US3884502A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Semitrailer or the like
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-12-17
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Granted: 1975-05-20
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Expires: 1993-12-17
Abstract
Abstract The invention concerns the semitrailer of a tractor-trailer rig, and adjacent its forward end, the trailer has the usual king-pin to enable it to be releasably connected to the fifth-wheel assembly of a tractor having an air-suspension drive wheel assembly. An air-supension wheel assembly in the form of a dolly or carriage is removably secured to the trailer adjacent the rear end thereof. Fastener mechanism enables the rear wheel assembly to be securely attached to the trailer when desired, and the trailer is further equipped with a depending support structure intermediate the ends thereof which is adapted to provide an auxiliary cargo space and also to support the trailer upon removal of both the tractor and the rear wheel assembly therefrom. Means are provided for overriding the usual leveling system for the wheel assembly so that the air springs thereof can be both overinflated to raise the trailer to an abnormally high elevation, and for underinflating the air springs so that the trailer tends to descend to an abnormally low elevation. The tractor and rear wheel assembly can each be removed by overinflating the air springs, placing block-type supports under the support structure, and then underinflating the air springs whereupon the wheel assemblies, when the fastener mechanism is released, tend to descend to a position free from the trailer so that they can be removed therefrom.
Inventors
- 👤 Ray B Wagner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:56
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0857; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
266 words
A semitrailer or the like, comprising: a. frame structure defining a chassis equipped with loadcarrying apparatus; b. air suspension wheel assembly removably securable to said frame structure adjacent the rear end of said trailer; c. fastener mechanism for releasably securing said wheel assembly to said frame structure, said fastener mechanism including a plurality of latch devices having cooperative components respectively provided by said frame structure and wheel assembly each of said latch devices being selectively movable between latch and release conditions, each of said latch devices providing an over-center action in which the device tends to maintain itself selectively in each of the latch and release conditions thereof, and in which each latch device is equipped with a releasable safety to constrain the device in the latch position thereof to prevent inadvertant movement of the device into its release condition; d. support structure secured to and depending from said frame structure intermediate the ends thereof to support said trailer upon removal of said wheel assembly; e. means for overpressurizing the air-suspension of said wheel assembly to enable said frame and support structures to be raised to an abnormal elevation for insertion of support blocks under the latter to engage the same and support said trailer upon subsequent reduction of pressure in the air suspension system to underpressurize the same and enable said wheel assembly to be removed from said frame structure upon release of said fastener mechanism; f. and a king-pin carried by said trailer adjacent the front end portion thereof to enable the same to be releasably interconnected with the fifth-wheel assembly of a tractor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
266 words
A semitrailer or the like, comprising: a. frame structure defining a chassis equipped with loadcarrying apparatus; b. air suspension wheel assembly removably securable to said frame structure adjacent the rear end of said trailer; c. fastener mechanism for releasably securing said wheel assembly to said frame structure, said fastener mechanism including a plurality of latch devices having cooperative components respectively provided by said frame structure and wheel assembly each of said latch devices being selectively movable between latch and release conditions, each of said latch devices providing an over-center action in which the device tends to maintain itself selectively in each of the latch and release conditions thereof, and in which each latch device is equipped with a releasable safety to constrain the device in the latch position thereof to prevent inadvertant movement of the device into its release condition; d. support structure secured to and depending from said frame structure intermediate the ends thereof to support said trailer upon removal of said wheel assembly; e. means for overpressurizing the air-suspension of said wheel assembly to enable said frame and support structures to be raised to an abnormal elevation for insertion of support blocks under the latter to engage the same and support said trailer upon subsequent reduction of pressure in the air suspension system to underpressurize the same and enable said wheel assembly to be removed from said frame structure upon release of said fastener mechanism; f. and a king-pin carried by said trailer adjacent the front end portion thereof to enable the same to be releasably interconnected with the fifth-wheel assembly of a tractor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The trailer of claim 1 and further comprising constraining means having interconnecting elements respectively provided by trailer frame structure and by said wheel assembly and being operative to constrain the trailer and wheel assembly against relative longitudinal and transverse displacement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The trailer of claim 2 in which said constraining means and interconnecting elements thereof comprise a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending grooves and a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending tongues respectively receivable within said grooves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The trailer of claim 3 in which each of said grooves and each of said tongues is tapered to enforce a predetermined relative alignment on said trailer and wheel assembly upon insertion of said tongues within said grooves.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
94 words
The trailer of claim 1 in which said wheel assembly includes a plurality of pressurizable air springs and a pneumatic flow system interconnectIng the same and equipped with an automatic leveling control operative to inflate and deflate said air springs selectively to maintain said trailer at a predetermined elevation relative to said wheel assembly, and in which said means for over-pressurizing and under-pressurizing said air-suspension includes override means connected in circuit with said flow system and having a manually operable control valve to selectively energize said override means for such over and under-pressurization thereby.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
The trailer of claim 1 in which said wheel assembly is removably securable to said frame structure adjacent the rear end of said trailer; and further comprising a king-pin carried by said trailer adjacent the front end portion thereof to enable the same to be releasably interconnected with the fifth-wheel assembly of a tractor; and further comprising constraining means having interconnecting elements respectively provided by trailer from structure and by said wheel assembly and being operative to constrain the trailer and wheel assembly against relative longitudinal and transverse displacement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
130 words
The trailer of claim 6 in which said fastener mechanism includes a plurality of latch devices having cooperative components respectively provided by said frame structure and wheel assembly, each of said latch devices being selectively movable between latch and release conditions; in which said wheel assembly includes a plurality of pressurizable air springs and a pneumatic flow system interconnecting the same and equipped with an automatic leveling control operative to inflate and deflate said air springs selectively to maintain said trailer at a predetermined elevation relative to said wheel assembly, and in which said means for overpressurizing and under-pressurizing said air-suspension includes override means connected in circuit with said flow system and having a manually operable control valve to selectively energize said override means for such over and underpressurization thereby.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The trailer of claim 7 in which said support structure includes both longitudinally and transversely extending components each of which is generally hollow and is equipped with interior reinforcing; and in which said longitudinally and transversely extending components define a generally I-shaped configuration, and in which said support structure further includes bottom wall means providing a cargo space adapted to receive and support freight therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
130 words
The trailer of claim 8 in which each of said latch devices provides an over-center action in which the device tends to maintain itself selectively in each of the latch and release conditions thereof, and in which latch device is equipped with a releasable safety to constrain the device in the latch position thereof to prevent inadvertent movement of the device into its release condition; in which said constraining means and interconnecting elements thereof comprise a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending grooves and a plurality of longitudinally and transversely extending tongues respectively receivable within said grooves; in which each of said grooves and each of said tongues is tapered to enforce a predetermined relative alignment on said trailer and wheel assembly upon insertion of said tongues within said grooves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
165 words
A semitrailer or the like, comprising: a. frame structure defining a chassis equipped with load-carrying apparatus; b. an air suspension wheel assembly removably securable to said frame structure adjacent one end portion thereof; c. fastener mechanism for releasably securing said wheel assembly to said frame structure; d. support structure secured to and depending from said frame structure intermediate the ends thereof to support said trailer upon removal of said wheel assembly, said support structure including both longitudinally and transversely extending components each of which is generally hollow and is equipped with interior reinforcing; e. and means for overpressuriZing the air-suspension of said wheel assembly to enable said frame and support structures to be raised to an abnormal elevation for insertion of support blocks under the latter to engage the same and support said trailer upon subsequent reduction of pressure in the air suspension system to underpressurize the same enable said wheel assembly to be removed from said frame structure upon release of said fastener mechanism.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
165 words
A semitrailer or the like, comprising: a. frame structure defining a chassis equipped with load-carrying apparatus; b. an air suspension wheel assembly removably securable to said frame structure adjacent one end portion thereof; c. fastener mechanism for releasably securing said wheel assembly to said frame structure; d. support structure secured to and depending from said frame structure intermediate the ends thereof to support said trailer upon removal of said wheel assembly, said support structure including both longitudinally and transversely extending components each of which is generally hollow and is equipped with interior reinforcing; e. and means for overpressuriZing the air-suspension of said wheel assembly to enable said frame and support structures to be raised to an abnormal elevation for insertion of support blocks under the latter to engage the same and support said trailer upon subsequent reduction of pressure in the air suspension system to underpressurize the same enable said wheel assembly to be removed from said frame structure upon release of said fastener mechanism.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The trailer of claim 10 in which said longitudinally and transversely extending components define a generally I-shaped configuration, and in which said support structure further includes bottom wall means providing a cargo space adapted to receive and support freight therein.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |