Patent Application
20170247067
The present invention is directed to an improved telescoping axle especially suited for use with farm implements, such as, for example, a grain cart or wagon which is pulled by a tractor along a road and also through an un-level field or terrain and which may also be transported on a road by a flat bed trailer or truck. When such an implement or vehicle is transported down a road, the overall width limit for the wheels and vehicle is frequently twelve feet or three meters. When the implement or vehicle is transported or pulled within a field or over an un-level terrain, a wider wheel base is desirable to provide and avoid tipping of the implement or vehicle.
It is known to use telescoping axles on farm implements or vehicles, for example, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,040,643, No. 4,379,571, No. 5,326,128 and No. 7,163,227. The general construction of these telescoping axles includes an elongated tubular center section which supports the load on the vehicle. The center section has opposite end portions which slidably receive tubular axle extensions that are substantially identical in size. The axle extensions slide within opposite end portions of the center section between retracted positions and extended positions to position the axles supporting the wheels between retracted and extended positions. The construction of these telescoping axles limits the extent of telescoping and thus limits the distance the axles and wheels may be extended from their retracted positions. For example, the extension of telescoping may be a maximum of twenty four inches.
The present invention is directed to an improved telescoping axle which is ideally suited for use on a farm implement such as a grain cart of wagon which is pulled or transported down a road and is also frequently used in a field having a rough or un-level terrain. The telescoping axle of the invention substantially increases the distance for extending the wheel axles from retracted positions to the extended positions, for example, between eighty inches and one hundred and twenty inches on tire centers. In general, the telescoping axle of the invention includes an elongated center base axle section to which are attached members which support the load carried by the vehicle, such as a large container for receiving grain.
The base axle section receives an elongated outer axle section for telescopic linear movement and has a length generally the same as the length of the base axle section. The outer axle section receives a somewhat smaller elongated inner axle section for telescopic linear movement and which has a length generally the same as the length of the outer axle section so that the inner axle section is received within the outer axle section which is received within the base axle section. The outer end portions of the outer axle section and the inner axle section support the wheel axles which are preferably positioned to be in axial alignment above the base axle section. An actuator is enclosed within the inner axle section and is preferable in the form of a fluid or hydraulic cylinder which connects the outer axis section to the inner axle section for simultaneous movement of the axle sections between their retracted positions within the base section and extended positions projecting from the base section.
The telescoping axle 10 shown on in
An elongated tubular insert or outer axle section 22 extends into the tubular base section 12 and is slidably received in telescopic relation. The top and bottom surfaces of a axle section 22 have elongated steel strips 24 (
An elongated tubular insert or inner axle section 42 is slidable longitudinally in telescopic relation within the outer axle section 22 and has a length about the same as the center base section 12 and slightly less than the length of the outer axle section 22. The inner axle section 42 also has elongated steel strips 44 to provide for low friction sliding movement of the inner axle section 42 within the outer axle section 22. The outer end portion of the inner axle section 42 also has a vertical bracket 26 which projects upwardly to support a cylindrical hub 28 for a second axle 30 having an axis aligned with the axis of the first axle 30 with the axis located above the base axle section 12. The second axle 30 also supports a set of anti-friction bearings 34 for a second wheel hub 35.
As shown in
From the drawings and the above description, it is apparent that a telescoping axle constructed in accordance with the invention provides the desirable feature and advantage of significantly increasing the distance of telescoping movement of the axle 10. For example, when the axle 10 is used to transport a vehicle, such as a grain cart, for road travel, the axle may be shifted to its retracted position to provide, for example, an 80 inch between tire centers. However, when it is necessary for the grain cart to travel on un-level terrain, the axle may be shifted to it's extended position when tire centers expand to 120 inches for more stability, especially in a field. Thus the axle 10 provides a substantial telescoping advantage, for example, at least 16 inches over other known telescoping axles such as disclosed in the above mentioned patents referred to in paragraph [0002]. It is also within the scope of the invention to support the wheel axles 30 for steering in response to a pivot able tongue on a wagon or to incorporate additional telescoping axle sections to provide an additional increase in the expanded tire centers.
While the form of telescoping axle herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of construction, and that changes made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
