The Boler Company

Marc A Gibson

Joseph M Ross

Timothy V Hess

A locking mechanism for a movable subframe of a semi-trailer includes at least a pair of transversely spaced pins. Each pin is extendable into and retractable from an opening formed in its respective longitudinally extending main member of the subframe and a selected aligned one of a plurality of openings formed in its respective longitudinally extending rail of the trailer main frame. An elastomeric bladder is disposed between the pins and is operatively connected to one or more cables and/or linkage members which in turn are operatively connected to the pins. When the bladder is voided of air and is in its collapsed state, sufficient slack exists in the bladder, cables and/or linkage members to enable the bias force of a coil spring disposed about each of the pins to independently cause the pins to extend through their respective aligned openings to lock the subframe in a selected longitudinal position with respect to the trailer main frame. When air is introduced into the bladder, it distends or elongates and in turn shortens the length of the portions of the bladder, cables and/or linkage members which are in transverse alignment with the pins, to impart a linear retraction force on the pins which overcomes the bias force of the springs to independently retract each of the pins from its respective main frame opening enabling repositioning of the subframe beneath the trailer frame. The subframe is free of additional structure for bearing reactive forces generated during normal operation of the locking mechanism.

Growing community of inventors

New Philadelphia, OH, United States of America

Marc A Gibson