AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT RIGID DOLLY TRAILER COUPLING The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.
TITLE RIGID DOLLY TRAILER COUPLING FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention generally relates to a coupling assembly and method used for connecting trailers. Particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for towing a plurality of trailers by a single towing vehicle to achieve the correct load formulas. 10 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A multi-trailer assembly is used to transport large shipments of goods from one location to another. The assembly may include a plurality of trailers connected in 15 series including a towing trailer and a towed trailer connected to each other by means of a coupling assembly. Each trailer of the plurality of trailers is an un-powered vehicle that may be hooked to or pulled by the towing vehicle such as a truck, a tractor and the like. Further, each 20 trailer generally includes a load bearing bed, a king pin assembly and a plurality of wheels for supporting the load bearing bed. The load bearing bed of the trailer is adapted to carry large payloads. Generally, the load bearing bed of the trailer is designed in accordance with the type of load to be handled. In order to facilitate handling of different types of load, the series of trailers are connected, and load on 25 each axle group is fed into a formula which dictates the maximum load of the combination, known as bridge formulas. The linearly connected trailers may be connected to the towing vehicle by means of a coupling assembly located between the towing vehicle and a trailer at a front end 30 of the series of linearly connected trailers (hereinafter referred lead trailer). Generally, a quick release fifth wheel coupling is used for providing a link between 1 the lead trailer and the towing vehicle towing the trailers. The fifth wheel coupling includes a coupling pin (or a king pin) on a front portion of the lead trailer, and a horseshoe-shaped coupling device called a "fifth wheel" provided on a rear portion of the towing vehicle. More particularly, the "fifth wheel" mounted on the towing vehicle 5 is adapted to grip and pivot with respect to the king pin of the lead trailer to enable the towing vehicle to simultaneously tow the series of linearly connected trailers. The coupling between the "fifth wheel" and the king pin is generally referred to as "turn table". 10 Further, the towing trailer and the towed trailer of the plurality of trailers may be linearly connected to each other by means of coupling system utilizing the "Ringfeder" style coupling connected to a pivoting drawbar wheeled dolly for interconnecting the towing trailer and the towed trailer. The wheeled dolly is arranged between the towing trailer and the towed trailer in such a manner that a 15 front end of the wheeled dolly engages with a Ringfeder T M , at the rear portion of the towing trailer, whereas the rear end of the wheeled dolly has a turntable, which locates with the king pin of the towed trailer. Furthermore, the towing trailer and the towed trailer of the plurality of trailers may be 20 linearly connected to each other by means of another apparatus, such as a wheeled dolly located in a way such that a front end of the wheeled dolly engages the rear end of the towing trailer, whereas the rear end of the wheeled dolly has a turntable to connect the king pin of the towed trailer. Currently the industry standard for this configuration or arrangement is to use a pivoting drawbar multi-axle dolly and 25 Ringfeder T M coupling. However, recently state Victorian legislation disallowed this configuration on vehicles operating under the High Productivity Freight Vehicles (HPFV). These revised regulations require the use of a fifth wheel turntable. The conventional systems and methods for connecting the towing trailer and the 30 towed trailer to each other fail to comply with load distribution limits formula (bridge formulas) of the multi-trailer transport vehicle. 2 To alleviate the problems associated with the connecting of the adjacent trailers of the series of trailers, some techniques have been disclosed in the prior art. 5 AU2003100982 discloses systems and arrangements for reversibly connecting a semi-trailer to a drive unit, truck or other trailer. More specifically, a trailer combination includes a truck or first trailer, the truck or first trailer includes a first coupling element positioned rear-wardly in a recess between the first trailer or truck body and an axle of a rearmost axle assembly of the first trailer or truck. The trailer 10 combination further includes a secondary semi-trailer, wherein the secondary semi trailer includes a second coupling element engageable with the first coupling element, the second coupling element being located anteriorly on a chassis extension member extending forwardly of a body of the secondary semi-trailer. 15 However, the trailer assemblies and systems disclosed in the prior art do not meet certain Federal or State regulations in Australia. Accordingly, there is a need for a coupling system that meets all Federal and State regulations in respect to load weights. 20 An object of the present invention is to provide a dolly trailer coupling assembly and a method for connecting a towing trailer to a towed trailer of a multi-trailer transport vehicle that provides a stable and a sturdy connection between the trailers and adheres to Federal and State axle group weight regulations. 25 Still another object of the present invention is to provide a dolly trailer coupling assembly for connecting a towing trailer to a towed trailer of a multi-trailer transport vehicle that has a rigid structural configuration. 30 3 A further object of the present invention is to comply with the new High Productivity Freight Vehicle (HPFV) regulations in Victoria. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 5 The present invention provides a rigid dolly trailer coupling assembly for interconnecting a towing style A trailer to a towed trailer comprising a wheeled dolly and a coupling pin or King-pin wherein the coupling pin or King-pin is disposed on a front end of the wheeled dolly to engage to a turntable recessed under the said 10 towing trailer and a "fifth wheel" is disposed at a rear end of the dolly to engage with the towed trailer. In another aspect, the present invention provides a rigid dolly trailer coupling assembly for interconnecting a towing trailer to a towed trailer comprising a coupling 15 pin or King-pin, and a "fifth wheel" wherein the coupling pin or King-pin is located at the front end of the dolly and is to engage with the "fifth wheel" which is disposed under the towing trailer known as a Reditip TM style trailer. Preferably, the assembly comprises a series of dollies and trailers. 20 Preferably, the dolly is coupled to a lead trailer and a tag trailer. In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of coupling a lead trailer to a tag comprising a rigid dolly trailer coupling assembly as described herein. 25 In another aspect, the invention provides a truck and/or a trailer assembly comprising: a lead trailer; 30 a tag trailer; and 4 a rigid wheeled dolly trailer coupling assembly for interconnecting the lead trailer to the tag trailer comprising a coupling pin or King-pin wherein the coupling pin or King-pin is disposed on a front end of the wheeled dolly to engage to a turntable recessed under the said lead trailer and a "fifth wheel" 5 is disposed at a rear end of the dolly to engage with the tag trailer. The towing trailer and the towed trailer would include a tipper style body, a plurality of wheels supporting the body, and a chassis supporting a king pin. 10 Further, the dolly trailer coupling assembly is adapted to removably inter-connect the towing trailer and the towed trailer of the multi-trailer transport vehicle. 15 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS The invention will now be explained in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which: 20 Figure 1 shows the rigid dolly trailer coupling, showing the King pin 101 and the 5 th wheel turntable 102. It also shows the rigid design of the goose neck 103. Figure 2 shows various views of the Rigid Dolly Trailer Coupling showing the 25 connection point to the rear of a Reditip TM style trailer 201. Figure 3 shows the rigid dolly trailer coupling in situ with a towing trailer and towed trailer. 30 Figure 4 shows existing Ringfeder TM style of tow coupling, on a pivoting drawbar dolly. 5 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings 5 which do not limit the scope and ambit of the invention. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration. A dolly trailer coupling assembly and method is envisaged in accordance with the present invention for connecting a towing trailer and a towed trailer of a series of 10 linearly aligned trailers (herein after referred to as adjacent trailers) in a multi-trailer transport vehicle. More specifically, the rigid dolly trailer coupling assembly and method for connecting adjacent trailers of the present invention removably connects adjacent trailers of the multi-trailer transport vehicle to each other in order to facilitate a towing vehicle of the multi-trailer transport vehicle to simultaneously tow a 15 plurality of trailers. The rigid dolly trailer coupling assembly and method for connecting adjacent trailers of the present invention provides a stable, reliable and a sturdy connection between the adjacent trailers while compiling to the current state and federal "bridge formula". 20 Figure 1 shows the rigid dolly trailer coupling, showing the King pin 101 and the 5 th wheel turntable 102. It also shows the rigid design of the goose neck 103. The turntable is located in such a way as to achieve the weight distribution as required by the "bridge formula". 25 Figure 2 shows the "fifth wheel" of the lead trailer 40 is positioned in such a manner that the "turn-table" 201 is recessed under the lead trailer 40. The underside of the load bearing bed of the towing trailer 40 is designed to accommodate the "turn-table" and a front portion of the wheeled dolly 100 (Reditip T M ). Accordingly, a front portion of the wheeled dolly 100 connecting the towed trailer 20 to the towing trailer 40 is 30 located below the towing trailer 40. Such a configuration, in which the wheeled dolly 6 100 is connected to the "turn-table" recessed under the towing trailer 40, satisfies the current revised federal and state axle load requirements. Figure 3 illustrates a rigid dolly trailer coupling assembly 100, wherein the trailer 20 5 (Lead trailer) is towed by the trailer 40 (tag trailer). The lead trailer 40 assembly is Reditip TM trailer type. The tag trailer 20 and the lead trailer 40 are connected to each other by means of the rigid dolly trailer coupling assembly 100 according to the present invention. 10 Figure 4 shows the existing style of coupling known as the Ringfeder T M style tow coupling 105 on a pivoting drawbar dolly. The configuration of the wheeled dolly 100 according to the present invention 15 facilitates easy-steering and manoeuvrability of the multi-trailer transport vehicle. Furthermore, such an arrangement of trailers one after the other, and coupled by dolly trailer coupling assembly 100 of the present invention enhances flexibility of operation of the multi-trailer transport vehicle. 20 The trailer combination may be further coupled to another or a series of semi trailers or the like to form a combination adapted to transport and discharge or tip 25 material. Any combination suitable for connection to the truck falls within the scope of this invention. 30 In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the towing style A trailer is to engage to a turntable recessed under the said towing trailer. In one embodiment, the towing style A trailer represents the Reditip TM trailer. 35 7 In an embodiment of the present invention, the towing trailer and the towed trailer are of Reditip T M Lead type trailer comprising a lead trailer, a rigid dolly coupling trailer and a tag trailer. 5 The term "rigid dolly trailer" relates to a dolly arrangement according to the present invention wherein the coupling pin or King-pin is disposed on a front end of the wheeled dolly to engage to a turntable recessed under the said towing trailer and a "fifth wheel" is disposed at a rear end of the dolly to engage with the towed trailer. 10 The assembly according to the present invention allows transportation of about 90 tons of material. The dolly trailer coupling assembly and method for connecting adjacent trailers of 15 the present invention provides numerous advantages both in operation and safety. The assembly provides a quick release turntable for easy operation. The dolly trailer coupling assembly of the present invention is adapted to provide a significant level of control over the series of trailers following the towing vehicle of the multi-trailer transport vehicle. The dolly trailer coupling assembly and method for connecting 20 adjacent trailers is adapted to provide a stable connection between the adjacent trailers such as a towed trailer and a towing trailer of the multi-trailer transport vehicle. Moreover, the dolly trailer coupling assembly is simple in structural configuration. Moreover, the dolly trailer coupling assembly is effective and efficient. Further, the dolly trailer coupling assembly for the multi-trailer transport vehicle 25 assists in easy operation and maneuvering of the multi-trailer transport vehicle. Furthermore, the rigid dolly trailer coupling assembly for connecting a towing trailer to a towed trailer of a multi-trailer transport vehicle is adapted to optimize load distribution and maneuverability of the multi-trailer transport vehicle. The numerical values given of various physical parameters, dimensions and 30 quantities are only approximate values and it is envisaged that the values higher 8 than the numerical value assigned to the physical parameters, dimensions and quantities fall within the scope of the invention and the claims unless there is a statement in the specification to the contrary. While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the specific features of the 5 preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many additional features can be added and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the 10 foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation. 9