The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 1998
Filed:
May. 17, 1995
Phillipi Randsome Pierce, Canton, OH (US);
Scott Allen Dilling, Canton, OH (US);
John Edward Ramsey, Canton, OH (US);
The Boler Company, Itasca, IL (US);
Abstract
A movable subframe or slider for a tractor-trailer includes a pair of elongated spaced-apart parallel main members and at least one generally K-shaped cross member structure which extends between and is attached to the main members. Specifically, the K-shaped cross member structure includes a base member which extends perpendicularly between and is attached to the main members, and further includes a pair of inclined members, each of which extends angularly between and is attached to a respective one of the main members and the base member. Each of the main members is adapted to be slidably mounted on a respective one of a pair of depending parallel rails of a trailer, and a retractable pin mechanism enables selective positioning of the slider along the rails for variable load distribution of cargo contained in the trailer. A hanger depends from each of the main members adjacent to the ends of the base member for supporting an axle/suspension system. Components of the axle/suspension system also are mounted directly on and adjacent to the inclined members. The K-shaped cross member structure enables the slider to be relatively lightweight yet have improved capability for withstanding the combined vertical and bending lateral and longitudinal loads that the slider is subjected to during operation of the tractor-trailer while being relatively inexpensive to manufacture.