US 4,834,215 AGranted

Leveling aerial device-motor vehicle assembly

OwnerDonald L. Smealinventor

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Abstract

An aerial device--motor vehicle fire fighting assembly in which a movable frame carrying an aerial device is connected between the fifth wheel of the tractor vehicle and the forward end of the fixed frame of the trailer vehicle. The connection between the movable and fixed frames is pivotal about a transverse horizontal axis under the control of hydraulic piston and cylinder units. The units effect relative pivotal movements between the movable and fixed frames and fixedly retain the same together into different positions of pivotal movement including (1) a transporting position wherein the movable frame constitutes a rigid forward extension of the fixed rearward frame enabling the entire trailer to turn and tilt with respect to the fifth wheel connection of the tractor during the power driven movement thereof and (2) an aerial device operating position wherein the movable frame extends horizontally in a longitudinal direction from the fifth wheel connection of the tractor to the fixed frame in a multiplicity of different positions of longitudinal inclination assumed by the tractor and the fixed frame by virtue of the longitudinally spaced vertical levels of engagement of the front wheels of the tractor with respect to the wheels of the fixed frame. Normally, retracted outrigger assemblies are extendible into an operative position of ground engagement to support the movable frame when in the aerial device operating position. An emergency load-bearing mechanism is provided to back up the piston and cylinder units in the event of hydraulic failure.

Claims22

Dependent claims

An aerial device--motor vehicle assembly comprising

a power-operated tractor vehicle having forward and rearward wheel means and a rear fifth wheel connection,
a trailer vehicle including an elongated fixed rearward frame having wheel means supporting the rearward portion thereof, and a movable forward frame,
means for connecting said movable frame with the fifth wheel connection of said tractor vehicle for enabling said movable frame to have a turning movement about an upright axis with respect to said tractor vehicle and a tilting movement about a transverse axis with respect to said power operated vehicle,
a power-operated extendible and retractible aerial device mounted on said movable frame for swinging movement about an upright axis into a multiplicity of different operative positions including aerial positions imposing severe weight imbalances on said movable frame,
means for connecting said movable frame with said fixed frame for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the longitudinal extent of said fixed frame,
power operated means between said movable frame and said fixed frame for effecting relative pivotal movements between said movable and fixed frames and fixedly retaining the same together into different positions of pivotal movement including (1) a transporting position wherein the movable frame constitutes a rigid forward extension of said fixed rearward frame enabling the entire trailer vehicle to turn and tilt with respect to the fifth wheel connection of said tractor vehicle during the power driven movement thereof and (2) an aerial device operating position wherein the movable frame extends horizontally in a longitudinal direction from the fifth wheel connection of the tractor vehicle to the fixed frame in a multiplicty of different positions of longitudinal inclination assumed by said tractor vehicle and said fixed frame by virtue of the longitudinally spaced vertical levels of engagement of the front wheel means of the tractor vehicle with respect to the wheel means of the fixed frame, and
normally retracted outrigger means extendible into an operative position of ground engagement to support said movable frame when in said aerial device operating position so as to extend horizontally in a transverse direction in a multiplicity of different positions of transverse inclination assumed by said tractor vehicle and said fixed frame by virtue of the transversely spaced vertical levels of engagement of the front wheel means of said tractor vehicle and the wheel means of said fixed frame.

4 more elements

Apparatus for moving a heavily loaded structure with respect to another structure comprising

piston and cylinder means extensible and retractible by hydraulic fluid under pressure,
means for mounting said piston and cylinder means with respect to said structures such that (1) extension of the piston and cylinder means causes the heavily loaded structure to move in one direction and (2) retraction of the piston and cylinder means causes the heavily loaded structure to move in an opposite direction, and
emergency means mounted between said structures in a normal non load-bearing relationship operable in response to an unwanted loss of hydraulic fluid under pressure from said piston and cylinder means to assume a load-bearing relationship between said movable and fixed frames, said emergency means including
elongated bolt means having a longitudinal axis,
means for mounting said bolt means in load bearing relation with respect to one of said structures for rotation of said bolt means about said longitudinal axis,
nut means threadedly engaged on said bolt means so as to move (1) in said one direction of extension of said piston and cylinder means in response to the rotation of said bolt means in a first direction and (2) in said opposite direction of retraction of said piston and cylinder means in response to the rotation of said bolt means in a second direction,
valve means for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid under pressure with respect to said piston and cylinder means so as to effect extension and retraction thereof,
means operatively connected with said bolt means for selectively effecting rotational movement thereof about its longitudinal axis (1) in said first direction to thereby effect movement of said nut means in said one direction and (2) in said second direction to thereby effect movement of said nut means in said opposite direction,
means for operatively connecting said nut means to said valve means so that (1) movement of said nut means in said one direction causes said valve means to control the flow of hydraulic fluid under pressure with respect to said piston and cylinder means to effect extension thereof and (2) movement of said nut means in said opposite direction causes said valve means to control the flow of hydraulic fluid under pressure with respect to said piston and cylinder means to effect retraction thereof,
load-bearing means having first and second portions,
means for mounting said first portion of said load bearing means to the structure other than the one structure with respect to which said bolt means is mounted by the mounting means therefor,
means for operatively connecting said second portion of said load bearing means with respect to said nut means is such a way that (1) hydraulic fluid under pressure within said piston and cylinder means retains said load bearing means out of a load bearing relationship with respect to said nut means and said other structure in any position of extension or retraction of said piston and cylinder means, and (2) unwanted loss of hydraulic fluid under pressure from said piston and cylinder means causes said load bearing means to assume a load bearing relationship with respect to said nut means and said other structure substantially in any position of extension or retraction said piston and cylinder means has been moved,
the threaded engagement of said nut means with said bolt means being interlocking against self turning movement when said load bearing means assumes said load bearing relationship.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.