Trailing axle assembly

Abstract

A vehicle comprising a body having a front end and a rear end, front wheels carried by a front axle mounted to the body proximate the front end of the vehicle, rear wheels carried by a rear axle mounted to the body proximate the rear end of the vehicle, a cargo body mounted to the body for carrying a load, a framework having an inner end pivotally mounted to the rear end of the vehicle and having an outer end, wheels mounted for rotation to a trailing axle, the trailing axle mounted to the outer end of the framework for transverse pivotal movement relative the cargo body, the trailing axle movable between an extended orientation wherein the trailing axle is located generally outboard of the outer end of the framework and a retracted orientation wherein the trailing axle is located generally inboard of the outer end of the framework, and a pair of lifting arms for moving the framework relative the cargo body of the vehicle from an operative position wherein the trailing axle is positionable in the extended orientation with the wheels thereof for disposition on the road maximizing the overall length of the vehicle ascending pivotal traverse to a inoperative position wherein the trailing axle is positionable in the retracted orientation rearward of the cargo body, and the inoperative position descending pivotal traverse to the operative position.

Having fully described the invention in such clear and concise terms as to enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice the same, the invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . For use with a vehicle of a type having a body with a front end, a rear end, front wheels carried by a front axle mounted to the body proximate the front end of the vehicle and rear wheels carried by a rear axle mounted to the body proximate the rear end of the vehicle and a cargo body mounted to the body for carrying a load, a trailing axle assembly for maximizing the length of the vehicle for correspondingly maximizing the load the vehicle may carry within the cargo body while traveling along a road, the trailing axle assembly comprising: 
 a framework having an inner end pivotally mountable to the rear end of the vehicle and having an outer end;    wheels mounted for rotation to a trailing axle, the trailing axle mounted to the outer end of the framework for transverse pivotal movement relative the cargo body, the trailing axle movable between an extended orientation wherein the trailing axle is located generally outboard of the outer end of the framework and a retracted orientation wherein the trailing axle is located generally inboard of the outer end of the framework; and    means for moving the framework relative the cargo body of the vehicle from an operative position wherein the trailing axle is positionable in the extended orientation with the wheels thereof for disposition on the road maximizing the overall length of the vehicle ascending pivotal traverse to a inoperative position wherein the trailing axle is positionable in the retracted orientation generally rearward of the cargo body, and the inoperative position descending pivotal traverse to the operative position.    
     
     
         2 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said framework includes: 
 a first lift arm having an inner end mountable to the rear end of the vehicle, the first lift arm extending outwardly therefrom and terminating with an outer end;    a second lift arm spaced from and generally parallel to the first lift arm and having an inner end mountable to the rear end of the vehicle, the second lift arm extending outwardly therefrom and terminating with an outer end;    a support member interconnecting the outer end of the first lift arm to the outer end of the second lift arm.    
     
     
         3 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 2 , further including: 
 a support assembly mounted to the support member of the framework for transverse pivotal movement relative the support member and the cargo body;    a suspension system mounted to the support assembly and to the trailing axle interconnecting the support assembly to the trailing axle, the suspension system to accommodate bumps and dips in the road for smooth movement of the trailing axle assembly on the road when disposed in the operative position.    
     
     
         4 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the suspension system includes an air bag suspension system.  
     
     
         5 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the means for moving the framework includes a hydraulic drive assembly.  
     
     
         6 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said hydraulic drive assembly includes: 
 a first hydraulic lift having an inner end mounted to the rear end of the vehicle for pivotal movement and having an outer end mounted proximate the outer end of the framework for pivotal movement; and    a second hydraulic lift having an inner end mounted to the rear end of the vehicle for pivotal movement and having an outer end mounted proximate the outer end of the framework for pivotal movement;    said first and second hydraulic lifts operative for moving said framework of the trailing axle assembly between the operative position and the inoperative position.    
     
     
         7 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 1 , further including first means for maintaining the trailing axle in the extended orientation.  
     
     
         8 . A vehicle, comprising: 
 a body having a front end and a rear end;    front wheels carried by a front axle mounted to the body proximate the front end of the vehicle;    rear wheels carried by a rear axle mounted to the body proximate the rear end of the vehicle;    a cargo body mounted to the body for carrying a load;    a framework having an inner end pivotally mounted to the rear end of the vehicle and having an outer end;    wheels mounted for rotation to a trailing axle, the trailing axle mounted to the outer end of the framework for transverse pivotal movement relative the cargo body, the trailing axle movable between an extended orientation wherein the trailing axle is located generally outboard of the outer end of the framework and a retracted orientation wherein the trailing axle is located generally inboard of the outer end of the framework; and    means for moving the framework relative the cargo body of the vehicle from an operative position wherein the trailing axle is positionable in the extended orientation with the wheels thereof for disposition on the road maximizing the overall length of the vehicle ascending pivotal traverse to a inoperative position wherein the trailing axle is positionable in the retracted orientation rearward of the cargo body, and the inoperative position descending pivotal traverse to the operative position.    
     
     
         9 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said framework includes: 
 a first lift arm having an inner end mountable to the rear end of the vehicle, the first lift arm extending outwardly therefrom and terminating with an outer end;    a second lift arm spaced from and generally parallel to the first lift arm and having an inner end mountable to the rear end of the vehicle, the second lift arm extending outwardly therefrom and terminating with an outer end;    a support member interconnecting the outer end of the first lift arm to the outer end of the second lift arm.    
     
     
         10 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 9 , further including: 
 a support assembly mounted to the support member of the framework for transverse pivotal movement relative the support member and the cargo body;    a suspension system mounted to the support assembly and to the trailing axle interconnecting the support assembly to the trailing axle, the suspension system to accommodate bumps and dips in the road for smooth movement of the trailing axle assembly on the road when disposed in the operative position.    
     
     
         11 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the suspension system includes an air bag suspension system.  
     
     
         12 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the means for moving the framework includes a hydraulic drive assembly.  
     
     
         13 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 12 , wherein said hydraulic drive assembly includes: 
 a first hydraulic lift having an inner end mounted to the rear end of the vehicle for pivotal movement and having an outer end mounted proximate the outer end of the framework for pivotal movement; and    a second hydraulic lift having an inner end mounted to the rear end of the vehicle for pivotal movement and having an outer end mounted proximate the outer end of the framework for pivotal movement;    said first and second hydraulic lifts operative for moving said framework of the trailing axle assembly between the operative position and the inoperative position.    
     
     
         14 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 8 , further including first means for maintaining the trailing axle in the extended orientation.  
     
     
         15 . In combination with a vehicle of a type having a body with a front end, a rear end, front wheels carried by a front axle mounted to the body proximate the front end of the vehicle and rear wheels carried by a rear axle mounted to the body proximate the rear end of the vehicle and a cargo body mounted to the body for carrying a load, a trailing axle assembly for maximizing the length of the vehicle for correspondingly maximizing the load the vehicle may carry within the cargo body while traveling along a road, the trailing axle assembly comprising: 
 a framework having an inner end pivotally mountable to the rear end of the vehicle and having an outer end;    wheels mounted for rotation to a trailing axle, the trailing axle mounted to the outer end of the framework for transverse pivotal movement relative the cargo body, the trailing axle movable between an extended orientation wherein the trailing axle is located generally outboard of the outer end of the framework and a retracted orientation wherein the trailing axle is located generally inboard of the outer end of the framework; and    means for moving the framework relative the cargo body of the vehicle from an operative position wherein the trailing axle is positionable in the extended orientation with the wheels thereof for disposition on the road maximizing the overall length of the vehicle ascending pivotal traverse to a inoperative position wherein the trailing axle is positionable in the retracted orientation generally rearward of the cargo body, and the inoperative position descending pivotal traverse to the operative position.    
     
     
         16 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said framework includes: 
 a first lift arm having an inner end mountable to the rear end of the vehicle, the first lift arm extending outwardly therefrom and terminating with an outer end;    a second lift arm spaced from and generally parallel to the first lift arm and having an inner end mountable to the rear end of the vehicle, the second lift arm extending outwardly therefrom and terminating with an outer end;    a support member interconnecting the outer end of the first lift arm to the outer end of the second lift arm.    
     
     
         17 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 16 , further including: 
 a support assembly mounted to the support member of the framework for transverse pivotal movement relative the support member and the cargo body;    a suspension system mounted to the support assembly and to the trailing axle interconnecting the support assembly to the trailing axle, the suspension system to accommodate bumps and dips in the road for smooth movement of the trailing axle assembly on the road when disposed in the operative position.    
     
     
         18 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the suspension system includes an air bag suspension system.  
     
     
         19 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the means for moving the framework includes a hydraulic drive assembly.  
     
     
         20 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said hydraulic drive assembly includes: 
 a first hydraulic lift having an inner end mounted to the rear end of the vehicle for pivotal movement and having an outer end mounted proximate the outer end of the framework for pivotal movement; and    a second hydraulic lift having an inner end mounted to the rear end of the vehicle for pivotal movement and having an outer end mounted proximate the outer end of the framework for pivotal movement;    said first and second hydraulic lifts operative for moving said framework of the trailing axle assembly between the operative position and the inoperative position.    
     
     
         21 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 15 , further including first means for maintaining the trailing axle in the extended orientation.  
     
     
         22 . A vehicle, comprising: 
 a body having a front end and a rear end;    front wheels carried by a front axle mounted to the body proximate the front end of the vehicle;    rear wheels carried by a rear axle mounted to the body proximate the rear end of the vehicle;    a cargo body mounted to the body for carrying a load;    a framework having an inner end pivotally mounted to the rear end of the vehicle and having an outer end;    a support assembly mounted to the outer end of the framework for transverse pivotal movement relative the cargo body;    wheels mounted for rotation to a trailing axle, the trailing axle mounted to the support assembly, the support assembly and the trailing axle movable between an extended orientation wherein the trailing axle is located generally outboard of the outer end of the framework and a retracted orientation wherein the trailing axle is located generally inboard of the outer end of the framework;    first means for moving the framework relative the cargo body of the vehicle from an operative position wherein the trailing axle is positionable in the extended orientation with the wheels thereof for disposition on the road maximizing the overall length of the vehicle ascending pivotal traverse to a inoperative position wherein the trailing axle is positionable in the retracted orientation rearward of the cargo body, and the inoperative position descending pivotal traverse to the operative position, the road having bumps and dips; and    second means carried by the outer end of the framework for bearing against the support assembly in the extended orientation and for absorbing the bumps and dips in the road.    
     
     
         23 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 22 , wherein said framework includes: 
 a first lift arm having an inner end mountable to the rear end of the vehicle, the first lift arm extending outwardly therefrom and terminating with an outer end;    a second lift arm spaced from and generally parallel to the first lift arm and having an inner end mountable to the rear end of the vehicle, the second lift arm extending outwardly therefrom and terminating with an outer end;    a support member interconnecting the outer end of the first lift arm to the outer end of the second lift arm.    
     
     
         24 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 23 , further including: 
 a support assembly mounted to the support member of the framework for transverse pivotal movement relative the support member and the cargo body;    a suspension system mounted to the support assembly and to the trailing axle interconnecting the support assembly to the trailing axle, the suspension system to accommodate bumps and dips in the road for smooth movement of the trailing axle assembly on the road when disposed in the operative position.    
     
     
         25 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the suspension system includes an air bag suspension system.  
     
     
         26 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the first means for moving the framework includes a hydraulic drive assembly.  
     
     
         27 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 26 , wherein said hydraulic drive assembly includes: 
 a first hydraulic lift having an inner end mounted to the rear end of the vehicle for pivotal movement and having an outer end mounted proximate the outer end of the framework for pivotal movement; and    a second hydraulic lift having an inner end mounted to the rear end of the vehicle for pivotal movement and having an outer end mounted proximate the outer end of the framework for pivotal movement;    said first and second hydraulic lifts operative for moving said framework of the trailing axle assembly between the operative position and the inoperative position.    
     
     
         28 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 22 , further including third means for maintaining the trailing axle in the extended orientation.  
     
     
         29 . The trailing axle assembly of  claim 22 , wherein the second means includes a pair of spaced apart stops extending outwardly from the outer end of the framework, the support assembly for bearing engagement against the pair of spaced apart stops in the extended orientation.