Safety restraint for break-away wheel assemblies

Abstract

A semi-trailer wheel restraint system having at least one bearing or swivel, or a combination of bearing(s) and swivel(s), and one or more cable sections and one or more hub cab attachments for receipt into one or more wheel assemblies and through a hollow core of the trailer's axle. During a wheel bearing failure, the wheel restraint system keeps the loose wheel assembly near the end of the axle by anchoring it to the opposite-end's hub cap, thereby preventing a run-away wheel assembly and providing an operator of the truck an opportunity to safely stop the rig.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wheel restraint system comprising:
 a first end of a tether attached to a first hub cap at a first end of a hollow axle;   a second end of a tether passable through the hollow axle to a second end of the hollow axle; and   a second end of the tether being attachable to a second hub cap at the second end of the hollow axle;   wherein at least one rotatable interconnect is provided between the first and second hub caps to allow the first end of the tether and the second end of the tether to rotate at different speeds and in different directions.   
     
     
         2 . The wheel restraint system as set forth in  claim 1  wherein further comprising:
 an over-sized aperture formed into a center of the first hub cap which exceeds an outer diameter of a tether-attachment stud, wherein the first hub cap is configured for attaching the tether to a wheel assembly via the first hub cap; 
 a retention bearing register formed into the first hub cap, the register being concentric with the over-sized aperture; 
 at least one retention bearing received into the bearing register serving as the rotatable interconnect; 
 a tether-attachment stud having a distal end received through the over-sized aperture, through the retention bearing, and through at least a dish pivot, being secured at the distal end, and having a portion of tether attached to an inner end, wherein the tether is suitable for being received through a hollow core of an axle for securing a wheel assembly upon separation from the axle due to a failure of a wheel bearing. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the dish pivot socket has a concave face facing towards the retention bearing. 
     
     
         4 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the concave face facing towards the retention bearing is received by a radius of an inner race of the retention bearing. 
     
     
         5 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the concave face facing towards the retention bearing is received by matching convex face of a dish pivot socket, wherein the dish pivot socket is disposed between the retention bearing and the dish pivot. 
     
     
         6 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the tether-attachment stud comprises a threaded stud. 
     
     
         7 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  further wherein the tether comprises a section of wire rope. 
     
     
         8 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  further wherein the tether comprises a section of chain, rope or a combination of chain and rope. 
     
     
         9 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the retention bearing register comprises a recess formed into hub cap. 
     
     
         10 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the retention bearing register comprises a wall provided onto the hub cap. 
     
     
         11 . The system as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the retention bearing register comprises an annular ring provided onto the hub cap. 
     
     
         12 . A method of providing a wheel restraint system comprising:
 attaching a first end of a tether to a first hub cap at a first end of a hollow axle;   passing a second end of the tether through the hollow axle to a second end of the hollow axle; and   attaching the second end of the tether to a second hub cap at the second end of the hollow axle;   wherein at least one rotatable interconnect is provided between the first and second hub caps to allow the first end of the tether and the second end of the tether to rotate at different speeds and in different directions.   
     
     
         13 . The method as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the rotatable interconnect comprises a swivel. 
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 13  wherein the swivel is disposed along the tether between the first end of the tether and the second end of the tether. 
     
     
         15 . The method as set forth in  claim 12  wherein the rotatable interconnect comprises a bearing. 
     
     
         16 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the bearing is affixed between the first end of the tether and the first hub cap. 
     
     
         17 . The method as set forth in  claim 15  wherein the bearing is provided with a pivot between the first end of the tether and the bearing. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus for restraining a first wheel assembly and a second wheel assembly mounted on an axle assembly wherein the axle assembly comprises an axle with a first end, a second end, and a passage extending through the axle from the first end to the second end, a first hub rotatably mounted on the first end of the axle, and a second hub rotatably mounted on the second end of the axle, the first wheel assembly mountable on the first hub and the second wheel assembly mountable on the second hub, the apparatus comprising:
 a first hub cap connectable to the first hub;   a second hub cap connectable to the second hub; and   a tether extendible through the passage of the axle and having a first end connected to the first hub cap so the first hub cap is rotatable relative to the first end of the tether and a second end connected to the second hub cap so the second hub cap is rotatable relative to the second end of the tether,   wherein when the first hub cap is connected to the first hub and the second hub cap is connected to the second hub, the first hub is interconnected to the second hub via at least the first hub cap, the tether, and the second hub cap.    
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the tether is flexible.  
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the first end of the tether is rotatable relative to the second end of the tether.  
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 20 , further comprising a swivel positioned between the first end and the second end of the tether.  
     
     
       22. An apparatus for restraining a first wheel assembly and a second wheel assembly mounted on an axle assembly wherein the axle assembly comprises an axle with a first end, a second end, and a passage extending through the axle from the first end to the second end, a first hub rotatably mounted on the first end of the axle, and a second hub rotatably mounted on the second end of the axle, the first wheel assembly mountable on the first hub and the second wheel assembly mountable on the second hub, the apparatus comprising:
 a first hub cap connectable to the first hub;   a second hub cap connectable to the second hub;   a tether having a first end and a second end, the tether extendible through the passage of the axle;   a first stud connected to the first end of the tether and connected to the first hub cap so the first hub cap is rotatable relative to the first stud; and   a second stud connected to the second end of the tether and connected to the second hub cap so the second hub cap is rotatable relative to the second stud,   wherein when the first hub cap is connected to the first hub and the second hub cap is connected to the second hub, the first hub is interconnected to the second hub via at least the first hub cap, the first stud, the tether, the second stud, and the second hub cap.    
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the first stud is connected to the first hub cab with at least a first bearing.  
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the second stud is connected to the second hub cab with at least a second bearing.  
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the tether is flexible.  
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the first stud is rotatable relative to the second stud.  
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 26 , further comprising a swivel positioned between the first end and the second end of the tether.  
     
     
       28. An axle assembly, comprising
 an axle with a first end, a second end, and a passage extending through the axle from the first end to the second end;   a first hub rotatably mounted on the first end of the axle so a first wheel assembly is mountable on the first hub;   a second hub rotatably mounted on the second end of the axle so a second wheel assembly is mountable on the second hub;   a first hub cap connected to the first hub;   a second hub cap connected to the second hub;   a tether having a first end and a second end, the tether extending through the passage of the axle;   a first stud connected to the first end of the tether and connected to the first hub cap so the first hub cap is rotatable relative to the first stud; and   a second stud connected to the second end of the tether and connected to the second hub cap so the second hub cap is rotatable relative to the second stud,   wherein the first hub is interconnected to the second hub via at least the first hub cap, the first stud, the tether, the second stud, and the second hub cap.    
     
     
       29. The axle assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the first stud is connected to the first hub cab with at least a first bearing.  
     
     
       30. The axle assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the second stud is connected to the second hub cab with at least a second bearing.  
     
     
       31. The axle assembly of  claim 28 , wherein at least a portion of the tether is flexible.  
     
     
       32. The axle assembly of  claim 28 , wherein the first stud is rotatable relative to the second stud.  
     
     
       33. The axle assembly of  claim 32 , further comprising a swivel positioned between the first end and the second end of the tether.  
     
     
       34. A method of restraining a first wheel assembly and a second wheel assembly mounted on an axle assembly wherein the axle assembly comprises an axle with a first end, a second end, and a passage extending through the axle from the first end to the second end, a first hub rotatably mounted on the first end of the axle, and a second hub rotatably mounted on the second end of the axle, the first wheel assembly mounted on the first hub and the second wheel assembly mounted on the second hub, the method comprising:
 extending a tether through the passage of the axle body, the tether having a first end and a second end;   connecting the first end of the tether to the first hub so the first hub is rotatable relative to the end of the tether; and   connecting the second end of the tether to the second hub so the second hub is rotatable relative to the second end of the tether.    
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 34 , wherein the step of connecting the first end of the tether to the first hub further comprises:
 connecting the first end of the tether to a first hub cap so the first hub cap is rotatable relative to the first end of the tether; and   connecting the first hub cap to the first hub.    
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35 , wherein the step of connecting the second end of the tether to the second hub further comprises:
 connecting the second end of the tether to a second hub cap so the second hub cap is rotatable relative to the second end of the tether; and   connecting the second hub cap to the second hub.    
     
     
       37. A method of restraining a first wheel assembly and a second wheel assembly mounted on an axle assembly wherein the axle assembly comprises an axle with a first end, a second end, and a passage extending through the axle from the first end to the second end, a first hub rotatably mounted on the first end of the axle, and a second hub rotatably mounted on the second end of the axle, the first wheel assembly mounted on the first hub and the second wheel assembly mounted on the second hub, the method comprising:
 extending a tether through the passage of the axle body, the tether having a first end with a first stud attached thereto and a second end with a second stud attached thereto;   connecting the first stud to the first hub so the first hub is rotatable relative to the first stud; and   connecting the second stud to the second hub so the second hub is rotatable relative to the second stud.    
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 37 , wherein the step of connecting the first stud further comprises:
 connecting the first stud to a first hub cap so the first hub cap is rotatable relative to the first stud; and   connecting the first hub cap to the first hub.    
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 38 , wherein the step of connecting the second stud further comprises:
 connecting the second stud to a second hub cab so the second hub cab is rotatable relative to the second stud; and   connecting the second hub cab to the second hub.