US 4,400,004 AGranted

Tandem trailer system

AssigneeArguin Trailer Frame, Inc.

InventorGerard Arguin

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Abstract

An intermediate trailer for use between a standard tractor and a standard trailer, the intermediate trailer having a chassis mounted at its rear end, consisting of a first portion which is fixed to the trailer and a second portion which is slidable relative to the first portion from a first position under the trailer to a second position extending rearwardly of the trailer, the second portion having wheels mounted thereon.

Claims6

Dependent claims

Trailer system to be drawn behind a highway tractor and behind which can be drawn a second trailer unit, comprising:

(a) a cargo container,
(b) a chassis on which the container is mounted, the chassis having a first upper portion and a second lower portion, the second portion being longitudinally slidable relative to the first portion from a first position generally co-extensive with the first portion to a second position where it extends beyond the end of the cargo container, the first upper portion of the chassis consisting of a pair of I-beams held in spaced, parallel relationship for attachment to the container, the second lower portion of the chassis consisting of a similar pair of I-beams connected together in spaced, parallel relationship and underlying the first portion, so that the undersurface of the lower flange of each I-beam of the first portion is supported on the upper surface of the upper flange of the corresponding I-beam of the second portion, a plurality of guides being fixed to the I-beams of the second portion and embracing the lower flanges of the I-beams of the first portion,
(c) a first attaching means associated with the front end of the container for connection to the highway tractor,
(d) a second attaching means associated with the second portion of the chassis, so that, when the second portion is in the second position, another trailer can be attached to it,
(e) wheels mounted on the said second portion of the chassis,
(f) a pair of locking pins mounted on the second portion for transverse movement to engage apertures in the first portion when the second portion is in the first or the second position and to hold the first and second portions against relative sliding movement when in the first or second position, the wheels being provided with pneumatic brakes, the locking pins being provided with a pneumatic actuator cylinder, and
(g) a selector valve provided to connect a source of pressure air selectively to the brakes or the cylinder, so that the locking pins are released when the brakes are locked and the pins are engaged when the brakes are free.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

Trailer system to be drawn behind a highway tractor and behind which can be drawn a second trailer unit, comprising:

(a) a cargo container,
(b) a chassis on which the container is mounted, the chassis having a first upper portion and a second lower portion, the second portion being longitudinally slidable relative to the first portion from a first position generally co-extensive with the first portion to a second position where it extends beyond the end of the cargo container, the first upper portion of the chassis consisting of a pair of I-beams held in spaced, parallel relationship for attachment to the container, the second lower portion of the chassis consisting of a similar pair of I-beams connected together in spaced, parallel relationship and underlying the first portion, so that the undersurface of the lower flange of each I-beam of the first portion is supported on the upper surface of the upper flange of the corresponding I-beam of the second portion, a plurality of guides being fixed to the I-beams of the second portion and embracing the lower flanges of the I-beams of the first portion,
(c) a first attaching means associated with the front end of the container for connection to the highway tractor,
(d) a second attaching means associated with the second portion of the chassis, so that, when the second portion is in the second position, another trailer can be attached to it,
(e) wheels mounted on the said second portion of the chassis,
(f) a pair of locking pins mounted on the second portion for transverse movement to engage apertures in the first portion when the second portion is in the first or the second position and to hold the first and second portions against relative sliding movement when in the first or second position, the wheels being provided with pneumatic brakes, the locking pins being provided with a pneumatic actuator cylinder, and
(g) a selector valve provided to connect a source of pressure air selectively to the brakes or the cylinder, so that the locking pins are released when the brakes are locked and the pins are engaged when the brakes are free.

4 more elements