Axle lift assembly

摘要

An axle lift assembly includes a beam slidably coupled with and extending on a longitudinal extent of a vehicle frame. A trailing arm has a first end pivotably coupled with the beam. An axle is rotatably coupled with an intermediate portion of the trailing arm. An air spring is disposed between a second end of the trailing arm and the beam for absorbing an upward force from the axle. A support bracket extends down from the beam proximate the first end of the trailing arm. A pneumatic actuator is disposed between the support bracket and the trailing arm for raising the axle from a deployed position to a retracted position that substantially eliminates the upward force on the air spring from the axle.

主权项

1. An axle lift assembly comprising:
a vehicle configured to support a load; a slide assembly having a member movable along a longitudinal extent of the vehicle, the slide assembly operable to secure the member relative to the vehicle at a select position along the longitudinal extent of the vehicle; a swing arm having a first end pivotally coupled with the member and an opposing second end biased away from the vehicle, the swing arm configured to support an axle with a tire for contacting a ground surface; an actuator operable between the member and the swing arm for raising the axle toward the vehicle to lift the tire away from the ground surface, wherein the slide assembly and the actuator are operable to respectively adjust longitudinal and vertical positions of the axle relative to the vehicle for accommodating a condition of the load, and wherein the actuator is pneumatically adjustable between a deflated position with the tire contacting the ground surface and an inflated position with the tire lifted away from the ground surface; and a second axle supported by the member in substantially parallel alignment with the axle, wherein the second axle includes a second tire that remains in contact with the ground surface when the actuator is in the inflated position; and a component disposed between the second axle and the member for monitoring a condition indicative of a weight of the load carried by the vehicle, wherein the actuator adjusts to the inflated position when the component is indicative of the weight being less than a threshold weight.