Patent ID: 6371499
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A modular vehicle-mounted safety latch assembly for retaining an auxiliary axle system of a work vehicle in an elevated, stowed position, said safety latch comprising:(a) a base plate for carrying said assembly mounted thereto and have a central slot opening; (b) a latch hook having a hook end and a tail end mounted from said base plate and adapted to pivot in relation thereto the hook end extending through said central slot; (c) a single-acting fluid cylinder having an extendable rod member having a free end, extendable in a power stroke, and a blind end mounted with fixed reference to said base plate and in relation to said latch hook such that when said rod is in a retracted/collapsed position, said latch hook rotates in a first direction to a latched position thereby capturing a latching member fixed to an auxiliary axle system; (d) a resilient biasing member connected between said latch hook and said fluid cylinder to maintain said tail end of said latch hook against said free end of said rod to bias said latch hook in a latched position when said rod retracts such that upon loss of fluid pressure in said cylinder, said latching member remains positively latched by said hook end, said latching member being released only on a power stroke; and (e) an adjustable mounting system for adjustably mounting said base plate on said vehicle structure such that only said protruding hook is exposed beyond the vehicle.