US 5,326,215 AGranted

Universal vehicular recovery and towing platform

OwnerMichael Eberhardtinventor

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Abstract

A trailer device for engaging and towing vehicles has, a rigid, longitudinal first frame having front and rear ends and extending substantially horizontally between them, the front end providing attachment to a fifth-wheel type truck tractor for hauling. A vehicle support surface is mounted substantially horizontally on the first frame, having right and left longitudinal portions, each formed of a plurality of segments along its length, at least one segment of each such longitudinal portion of the vehicle support surface being transversely divided into a plurality of subsegments, at least one subsegment of each transversely divided segment being movable. Pneumatic cylinders can move a subsegment of each transversely divided segment of each right and left longitudinal portion of the vehicle support surface. A jacking mechanism is mounted beneath the front end of the rigid longitudinal first frame. Wheels support the rear end of the rigid longitudinal first frame. A vehicle engagement assembly is positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the first frame on the rear end thereof and pivotally attached thereto for securely retaining in position a vehicle loaded at least in part onto the device. A winch at the forward end of the platform also allows even a heavy vehicle, e.g. truck tractor, to be pulled forwardly onto the vehicle support surface for disabled vehicle recovery and/or towing.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A device for transporting vehicles by hauling, as well as by engaging and towing the vehicles;

the device comprising:
a rigid, longitudinal first frame having front and rear ends and extending substantially horizontally therebetween, the front end being adapted for attachment to a fifth-wheel type truck tractor for pulling thereby;
a vehicle support surface mounted substantially horizontally on the first frame, having right and left longitudinal portions, each right and left longitudinal portion being formed of a plurality of segments along the length thereof, at least one segment of each right and left longitudinal portion of the vehicle support surface being transversely divided into a plurality of subsegments, at least one subsegment of each transversely divided segment being movable;
means for causing at least one subsegment of each transversely divided segment of each right and left longitudinal portion of the vehicle support surface to move;
a jacking mechanism mounted beneath the front end of the rigid longitudinal first frame;
a set of wheels supporting the rear end of the rigid longitudinal first frame;
and
a vehicle engagement assembly positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the first frame on the rear end thereof and pivotally attached thereto for securely retaining in position a vehicle loaded at least in part onto the device,
wherein the rigid longitudinal first frame is constructed at least in part of heavy gauge angle iron and is formed of a plurality of horizontal longitudinal bars separated by and fixed to a plurality of horizontal transverse bars along the length of the longitudinal bars, and further comprising a central portion being angled forwardly upward in longitudinal section and having a plurality of substantially vertical bars positioned at a front end thereof, the substantially vertical bars being fixed at lower ends thereof to front ends of corresponding substantially horizontal longitudinal bars and further connecting at upper ends thereof forward ends of corresponding angled longitudinal bars, the angled longitudinal bars being fixed at rear ends thereof to the corresponding substantially horizontal longitudinal bars.

6 more elements

A wheeled trailer for transporting by hauling, and engaging and towing vehicles comprising a main frame extending lengthwise of the trailer and having front and rear portions, the front end being adapted for attachment to a towing vehicle for the trailer, wheels supporting the rear end of the main frame oppositely disposed rearwardly of the trailer, a vehicle support surface carried by the main frame having oppositely disposed inclined portions respectively generally aligned with the oppositely disposed wheels, each such longitudinal portion having an end segment rearward of the wheels closely adjacent ground level on which a vehicle can be roller, an elevated forward segment forward of the trailer, and at least one elevatable segment forward of the wheels but rearward of the forward segment, the elevatable segment being elevatable from a retracted position to an elevated position and when in the elevated position providing an orientation for the vehicle support surface allowing wheels of a vehicle to be engaged to roll along the vehicle support surface between positions on and off the trailer continuously from the end segment to the forward segment, means for causing selective movement of the elevatable segments between the retracted and elevated positions, a cable winch forward of the trailer for winching a vehicle onto the vehicle support surface, and a vehicle engagement assembly positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the main frame and carried by the rear portion of the main frame for securely retaining in position a vehicle loaded at least in part onto the trailer for towing of the vehicle, the vehicle engagement assembly comprising means for pivotal movement of a towed vehicle relative to the main frame for permitting turning of the vehicle when towed by the trailer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.