US3989268A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Anti-jack knife system for trailer trucks
Assignee: Lawrence Peska Associates Inc
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Filing: 1975-04-07
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Granted: 1976-11-02
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Expires: 1995-04-07
Abstract
Abstract An anti-jack-knifing safety device for use on tractors and trailers operating on the highways and streets. It includes a gear rack mounted on the front end of the trailer, and secured against rotation thereon, and a second gear rack mounted on the rear end of the tractor, and also secured against rotation on the tractor. Electromagnetic solenoid means are provided on the tractor portion of the device, for moving the gear rack from retracted position to extended position and thus into intermeshment with the gear teeth on the front end of the trailer, thus blocking relative rotational movement of the trailer and tractor and thus blocking jacknifing. The solenoid is actuated from the tractor battery and through a foot switch controlled by the driver when jacknifing is imminent.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Lyle Rawn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:06
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0871
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
385 words
An anti-jack-knifing safety device for use on tractor-trailer combination vehicles in which there is a tractor and at least one trailer coupled to the tractor for being towed thereby, said safety device comprising first main safety device body means constructed and arranged for being carried by said tractor, second main safety device trailer coupling means constructed and arranged for being carried by said trailer, and moving coupling means carried by said first main safety device body means and constructed and arranged for being brought into operation by the driver operator of said vehicle for blocking said tractor and trailer against jack-knifing relative movement relative to each other, said second main safety device trailer coupling means comprising a second rack body means, a plurality of second gear teeth carried by and projecting outwardly from said second rack body means, and wherein said first main safety device body means comprises a first rack body means, a plurality of first gear teeth carried by and projecting outwardly from said first rack body means, said first and second gear teeth being constructed and arranged for mutual intermeshment together when brought into contact engagement with each other, and gear rack anchoring means for blocking angular rotation of said gear rack body means relative to respective related the tractor and trailer on which they are mounted, said gear rack anchoring means comprising a second gear rack anchor secured fixedly to an end of said trailer for blocking rotation of said second gear rack relative to its said supporting trailer, and wherein said gear rack anchoring means comprises a first gear rack anchor body means secured fixedly to a rear portion of said tractor, said first rack body means being moveable from retracted position out of engagement with said second gear teeth, to extended intermeshed position in toothed engagement with said second gear teeth, so as to block rotational movement of said trailer relative to said tractor and thus avoiding jack-knifing, and wedge means disposed intermediate said first gear rack anchor body means and said first rack body means, and moving means for moving said wedge means from retracted position to extended position for moving said first rack body means and its said teeth into meshed engagement with said second gear teeth on said trailer, and for blocking axial jack-knifing rotation thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
385 words
An anti-jack-knifing safety device for use on tractor-trailer combination vehicles in which there is a tractor and at least one trailer coupled to the tractor for being towed thereby, said safety device comprising first main safety device body means constructed and arranged for being carried by said tractor, second main safety device trailer coupling means constructed and arranged for being carried by said trailer, and moving coupling means carried by said first main safety device body means and constructed and arranged for being brought into operation by the driver operator of said vehicle for blocking said tractor and trailer against jack-knifing relative movement relative to each other, said second main safety device trailer coupling means comprising a second rack body means, a plurality of second gear teeth carried by and projecting outwardly from said second rack body means, and wherein said first main safety device body means comprises a first rack body means, a plurality of first gear teeth carried by and projecting outwardly from said first rack body means, said first and second gear teeth being constructed and arranged for mutual intermeshment together when brought into contact engagement with each other, and gear rack anchoring means for blocking angular rotation of said gear rack body means relative to respective related the tractor and trailer on which they are mounted, said gear rack anchoring means comprising a second gear rack anchor secured fixedly to an end of said trailer for blocking rotation of said second gear rack relative to its said supporting trailer, and wherein said gear rack anchoring means comprises a first gear rack anchor body means secured fixedly to a rear portion of said tractor, said first rack body means being moveable from retracted position out of engagement with said second gear teeth, to extended intermeshed position in toothed engagement with said second gear teeth, so as to block rotational movement of said trailer relative to said tractor and thus avoiding jack-knifing, and wedge means disposed intermediate said first gear rack anchor body means and said first rack body means, and moving means for moving said wedge means from retracted position to extended position for moving said first rack body means and its said teeth into meshed engagement with said second gear teeth on said trailer, and for blocking axial jack-knifing rotation thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The construction of claim 1, wherein said moving means comprises a solenoid connected to a battery in said vehicle, switch means for actuating said solenoid, and plunger means in said solenoid for moving said wedge means to move said first gear rack means into intermeshed engagement with said second gear rack teeth to block jack-knifing rotation of said tractor-trailer elements.
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) | 1979-11-02 | 1980-05-03 | 1980-11-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-11-02 | 1984-05-03 | 1984-11-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-11-02 | 1988-05-03 | 1988-11-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |