Over the road trailer with adjustable bed configuration
OwnerStuart Geeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An over the road trailer having adjustable sections to provide different trailer configurations. A flat center bed section has a sliding connection at the front with vertical legs of a gooseneck section and a sliding connection at the back with vertical legs of an L-shaped rear section. Hydraulic jacks move the center section up and down to allow the trailer to assume a double drop deck configuration, a step deck configuration, or a straight deck configuration. Separate power operated and manually operated latching systems secure the trailer in each different configuration.
Claims24
A trailer for connection with a highway tractor for transporting heavy equipment, said trailer comprising:
- a gooseneck section having a generally horizontal portion for detachable coupling to the tractor and a generally upright portion extending downwardly from said horizontal portion at a back end thereof;
- a rear section mounted on wheels and having a generally horizontal deck portion and a generally vertical portion extending downwardly from said deck portion;
- and
- a center section presenting a generally horizontal bed extending between said gooseneck and rear sections, said center section being connected with said upright and vertical portions for movement between a first position providing a double drop deck configuration wherein said bed is at a lower elevation than said horizontal and deck portions, and a second position providing a step deck configuration wherein said bed is at a lower elevation than said horizontal portion and substantially the same elevation as said deck portion.
A trailer adapted for coupling to a highway tractor for transporting heavy equipment, said trailer comprising:
- a gooseneck front section for coupling to the tractor, said gooseneck section having a generally horizontal portion and a generally upright portion;
- a center section presenting a generally horizontal bed and having a forward end connected with said upright portion for up and down adjustable movement thereon;
- a rear section mounted on wheels and having a generally horizontal deck portion and a generally vertical portion to which a rearward end of said center section is connected for up and down adjustable movement thereon;
- and
- a power mechanism operable to move said center section on said upright portion and said vertical portion between a first position providing a double drop deck configuration wherein said bed is at a lower elevation than said horizontal and deck portions, and a second position providing a step deck configuration wherein said bed is at a lower elevation than said horizontal portion and substantially the same elevation as said deck portion.
A highway trailer for hauling heavy equipment over the road, said trailer comprising:
- a front gooseneck section having a generally horizontal portion and a generally upright portion;
- a center section having forward and rearward ends and a generally horizontal bed, said center section being connected at the forward end thereof with said upright portion for generally vertical movement thereon;
- a rear section having a generally horizontal deck portion mounted on wheels and a generally vertical portion to which the rearward end of said center section is connected for generally vertical movement thereon;
- and
- a latch mechanism operable to releaseably secure said center section at a first position providing a double drop deck configuration wherein said bed is at a lower elevation than said horizontal and deck portions, and a second position providing a step deck configuration wherein said bed is at a lower elevation than said horizontal portion and substantially the same elevation as said deck portion.
A trailer for connection with a highway tractor for transporting heavy equipment, said trailer comprising:
- a gooseneck section having a generally horizontal portion for detachable coupling to the tractor and a generally upright portion extending downwardly from said horizontal portion, said upright portion having a generally rearwardly facing surface;
- a bed section having a forward end presenting a front surface;
- a detachable connection between said front surface and said rearwardly facing surface;
- a power mechanism including jacks on said bed section operable to detach said connection;
- and
- a jack on said bed section operable to support the bed section when detached from the gooseneck section and to lower said forward end of the bed section adjacent to the ground for loading and unloading of cargo.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.