STEERING SYSTEM FOR TRAILERS
First Claim
1. A trailer having a steerable axle for use with a tractor having a fifth wheel comprising;
- a longitudinally elongated frame including a king pin at its forward end, an axle for said frame disposed rearwardly of said king pin, first means mounting said axle for pivotal movement relative to said frame about a vertical axis, an arm extending transversely of said frame and disposed forwardly of said axle and rearwardly of said king pin and including second means mounting said arm for pivotal movement relative to said frame about a vertical and a transversely extending axis, a pair of longitudinally extending connecting elements with the forward ends thereof being connected to said arm on transversely opposed sides of said second means and the rearward ends thereof being connected to said axle on transversely opposed sides of said first means, each of said connections between said elements and said arm and axle being pivotal about a vertically extending axis, a first force transferring member having a longitudinal axis and, when said axle is disposed transversely of said frame, said longitudinal axis of said first member being aligned with the longitudinal axis of said frame, said first member having a longitudinally extending opening therein bounded by at least opposed lateral sides, a second force transferring member having a longitudinal axis aligned with said first member and disposed in the opening of said first member for relative longitudinal movement and engageable with the laterally opposed sides thereof, one of said force transferring members being connected to said transverse arm for unitary pivotal movement therewith about said vertical axis with the other of said force transferring members extending forwardly therefrom, a steering member adapted for connection to and unitary rotation with the fiFth wheel of a tractor which will pull the trailer, and third means connecting said steering member to the forward end of the other of said force transferring members for pivotal movement about a vertically extending axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved steering system for use in a tractor-trailer combination wherein spaced parallel longitudinally extending links interconnect a first transversely extending control arm pivotally connected to the front of the trailer to a second transversely extending control arm cooperating with a steerable tandem axle assembly supporting the rear of the trailer with a limiting connection provided between the fifth wheel of the tractor and the first transversely extending control arm to effect initial simultaneous turning of the tractor and trailer axle up to a predetermined degree of relative movement between the tractor and trailer and subsequently allowing the tractor to turn in relation to the trailer beyond this point without effecting greater steering movement of the trailer axle. The limiting connection comprises a pair of force transferring members in the form of a housing secured to the underside of the first transversely extending control arm and a rod telescopically received in the housing with the latter being operatively connected to an actuating or steering member engageable in the Vslot of the fifth wheel so as to be unitarily rotatable therewith.
16 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A trailer having a steerable axle for use with a tractor having a fifth wheel comprising;
- a longitudinally elongated frame including a king pin at its forward end, an axle for said frame disposed rearwardly of said king pin, first means mounting said axle for pivotal movement relative to said frame about a vertical axis, an arm extending transversely of said frame and disposed forwardly of said axle and rearwardly of said king pin and including second means mounting said arm for pivotal movement relative to said frame about a vertical and a transversely extending axis, a pair of longitudinally extending connecting elements with the forward ends thereof being connected to said arm on transversely opposed sides of said second means and the rearward ends thereof being connected to said axle on transversely opposed sides of said first means, each of said connections between said elements and said arm and axle being pivotal about a vertically extending axis, a first force transferring member having a longitudinal axis and, when said axle is disposed transversely of said frame, said longitudinal axis of said first member being aligned with the longitudinal axis of said frame, said first member having a longitudinally extending opening therein bounded by at least opposed lateral sides, a second force transferring member having a longitudinal axis aligned with said first member and disposed in the opening of said first member for relative longitudinal movement and engageable with the laterally opposed sides thereof, one of said force transferring members being connected to said transverse arm for unitary pivotal movement therewith about said vertical axis with the other of said force transferring members extending forwardly therefrom, a steering member adapted for connection to and unitary rotation with the fiFth wheel of a tractor which will pull the trailer, and third means connecting said steering member to the forward end of the other of said force transferring members for pivotal movement about a vertically extending axis.
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2. A trailer according to claim 1, wherein said connecting elements are laterally spaced and substantially parallel.
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3. A trailer according to claim 1, wherein said steering member has a vertical extending opening therein for pivotally receiving said king pin.
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4. A trailer according to claim 3, wherein said steering member has a vertical extending opening therein for pivotally receiving said king pin.
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5. A trailer according to claim 1, wherein said first force transferring member is connected to said transverse arm, and said second force transferring member is the member connected to said steering member by said third means.
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6. A trailer according to claim 5, wherein said first force transferring member has an opening extending axially therethrough and said second force transferring member is an elongated rod telescopically received in said opening.
Specification