Patent US3780819A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3780819A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Land vehicle
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1971-09-13
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Granted: 1973-12-25
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Expires: 1991-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A tractor-semi-trailer vehicle has a power assist trailer axle in which the trailer axle is connected to be driven by an air motor driving the trailer differential through a clutch. The power assist motor and the clutch receive air from storage tanks on the trailer through a solenoid-operated control valve and a shuttle valve. An operator-operable switch controls the solenoidoperated valve. The tractor rear axle has a roll capability relative to the tractor front axle; since the tractor rear axle defines the attitudinal plane of the semi-trailer axle, the total vehicle can traverse very uneven terrain without lifting a wheel off the ground.
Inventors
- 👤 J Coordes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:20
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D59/00; B62D59/02; B60; B60K; B60K17/00; B60K17/34; B60K17/356; B62D53/00; B62D53/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
In a land vehicle having a multi-axle wheeled tractor, a source of air under pressure on the tractor, an air brake system on the tractor connected to recieve air under pressure from said source, a wheeled semi-trailer coupled with the tractor, and an air brake system on the semi-trailer connected to receive air under pressure from said source and including a brake storage tank, the invention comprising: a. power assist reversible air motor means to drive at least one of the semi-trailer wheels; b. a clutch connected between said reversible air motor and the wheel driven thereby, the clutch adapted to respond to air under pressure to complete the drive of said trailer wheel by said reversible air motor; c. power assist air storage means; d. means connecting said assist storage means with the brake storage tank; e. solenoid-operated air valve means having neutral, forward, and reverse operating positions; f. means to conduct air from said assist storage means to the solenoid-operated valve means; g. means to conduct air from the solenoid-operated valve means to said reversible air motor means; and h. means for venting the clutch to atmosphere at a point remote from the clutch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a land vehicle having a multi-axle wheeled tractor, a source of air under pressure on the tractor, an air brake system on the tractor connected to recieve air under pressure from said source, a wheeled semi-trailer coupled with the tractor, and an air brake system on the semi-trailer connected to receive air under pressure from said source and including a brake storage tank, the invention comprising: a. power assist reversible air motor means to drive at least one of the semi-trailer wheels; b. a clutch connected between said reversible air motor and the wheel driven thereby, the clutch adapted to respond to air under pressure to complete the drive of said trailer wheel by said reversible air motor; c. power assist air storage means; d. means connecting said assist storage means with the brake storage tank; e. solenoid-operated air valve means having neutral, forward, and reverse operating positions; f. means to conduct air from said assist storage means to the solenoid-operated valve means; g. means to conduct air from the solenoid-operated valve means to said reversible air motor means; and h. means for venting the clutch to atmosphere at a point remote from the clutch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A land vehicle as in claim 1, said clutch venting means including a shuttle valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
226 words
In a land vehicle having a multi-axle wheeled tractor, a source of air under pressure on the tractor, means permitting one axle to roll relative to another axle about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axle axes, a fifth wheel mounted on the tractor to roll with one axle relative to said another axle, a wheeled semi-trailer coupled with the tractor by means of the fifth wheel, and an air brake system on the semi-trailer connected to receive air under pressure from said source and including a brake storage tank, the invention comprising: a. power assist reversible air motor means to drive at least one of the semi-trailer wheels; b. a clutch connected between said reversible air motor and the wheel driven thereby, the clutch adapted to respond to air under pressure to complete the drive of said trailer wheel by said reversible air motor; c. power assist air storage means; d. means connecting the power assist air storage means with the brake storage tank; e. solenoid-operated air valve means having neutral, forward, and reverse operating positions; f. means to conduct air from the power assist air storage means to the solenoid-operated valve means; g. means to conduct air from the solenoid-operated valve means to said reversible air motor means; and h. means for venting the clutch to atmosphere at a point remote from the clutch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
226 words
In a land vehicle having a multi-axle wheeled tractor, a source of air under pressure on the tractor, means permitting one axle to roll relative to another axle about an axis substantially perpendicular to the axle axes, a fifth wheel mounted on the tractor to roll with one axle relative to said another axle, a wheeled semi-trailer coupled with the tractor by means of the fifth wheel, and an air brake system on the semi-trailer connected to receive air under pressure from said source and including a brake storage tank, the invention comprising: a. power assist reversible air motor means to drive at least one of the semi-trailer wheels; b. a clutch connected between said reversible air motor and the wheel driven thereby, the clutch adapted to respond to air under pressure to complete the drive of said trailer wheel by said reversible air motor; c. power assist air storage means; d. means connecting the power assist air storage means with the brake storage tank; e. solenoid-operated air valve means having neutral, forward, and reverse operating positions; f. means to conduct air from the power assist air storage means to the solenoid-operated valve means; g. means to conduct air from the solenoid-operated valve means to said reversible air motor means; and h. means for venting the clutch to atmosphere at a point remote from the clutch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A land vehicle as in claim 3, said clutch venting means including a shuttle valve.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-24 | 1977-06-25 | 1977-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-24 | 1981-06-25 | 1981-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-24 | 1985-06-25 | 1985-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |