Trailer turntable locking apparatus

Claim 2

A locking apparatus for preventing articulation of a towed trailer about a vertical axis provided by an articulating coupling assembly coupling the trailer proximate its front end to a towing means comprising in combination, a locking bar pivotally mounted perpendicularly between two parallel and horizontal frame members of the towing means, said locking bar adapted to pivot about a longitudinal axis to a locking position extending perpendicularly between two parallel and horizontal frame struts of the trailer where its respective ends abut against the respective parallel and horizontal struts of the trailer, means for pivoting the locking bar to and from the locking position.

Claim 3

In a tractor including two parallel and horizontal side frame members and a fifth wheel coupling assembly mounted between the side frame members for towing trailers having two parallel and horizontal side frame struts and a complementary fifth wheel coupling assembly located between said parallel side frame struts proximate its front end of such that the trailer, when coupled to the tractor, articulates about a vertical axis provided by the fifth wheel coupling assembly of the tractor and trailer, a locking apparatus comprising in combination therewith, at least one locking bar pivotally mounted perpendicularly between the side frame members of the tractor, said locking bar adapted to pivot about a longitudinal axis from an unlocked position where said bar extends between and below the parallel side frame struts of the trailer to a locked position where said bar extends perpendicularly between the parallel side frame struts of the trailer with its respective ends abutting against the side frame struts of the trailer, whereby said trailer is able to articulate about the vertical axis provided by the fifth wheel coupling assembly of the tractor and trailer when said locking bar is in said unlocked position, and one or the other ends of said locking bar abutting against one or the other of the parallel side frame struts of the trailer bed preventing said trailer from articulating about the vertical axis provided by the fifth wheel coupling assembly of the tractor and trailer when said locking bar is in the locking position.

Claim 4

In a tractor including two parallel and horizontal side frame members and a fifth wheel coupling assembly mounted between the side frame members for towing trailers having two parallel and horizontal side frame struts and a complementary fifth wheel coupling assembly located between said parallel side frame struts proximate its front end of such that the trailer, when coupled to the tractor, articulates about a vertical axis provided by the fifth wheel coupling assembly of the tractor and trailer, a locking apparatus comprising in combination therewith, at least one locking bar pivotally mounted perpendicularly between the side frame members of the tractor, said locking bar adapted to pivot about a longitudinal axis from an unlocked position where said bar extends between and below the parallel side frame struts of the trailer to a locked position where said bar extends perpendicularly between the parallel side frame struts of the trailer with its respective ends abutting against the side frame struts of the trailer, whereby said trailer is able to articulate about the vertical axis provided by the fifth wheel coupling assembly of the tractor and trailer when said locking bar is in said unlocked position, and one or the other ends of said locking bar abutting against one or the other of the parallel side frame struts of the trailer bed preventing said trailer from articulating about the vertical axis provided by the fifth wheel coupling assembly of the tractor and trailer when said locking bar is in the locking position.

Claim 5

The locking apparatus of claim 2 further including means for pivoting said locking bar from the unlocked position to the locked position.

Claim 6

In a front axle dolly including two parallel and horizontal side frame members, and a turntable coupling assembly mounted between the side frame members for towing trailers having two parallel and horizontal side frame struts and a complementary coupling assembly proximate its front end located between the side frame struts adapted for coupling to the turntable assembly of said front axle dolly such that the trailer may articulate about a vertical axis provided by the turntable coupling assembly, a locking apparatus comprising in combination therewith, a locking bar pivotally mounted and oriented perpendicularly between the side frame members of the dolly, means for pivoting the locking bar about a longitudinal axis from an unlocked position extending perpendicularly between and below the side frame struts of the trailer enabling the trailer to articulate about the vertical axis provided by the turntable coupling assembly of the trailer and dolly, to a locking position extending perpendicularly between the parallel side frame struts of the trailer where the respective ends of the locking bar abutting against the respective side frame struts prevent the trailer from articulating about the vertical axis provided by the turntable coupling assembly of the trailer and dolly.

Claim 7

In a front axle dolly including two parallel and horizontal side frame members, and a turntable coupling assembly mounted between the side frame members for towing trailers having two parallel and horizontal side frame struts and a complementary coupling assembly proximate its front end located between the side frame struts adapted for coupling to the turntable assembly of said front axle dolly such that the trailer may articulate about a vertical axis provided by the turntable coupling assembly, a locking apparatus comprising in combination therewith, a locking bar pivotally mounted and oriented perpendicularly between the side frame members of the dolly, means for pivoting the locking bar about a longitudinal axis from an unlocked position extending perpendicularly between and below the side frame struts of the trailer enabling the trailer to articulate about the vertical axis provided by the turntable coupling assembly of the trailer and dolly, to a locking position extending perpendicularly between the parallel side frame struts of the trailer where the respective ends of the locking bar abutting against the respective side frame struts prevent the trailer from articulating about the vertical axis provided by the turntable coupling assembly of the trailer and dolly.

Claim 8

The locking apparatus of claims 1, 3 or 4 further including an additional locking bar pivotally mounted perpendicularly between the parallel and horizontal frame members of the towing means, said additional locking bar adapted to pivot about a longitudinal axis to a locking position extending perpendicularly between the parallel and horizontal frame struts of the trailer with its respective ends abutting against the respective parallel frame struts of the trailer and wherein said means for pivoting said locking bar to and from the locking position also pivots said additional locking bar to and from the locking position.

Claim 9

A locking apparatus of claim 5 wherein said locking bar is pivotally mounted perpendicularly between the parallel frame members of the towing means immediately in front of the articulating coupling assembly and said additional locking bar is pivotally mounted perpendicularly between the parallel frame members of the towing means immediately behind the articulating coupling assembly.

Claim 10

The locking apparatus of claim 5 wherein one of said locking bars is pivotally mounted on a cross frame member of the towing means immediately in front of the articulating coupling assembly and the other locking bar is pivotally mounted on a cross frame member of the towing means immediately behind the articulating coupling assembly.

Claim 11

The locking apparatus of claims 1, 3 or 4 wherein said locking bar in the locking position, also extends perpendicularly between the parallel and horizontal frame members of the towing means with its respective ends also abutting against the respective frame members of the towing means.

Claim 12

A locking apparatus of claim 5 further including a plurality of abutment blocks secured to the two parallel horizontal frame struts of the trailer located such that each end of a locking bar abuts against a corresponding abutment block when said locking bars are positioned in the locking position.

Claim 13

The locking apparatus of claim 9 wherein said abutment blocks have inclined abutment surfaces and wherein said means for pivoting said locking bars to and from the locking position includes means for adjusting the locking position of the locking bars whereby an operator of the towing means may limit articulation of the trailer relative to the towing means by varying the locking position of the respective locking bars relative to the inclined surfaces of the abutment blocks.

Claim 14

The locking apparatus of claim 5 wherein the lengths of the locking bars are selected to allow the trailer to pivot about the vertical axis provided by the articulating coupling assembly a maximum of 12 degrees when said locking bars are in the locking position before a frame strut of the trailer will abut against one or the other of the ends of said locking bars whereby said trailer may pivot 6 degrees in either direction from longitudinal alignment with the towing means.

Claim 15

A locking apparatus for preventing articulation of a towed trailer about a vertical axis of an articulating coupling assembly coupling the trailer proximate its front end to a towing means, comprising in combination, a locking bar pivotally mounted perpendicularly between two parallel and horizontal frame struts of the trailer proximate the coupling assembly, said locking bar adapted to pivot about a longitudinal axis to a locking position perpendicularly between two parallel and horizontal frame members of the towing means where its respective ends abut against the respective parallel frames of the towing means, means for pivoting the locking bar to and from the locking position.

Claim 16

A locking apparatus for preventing articulation of a towed trailer about a vertical axis of an articulating coupling assembly coupling the trailer proximate its front end to a towing means, comprising in combination, a locking bar pivotally mounted perpendicularly between two parallel and horizontal frame struts of the trailer proximate the coupling assembly, said locking bar adapted to pivot about a longitudinal axis to a locking position perpendicularly between two parallel and horizontal frame members of the towing means where its respective ends abut against the respective parallel frames of the towing means, means for pivoting the locking bar to and from the locking position.

Claim 17

A locking apparatus for preventing articulation of a towed trailer about a vertical axis of an articulating coupling assembly coupling the trailer at its front end to a towing means, comprising in combination, a locking bar movably secured and extending perpendicularly between two parallel and horizontal frame members of the towing means, means for mechanically moving said locking bar from an unlocked position extending between the frame members of the towing means to a locked position extending perpendicularly between two parallel and horizontal frame struts of the trailer where its respective ends abut against the respective parallel frame struts of the trailer.

Claim 18

A locking apparatus for preventing articulation of a towed trailer about a vertical axis of an articulating coupling assembly coupling the trailer at its front end to a towing means, comprising in combination, a locking bar movably secured and extending perpendicularly between two parallel and horizontal frame members of the towing means, means for mechanically moving said locking bar from an unlocked position extending between the frame members of the towing means to a locked position extending perpendicularly between two parallel and horizontal frame struts of the trailer where its respective ends abut against the respective parallel frame struts of the trailer.