US2757043A

US2757043A - Movable roof mechanism and outrigger support therefor

Info

Publication number: US2757043A
Application number: US321208A
Authority: US
Inventors: Strick Rose; Joseph E Strick; Charles I Bohlen
Original assignee: Fruehauf Trailer Corp
Current assignee: Fruehauf Trailer Corp
Priority date: 1952-11-18
Filing date: 1952-11-18
Publication date: 1956-07-31
Anticipated expiration: 1973-07-31

Description

July 31, 1956 F. sTRlcK ET AL 2,757,043

MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed NOV. 18, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 l0 (CL 5 25 n4 l I I 1 I I l '23 23 INVENTORS. FAA/V/f ATP/(7f deceaseg/ BY R055 HIP/(K, 50/ TH f/[PPA/PD and July 31, 1956 s c ET AL 2,757,043

MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Nov. 18, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 [Mr/l /[PPARD am/ JOI/ 5 STIR/CA1 Execuforr, and CHARLES Z BOHLE/Y Ma/Lam ATTORNEYS.

July 31, 1956 F. STRICK ET AL 2,757,043

MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed NOV. 18, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 WWW A T TOP/V91 July 31, 1956 F. sTRlcK ET AL MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORT THEREFOR 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS.

Filed Nov. 18, 1952 F/PAA/A Jm/m; deceased B) 120:; sm/m 50/ m .FHL-PPARD and ATTORNEYS.

MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGEIR SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed NOV. 18, 1952 July 31, 1956 F. STRICK ETAL 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. F/Wl/Y/f STR/C/fi deceased BY P055 .S'T/P/Of [0/77/ ff/[PPAFD and JOffP/l .5 .ST/P/Uf Ema/for; am/ 09/1/9115" 1. 50/91 51V BY WWW A TTOP/VEVJZ y 1, 1956 F. STRICK ET AL 2,757,043

MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed NOV. 18, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 I I l8 ll INVENTORS.

F/PA/V/K 57/9/0 deceaseqg 5r ROSE sr/P/c/g 50/7 J/lfP/MRD anc/ JOSfP/l SIR/(11, aecufor; and CHARLES 1 5071545 BY ATTORNEYS.

y 1, 1956 F. STRICK ETAL 2,757,043

MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed NOV. 18, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 I l lQ/l/y/f SEQ/(76 deceased BY ROSE 57A /[K L D/7H f/VEPPARD and JOSEPH 5 57/9/06 xecufors; and CHAPZESZ BOf/LZ/Y B) M W W N VENTORS.

ATTORNEYS.

July 31, 1956 F. STRICK ET AL 2,757,043

MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGEIR SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed NOV. 18, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTORS. F/Q/I/YA SEQ/(7i: deceaseofl BY R055 STE/CK, FD/T/ .SA'EPPARD and JOSL'P/l f. STE/C vecufon; and CHARLES {BO/ 915V BY ATTORNEYS.

July 31, 1956 F. STRICK ETAL MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORT THEREFOR Filed Nov. 18, 1952 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 I62 i a c w O 5 I38 I66 I32 I8 I60 I28 1% 0 o I INVENTORS.

Fm/mq/ R/c/r, deceased, BY x2055 sr/P/c/r, 50/7 Sf/[PPARD and JOffP/l E 579% fiecufors; and (HA/P15) 1 50/115 B) W mw W ATTORNEY 5'.

United States Patent O MOVABLE ROOF MECHANISM AND OUTRIGGER SUPPORT THEREFOR Frank Strick, deceased, late of Philadelphia County, Pa., by Rose Strick, Edith Sheppard, and Joseph E. Strick, executors, Montgomery County, Pa., and Charles I. Bohlen, Bucks County, Pa., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Fruehauf Trailer Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November 18, 1952, Serial No. 321,208

21 Claims. :(Cl. 296-437) slidably mounted upon the top of a trailer and outriggers 2 or supports hingedly mounted to one end of the trailer body whereby the outriggers or supports may be swung automatically to an open, roof supporting position or a closed, non-supporting position in response to .a predetermined opening and closing movement of the roof.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a roof slidably mounted on top of a van type trailer and jack means at the rear end of the trailerfor aligning the trailer body with the roof prior to locking the roof in its closed position. This alignment means is especially important when the trailer is parked on uneven ground, and has one of its rear wheels elevated relative to the other rear wheel during the loading operation.

Because of this position, the trailer body is distorted out of its true rectangular'shape while the roof still retains its true rectangular shape. Therefore, when the roof is moved in the closing operation, the trailer body and the roof are out of alignment so that the .latter cannot be locked in its fully closed position. To make this locking operation possible, jack means .are provided at both sides of the rear end of the trailer body which can be .efiiciently operated by the truckmen to force the trailer body back into its true rectangular shape to conform and mate with the roof so that the roof may be locked inits fully closed position.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of a header hinged to the rear end of the movable roof which may be locked in position on the trailer when the roof is closed and yet permit the opening and .closing of the rear doors of the trailer without the necessity .of unlocking the header and moving the roof should it be necessary to have access to the interior of the trailer through the rear doors instead of through the roof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a movable roof structure for a van type trailer which when closed and locked makes the trailer bodyequal in strength to that of the enclosed type of trailer body.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent when the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in side elevation of a van type trailer embodying the present roof mechanism and illustrating the distortion of the trailer body relative to the roof when the trailer is resting 'in an inclined position on uneven ground;

"includes a depending portion or rim 16 which loosely Figure 2 is a diagrammatic .top plan view of the trailer as shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic top plan view of the trailer with the roof thereon and shown in the position where the trailer body has been aligned with the roof;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the trailerillustrating the open and closed position of the roof, the truck attached to the trailer being shown in phantom;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 and illustrating the outriggers in an open position;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary diagrammatic plan view of the front end of the trailer and illustrating the closed position of the outriggers;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 and illustrating the manner in which the outriggers are urged into an open position;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 and illustrating the completely opened position of the outriggers;

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 1010 of Figure 5;

Figure 11 is an enlarged and reversed bottomplan-view of the forward portion of the roof per se;

Figure 12 is a broken-away sectional view taken .substantially on a plane of sectional line 1212 of Figure '10;

Figure 13 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the trailer and illustrating one means for driving the .roof into an open and closed position;

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 and illustrating a second means for driving the roof into an open and closed position;

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14 and illustrating a third means for driving the roof into an open and closed position;

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 1616 of Figure 5;

Figure 17 is an enlarged view of a detail of Figure 16 with the roof moved into its completely opened position;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the roof and looking towards one side of the trailer;

Figure .19 is a sectional view taken on the line 19-1 of Figure 18; V

Figure 20 is a sectional view taken on theline 2020 of Figure 18;

Figure 21 is a fragmentary rear view of the trailer and illustrating the roof in its locked position;

Figure 22 is a sectional view taken on the line 2222 of Figure 21;

Figure 23 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2323 of Figure 22;

Figure 24 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2424 of Figure 23;

Figure 25 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2525 of Figure 24;

Figure 26 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of -a second jack means for aligning the trailer body with the roof;

Figure 27 is a view similar to Figure 26 and illustrating a third jack means for aligning the trailer body with the roof.

.Specific reference will now be made to the drawings wherein similar reference characters are used for corresponding elements throughout.

Indicated generally at 10 is a conventional open top or van type trailer adapted to be drawn by a conventional truck 12. Slidably mounted on the open top of the trailer body is a roof 14 which is a substantially rectangular sheet of metal or equivalent material and which embraces the sides 18 and'20 and the front 22 of the trailer body at the upper open end thereof. Appropriate cross-members or bows 24 are provided which are welded or otherwise secured to the undersurface of the roof to stiffen and strengthen the same.

Integral with or secured to the side overhang portion 16 of the roof are longitudinally extending, relatively short platforms 26 on both sides of the roof, as shown more clearly in Figures 1820, to which are bolted or otherwise secured a number of longitudinally spaced brackets 28. These brackets are designed to rotatably mount alternately spaced vertical and

horizontal rollers

30 and 32 respectively.

Appropriately mounted on the upper edges of both sides 18 and of the trailer body are longitudinally extending tracks 34 which receive the vertical and

horizontal rollers

30 and 32. The vertical rollers 30 function primarily to guide the horizontal sliding movement of the roof on the trailer while the horizontal rollers 32 serve to minimize any relatively lateral movement between the roof and the trailer.

The present invention includes a means carried by the trailer body and operatively connected to the roof for positively'driving the roof to a partial or complete open and closed position. Such a means permits the truckmen to load or unload the trailer through the top thereof with the roof only partially open as may be required at various times.

A preferred embodiment of the drive means is shown in Figures l4, l6 and 17 and the two modifications of this drive means are shown in Figures 13 and 15.

With respect to the drive means shown in Figures 14, 16 and 17, the same comprises a stub shaft 36 rotatably mounted in a bearing bracket 38 secured to only one side 18 of the trailer body adjacent the bottom and front of the trailer. Integral with the stub shaft and disposed on the outside of the trailer is a sprocket wheel 40 and removably secured to the stub shaft and disposed on the outside of the trailer is a suitable handle 42.

Rotatably secured in a bearing bracket 44 which is in turn appropriately secured to the side 18 of the trailer body adjacent the top and front thereof is a further stub shaft 46 which mounts two sprocket wheels, one 48 on the outside of the trailer and another 50 on the inside of the trailer. An endless chain 52 is entrained over the

sprockets

40 and 48. A cover plate for the chain and

sprockets

40 and 48 may be secured to the outside of the trailer body if desired. 7

A further chain 54 is provided which is terminally secured as at 56 and 58 to and adjacent the rear and front of the roof. An intermediate portion of the chain 54 is entrained over the other sprocket 50 and the chain is guided in its movement by two idler sprockets 60 rotatably mounted on the side 18 of the trailer body and extending into the interior thereof as shown clearly in Figure 17.

Thus rotation of the handle 42 in one or another direction will move the roof into an open or closed position and the movement of the roof can be stopped at any desired point. It should be understood at this point that while a manual means is illustrated for rotating the stub shaft 36 and hence moving the roof, an equivalent motor means may be employed if desired.

In the modification shown in Figure 13, a stub shaft 62 may be rotatably mounted on one side of the trailer body adjacent the bottom and front thereof, the stub shaft carrying a sprocket 64 disposed in the interior of the trailer body. An endless chain 66 is terminally secured as at 68 and 70 to and adjacent the rear and front of the roof and has an intermediate portion 72 which is entrained over the sprocket 64 and is guided in its movement by a pair of sprockets 74 mounted on the side of the trailer on the inside thereof and engaging the 5 chain 66. Thus a rotation by manual or motor means of the shaft 62 will directly drive the roof to a partial or complete open and closed position.

In the modification shown in Figure-15, a shaft 76 is rotatably mounted on the side 18 of the trailer body adjacent the front and bottom thereof and mounts on the outside of the trailer a sprocket wheel 78. A further shaft 80 is rotatably mounted on the side 18 of the trailer body adjacent the front and top thereof and includes an outer sprocket wheel 82 and an inner gear 84. Entrained over the sprockets 78 and 82 is an endless chain 86 and the gear 84 engages a rack bar 88 carried by the roof on one side thereof and extending from the rear of the roof to a point adjacent the front thereof. Thus, when the shaft 76 is driven by manual or motor means, the gear 84 will move the rack and roof to a partial or complete open and closed position as will be readily understood.

When a slidable roof is provided for a relatively long trailer, such as a 34 foot trailer, it is necessary to provide a means to support the overhang portion of the roof when the same is in a partially or completely open position. The present invention includes such a means having outriggers which are pivoted to the trailer and urged into an open roof-supporting position or a closed nonsupporting position in response to a predetermined opening or closing movement of the roof. This means is illustrated in detail in Figures 5 to 12.

The outriggers are generally indicated at 90 and 92 and may be of any desired shape and construction, but each outrigger must include a vertically extending member 94 hinged as at 96 for movement in a horizontal plane to the front ends of the

sides

18 and 20 of the trailer body. Secured to or integral with the vertical member 94 is a horizontally extending member 98 which is in the form of a substantially U-shaped track. Each of the horizontal members 98 has secured to the inner face thereof and slightly upstanding therefrom a cam element or finger at a predetermined location relative to the hinge point 96. The preferred cam element is a roller 100 or an equivalent element may be employed.

Appropriately secured to the inner surface of the roof 14 and at a predetermined distance from the front end of the roof is a pair of forwardly and inwardly inclined cam tracks 102 and 104 having relatively short

rear portions

106 and 108 which extend parallel to the lon gitudinal tracks 34 on both sides of the trailer body. Both the rear and front ends of each of the cam tracks 102 and 104 are open as at 110 and 112.

The manner in which the

outriggers

90 and 92 open and close in response to a predetermined forward and rearward movement of the roof 14 will be described in conjunction with the diagrammatic views 79. When the roof is in its retracted or closed position, the

outriggers

90 and 92 lie in a plane generally perpendicular to the

sides

18 and 20 of the trailer body and against the front portion of the trailer body behind the prime mover or truck 12. When the drive mechanism is operated, the roof 14 moves forward a sufficient distance until the cam elements or rollers 100 carried by the outriggers enter the open end 112 of the cam tracks 102 and 104 carried by the roof and further forward movement of the roof urges the outriggers into the open position as shown clearly in Figure 8.

At thepoint where the horizontal members 98 of the outriggers come into alignment with the

sides

18 and 20 of the trailer body, the cam elements or rollers 100 enter the rear

parallel portions

106 and 108 of the cam tracks 102 and 104. This holds the outriggers in alignment with the sides of the trailer and against lateral movement while the roof 14 is still moving forward. Before the cam elements or rollers 100 leave the rear open ends 110 of the cam tracks 102 and 104, the

rollers

30 and 32 carried by the roof enter the tracks of the horizontal members 98 of the outriggers as shown clearly in Figure 9. Upon further forward movement of the roof, the cam elements or rollers 100 leave the rear ends 110 of the cam tracks 102 and 104 and the

rollers

30 and 32 two front landing gear wheels 17'.

of the roof engaged in the tracks of the horizontal members 98 f the outriggers hold the latter in their fully open or roof-supporting position at all times.

It will be readily understood that upon rearward movement of the roof into the closing position after predetermined movement of ,the roof, the cam elements ,or rollers 100 will enter .the cam tracks 102 and 104 carried by the roof through the rear open ends 110 thereof and the continued rearward movement of the roof will urge the

outriggers

90 and 92 into .the closed non-supporting position. It will further be understood that the degree of inclination'of the cam tracks 102 and 104 will determine the rate of opening of the outriggers relative to the rate of movement of the roof. In addition, the location of the cam tracks 1.02 and 104 a predetermined distance to the rear of the front overhang portion of the roof will assure .openingof the

Outriggers

90 and 92 without interference with the front overhang portion of the roof.

The present invention also includes, as mentioned earlier, a jack means carried at the rear of the trailer body and operatively connected to the roof for aligning the trailer body with the roof just prior to locking the roof in its completely .closed position. The need for such a means is diagrammatically illustrated in Figures 13. When such a trailer, for :the loading operation, is resting on uneven ground so thatione rear wheel thereof is elevated relative to .the other rear wheel 17, the trailer body is actually distorted out of its true rectangular shape as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2. The result is that when thesliding roof 14 is ready to be locked in its fully closed position, the corners '19 and 1950f one side of the roof align and .coincide with the corresponding upper corners 23 and 23' of one side 18 of the trailer body Whereas the other corners 21 and.21 of the roof are out of alignment .or do not coincide with the corresponding

upper corners

25 and 25 of the other side 20 of the trailer body. The corners and 25 of the trailer are disaligned from the corresponding

corners

21 and 21 of the roof along the longitudinal axis a which is parallel to the line of intersection b of the plane of the roof with the plane of the side wall '20, :as shown clearly in Fig. 2.

In this condition, the header 114 hinged as at 116 to the rear edge of the .roof 14 will strike the rear edge of the trailer 'body and prevent complete closure of the roof. The jack means which will be described in detail immediately hereafter is used to force the trailer body back into its true rectangular shape and in conformity with the rectangular shape of the roof 14, as shown clearly in Figure 3, so that the header 114 will clear the rear edge of the trailer body allowing the roof to be locked in its fully closed position.

The jack means which is operatively connected to the roof accomplishes this by exerting a jacking force along the axis a which brings the

corners

25 and 25 of the trailer body into alignment with the corresponding cerners 21 and 21' of the roof.

When the trailer is not coupled to the tractor or prime mover, it rests on the

rear wheels

15 and 17 and on the The jacking force redistorting the trailer body back to its true rectangular shape will act to lift the lower wheel 17 from the ground. However, the roof, side walls, end walls and bottom of the trailer complete a tube, the roof being connected to the side walls by the jack means. This tube resists diagonal distortion and maintains the rigidity of the entire trailer which, in turn, is sufiicient to support the raised wheel.

When the trailer is coupled to the tractor or prime mover by means .of the conventional kingpin 15', the trailer is supported .at three points, namely the two

rear wheels

15 and 17 and the kingpin. In this case the operation of the jack to re-distort the trailer body will act to raise .-one of the front corners of the trailer body instead of one of the rear wheels.

Referring now to the preferred jack means as illustrated in Figures 2225, ;it will be understood that there are two such means at the rear of the trailer body and operatively connected to the roof which are identical and consequently, only one such means will be described hereafter.

Bolted or otherwise secured as at 118 to the roof adjacent each rear corner thereof is a bracket 1'20 carrying an inwardly extending lateral lug 122. ,A clamping bar or latch 124 is provided which, .in its inoperative position, rests upon an appropriate stop 126 carried by the side of the trailer. The hook end of the clamping bar 124 may be made to engage the lug 122 and the jack means carried by the trailer body and operatively connected to the clamping .bar 124 can then be operated so that rearward pressure would be exerted on the lug 122 to force the trailer body into rectangular alignment with the roof 114.

Bolted or otherwise secured .as .at 128 to each side of the trailer body adjacent to the upper rear end thereof is a pair of spaced

plates

130 and 132. Rotatably mounted adjacent the bottom of the plates is a handle 134 mounting a gear 136 on the outside of the plate 132.

Rotatably mounted in suitable bearings on the

plates

130 and 132 is a stub shaft carrying an inner gear 138 and an outer gear 140, the latter being disposed outside the plate 132 and meshing with the gear 136 carried by the handle 134. Rotatably mounted between the

plates

130 and 132 as at 142 and engaging the inner gear 138 is an arcuate gear 144 to which is pivoted at a point off center from the axis of rotation as at 146 the clamp bar 124.

Thus on rotation of the handle 134 so that the arcuate gear 144 moves from the dotted line position in Figure 24 to the solid line .position in Figure 24, distortion pressure is applied to the sides of the trailer and in the final position the pivot point 146 of the .clamp bar 124 is out of alignment with the pivot point 142 of the arcuate gear 144 and the point at which the lateral lug ,122 is located. Therefore, further rotation of the arcuate gear 144 will exert a toggle locking pressure on the lug 122.

It will be understood, from the above description, that the gearing just described together with the clamp bar 124 constitutes a gear operated toggle jack.

As shown clearly in Figure 25, a spring urged ball 150 is associated with the pivot 146 and the inner plate 132 contains a recess 152 for receiving the ball when the jack is in its locked position as shown in the solid lines in Figure 24. This helps to maintain the jack in its locked position. Also, the sides of the trailer body adjacent the rear and top thereof are provided with stops 154 to limit the closing movement of the roof.

After the jacking operation which twists the trailer body back into its true rectangular shape and into alignment with the roof, the header 142 is pivoted to its closing position as shown in Figures 21 and 22, and there locked by means of the conventional universal door lock 156 which contains a handle that operates a plate which eccentrically mounts two push rods operating tongues which latch in and out of keepers carried by the rear of the trailer. To assist the header to close properly in place, the rear upper ends of the trailer are provided with tongues 158 which are received in appropriate grooves in the header as shown clearly in Figure 21.

An additional feature of the present invention is to provide a construction wherein the rear doors 160 can be opened and closed independently of the header so that access can be had to the interior of the trailer without the necessity of unlocking the header and moving the roof. This is accomplished by constructing the header in such a manner that its bottom edge includes a recessed portion 162 which is overlapped by the upper edges 164 of the rear doors, the upper edges of the doors being of such construction as to retain a rubber rain seal gasket 166. The header may also include a transversely extending rain gutter 168.

It will be understood that the gear operated toggle jack is but one jack means for aligning the trailer body with the roof prior to locking the latter in its fully closed position. The jacks shown diagrammatically in Figures 26 and 2 7 are illustrations of further jack means for accomplishing the sairie 'resu'lts.

Depending from the roof 14, as shown in Figure 26, adjacent each corner is a bracket which carries a lateral inwardly extending lug 170. A bracket 172 is mounted on the sides of the trailer body adjacent to each rear corner thereof and is provided with an appropriate hearing which supports a horizontally extending screw 174. One end of the screw can be made to engage the lateral lug 170 and the screw is operated by means of the conventional ratchet type handle 176. In other words, the jack shown in Figure 26 is a horizontally disposed conventional screw jack operated by a ratchet handle.

The jack shown diagrammatically in Figure 27 comprises a bracket 178 depending from both sides of the roof adjacent the rear corners thereof, the bracket carrying a longitudinally extending rack bar 180. A plate 182 is appropriately mounted on each side of the trailer body adjacent each rear corner thereof and appropriately pivoted at 184 to the bracket 82 is a number of interconnected levers 186 operated by an appropriate handle 138 The upper-most lever carries a pawl 190 which engages the teeth of the rack bar 180. Thus the jack shown in Figure 27 is, in effect, a conventional ratchet and pawl jack mounted on the sides of the trailer and operatively connected to the rear portions of the roof.

It will be understood that hydraulic jacks may also be used.

. Thus is will be seen that a movable roof mechanism is provided which can be effectively used with relatively long as well as relatively short trailer bodies. The mechanism is such that the roof can be readily driven, by manual or motor means, to a partially or completely opened and closed position. Should the movable roof mechanism be employed with a relatively long trailer body, such as a 34 foot trailer, the mechanism can include a means for supporting the overhang portion of the roof in its open position, which means may be automatically and selectively opened and closed to a roofsupporting or non-supporting position in response to a predetermined opening and closing movement of the roof.

The present movable roof mechanism also makes it possible to lock the roof in its completely closed position despite the fact that the trailer body may be distorted from its true rectangular shape during the loading operation.

Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described hereabove, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that minor variations may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roof structure, means slidably mounting said roof structure on the top of the trailer, means carried by the trailer and operatively connected to the roof structure to drive the same to an open and closed position, outriggers hinged to one end of the trailer, means operative in response to a predetermined movement of the roof structure selectively to close and open said outriggers to support the overhang portion of the roof structure in its open position, and jack means at the opposite end of the trailer to align the trailer body with the roof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closed position.

2. In van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roof structure, means slidably mounting said roof structure on the top of the trailer, means carried by the trailer and operatively connected to the roof structure to drive the same to an open and closed position, outriggers hinged to one end of the trailer, and means operative in response to a predetermined movement of the roof structure selectively to close and open said outriggers to support the overhang portion of the roof structure in its open position.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein each of said outriggers includes interconnected vertical and horizontal members, said vertical members being hinged for horizontal movement to the sides of the trailer at its front end, and said means selectively to close and open said outriggers including elements carried by said horizontal members and cam tracks carried by said roof structure adapted to engage said elements after predetermined movement of said roof structure and swing said outriggers into an open and closed position.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said cam tracks are carried adjacent to and are inclined inwardly towards the front end of the roof structure.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said cam tracks include open front and rear ends, the front ends engaging said elements on said outriggers after predetermined forward movement of the roof structure to swing the outriggers to an open position in alignment with the sides of the trailer, the rear ends engaging said elements after predetermined rearward movement of. the roof structure to swing the outriggers to a closed position perpendicular to the sides of the trailer.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said roof mounting means includes longitudinal tracks on the top of the sides of the trailer and rollers depending from the roof structure and engaged in said tracks, the horizontal members of said outriggers including tracks which align with the longitudinal tracks when the outriggers are in the open position, several of said roof rollers entering said outrigger tracks after predetermined forward movement of the roof structure to hold the outriggers in the open position.

7. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roof structure, means slidably mounting said roof structure on the top of the trailer, means carried by the trailer and operatively connected to the roof structure to drive the same to an open and closed position, and jack means at one end of the trailer to align the trailer body with the roof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closed position, said jack means including lugs carried by the roof structure adjacent the rear corners thereof and a screw jack mounted horizontally on each side of the trailer to the rear of said lugs, said jack including a jack bar adapted to engage said lugs whereby upon operation of the jacks first one corner and then the other corner of the trailer is brought into alignment with the corners of the roof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closed position.

8. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roof structure, means slidably mounting said roof structure on the top of the trailer, means carried by the trailer and operatively connected to the roof structure to drive the same to an open and closed position, and jack means at one end of the trailer to align the trailer body with the roof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closed position, said jack means including rack bars carried by the roof structure adjacent the rear corners thereof and pawls mounted on each side of the trailer to the rear of said rack bars and engaging the same whereby upon operation of the pawls first one corner and then the other corner of the trailer is brought into alignment with the corners of the roof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closed position.

9. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roof structure slidably mounted on the top of the trailer, outriggers hinged to one end of the trailer, and means operative in response to a predetermined movement of the roof structure selectively to close and open the outriggers to support the overhang portion of the roof-structure in its open position.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said means includes open-ended cam tracks carried by said roof structure and rollers carried by said Outriggers whereby upon opening movement of said roof structure, the cam tracks engage the rollers and swing the outriggers into an open position and on reverse closing movement of said roof structure, the cam tracks engage the rollers and swing the Outriggers to a closed position.

11. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roof structure slidably mounted on the top of the trailer and jack means at one end of the trailer and operatively connected to the roof structure to align the trailer body with the roof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closed position, said jack means including lugs carried by the roof structure adjacent the rear corners thereof, clamp bars adapted to engage said lugs and jacks mounted on the trailer to the rear of said lugs and operatively connected to said clamp bars whereby first one corner and then the other corner of the trailer is brought into alignment with the corners of the roof structure.

12. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roof structure slidably mounted on the top of the trailer, outriggers hinged to one end of the trailer, means operative in response to a predetermined movement of the roof structure selectively to close and open the Outriggers to support the overhang portion of the roof structure in its open position, and jack means at the opposite end of the trailer to align the trailer body with the roof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closed position.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said means selectively to close and open the outriggers comprises fingers carried by the Outriggers and cam tracks carried by the roof structure adapted to engage the fingers and swing the outriggers after predetermined opening and closing movement of the roof structure.

14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said jack means includes keepers carried at the rear of the roof structure, clamp bars adapted to engage the keepers and jacks mounted on the trailer to the rear of the keepers and operatively connected to the clamp bars to draw the trailer body into alignment with the roof structure.

15. In a rectangular vehicle body having side and end walls, a movable roof mechanism comprising a rectangular roof sheet, means slidably mounting said roof sheet on the top of the body, means carried by the body and operatively connected to the roof sheet to drive the same to an open and closed position, the upper corners of one side wall of the body being aligned with the corresponding corners of the roof sheet and the upper corners of the other side wall of the body being disaligned from the corresponding corners of the roof sheet along an axis parallel to the line of intersection of the plane of the roof sheet with the plane of said other side wall of the body due to initial distortion of the body from its true rectangular shape, and a jack means mounted on said other side wall of the body operatively connected to the roof sheet and exerting jacking force along said axis to force said upper corners of said other side wall of the body into alignment with the corresponding corners of the roof sheet prior to locking the roof in its final closed position.

16. In a rectangular vehicle body having side and end walls, a movable roof mechanism comprising a rectangular roof sheet slidably mounted upon the top of the body for movement from an open to a final closed position, the upper corners of one side wall of the body being aligned with the corresponding corners of the roof sheet and the upper corners of the other side wall of the body being disaligned from the corresponding corners of the roof sheet along an axis parallel to the line of intersection of the plane of the roof sheet with the plane of said other side wall of the body due to initial distortion of the body from its true rectangular shape, and a jack means mounted 10 on said other side wall of the body operatively connected to the roof sheet and exerting jacking force along said axis to force said upper corners of said other side wall of the body into alignment with the corresponding corners of the roof sheet prior to locking the roof in its final closed position.

17. In a rectangular vehicle body having side and end walls, a movable roof mechanism comprising a rectangular roof sheet slidably mounted upon the top of the body for movement from an open to a final closed position, the upper corners of one side wall of the body being aligned with the corresponding corners of the roof sheet and the upper corners of the other side wall of the body being disaligned from the corresponding corners of the roof sheet along an axis parallel to the line of intersection of the plane of the roof sheet with the plane of said other side wall of the body due to initial distortion of the body from its true rectangular shape, means to lock said one side wall to said roof sheet, a jack means mounted on said other side wall of the body operatively connected to the roof sheet and exerting jacking force along said axis to force said upper corners of said other side wall of the body into alignment with the corresponding corners of the roof sheet prior to locking the roof in its final closed position.

18. The combination of claim 17 wherein said jack means includes a lug carried by the roof structure, a jack mounted on said other side wall of the body and a jack bar operatively connected to said jack and engaging said lug.

19. The combination of claim 18 wherein said jack and jack bar constitute a gear operated toggle.

20. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roof structure, means slidably mounting said roof structure on the top of the trailer, means carried by the trailer and operatively connected to theroof structure to drive the same to an open and closed position, and jack means at one end of the trailer to align the trailer body with the roof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closed position, said jack means including lugs carried by the roof structure adjacent the rear corners thereof, a jack mounted on each side of the trailer adjacent the upper rear corner thereof, and jack bars operatively connected to said jacks and adapted to engage said lugs whereby upon operation of the jacks first one corner and then the other corner of the trailer is brought into alignment with the corners of the roof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closed position.

21. In a van type trailer, a movable roof mechanism comprising a roof structure, means slidably mounting said roof structure on the top of the trailer, means carried by the trailer and operatively connected to the roof structure to drive the same to an open and closed position, and jack means at one end of the trailer to align the trailer body with the roof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closed position, said jack means in-- cluding a lug carried by the roof structure adjacent one rear corner thereof, a jack mounted on one side of the trailer adjacent the upper rear corner thereof, and a jack bar operatively connected to said jack and adapted to engage said lug whereby upon operation of the jack the corner of the trailer corresponding to said one rear corner of the roof structure is brought into alignment with said one rear corner of the roof structure prior to locking the roof structure in its closed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,322,310 Kring Nov. 18, 1919 1,835,405 Kaplan et a1. Dec. 8, 1931 2,140,960 Kercher Dec. 20, 1938 2,269,630 Marinello Jan. 13, 1942 2,614,509 Marimon Oct. 21, 1952