IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,845,659
Granted Patent B2
US 7,845,659 · App. 12/326,826 · Granted Dec 7, 2010

Dump truck tag axle suspension control

Assignee: Watson & Chalin Manufacturing, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,845,659
App. No.
12/326,826
Granted
Dec 7, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Dump truck tag axle suspension control. A method of controlling a tag axle suspension includes activating a pusher suspension lift switch; and engaging a steer lock on the tag axle suspension, thereby preventing steering of the tag axle suspension, in response to the lift switch activating step. Another method includes activating a switch to thereby begin operation of a hydraulic pump; and engaging a steer lock of the tag axle suspension, in response to the switch activating step. Yet another method includes applying pressure to a bed lift actuator; sensing the pressure applied to the bed lift actuator; and applying pressure to a tag suspension load actuator, thereby transmitting a load from a frame to a tag axle via the load actuator, in response to the sensed pressure applied to the bed lift actuator reaching a predetermined level.

Claims (53)

1. A method of controlling a tag axle suspension for a dump truck, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a pusher suspension lift switch, thereby lifting at least one pusher suspension;

engaging a steer lock on the tag axle suspension, thereby preventing steering of the tag axle suspension, in response to the pusher suspension lift switch activating step;

relieving pressure from a bed lift actuator to lower a bed of the dump truck;

sensing the pressure applied to the bed lift actuator; and

applying pressure to a tag suspension air spring when the sensed pressure applied to the bed lift actuator decreases to a predetermined threshold level.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of engaging a power takeoff of the dump truck to thereby operate a hydraulic pump, and wherein the power takeoff engaging step causes the steer lock to remain engaged if a transmission of the dump truck is shifted out of reverse.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

applying pressure to a bed lift actuator to raise a bed of the dump truck;

sensing the pressure applied to the bed lift actuator; and

applying hydraulic pressure to a tag suspension load actuator, thereby transmitting a load from a frame of the dump truck to a tag axle via the load actuator, when the sensed pressure applied to the bed lift actuator reaches a predetermined threshold level.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:

sensing the pressure applied to the tag suspension load actuator; and

releasing pressure from a tag suspension air spring when the sensed pressure applied to the tag suspension load actuator reaches a selected level.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

sensing the pressure applied to the tag suspension air spring; and

releasing pressure from a tag suspension load actuator when the sensed pressure applied to the tag suspension air spring reaches a selected level.

6. A method of controlling a tag axle suspension for a dump truck, the method comprising the steps of:

activating a switch to thereby begin operation of a hydraulic pump on the dump truck; and

engaging a steer lock of the tag axle suspension, thereby preventing steering of a tag axle, in response to the switch activating step.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of shifting a transmission of the truck out of reverse, and wherein the steer lock remains engaged while the transmission is shifted out of reverse.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the step of activating a pusher suspension lift switch, thereby lifting at least one pusher suspension, and wherein the lift switch activating step causes the steer lock to remain engaged if a transmission of the dump truck is shifted out of reverse.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:

applying pressure to a bed lift actuator to raise a bed of the dump truck;

sensing the pressure applied to the bed lift actuator; and

applying hydraulic pressure to a tag suspension load actuator, thereby transmitting a load from a frame of the dump truck to a tag axle via the load actuator, when the sensed pressure applied to the bed lift actuator reaches a predetermined threshold level.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:

sensing the pressure applied to the tag suspension load actuator; and

releasing pressure from a tag suspension air spring when the sensed pressure applied to the tag suspension load actuator reaches a selected level.

11. The method of claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:

relieving pressure from a bed lift actuator to lower a bed of the dump truck;

sensing the pressure applied to the bed lift actuator; and

applying pressure to a tag suspension air spring when the sensed pressure applied to the bed lift actuator decreases to a predetermined threshold level.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:

sensing the pressure applied to the tag suspension air spring; and

releasing pressure from a tag suspension load actuator when the sensed pressure applied to the tag suspension air spring reaches a selected level.

13. A method of controlling a tag axle suspension for a dump truck, the method comprising the steps of:

applying pressure to a bed lift actuator to raise a bed of the dump truck;

sensing the pressure applied to the bed lift actuator; and

applying hydraulic pressure to a tag suspension load actuator, thereby transmitting a load from a frame of the dump truck to a tag axle via the load actuator, in response to the sensed pressure applied to the bed lift actuator reaching a predetermined threshold level.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:

sensing the pressure applied to the tag suspension load actuator; and

releasing pressure from a tag suspension air spring when the sensed pressure applied to the tag suspension load actuator reaches a selected level.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:

relieving pressure from the bed lift actuator to lower the bed of the dump truck; and

applying pressure to a tag suspension air spring when the sensed pressure applied to the bed lift actuator decreases to a predetermined threshold level.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:

sensing the pressure applied to the tag suspension air spring; and

releasing pressure from the tag suspension load actuator when the sensed pressure applied to the tag suspension air spring reaches a selected level.

17. The method of claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:

activating a pusher suspension lift switch, thereby lifting at least one pusher suspension; and

engaging a steer lock on the tag axle suspension, thereby preventing steering of the tag axle suspension, in response to the pusher suspension lift switch activating step.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of engaging a power takeoff of the dump truck to thereby operate a hydraulic pump, and wherein the power takeoff engaging step causes the steer lock to remain engaged if a transmission of the dump truck is shifted out of reverse.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2009
From: HUDSON, HERBERT D.
To: WATSON & CHALIN MANUFACTURING, INC.
Reel/Frame 022107/0496 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2008
From: CHALIN, THOMAS N.
To: WATSON & CHALIN MANUFACTURING, INC.
Reel/Frame 022020/0637 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100133771A1 · Jun 3, 2010