Trailer axle cartridge
Disclosed herein is an axle cartridge member for receiving a pair of torsion stub axles. The axle cartridge member includes a pair of laterally opposed bases, with each base defining a cavity therein for receiving an elongated stub housing of the torsion stub axles. The axle cartridge member also includes a pair of axle mounts that each includes a lateral opening extending into the cavity defined in the respective base, and an arch including a crossbar extending at a height above the bases wherein the arch further includes a portion that extends upward from each of the bases at an angle and meets the crossbar that extends generally horizontally between the portions of the arch.
1 . An axle cartridge member for a receiving a pair of torsion stub axles therein, the axle cartridge member comprising:
a pair of laterally opposed bases, each base defining a cavity therein for receiving an elongated stub housing of the torsion stub axles;
a pair of axle mounts that each includes a lateral opening extending into the cavity defined in the respective base; and
an arch including a crossbar extending at a height above the bases, wherein the arch further includes a portion that extends upward from each of the bases at an angle and meets the crossbar that extends generally horizontally between the portions of the arch.
2 . The axle cartridge member of claim 1 , wherein the pair of bases are constructed from parallel forward and rear plates separated by at least one spacer member such that the forward and rear plates may engage opposite parallel sides of the elongated stub housing received therebetween.
3 . The axle cartridge member of claim 2 , wherein the forward and rear plates each include adjustment holes extending longitudinally into the cavities, the adjustment holes configured to receive an adjustment fastener therethrough.
4 . The axle cartridge member of claim 1 , further comprising at least one trailer mount arranged for coupling the axle cartridge member to a trailer frame.
5 . The axle cartridge member of claim 4 , wherein the at least one trailer mount includes a pair of trailer mounts, each trailer mount disposed above a respective axle mount.
6 . The axle cartridge member of claim 5 , wherein each trailer mount includes an upper surface and a lower wall extending generally orthogonally to the upper surface.
7 . The axle cartridge member of claim 6 , wherein each trailer mount is constructed of a bent or folded sheet metal plate formed continuously with the respective axle mount, each bent or folded sheet metal plate extending longitudinally to define the upper surface and lower wall.
8 . The axle cartridge member of claim 4 , wherein the at least one trailer mount includes a pair of trailer mounts, with each trailer mount being disposed above a respective axle mount and with each trailer mount comprising an upper trailer mount surface and a lower trailer mount wall extending generally orthogonally to the upper trailer mount surface;
wherein each axle mount includes an upper axle mount surface and a lower axle mount wall extending generally orthogonally to the upper axle mount surface; and
wherein the lower trailer mount wall of each trailer mount extends vertically between the upper trailer mount surface of the trailer mount and the upper axle mount surface of the axle mount.
9 . An axle cartridge assembly, comprising:
an axle cartridge member including a pair of laterally opposed bases and an arch extending in a lateral direction between the bases, the arch including a crossbar extending at a height above the bases and oriented at an angle relative to the bases; and
a pair of torsion stub axles, each torsion stub axle including an elongated stub housing extending into a cavity defined in a respective base of the pair of laterally opposed bases.
10 . The axle cartridge assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of mounting fasteners coupling the pair of torsion stub axles to the axle cartridge member.
11 . The axle cartridge assembly of claim 9 , wherein the pair of bases and the arch are constructed from parallel forward and rear plates, and wherein the elongated stub housings each include parallel sides abutting each of the forward and rear plates.
12 . The axle cartridge assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of adjustment fasteners extending in a longitudinal direction through the forward and rear plates and engaging the elongated stub housings within the cavities.
13 . The axle cartridge assembly of claim 9 , wherein the arch extends upward at the angle from each of the bases to the crossbar, and wherein the crossbar extends generally parallel with the elongated stub housings.
14 . The axle cartridge assembly of claim 9 , further comprising at least one trailer mount configured to couple the axle cartridge member to a trailer frame, wherein the at least one trailer mount includes an upper trailer mount surface and a lower trailer mount wall extending generally orthogonally to the upper surface, and wherein each of the torsion stub axles includes a mounting plate for receiving mounting fasteners therethrough in orthogonal directions.
15 . The axle cartridge assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a pair of axle mounts, each axle mount coupled to a respective base of the pair of laterally opposed bases, and each axle mount comprising an upper axle mount surface and a lower axle mount wall extending generally orthogonally to the upper axle mount surface;
wherein each trailer mount is disposed above a respective axle mount; and
wherein the lower trailer mount wall of each trailer mount extends vertically between the upper trailer mount surface of the trailer mount and the upper axle mount surface of the axle mount.
16 . The axle cartridge assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a pair of wheel assemblies, each wheel assembly including a wheel coupled to a respective one of the torsion stub axles.
17 . The axle cartridge assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a pair of shock assemblies, each shock assembly coupled to a respective one of the torsion stub axles.
18 . A trailer assembly, comprising:
a trailer frame;
an axle cartridge member including a pair of laterally opposed bases and an arch extending in a lateral direction between the bases, the arch extending at an angle relative to each base and including a crossbar extending at a height above the bases; and
a pair of torsion stub axles, each torsion stub axle including an elongated stub housing extending into a cavity defined in a respective base of the pair of laterally opposed bases.
19 . The trailer assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a pair of wheel assemblies, each wheel assembly including a wheel coupled to a respective one of the torsion stub axles.
20 . The trailer assembly of claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of mounting fasteners coupling the pair of torsion stub axles to the axle cartridge member and coupling the axle cartridge member to the trailer frame.