Compact multipurpose trailer tug

• US 6,758,291 B1
• Filed: 07/05/2002
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard Karl Koch
• Original Assignee: Richard Karl Koch
• Inventors: Koch, Richard Karl
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US10/190,225
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 180/11, 180/12, 180/15, 180/16, 180/19.1, 180/19.2, 180/19.3, 180/218
• US Class Current: 180/11
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/246 for actuating the hitch by powered means
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/66 Props
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 2001/006 comprising a handle
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 51/04 the driver walking
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/0864 Dollies for fifth wheel coupling
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 59/02 driven from external propulsion unit

Abstract

A light portable tug including reversible wheels, a direct current motor device for driving the wheels and a drive train between such motor and wheels and including a control device for selectively rotating such wheels for controlling the direction of such Tug.

Claims

1. A light weight battery powered steerable tug apparatus for carrying a cantilevered tongue of a towable vehicle and comprising:

a wheel assembly having a transverse axis and a pair of laterally spaced apart wheels;

a chassis suspended from said wheel assembly;

a coupling post socket mounted centrally in the vertical plane of said axis on said chassis for supporting said tongue;

at least one battery on said chassis;

a charger mounted on said chassis for charging said battery;

at least one direct current motor device on said chassis;

a drive train coupling said motor device to said wheel assembly; and

a control device coupled with said drive train for selectively controlling rotation of said wheels whereby said tug may be positioned under said tongue, the weight of said tongue transferred to said post socket, and said control device actuated to drive said motor and selectively drive one or both of said wheels to steer said tongue about.

2. The lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a post for selective receipt in said post socket.

3. The lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

clutches interposed between said drive train and said wheels; and

selectively disengageable for free-wheeling of said wheels.

4. The lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a charger mounted on said chassis for charging said battery.

5. The lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said control device includes a joystick for controlling rotation of said wheels.

6. The lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a pivot pin mounted on said chassis and projecting perpendicular to the axis of said wheels; and

said post socket mounted for rotation on said pivot pin.

7. A lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said motor device includes at least one electric motor operable at between 2,700-20,000 RPM; and

said drive train includes a speed reduction device to reduce the speed of rotation of said wheels to substantially no more than 0.6 miles per hour for said wheels.

8. The lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said wheel assembly includes a pair of spindles mounted on said wheels and that includes;

a pair of clutch sprockets mounted in free-wheeling relationship on the respective said spindles adjacent to respective said wheels; and

clutch devices for selectively engaging said sprockets with said wheels.

9. The lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a coupling assembly for mounting on said tongue and including a sleeve; and

a post for selective receipt through said sleeve and into said post socket.

10. The lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a post for connection with said tongue and adapted to be received in said socket to cooperate in maintaining said tug erect.

11. A lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus set forth in claim 1 for use with a trailer having said tongue disposed at a predetermined height and wherein:

said chassis is configured to be received under said tongue; and

said control device includes electronic controls for selectively rotating said wheels in the same or opposite directions independent of a handle.

12. The lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus set forth in claim 1 that includes:

lifting handles on said chassis.

13. The lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said control device is operative to selectively rotate said wheels in the same or opposite directions.

14. The lightweight battery powered steerable tug as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said control device includes a radio transmitter and receiver.

15. A lightweight battery powerable steerable tug apparatus as set forth in claim 1 for use with a vehicle having said tongue at a predetermined height and including:

a coupling for mounting on said tongue and including a through sleeve having a bottom end disposed, when said tongue at said predetermined height, at an elevation to clear the top end of said tongue post socket; and

a coupling post slidably received through said sleeve into said socket.

16. A lightweight battery powerable steerable tug apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said wheel assembly includes no more than two wheels; and

said chassis is configured to normally ride in an upright position from said wheel assembly.

17. A lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said controlled device is operative to control the direction of rotation of said wheel for manuvering of said tug.

18. A lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said drive train includes a decoupling device for decoupling said wheel assembly to free said wheels for free wheeling thereof; and

an elongated handle device having a rigid stem coupled on one end with the chassis and formed on the other end with a hand grasp.

19. A lightweight battery powerable steerable tug apparatus as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a jack post in the socket for selective extension thereof to selectively raise the said tongue; and

a hydraulic pump interposed between the jack post and socket.

20. The tug apparatus of claim 1 that includes:

a carrier cantileverly mounted on a pair of wheels and formed at the forward extremity with said tongue projecting forwardly and mounting a vertically oriented mounting sleeve;

a post for fitting through said mounting sleeve to engage said socket on the lower extremities to carry said tongue from said socket.

21. The tug apparatus of claim 20 wherein:

said carrier includes a seat mounted thereon for seating of a passenger; and

said control means includes a control panel for manipulation by an operating on sitting on said seat.

22. The tug apparatus of claim 20 wherein:

said carrier includes a wagon rack mounted thereon.

23. The tug apparatus of claim 20 wherein:

said drive chain is operative in response to selective electrical signals to drive the wheels in forward, reverse or opposite directions; and

the control further includes a control panel having manually actuable control elements operable to communicate said electrical signals and said control.

24. A compact trailer tug for carrying the cantilevered tongue of a trailer and comprising:

a wheel assembly including laterally spaced wheels;

a chassis mounted on said wheels;

a post socket mounted on said chassis and arranged to, when weight is applied thereto, maintain said chassis in an upright position carried on said wheels;

a gimbal interposed between said chassis and said post socket;

a drive chain coupled on one end with said wheels and including on the opposite end a coupling for connection with a motor;

a support post for mounting in said socket means; and

control means coupled with said drive train for selectively controlling rotation of said wheels.

25. A light weight battery powered steerable tug for carrying a cantilevered tongue of a towable vehicle and comprising:

a wheel assembly having a transverse axis and a pair of laterally spaced apart wheels;

a chassis suspended from said wheel assembly;

a pivot pin mounted on said chassis and projecting perpendicular to the axis of said wheels;

a coupling post socket mounted centrally in the vertical plane of said axis on said pivot pin for supporting said tongue;

at least one battery on said chassis;

at least one direct current motor device on said chassis;

a drive train coupling said motor device to said wheel assembly; and

a control device coupled with said drive train for selectively controlling rotation of said wheels whereby said tug may be positioned under said tongue, the weight of said tongue transferred to said post socket, and said control device actuated to drive said motor to selectively drive one or both of said wheels to steer said tongue about.

26. The lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus set forth in claim 25 wherein:

said sprockets and wheels are formed with alignable bores; and

such clutch devices include pins for selective receipt in the respective said bores.

27. The lightweight battery powered steerable tug apparatus set forth in claim 26 wherein:

said pins are formed with respective heads and include D-rings constructed of spring steel; and

mounted to the respective said heads and constructed such that release thereof tends to shift said D-rings to their respective retracted positions.

28. A light weight battery powered steerable tug for carrying a cantilevered tongue of a towable vehicle and comprising:

a wheel assembly having a transverse axis;

a pair of laterally spaced apart wheels;

a chassis suspended from said wheel assembly;

a tongue post socket mounted centrally in the vertical plane of said axis on said chassis for supporting said tongue;

at least one battery on said chassis;

at least one direct current motor device on said chassis;

a drive train coupling said motor device to said wheel assembly; and

a control device coupled with said drive train for selectively controlling rotation of said wheels whereby said tug may be positioned under said tongue, the weight of said tongue transferred to said post socket, and said control device actuated to drive said motor and selectively drive one or both of said wheels to steer said tongue about;

said wheel assembly includes a pair of spindles mounted on said wheels and that includes;

a pair of clutch sprockets mounted in free-wheeling relationship on the respective said spindles adjacent to respective said wheels; and

clutch devices for selectively engaging said sprockets with said wheels.

29. A light weight battery powered steerable tug for carrying a cantilevered tongue of a towable vehicle and comprising:

a wheel assembly having a transverse axis and a pair of laterally spaced apart wheels;

a chassis suspended from said wheel assembly;

a tongue post socket mounted centrally in the vertical plane of said axis on said chassis for supporting said tongue;

at least one battery on said chassis;

at least one direct current motor device on said chassis and connected with said battery;

a drive train coupling said motor device to said wheel assembly; and

a control device including a radio receiver and coupled with said drive train for selectively controlling rotation of said wheels whereby said tug may be positioned under said tongue, the weight of said tongue transferred to said post socket, and said control device actuated to drive said motor and selectively drive one or both of said wheels to steer said tongue about.

30. A light weight battery powered steerable tug for carrying a cantilevered tongue of a towable vehicle and comprising:

a wheel assembly having a transverse axis and a pair of laterally spaced apart wheels;

a chassis suspended from said wheel assembly;

a tongue post socket mounted centrally in the vertical plane of said axis on said chassis for supporting said tongue;

a gimbal interposed between said chassis and said post socket;

at least one battery on said chassis;

at least one direct current motor device on said chassis connected with said battery;

a drive train coupling said motor device to said wheel assembly; and

a control device coupled with said drive train for selectively controlling rotation of said wheels whereby said tug may be positioned under said tongue, the weight of said tongue transferred to said post socket, and said control device actuated to drive said motor and selectively drive one or both of said wheels to steer said tongue about.

31. A light weight steerable tug apparatus for selectively carrying a cantilevered tongue of a towable vehicle supported at a selected height by an adjustable tongue jack, said tug apparatus comprising:

a coupling device for mounting on said tongue and including an upright sleeve having an open bottom end disposed, when mounted on said tongue and said tongue is at said selected height, at a predetermined height above the ground;

a tug device including a wheel assembly having a transverse axis and a pair of laterally spaced apart wheels, said tug device including;

a chassis suspended from said wheel assembly;

an upwardly opening post socket mounted on said chassis for supporting said tongue and having a top end disposed at a height less than said predetermined height and configured to be selectively aligned under said sleeve;

a post slidably received in said sleeve and socket;

a lock for locking said post in position relative to said sleeve;

at least one battery on said chassis;

at least one direct current motor device on said chassis and connected to said motor;

a drive train coupling said motor device to said wheel assembly; and

a control device coupled with said drive train for selectively controlling rotation of said wheels whereby said tug device may be positioned with said socket and said post inserted in said sleeve and nested on its bottom end in said socket, said lock activated to lock said post relative to said sleeve and said jack activated to said tongue and transfer the weight of said tongue to said post socket, and said control device actuated to drive said motor and selectively drive one or both of said wheels to steer said tongue about.

32. The light weight steerable tug apparatus of claim 31 wherein:

said sleeve is formed with a through passage for receipt of said post; and

said sleeve and post include bores alignable for selective receipt of a pin to lock said post relative to said sleeve.