Aerial weapons handling trailer

An aerial weapons handling trailer for receiving, transporting and lifting weapons packages characterized by a predetermined width comprising:

• a frame including first and second longitudinally extending beams spaced apart more than the predetermined width and a cross beam interconnecting the front ends of the longitudinally extending beams;
• at least two front wheels and at least two rear wheels for supporting the front and rear ends of the frame, respectively;
• means supporting the front and rear wheels for pivotal movement between first orientations wherein the wheels support the frame for movement in a direction extending substantially parallel to the longitudinally extending beams of the frame and second orientations wherein the wheels support the frame for movement in a direction extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinally extending beams of the frame;
• at least four lift arms;
• means supporting the proximal ends of at least two of the lift arms on the first longitudinally extending beam of the frame for pivotal movement with respect thereto;
• means supporting the proximal ends of at least two of the lift arms on the second longitudinally extending beam of the frame for pivotal movement with respect thereto;
• hydraulic cylinder means connected between the frame and the lift arms for selective actuation to pivot the lift arms relative to the frame;
• first and second lift beams;
• means supporting the first lift beam on the distal ends of the lift arms that are pivotally supported on the first longitudinally extending beam of the frame;
• means supporting the second lift beam on the distal ends of the lift arms that are pivotally supported on the second longitudinally extending beam of the frame;
• the lift arms being pivotable between a first position, wherein the distal ends thereof are disposed adjacent a plane defined by the bottom surfaces of the trailer wheels, and a second position, wherein the distal ends of said lift arms are disposed above the proximal ends thereof, the lift arms including:
• (a) first portions, including the proximal ends thereof;
• (b) third portions, including the distal ends thereof;
• and
• (c) offset portions rigidly interconnecting the first and third portions thereof;
• the first portions of the lift arms supported on the first longitudinally extending beam being spaced from the first portions of the corresponding lift arms supported on the second longitudinally extending beam a distance greater than the predetermined width of the weapons package, such that clearance is maintained between the first portions of the lift arms and the weapons package as the lift arms pivot between the first and second positions;
• the lift beams having outside surfaces which are spaced apart less than the inner surfaces of said first portions of said lift arms, thereby allowing said lift beams to be lowered between said first portions of said lift arms;
• the outwardly facing surfaces of the third portions of the lift arms supported on the first longitudinally extending beam being spaced from the outwardly facing surfaces of the third portions of the corresponding lift arms supported on the second longitudinally extending beam a distance substantially no greater than the distance between the outermost lateral surfaces of said lift beams, thereby allowing said lift arms to pivot upwardly and insert said lift beams, said third portions of said lift arms and the weapons package upwardly through an opening of minimum clearance with respect to the weapons package, such that the third portions of the lift arms do not extend from within the outermost lateral periphery of the weapons package as the lift arms pivot between the first and second positions;
• the first and third portions of each lift arm extending from the offset portions thereof to form an obtuse angle, such that when the lift arms are in the first position, the first portions thereof extend downwardly from the frame and the third portions thereof extend substantially parallel to the plane defined by the bottom surfaces of the trailer wheels;
• and
• the lift arms being pivotable under the action of the hydraulic cylinder means to position the lift beams beneath a weapons package that is received between the longitudinally extending beams of the frame and thereafter to move the lift beams and the weapons package carried thereby upwardly between the longitudinally extending beams of the frame and further upwardly into the weapons bay of an aircraft.