USRE20218E - Trailer - Google Patents

Description

4 1936- c. v. HALLENBECK Re. 20,218 I TRAILER Original Filed Nov. 24, 1951 3 sheets-sheet 1- lbl Dec. 29, 1936. c, v, HALLENBECK Re. 20,218

' TRAILER Original Filed Nov. 24, 1931 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ch as; al/$222 BY I I ATTORNEY.

\ Dec. 29,1936. c. v. HALLENBECK 20,213

TRAILER Original Filed Nov. 24, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mvmon Chas K fla/knbeck A TrEiNEY. 1

Reissued Dec. 29, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Serial No. 577,089, November 24, 1931.

Application for reissue April 21, 1936, Serial No.

4 Claims.

This invention relates to trailers of that type designed to carry heavy loads and usually drawn by automobile trucks.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a novel trailer of the character stated which will embody a deck carrying frame, means for effecting a four point suspension of the rear end of the frame, and means for effecting a one point suspension of the front end of the frame.

The invention has for a further object to provide a trailer of the character stated wherein the means for effecting the four point suspension will embody wheels connected in such manner to the frame that any two or more of them may adapt themselves to the irregularities of the road and coact in such manner as to take the entire load exerted at the rear portion of the frame.

This invention has for a further object, to provide a trailer, of the character stated, wherein the four wheels, which support the rear end of the trailer frame are arranged in pairs, each pair carried by an axle from which the frame is suspended by two separate springs, each of which is secured to the axle, adjacent one wheel of the pair, whereby each wheel can move independently of the other, relative to the plane of the frame, to adapt itself to surface irregularities and whereby the Wheel that becomes elevated over the other will carry a proportionally greater part of the load.

The invention has for a further object to provide a trailer of the character stated wherein the means for efiecting the one point suspension will be adapted to be readily secured to the frame of any automobile truck without interfering with the body of the truck, and without preventing the truck from being used for the various purposes for which it was designed, the connection of this means to the truck frame transferring a substantial portion of the load of the trailer to the rear wheels of the truck and thus distributing the load of the trailer over six wheels which greatly reduces the bearing pressure on the road.

The invention has for a further object to provide a trailer of the character stated wherein the means for effecting the one point suspension will permit the trailer to turn with relation to the truck about a vertical axis and about horizontal axes longitudinally and transversely related to the trailer, to the end that the trailer may swivel, twist and turn while rounding a corner or passing over irregularities of the road.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the nature of which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a, top plan view of a trailer constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the trailer;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on a plane extending horizontally and centrally through the draw bar of the trailer;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the lineG-B of Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in rear elevation of the means for connecting the draw bar to the frame of an automobile truck;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the pivoted cross bar of this means;

Figure 10 is a view in rear elevation of the cross bar; I

Figure 11 is a view in side elevation of a portion of the truck frame and the means by which the draw bar is connected to the frame; and

Figure 12 is a view in elevation of the rear end of the trailer illustrating the manner in which the wheels effecting the four point suspension are adapted to accommodate themselves to the irregularities of the gravel or dirt road.

The trailer comprises a frame consisting of a pair of longitudinal beams I, a'pair of longitudinal beams 2, a front cross bar 3 and rear cross bars 4 and 5. The beams l are arranged in spaced relation at one side of the longitudinal center of the trailer, and the beams 2 are arranged in spaced relation at the other side of such center of the trailer. The cross bar 3 and the cross bar 4 are secured to the front and rear ends, respectively, of the beams I and 2, and the cross bar 5 is secured to the beams rearwardly of the transverse center'of the trailer and in comparatively close relation to the cross bar 4.

Oak flooring 6 is secured by bolts 1 to the beams I and 2 between the cross bars 3 and 5 to provide a deck for the trailer. Brackets 8 are secured to and extend upwardly from the cross bar 5, and brackets 9 are secured to and extend forwardly from the cross bar 4. The brackets 8 and 9 are located close to the beams l and 2, and the brackets 8 are located in planes above the brackets 9.

Pairs of leaf springs l0 and II, preferably of the semi-elliptic type, have their front ends pivotally connected, as at l2, to the upper ends of the brackets 8, and have their rear ends connected by links l3 to the brackets 9. The springs III are carried by an axle l4 supported by pneu-.

matically tired wheels l5, and the springs II are carried by an axle I8 supported by pneumatically tired wheels IT. The springs l0 and H are secured to the axles I4 and I6 by clips l8. The axles l4 and I6 are held against rotation and the wheels l5 and I1 are rotatably mounted thereon, The springs III and II, the axles l4 and I6, and the wheels l5 and I1 constitute the means for effecting the four point suspension of the rear end of the trailer.

Brakes are provided for the wheels I5 and IT.

The brakes comprise drums l9 secured to the wheels, bands 28 passing about the drums, and crank shafts 2| connected to certain ends of the bands and having arms 22 connected to the other ends of the bands. A shaft 23 located forwardly and transversely of the wheels l5 and I1, is journaled in bearings 24 secured to the beams I and 2, and is provided with arms 25 connected by links 26 to the cranks of the shafts 2|. A hand lever 21 fixed to and extending upwardly from the shaft 23 provides means through the medium of which the shaft may be turned to apply or release the brakes.

The means for effecting the one point suspension of the trailer comprises a sleeve 28 which extends forwardly from the front end of the trailer and which is secured thereto by bars 29.

The bars 29 converge forwardly from the beams I and 2 and are secured to the sides of the sleeve 28. A draw bar 39 is slidably and rotatably mounted in the sleeve 28, and is provided at its front end with an eye 3|. The rear end portion of the sleeve 28 is radially enlarged interior- 1y, as at 28a, and a portion of the draw bar 39 is reduced diametrically, as at 39a. Rearwardly of its portion 30a, the draw bar 30 is again reduced diametrically, as at 30b. A coil spring 32 is sleeved on the draw bar portion 30a and bears against the shoulder 33 formed by enlarging the rear end portion of the sleeve 28 and against a washer 34 mounted upon the draw bar and hearing against the shoulder provided during the formation of the draw bar portion 30b. A coil spring 35 of less strength than the spring 32 is sleeved on the draw bar portion 302) between the washer 34 and a washer 36 secured on this draw bar portion by a nut 31.

The means for effecting the one point suspension of the trailer also comprises a coupling which includes brackets 38 adapted to be secured to the side bars of the frame of any automobile truck. Portions of two of such bars are shown in Figures 8 and 11 and are designated 39. Figure 8 also shows in dotted lines the differential housing 49, the axle housings 4| and the rear wheels 42 of the truck. The brackets 38 comprise front arms 43 and rear arms 44 which are secured, as at 45, to the frame bars 39. The arms 43 and 44 of each of the brackets 38 converge downwardly,

- and are connected at their lower ends by bars 46 I pendent of the other.

embrace the latter, and the bars 48 are located below the axle housings. The brackets 38 are connected by bars 48 which hold them against any relative lateral movement. A shaft 49 10- cated between the bearings 41, is terminally provided with trunnions 59 journaled in the bearings, and is provided at its lower side with a yoke 5|. The eye 3| of the draw bar 30 is positioned between the shaft 49 and its yoke 5|, and a vertical pivot 52 carried by the shaft and yoke passes through the eye to connect the draw bar to the coupling.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that the trailer body, consisting of the beams I and 2 and the deck 8, has its rear end supported from the ground at four points and has its front end suspended from the automobile truck at one point.

The two wheels of each pair, l5 and II, are connected to the ends of an axle, I4 and I6 respectively, from which the frame is suspended by means of a pair of spaced springs, I0 and II, respectively. Each pair of wheels is therefore inde- The wheels of each pair are movable toward and away from the plane of the frame independently of each other. When the road surface is uneven, one wheel may rise over a hump without appreciably affecting the other wheel as the adjacent spring will flex to' permit it to rise. It is apparent that when one wheel of a pair rises above the other, it will assume a greater proportion of the load carried by that pair.

In a like manner, when the outer wheel runs off the pavement and onto a soft shoulder the greater proportion of the load will be carried by the wheel which remains on the pavement.

If the shoulder is entirely washed away, the wheel that runs off the pavement will hang from. the trailer frame and the entire load of that pair will be carried by the other wheel.

Furthermore, should one wheel of one or both pairs thereof sink into a depression or soft ground,

the greater portion of the weight borne by such;

wheel or wheels will be transferred to the wheels remaining on the higher or more solid ground. This especially adapts the trailer for easy movement over lots, field and unpaved roads. As the pair of wheels l5 and II are arranged at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the body of the trailer, as the draw bar 30 is located at the front end of the body in alinement with such center, and as the body may turn about the draw bar, the trailer may twist or rock about its longitudinal center while moving over irregularities of the road, lot, field or the like. The shaft 49 of the coupling extends transversely of the automobile truck, and is suspended from the frame of the truck for rocking movement about a horizontal axis so that the trailer and truck may move upwardly and downwardly independently of each other as they encounter irregularities of the road.

As the draw bar 30 is connected to the cou-;

pling shaft 49 for movement about a vertical axis, the trailer will readily turn with relation to the truck when rounding a comer. The connection of the coupling to the frame of the automobile truck interposes the rear springs of the truck. between the trailer and ground, and due thereto the one point suspension means is of the yielding type.

Furthermore, this means also includes the rear wheels of the automobile truck, and as the result,

Cir

provides the trailer body suspending means with six wheels, four at the rear end of the body and two at the front end thereof, and transfers a substantial portion of the load of the trailer to the truck. The springs 32 and 34 establish a yielding connection between the trailer and truck. This means and the connection of the trailer to the frame of the truck prevents undue strain on the propelling mechanism of the truck especially during the starting of the truck. The four point rear suspension means, and the one point front suspension means, adapts the trailer for transporting heavy loads at the expenditure of comparatively little power and with no liability of the load becoming accidentally displaced from the trailer. If desired, clamps of any well-known construction, not shown, may be used to secure the coupling brackets 38 to the truck frame bars 39 so as to avoid the necessity of boring bolt receiving openings in the frame bars.

While the principle of the invention, together with the structure which is now considered the preferred embodiment thereof, has been described, it is to be understood that the structure shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:-

1. A trailer for an automobile truck, comprising a body including pairs of beams located at opposite sides of the longitudinal center thereof, rear cross bars secured to the beams, brackets secured to the foremost of the cross bars, other brackets secured to the rearmost of the cross bars in planes below said first brackets, arcuate springs pivotally connected at their front ends to said first brackets, links connected to the rear ends of the springs and to said second brackets, the springs being arranged in pairs and the respective pairs of springs being located at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the body, an axle secured to the underside of each pair of springs, wheels journaled on each axle, and means for suspending the front end of the body at one point from the truck and in alinement with the longitudinal center thereof.

2. A heavy duty trailer comprising a frame, means at the front end for effecting a connection with a tractor, two pair of wheels positioned at the rear of the frame for supporting the same, an axle for each pair, two independent longitudinal spring means for effecting a suspension of the frame from each axle, the two spring means engaging each axle at spaced points and on opposite sides of the middle point thereof, a wheel rotatably connected with each end of the axle, the two point spring suspension permitting each wheel on an axle to move relative to the plane of the frame independently of the other, whereby when one wheel of each pair becomes elevated with respect to the other wheel, it will carry a greater proportion of the load.

3. A trailer for an automobile truck comprising a frame having a plurality of spaced, longitudinally extending beams, a transverse bar connecting the front ends of the beams, a transverse bar connecting the rear ends of the beams, a third transverse bar located in front of the rear bar and connected with the beams, semi-elliptical springs arranged in longitudinally extending pairs, positioned above the frame, an axle extending transversely of each pair and secured thereto, a wheel rotatably secured to each end of each axle, the springs of each pair being positioned on opposite sides of the center of the axle adjacent the Wheels, and means for suspending the frame from the ends of the springs whereby the wheel of each pair that is raised above the other will carry a greater proportion of the load.

4. A heavy duty trailer comprising a frame having a plurality of longitudinally extending beams arranged in pairs, the beams of each pair being spaced, transverse bars connecting corresponding ends of the beams, a semi-elliptical spring positioned above each longitudinally extending beam, an axle extending transversely of each pair of springs, means for securing the axle to each spring of the pair, a wheel mounted for rotation at each end of each axle, the wheels on each axle being separated by pairs of beams, means for operatively connecting the ends of the springs to the frame, whereby when one wheel of a pair is depressed relative to the other wheel, the proportion of the load carried thereby will be decreased, and means on the frame for connection with a tractor.

CHARLES V. HALLENBECK.

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