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:
Aug. 14, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 10, 1999
Eddie Paul, El Segundo, CA (US);
Magic Axle Systems Ltd, Auburn, CA (US);
Abstract
A steerable trailer is provided with a trailer hitch which extends forward to attach to a corresponding hitch on the towing vehicle. The towing vehicle hitch further includes an extending arm, referred to as the position arm, to which the end of the piston of a hydraulic master cylinder carried by the trailer is pivotally attached. A slave cylinder carried by the trailer adjacent to the steerable wheels is in hydraulic communication with the master cylinder for turning the steerable wheels. A pair of hydraulic lines communicate between the master cylinder and the slave cylinder to extend or retract the slave cylinder piston rod. The steerable wheels are rotatably and pivotally connected to an axle by conventional steering knuckles. A pivot arm is affixed to the steering knuckle of one of the wheels and to a tie rod extending from the steering knuckle of the opposite wheel. The extending end of the cylinder rod of the slave cylinder carries a steering knuckle to which is pivotally attached the pivot arm. During the towing operation, steering the towing vehicle changes the relative angle between the position arm and the trailer hitch causing of the piston of the master cylinder to compress hydraulic fluid through one or another of the hydraulic lines which in turn activates the slave cylinder to extend or withdraw its cylinder rod. Extension or retraction of the slave cylinder piston rod acts on the pivot arm to turn the steerable wheels to steer the trailer in the same direction as the towing vehicle.