Demountable load carrying bodies

Claim 2

An assembly for use in converting a wheeled vehicle chassis for mounting thereon trailer loads raised above the ground, said assembly comprising a frame, said frame having spaced longitudinal members mountable longitudinally of said chassis, a fifth wheel coupling plate pivotally mounted between said members in the mid portion thereof for fore and aft pitching movement, load guide means at the rear end of said members, and a damping device at the front end of said frame, said frame enabling the vehicle to be moved longitudinally beneath a raised load until a fifth wheel pin on the mid underside portion of the load engages in said fifth wheel coupling plate and a member at the rear of the load engages in said guide means, and said damping device is engaged in the forward part of said load and reacts against a forward portion of said vehicle chassis.

Claim 3

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said damping device comprises a resilient device securable with respect to said frame and upwardly urged by damping means and operatively associated with a latch device engageable in the forward portion of a load mounted on said frame.

Claim 4

An assembly according to claim 1 wherein said damping device includes a member mounted on said frame and operatively associated with damping means and engageable with the forward end of the load whereby vertical movements thereof are damped.

Claim 5

A vehicle having a projecting load carrying chassis extending from one end thereof upon which is assembled an assembly enabling said vehicle to be moved longitudinally beneath a raised load to be carried thereby, said assembly comprising a frame having spaced longitudinal members mounted longitudinally of said chassis, a fifth wheel coupling plate pivotally mounted between said members in the mid-portion thereof for fore and aft pitching movement, load guide means at the rear end of said members, and a damping device at the front end of said frame, said frame enabling the vehIcle to be moved longitudinally beneath a raised load until a fifth wheel pin on the mid-underside portion of the load engages in said fifth wheel coupling plate with a member at the rear of the load engaged in said guide means, and said damping device is engaged in the forward part of said load and reacts against a forward portion of said vehicle chassis.

Claim 6

A vehicle having a projecting load carrying chassis extending from one end thereof upon which is assembled an assembly enabling said vehicle to be moved longitudinally beneath a raised load to be carried thereby, said assembly comprising a frame having spaced longitudinal members mounted longitudinally of said chassis, a fifth wheel coupling plate pivotally mounted between said members in the mid-portion thereof for fore and aft pitching movement, load guide means at the rear end of said members, and a damping device at the front end of said frame, said frame enabling the vehIcle to be moved longitudinally beneath a raised load until a fifth wheel pin on the mid-underside portion of the load engages in said fifth wheel coupling plate with a member at the rear of the load engaged in said guide means, and said damping device is engaged in the forward part of said load and reacts against a forward portion of said vehicle chassis.

Claim 7

The vehicle as recited in claim 4 wherein said damping device includes a member mounted on said frame and operatively associated with damping means and engageable with the forward end of the load whereby vertical movements thereof are damped.

Claim 8

An assembly for use in converting a wheeled vehicle chassis for mounting thereon trailer loads raised above the ground, said assembly comprising a frame, said frame having spaced longitudinal members mountable longitudinally of said chassis, a fifth wheel coupling plate pivotally mounted between said members in the mid portion thereof for fore and aft pitching movement, load guide means at the rear end of said members, and a damping device at the front end of said frame, said frame enabling the vehicle to be moved longitudinally beneath a raised load until a fifth wheel pin on the mid underside portion of the load engages in said fifth wheel coupling plate and a member at the rear of the load engages in said guide means, and said damping device is engaged in the forward part of said load and reacts against forward portion of said vehicle chassis, a second assembly operably secured with the first assembly when fitted on the vehicle chassis, comprising a load supporting frame, said frame having spaced longitudinal frame members, front and rear transomes rigidly connected to said frame members, a supporting member mounted between the mid portions of said frame members, a fifth wheel pin mounted on said supporting member, to engage the fifth wheel plate of said first assembly, rollers at the forward ends of said frame members to ride along said longitudinal members of said first frame, retracted ground engaging supports at the forward end of said frame members, and ground engaging supports at the rear ends of said frame members, said front transom cooperating with said damping device and said rear transom being connected to a member engaging in said guide means of said first assembly when said loaded frame is loaded onto said vehicle chassis.

Claim 9

An assembly for use in converting a wheeled vehicle chassis for mounting thereon trailer loads raised above the ground, said assembly comprising a frame, said frame having spaced longitudinal members mountable longitudinally of said chassis, a fifth wheel coupling plate pivotally mounted between said members in the mid portion thereof for fore and aft pitching movement, load guide means at the rear end of said members, and a damping device at the front end of said frame, said frame enabling the vehicle to be moved longitudinally beneath a raised load until a fifth wheel pin on the mid underside portion of the load engages in said fifth wheel coupling plate and a member at the rear of the load engages in said guide means, and said damping device is engaged in the forward part of said load and reacts against forward portion of said vehicle chassis, a second assembly operably secured with the first assembly when fitted on the vehicle chassis, comprising a load supporting frame, said frame having spaced longitudinal frame members, front and rear transomes rigidly connected to said frame members, a supporting member mounted between the mid portions of said frame members, a fifth wheel pin mounted on said supporting member, to engage the fifth wheel plate of said first assembly, rollers at the forward ends of said frame members to ride along said longitudinal members of said first frame, retracted ground engaging supports at the forward end of said frame members, and ground engaging supports at the rear ends of said frame members, said front transom cooperating with said damping device and said rear transom being connected to a member engaging in said guide means of said first assembly when said loaded frame is loaded onto said vehicle chassis.

Claim 10

An assembly according to claim 6 wherein said rear ground engaging supports comprise a pair of road wheels, a pair of arms pivoted to the road wheel axles, limbs of said arms connected to shock absorbers and limbs pivoted to frame members fast with said rear transom and forming said member engageable with said guide means.