Patent Publication Number: US-2007114756-A1

Title: System &amp; method to improve the fuel efficiency and engine life of a vehicle

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to trucks and trailers and more particularly to an apparatus for distributing load.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides an apparatus and method to improve the fuel efficiency and engine life of a vehicle, and more particularly, the present invention provides a system and method for improving the fuel efficiency and engine life of a truck and trailer. The present invention provides a system for automatically adjusting and spreading out load of a truck and trailer on a bridge between the truck and trailer assembly thereby very less pressure/stress put to the engine resulting in fuel savings and longer engine life.  
      The present invention provides for cost effective fuel energy saving apparatus which helps in reducing environmental pollution, increasing engine life of a vehicle, economy growth, less cost of transportation and low maintenance cost of vehicle. The present invention provides a system and method for improving the fuel efficiency and increasing the engine life of a truck and trailer. In effect, the load of the truck and trailer is spread out on the junction or bridge between the trailer and the cab rather than it sitting on the rear wheels of the main cab of the truck. In one truck embodiment, there is very less pressure (stress) put to the engine resulting in fuel savings and longer engine life. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the second axle is not powered, and the load sits between the axles on a platform. The weight of the load is in effect distributed across multiple points on the cab of the truck. In a prior art, all pressure is on the rear tires and axle which acts as a trailer.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:  
       FIGS. 1A  to  1 K illustrate a system for automatically adjusting load distribution through axles of the truck and trailer assembly;  
       FIGS. 2A  to  2 R illustrate another embodiment for the system for automatically adjusting load distribution through the axles of the truck and trailer assembly; and  
       FIGS. 3A  to  3 H illustrated another embodiment for the system for automatically adjusting load distribution through the axles of the truck and trailer assembly.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The exemplary embodiments described herein detail for illustrative purposes are subject to many variations, structure and design. It should be emphasized, however that the present invention/description not being limiting to a particular system for improving the fuel efficiency and engine life of a vehicle/truck and trailer by automatically adjusting and distributing load across a truck and trailer assembly shown and described. Rather, the principles of the present invention can be used with a variety of truck and trailer assembly configurations and structural arrangements. It is understood is that various omissions, substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.  
      The present invention provides an apparatus and method to improve the fuel efficiency and engine life of a vehicle, and more particularly, the present invention provides a system and method for improving the fuel efficiency and engine life of a truck and trailer. The present invention provides a system for automatically adjusting and spreading out load of a truck and trailer on a bridge between the truck and trailer assembly thereby very less pressure/stress put to the engine resulting in fuel savings and longer engine life.  
      The present invention provides for cost effective fuel energy saving apparatus which helps in reducing environmental pollution, increasing engine life of a vehicle, economy growth, less cost of transportation and low maintenance cost of vehicle. The present invention provides a system and method for improving the fuel efficiency and increasing the engine life of a truck and trailer. In effect, the load of the truck and trailer is spread out on the junction or bridge between the trailer and the cab rather than it sitting on the rear wheels of the main cab of the truck. In one truck embodiment, there is very less pressure (stress) put to the engine resulting in fuel savings and longer engine life. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the second axle is not powered, and the load sits between the axles on a platform. The weight of the load is in effect distributed across multiple points on the cab of the truck. In a prior art, all pressure is on the rear tires and axle which acts as a trailer.  
       FIGS. 1A  to  1 K illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present invention profile wherein the system  100  for automatically adjusting load distribution through axles of the truck and trailer assembly has been explained in detail. In an embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 1A , the system  100  comprises a bridge  20  having specific width and length and has five holes, one at the center and one at each corner. A hook  10  is bolted at the center hole with a hook nut  30 . The bridge  20  is provided with a similar bridge legs  40  at each corner coupled to with connecting means. The connecting means may include threads configured on each bridge leg  40  to be threaded onto said bridge holes having corresponding opposite threads. In another embodiment, the bridge  20  and the bridge legs  40  may be one piece metal or the like.  
      A pair of short frames, left short frame and right short frame  50  run parallel to the bridge  20  and are connected to the bridge  20  by connecting means. The connecting means may include bolts  60  and nuts  70 . In another embodiment, the bridge  20  may also be welded with the short frames  50  or may be one piece metal or the like. A pair of long frames, left long frame and right long frame  80  is provided that run alongside the corresponding short frames  50 .  
      The long frames  80  have a plurality of holes equal in number to the bridge legs  40  and received the same and are tightened to the holes using tightening means at an end opposite to the bridge  20 . The tightening means may include nut screws  120  for screwing the long frames  80  with the bridge legs  40  and prevents the separation of long frames  80  from the bridge legs  40 . The long frames  80  are free floating frames. In the system  100 , pairs of airbags  90  are seated on top of the long frames  80 . Also, pair of hydraulic jacks  110  is placed inside the long frames  80 . The pair of airbags  90  and the hydraulic jacks  110  controls the free floating of long frames  80 . The airbags  90  and electronic jacks  110  may be bolted or welded or glued the with a long frames  80 . The system  100  is also provided with an air tank  124  and a hydraulic pump made of known state of the art technology for inflating the airbag  90  or the hydraulic jack  110 . A controller is also as provided in the system  100  that monitors the load distribution along the axles of the truck and accordingly inflates/deflates the airbag  90  or hydraulic jack  110  and automatically adjusts the load distribution across said truck and trailer assembly. Accordingly, the load of the truck and trailer assembly is spread out on the bridge  20  between the truck and trailer rather than it sitting on the rear wheels of the truck.  
      In another embodiment, the system  100  may be made by cutting an existing frame in half and assembling components onto the two halves thereby the system  100  may be adapted to existing multi-axle trucks. During the passage of the vehicle going up hill or down hill, the controller inflates/deflates the airbags  90  or the hydraulic jacks  110  using the air tank  124  and the hydraulic pump  126  to transform or equalize the load on the wheels of the truck and trailer for traction thereby automatically adjusting load distribution.  
       FIG. 1B  shows the top view of the system  100  depicting the bridge  20  along with the short frames  50  and the long frames  80  it shows the four bolts  60  that connect the short frames  50  to the bridge  20 . It shows the hook  10  from the top view. A pair of long frames  80  can be seen running parallel to the short frames  50  and along the width of the bridge  20 .  
       FIG. 1C  is further a bottom view of the system  100  showing the configuration of the bridge  20  along with the components thereof. The  FIG. 1C  shows the hook  10  connected to the bridge  20  by the hook nut  30 . Also seen are the bridge legs  40  connected at which the long frames  80  are connected using nuts  120  for holding the long frames  80 .  FIG. 1D  shows the bridge  20  and the various nut holes at which the short frames  50 , the long frames  80  and the hook  10  are connected.  
       FIG. 1E  shows the rearview of the system  100  where the short frames  50  are connected to bridge  20  with bolts  60  and nuts  70 . It shows hook  10  connected to the bridge  20  by the hook nut  30 . Also seen are the bridge legs  40  connected at which the long frames  80  connected using nuts  120  for holding the long frames  80  and shows the presence of hydraulic jack  110  placed alongside long frames  80 .  FIG. 1F  and  FIG. 1G  illustrate the presence of airbag  90  and hydraulic jack  110  on and inside long frames  80  from top view.  FIG. 1H  and  FIG. 1I  shows the broken side views of bridge  20 , bridge legs  40 , nuts  120 , long frame  80 , inflated air bag  90  and deflated hydraulic jack  110 .  FIG. 1J  shows the left side view of system  100  where short frame  50  is connected to the bridge  20  with bolts  60  and nuts  70 . It shows bridge legs  40  connected at which the long frame  80  is connected using nuts  120  for holding the long frame  80  and shows the presence of the inflated hydraulic jack  110  inside the long frame  80 .  FIG. 1K  shows the right side view of system  100  where short frame  50  is connected to the bridge  20  with bolts  60  and nuts  70 . It shows the bridge legs  40  connected at which the long frame  80  is connected using nuts  120  for holding the long frame  80  and shows the presence of the deflated airbag  90  on the long frame  80 .  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B  shows another embodiment of the present invention in the rear and front views loaded with airbags wherein the system  200  comprises of the bridge  20  having a specific width and length. The bridge further has a central hole and bolted to a hook  10  using a hook nut  30 , and a single hole nearing each corner. A pair of inverse-U shaped extension frames  130  is mechanically coupled to the bridge  20  across said bridge width. The inverse-U shaped extension frames  130  has a square base and a pair of frame legs and the coupling is across the frame base, the coupling means may include bolting using a plurality of bolts  140  and nuts  150 . A pair of long frames  80  seated on the bolts  160  inside the inverse-U shaped extension frames  130  thereby preventing long frames  80  from separating away from the inverse-U shaped extension frame  130  and the long frames  80  freely float inside the inverse-U-shaped extension frames. A pair of short frames  50  mechanically coupled tightly inside the inverse-U shaped extension frames  130  by coupling means. In one embodiment, the short frames  50  are mechanically coupled to the inverse-U shaped extension frames  130  with a pair of coupling means at each of the extension frame legs horizontally and the coupling means may include bolting using bolts  170  and nuts  180 . In the system  200 , a pair of airbags  90  is seated on top of the long frames  80 . Also, a pair of hydraulic jacks  110  is placed inside the long frames  80 . The pair of airbags  90  and the hydraulic jacks  110  controls the free-floating of the long frames  80  inside the extension frames  130 . The airbags  90  and hydraulic jacks  110  may be bolted or welded or glued with the long frames  80 . The system  200  is also provided with air tank  124  and hydraulic pump  126  made of known state of art technology for inflating or deflating the airbag  90  or the hydraulic jack  110 . A controller is also provided in the system  200  that monitors the load distribution across the axles of the truck and accordingly inflates/deflates the airbag  90  or hydraulic jack  110  and automatically adjusts the load distribution across said truck and trailer assembly. Accordingly, the load of the truck and trailer assembly is spread out on the bridge  20  between the truck and the trailer rather than it sitting on the rear of wheels of the truck.  
      In another embodiment, the system  200  may be made by cutting an existing frame in half and assembling the components onto the two halves thereby the system  200  may be adapted to existing multi-axle trucks. During the passage of the vehicle going uphill or downhill, the controller inflates/deflates the airbags  90  or the hydraulic jacks  110  using the air tank  124  or hydraulic pump  126  to transform or equalize the load on the wheels of the truck and trailer for traction thereby automatically adjusting load distribution.  
       FIGS. 2C and 2D  shows the top and bottom views of the system  200  of the present invention.  
      In  FIG. 2C , the bridge  20  can be seen on to which the hook  10  is bolted. Plurality of bolts  140  are seen that couples the extension frame  130  to bridge  20 . A pair of short frames  50  and long frames  80  is seen coupled inside the extension frame  130 . Short frames are coupled to the extension frames  130  by way of the plurality of bolts  170  and nuts  180 . A pair of long frames is seated on the plurality of bolts  160  and nuts  162  can be seen coupled inside the extension frame  130 .  FIG. 2D  shows the bottom view of the configuration of the system  200  of the present invention. Hook  10  can be seen bolted to the bridge  20  by way of hook nut  30 . A pair of short frames  50  and long frames  80  can be clearly seen coupled to the extension frames  130  using the plurality of bolts and nuts  170 ,  180  and  160 ,  162 .  
      The configurations of  FIG. 2C  and  FIG. 2D  allow the system  200  to automatically adjusting load distribution.  FIG. 2E  and  FIG. 2F  of system  200  show the broken side views of bridge  20 , short frame  50 , long frame  80 , extension frame  130 , bolts  140 ,  160 ,  170 , nuts  150  with deflated airbag  90  and inflated hydraulic jack  110 .  FIG. 2G  and  FIG. 2H  show the side views of the short frames  50  and the long frames  80  inside the extension frames  130  without bridge  20 , hook  10 , nut  150  and bolts  140 ,  160  and  170 .  
       FIG. 2I  shows the system  200  assembled in a truck and trailer assembly in the left side view for automatically adjusting load distribution through axles of the truck and trailer assembly.  FIG. 2I  shows a truck with a drive shaft  210  and truck transition  212 . The truck having a left middle truck tire  214  and last rear truck tire  218 . A trailer  190  is shown having left side trailer tires  192 . The trailer  190  is received on the hook  10  of the system  200 . The extension frame  130  is seen in the side view having bolts  170  fixing the short frame  50  to the extension frame and bolts  160  bolting in the long frames  80  to the extension frame  130 .  FIG. 2J  shows the system  200  assembled in a truck and trailer assembly in the right side view for automatically adjusting load distribution through axles of a truck and trailer assembly.  FIG. 2J  shows a truck is shown having right middle truck tire  216  and right rear truck tire with  220  and the trailer  190  with right side trailer tires  194 .  
      The extension frame  130  is connected on the right side to the short frames  50  by the way of bolts  170  and to the long frames  80  by means of the bolts  160 . The system receives the trailer  190  on the hook  10  and accordingly the vehicle moves uphill or downhill, the airbags  90  and the hydraulic jacks  110  get inflated/deflated and transform/equalize the load on the wheel for traction and spreads out the load on the bridge  20  and the extension frame  130  between the truck and trailer  190  rather than it sitting on the rear wheels  218  and  220  of the truck.  FIG. 2K  shows and an enlarged view of assembly  200  in conjunction with the truck and trailer assembly receiving the loaded trailer  190  on the hook  10  of the system  200 .  FIG. 2L  shows an enlarged side view of the truck without trailer  190  of the system  200 .  FIG. 2M  and  FIG. 2N  show another variation of the system  200  having a different configuration of the extension frame  130  in the top and bottom views. The bridge  20  is bolded in the same manner to the extension frame  130  by means of a plurality of bolts  140 . The extension frame  130  receives within the short frame  50  by way of the bolts  170  and nuts  180  and the long frame  80  are similar connected to the extension frames  130  by means of bolts  160  and nuts  162 .  FIG. 2O  shows the front view of the system  200  loaded with airbags  90  upon the long frames  80  and receiving the trailer  190  on the hook  10 .  FIG. 2P  shows a similar embodiment of the system  200  loaded with a hydraulic jack  110  within a long frames  80 .  FIG. 2Q  and  FIG. 2R  of system  200  show the broken side views of the bridge  20 , extension frame  130 , long frame  80 , short frame  50 , bolts  140 ,  160 ,  170  and nuts  150 ,  162  with deflated airbag  90  and inflated hydraulic jack  110 .  
      In yet another embodiment, shown herein in  FIGS. 3A and 3B  is system  300  of the present invention in the front and rear views wherein the system  300  comprises of the bridge  20  having a specific width and length. The bridge further has a central hole and bolted to the hook  10  using a hook nut  30  and a hole nearing each corner. A pair of hollow cuboidal shaped extension frames  310  is mechanically coupled to the bridge  20  across said bridge width. The hollow cuboidal shaped extension frames  310  has a square base on the opposite sides and a pair of front legs and the coupling is across the frame base to the bridge  20 , the coupling means may include bolting using a plurality of bolts  320  and nuts  330 .  
      A pair of long frames  80  seated inside the hollow cuboidal shaped extension frames  310  and float freely inside the hollow cuboidal shaped extension frames. A pair of short frame  50  mechanically coupled tightly inside the hollow cuboidal shaped extension frames  310  by coupling means. In one embodiment, the short frames  50  are mechanically coupled to the hollow cuboidal shaped extension frames  310  with a pair of coupling means at each of the extension frame leg horizontally and the coupling means may include bolting using bolts  340  and nuts  350 .  
      The bolt  360  and nut  370  prevents long frame  80  from separating from the hollow cuboidal shaped extension frame  310 . The suspension of the front and middle tires  236 ,  238 ,  214  and  216  sit on the long frames  80 , and the suspension of the rear tires  218  and  220  sit on the short frames  50 , bridge  20 , extension frame  130  and hollow cuboidal shaped extension frame  310 .  
       FIGS. 3C and 3D  shows the top and bottom view of the system  300  having the bridge  20  in conjunction with the hollow cuboidal shaped extension frame  310 .  FIG. 3E  and  FIG. 3F  show the broken side views of the bridge  20 , hollow cuboidal shaped extension frame  310 , short frame  50 , long frame  80 , bolts  320 ,  340 ,  360  and nuts  330 ,  370  with inflated hydraulic jack  110  and deflated airbag  90 .  FIG. 3G  and  FIG. 3H  show the top views of the left and right short frames  50  and long frames  80  of the system  300 . The system of  300  is also provided with an air tank  124  and hydraulic pump  126  made of known state of the art technology for inflating or deflating the airbag  90  or the hydraulic jack  110 .  
      A controller is also provided in the system  300  that monitors the load distribution across the axles of the truck and accordingly inflates/deflates the airbag  90  or hydraulic jack  110  and automatically adjusts a load distribution across the truck and trailer assembly. Accordingly, the load of the truck and trailer assembly is spread out on the bridge  20  between the truck and trailer rather than it sitting on the rear wheels of the truck. The forgoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description.  
      They&#39;re not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions, substitutions of a equivalent are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover its the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.