Load-transferring trailer assembly attachable to a load-bearing vehicle

• US 8,177,243 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: STARCON International, Inc. (The Cianbro Cos.)
• Original Assignee: STARCON International, Inc. (The Cianbro Cos.)
• Inventors: Boisture, Thomas B., Lefler, Howard
• Primary Examiner(s): Ark, Darren W
• Application Number:
  US10/194,812
• Publication Number:
  US 20040007840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,595 Days
• Field of Search: 280/86.5, 280/81.6
• US Class Current: 280/86.5
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/12 with variable number of ground engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels for manoeuvring purposes only B60S

Abstract

A trailerable load-transferring assembly is removably attachable to the rear portion of a load-bearing vehicle. The load-transferring assembly includes a pivot connection, an auxiliary axle, an elongate abutment member that extends between a free end and an abutment end, and an actuator assembly disposed between the free end of the abutment member and the auxiliary axle. When the load-transferring assembly is connected to the vehicle by the pivot connection, the actuator assembly is actuated such that it applies a lifting force on the free end relative to the auxiliary axle. The lifting force causes the abutment member to pivot about the pivot connection, bringing the abutment end of the abutment member into an abutting engagement with an abutment surface attached to the frame of the load-bearing vehicle. The lifting force and abutting engagement prevents transverse movement of the load-transferring assembly relative to the vehicle and transfers a portion of the load from the vehicle'"'"'s rear axles to the auxiliary axle.

Claims

1. A load-transferring assembly connectable to a vehicle having a front vehicle axle, a rear vehicle axle, a vehicle abutment member and an engagement member, said engagement member disposed proximate a rear portion of the vehicle, the load-transferring assembly comprising:

an elongate abutment member comprising an abutment end and a free end, the abutment end configured to contact the vehicle abutment member;

an auxiliary wheel axle;

an actuator assembly disposed between the free end of the elongate abutment member and the auxiliary wheel axle;

at least one arm having first and second ends, said at least one arm being attached to the auxiliary wheel axle at said first end; and

a pivot connection assembly connected to the elongate abutment member, and pivotally connected to said at least one arm proximate said second end, and detachably engageable to the engagement member of the vehicle;

wherein when the pivot connection assembly is connected to the engagement member of the vehicle, the elongate member is pivotally moveable such that the abutment end is moveable from a non-abutting relation to an abutting relation with the vehicle abutment member, and when the abutment end is in said abutting relation with the vehicle abutment member, transverse movement of the load-transferring assembly relative to the vehicle is substantially restricted, and

when the actuator assembly is actuated such that a lifting force is applied to the free end of the elongate abutment member, a portion of a load on the rear vehicle axle is transferred to the auxiliary wheel axle.

2. The load-transferring assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the actuator assembly comprises a pneumatic device.

3. The load-transferring assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the pneumatic device is an air spring.

4. The load-transferring assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the pivot connection assembly comprises a pivot connection configured to pivotally attach the load-transferring assembly to the engagement member.

5. The load-transferring assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the auxiliary wheel axle is configured as a self-steering axle.

6. The load-transferring assembly as recited in claim 5, comprising a locking member configured to lock the self-steering axle in a fixed steering position.

7. The load-transferring assembly as recited in claim 6, wherein the locking member is in communication with the actuator assembly, such that when the locking member locks the self-steering axle at least a portion of the load transferred to the auxiliary wheel axle is removed.

8. The load-transferring assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein the pivot connection assembly comprises a transverse bar, and a plurality of flanges connected to said transverse bar, the flanges each having an aperture.

9. A load-transferring trailing assembly connectable to a load-bearing vehicle having a front vehicle wheel axle and a rear vehicle wheel axle, a vehicle abutment member and an engagement member, the assembly comprising:

a pivotable elongate member extending between a static connection end and a free end, the static connection end configured to form a static connection with the vehicle abutment member such that transverse movement of the load-transferring trailing assembly relative to the vehicle is substantially inhibited, the elongate member having a support member;

a wheel axle assembly;

at least one arm having first and second ends, said at least one arm being attached to the wheel axle assembly at said first end;

a pivot connection assembly connected to said support member, and pivotally connected to said at least one arm proximate to the second end, and detachably engageable to the engagement member; and

a lifting member arranged between the free end of the elongate member and the wheel axle assembly, the lifting member configured to apply a lifting force to the free end of the elongate member such that a portion of a load on the rear vehicle axle is transferred to the wheel axle assembly,

wherein when the pivot connection assembly is connected to the engagement member of the vehicle, the elongate member is pivotally moveable such that the static connection end is moveable from a non-static position to said static connection with the vehicle abutment member.

10. The load-transferring trailing assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the pivot connection assembly is configured to pivotally engage with the engagement member.

11. The load-transferring trailing assembly as recited in claim 10, wherein actuation of the lifting member pivots the elongate member about a horizontal axis, thereby causing the elongate member to form the static connection with the vehicle.

12. The load-transferring trailing assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the wheel axle assembly comprises a self-steering axle.

13. The load-transferring trailing assembly as recited in claim 12, wherein the wheel axle assembly comprises a locking member configured to lock the self-steering axle in a fixed steering position.

14. The load-transferring trailing assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein the locking member is in communication with the lifting member such that at least a portion of the load transferred to the wheel axle assembly is removed when the self-steering axle is locked in the fixed steering position.

15. The load-transferring trailing assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the lifting member is pneumatically actuated.

16. The load-transferring trailing assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the static connection is an abutment.

17. The load-transferring trailing assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein the pivot connection assembly comprises a transverse bar, and a plurality of flanges connected to said transverse bar, the flanges each having an aperture.

18. A combination, comprising:

a load-bearing vehicle having a front wheel axle, a rear wheel axle, a vehicle abutment member, and an engagement member; and

a load-transferring trailing assembly connected to the vehicle abutment member and the engagement member of the load-bearing vehicle, the load-transferring assembly comprising;

a pivotable elongate member extending between a static connection end and a free end, the static connection end configured to form a static connection with the load-bearing vehicle such that transverse movement of the load-transferring trailing assembly relative to the load-bearing vehicle is substantially inhibited, the elongate member having a support member;

a auxiliary wheel axle;

at least one arm having first and second ends, said at least one arm being attached to the auxiliary wheel axle at said first end;

a pivot connection assembly connected to the support member, and pivotally connected to said at least one arm proximate to the second end, and detachably engageable to the engagement member of said vehicle, the elongate member pivotally moveable such that the static connection end is moveable from a non-static position to said static connection; and

an actuator assembly disposed between the free end of the elongate member and the auxiliary wheel axle, the actuator assembly configured to apply a lifting force to the free end such that a portion of a load on the rear vehicle axle is transferred to the auxiliary wheel axle.

19. The combination as recited in claim 18, wherein the static connection is an abutment.

20. The combination as recited in claim 18, wherein the pivot connection assembly comprises a pivot member to pivotally engage the load-transferring trailing assembly with the engagement member of the load-bearing vehicle.

21. The combination as recited in claim 18, wherein the actuator assembly is pneumatically actuated.

22. The combination as recited in claim 18, wherein the auxiliary wheel axle is configured as a self-steering axle.

23. The combination as recited in claim 22, wherein the load-transferring trailing assembly comprises a locking device configured to lock the self-steering axle in a fixed steering position.

24. The combination as recited in claim 23, wherein the locking device is in communication with the actuator assembly, such that a portion of the load transferred to the auxiliary wheel axle is removed when the self-steering axle is locked.

25. The combination as recited in claim 18, wherein the pivot connection assembly comprises a transverse bar, and a plurality of flanges connected to said transverse bar, the flanges each having an aperture.