FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[001] The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to tandem axle in vehicles and in particular, use of biased loading in rear tandem axle slipper suspension, which enables the use of only two tires on rear rearward axle.

BACKGROUND

[002] There are different types of applications for which heavy commercial vehicles are used. The loading capacity of a vehicle is limited by the size of the cargo/container as against its payload. In applications such as white goods carrier, in which the loading is volume centric & when multi axle long wheelbase trucks are used, they do not gets loaded up to full capacity although volume wise container is fully loaded. The components are designed to cany higher loads, but the application is such that the components seem to be over designed affecting the efficiency of the vehicle and increase in the kerb weight of the vehicle. This leads to the underutilization of the total capacity of the vehicle.

[003] When the vehicle has reached its delivery destination and unloaded all the loads, the return fleet of the trucks is usually empty. During this unloaded return fleet, the two axles at rear are not required to carry the load. The two axles in tandem at the rear thus, increase the rolling resistance, decrease the tire life and the fuel economy. Thus, exploring the opportunities to optimize the overall vehicle weight, tire life and reducing maintenance cost is very important.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[004] Main object of the invention is to provide biased loading in tandem axle of vehicle for improved fuel efficiency and tire life.

[005] Another object of the invention is to provide a fulcrum with asymmetrical arm length for biased loading.

[006] Yet another object of the invention is to reduce the number of tires to single pair of tires on the rear rearward axle.

[007] Yet another object of the invention is a lifting mechanism, which lifts the rear rearward axle when the vehicle is in unloaded condition. SUMMARY

[008] Before the present systems and methods, are described, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular systems, and methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to, biased load distribution in tandem axle of a vehicle, which is further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[009] In one implementation, the biased load distribution in tandem axle of a vehicle is achieved by a fulcrum with asymmetrical arm length. The fulcrum is having a rear arm and a front arm. The rear arm of the fulcrum is longer than the front arm to enable greater load capacity of the rear forward axle than rear rearward axle. The fulcrum allows use of only two tires on the rearward axle instead of four tires usually used in a rear tandem axle of the vehicle. In addition, is a lifting mechanism, which lifts the rearward axle fully when the vehicle is in unloaded condition. Lifting of the rearward axle will transfers load to the rear forward axle thus, improving the traction on the drive axle i.e. rear forward axle.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

[0010] Accordingly, the present invention discloses a load distribution in tandem axle of a vehicle comprises a rear forward axle, a rear rearward axle, atleast one asymmetrical fulcrum configured to distribute biased loads on the rear forward axle and rear rearward axle for improved fuel economy and tire life and atleast one axle lifting mechanism to optionally lift rear rearward axle. The lifting mechanism for the tandem axle of a vehicle comprises, atleast one top plate, atleast one air bellow wherein one end of air bellow is fixed to vehicle frame and other end is fixed to the top plate assembly and atleast one wire rope assembly configured to be looped around the rear rearward axle and fixed to the top plate assembly for lifting the rear rearward axle on expansion of said atleast one air bellow.

[0011] Accordingly, the present invention discloses that the rear arm of fulcrum is configured to be longer than front arm. The rear forward axle is configured to take greater load due to shorter fulcrum length. The rear rearward axle is configured to take less load due to longer fulcrum length. The biased load distribution in tandem axle of a vehicle wherein the rear rearward axle is configured with single tire pair. The lifting mechanism is configured to lift the rear rearward axle upward in vehicle unloaded state. The wire rope assembly is configured to lift the rear rearward axle upward in the vehicle unloaded state to disengage the contact of rear rearward axle with road surface. The pressurized air is configured to be filled in the air bellow to raise the top plate assembly in upward direction for lifting the rear rearward axle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of embodiment, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawing. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, there is shown in the present document example constructions of the disclosure, however, the disclosure is not limited to the specific methods and apparatus disclosed in the document and the drawing.

[0013] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figure. In the figure, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawing to refer like features and components.

[0014] Figure 1 illustrates a top view of a vehicle with asymmetrical load distribution in tandem axle with single tire in rear rearward axle.

[0015] Figure 2 illustrates a side view of a vehicle with asymmetrical load distribution in tandem axle for rear rearward axle in lifted condition.

[0016] Figure 3 illustrates asymmetrical fulcrum.

[0017] Figure 4 illustrates a lifting mechanism to lift rear rearward axle in unloaded condition.

[0018] Figure depicts various embodiments of the present disclosure for purpose of illustration only. Only skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words “comprising”, “having”, and “including,” and other forms thereof, are intended to be equivalent in meaning and be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. Although any systems and methods similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the exemplary, systems and methods are now described. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure, which may be embodied in various forms.

[0020] Various modification to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to another embodiment. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments illustrated but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.

[0021] The present invention discloses a biased load distribution in tandem axle of a vehicle by providing asymmetrical fulcrum, wherein the rear arm of fulcrum is configured to be longer then front arm to enable greater load is carried by rear forward axle. This biased loading enables to create such a differential loading that the rear forward axle can have four tires but the rear rearward axle will be having only two tires & which is the main objective of this invention. Further, a lifting mechanism lifts the rear rearward axle when the vehicle is in unloaded condition. The fully lift mechanism resolves issues such as traction loss, reducing the maintenance cost, improving the fuel economy and increasing the tire life in unloaded condition.

[0022] Further, referring to figure 1 and 2, the biased load distribution in tandem axle (58) of a vehicle (100) with a fulcrum (40) and thus having only two tires on rear rearward axle (40) to improve fuel economy, increase tire life, reduction in kerb weight, material cost and improve overall operating efficiency of the vehicle. The tandem axle (58) of the vehicle (100) consists of a rear forward axle (60) with tyres (64) and rear rearward axle (62) with tyres (66). The rear arm (44) of the fulcrum (40) is made longer than the front arm (42) for greater load on the rear forward axle (60) and less load on rear rearward axle (62).

[0023] Further, referring to figure 3, the load bias on tandem axle (58) is achieved by designing the fulcrum (40) in a way that it will always exert higher load on the rear forward axle as compared to the rear rearward axle (62). The rear arm (44) of the fulcrum (40) is kept longer than the front arm (42) exerting a higher load on the rear forward axle (60). [0024] Further, referring to figure 4, the lifting mechanism (70) has an air bellow (72) and a wire rope (74) assembly to lift the rear rearward axle (62). The wire rope (74) assembly is looped around the rear rearward axle (62). The rear rearward axle (62) has welded bracket to guide the rope. One end of the air bellow (72) is fixed to chassis frame by bracket and the other end is fixed to the moving top plate (71) assembly. The two ends of wire rope (74) are fixed to the top plate (71) assembly by a nut. As the pressurized air enters, the air bellow (72) it expands in length and it moves the top plate (71) assembly in upward direction along with wire rope (74) assembly. The wire rope (74) assembly lifts the axle i.e. away from ground creating the required amount of ground clearance.

[0025] Accordingly, the present invention discloses a load distribution in tandem axle (58) of a vehicle (100) comprising, a rear forward axle (60), a rear rearward axle (62), atleast one asymmetrical fulcrum (40) configured to distribute biased loads on the rear forward axle (60) and rear rearward axle (62) for improved fuel economy and tire life and atleast one axle lifting mechanism (70) to optionally lift rear rearward axle (62). The rear arm (44) of fulcrum (40) is configured to be longer than front arm (42). The rear forward axle (60) is configured to take greater load due to shorter fulcrum length. The rear rearward axle (60) is configured to take less load due to longer fulcrum length. The biased load distribution in tandem axle (58) of a vehicle (100) wherein the rear rearward axle (62) is configured with single tire pair. The lifting mechanism (70) is configured to lift the rear rearward axle (62) upward in vehicle unloaded state. The wire rope assembly (74) is configured to lift the rear rearward axle (62) upward in vehicle unloaded state to disengage the contact of rear rearward axle (62) with road surface. The lifting mechanism (70) for the tandem axle (58) of a vehicle (100) comprises, atleast one top plate (71), atleast one air bellow (72) wherein one end of air bellow (72) is fixed to vehicle frame and other end is fixed to top plate assembly (71) and atleast one wire rope assembly (74) configured to be looped around the rear rearward axle (62) and fixed to top plate assembly (71) for lifting the rear rearward axle on expansion of said atleast one air bellow (72). The pressurized air is configured to be filled in air bellow to raise the top plate assembly (71) in upward direction for lifting the rear rearward axle (62).

[0026] Exemplary embodiments discussed above may provide certain advantages. Though not required to practice aspects of the disclosure, these advantages may include those provided by the following features.

[0027] Some embodiments provide increased tire life and reduced maintenance cost. [0028] Some embodiments improves fuel economy of vehicle.

[0029] Although implementations for an idle engine shut down system for vehicle to improve fuel economy have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methods, it is to be understood that the appended claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described.

[0030] Figure 1, 2, 3 and 4 are now described using the reference numbers stated in the below table.

[0031] REFERRAL NUMERALS: