Abstract An integral single-shaft drive unit for a truck cab-trailer combination or a tractor-wagon combination comprising from front to rear a power/ground take-off mechanism, an output shaft, a connecting sleeve, a first swivel-type coupling such as a universal joint, a telescopic shaft, a second swivel-type coupling, a pillow-block bearing, a third swivel-type coupling and rear-axle trailer or wagon differential. These parts are arranged in specific order such that a wagon or trailer behind a tractor or truck cab will turn evenly behind the tractor or truck cab and pull at the same speed or gear as the tractor or truck cab because of a single-chamber linkage between the power/ground take-off unit at the rear of the tractor or the truck cab and the differential between the two rear wheels of the wagon or trailer.
Inventors
👤 Harrison Lee Dalton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-11-05 08:51
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D59/00; B62D59/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A four wheel front and rear axle trailer driving unit the front wheels of which are steerable by a towing draft connection to a pulling vehicle comprising a single jointed drive shaft linking together a ground take-off unit at the rear of said pulling vehicle with a rear differential positioned substantially half-way between the two wheels of the rear axle of said trailer which follows or runs behind said pulling vehicle, said single jointed drive shaft having a pillow block bearing providing support and a linkage of a first universal joint forward of said front axle and a second universal joint forward of said rear axle enabling said trailer to be driven by, steered with and follow the contour of the pulling vehicle at substantially the same speed or gear at which the pulling vehicle is moving.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A four wheel front and rear axle trailer driving unit the front wheels of which are steerable by a towing draft connection to a pulling vehicle comprising a single jointed drive shaft linking together a ground take-off unit at the rear of said pulling vehicle with a rear differential positioned substantially half-way between the two wheels of the rear axle of said trailer which follows or runs behind said pulling vehicle, said single jointed drive shaft having a pillow block bearing providing support and a linkage of a first universal joint forward of said front axle and a second universal joint forward of said rear axle enabling said trailer to be driven by, steered with and follow the contour of the pulling vehicle at substantially the same speed or gear at which the pulling vehicle is moving.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The unit of claim 1 wherein the components of the single jointed drive shaft comprise, from front to rear between said ground take-off unit and said rear differential, an output shaft, a connecting sleeve, an additional universal joint, a telescopic shaft, said first universal joint, said pillow-block bearing, and said second universal joint.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The unit of claim 2 wherein the single jointed drive shaft extends from front to rear first over a front axle portion of a frame connecting the two front wheels with the two rear wheels and a rear axle portion and then under said frame and said rear differential is located substantially directly beneath said rear axle portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
The drive unit of claim 3 wherein the connecting sleeve and the adDitional universal joint are positioned just to the rear of the ground take-off unit, the telescopic shaft is positioned between the ground take-off unit and said front axle, the first universal joint and the pillow-block bearing are positioned substantially in the area of the front two wheels between same, and the second universal joint is positioned in the vicinity of the rear differential somewhat in front of it.