US3860256A — Retractable tag-axle assembly for overland vehicl…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 268 words

In combination with a longitudinally extending overland vehicle having an operator''s station and including at least one transversely extending non-driven so-called tandem-axle carrying at least one revolvable depending wheel located on each lateral side of the vehicle lengthwise-axis, said improved tag-axle assembly including upward retraction means and downward pressing means for the tandem-axle and comprising on each lateral side of the vehicle lengthwise-axis: A. An elongate longitudinally extending springy-beam having its leading portion pivotably attached to a fulcrum maintained at constant elevation by a hanger member depending from the vehicle main frame, said springy-beam having its trailing portion at a trail-site attachably associated with the transversely extending tandem-axle whereby the springy-beam has a finite overall-length measured from fulcrum to trail-site and whereby the gravitational force comprising the combined weights of the tandem-axle and rotatable wheels cause the beam to pivot downwardly about the fulcrum; B. An elongate piston of the casing and double-acting plunger components type, one said piston component being pivotably attached to the vehicle frame above said elongate springy-beam and the other said piston component being ultimately pivotably associated with the springy-beam at a medial-pivot location situated a minimal offset-length longitudinally from the fulcrum toward the trail-site whereby the springy-beam overalllength bears a thrust-ratio of at least three with respect to said offset-length; and C. Control means located at the operator''s station for forceably introducing motive fluid into the double-acting piston to govern the length thereof whereby the tandem-axle wheels are selectably pressed downwardly against and retracted upwardly from the vehicle underlying substrate and solely by virtue of the piston elements within the same tag-axle assembly.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 268 words

In combination with a longitudinally extending overland vehicle having an operator''s station and including at least one transversely extending non-driven so-called tandem-axle carrying at least one revolvable depending wheel located on each lateral side of the vehicle lengthwise-axis, said improved tag-axle assembly including upward retraction means and downward pressing means for the tandem-axle and comprising on each lateral side of the vehicle lengthwise-axis: A. An elongate longitudinally extending springy-beam having its leading portion pivotably attached to a fulcrum maintained at constant elevation by a hanger member depending from the vehicle main frame, said springy-beam having its trailing portion at a trail-site attachably associated with the transversely extending tandem-axle whereby the springy-beam has a finite overall-length measured from fulcrum to trail-site and whereby the gravitational force comprising the combined weights of the tandem-axle and rotatable wheels cause the beam to pivot downwardly about the fulcrum; B. An elongate piston of the casing and double-acting plunger components type, one said piston component being pivotably attached to the vehicle frame above said elongate springy-beam and the other said piston component being ultimately pivotably associated with the springy-beam at a medial-pivot location situated a minimal offset-length longitudinally from the fulcrum toward the trail-site whereby the springy-beam overalllength bears a thrust-ratio of at least three with respect to said offset-length; and C. Control means located at the operator''s station for forceably introducing motive fluid into the double-acting piston to govern the length thereof whereby the tandem-axle wheels are selectably pressed downwardly against and retracted upwardly from the vehicle underlying substrate and solely by virtue of the piston elements within the same tag-axle assembly.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 106 words

The combination of claim 1 wherein the springy-beam at said trail-site is pivotably associated with the said transversely extending tandem-axle; wherein the double-acting piston is uprightly positioned having its casing as the piston upper component and pivotably associated with the vehicle frame; wherein the double-acting piston has its withdrawable-extendable plunger as the lower component tHereof and pivotably associated with the springy-beam at said medial-pivot; and wherein liquid motive fluid controllably suppliable from a suitable reservoir is utilized for forceable introduction through either of a pair of hoses leading into the piston casing for respectively withdrawing and extending the movable piston with respect to the piston casing.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 55 words

The combination of claim 2 wherein the elongate springy-beam is of the multi-leaves type and including stiffening-means located at the beam leading portion whereby the multi-leaves springy-beam is progressively more flexible from the leading portion toward the trailing portion thereof; and wherein the upright piston casing is pivotably associated with said hanger member frame addendum.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The combination of claim 3 wherein the multi-leaves springy-beam comprises elongate stacked springy-leaves that are individually lengthier toward the springy-beam lower-side, at least the lowermost springy-leaf having terminal portions wrapped around the fulcrum and also the trail-site said pivotal connections.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 64 words

The combination of claim 4 wherein there is an underlying lifter-bar at the springy-beam lower-side and located between the medial-pivot and the trail-site and nearer the said medial-pivot, said lifter-bar being attached to the assembly whereby upward withdrawal of the movable plunger into the piston casing ensures that the attached springy-beam will upwardly retract the tandem-axle through its said pivotal connection at the trail-site.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 63 words

The combination of claim 5 wherein there is a pair of opposed side-plates for housing the springy-beam leading portion, the fulcrum as a stud passing transversely through said side-plates and the depending hanger member, the plunger medial-pivot connection being attached to said springy-beam through said side-plates, and said lifter-bar transversely passing through said side-plates and in trailing relationship to the depending hanger member.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 107 words

The combination of claim 6 wherein the vehicle frame includes a pair of longitudinally extending upright faces; wherein each depending hanger member is of opposed dual-plates configuration including an inboard-plate attached in depending and abutting relationship to the frame face, the piston casing component being pivotably attached to the hanger member between the two plates thereof; wherein the side-plates housing for the springy-beam leading portion is located between the hanger depending plates and below the piston casing; wherein the trail-site pivotal connection between the springy-beam and the tandem-axle comprises a saddle for the tandem-axle and attached to the springy-beam; and wherein the thrust-ratio is at least four.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 142 words

The combination of claim 2 wherein the double-acting piston has its withdrawable-extendable plunger as the lower component thereof and pivotably associated at the medial-pivot with the springy-beam; wherein liquid motive fluid supplied from a suitable reservoir is utilized for the forceable introduction into the respective casing hoses; wherein the elongate springy-beam is of the multi-leaves type and including stiffening-means located at the leading portion thereof whereby the multi-leaves type springy-beam is progressively more flexible toward the trailing portion thereof; and wherein there is an underlying lifter-bar for the multi-leaves springy-beam and located between the medial-pivot and the trail-site and nearer said medial-pivot, said underlying lifter-bar being aptly integrated into the tag-axle assembly whereby upward withdrawal of the movable plunger into the piston casing ensures that the springy-beam will cause upward retraction of said tandem-axle through its said pivotal connection with the springy-beam.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 106 words

The combination of claim 8 wherein there is a pair of opposed side-plates for housing the springy-beam leading portion, the fulcrum as a transversely extending stud passing through the opposed side-plates, the hanger member, and through permanently bent leaves of the springy-beam; wherein Said lifter-bar passes transversely through the opposed side-plates in trailing relationship to the hanger member; and wherein the trailing connection between the springy-beam and the tandem axle comprises a saddle attached to the tandem-axle, opposed face-plates attached to and depending from said saddle, and a transversely extending stud passing through the depending face-plates and pivotably passing through the springy-beam at the trail-site thereof.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1978-01-13	1978-07-15	1979-01-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1982-01-13	1982-07-15	1983-01-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1986-01-13	1986-07-15	1987-01-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Retractable tag-axle assembly for overland vehicles

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