CA1275428C - Roll coupled vehicle stabilizer system - Google Patents

Roll coupled vehicle stabilizer system

Info

Publication number
CA1275428C
CA1275428C CA000569187A CA569187A CA1275428C CA 1275428 C CA1275428 C CA 1275428C CA 000569187 A CA000569187 A CA 000569187A CA 569187 A CA569187 A CA 569187A CA 1275428 C CA1275428 C CA 1275428C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
frame
trailer
assembly
stabilizer
tube
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA000569187A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Randall L. Goulet
Douglas P. Kee
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Advance Engineered Products Ltd
Original Assignee
Advance Engineered Products Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Advance Engineered Products Ltd filed Critical Advance Engineered Products Ltd
Priority to CA000569187A priority Critical patent/CA1275428C/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1275428C publication Critical patent/CA1275428C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62DMOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D53/00Tractor-trailer combinations; Road trains
    • B62D53/005Combinations with at least three axles and comprising two or more articulated parts

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

ROLL COUPLED VEHICLE STABILIZER SYSTEM
ABSTRACT
Following trailers such as pup trailers have a tendency to whip and/or roll relative to the lead trailer, particularly during evasive manoeuvres such as rapid lane changing or travelling too fast around a curve. This invention transfers this tendency to the lead trailer by the provision of a stabilizing assembly between the two. It consists of a V-shaped connection with a combination vertical and horizontal pivot assembly between the assembly and the following trailer with the frame diverging outwardly and forwardly towards the lead trailer and connecting thereto by means of horizontal pivots. This assembly is situated above the conventional hitch which normally has a horizontal and vertical pivot at the connection to the lead trailer with the frame diverging outwardly and rearwardly to the following trailer to which it is attached by means of a pair of horizontal pivots. The stabilizer assembly includes a central tube between the diverging frame members with the hitch attached to the pup trailer being on a beam slideable lengthwise within the tube in a telescopic manner to allow pivotal action between the two trailers and to maintain the correct geometry during the steering or turning action.

Description

1~754~

ROLL COUPLED VEHICLE STABILIZER ~YST.EM
This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tractor and semitrailer combinations, particularly to the connection between the lead trailer and the following trailer which often takes the form of a pup trailer.
Conventionally, the lead trailer is operatively connected to a tractor by means of a fifth wheel assembly and the following trailer may include a steering dolly with ground wheel supports, and a trailer unit mounted on a turntable or lower fifth wheel on the dolly and extending rearwardly therefrom with further ground engaging wheels adjacent the rear end thereof.
The connection between the lead trailer and the following trailer normally takes the form of a hitch assembly with a horizontal and vertical pivot or ball type connection adjacent the centre of the rear end of the chassis of the leading trailer with the hitch assem-bly then extending rearwardly to be connected upon each side of the steering dolly frame of the following trailer by means of horizontal pivot assemblies.
Under normal circumstances, this form of connection is adequate but when evasive manoeuvres are required such as rapid lane changing or the like, there ~75f~

is a tendency for the following txailer to whip from side to side particularly if the loading of ~he Eollowing trailer is lighter than that of the lead trailer as is oLten required by law when fluids or the like are carried in tanker type trailers.
A further hazardous conclition often arises when the tractor train is steered around a curve at somewhat excessive speeds, under which circumstances there is a tendency f~r the following trailer to roll due to excess centrifugal forces, it being understood that with a normal hitch assembly, it may roll around the front pivot axis of the hitch. It will be appreciated that with a conventional type hitch assembly as herein before described, the leading trailer o~fers no restraint to this roll over tendency of the following trailer.
A third hazardous condition may arise with such a combination due to jackknifing which is prevalent under greasy or icy road conditions and particularly when such occurs on downhill road sections. Under these condi-tions, the following trailer has the tendency to pivot around the vertical axis connection between the hitch and the lead trailer.
Attempts have been made to counteract the undesirable tendencies of following trailers such as 7 5 L~

separate braking systems for the following trailer and various forms of hitch modification.
The present invention is concerned with reducing or eliminating one or more of these conditions.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a steering stabilizer assembly for use in a tractor and semitrailer assembly which includes a lead trailer and a following trailer and a hitch assembly therebetween, said hitch assembly including a frame, a horizontal and vertical pivot assembly operatively connecting the frame by one end thereof to the lead trailer, said frame diverging outwardly and rearwardly towards the following trailer and first horizontal pivot means operatively connecting said frame to said following trailer; said stabilizer assembly including a stabilizer frame, second horizontal pivot means for pivotally securing one end of the stahilizer frame to said lead trailer, a sliding beam engaging said stabilizer frame for sliding movement with respect thereto in a direction perpendicular to the second horizontal pivot means and for rotation with the stabilizer frame about the direction of sliding movement, and pivotal means for connecting said beam to said following trailer.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided the combination of the trailer assembly with the ~teering stabilizer assembly.
It is to be understood that the present invention can s'~

be incorporated either in new construction or may easily be retrofitted to existing hitch structures and furthermore, it will be appreciated that it may be utilized in conjunction with the frame of a pup trailer or, as is more usual, with a steering dolly assembly form of construction.
The invention is simple in construction, B

~1 r~ J r~

economical to manufacture and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.
With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as this specification proceeds, the invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes a description of the best mode known to the applicants and of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of the present invention, in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the connection between the rear end of a lead trailer and the front dolly assembly of a following trailer.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the lead and following trailer portions in a turning situation.
Figure 4 is a schematic top plan view of a tractor and semitrailer train unit.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION

5'~

Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, re~erence should first be made to Figure 4 in which 10 illustrates a conventional tractor cab having a fifth wheel assembly 11 upon which is supported the front end of a leading trailer collectively designated 12 operatively connected by a conventional hitch assembly 13 to a steering dolly assembly 14 upon which is supported a follow~ing or pup trailer collectively designated 15, mounted upon the steering dolly by means of a turntable assembly or lower fifth wheel collectively designated 16 all of which is conventional.
In more detail, the rear end 16 of the leading trailer 12 is supported upon ground engaging wheel assemblies 17 and includes side frame members 18 from which extends a hitch assembly attaching component collectively designated 19 situated centrally of a transverse chassis member 20 extending transversely between the ends of the side members 18.
The hitch assembl~ 13 is connected to the component 19 by means of a transverse pivot assembly 21 and a vertical pivot assembly illustrated schematicall~
by reference character 22.
A hitch frame collectively designated 23 extends rearwardly from these pivot assemblies and ~ 7~

consists of two members 24 diverging outwardly to be connected by the rear ends 25 thereof to hinge brackets 26 extending forwardly of the side members 27 of the steering dolly 14 by means of spaced apart horizontally situated pivot pins 23 all of which is conventional.
The steering dolly assembly 14 includes a rectangular frame 15 having side members 16 and a transverse front member 17 with a turntable assembly or lower fifth wheel assembly 18 situated thereon with the frame 15a of the pup trailer 15 being mounted upon this turntable once again in a conventional manner.
A steering stabilizing assembly collectively designated 29 extends between the leading semitrailer 12 and the steering dolly 14 and is situated vertically above the conventional hitch assembly 13 as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2.
It consists of a frame collectively designated 30 which includes a transverse front member ~1 and a pair of arms 32 which are secured one to each end of the transverse member 31 and converge rearwardly towards a common apex 33.
They are secured as by welding one to each side of a tube 34 which extends forwardly and is supported by and secured to the transverse member 31 thus bisecting ~ ~75~

the substantially triangular frame 30.
A beam 35 slideably engages within the rear end 36 of the tube 34 in a telescopic manner, said beam having an apertured front end portion 37.
It is necessary that the cross-section of the tube 34 and of the beam 35 be such that rotation of the beam within the tube is prevented and in the present embodlment, this cross-sectional configuration is rectangular with the beam telescoping into the tube.
A sub-frame is provided collectively designated 38 and consists of a transverse member 39 having a centrally located spaced unparallel upper and lower triangular plates 40 apertured as at 41 and engaging over corresponding upper and lower plates 42 rearwardly of the beam 35 and being pivotally connected together by means of vertically situated pivot pin 43.
Pairs of pivot bearings or hinges 44 extend rearwardly of each end 45 of the sub-frame transverse beam 39 and are horizontally si~uated to receive bearing or hinge brackets lugs 46 extending forwardly of the transverse member 17 of the steering dolly assembly, one at each end thereof.
In the present embodiment, an attaching wafer assembly collectively designated 47 is sandwiched between 7~

g the following trailer frame 15a and ~he turntable 18 but other methods of attachment ~ay of course be used.
The pivotal connection between the hinges ~4 and the lugs or hinge brackets 46 takes the form of horizontal pivot pins 48 so that vertical pivoting of the steering stabilizer assembly is provided at the rear end thereof to the steering dolly assembly 14. Horizontal pivoting is accomplished around pin 43.
In operation, this steering stabilizer assembly in conjunction with the conventional hitch assembly 13 prevents or at least reduces considerably any tendency of the following trailer to whip, roll or jackknife.
Insofar as rolling is concerned, any rolling tendency is transferred by the assembly 29 to the lead trailer whlch in turn may transfer this stress to the tractor cab assembly if the tendency is continued, where it would become apparent to the driver so that corrective action could be taken prior to actual roll over.
By the same token, the assembly will cause the following trailer to track the lead trailer around a curve with the geometry of the assembly being such that correct steering geometry of the entire train is maintained.
Any tendency towards jackknifing or whipping is ~L~ r7 ~

practically eliminated by use of the present assembly which, as herein before described, can easily be retro-fitted to existing tractor and semitrailer units or, alternatively, may be incorporated during the construction thereof.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabove described, and many apparently widel~ different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

- 11 - (1) A steering stabilizer assembly for use in a tractor and semitrailer assembly which includes a lead trailer and a following trailer and a hitch assembly therebetween, said hitch assembly including a frame, a horizontal and vertical pivot assembly operatively connecting the frame by one end thereof to the lead trailer, said frame diverging outwardly and rearwardly towards the following trailer and first horizontal pivot means operatively connecting said frame to said following trailer; said stabilizer assembly including a stabilizer frame, second horizontal pivot means for pivotally securing one end of the stabilizer frame to said lead trailer, a sliding beam engaging said stabilizer frame for sliding movement with respect thereto in a direction perpendicular to the second horizontal pivot means and for rotation with the stabilizer frame about the direction of sliding movement, and pivotal means for connecting said beam to said following trailer.
(2) The improvement according to Claim 1 in which said steering stabilizer assembly is, when installed, spaced above said hitch assembly.
(3) The improvement according to Claim 1 in which said stabilizer frame comprises two arms pivotally and operatively connectable by one end of each arm to said lead trailer and coverging rearwardly to a common apex adjacent the pivotal connection of said beam to said following trailer.
(4) The improvement according to Claim 2 in which said stabilizer frame comprises two arms pivotally and operatively connectable by one end of each arm to said lead trailer and converging rearwardly to a common apex adjacent the pivotal connection of said beam to said following trailer.
(5) The improvement according to Claim 3 including means or, said stabilizer frame slideably receiving said beam comprising a tube in said frame situated symmetrically between said two arms and means extending between said tube and said arms to secure said tube in position adjacent said one end of each arm, the other ends of said armas being secured one upon each side of said tube.
(6) The improvement according to Claim 4 including means on a said stabilizer frame to slideably receive said beam comprising a tube in said frame situated symmetrically between said two arms and means extending between said tube and said arms to secure said tube in position adjacent said one end of each arm, the other ends of said arms being secured one upon each side of said tube.
(7) The improvement according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 in which said pivotal means for pivotally securing the beam to said following trailer includes a sub-frame, said sub-frame including a transverse member, third horizontal pivot means adjacent each end of said transverse member for pivotal attachment to the front end of said following trailer and a vertical hitch assembly centrally of said transverse member attached to said beam.
(8) The combination of a trailer assembly which includes a lead trailer and a following trailer and a hitch assembly therebetween, said hitch assembly including a frame, a horizontal and vertical pivot assembly operatively connecting the frame by one end thereof to said lead trailer, said frame diverging outwardly and rearwardly towards said following tailer and first horizontal pivot means operatively connecting said frame to said following trailer, and a steering stabilizer assembly, said stabilizer assembly including a stabilizer frame, second horizontal pivot means pivotally securing one end of the stabilizer frame to said lead trailer, a sliding beam engaging said stabilizer frame for sliding movement with respect thereto in a direction per-pendicular to the second horizontal pivot means and for rotation with the stabilizer frame about the direction of sliding movement, and pivotal means operatively connecting said beam to said following trailer.
(9) The combination according to Claim 8 in which said steering stabilizer assembly is spaced above said hitch assembly.
(10) The combination according to Claim 8 in which said stabilizer frame comprises two arms pivotally and operatively connected by one end of each arm to said lead trailer and converging rearwardly to a common apex adjacent the pivotal connection of said beam to said following trailer.
(11) The combination according to Claim 9 in which said stabilizer frame comprises two arms pivotally and operatively connected by one end of each arm to said lead trailer and converging rearwardly to a common apex adjacent the pivotal connection of said beam to said following trailer.
(12) The combination according to Claim 10 including means on said stabilizer frame slideably receiving said beam, comprising a tube in said frame situated symmetrically between said two arms and means extending between said tube and said arms to secure said tube in position adjacent said one end of each arm, the other ends of said arms being secured one upon each side of said tube.
(13) The combination according to Claim 11 including means on said stabilizer frame slideably receiving said beam comprising a tube in said frame situated symmetrically between said two arms and means extending between said tube and said arms to secure said tube in position adjacent said one end of each arm, the other ends of said arms being secured one upon each side of said tube.
(14) The combination according to any one of Claims 8 to 13 in which said pivotal means pivotally securing the beam to said following trailer includes a sub-frame, said sub-frame including a transverse member, third horizontal pivot means adjacent each end of said transverse member for pivotal attachment to the front end of said following trailer and a vertical hitch assembly centrally of said transverse member attached to said beam.
(15) The invention according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 and 8 to 13 in which said following trailer includes a steering dolly, said stabilizer frame being pivotally and operatively connected to said steering dolly.
CA000569187A 1988-06-10 1988-06-10 Roll coupled vehicle stabilizer system Expired - Lifetime CA1275428C (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000569187A CA1275428C (en) 1988-06-10 1988-06-10 Roll coupled vehicle stabilizer system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA000569187A CA1275428C (en) 1988-06-10 1988-06-10 Roll coupled vehicle stabilizer system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1275428C true CA1275428C (en) 1990-10-23

Family

ID=4138175

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000569187A Expired - Lifetime CA1275428C (en) 1988-06-10 1988-06-10 Roll coupled vehicle stabilizer system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1275428C (en)

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