Vehicle transportation module

• US 6,893,205 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Issued: 05/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Trailer Bridge Incorporated (Seacor Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Trailer Bridge Incorporated (Seacor Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shahani, Prakash W., Heim, Ralph W., Morley, J. Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDON, STEPHEN T
• Application Number:
  US09/885,663
• Publication Number:
  US 20020009344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 410/4, 410/24, 410/26, 414/809, 414/812, 414/810, 414/332, 414/498, 414/537, 414/475, 414/476, 414/480, 414/482, 414/484
• US Class Current: 414/812
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/6867 automobiles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/121 ISO containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/127 open-sided container, i.e. having substantially the whole side free to provide access, with or without closures B65D88/129, B65D90/008 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/542 Ramps forming part of the container ramps per se B65G69/28; for ambulances A61G3/061; for vehicles in general B60P1/43

Abstract

A method for transporting vehicles including the steps of providing a module shaped and sized to receive vehicles therein and providing a trailer chassis coupled to a tractor. The tractor and the trailer chassis are located on or adjacent to an external surface. The method further includes the step of locating the module on a trailer chassis, and driving the vehicles from the external surface into the module.

Claims

1. A method for transporting vehicles comprising the steps of:

providing a module shaped and sized to receive vehicles therein;

providing a trailer chassis coupled to a tractor, said tractor and said trailer chassis being located on or adjacent to an external surface;

detachably locating said module on said trailer chassis; and

driving said vehicles from said external surface into said module wherein said module includes a roof and a bottom support structure which supports said vehicles thereon after said driving step, said roof and said bottom support structure being spaced apart such that only a single layer of vehicles can be received between said roof and said bottom support structure.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said module is shaped to be contiguously stacked upon other modules.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said trailer chassis includes a bed and at least one set of wheels, and is detachably coupled to said tractor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the step of driving said tractor to a desired location to transport said vehicles located inside said module to said desired location.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of uncoupling said module from said trailer chassis and placing said module onto a carrier to further transport said vehicles located inside said module.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said module is stacked on at least one lower module located on said carrier, and wherein at least one upper module is stacked upon said module.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of driving said vehicles from said module to an external surface at said desired location.

8. The module of claim 7 wherein said vehicles are driven forwardly in both said driving steps.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of, after said locating step, coupling a ramp to one of said module or said trailer chassis and wherein said vehicles are driven over said ramp during said driving step.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of uncoupling said ramp from said one of said module or said trailer chassis and storing said ramp on said trailer chassis.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of, before said driving step, pivoting said trailer chassis such that a loading side of said module is located closer to said external surface.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said pivoting step includes activating a hydraulic fifth wheel to cause said pivoting of said trailer chassis.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said tractor includes a hydraulic fifth wheel, and wherein said hydraulic fifth wheel is used to pivot said trailer chassis.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said trailer chassis includes at least one set of wheels, and wherein said trailer chassis is pivoted about said set of wheel during said pivoting step.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of moving said set of wheels closer to a front end of said trailer before said pivoting step.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said module includes a driver-side side wall and a passenger-side side wall parallel to and laterally spaced from said driver-side side wall and wherein said bottom support structure extends between said side walls and wherein said driver-side side wall includes at least one opening, and wherein a front driver-side door of at least one vehicle driven into said module is opened into said opening when a driver exits or enters said at least one vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said driver-side side wall includes a plurality of openings, and wherein a front driver-side door of each vehicle driven into said module is opened into one of said plurality of openings when said a driver enters or exits the associated vehicle.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said bottom support structure is generally flat, and wherein said locating step includes locating said module on said trailer chassis such that said bottom support structure is located on said trailer chassis.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said trailer chassis includes a generally horizontal-extending bed and at least one set of wheels.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein said driving step occurs after said locating step.

21. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of transporting said trailer chassis to a desired location, and driving said vehicles from said module to an external surface at said desired location while said module is located on said trailer chassis.

22. The method of claim 14 wherein said trailer chassis is pivoted about said set of wheels in a first direction during said pivoting step, and wherein the method further comprises, after said driving step pivoting said trailer chassis in a second direction such that said trailer chassis extends generally horizontally.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein each side wall is generally continuous such that said side walls protect the contents of said module.

24. A method for transporting vehicles comprising the steps of:

providing a module shaped and sized to receive vehicles therein;

providing a trailer chassis coupled to a tractor, said tractor and said trailer chassis being located on or adjacent to an external surface;

locating said module on said trailer chassis;

forwardly driving said vehicles from said external surface into said module;

driving said tractor to a desired location to transport said vehicles located inside said module to said desired location; and

forwardly driving said vehicles from said module to an external surface at said desired location.

25. A method for transporting vehicles comprising the steps of:

providing a module shaped and sized to receive vehicles therein, wherein said module includes a driver-side side wall, a passenger-side side wall parallel to and laterally spaced from said driver-side side wall, a bottom support structure extending between said side walls and shaped to support said vehicles thereon, and a roof spaced from said bottom support structure such that said roof and said bottom support structure closely receive a single layer of vehicles therebetween, and wherein said driver-side side wall includes at least one opening;

providing a trailer chassis coupled to a tractor, said tractor and said trailer chassis being located on or adjacent to an external surface;

locating said module on said trailer chassis; and

driving said vehicles from said external surface into said module, wherein a front driver-side door of at least one vehicle driven into said module is opened into said at least one opening when a driver exits or enters said at least one vehicle.