Jerr-Dan Corporation

Jeer-Dan Corporation

Jer-Dan Corporation

Charles E Young

James J Bartel

David D Hedstrom

Harry Carbaugh

Scott A Watson

A combination tilting bed carrier and attached wheel-lift apparatus mounted on a chassis of a towing vehicle. The bed carrier includes a first pivot connected to the chassis and a first motive element extending between the chassis and the bed carrier for actuating tilting of the bed carrier about the first pivot. A wheel-lift is positioned below the bed carrier and includes a second pivot for pivotally connecting the wheel-lift to the chassis, with the first pivot and the second pivot concentrically, or substantially concentrically, aligned with each other. A second motive element extends between the wheel-lift and the bed carrier for actuating tilting of the wheel-lift about the second pivot. The second pivot may include a third motive element which may adjust the second pivot point, and which in conjunction with the second motive element, allows the wheel-lift to conform with either a positive or negative ground surface. The second motive element has a control element to maintain the wheel-lift in a predetermined position in the event of a failure of a second motive element. A third pivot is positioned on the chassis for pivotally connecting a stabilizer strut arm between the wheel-lift and the bed carrier.

Independent wheel-lift having a chassis mounted pivot point

An improved wheel-lift apparatus attachable to various types of transport trucks, including rollback trucks for loading and carrying disabled vehicles. The improved wheel-lift apparatus provides a horizontal extendable boom mechanism long enough for receiving disabled vehicles. As a result of the wheel-lift's &ldquo;low angle&rdquo; or horizontal approach, the risk of damage occurring to the chassis or body of the disabled vehicle while in the loading and carrying modes is greatly diminished.

Advanced rollback wheel-lift

The present invention relates to a wheel grid assembly and vehicle towing apparatus. The wheel grid assembly includes a wheel boom and a pair of lift arms. Each lift arm consists of an extension arm segment and an engaging arm segment pivotally mounted to the extension arm segment. Each engaging arm segment consists of an actuating arm segment and a gripping arm segment extending in opposite directions from the pivot point. A pair of linear actuators rotate the engaging arm segments about their pivot points to engage the wheels of a vehicle to be towed. Each linear actuator is attached to a respective engaging arm segment through an over-center locking mechanism. The over-center locking mechanisms lock the engaging arm segments in wheel engaging positions without aid of force from the linear actuators. The present invention also relates to a position lock mechanism and a wheel grid self-centering device. Additionally, the present invention provides a wheel spacer for creating adjustability in the lift arms to accommodate variations in wheel size, and an automatic linear actuator control line retractor assembly. The wheel grid assembly of the present invention may be incorporated with an extensible main boom, and utilized with various configurations of tow vehicles.

Over-center towing locking mechanism for tow truck wheel lift or the like

An improved wheel-lift apparatus attachable to various types of transport trucks, including rollback trucks for loading and carrying disabled vehicles. The improved wheel-lift apparatus provides a horizontal extendable boom mechanism long enough for receiving disabled vehicles. As a result of the wheel-lift's 'low angle' or horizontal approach, the risk of damage occurring to the chassis or body of the disabled vehicle while in the loading and carrying modes is greatly diminished.

A body assembly is for attachment to a tow truck chassis. The body assembly includes a left body unit and a right body unit. Each body unit has a structural unit and a plurality of exterior panels attached to the structural unit. The structural unit is preferably formed from flanged aluminum panels that are attached using adhesive disposed on the flanges. The exterior panels are preferably formed from molded composite panels. The exterior panels are removably attached to allow for simplified repair.

Lightweight rust-resistant body assembly for tow trucks and a method of

A tow truck is disclosed equiped with an improved body assembly, underlift assembly and lifting boom assembly. The body assembly includes a left body unit and a right body unit. Each body unit has a structural unit and a plurality of exterior panhed to the structural unit. The structural unit is preferably formed from flanged aluminum panels that are attached by adhesive. The improved underlift assembly comprises a support arm coupled to the vehicle. A base is coupled to an end of the support arm, a boom base is pivotally attached to the base at a first pivot point and a boom is pivotally attached to the boom base at a second pivot point. A first actuator is coupled to the support arm and the boom base. The operation of the first actuator pivots the boom base with respect to the support arm. A second actuator is coupled to the boom base and the boom. The operation of the second actuator pivots the boom with respect to the boom base. The first actuator is used to position the boom during lifting operation, and the second actuator is used to position the boom into a folded rest position. The improved lifting boom includes two lifting hydraulic actuators that are coupled to the lifting boom on each side and angled inward to provide improved stability.

Tow truck equipped with a light weight rust resistant body assembly and

The present invention relates to a wheel grid assembly and vehicle towing apparatus. The wheel grid assembly includes a wheel boom and a pair of lift arms. Each lift arm consists of an extension arm segment and an engaging arm segment pivotally mounted to the extension arm segment. Each engaging arm segment is made up of an actuating arm segment and a gripping arm segment extending in different directions from the pivot point. A pair of linear actuators rotate the engaging arm segments about their pivot points to engage the wheels of a vehicle to be towed. Each linear actuator is attached to an engaging arm segment through an over-center locking mechanism. The over-center locking mechanisms lock the engaging arm segments in wheel engaging positions without aid of force from the linear actuators. The present invention also relates to a position lock mechanism and a wheel grid self-centering device. Additionally, the present invention provides a wheel spacer for creating adjustability in the lift arms to accommodate variations in wheel size, and an automatic linear actuator control line retractor assembly. The wheel grid assembly of the present invention may be incorporated with an extensible main boom, and utilized with various configurations of tow vehicles.

Growing community of inventors

Falling Waters, WV, United States of America

Charles E Young