Safety means for controlling an air powered actuator for retracting the locking pins of a slider

• US 5,531,467 A
• Filed: 08/28/1995
• Issued: 07/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schueman Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Schueman Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Schueman, Gerald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Application Number:
  US08/519,988
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 280/149.2, 280/407.1, 280/407, 280/405.1, 280/428, 280/432, 280/80.1, 180/24.02, 180/209, 180/24.01, 180/906
• US Class Current: 280/149.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 5/005 the wheels being fixed on a non-pivotal structure, e.g. a sliding mount
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/068 having devices to equalise or modify the load between the fifth wheel and the rear wheels adjustable couping saddles per se B62D53/0807; load transfer devices to permit coupling or uncoupling B62D53/0857; anti jack-knifing devices B62D53/0871

Abstract

A control circuit is provided for controlling the operation of the solenoid of an air powered actuator which is utilized for retracting the locking pins of a slider used for the adjustment of the suspension of a vehicle longitudinally with respect to the body of the vehicle. The control circuit is operatively connected to the trailer marker light circuit, the service brake light circuit and must be actuated a predetermined number of times within a predetermined length of time, after the service brake light circuit has been actuated for a predetermined length of time, to allow the air powered actuator to be actuated.

Claims

1. In combination:

a trailer including a body having a rearward end, a forward end, and a suspension system including a service air brake system;

hitch means at the forward end of said trailer;

said trailer including a service brake light circuit and a marker light circuit;

said trailer including a slider for the adjustment of said suspension system with respect to the body of said trailer;

a truck for connection to said hitch means on said trailer;

said truck including means supplying air under pressure to said service air brake system;

said truck including a first means for actuating said service brake light circuit and a second means for actuating said marker light circuit;

said slider comprising a pair of side rails adapted to be secured to the left and right sides of the body in a fixed position extending longitudinally of the body, each of said side rails having a plurality of horizontally spaced openings formed therein, a frame adapted to carry the suspension comprising left and right slide members slidable longitudinally of the body on the side rails, at least one locking pin operatively mounted on each of said slide members for longitudinal movement therewith relative to said side rails, said locking pins being retractable for permitting adjustment of the frame to a selected position of adjustment and extensible into one of said openings in said side rails for locking the frame in a selected position of adjustment, air power actuator means for retracting said locking pins including linkage interconnecting said pins for conjoint movement of the pins between extended and retracted positions;

an electrical solenoid operatively connected to said air powered actuator means controlling the operation of said air powered actuator means;

and a control circuit operatively connected to said marker light circuit, said service brake light circuit and said solenoid whereby said first means must be actuated for a predetermined length of time and then said second means must be actuated a predetermined number of times within another predetermined length of time before said solenoid will actuate said air powered actuator means to retract said locking pins.

2. In combination:

a trailer including a body having a rearward end, a forward end, and a suspension system including a service air brake system;

hitch means at the forward end of said trailer;

said trailer including a service brake light circuit and a marker light circuit;

said trailer including a slider for the adjustment of said suspension system with respect to the body of said trailer;

a truck for connection to said hitch means on said trailer;

said truck including means for supplying air under pressure to said service air brake system;

said truck including a first means for actuating said service brake light circuit and a second means for actuating said marker light circuit;

said slider comprising a pair of side rails adapted to be secured to the left and right sides of the body in a fixed position extending longitudinally of the body, each of said side rails having a plurality of horizontally spaced openings formed therein, a frame adapted to carry the suspension comprising left and right slide members slidable longitudinally of the body on the side rails, at least one locking pin operatively mounted on each of said slide members for longitudinal movement therewith relative to said side rails, said locking pins being retractable for permitting adjustment of the frame to a selected position of adjustment and extensible into one of said openings in said side rails for locking the frame in a selected position of adjustment, air powered actuator means for retracting said locking pins including linkage interconnecting said pins for conjoint movement of the pins between extended and retracted positions;

an electrical solenoid operatively connected to said air powered actuator means for controlling the operation of said air powered actuator means;

said trailer having a signal light thereon which is visible to the truck operator and which is illuminated when said locking pins have been retracted;

and a control circuit operatively connected to said service brake light circuit, said marker light circuit, said signal light and said solenoid whereby said first means must be actuated for a predetermined length of time and said second means then must be actuated a predetermined number of times within another predetermined length of time before said solenoid will actuate said air powered actuator means to retract said locking pins.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said signal light is operatively connected to said control circuit so that said signal light will be sequentially illuminated, when said first means has been actuated for said predetermined length of time and said second means has been actuated said predetermined number of times in said other predetermined length of time, to indicate that an electrical signal has been received by said control circuit.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said signal light is continually illuminated, after having been sequentially illuminated, when said locking pins have been retracted.

5. In combination:

a trailer including a body having a rearward end, a forward end, and a suspension system including a service air brake system, a service brake light circuit, and a marker light circuit;

connection means at the forward end of said trailer;

a truck for connection to said connection means on said trailer;

said truck including means for supplying air under pressure to said service air brake system;

said truck including a first means for actuating said service brake light circuit and a second means for actuating said marker light circuit;

said slider comprising a pair of side rails adapted to be secured to the left and right sides of the body in a fixed position extending longitudinally of the body, each of said side rails having a plurality of horizontally spaced openings formed therein, a frame adapted to carry the suspension system comprising left and right slide members slidable longitudinally of the body on the side rails, at least one locking pin operatively mounted on each of said slide members for longitudinal movement therewith relative to said side rails, said locking pins being retractable for permitting adjustment of the frame to a selected position of adjustment and extensible into one of said openings in said side rails for locking the frame in a selected position of adjustment, air powered actuator means for retracting said locking pins including linkage interconnecting said pins for conjoint movement of the pins between extended and retracted positions;

an electrical solenoid operatively connected to said air powered actuator means for controlling the operation of said air powered actuator means;

said trailer having a signal light thereon which is visible to the truck operator and which is illuminated when said locking pins have been retracted;

and a solenoid control circuit operatively connected to said service brake light circuit, said marker light circuit, said signal light, and said solenoid whereby said first means must be actuated for a predetermined length of time and then must be actuated a predetermined number of times within another predetermined length of time before said solenoid will actuate said air powered actuator means to retract said locking pins.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said second means must be actuated said predetermined number of times within another predetermined length of time after said first means has actuated said service brake light circuit.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said predetermined number of times equals four and said predetermined length of time equals seven seconds.

8. In combination:

a trailer including a body having a rearward end, a forward end, and a suspension system;

hitch means at the forward end of said trailer;

said trailer including a service brake light circuit and a marker light circuit;

said trailer including a slider for the adjustment of said suspension system with respect to the body of said trailer;

a truck for connection to said hitch means on said trailer;

said truck including a first means for actuating said service brake light circuit and a second means for actuating said marker light circuit;

said slider comprising a pair of side rails adapted to be secured to the left and right sides of the body in a fixed position extending longitudinally of the body, each of said side rails having a plurality of horizontally spaced openings formed therein, a frame adapted to carry the suspension system comprising left and right slide members slidable longitudinally of the body on the side rails, at least one locking pin operatively mounted on each of said slide members for longitudinal movement therewith relative to said side rails, said locking pins being retractable for permitting adjustment of the frame to a selected position of adjustment and extensible into one of said openings in said side rails for locking the frame in a selected position of adjustment, air powered actuator means for retracting said locking pins including linkage interconnecting said pins for conjoint movement of the pins between extended and retracted positions;

an electrically operated air valve connected to said air powered actuator means for controlling the operation of said air powered actuator means;

and a control circuit operatively connected to said marker light circuit and said service brake light circuit whereby after said first means has been actuated for a predetermined length of time, one of said first and second means must be actuated a predetermined number of times within another predetermined length of time before said air valve will actuate said air powered actuator means to retract said locking pins.