Trailer steering device for spaced axle trailer

A steering mechanism for a spread axle trailer, the trailer including:

• i. a frame having a front portion and a rear portion,
• ii. a rear axle supporting the rear portion of the frame and first and second rear wheels rotatably connected to the rear axle,
• iii. a front axle supporting the front portion of the frame and first and second front wheels rotatably connected to the first axle,
• said steering mechanism comprising in combination:
• (a) tongue means pivotally connected to said front portion for effecting connecting of said trailer to a trailer hitching means attached to a tow vehicle;
• (b) pivot connecting means for pivotally connecting said tongue means to said front portion and confining pivotal movement of said tongue means to a substantially vertical direction relative to a support surface supporting said trailer;
• (c) trailer guiding means for rigid connection to said tow vehicle and having first and second trailer connecting points spaced from and located on opposite sides of said trailer hitching means;
• (d) first and second spindle means for pivotally connecting said first and second wheels respectively to said front axle means to effect steering of said trailer;
• (e) first and second lever arms connected to said first and second spindle means, respectively, to effect controlled pivoting of said first and second spindle means;
• (f) primary steering arm means having first and second and third spaced points pivotally connected at said first point to said frame for effecting pivoting of said spindle means in response to changing of direction of said towing vehicle relative to said trailer;
• (g) first coupling means for coupling said first and second lever arms to said primary steering arm means to effect pivoting of said first and second spindle means in response to pivoting of said primary steering arm means;
• (h) first tensile connecting means for connecting said second point of said primary arm means to said first trailer connecting means to pull said second point toward said tow vehicle to cause pivoting said primary steering arm means when said tow vehicle turns in a first direction relative to said trailer;
• and
• (i) second tensile means for connecting said third point of said primary steering means to said second trailer connecting means to pull said third point toward said tow vehicle when said tow vehicle turns in a second direction relative to said trailer, said first and second tensile connecting means exerting substantial forces only in tension on said primary steering arm means to cause pivoting of said primary steering arm means;
• wherein said trailer guiding means includes
• (i) a U-shaped channel member having a horizontal upper plate member, a horizontal lower plate member and a vertical plate member connecting said upper and lower plate members, said trailer hitching means including an elongated hitch ball support member, having two opposed vertical side faces and upper and lower faces, rigidly attached to said tow vehicle, and a hitch ball having a threaded shaft extending therefrom for attachment of said hitch ball to said hitch ball support member, said hitch ball support member having a first hole in an end portion thereof, said vertical plate member having an opening for receiving said hitch ball support member, said upper plate member having a second hole for alignment with said first hole for receiving said threaded shaft and third and fourth holes located on opposite sides of said second hole for receiving first and second bolts, said lower plate member having a fifth hole aligned with said third hole for receiving said first bolt, a sixth hole aligned with said second hole for receiving said threaded shaft, and a seventh hole aligned with said fourth hole for receiving said second bolt;
• (ii) first clamping means rigidly attached to said U-shaped channel member for clamping against said opposed vertical side faces of said hitch ball support member when said hitch ball support member extends through said opening in said vertical plate members, to prevent movement of said U-shaped channel member relative to said hitch ball support member;
• and
• (iii) second clamping means rigidly attached to said upper plate member for rigidly clamping said upper plate member to said hitch ball support member.

A spread axle trailer having two rear wheels and first and second front wheels mounted on steering spindles, said trailer comprising in combination:

• a frame;
• a tongue pivotally connected to the front of said frame to effect pivoting of said tongue, said pivoting being confined to a vertical direction, a tow vehicle for towing said trailer including first and second connecting points located on opposite sides of a trailer hitch connected to the tow vehicle;
• a primary steering member having first, second and third spaced points, said primary steering member being pivotally connected at said first point to said frame;
• first coupling means for coupling said steering spindles to said primary steering member to effect steering of said first and second steering spindles in response to pivoting of said primary steering member;
• first tensile connecting means for connecting said second point to said first connecting point to pull said second point toward said tow vehicle to cause pivoting of said primary steering member in response to turning of said tow vehicle in a first direction;
• and
• second tensile connecting means for connecting said third point to said second connecting point to pull said third point toward said tow vehicle when said tow vehicle turns in a second direction, said first and second tensile connecting means exerting only substantial pulling forces on said second and third points;
• wherein said first tensile connecting means includes a first rigid member having first and second ends and first flexible means connected to the first end of said first rigid member and to said primary steering arm means for preventing said first tensile connecting means from producing a substantial pushing force on said primary steering arm means, and wherein said second tensile connecting means includes a second rigid member and second flexible means connected to a first end of said second rigid member for preventing said second tensile connecting means from producing a substantial pushing force on said primary steering arm means.

A method of operating a spread axle trailer connected to a tow vehicle having a trailer hitch and first and second fixed, spaced connecting points, the trailer having a frame, two rear wheels, and first and second front wheels mounted on steering spindles, the trailer having a tongue pivotally connected to effect pivoting of the tongue confined to a vertical direction relative to a frame of the trailer;

• said method comprising the steps of:
• turning the tow vehicle in a first direction, the trailer having a primary steering member pivotally connected to the frame;
• pulling a first point of the primary steering member toward the first connecting point in response to said turning to cause turning of the primary steering member in a clockwise direction by means of a first tensile member connected between the first connecting point and the first point of the primary steering member;
• translating said turning of said primary steering member to said steering spindles to effect steering of the front wheels of the trailer to track with said turning of said tow vehicle without substantial sideways scrubbing of said front wheels of said trailer on a roadway surface;
• turning the tow vehicle in a second direction opposite to said first direction;
• pulling a second point of the primary steering member toward said second connecting point in response to said turning in said opposite direction to cause turning of the primary steering member in a counterclockwise direction by means of a second tensile member connected between the second connecting point and the second point of the primary steering member;
• translating said counterclockwise turning of said primary steering member to said steering spindles to effect steering of said front wheels to cause said trailer to track with said turning of said tow vehicle in said second direction without substantial sideway scrubbing of said front wheels on the roadway surface;
• and
• shortening the effective length of said tongue in response to shortening of a mechanical surge brake device before or during said turning in said first direction or said turning in said second direction, said first and second tensile members each also shortening by an amount substantially equal to the amount of shortening of the effective length of said tongue so that the trailer accurately tracks with the two vehicle when the brakes of the tow vehicle are applied or when the two vehicles are backing up, and maintaining substantial tensile forces in both said first and second tensile members during all of said turning in said first and second directions and during the entire time that the brake of the tow vehicle are applied and during the entire time the two vehicles are backing up.

A trailer comprising in combination:

• (a) a frame having a front portion and a rear portion;
• (b) tongue means pivotally connected to said front portion for effecting connecting of said trailer to a trailer hitching means attached to a tow vehicle;
• (c) first and second rear wheels and rear axle means for supporting said rear portion of said frame, said first and second rear wheels being rotatably connected to said rear axle means;
• (d) first and second front wheels and front axle means for supporting said front portion of said frame, said first and second front wheels being rotatably connected to said first axle means;
• (e) pivot connecting means for pivotably connecting said tongue means to said front portion and confining pivotal movement of said tongue means to a substantially vertical direction relative to a support surface supporting said trailer, said tow vehicle including a trailer guiding means rigidly connected to said tow vehicle and having first and second trailer connecting points spaced from and located on opposite sides of said trailer hitching means,
• (f) first and second spindle means for pivotally connecting said first and second wheels, respectively, to said front axle means to effect steering of said trailer;
• (g) first and second lever arms connected to said first and second spindle means, respectively, to effect controlled pivoting of said first and second spindle means;
• (h) primary steering arm means having first, second and third spaced points thereon pivotally connected at said first point to said frame for effecting pivoting of said spindle means in response to changing of direction of said tow vehicle relative to said trailer;
• (i) first coupling means for coupling said first and second lever arms to said primary steering arm means to effect pivoting of said first and second spindle means in response to pivoting of said primary steering arm means;
• (j) first tensile connecting means for connecting said second point of said primary steering arm means to said first trailer connecting point to pull said second point of said primary steering arm members toward said tow vehicle to cause pivoting of said primary steering arm means in response to turning of said tow vehicle in a first direction relative to said trailer;
• (k) second tensile connecting means for connecting said third point of said primary steering arm means to said second trailer connecting point to pull said third point toward said tow vehicle in response to turning of said tow vehicle in a second direction relative to said trailer, said first and second tensile connecting means exerting only substantial pulling forces on said primary steering arm means to cause pivoting of said primary steering arm means;
• and
• (l) a plurality of wheel brake mechanisms for controllably applying braking forces to at least one of said front and rear wheels, said tongue means including mechanical surge braking means for connection to said trailer hitching means to actuate said wheel brake mechanisms in response to a rearward force exerted by said trailer hitching means on said tongue means, said first and second tensile connecting means allowing shortening of the effective length of said tongue means due to actuation of said mechanical surge braking means without exerting rearward forces on said second and third points of said primary steering arm means;
• wherein said pivot connecting means includes first and second spaced pivot elements connected to said frame at an elevation that is substantially the same as the elevation at which said first and second tensile connecting means are connected to said primary steering arm means, wherein said primary steering arm means includes a substantially horizontal plate member that pivots in a substantially horizontal plane, wherein said horizontal plate member includes said second and third points and also includes a fourth point, and wherein said first coupling means includes secondary steering arm means pivotally connected to said frame for rotating in response to rotation of said longitudinal plate member, connecting means connected between said fourth point of said longitudinal plate member and a first point of said secondary steering arm means for effecting translating of rotation of said horizontal plate member to said secondary steering arm means, and first tie rod means connected between a second point of said secondary steering arm means and a free end of said first lever arm.