Trailer axle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12077232-B2
Application number	US-202318174454-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 24, 2023
Priority date	Feb 25, 2022
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

An axle cartridge member receives a pair of torsion stub axles at opposite lateral sides thereof. The torsion stub axles include elongated axle housings, which are sandwiched between two parallel plates to align the torsion stub axles with respect to one another. The cartridge member includes a central arch extending between the two torsion stub axles, which can provide additional ground clearance when the axle cartridge member is mounted to a trailer.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An axle cartridge member for a receiving a pair of torsion stub axles therein, the axle cartridge member comprising:
a pair of laterally opposed bases, each base defining a cavity therein for receiving an elongated stub housing of the torsion stub axles;
a pair of axle mounts, each axle mount coupled to a respective base of the pair of laterally opposed bases and including a lateral opening extending into the cavity defined in the respective base;
an arch extending between the bases, the arch including a crossbar extending at a height above the bases, wherein the arch includes a portion that extends upward from each of the bases at an angle and meets the crossbar that extends generally horizontally between the portions of the arch; and
at least one trailer mount arranged for coupling the trailer axle cartridge member to a trailer frame.

2. The axle cartridge member of claim 1 , wherein the pair of bases are constructed from parallel forward and rear plates separated by at least one spacer member such that the forward and rear plates may engage opposite parallel sides of the elongated stub housing received therebetween.

3. The axle cartridge member of claim 2 , wherein the forward and rear plates each include adjustment holes extending longitudinally into the cavities, the adjustment holes configured to receive an adjustment fastener therethrough.

4. The axle cartridge member of claim 1 , wherein the at least one trailer mount includes a pair of trailer mounts, each trailer mount disposed above a respective axle mount.

5. The axle cartridge member of claim 4 , wherein each trailer mount includes an upper surface and a lower wall extending generally orthogonally to the upper surface.

6. The axle cartridge member of claim 5 , wherein each trailer mount is constructed of a bent or folded sheet metal plate formed continuously with the respective axle mount, each bent or folded sheet metal plate extending longitudinally to define the upper surface and lower wall.

7. The axle cartridge member of claim 1 , wherein the at least one trailer mount includes a pair of trailer mounts, with each trailer mount being disposed above a respective axle mount and with each trailer mount comprising an upper trailer mount surface and a lower trailer mount wall extending generally orthogonally to the upper trailer mount surface;
wherein each axle mount includes an upper axle mount surface and a lower axle mount wall extending generally orthogonally to the upper axle mount surface; and
wherein the lower trailer mount wall of each trailer mount extends vertically between the upper trailer mount surface of the trailer mount and the upper axle mount surface of the axle mount.

8. An axle cartridge assembly, comprising:
an axle cartridge member including a pair of laterally opposed bases and an arch extending in a lateral direction between the bases, the arch including a crossbar extending at a height above the bases and oriented at an angle relative to the bases;
a pair of torsion stub axles, each torsion stub axle including an elongated stub housing extending into a cavity defined in a respective base of the pair of laterally opposed bases; and
a plurality of mounting fasteners coupling the pair of torsion stub axles to the axle cartridge member.

9. The axle cartridge assembly of claim 8 , wherein the pair of bases and the arch are constructed from parallel forward and rear plates, and wherein the elongated stub housings each include parallel sides abutting each of the forward and rear plates.

10. The axle cartridge assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of adjustment fasteners extending in a longitudinal direction through the forward and rear plates and engaging the elongated stub housings within the cavities.

11. The axle cartridge assembly of claim 8 , wherein the arch extends upward at the angle from each of the bases to the crossbar, and wherein the crossbar extends generally parallel with the elongated stub housings.

12. The axle cartridge assembly of claim 8 , further comprising at least one trailer mount configured to couple the axle cartridge member to a trailer frame, wherein the at least one trailer mount includes an upper trailer mount surface and a lower trailer mount wall extending generally orthogonally to the upper surface, and wherein each of the torsion stub axles includes a mounting plate for receiving mounting fasteners therethrough in orthogonal directions.

13. The axle cartridge assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a pair of axle mounts, each axle mount coupled to a respective base of the pair of laterally opposed bases, and each axle mount comprising an upper axle mount surface and a lower axle mount wall extending generally orthogonally to the upper axle mount surface;
wherein each trailer mount is disposed above a respective axle mount; and
wherein the lower trailer mount wall of each trailer mount extends vertically between the upper trailer mount surface of the trailer mount and the upper axle mount surface of the axle mount.

14. The axle cartridge assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a pair of wheel assemblies, each wheel assembly including a wheel coupled to a respective one of the torsion stub axles.

15. The axle cartridge assembly of claim 8 , further comprising a pair of shock assemblies, each shock assembly coupled to a respective one of the torsion stub axles.

16. A trailer assembly, comprising:
a trailer frame;
an axle cartridge member including a pair of laterally opposed bases and an arch extending in a lateral direction between the bases, the arch extending at an angle relative to each base and including a crossbar extending at a height above the bases;
a pair of torsion stub axles, each torsion stub axle including an elongated stub housing extending into a cavity defined in a respective base of the pair of laterally opposed bases;
a pair of wheel assemblies, each wheel assembly including a wheel coupled to a respective one of the torsion stub axles; and
a plurality of mounting fasteners coupling the pair of torsion stub axles to the axle cartridge member and coupling the axle cartridge member to the trailer frame.

17. The trailer assembly of claim 16 , wherein the cavities are defined between parallel forward and rear plates of the axle cartridge member, and wherein the elongated stub housings each include parallel sides abutting each of the forward and rear plates.

18. The trailer assembly of claim 16 , wherein the axle cartridge member is mounted to the trailer frame such that the crossbar extends within an underbelly of the trailer frame.

19. The trailer assembly of claim 16 , wherein the axle cartridge member is mounted to the trailer frame such that the crossbar extends below an underbelly of the trailer frame.

20. The trailer assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a pair of shock assemblies, each shock assembly coupled between the trailer frame and a respective one of the torsion stub axles.

Assignees

• Norco Ind Inc

Inventors

• Collins Jason Douglas
• Stough Jon David
• Sefcsik Akos Peter
• Aske William A

Classifications

• B60G2202/134

  comprising a transversal torsion bar and/or tube · CPC title

• B62D63/08

  Component parts or accessories · CPC title

• B60B35/007

  for mounting suspension elements to axles · CPC title

• B60G2300/04

  Trailers · CPC title

• B60G11/183

  arranged in a plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle · CPC title