Trailer for carrying loads having a curved configuration

Freight accommodation on freight carrier – Particular article accommodation – Cylindrical article accommodation

Reexamination Certificate

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Details

C410S047000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06190100

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to trailers. More particularly, the present invention relates to frames for trailers that have a trough.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the past, it has been known to use a truck to haul different types of trailers having loads on the trailers. In this way, trucks can be engaged and disengaged to different types of trailers, thereby increasing the versatility of the trucks and permitting them to haul different types and combinations of trailers.
However, several types of loads cannot be easily maintained on trailers having a flat surface. For example, loads having a curved configuration, such as coils of metal, tanks or pipes, cannot be easily transported on a trailer having a flat surface.
In addition, government highway regulations require trailers to have a certain number of axles for types or weights of loads. For example, it is common that the total weight is a function of the number of axles, the inter-axle distances and whether or not the axles are in clusters or separated. Also, highway regulations generally require the axles to be at specific longitudinal positions along the longitudinal axis of the trailer frame depending on the type of train and the load to be carried. For example, in a B-train, which is a train having a first or lead trailer connected to a second or pup trailer by a king pin and gooseneck connection, both the lead and pup trailers must have axles at specific longitudinal positions, both with respect to the king pin connection to the tractor, and, inter-axially with respect to the axles.
While having axles in specific longitudinal positions can be relatively easily accomplished when the trailer is a flat surface, this becomes more difficult for trailers which do not have flat surfaces. Accordingly, prior art trailers did not provide for easy transportation of non-flat loads on non-flat trailers and with axles located at the specific longitudinal positions required by government regulations.
Therefore, there has been a need in the art to provide non-flat trailers that can efficiently and easily accommodate loads having different configurations, and in particular loads which have curved configurations. In addition, there has been a need in the art to provide a frame for a trailer that can carry loads having curved configurations, but still provide the required number of axles at specific longitudinal positions, to comply with government regulations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to at least partially overcome the disadvantages of the prior art. Also, it is an object of this invention to provide a trailer frame which can accommodate loads having curved configurations, including circular loads such as coils and pipes. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a trailer that can accommodate loads having a curved configuration and still have any number of axles at any longitudinal position along the frame to comply with government regulations.
Accordingly, in one of its aspects, the present invention provides a frame for a trailer comprising: at least two outside beams extending in a longitudinal direction and defining a horizontal plane of the frame; a trough extending substantially into the horizontal plane; subrails extending in the longitudinal direction and supporting the trough; axles for supporting the frame and connectable to wheels; and wherein at least one axle is connected to the subrails and is longitudinally coincident with the trough.
In a further aspect, the present invention relates to transverse support member for use in a frame for a trailer, said transverse support member comprising: a first end for connection to a first outside beam extending in a longitudinal direction; a second end for connection to a second outside beam extending in a longitudinal direction; an indentation in said transverse support member between said first end and said second end, said indentation having a surface for connection to at least one subrail; wherein a plurality of substantially identical transverse support members can be connected to the first and second outside beams and at least one subrail to define a trough in the frame of the trailer; and wherein at least one axle can be connected to the at least one subrail at a longitudinal position coincident with the trough.
Accordingly, one advantage of the present invention is that, by providing a trough, curved loads, including circular loads, can be easily accommodated and transported. Accordingly, the present invention provides a trailer frame which can be used to easily transport loads having non-flat configurations, such as curved loads, circular loads and other non-flat loads, in a secure and stable manner.
In addition, by providing a trough with a fairly large depth, such as three feet, cylindrical loads, such as sheets of coiled metal, which generally come in 60″ diameters, can fit into the trough such that more than 50% of the coil is located within the trough. This lowers the centre of mass of the load and trailer combination which increases the stability of the load within the trailer to ensure that the load does not inadvertently fall off of the trailer, or, that the trailer and load tip over.
A further advantage of the present invention is that by securing the load within a trough, safety bars can be connected transversely across the trough to maintain the longitudinal position of the load.
Moreover, a further advantage of the present invention is that, because the axles can be placed in any number and in any longitudinal position in the longitudinal direction and along the longitudinal axis of the trailer, the trailer can be manufactured to meet government regulations for any number of jurisdictions.
Further aspects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and drawings which illustrate the invention and preferred embodiments of the invention.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2622918 (1952-12-01), Staffe
patent: 2971795 (1961-02-01), Winski
patent: 3307495 (1967-03-01), Chapman et al.
patent: 3353506 (1967-11-01), Snyder et al.
patent: 3376062 (1968-04-01), Chosy et al.
patent: 3581674 (1971-06-01), O'Leary
patent: 4365820 (1982-12-01), Rush
patent: 5211518 (1993-05-01), Mimica
patent: 5507514 (1996-04-01), Jacques
patent: 5622116 (1997-04-01), Carlton

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