The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 29, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 26, 1999
Michael von Mayenburg, Lake Oswego, OR (US);
Gary W. Rossow, Lake Oswego, OR (US);
Cary Coverdill, Boring, OR (US);
Judith Estep, Vancouver, WA (US);
Doug Loutzenheiser, Lake Oswego, OR (US);
Long V. Nguyen, Oregon City, OR (US);
James Tipka, West Linn, OR (US);
Freightliner LLC, Portland, OR (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus involves selectively relieving the load from the rearmost wheels of a trailer to shorten the effective wheel base of the trailer. When the effective wheel base is shortened, off-tracking of the trailer during turning is reduced. The load may relieved while the trailer and vehicle are traveling at, for example, less than a first speed, with the vehicle turning at least at a first angle. The axle may be reloaded when the vehicle speed is increased to a second speed above the first speed and the vehicle is turning at an angle which is less than the first angle.