High-lift hydraulic axle

Claim 1

A work vehicle for transporting loads of a weight which can exceed road axle weight restrictions, said vehicle having: (a) a generally horizontal frame normally supported above the ground by a plurality of primary axles extending transversely to said frame; (b) wheel means rotatably attached to each end of said primary axles; (c) at least one auxiliary wheel assembly comprising: (1) a suspension arm; (2) a stub axle having an axis and projecting from said arm in a first generally horizontal direction; (3) wheel means rotatable on said stub axle; (4) a mounting bracket adapted for securement to the outside of said generally horizontal frame; (5) means pivoting said suspension arm in said bracket, so that said first direction is outward from said frame, for movement of said arm about a second axis aligned with said axis of said axle; (6) and means for causing said movement of said arm between first and second extreme positions to lower and raise said axle through a path lying totally outward of the frame, so that said axle moves between a first position in which said wheel means contacts the ground to increase the number of axles having wheel means contacting the ground to help support the vehicle and thus reduce the axle weight of said vehicle and a second position in which said axle is spaced from the ground by a distance greater than the spacing of said frame above the ground to prevent said axle from engaging obstructions in the path of the vehicle.