Abstract: An axle load monitoring system for a load-transporting motor vehicle having one or more auxiliary axles wherein the monitoring system detects a noncompliant carrying-weight condition when the current gross vehicle weight is more than a prescribed maximum allowable gross vehicle weight assigned thereto and/or the current carrying weight of any primary axle and any designated axle group is more than a prescribed maximum allowable carrying weight assigned thereto. And if the current gross vehicle weight is equal to or less than the prescribed maximum allowable gross vehicle weight and the current center of gravity of the vehicle is in a compliance-manageable range which is established by the monitoring system and specific to the vehicle, the monitoring system recommends auxiliary axle usage that would result in compliance with the prescribed maximum and minimum allowable carrying weight assigned to each of the primary axles, any designated axle group and any utilized auxiliary axle.

Abstract: An axle load monitoring system for a load-transporting motor vehicle having one or more auxiliary axles wherein the monitoring system detects a noncompliant carrying-weight condition when the current gross vehicle weight is more than a prescribed maximum allowable gross vehicle weight assigned thereto and/or the current carrying weight of any primary axle and any designated axle group is more than a prescribed maximum allowable carrying weight assigned thereto. And if the current gross vehicle weight is equal to or less than the prescribed maximum allowable gross vehicle weight and the current center of gravity of the vehicle is in a compliance-manageable range which is established by the monitoring system and specific to the vehicle, the monitoring system recommends auxiliary axle usage that would result in compliance with the prescribed maximum and minimum allowable carrying weight assigned to each of the primary axles, any designated axle group and any utilized auxiliary axle.

Abstract: A trailing axle suspension system is disclosed comprising an auxiliary chassis, an axle suspension system suspending a trailing axle from the auxiliary chassis, and an auxiliary chassis system suspending the auxiliary chassis from the chassis of a motor vehicle. With the auxiliary chassis suspension system including a pair of suspension arms supporting the auxiliary chassis for pivotal movement and adapted to be pivotally connected to the motor vehicle chassis. And with the axle suspension system and auxiliary chassis suspension system adapted to cooperatively establish the auxiliary chassis and trailing axle in a stowed condition on the motor vehicle and establish the auxiliary chassis and trailing axle in a deployed condition at a location rearward of the motor vehicle chassis and then forcibly cause the auxiliary chassis to help support the motor vehicle chassis with the trailing axle.

Abstract: A trailing axle suspension system is disclosed comprising an auxiliary chassis, an axle suspension system suspending a trailing axle from the auxiliary chassis, and an auxiliary chassis system suspending the auxiliary chassis from the chassis of a motor vehicle. With the auxiliary chassis suspension system including a pair of suspension arms supporting the auxiliary chassis for pivotal movement and adapted to be pivotally connected to the motor vehicle chassis. And with the axle suspension system and auxiliary chassis suspension system adapted to cooperatively establish the auxiliary chassis and trailing axle in a stowed condition on the motor vehicle and establish the auxiliary chassis and trailing axle in a deployed condition at a location rearward of the motor vehicle chassis and then forcibly cause the auxiliary chassis to help support the motor vehicle chassis with the trailing axle.

Abstract: A dual trailing axle suspension system is disclosed wherein a pair of trailing axles are suspended from an auxiliary chassis with axle suspensions that provide spring action for isolating road-induced axle movement from the auxiliary chassis. And the auxiliary chassis is suspended from a chassis of a motor vehicle by an auxiliary chassis suspension adapted to deploy the auxiliary chassis from a stowed location on the motor vehicle to a deployed location at a substantial distance behind the motor vehicle chassis. And the auxiliary chassis suspension is adapted to cause the auxiliary chassis to help support the motor vehicle chassis to a variable degree by acting on the auxiliary chassis at a location between the two axles and in a manner determined by whether the spring action provided by the axle suspensions is set or variable.

Abstract: A trailer hitch for hitching a trailer to a motor vehicle is disclosed wherein the motor vehicle has a chassis supported by axles suspended from the motor vehicle chassis, the trailer has a chassis supported by one or more axles suspended from the trailer chassis, and the trailer hitch is adapted to hitch the trailer chassis to the motor vehicle chassis for movement therewith and also cause the trailer chassis to help support the motor vehicle chassis to a variable degree via the trailer hitch and in a manner determined by the spring action provided by the trailer axle suspension system(s). And wherein the trailer hitch is also adapted to allow the hitched trailer chassis to turn with respect to the motor vehicle chassis and prevent such turning and to stow a hitched trailer chassis on the motor vehicle.

Abstract: An automatic auxiliary axle control system is disclosed for a load-transporting motor vehicle having two or more primary axles and one or more auxiliary axles wherein the control system detects a noncompliant axle carrying weight condition when the weight of the vehicle acting on any one of the primary axles exceeds a prescribed maximum allowable axle carrying weight assigned to that axle and also when the weight acting on any group of the axles arranged consecutively exceeds a prescribed maximum allowable axle group carrying weight assigned to that axle group. And the control system on such detection effects auxiliary axle usage that results in no maximum allowable axle carrying weight and maximum allowable axle group carrying weight being exceeded provided the current gross vehicle weight does not exceed a prescribed maximum allowable gross vehicle weight determined by all of the axles and the current center of gravity of the vehicle is located within a certain compliance-manageable range.

Abstract: A dual trailing axle suspension system is disclosed wherein a pair of trailing axles are suspended from an auxiliary chassis with axle suspensions that provide spring action for isolating road-induced axle movement from the auxiliary chassis. And the auxiliary chassis is suspended from a chassis of a motor vehicle by an auxiliary chassis suspension adapted to deploy the auxiliary chassis from a stowed location on the motor vehicle to a deployed location at a substantial distance behind the motor vehicle chassis. And the auxiliary chassis suspension is adapted to cause the auxiliary chassis to help support the motor vehicle chassis to a variable degree by acting on the auxiliary chassis at a location between the two axles and in a manner determined by whether the spring action provided by the axle suspensions is set or variable.

Abstract: An axle load monitoring system is disclosed for a load-transporting motor vehicle having two or more primary axles and one or more auxiliary axles wherein the monitoring system detects a noncompliant axle carrying weight condition when the weight of the vehicle acting on any primary axle exceeds a prescribed maximum allowable axle carrying weight assigned to that axle and also when the weight acting on any group of the axles arranged consecutively exceeds a prescribed maximum allowable axle group carrying weight assigned to that axle group. And on such detection, the monitoring system recommends auxiliary axle usage that would result in no maximum allowable axle carrying weight and maximum allowable axle group carrying weight being exceeded provided the current gross vehicle weight does not exceed a prescribed maximum allowable gross vehicle weight determined by all of the axles and the current center of gravity of the vehicle is located within a certain compliance-manageable range.

Abstract: A trailer hitch for hitching a trailer to a motor vehicle is disclosed wherein the motor vehicle has a chassis supported by axles suspended from the motor vehicle chassis, the trailer has a chassis supported by one or more axles suspended from the trailer chassis, and the trailer hitch is adapted to hitch the trailer chassis to the motor vehicle chassis for movement therewith and also cause the trailer chassis to help support the motor vehicle chassis to a variable degree via the trailer hitch and in a manner determined by the spring action provided by the trailer axle suspension system(s). And wherein the trailer hitch is also adapted to allow the hitched trailer chassis to turn with respect to the motor vehicle chassis and prevent such turning and to stow a hitched trailer chassis on the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A dual trailing axle suspension system is disclosed wherein a pair of trailing axles are suspended from an auxiliary chassis with axle suspensions that provide spring action for isolating road-induced axle movement from the auxiliary chassis. And the auxiliary chassis is suspended from a chassis of a motor vehicle by an auxiliary chassis suspension adapted to deploy the auxiliary chassis from a stowed location on the motor vehicle to a deployed location at a substantial distance behind the motor vehicle chassis. And the auxiliary chassis suspension is adapted to cause the auxiliary chassis to help support the motor vehicle chassis to a variable degree by acting on the auxiliary chassis at a location between the two axles and in a manner determined by whether the spring action provided by the axle suspensions is set or variable.

Abstract: A suspension system is disclosed that suspends a trailing axle with steerable wheels from the body of a motor vehicle with a carriage and a pair of actuators. The axle is directly suspended from the carriage and the actuators operate to establish the carriage and thereby the axle in a stowed condition on the vehicle body and in an active condition where the axle trails the vehicle at a substantial distance and is forced by the actuators to help support the vehicle.

Abstract: A suspension system is disclosed that suspends a trailing axle with steerable wheels from the tailgate of a motor vehicle with the use of a carriage, a pair of actuators and gas springs. The carriage is pivotally connected to the tailgate, the axle is directly suspended from the carriage and the actuators are pivotally connected to the carriage and tailgate and adapted to establish the carriage and thereby the axle in a stowed condition on the tailgate and in an active condition where the axle trails the vehicle at a substantial distance and the actuators are connected to the tailgate so as to contribute in an enhanced manner to the roll stability of the vehicle.

Abstract: An auxiliary axle suspension system for a motor vehicle is disclosed wherein a pair of hydraulically operated actuators position and force the auxiliary axle to help support the vehicle. And gas springs are provided that allow the actuators to extend and retract over a wide range of hydraulic operating pressure and thereby allow the auxiliary axle to adjust to a wide range of road grade differences between the auxiliary axle wheels and the wheels of the axles that normally support the vehicle without incurring significant gas and hydraulic pressure fluctuation and while isolating shock forces on the auxiliary axle wheels from the vehicle.