Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin

Michelin Recherche Et Technique S.a.

Zachary Alexander Merrill

Matthew J Hanlon

William Bennett Clayton

Lawrence O Williamson

Wayne Carl Yount

Dennis D Hodges

Dave Michael McKibben

Lawrence Otis Williamson

A system and apparatus that reduces tire scrub on a truck and or trailer during turns. The system minimizes the redistribution of the load among the tires thereby spreading the load of the trailer or truck among the tires avoiding unnecessary overloading. The system operates without operator intervention and is capable of operating automatically on trailers, without control signals from the truck.

Truck tire scrub intervention

An apparatus () is provided, configured for use with a trailer () of a tractor trailer (), that includes forward and rearward axles () that each have a central body. The forward axle () has first and second mounting portions () that are configured to receive first and second wide base tires (). The rearward axle () has first and second rearward mounting portions () configured to receive third and fourth wide base tires (). The first forward mounting portion axis () is oriented at an angle () from +0.75-+0.95 degrees to the lateral direction, and the second forward mounting portion axis () is oriented at an angle () from +0.08-+0.28 degrees to the lateral direction. The first rearward mounting portion axis () is oriented at an angle () from +0.65-+0.85 degrees to the lateral direction, and the second rearward mounting portion axis () is oriented at an angle () from &#x2212;0.05-+0.15 degrees to the lateral direction.

Trailer axles for wide base tires

An apparatus for a vehicle is provided that has an axle and a spindle sleeve with a spindle sleeve inner surface axis coaxial with the axis of the axle, and a spindle sleeve outer surface axis not coaxial with the axis of the axle. A hub has an axis coaxial with the spindle sleeve outer surface axis, and the hub at least partially defines a chamber. First and second ports extend through a wall of the hub to the chamber. The hub rotates about the spindle sleeve through the aid of two bearings. Lubricant is present within the chamber, and the first port provides a pathway for a pressurized fluid to be introduced into the chamber to force the lubricant out of the chamber via the second port.

Wheel assembly for vehicle wheel adjustment having hub with two ports

An apparatus for a vehicle is provided that includes an axle with a keyway. A spindle sleeve is present that has a spindle sleeve inner surface axis coaxial with the axis of the axle. A spindle sleeve outer surface axis is not coaxial with the axis of the axle, and the spindle sleeve has a sleeve washer that has a keyway tab. A retaining nut is in selective rotating communication with the sleeve washer such that rotation of the retaining nut is communicated to the sleeve washer to cause the spindle sleeve to rotate relative to the axle when the retaining nut is in rotating communication with the sleeve washer. Rotation of the retaining nut is not communicated to the sleeve washer to cause the spindle sleeve to rotate relative to the axle when the retaining nut is not in rotating communication with the sleeve washer.

Spindle sleeve with sleeve washer for rotational alignment

An apparatus for a vehicle is provided that has an axle with an axis. A spindle sleeve with a spindle sleeve inner surface axis coaxial with the axis of the axle is present, along with a spindle sleeve outer surface axis that is not coaxial with the axis of the axle. The spindle sleeve has an inner surface and an outer surface. A sleeve washer is present along with a bearing that has an inner race, an outer race, and a roller. The inner race has an inner surface and a front surface in which the front surface is located forward of the inner surface in a lateral direction. The inner race has a curved surface that extends from the front surface to the inner surface, and the sleeve washer engages the front surface. The apparatus also includes a retainer that engages the spindle sleeve and the curved surface.

Spindle sleeve with retainer for vehicle wheel adjustment

An apparatus for a vehicle is provided that has a spindle sleeve () with a spindle sleeve inner surface axis () that is coaxial with the axis of an axle (). The spindle sleeve () has a spindle sleeve outer surface axis () that is oriented at an angle to the axis of the axle. A hub () is present that has a hub axis () that is coaxial with the spindle sleeve outer surface axis (). A rotor () is coaxial with the hub axis () and brake calipers () are carried by the axle. A brake caliper positional correction device () is present and is carried by the axle () and has a correction surface () that carries the brake calipers (). The correction surface () orients the brake calipers () such that the brake calipers () are properly positioned with respect to the rotor ().

Brake caliper positional correction device

An apparatus for a vehicle is provided that includes a spindle sleeve with a spindle sleeve inner surface axis. The spindle sleeve has a spindle sleeve outer surface axis that is not coaxial with the spindle sleeve inner surface axis. A hub with a hub axis coaxial with the spindle sleeve outer surface axis is also present. Also included are first and second bearings within the hub, and a containment seal that engages the hub and the spindle sleeve. A sleeve washer is included, and the containment seal is located between the first bearing and the sleeve washer in an axial direction of the hub.

Hub lubricant containment seal system

A spindle sleeve and washer for adjusting the camber, toe, or thrust angle of a vehicle wheel to a desired predetermined angle which allows for use of existing hub and spindle assembly without permanent modification to the vehicle.

Spindle system for wheel alignment correction

A system for wheel alignment is provided including adjustments to camber, toe, and thrust. A sleeve is fitted over the spindle of an axle. Rotation of the sleeve relative to the spindle provides for adjustments to wheel alignment while a locking feature such as e.g., a pin, is used to maintain the selected position of the sleeve relative to the spindle. The available positions of the sleeve Crelative to the spindle are predetermined in order to provide for discrete, known adjustments to the alignment of the wheel. Numerous positions can be provided based on the range and magnitude of adjustability selected.

Indexable system for select wheel alignment correction

A system for wheel alignment provides an indexable pair of washers in conjunction with a sleeve having non-concentric inner and outer surfaces that allow for adjustments to camber, toe, and thrust. The system can be retrofitted to existing axle systems using a sleeve that fits over the spindle of the axle. Rotation of the sleeve relative to the spindle provides for adjustment to wheel alignment. The indexable washers can be used to determine the precise amount of adjustment and fix the position of the sleeve once adjusted. The system can be implemented regardless of the circumferential position (i.e. azimuthal orientation) of a keyway or groove on the axle spindle that is typically used to lock the position of the axle nut.

Indexable washer system for wheel alignment correction

An apparatus for a vehicle is provided that includes and axle and an articulating brake component mounting plate carried by the axle. The articulating brake component mounting plate has an inner portion and an outer portion, and the position of the outer portion is adjustable with respect to the inner portion. Either the inner portion or the outer portion defines an adjustment nut aperture. An adjustment nut is located in the adjustment nut aperture.

Articulating brake component mounting plate for wheel alignment correction

Spindle system for wheel alignment correction with brake adjustment

A system for wheel alignment is provided including adjustments to camber, toe, and thrust. A sleeve is fitted over the spindle of an axle. Rotation of the sleeve relative to the spindle provides for adjustments to wheel alignment while a locking feature such as e.g., a pin, is used to maintain the selected position of the sleeve relative to the spindle. The available positions of the sleeve relative to the spindle are predetermined in order to provide for discrete, known adjustments to the alignment of the wheel.

Pin indexable sleeve for select wheel alignment correction

A tire work stand comprises a frame for supporting the work stand on a ground surface and for attaching a set of components to the tire work stand. A plurality of rollers is attached to the frame to support a tire above the ground surface and to permit rotation of a tire during inspection of the tire. A ramp is configured to have a first ramp end capable of extending from the ground surface and a second ramp end extending to a position proximal to the frame. A bridge is configured to have a first bridge end extending from the second ramp end and a second bridge end extending to a position proximal to a surface of at least one of the rollers, wherein the bridge acts to inhibit rotation of the roller during loading of the tire and further permits rotation of the tire after the tire has been loaded on the tire work stand.

Growing community of inventors

Greenville, SC, United States of America

Zachary Alexander Merrill