Combination hauling vehicle and low boy trailer and trailer with outrigger assembly
OwnerFrancis V. Smithinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combination hauling truck and lowboy trailer includes a trailer having a separate power unit and one or more powered axles. An additional powered axle can be added to the hauling truck. The lowboy trailer has outrigger assemblies associated with its rear tires. Tires of the outrigger assemblies move between operative positions for load carrying capability, and retracted positions for maintenance of trailer tires.
Claims15
In a lowboy trailer comprising a trailer bed positioned between a hitch and at least one axle and tire assembly supporting a rear portion of the lowboy trailer, the tire and axle assembly further comprising at least one pair of trailer tires, a first trailer tire of the pair being separated from a second trailer tire of the pair by an axle structure, the improvement comprising an outrigger assembly for each of the first and second trailer tires, each outrigger assembly comprising an outrigger tire, and an outrigger tire lifting mechanism mounted to the trailer, each outrigger tire wheel lifting mechanism adapted to move its outrigger tire along an arc generally angled to a longitudinal axis of the lowboy trailer and between an operative position for supporting the trailer wherein each outrigger tire contacts a ground surface and a retracted position wherein arcuate movement of each outrigger tire exposes a face of an adjacent trailer tire for access thereto.
A truck and lowboy combination comprising:
- a lowboy trailer having a first power unit supplying power to a first pair of rear end-mounted powered axle assemblies;
- a hauling vehicle having a second power unit supplying power to a second pair of powered axle assemblies;
- and
- a hitching assembly mounted at a front end of the lowboy trailer adapted to connect to the hauling vehicle;
- wherein power is supplied in series to the first pair of powered axle assemblies via the first power unit and supplied in series to the second pair of powered axle assemblies via the second power unit.
A method of exposing a trailer tire of a lowboy trailer for maintenance comprising:
- providing at least a pair of outrigger tire assemblies, each assembly comprising an outrigger tire and a tire lifting mechanism for moving the tire between an operative position and a retracted position, each outrigger tire assembly mounted to a rear portion of the lowboy trailer, with the outrigger tire of each assembly positioned adjacent a trailer tire;
- actuating each lift mechanism so that each outrigger tire follows an arcuate path that is angled to a longitudinal axis of the lowboy trailer into the retracted position so that each trailer tire is exposed;
- and
- moving each outrigger tire along the arcuate path and back into an operative position to assist in supporting a load on the lowboy trailer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.