Dolly for tractor trailers

Claim 2

A dolly assembly for use with a tractor-trailer system, said dolly including a frame mounted on a wheeled axle assembly and a drawbar having one end extending forwardly of said frame transverse to said axle assembly, the improvement comprising: locking means on said forwardly extending end of said drawbar adapted for engagement with cooperative locking means adapted for securement on a tractor, said locking means being rotatably engageable with said cooperative locking means; means mounting said drawbar for rotation with respect to said frame, said mounting means including a sleeve member fixed to said frame, and means on said drawbar and in said sleeve member mounting said drawbar for rotation in said sleeve member; said locking means including arcuate segments extending outwardly from said drawbar adjacent said forwardly extending end, said cooperative locking means on said tractor including a second sleeve member adapted to telescopically receive said firstmentioned sleeve member and said drawbar; said second sleeve member having inwardly extending arcuate segments adapted for locking engagement with said outwardly extending arcuate segments on said drawbar; and means connected to said drawbar extending rearwardly of said frame for rotating said drawbar and said outwardly extending arcuate segments into locking engagement with said inwardly extending arcuate segments from the rear of said dolly.

Claim 3

The dolly assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said drawbar has a lunette fixed at said forwardly extending end and further including means for converting said dolly for use as a trailer support and hauling dolly; said converting means including means telescopically mounting said drawbar in said first sleeve; and means on said first sleeve and said drawbar for locking said drawbar in either an extended or a retracted position, said dolly being adapteD for use as a hauling dolly when said drawbar is locked in said extended position.

Claim 4

The dolly assembly as defined in claim 2 and further including a fifth wheel assembly mounted on said frame, said fifth wheel assembly being shiftable between raised and lowered positions, and fifth wheel locking means on said frame for holding said fifth wheel in said raised position when said dolly is used as a trailer support and hauling dolly.

Claim 5

The dolly as defined in claim 3 and further including means for shifting said fifth wheel assembly between raised and lowered positions, and means for shifting said fifth wheel locking means into locking position when said fifth wheel is raised.

Claim 6

The dolly as defined in claim 4 wherein said means for locking said drawbar between extended and retracted positions comprises second arcuate segments on said drawbar extending outwardly therefrom, and associated arcuate segments on an inner surface of said first mentioned sleeve member, said second segments and said associated segments aligned in a first angular position so as to engage one another thereby preventing movement of said drawbar, said segments being aligned in a second angular position to allow said drawbar to be freely moved in a longitudinal direction relative to said first sleeve whereby said drawbar may be shifted between extended and retracted positions.

Claim 7

A convertible dolly assembly for use in combination with a truck tractor in tandem axle fashion with the rear axle of the tractor, and convertible for use as a trailer support and hauling dolly comprising: a frame having a wheeled axle assembly thereunder, and a fifth wheel assembly thereon; a drawbar assembly having connection means thereon extending forwardly of said frame, said drawbar assembly being extendable for connection with the rear of a front trailer and being retractable for connection with the rear of a tractor; position locking means for said drawbar assembly operable to lock said drawbar assembly in its extended position or in its retracted position; receiving means on the tractor for said drawbar assembly, said receiving means and said drawbar assembly being telescopically interengageable; securement means on said receiving means and said drawbar assembly, said securement means including spaced cooperative arcuate segments on said receiving means and on said drawbar, each of said segments spanning less than 90 angular degrees; means mounting said drawbar assembly for rotation about its elongated axis; and means for rotating said drawbar assembly and said segments thereon into aligned abutting relation with said segments on said receiving means to secure said dolly to said tractor in tandem axle fashion, said drawbar assembly and said receiving means being arranged to allow rotational movement therebetween when connected in tandem axle fashion for accommodation of uneven terrain.

Claim 8

A convertible dolly assembly for use in combination with a truck tractor in tandem axle fashion with the rear axle of the tractor, and convertible for use as a trailer support and hauling dolly comprising: a frame having a wheeled axle assembly thereunder, and a fifth wheel assembly thereon; a drawbar assembly having connection means thereon extending forwardly of said frame, said drawbar assembly being extendable for connection with the rear of a front trailer and being retractable for connection with the rear of a tractor; position locking means for said drawbar assembly operable to lock said drawbar assembly in its extended position or in its retracted position; receiving means on the tractor for said drawbar assembly, said receiving means and said drawbar assembly being telescopically interengageable; securement means on said receiving means and said drawbar assembly, said securement means including spaced cooperative arcuate segments on said receiving means and on said drawbar, each of said segments spanning less than 90 angular degrees; means mounting said drawbar assembly for rotation about its elongated axis; and means for rotating said drawbar assembly and said segments thereon into aligned abutting relation with said segments on said receiving means to secure said dolly to said tractor in tandem axle fashion, said drawbar assembly and said receiving means being arranged to allow rotational movement therebetween when connected in tandem axle fashion for accommodation of uneven terrain.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said drawbar assembly includes a sleeve member fixed to said frame and a drawbar slidably mounted in said sleeve, said sleeve being telescopically interengageable with said receiving means on said tractor, said arcuate segments on said drawbar assembly being mounted at an extended end of said drawbar and cooperatively engageable with said arcuate segments on said receiving means; and means connected to said drawbar extending rearwardly of said frame for rotating said drawbar about its elongated axis to rotate said segments on said drawbar into aligned abutting position with said segments on said receiving means.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 7 and further including radially extending stop means on said drawbar and in said sleeve member to limit extension of said drawbar with respect to said frame.

Claim 11

The combination as defined in claim 6 and further including fifth wheel positioning and support means between said frame and said fifth wheel, said positioning and support means operable to shift said fifth wheel between a lowered non-cOupling position and a raised trailer coupling and towing position; said positioning and support means includes a pair of keeper members slidably mounted on said frame at opposite sides thereof, said keeper members being shiftable along said frame into position below said fifth wheel to support same in said raised position.

Claim 12

The combination in claim 9 including actuating means for said keeper means extending to the rear of said dolly.

Claim 13

A trailer support and hauling dolly convertible for tandem axle use between a truck tractor and a following trailer, and alternately usable between the rear of a front trailer and the front of a rear trailer, comprising: a dolly frame mounted on a wheeled axle assembly thereunder, and having a fifth wheel assembly thereon; a drawbar assembly extending forwardly of said frame and having connection means at its forwardly extending end, said drawbar assembly including a sleeve member fixed to said frame said drawbar being slidably mounted in said sleeve, said drawbar assembly being extendable with respect to said frame for connection with the rear of a front trailer and being retractable for connection with the rear of said truck tractor in tandem axle fashion with the rear axle of said tractor; position locking means for said drawbar assembly operable to lock it in its extended position or in its retracted position; said truck tractor including receiving means for said drawbar assembly, said sleeve being telescopically interengageable with said receiving means on said tractor; securement means operable to secure said drawbar assembly to said receiving means, said securement means including spaced cooperative arcuate segments on said receiving means and on said drawbar, said arcuate segments on said drawbar assembly being mounted at an extended end of said drawbar and cooperatively engageable with said arcuate segments on said receiving means; said securement means allowing rotational movement of said dolly frame about the axis of said drawbar assembly when said dolly is connected to the rear of said truck tractor; and means connected to said drawbar extending rearwardly of said frame for rotating said drawbar about its elongated axis to thereby rotate said segments on said drawbar into aligned abutting position with said segments in said receiving means.

Claim 14

A trailer support and hauling dolly convertible for tandem axle use between a truck tractor and a following trailer, and alternately usable between the rear of a front trailer and the front of a rear trailer, comprising: a dolly frame mounted on a wheeled axle assembly thereunder, and having a fifth wheel assembly thereon; a drawbar assembly extending forwardly of said frame and having connection means at its forwardly extending end, said drawbar assembly including a sleeve member fixed to said frame said drawbar being slidably mounted in said sleeve, said drawbar assembly being extendable with respect to said frame for connection with the rear of a front trailer and being retractable for connection with the rear of said truck tractor in tandem axle fashion with the rear axle of said tractor; position locking means for said drawbar assembly operable to lock it in its extended position or in its retracted position; said truck tractor including receiving means for said drawbar assembly, said sleeve being telescopically interengageable with said receiving means on said tractor; securement means operable to secure said drawbar assembly to said receiving means, said securement means including spaced cooperative arcuate segments on said receiving means and on said drawbar, said arcuate segments on said drawbar assembly being mounted at an extended end of said drawbar and cooperatively engageable with said arcuate segments on said receiving means; said securement means allowing rotational movement of said dolly frame about the axis of said drawbar assembly when said dolly is connected to the rear of said truck tractor; and means connected to said drawbar extending rearwardly of said frame for rotating said drawbar about its elongated axis to thereby rotate said segments on said drawbar into aligned abutting position with said segments in said receiving means.

Claim 15

The combination as defined in claim 11 and further including radially extending stop means on said drawbar and in said sleeve member to limit extension of said drawbar with respect to said frame.

Claim 16

The combination as defined in claim 11 and further including fifth wheel positioning and support means between said frame and said fifth wheel, said positioning and support means operable to shift said fifth wheel between a lowered noncoupling position and a raised trailer coupling and towing position; said positioning and support means includes a pair of keeper members slidably mounted on said frame at opposite sides thereof, said keeper members being shiftable along said frame into position below said fifth wheel to support same in said raised position.

Claim 17

The combination in claim 13 including actuating means for said keeper means extending to the rear of said dolly.