Front tow extended saddle
AssigneeATC Leasing Company LLC
InventorDonald W. Schuettenberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A front tow extended saddle is disclosed. The saddle allows a first towing truck to mount a second truck, facing forward, behind the first truck, in order to tow the second truck to a distant location. The saddle allows the towed truck to face forward during transport, thus allowing for the normal loads and stresses of movement on the towed truck. This configuration is preferable to movement with the towed truck facing-rearward, in which the typical aerodynamic surfaces of a large truck act as a drag during transport, imposing high wind loads and unusual stresses. The front tow extended saddle is also designed to minimize the required vertical rise on the towed truck, which also avoids additional stresses during loading and unloading onto the towing truck.
Claims22
A front tow extended saddle system, comprising:
- A first towing truck having a saddle mount or fifth wheel;
- and
- a front tow extended saddle mounted to said first towing truck and to a second towed truck, said saddle comprising:
- a front portion for interfacing with said saddle mount or fifth wheel, the front portion comprising two first rails spaced apart an outer first distance between the two first rails;
- a middle portion for adapting an elevation of said towed truck, the middle portion comprising two second rails spaced apart an inner second distance and an outer third distance between the two second rails;
- and
- a rear portion adjustably mountable to an axle and a frame of the towed truck and supporting said towed truck, the rear portion comprising two third rails spaced apart a fourth inner distance between the two third rails,
- wherein the front portion is joined at a first angle to the middle portion and the middle portion is joined to the rear portion at a second angle, the front portion is configured for mounting to a towing truck and the rear portion is configured for horizontally adjustable, rigid mounting to the towed truck, the front portion mounting configuration allowing for rotation of the front tow extended saddle with respect to the towing truck.
A front tow extended saddle system, comprising:
- A first towing truck having a saddle mount or fifth wheel;
- and
- a front tow extended saddle mounted to said first towing truck and to a second towed truck, said saddle comprising:
- a front portion for interfacing with said saddle mount or fifth wheel, the front portion comprising a first set of two joined rails spaced apart an outer first distance;
- a middle portion for adapting an elevation of said towed truck, the middle portion comprising a second set of two joined rails spaced apart an inner second distance and an outer third distance;
- and
- a rear portion comprising a third set of two joined rails spaced apart an inner fourth distance adjustably mountable to an axle and a frame of the towed truck and supporting said towed truck,
- wherein the front portion is rotatably joined at a first angle to the middle portion and the middle portion is rotatably joined to the rear portion at a second angle, wherein the front portion is configured for mounting to said towing truck and the rear portion is configured for adjustable, rigid mounting to the towed truck, the front portion mounting allowing for rotation of the front tow extended saddle with respect to the towing truck, and wherein the first angle and the second angle may be the same or may be different.
A method of preparing to tow a forward-facing towed truck with a towing truck, the method comprising:
- furnishing a front tow extended saddle, the front tow extended saddle comprising a front portion of a first set of spaced apart rails for interfacing with a saddle mount or fifth wheel on the towing truck, a middle portion of a second set of spaced apart rails for adapting an elevation of the forward-facing towed truck, and a rear portion of a third set of spaced apart rails for adjustably mounting to an axle and a frame of the towed truck, wherein the front portion is joined at a first angle to the middle portion and the middle portion is joined to the rear portion at a second angle, and wherein the front portion is configured to allow rotation of the front tow extended saddle with respect to the towing truck and wherein the rear portion is configured for adjustable, rigid mounting to the forward-facing towed truck;
- mounting the front portion to the towing truck with a mounting pin or with J-claws and a saddle clamp;
- adjusting a horizontal position of at least two axle security assemblies;
- fixedly mounting the rear portion to an axle of the towed truck using the at least two axle security assemblies;
- adjusting a horizontal position of at least two lower security assemblies;
- and
- fixedly mounting the rear portion to a body of the towed truck using the at least two lower security assemblies, wherein front wheels of the towed truck are optionally raised from a ground surface and wherein said rear portion supports said body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.