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:
Mar. 19, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 10, 2000
Larry W. Bowman, Troy, MI (US);
Patrick D. Laper, Rochester, MI (US);
Raji S. El-Kassouf, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Michael G. Semke, Novi, MI (US);
Richard M. Clisch, Canton, MI (US);
Gary P. Ford, Rochester, MI (US);
Joseph B. Saxon, Cookeville, TN (US);
Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC, Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
An axle assembly for supporting a heavy vehicle on a surface is provided. The axle assembly has an axle housing with opposing ends and a wheel supported on each of the opposing ends for engagement with the surface. Each of the wheels is rotatable about a rotational axis. A rotatable load-bearing device is supported on the axle housing for engagement with the surface. The load-bearing device is arranged between the wheels and is rotatable about a plurality of pivotal axes. By permitting the load-bearing devices to pivot about more that one axis, unlike a conventional wheel, wear caused by scrub may be reduced. In one embodiment, the load-bearing devices are swivel wheels that are pivotal about vertical and horizontal axe. In another embodiment, the load-bearing devices are load-bearing balls that are pivotal about an infinite number of axes.