Trailer

A trailer comprising:

• a body frame supported by wheels rotatably mounted at front and rear, and left and right side portions thereof, said frame having
• an upper surface portion, and
• a cargo base member on said upper surface portion;
• a plurality of rotors for supporting and facilitating the transfer of a cargo container onto and off of the trailer, said rotors
• being rotatably mounted on said cargo base member in spaced relation relative to each other, and
• each having a top surface portion located above said cargo base member;
• side stoppers mounted on said left and right side portions of said body frame, to be freely movable vertically with respect to each of said rotors between a lower position allowing the container to be loaded and a higher position projecting to a level above said top surface of each of said rotors, said side stoppers each having
• an outwardly inclined side guide surface at an upper side thereof for guiding the container as it is being loaded onto the trailer, and
• a vertical locking surface at an inner side thereof for stopping the container when it has been loaded onto the trailer;
• a spring means mounted to normally bias said side stoppers to said higher position;
• front and rear stoppers mounted at said front and rear portions of said body frame to be movable vertically with respect to each of said rotors on said cargo base member, said front and rear stoppers having
• front and rear guide surfaces respectively for guiding the container as it is being loaded, and
• locking portions for locking the container on said trainer after loading;
• a central stopper mounted on a central portion of said cargo base member for vertical and rotational movement relative thereto and having an upper portion and a support member mounted on said upper portion;
• means for selectively lowering said central stopper and associated support member below said rotor top surfaces when the container is being loaded and for moving said central stopper up to cause said support member to engage and support the bottom of the container to permit rotation of the container when required;
• first and second operating rods rotatably mounted on said body frame and interconnected with all of said stoppers,
• to move said front, rear, left and right stoppers in the same vertical direction, and also automatically
• to move said central stopper in a vertical direction which is opposite to the vertical direction in which said front, rear, left and right stoppers are moved;
• and
• an operating lever means connected to rotate said operating rods to either cause
• said front, rear, left and right stoppers to rise while also automatically causing said central stopper to lower to permit the container to be guided onto and locked into position on said trailer, or
• cause said front, rear, left and right stoppers to lower while also automatically causing said central stopper to move up and support said container for rotation thereof.