Power axle for a commercial vehicle

A power axle for assisting an automotive vehicle in ascending and descending steep slopes and grades includes an electromagnetic motor mounted to one floating axle of the vehicle, a junction box mounted to and electrically connected to the electromagnetic motor, a DC/AC power inverter mounted to the cab interposed between and for electrically interconnecting the vehicle's battery to the electromagnetic motor for powering the motor from the battery and control switches mounted on the dashboard and which include an on/off switch and a speed control dial for regulating and controlling the interaction and engagement of the electromagnetic motor with the floating axle of the vehicle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to power assists for commercial vehicles, and especially for semi-truck trailers, and more particularly pertains to a power axle that assists the semi-truck trailer in more efficiently traversing steep hills and grades on the incline and decline.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Private, public, and commercial automotive vehicles of all types—delivery trucks, semi-truck trailers, tractor-trailers, buses, recreational vehicles, construction equipment, etc.—are all expensive to operate and maintain, especially in the difficult contemporary economic conditions. Regular mechanical maintenance costs, fuel costs, permits, licensing, etc., make the owning and operation of such vehicles an expensive proposition. One of the driving conditions that causes considerable wear on the vehicle occurs during the ascent of the vehicle up a steep slope, grade, hill or incline of the descent of the vehicle down the steep slope, grade, hill or incline. Such conditions occur when the vehicle is traversing, for example, mountainous terrain. When ascending the slope extra power must be expended in pulling the vehicle up the ascent while, on the other hand, during the descent the operator must continually apply the brakes (or brake), thereby resulting in increased wear and fatigue on the entire braking system. Thus, it would be desirable to conceive of a device or apparatus that assists in the ascent and descent of the vehicle thereby saving maintenance and fuel costs and also reducing the strain and fatigue to the vehicle's mechanical systems, primarily the braking system.

For example, the Hattori et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,225,713 B1) discloses an electromagnetic force motor and also a method of manufacturing the force motor.

The Chen patent (U.S. patent no. 2003/0201692 A1) discloses a magnet motor device that includes a power perpetual magnet for generating repelling torque and which can be coupled to the driven motor of a bicycle, motorcycle, or car.

The Pal patent (U.S. Pat. No. 7,017,696 B2) discloses a two-wheeled electric vehicle with a ring like, large, powered parallel wheels with at least one of the ring like wheels being driven by a large toroidal electric motor.

The Pal patent (U.S. Pat. No. 7,284,628 B2) discloses a vehicle with a zero turning radius employing a minimum of two generally parallel matching annular wheels mounted with independent pneumatic toroidal suspensions fixed coaxially on a chassis.

The Wilt, Jr. et al. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 7,291,944 B2) discloses an electromagnetic-engine that includes an inner motor and an outer motor with both motors having magnets of opposite polarity mounted thereon.

Nonetheless, despite the ingenuity of the above devices, there remains a need for a power axle that can be factory installed or retrofitted to floating axle of a commercial vehicle such as semi-truck trailer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprehends an improvement for automotive vehicles, private, public and commercial, ranging from travel trailers to over-the-road vehicles such as tractor trailers and semi-truck trailers for reducing fuel and maintenance costs by easing the descent and assisting in the ascent of such vehicles when traversing slopes, inclines, steep grades and mountain passes.

The present invention comprehends a power axle that can be factory installed or retrofitted to such desired private, public and commercial vehicles and includes an electromagnetic motor, preferably of between 50 and 75 horsepower, mounted to the rear floating axle of the automotive vehicle. The power axle is actuated from the cab of the vehicle to assist in pushing the vehicle up grades, slopes and inclines, and retards—creates a drag effect—as the vehicle descends the steep slope, hill, grade, or incline for maintaining a slow constant speed of descent and thereby saving on the brakes. An electrical junction box is mounted to the electromagnetic motor and the junction box is electrically interconnected to the dashboard, specifically to controls mounted on the dashboard and that include a manually engageable on/off switch and a manually adjustable speed control dial. If needed a DC/AC power inverter can be interposed between the dashboard-mounted controls and the electromagnetic motor for making the appropriate direct current to alternating current conversions. It should be noted that the power for the electromagnetic motor would be supplied from the battery of the vehicle. Also, the required power cables will extend from the dashboard-mounted controls to the DC/AC power inverter and thence to the junction box mounted to, and electrically interconnected with, the electromagnetic motor.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a powered axle for a commercial vehicle that makes it easier for the commercial vehicle to climb inclines, slopes and hills, and also regulates the speed of the commercial on steep slopes.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a powered axle for a commercial vehicle that will make commercial vehicles, such as semi-truck trailers and tractor-trailers, safer to drive.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a powered axle for a commercial vehicle that gives the vehicle better fuel efficiency.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a powered axle for a commercial vehicle that provides the owner with substantial maintenance cost savings.

It is a still yet further objective of the present invention to provide a powered axle for a commercial vehicle wherein the power for the electromagnetic motor that is mounted to the floating axle is derived from the battery of the vehicle.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a powered axle for a commercial vehicle wherein the powered axle and the accompanying equipment—dc-ac power inverter and electromagnetic motor—can be sized to accommodate various types of vehicles such as travel trailers.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a powered axle for a commercial vehicle wherein the powered axle—and accompanying equipment—would save the vehicle's brakes when used as a drag when the vehicle descends a slope or incline.

These and other objects, features, and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures and appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Illustrated inFIGS. 1-6is power axle apparatus10that can either be retrofitted to or factory installed to an automotive vehicle such as a recreational vehicle, any type of commercial delivery truck, construction and machinery equipment and vehicles, semi-truck trailers, tractor-trailers, etc.; and for representative purposes the vehicle12is a semi-truck trailer. The semi-truck trailer12includes a driver's compartment or cab14for the driver/operator and a trailer16attached to the cab14(the various electrical/pneumatic hook-ups and cables are omitted for clarity). Recreational vehicles would not include a separate cab and thus the dashboard, steering wheel and operational controls would be located in the integral front driver's compartment. The cab14includes sets of front cab tires18and the trailer16includes one or more sets of rear tires20with each set of rear tires20being joined by floating axles22. The semi-truck trailer12shown inFIGS. 1,2and6includes two sets of rear tires20each of which are interconnected by a rear free or floating axle22. The cab14includes an interior24for the driver/operator, and the cab interior24includes a dashboard26with several controls for the power axle apparatus10located thereon within easy reach and manipulation by the driver/operator, and which will be hereinafter further described.

Thus, illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 4is an electromagnetic motor28that is mounted to and on one floating axle22of the semi-truck trailer12thus converting the floating axle22to a power axle. The electromagnetic motor28is selectively actuated to assist the vehicle12in climbing the incline or grade and then descending down the incline, grade, slope, or hill. The electromagnetic motor28is mounted circumjacent the floating axle22for selectively and physically contacting and engaging the axle22to assist in the vehicle's12ascent and maintain a slow and constant vehicle speed during the descent. The electromagnetic motor28can be sized for the appropriate vehicle with a horsepower of 50 to 75 being one standard power range with lesser horsepower motors adaptable for smaller vehicles such a recreational vehicles. A junction box30is mounted to and interconnected with the electromagnetic motor28for regulating the proper voltage/amperage to the electromagnetic motor28(for clarity the electrical wiring is not shown).

As shown inFIG. 1, a DC/AC power inverter32can be mounted to the rear of the cab14and is electrically interconnected to the junction box30by the appropriate electrical cables/wiring34. The electrical cables/wiring34extends from the rear of the cab14, past the hitch36and along the underside of the trailer16to the junction box30. A control means is located within the cab14adjacent to the primary instruments38on the dashboard40. The control means includes a manually operable on/off switch42and a speed control dial44with a manually adjustable speed control arrow46and regularly spaced gradations48. The speed control arrow46is manually adjustable for setting the speed of the motor28from a range of speeds extending from low speed to a high speed. This sets the speed (rotational) with which the electromagnetic motor28engages the floating axle22for either assisting in pushing the vehicle12up the incline or slowing the descent of the vehicle12as it comes down the incline, slope, grade, hill, etc.

In operation the power axle apparatus10will be used to push the vehicle12up the hill while the semi-truck trailer12is simultaneously pulling thereby saving on fuel; then as the descent commences the driver will set the speed control dial44to the proper setting to slow the vehicle's12descent. The engagement and action of the electromagnetic motor28with respect to the floating axle22creates a drag effect on the vehicle12during the descent thereby holding the semi-truck trailer12at a constant slow speed saving on the brakes and realizing overall savings on the maintenance costs; and also providing considerable cost savings for the driver/operator/owner.

More specifically, with reference to the representative flowchart/schematic50ofFIG. 4the operational steps are set forth commencing with the turn unit on step52. The speed control is set by manually adjusting the speed control dial44to the desired speed. It should be noted that the speed control dial can be electronically programmed with the desired speed gradations thus requiring the driver to only push a speed control button until the desired speed appears on a small screen or monitor such as a LCD screen. The decision on whether to increase or decrease motor speed would be determined by evaluating whether the vehicle12was moving slower or faster than the particular speed control setting. If the speed of the vehicle12is congruent with the particular speed at which the electromagnetic motor28is running then the driver/operator simply maintains the current speed of the motor28. When the vehicle12commences travel on a flat or level stretch of highway or roadway the power axle apparatus10can be disengaged by turning the on/off switch42to the off position.

While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, numerous modifications, alterations, and variations are practicable and possible by those skilled in the art while still remaining within the scope of the invention and the ambit of the accompanying claims.