotably supported at a constant elevation fulcrum through a hanger member depending from the vehicle frame whereby the gravitational-force comprising the weight of the tandem-axle and attached wheels causes the beam to move sufficiently downwardly that said wheels actually contact the underlying substrate, and air-bellows depending from the vehicle frame to the beam elongate trailing portion so as to increase the contact pressure between the tandem-axle wheels and substrate as the air-bellows is purposely controllably inflated, the improvement of an auxiliary retraction apparatus for overcoming the said gravitational-force whenever the air-bellows pneumatic pressure is purposely drastically reduced whereby a spatial gap is created between the tandem-axle wheels and the underlying substrate, said auxiliary retraction assembly being wholly distinct from the air-bellows and any other axle-to-frame cushioning means and further comprising: a longitudinally extending leaf-spring including an elongate restrained-length and also including an elongate flexural-length portion terminating as a leaf-spring free-end vertically offset from the tandem-axle and located between the fulcrum and airbellows, the leaf-spring flexural-length being actuatably associated with the tandem-axle through an upright connector whereby the leaf-spring free-end terminus is forced to progressively lower elevations as the air-bellows pneumatic pressure is purposely increased, the restrained-length being rigidly associated at substantially constant elevation with the vehicle frame so as to be relatively unaffected by the airbellows pressure and the leaf-spring through the upright connector is capable of upwardly raising the tandem-axle and attached wheels away from the underlying substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The auxiliary retraction assembly combination of claim 1 wherein the leaf-spring restrained-length is the nearer portion to the hanger member and fulcrum whereby the leaf-spring flexural-length portion trails therefrom and is the nearer leaf-spring portioN to the air-bellows; and wherein the leaf-spring has sufficient resiliency to move upwardly and overcoming said gravitational-force whenever the air-bellows pneumatic pressure is decreased by some 10 to 15 p.s.i.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
93 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein there is a bracket attached in depending relationship to the hanger member, the leaf-spring restrained-length being rigidly attached to said bracket and being located wholly below the beam fulcrum, the leaf-spring trailing flexural-length portion being located below the beam leading portion whereby the leaf-spring free-end is located vertically below the beam medial portion; and wherein the upright connector is a pivotal link having its lower portion attached to the leaf-spring near its free-end and having its upper portion pivotably associated with respect to the beam medial portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination of claim 3 wherein the leaf-spring comprises a plural finite number of normally springy horizontal leaves all laminarly rigidly held together solely at the restrained-length; and wherein the attachment of the leaf-spring restrained-length to the bracket comprises an affirmative attachment to the uppermost leaf and also an abutment means located nearer to the flexural-length for the lowermost leaf to rest upon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein the uppermost leaf is longitudinally lengthier than the lowermost leaf, said uppermost leaf at the laminar leaf-spring free-end being of a rolled-eye form; wherein the lower portion of the upright connector pivotal link is pivotably attached to the uppermost leaf rolled-eye terminus; wherein there is a transversely extending tubular collar carried upon the beam medial portion whereby said collar is adapted to surround the tandem-axle; and wherein the upper portion of the upright connector pivotal link is pivotably connected to a lug carried by the underside of the beam medial portion and below said tubular collar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein the depending hanger member is bifurcate comprising a pair of vertical legs spaced on opposite lateral sides of the beam leading portion, the beam fulcrum passing transversely through the hanger legs and the intervening beam leading portion; and wherein the bracket comprises a pair of rigidly laterally spaced apart vertical plates and enclosing therebetween the leaf-spring restrained-length whereby the leaf-spring flexural-length extends in trailing fashion from the bracket; and wherein the respective bracket plates are attached in depending relationship to the respective hanger legs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
225 words
An auxiliary retraction assembly adapted to be installed as an addendum accessory onto an overland vehicle tandem-axle of the pneumatically suspended type, said pneumatically suspended tandem-axle environments comprising on each lateral side of the vehicle lengthwise-axis an elongate longitudinally extending beam medially attached to the transversely extending tandem-axle and having the beam elongate leading portion supported at a constant elevation fulcrum through a hanger member depending from the vehicle frame whereby the tandem-axle wheels actually contact the underlying substrate, and pneumatically inflatable air-bellows depending from the vehicle frame to the beam trailing portion so as to control the contact pressure between the wheels and the underlying substrate, said auxiliary retraction assembly being capable of automatically creating a finite spatial gap between the tandem-axle wheels and the substrate whenever the air-bellows pneumatic pressure is purposely drastically reduced by at least ten psi and comprising: a bracket attachable in depending relationship to the said hanger; a longitudinally extending leaf-spring of the plural leaves laminar type and having a less flexible restrained-length portion attached to said bracket and also having a more flexible flexural-length portion trailing from the bracket; and a pivotal link connector having its lower portion attached to the leaf-spring flexural-length remote of said bracKet and having its upper portion pivotably attached to a lug adapted to be secured to the medial portion of the beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
225 words
An auxiliary retraction assembly adapted to be installed as an addendum accessory onto an overland vehicle tandem-axle of the pneumatically suspended type, said pneumatically suspended tandem-axle environments comprising on each lateral side of the vehicle lengthwise-axis an elongate longitudinally extending beam medially attached to the transversely extending tandem-axle and having the beam elongate leading portion supported at a constant elevation fulcrum through a hanger member depending from the vehicle frame whereby the tandem-axle wheels actually contact the underlying substrate, and pneumatically inflatable air-bellows depending from the vehicle frame to the beam trailing portion so as to control the contact pressure between the wheels and the underlying substrate, said auxiliary retraction assembly being capable of automatically creating a finite spatial gap between the tandem-axle wheels and the substrate whenever the air-bellows pneumatic pressure is purposely drastically reduced by at least ten psi and comprising: a bracket attachable in depending relationship to the said hanger; a longitudinally extending leaf-spring of the plural leaves laminar type and having a less flexible restrained-length portion attached to said bracket and also having a more flexible flexural-length portion trailing from the bracket; and a pivotal link connector having its lower portion attached to the leaf-spring flexural-length remote of said bracKet and having its upper portion pivotably attached to a lug adapted to be secured to the medial portion of the beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
The auxiliary retraction assembly addendum accessory of claim 7 for the environment wherein the hanger member comprises two depending legs with the beam leading portion positioned therebetween: wherein the bracket comprises a pair of rigidly laterally spaced apart vertical plates and enclosing therebetween the leaf-spring restrained-length; wherein the leaf-spring restrained-length at the uppermost leaf is attached to both bracket plates, said uppermost leaf having a rolled-eye terminus at the leaf-spring flexural-length free-end, the lowermost leaf of the restrained-length portion resting against an abutment means extending transversely between the bracket plates; and wherein the pivotal link connector lower portion is pivotably attached to the rolled-eye trailing terminus of the leaf-spring.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-11 | 1976-12-11 | 1977-06-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-11 | 1980-12-11 | 1981-06-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-11 | 1984-12-11 | 1985-06-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |