Dolly stabilizer
First Claim
1. A device that prevents a train from fishtailing said device comprising:
- a stabilizer plate mounted onto a rear end of a trailer frame comprising a vertical dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening for accepting a dolly tongue stabilizer pin, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening being formed on a first face of the stabilizer plate, said stabilizer plate further including a second face that includes a chamber that houses a spring-biased piston which includes a piston rod end which extends when actuated to force alignment of a dolly with the trailer frame;
the dolly tongue stabilizer pin arranged within the dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening and having a shank, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin having a flared cavity into which said piston rod end is driven when said device is activated, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin having an upper bearing and a lower bearing arranged on the shank to allow the dolly tongue stabilizer pin to twist within the dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening when the piston rod end is retracted, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin having an upper end that comprises a yoke and a pair of aligned openings which receive a trailer tongue coupler, a lower end of said shank having threads which receive a locknut to secure the dolly tongue stabilizer pin within the dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening; and
,a source of pressurized air which provides air into said piston when fishtailing occurs between the dolly and trailer frame.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dolly stabilizer is mounted onto a rear end of a trailer and has a stabilizer plate, a stabilizer pin, and a control box. The stabilizer plate is mounted to a chassis having at least one pair wheels. The stabilizer plate may comprise a plurality of mounting holes. It includes a dolly tongue stabilizer pin hole that receives the stabilizer pin. The stabilizer plate includes an internal piston that is selectively driven into a recess or opening in the stabilizer pin to straighten a position of a subsequent trailer or dolly relative to a preceding one. The control box includes a pneumatic input for receiving pressurized air and a pneumatic output to brakes on the dolly. A speed sensor may be coupled to the control box for allowing speed control of the dolly wheels. Electrical connections accept power for operating lights and other electrical devices on the dolly.
14 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A device that prevents a train from fishtailing said device comprising:
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a stabilizer plate mounted onto a rear end of a trailer frame comprising a vertical dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening for accepting a dolly tongue stabilizer pin, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening being formed on a first face of the stabilizer plate, said stabilizer plate further including a second face that includes a chamber that houses a spring-biased piston which includes a piston rod end which extends when actuated to force alignment of a dolly with the trailer frame; the dolly tongue stabilizer pin arranged within the dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening and having a shank, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin having a flared cavity into which said piston rod end is driven when said device is activated, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin having an upper bearing and a lower bearing arranged on the shank to allow the dolly tongue stabilizer pin to twist within the dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening when the piston rod end is retracted, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin having an upper end that comprises a yoke and a pair of aligned openings which receive a trailer tongue coupler, a lower end of said shank having threads which receive a locknut to secure the dolly tongue stabilizer pin within the dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening; and
,a source of pressurized air which provides air into said piston when fishtailing occurs between the dolly and trailer frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A device that prevents a train from fishtailing said device comprising:
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a stabilizer plate mounted onto a rear end of a trailer frame comprising a vertical dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening for accepting a dolly tongue stabilizer pin, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening being formed on a first face of the stabilizer plate, said stabilizer plate further including a second face that includes a chamber that houses a piston which includes a piston rod end which extends when actuated to force alignment of a dolly with the trailer frame; the dolly tongue stabilizer pin arranged within the dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening and having a shank, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin having a flared cavity into which said piston rod end is driven when said device is activated, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin having an upper bearing and a lower bearing arranged on the shank to allow the dolly tongue stabilizer pin to twist within the dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening when the piston rod end is retracted, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin having an upper end that comprises a yoke and a pair of aligned openings which receive a trailer tongue coupler, a lower end of said shank having threads which receive a locknut to secure the dolly tongue stabilizer pin within the dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening; a source of pressurized air which provides air into said piston when fishtailing occurs between the dolly and trailer frame; a pneumatic control box that comprises an air inlet receiving pressurized air from a pressurized air source, an air outlet that directs pressurized air to the piston, pins which accept voltage for operating the pneumatic control box, and a conductor extending to a speed sensor which detects speed of dolly wheels; and
,a dolly tongue coupler arranged between the yoke of the dolly tongue stabilizer pin and a dolly tongue; wherein an upper region of said dolly tongue stabilizer pin includes a rounded back end and a square front end; wherein said dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening comprises a cylindrical piece of metal that is welded onto the stabilizer plate; wherein the stabilizer plate is 9.5″
wide by 11″
high;wherein the dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening includes a circular opening having a diameter of substantially 2.5″
with a vertical rise of 6″ and
is arranged approximately 2.5″
from opposite sides of the stabilizer plate.
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9. A device that prevents a train from fishtailing said device comprising:
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a stabilizer plate mounted onto a rear end of a trailer frame comprising a vertical dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening for accepting a dolly tongue stabilizer pin, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening being formed on a first face of the stabilizer plate; a dolly tongue stabilizer pin arranged within the dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening and having a shank, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin having a flared cavity, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin having an upper bearing and a lower bearing arranged on the shank to allow the dolly tongue stabilizer pin to twist within the dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening, said dolly tongue stabilizer pin having an upper end that comprises a yoke and a pair of aligned openings which receive a trailer tongue coupler, a lower end of said shank having threads which receive a locknut to secure the dolly tongue stabilizer pin within the dolly tongue stabilizer pin opening; a piston that comprises a piston rod end that extends into said flared cavity when the device is activated and retracted when the device is inactive; a source of pressurized air which provides air into piston when fishtailing occurs between the dolly and trailer frame; a pneumatic control box that comprises an air inlet receiving pressurized air from the source of pressurized air, an air outlet that directs pressurized air to the piston, pins which accept voltage for operating the pneumatic control box, and a conductor extending to a speed sensor which detects speed of dolly wheels; and
,a dolly tongue coupler arranged between the yoke of the dolly tongue stabilizer pin and a dolly tongue.
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Specification