Steerable Trailer

Claim 2

A steerable trailer for elongated loads such as logs and the like comprising means for receiving a load to be carried by the trailer, means for transmitting to the ground the totality of the weight of any such load received by the load-receiving means, said transmitting means including a frame which mounts the loadreceiving means, and ground-traveling support means which supports the frame for travel over the ground, and non-load-transmitting steering mechanism including a member accommodating coupling of the trailer to a towing vehicle, pivot means pivoting said coupling member on said frame for swinging about a generally upright axis, and means operatively interconnecting said coupling member and said frame for swinging the former relative to the latter to different adjusted positions about said axis.

Claim 3

The trailer of claim 1, wherein said frame includes an opening through which said coupling member extends, and said pivot means comprises a pair of generally vertically aligned pivot mechanisms disposed within said opening.

Claim 4

The trailer of claim 1, wherein said interconnecting means comprises a pair of double-acting fluid-actuated motors extending between said frame and said coupling member.

Claim 5

A steerable trailer for elongated loads such as logs and the like comprising a frame, ground-traveling support means supporting said frame for travel over the ground, means mounted on said frame for receiving a load to be carried by the trailer, said load-receiving means, frame and support means forming the sole structure in said trailer for transmitting to the ground the weight of a load received by the load-receiving means, an elongated coupling member accommodating coupling of the trailer to a towing vehicle, said coupling member extending generally in the direction in which the trailer moves when towed, non-load-bearing pivot means pivoting said coupling member on said frame for swinging about a generally upright pivot axis, and means operatively interconnecting said coupling member and said frame operable to swing the former relative to the latter to different adjusted positions about said pivot axis.

Claim 6

A steerable trailer for elongated loads such as logs and the like comprising a frame, ground-traveling support means supporting said frame for travel over the ground, means mounted on said frame for receiving a load to be carried by the trailer, said load-receiving means, frame and support means forming the sole structure in said trailer for transmitting to the ground the weight of a load received by the load-receiving means, an elongated coupling member accommodating coupling of the trailer to a towing vehicle, said coupling member extending generally in the direction in which the trailer moves when towed, non-load-bearing pivot means pivoting said coupling member on said frame for swinging about a generally upright pivot axis, and means operatively interconnecting said coupling member and said frame operable to swing the former relative to the latter to different adjusted positions about said pivot axis.

Claim 7

The trailer of claim 4, wherein said frame includes an opening through which said coupling member extends, and said pivot means comprises a pivot connection disposed within said opening.

Claim 8

The trailer of claim 4 wherein said interconnecting means comprises a pair of double-acting fluid-actuated motors extending between said frame and said coupling member.

Claim 9

A steerable log trailer comprising a frame, ground-traveling support means supporting said frame for travel over the ground, a log bunk for receiving a load of logs, first pivot means pivoting said bunk on said frame for swinging about a generally upright axis, said log bunk, first pivot means, frame and support means forming the sole structure in said trailer for transmitting load-created forces between the bunk and ground, an elongated generally horizontal reach guide, non-load-bearing second pivot means pivoting said reach guide on said frame for swinging also about a generally upright axis, and means operatively interconnecting said reach guide and said frame operable to swing the former relative to the latter to different adjusted positions about said second-mentioned axis.

Claim 10

A steerable log trailer comprising a frame, ground-traveling support means supporting said frame for travel over the ground, a log bunk for receiving a load of logs, first pivot means pivoting said bunk on said frame for swinging about a generally upright axis, said log bunk, first pivot means, frame and support means forming the sole structure in said trailer for transmitting load-created forces between the bunk and ground, an elongated generally horizontal reach guide, non-load-bearing second pivot means pivoting said reach guide on said frame for swinging also about a generally upright axis, and means operatively interconnecting said reach guide and said frame operable to swing the former relative to the latter to different adjusted positions about said second-mentioned axis.

Claim 11

The trailer of claim 7, wherein said frame includes an opening through which said reach guide extends, and said second pivot means comprises a pair of generally vertically aligned pivot mechanisms disposed within said opening.

Claim 12

The trailer of claim 7, wherein said interconnecting means comprises a pair of fluid-actuated motors extending between said reach guide and said frame.

Claim 13

A steerable trailer for elongated loads such as logs and the like comprising a frame having an opening extending longitudinally of the trailer, and means supporting the frame for travel over the ground, a load bunk for receiving a load, and a first pivot mechanism mounting the bunk on said frame for swinging about a generally upright axis, a coupling member accommodating coupling of the trailer to a towing vehicle, second and third pivot mechanisms disposed within said opening and pivoting upper and lower sides of said coupling member to said frame for swinging also about a generally upright axis, with the coupling member extending generally horizontally through the opening, and a pair of fluid-actuated motors operatively interconnecting said coupling member and said frame for swinging the former relative to the latter to different adjusted positions about said second-mentioned axis, said frame, where it surrounds said opening, being constructed whereby said second and third pivot mechanisms bear none of any load carried at any time by said load bunk.

Claim 14

A steerable trailer for elongated loads such as logs and the like comprising a frame having an opening extending longitudinally of the trailer, and means supporting the frame for travel over the ground, a load bunk for receiving a load, and a first pivot mechanism mounting the bunk on said frame for swinging about a generally upright axis, a coupling member accommodating coupling of the trailer to a towing vehicle, second and third pivot mechanisms disposed within said opening and pivoting upper and lower sides of said coupling member to said frame for swinging also about a generally upright axis, with the coupling member extending generally horizontally through the opening, and a pair of fluid-actuated motors operatively interconnecting said coupling member and said frame for swinging the former relative to the latter to different adjusted positions about said second-mentioned axis, said frame, where it surrounds said opening, being constructed whereby said second and third pivot mechanisms bear none of any load carried at any time by said load bunk.