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US 2025/0108868 A1Published application
Trailer steering system
AssigneeTrail King Industries, Inc.
InventorScot J. Vander Pol
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trailer has an elongated body and a plurality of wheeled frames. The frames are pivotable with respect to the elongated body to move their wheels about a respective first vertical axis. Wheels on the frame are also pivotable about a second vertical axis so that movement of the wheels about the second vertical axis moves the wheels with respect to the frame.
Claims20
A trailer comprising:
- an elongated body having a dimension of elongation, having a forward end configured to connect to a tractor for pulling the trailer and having a rearward end opposite the forward end;
- a plurality of wheeled frames attached to an underside of the elongated body;
- and
- a plurality of wheels attached to each wheeled frame of the plurality of wheeled frames,
- wherein the plurality of wheeled frames each define an attachment to the elongated body that is pivotal about a first axis that is generally vertical so that relative rotation between a wheeled frame of the plurality of wheeled frames and the elongated body moves the plurality of wheels attached to that wheeled frame relative to the elongated body about the first axis, and
- wherein, at each wheeled frame of the plurality of wheeled frames, a first wheel of the plurality of wheels attached to the wheeled frame is attached to the wheeled frame pivotably about a wheel axis that is generally vertical so that movement of the first wheel about the wheel axis moves the first wheel with respect to the wheeled frame of the plurality of wheeled frames.
3 more elements
A method of steering a trailer comprising the steps of:
- providing the trailer, the trailer having
- an elongated body having a dimension of elongation, having a forward end configured to connect to a tractor for pulling the trailer and having a rearward end opposite the forward end,
- a plurality of wheeled frames attached to an underside of the elongated body, and
- at each wheeled frame of the plurality of wheeled frames, a plurality of wheels attached to the wheeled frame, with each of the plurality of wheels including a first wheel;
- rotating a wheeled frame of the plurality of wheeled frames relative to the elongated body about a first axis that is generally vertical so that the plurality of wheels moves relative to the elongated body about the first axis;
- and
- at each said wheeled frame, pivoting each said first wheel of the plurality wheels attached to said wheeled frame about a wheel axis that is generally vertical, so that movement of the first wheel about the wheel axis moves the first wheel with respect to the wheeled frame, simultaneously with the rotating of the wheeled frame relative to the elongated body.
4 more elements
A trailer comprising:
- a body;
- a plurality of axle assemblies attached to an underside of the body;
- and
- a plurality of wheels attached to each axle assembly of the plurality of axle assemblies,
- wherein a first axle assembly of the plurality of axle assemblies comprises a first axle defining a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the first axle extending generally horizontally, wherein the first axle assembly permits rotation of the first axle relative to the body and about a generally vertical axle axis, and
- wherein a first wheel of the plurality of wheels attached to the first axle assembly is pivotably attached to the first axle, and wherein the first wheel is rotatable relative to the first axle about a generally vertical wheel axis.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.