Automatic wheel grid

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11845375-B1
Application number	US-202318093202-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2023
Priority date	Jun 29, 2022
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

A wheel grid includes a crossbar configured to be coupled to a boom of a tow vehicle and including a distal tip. The wheel grid further includes an L-arm rotatably coupled to the crossbar at a proximal end of the L-arm and configured to rotate from an engaged position to a stowed position. As the L-arm rotates from the engaged position to the stowed position, a distal portion of the L-arm intersects with a vertical line passing through the respective left or right distal tip of the crossbar. In the stowed position, the distal portion of the L-arm is positioned laterally inward relative to the distal tip of the crossbar.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wheel grid comprising:
a crossbar configured to be coupled to a boom of a tow vehicle, the crossbar comprising a distal tip; and
an L-arm rotatably coupled to the crossbar at a proximal end of the L-arm and configured to rotate from an engaged position to a stowed position, wherein:
as the L-arm rotates from the engaged position to the stowed position, a distal portion of the L-arm intersects with a vertical line passing through the distal tip of the crossbar;
in the stowed position, the distal portion of the L-arm is positioned laterally inward relative to the distal tip of the crossbar;
the crossbar and the distal portion of the L-arm are configured to cooperatively engage a tire of a towed vehicle to lift a front end or a rear end of the towed vehicle when the distal portion of the L-arm is in the engaged position; and
the L-arm is configured to rotate at least 180 degrees.

2. The wheel grid of claim 1 , wherein when the distal portion of the L-arm is in the engaged position, the distal portion of the L-arm extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the crossbar.

3. The wheel grid of claim 1 , further comprising a linear actuator coupled to one or more linkages, the linear actuator and the one or more linkages configured to rotate the L-arm.

4. The wheel grid of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of hooks coupled to the crossbar, the plurality of hooks configured to removably couple to one or more chains, wherein when the distal portion of the L-arm is in the stowed position, the crossbar is configured to engage a bumper of a towed vehicle and to lift a front end or a rear end of the towed vehicle cooperatively with the one or more chains.

5. The wheel grid of claim 4 , further comprising:
a linear actuator coupled to one or more linkages, the linear actuator and the one or more linkages configured to rotate the L-arm; and
a flexible belt removably coupled to the crossbar and configured to protect the linear actuator and the one or more linkages from contact with the bumper.

6. The wheel grid of claim 1 , wherein the crossbar is configured to be rotatably coupled to the boom, wherein the wheel grid further comprises a detent assembly configured to bias the crossbar to a position perpendicular to the boom.

7. A tow vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a boom coupled to the frame and extending rearward from the frame; and
a wheel grid rotatably coupled to the boom by a rotation pin, the wheel grid comprising:
a crossbar coupled to the boom, the crossbar comprising a first distal tip; and
an L-arm rotatably coupled to the crossbar at a proximal end of the L-arm and configured to rotate from an engaged position to a stowed position, wherein:

as the L-arm rotates from the engaged position to the stowed position, a distal portion of the L-arm intersects with a vertical line passing through the first distal tip of the crossbar;
in the stowed position, the distal portion of the L-arm is positioned laterally inward relative to the first distal tip of the crossbar; and
the wheel grid is configured to rotate at least 180 degrees about the rotation pin.

8. The tow vehicle of claim 7 , further comprising a detent assembly coupled to the crossbar and configured to resist the rotation of the wheel grid relative to the boom when the crossbar is substantially perpendicular to the boom.

9. The tow vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the boom includes a distal end comprising a detent flat, and the detent assembly includes a detent bracket biased towards the boom and configured to engage the detent flat when the crossbar is substantially perpendicular to the boom.

10. The tow vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the detent bracket is slidably coupled to two fasteners, the two fasteners coupled to the crossbar, and wherein the detent assembly further includes two springs, each spring positioned around one of the two fasteners and configured to bias the detent bracket towards the boom.

11. The tow vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the boom comprises a stop configured to contact a head of one of the two fasteners to restrict the rotation of the wheel grid.

12. The tow vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the distal end of the boom comprises a left portion with a rounded profile and a right portion with a rounded profile, wherein the detent assembly is configured to contact the right portion or the left portion when the crossbar is not substantially perpendicular to the boom.

13. A wheel grid assembly comprising:
a boom configured to be coupled to a tow vehicle; and
a wheel grid coupled to the boom, the wheel grid comprising:
a crossbar coupled to the boom; and
an L-arm rotatably coupled to the crossbar at a proximal end of the L-arm and configured to rotate from an engaged position to a stowed position, wherein, in the stowed position, a distal portion of the L-arm intersects a distal end of the crossbar when viewed from above; and

a linear actuator coupled to the crossbar and linkage, the linkage further coupled to the L-arm, wherein retraction of the linear actuator is configured to cause the L-arm to rotate to the stowed position and extension of the linear actuator is configured to rotate the L-arm away from the stowed position,
wherein the linear actuator is configured to rotate the L-arm at least 180 degrees.

14. The wheel grid assembly of claim 13 , wherein the linear actuator is configured to be positioned substantially within a footprint of the crossbar when the L-arm is in the stowed position.

15. The tow vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the linear actuator is configured to position and maintain the L-arm in a plurality of intermediate rotational positions to allow the L-arm and the crossbar to cooperative engage towed vehicle tires of varying diameter.

16. A tow vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a boom coupled to the frame and extending rearward from the frame, the boom including a distal end comprising a detent flat;
a wheel grid rotatably coupled to the boom by a rotation pin, the wheel grid comprising:
a crossbar coupled to the boom, the crossbar comprising a first distal tip; and
an L-arm rotatably coupled to the crossbar at a proximal end of the L-arm and configured to rotate from an engaged position to a stowed position; and

a detent assembly coupled to the crossbar, the detent assembly including a detent bracket biased towards the boom and configured to engage the detent flat when the crossbar is substantially perpendicular to the boom, wherein:
as the L-arm rotates from the engaged position to the stowed position, a distal portion of the L-arm intersects with a vertical line passing through the first distal tip of the crossbar;
in the stowed position, the distal portion of the L-arm is positioned laterally inward relative to the first distal tip of the crossbar; and
the detent assembly is configured to resist the rotation of the wheel grid relative to the boom when the crossbar is substantially perpendicular to the boom.

17. The tow vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the detent bracket is slidably coupled to two fasteners, the two fasteners coupled to the crossbar, and wherein the detent assembly further includes two springs, each spring positioned around one of the two fasteners and configured to bias the detent bracket towards the boom.

18. The tow vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the boom comprises a stop configured to contact a head of one of the two fasteners to restrict the rotation of the wheel grid.

19. The tow vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the distal end of the boom comprises a left portion wi

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Kresge Bradley S
• Werner Todd

Classifications

• B60P3/125 Primary

  by supporting only part of the vehicle, e.g. front- or rear-axle · CPC title