Mobile barrier
AssigneeConcaten, Inc.
InventorKevin K. Groeneweg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, a safety trailer has semi-tractor hitches at both ends and a safety wall that is fixed to one side of the trailer. That side, however, can be changed to the right or left side of the road, depending on the end to which the truck attaches. A caboose can be attached at the end of the trailer opposite the tractor to provide additional lighting and impact protection. Optionally, the trailer can be equipped with overhead protection, lighting, ventilation, onboard hydraulics, compressors, generators and other equipment, as well as related fuel, water, storage and restroom facilities and other amenities.
Claims19
A method comprising:
- providing a mobile barrier for use in military, riot control, and terrorism prevention operations, said mobile barrier comprising first and second platforms;
- a plurality of interconnected wall sections positioned between and connected to the first and second platforms, said plurality of wall sections defining a protected work area on a side of the barrier;
- providing a steerable caboose attached to the mobile barrier, said steerable caboose comprising a first steerable axle assembly and a second nonsteerable axle assembly;
- said first steerable axle assembly comprising a first axle, first and second hydraulic cylinders, first and second front hinges and first and second rear hinges and a tie rod engaged mechanically with the first and second front hinges, first and second rear hinges and first and second hydraulic cylinders to hydraulically steer left and right wheels attached to the first steerable axle assembly;
- wherein the tie rod locks into a lock position when in a nonsteering mode and unlocks from the lock position into an unlocked position when in a steering mode;
- said second nonsteerable axle assembly comprising a set of air bags to raise and lower a second axle and a pair of leaf springs that elastically deform to permit the second axle to be raised and lowered in response to deflation and inflation of the set of air bags respectively;
- selecting, by remote control, the unlock activator, which causes the tie rod to be placed in the unlocked position;
- selecting, by remote control, the raise activator to deflate the set of air bags and raise the second axle;
- selecting, by remote control, left and right activators to rotate the left and right wheels on the first steerable axle assembly to the left and right respectively and thereby steer the caboose by activation of the hydraulic cylinders to a selected position for the mobile barrier;
- selecting, by remote control, the lock activator to return the tie rod to the locked position when the barrier is in the selected position;
- selecting, by remote control, a lower activator to inflate the set of air bags and lower the second axle so that wheels attached to the second nonsteerable axle assembly are in contact with a travel surface.
A mobile barrier for use in military, riot control, and terrorism prevention operations, said mobile barrier comprising:
- first and second platforms;
- a plurality of interconnected wall sections positioned between and connected to the first and second platforms, said plurality of wall sections defining a protected work area on a side of the barrier;
- a first steerable caboose attached to the first platform,
- a second steerable caboose attached to the second platform
- wherein at least one of said first and second steerable cabooses has an engine to provide self-movement and power;
- and
- wherein the first and second steerable cabooses each have a steering mechanism capable of operating as either a back or a front of barrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.