| 摘要 |
A combination outrigger stabilizer and lift axle is provided for vehicles such as dump trucks, fire engines, and other similar equipment. The axle is longitudinally extensible, with a ground engaging wheel rotatably mounted on the outer end thereof. A retractable suspension resiliently supports the axle on the main frame of the vehicle, and is vertically movable between a raised, storage position, and lowered, ground engaging position. The axle can be extended longitudinally into an outrigger position, wherein the lift wheel contacts the ground at a location spaced laterally outwardly of the other, conventional wheels of the vehicle, to provide lateral or side-to-side stabilization. While the axle is in the extended, outrigger position, the resilient suspension is deactivated, and the axle is detachably connected directly with the main frame of the vehicle. This provides extra stability, and permits the vehicle to move a limited amount, such as for emptying the dump box, et cetera, even when the lift wheel is fully extended. The axle is converted into a load bearing support by longitudinally retracting the wheel, reactivating the suspension, and lowering the lift axle and wheel into the ground engaging position to assist vehicle transport.
|
