Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02317375 2004-04-08
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CONTAINER LOCKDOWN DEVICE
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to trailers- and trailer accessories and, more
particularly, to trailer and trailer accessories for loading, transporting,
and off loading
rectangular; International Standard Organization (ISO) containers having ISO
corner
fittings.
in preferred forms, this invention relates to container lockdown devices
and wheel assemblies and, more particularly, to container lockdown devices
which
secure containers to trailers with the wheel assemblies attached to the
trailers and
methods for loading and unloading the containers therewith.
BACKGROUND
Containers constructed with dimensions according to the International
Standards Organization (ISO containers) are corrimoniy transported by tractor
trailers.
ISO containers typically come in lengths of twenty and forty feet, and each
container
has eight corners with each corner including a corner fitting. The corner
fittings
include an opening on each of the three exposed faces. Various components are
attached to the corner fittings to lift, move, toad, lockdown; and off load
the ISO
~5 containers. These components are generally bulky, complex, expensive to
manufacture, and difficult to use requiring several people, or the addition of
extensive
equiprrient, to perform a task such as loading. Further, the ground surface
over which
containers are being loaded or off loaded is sometimes damaged. It is also
necessary
during loading and unloading to remove and replace many of these components
thereby
increasing the labor required and time necessary to load and unload ISO
containers.
Further, the frequency of use and kinds of uses for ISO containers are
continually
increasing. For example, ISO containers are now used for anything from typical
transportation and storage to mobile office space. Hence, the disadvantages of
these
components are becoming more acute and have a greater cost impact every day.
3 S Trailer loading and off loading components are of special significance.
Containers are frequently loaded onto trailers when oriented at an angle to
the trailer.
The various trailer accessories currently available lack the ability to align
ISO
CA 02317375 2004-04-08
containers with the trailer, so that loading and off loading are overly time
consuming
and require two or more people to complete the task. Conventionally, trailers
are
provided with a single winch fixed at a central location near the front of the
trailer. The
single winch lacks the ability to align the container during loading and is
unable to aide
in performing other functions such as off loading. Substantial advancements
have been
made in tilting trailers to load/unload containers by shifting the
undercarriage of the
trailer as taught by U.S. Patents No. 5,211,413 and 5,013;056 and trailer side
shifting
for alignment to payload as taught by U.S. Patent No. 4,746,261. However,
these
references generally do not address alignment problems that occur while
loading/unloading ISO containers from the trailer bed.
Another problem is presented when loading two twenty foot containers
on the same trailer. When the front twenty foot container has- been loaded
onto a
trailer, the centrally located winch is not positioned to efficiently pull the
rear twenty
foot container onto the trailer behind the front container. .
. When loading and unloading ISO containers without the aid of a crane,
it is standard to attach wheel assemblies to the lower corners of the
containers.
However, it is typically necessary to remove the wheel assemblies from the
containers
during transport. Wheel assembly removal is necessary because of their bulk
and the
~ space constraints on the trailers and because the wheel assemblies make it
more
difficult to safely and efficiently secure the ISO containers to the trailers.
SUMMARY OF' THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one important object of the present invention is to provide
an improved winch assembly having, an increased ability to align containers as
they are
loaded.
It is an additional important object of the present invention to provide
improved methods of loading and off loading containers which reduce time and
labor
for loading and off loading.
It is also an important object of the present 'invention to provide an
improved wheel assembly for loading and moving containers.
It is also an important object of the present invention to provide an
improved method for raising and lowering containers on wheel assemblies.
It is another important object of the present invention to provide
improved off loading pulleys for use with a winch assembly to off load
containers.
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It is another important object of the present invention to provide
improved off loading pulleys for use with a winch assembly to off load
containers.
It is still another important object of the present invention to provide an
improved off load foot for off loading containers.
It is a further important object of the present invention to provide an
improved cable guide for aligning containers as they are loaded.
It is a still further important object of the present invention to provide
improved container guides for aligning containers as they are loaded and off
loaded.
It is yet another important object of the present invention to provide an
improved lockdown mechanism for holding containers in place after they are
loaded.
In carrying out the foregoing and other objects, the present invention
contemplates an improved trailer with an improved trailer winch assembly
having a
movable winch apparatus. A winch transport assembly operates to move the winch
apparatus to a desired position, and a control mechanism is provided to
operate the
winch apparatus and control mechanism.
In a preferred embodiment, the winch transport assembly comprises an
extendable arm with the winch apparatus attached to the winch arm adjacent an
outer
end of the winch arm. The winch arm is slidably received in a guide shell
centrally
located on the deck of the trailer. Preferably, a second winch apparatus is
provided on
a second winch arm slidably received in the guide shell to move the second
winch
assembly preferably in an opposite direction relative to the first winch
assembly.
The present invention also contemplates an improved method for loading
containers onto trailers. The winch apparatus is moved to a desired position,
and a
winch cable is connected to a front corner of the container. The winch
apparatus is then
activated to pull the deck under the container.
In a preferred embodiment, moving the winch apparatus comprises
moving the winch apparatus beyond the side of the trailer deck. Also, a second
winch
apparatus is preferably moved by the transport assembly beyond the other side
of the
trailer deck. To load a second container, the winch cables of the two winch
apparatus
are connected to the front corners of the second container. With the winch
apparatuses
extended beyond the sides of the trailer deck, the cables extend beside the
first container
to pull the second container onto the trailer deck without interference from
the first
container. To further enhance the loading process, the trailer is initially
rolled
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underneath the container which remains substantially stationary until it is
almost
entirely on the trailer.
The present invention further contemplates an improved wheel assembly
for attachment to the corner fittings of ISO containers. The wheel assembly
comprises
a rigid wheel frame and a wheel rotatably and slidably supported in the wheel
frame.
The wheel frame slides between lowered and raised positions relative to the
wheel, and
an attachment assembly is utilized to attach the wheel frame to the corner
fitting of the
ISO container.
In a preferred embodiment, the wheel assembly includes a jack plate
spaced apart from the wheel to define a jack receiving area between the wheel
and the
jack plate. The preferred embodiment also includes a lock block which is
received into
a lock slot of the wheel frame to hold the wheel frame in the raised position.
The
attachment assembly includes an attachment block onto which the wheel frame is
slidably mounted for quick removal of the wheel frame from the attachment
block.
The present invention still further contemplates an improved method for
raising ISO containers with a jack and the wheel assembly. In the method, the
jack is
operatively positioned between the wheel and the jack plate, and the jack is
activated
to move the jack plate relative to the wheel. The lock block is then
preferably inserted
into the lock slot to hold the wheel in the raised position.
The present invention also contemplates an improved trailer including
an inversion member. The winch cable extends around the inversion member and
connects to the container to alter the pulling direction of the trailer winch
apparatus.
With the pulling direction of the winch apparatus changed, the winch apparatus
operates
to pull the container off the deck of the trailer.
In a preferred embodiment, the inversion member comprises a rotatable
inversion pulley having a cable groove formed in its perimeter. Preferably,
the
inversion pulley is removably connected to a side flange of the deck and
substantially
inverts the pulling direction of the winch apparatus. The preferred embodiment
further
includes a second inversion member with the first and second inversion members
being
positioned at the same point along the length of the trailer. For unloading
two twenty
foot containers, third and fourth inversion members are preferablyprovided at
a desired
location along the length of the trailer different than the location along the
length of the
trailer for the first and second inversion members.
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The present invention further contemplates an improved method for off
loading containers from a trailer. In the method, the winch cable is extended
around the
inversion member, and the free end of the winch cable is removably attached to
the
container. The winch apparatus is then activated to pull the container off the
deck of
the trailer.
In a preferred embodiment utilizing two winch cables and where two
twenty foot containers are located on the trailer, the winch cables are first
extended
around the first and second inversion members to off load the rear container.
Then the
winch cables are extended around the third and forth inversion members to off
load the
front container.
The present invention still further contemplates an improved off load
foot for use in loading an ISO container onto a trailer and in off loading an
ISO
container from a trailer. The off load foot includes an attachment assembly
for
connection to a corner fitting of the ISO container, and a downwardly
extending leg
having an upper end connected to the attachment assembly and a ground end for
engaging the ground surface.
In a preferred embodiment, the off load foot also includes a base
connected to the ground end of the leg. The edges of the base are turned up
allowing
the off load foot to rock on the ground surface without damaging the ground
surface.
The present invention also contemplates an improved method for off
loading a container with the off load foot. In the method, the off load foot
is attached
to the corner fitting of the ISO container; the back end of the trailer is
lowered until the
ground end of the off load foot securely contacts the ground surface lifting
the end of
the container off the back end of the trailer, and the trailer is pulled
forward.
In a preferred embodiment, the back end of the trailer is lifted again, so
that the off load foot can be removed. After the off load foot is removed, the
back end
of the trailer is lowered until the rear of the container contacts the ground
surface, and
then the trailer is pulled from underneath the container.
In another preferred embodiment, the preferred off load foot is utilized
during the last several feet of pulling a trailer with a cambered/arced deck
under a 40
foot container, to keep from dragging the container bottom on the trailer. The
rear of
the trailer is lifted, and an off load foot is attached to each rear corner of
the container.
The rear of the trailer is then lowered until the ground end of the off load
foot securely
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contacts the ground surface and lifts the rear of the container off the camber
of the
trailer. The trailer is then be pulled under the container to a loaded
position.
The present invention also contemplates an improved cable guide in
combination with a trailer having a winch apparatus and stake holes formed in
the
trailer deck. The roller guide includes a stake-hole post placed into one of
the stake
holes. With the stake-hole post in place, a guide portion of the cable guide
is located
above the deck and receives the winch cable to alter the pulling direction of
the winch
apparatus.
In a preferred embodiment, the guide portion is rotatably connected to
the stake-hole post for rotation by the winch cable. Preferably, the guide
portion is a
circular disk with a cable receiving groove formed in its perimeter.
The present invention further contemplates an improved container guide
for guiding and aligning a container especially during loading. The container
guide
includes an attachment mechanism for attaching a container guide body to the
container
and a winch cable attachment assembly for connecting a free end of the winch
cable to
the container guide body. The container guide also includes an elongated
downwardly
extending member having a length sufficient to extend below the surface of the
deck
and engage the sides of the deck.
In a preferred embodiment, the container guide body comprises two legs
with one of the legs being the elongated member and the other leg having an
aperture
for attachment to a free end of the winch cable. Preferably, the elongated
member also
comprises an aperture for attachment to the free end of the winch cable, so
that the
container guide body is attachable in two configurations.
In another preferred embodiment, the attachment mechanism comprises
a twist lock tab for locking in an opening of one of the corner fittings of
the container.
In this embodiment, the elongated member comprises a guide pin extending
through a
guide pin aperture in the container guide body. The pin is preferably
cylindrical and
rotatably received in the guide pin aperture.
The present invention still further contemplates an improved lockdown
mechanism for holding a container on the trailer. The lockdown mechanism
includes
an attachment member for attaching to the container, a pivotal securement
member for
attaching to the deck and an extension member attached to both the attachment
member
and the securement member when the securement member is pivoted to a lockdown
position. The securement member is preferably attached to an outer face of the
side
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flange of the trailer deck, and the securement member preferably extends
beyond the
side flange to connect with the extension member. Thus, the extension member
is
positioned beyond the side flange of the deck.
In a preferred embodiment, the extension member comprises a
substantially cylindrical pin extending through cylindrical openings in the
attachment
member and the securement member. Preferably, the extension member is
substantially
perpendicular to both the attachment member and the securement member.
Further, a
locking member is provided to hold the securement member in the lockdown
position.
A further important object of the present invention is to provide an
improved wheel assembly which can be attached to an ISO container during
transport
on a trailer.
It is another important object of the present invention to provide an
improved lockdown mechanism which can secure an ISO container having wheel
assemblies attached thereto during transport on a trailer.
It is still another important obj ect of the present invention to provide an
improved loading/off loading container foot which can remain attached to an
ISO
container during transport on a trailer.
It is further an important object of the present invention to provide
improved methods requiring less time and labor for loading and unloading ISO
containers onto and off of trailers.
In carrying out the foregoing and other objects, the present invention
contemplates an improved bottom wheel assembly for attachment to a container.
The
bottom wheel assembly includes a mounting bracket which attaches the assembly
to the
container, and at least one wheel rotatably connected to the mounting bracket.
The
mounting bracket and wheel, no matter which direction the container is moved,
are
always positioned below the container and inside of the extremities of the
container.
In a preferred embodiment, the wheel comprises a non-castering wheel,
and the mounting bracket comprises opposed components defining an upper pair
of
aligned lock pin openings and a lower pair of aligned wheel axle openings. The
mounting bracket also has positioning shoulders sized to properly position the
lock pin
openings in an ISO container corner fitting. Preferably, the wheel assembly
has three
wheels and a lockdown extension extending from a wheel axle which extends
through
the wheel axle openings to mount the wheels to the mounting bracket. The wheel
axle
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preferably includes a threaded lockdown extension and rounded lockdown
extensions
which cooperate with different lockdown brackets to secure the container to a
trailer.
It is further contemplated that the described wheel assembly will be used
in combination with a lockdown bracket, including a lockdown securement
portion, and
a trailer attachment portion. The lockdown securement portion attaches to the
lockdown extension and to the trailer attachment portion thereby securing the
container
to the trailer.
In a preferred embodiment, the lockdown securement portion includes
a lockdown flange defining an opening for receiving the lockdown extension
therethrough and a threaded lockdown extension connector which is threadably
connected to the threaded lockdown extension. The trailer attachment portion
includes
a pair of trailer clips attached to opposite ends of the lockdown flange and a
central
abutment block for fixed attachment to a trailer. The trailer clips are
positioned on
opposite sides of the central abutment block to secure the container to the
trailer.
1 S In another preferred embodiment, the lockdown securement portion
comprises a pair of upper legs which receive the rounded lockdown extension
between
the upper legs and an upper surface of a trailer deck. Preferably, a pair of
lower legs are
positioned beneath the upper legs to hold the rounded lockdown extension
between the
upper and lower legs. The upper legs are somewhat movable, so that they are
forced
upwardly by the rounded lockdown extension as the rounded lockdown extension
is
forced into place between the upper and lower legs. The trailer attachment
portion
preferably comprises a stake hole connector attachable to a stake hole in the
trailer deck.
The stake hole connector includes a top plate mounted on top of the deck and a
stake
hole arm extending downwardly from the top plate through the stake hole. A
bottom
plate secures the stake hole arm in the stake hole.
The present invention further contemplates that the above described
wheel assembly will be used in combination with a container. The container is
preferably a rectangular ISO container having two front corner fittings and
two rear
corner fittings. It is further contemplated that the above described lockdown
brackets
will be used in combination with both the wheel assembly and the container.
It is still further contemplated in the present invention that the above
described wheel assembly, container, and lockdown brackets will be used in
combination with a trailer. The trailer preferably includes a trailer deck for
supporting
containers and a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled with the deck.
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The invention is further directed to a novel lockdown mechanism for
securing a container to a trailer. The mechanism includes a lockdown extension
attachable to a container and a lockdown securement portion selectively
connectable to
the lockdown extension. A trailer attachment portion connects the lockdown
securement portion to the trailer.
In a preferred embodiment, the lockdown extension comprises a wheel
axle having a threaded front lockdown area and a rounded side lockdown area.
In one
preferred embodiment, the securement portion includes a lockdown flange and
threaded
lockdown extension connector as described above. The trailer attachment
portion
includes the above described clips and the central abutment block for fixed
attachment
to a trailer. Similarly, the trailer clips are positioned on opposite sides of
the central
abutment block to secure the container to the trailer.
In another preferred embodiment, the lockdown securement portion
comprises the above described upper and lower legs which receive the rounded
lockdown extension therebetween. The trailer attachment portion preferably
comprises
the above described stake hole connector attachable to a stake hole in the
trailer deck.
The invention is further directed to a container foot having a
substantially rigid foot mounting bracket for attachment to the container. A
platform
is pivotally attached to the foot mounting bracket.
In a preferred embodiment, the platform is a substantially flat,
rectangular plate, and the foot mounting bracket and platform are positioned
below the
container and within the extremities of the container when attached to the
container.
The container foot is preferably used in combination with the container and a
trailer
having a deck that defines a container foot receiving slot having the foot
mounting
bracket held in the foot receiving slot. The foot receiving slot includes a
widening
mouth for guiding the foot mounting bracket into the container foot receiving
slot, and
the receiving slot is sized to securely hold the foot mounting bracket. With
the foot
mounting bracket securely held in the foot receiving slot, the container foot
acts as a
lockdown for the container.
The invention is still further directed to a novel mounting bracket for
mounting various components onto a container. The mounting bracket includes a
shoulder portion or mounting the bracket on the container and a substantially
rigid
attachment portion for having a selected one of a plurality components
attached thereto.
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In a preferred embodiment, the component is selected from a group
comprising a container foot, a wheel assembly, and a lockdown extension. The
attachment portion defines an opening having a key way, and one of the
components
includes a key received in the key way to fix that component from rotation.
The
S shoulder is sized to properly position the mounting bracket relative to the
container.
The invention is also directed to a novel trailer for transporting
containers. The trailer includes a flat deck for supporting containers, and
the deck has
a front end, a back end, and opposed sides. A plurality of wheels are
rotatably coupled
with the deck and a hitch assembly is provided for hitching the deck to a
towing vehicle.
Preferably, the trailer also includes a pair of container foot receiving slots
defined in the
back end of the trailer. Additionally, the trailer preferably includes at
least one of the
above described lockdown brackets attached to the deck.
The invention also pertains to a method for loading containers on
trailers. To load the containers, wheel assemblies are attached to two front
corner
1 S fittings of the container and the container is pulled onto the trailer
with a winch
assembly. The wheel assemblies are left attached to the container, and the
container is
secured to the trailer with lockdown mechanisms for transport.
In a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises attaching
container feet to the rear corner fittings of the container and inserting the
container feet
into container foot receiving slots formed in the back end of the trailer. For
some
containers, wheel assemblies are also attached to the two rear corner fittings
of the
container and left attached for transport. Preferably, securing the container
to the trailer
comprises connecting lockdown brackets to lockdown extensions of the wheel
axles of
the wheel assemblies.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a trailer including features according to
the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective view of a front end of the
trailer of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, top plan view of a cable guide inserted in the
trailer of Fig. 1 and illustrating the operation of the cable guide to align a
container with
the trailer;
Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cable guide of Fig. 3;
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Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the operation of a
container guide;
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the operation of the
cable guide of Fig. 3 and an alternate embodiment of a container guide;
Fig. 7 is a top view in partial cross-section of a winch assembly
according to the present invention shown in an extended position;
Fig. 8 is a cable side view in partial cross section of the winch assembly
of Fig. 7 shown in the extended position;
Fig. 9 is an end view of the winch assembly of Fig. 7 taken from the
perspective of line 9-9 in Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 is an opposite end view of the winch assembly of Fig. 7 taken
from the perspective of line 10-10 in Fig. 8;
Fig. 11 is a fragmentary front view of the winch assembly of Fig. 7 taken
from the perspective of line 11-11 in Fig. 9;
Fig.12 is a top view of the winch assembly of Fig. 7 shown in a retracted
position;
Fig. 13 is a cable side view of the winch assembly of Fig. 7 having
portions removed for illustration and shown in the retracted position;
Fig. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a wheel assembly according
to the present invention and the container guide of Fig. 5;
Fig. 15 is a partially exploded perspective view of the wheel assembly
of Fig. 14;
Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the alternate embodiment of
the container guide assembly of Fig. 6;
Fig. 17 is a side view in partial cross section of the wheel assembly of
Fig. 14 illustrating the wheel assembly in a lowered position and placement of
a jack
in the wheel assembly;
Fig. 18 is a front view in partial cross section of the wheel assembly of
Fig. 14 in the lowered position;
Fig. 19 is a side view in partial cross section of the wheel assembly of
Fig. 14 having a portion thereof removed to illustrate actuation of the jack
and
illustrating the wheel assembly in a raised position;
Fig. 20 is a front view in partial cross section of the wheel assembly of
Fig. 14 in the raised position;
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Fig. 21 is a side view of the wheel assembly of Fig. 14 and illustrating
the container being loaded;
Fig. 22 is a side view of the wheel assembly of Fig. 14 and illustrating
the operation of the container guide of Fig. 5;
Fig. 23 is a side view of the wheel assembly and container guide of Fig.
14 and illustrating a loaded position of the container;
Fig. 24 is a side view of a lockdown mechanism according to the present
invention;
Fig. 25 is a horizontal cross sectional view of the lockdown mechanism
of Fig. 24 taken along line 25-25 in Fig. 24;
Fig. 26 is a vertical cross sectional view of the lockdown mechanism of
Fig. 24 taken along line 26-26 in Fig. 24;
Fig. 27 is a side view of the container guide of Fig. 6 illustrating the
container being loaded;
Fig. 28 is a side view of the container guide of Fig. 6 illustrating the
operation of the container guide;
Fig. 29 is a side view of the container guide of Fig. 6 illustrating the
loaded position of the container;
Fig. 30 is a vertical cross sectional view of the container guide of Fig.
16 taken along line 30-30 in Fig. 29;
Fig. 31 is a vertical, transverse cross sectional view illustrating the
container in a lockdown position;
Fig. 32 is an exploded perspective view of an off load foot according to
the present invention;
Fig. 33 is a rear view of the off load foot of Fig. 32;
Fig. 34 is a vertical cross sectional view of the off load foot of Fig. 32;
Fig. 35 is a side view illustrating the trailer loading operation;
Fig. 36 is a side view illustrating a subsequent step in the trailer loading
operation;
Fig. 37 is a side view illustrating a further subsequent step in the trailer
loading operation;
Fig. 38 is a side view illustrating another subsequent step in the trailer
loading operation;
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Fig. 39 is a side view illustrating still another subsequent step in the
trailer loading operation;
Fig. 40 is a side view illustrating a trailer loaded with two twenty foot
containers;
Fig. 41 is a side view illustrating the trailer off loading operation;
Fig. 42 is a side view illustrating a subsequent step in the trailer off
loading operation;
Fig. 43 is a side view illustrating an alternate trailer off loading operation
utilizing inversion pulleys shown in Figs. 45 and 46;
Fig. 44 is a side view illustrating the trailer off loading operation for a
forty foot container;
Fig. 45 is a fragmentary side view illustrating the operation of an off
load inversion pulley according to the present invention;
Fig. 46 is a vertical cross section of the inversion pulley of Fig. 45 taken
along line 46-46 in Fig. 45;
Fig. 47 is an exploded perspective view of a bottom wheel assembly
according to the present invention, an intermediate lockdown mechanism
according to
the present invention, and the lockdown mechanism of Fig. 24;
Fig. 48 is a perspective view of a front lockdown mechanism according
to the present invention;
Fig. 49 is a side view of the wheel assembly of Fig. 47 and the front
lockdown mechanism of Fig. 48;
Fig. 50 is a side view of the wheel assembly of Fig. 47 and the
intermediate lockdown mechanism of Fig. 47;
Fig. S 1 is a vertical cross sectional view of the wheel assembly of Fig.
47 and the front lockdown mechanism of Fig. 48 taken along line S 1-51 in Fig.
49;
Fig. 52 is a vertical cross sectional view of the wheel assembly of Fig.
47 and the intermediate lockdown mechanism of Fig. 47 taken along line 52-52
in Fig.
50;
Fig. 53 is an exploded perspective view of a pivoting container foot
according to the present invention;
Fig. 54 is a side view of the pivoting container foot of Fig. 53 attached
to an ISO container corner fitting;
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Fig. 55 is a rear view, in partial cross section, of the pivoting container
foot of Fig. 53 taken from a perspective of line 55-55 in Fig. 54;
Fig. 56 is a perspective view of a trailer according to the present
invention including lockdown brackets and container foot receiving slots
according to
the present invention;
Fig. 57 is a fragmentary top view of a back end of the trailer and a front
end of the container illustrating a method for loading the container;
Fig. 58 is a side view of the illustration in Fig. 57;
Fig. 59 is a fragmentary side view illustrating a subsequent step in the
method for loading the container;
Fig. 60 is a side view illustrating a further subsequent step in the method
for loading the container;
Fig. 61 is a side view illustrating a still further subsequent step in the
method for loading the container;
Fig. 62 is a side view illustrating another subsequent step in the method
for loading the container;
Fig. 63 is a side view illustrating a method for loading a second container
behind the first container;
Fig. 64 is a side view illustrating a subsequent step in the method for
loading the second container;
Fig. 65 is a fragmentary side view illustrating a further subsequent step
in the method for loading the second container;
Fig. 66 is a side view illustrating a trailer loaded with two twenty foot
ISO containers;
Fig. 67 is side view illustrating a step in a method for unloading
containers; and
Fig. 68 is a side view illustrating a trailer loaded with a forty foot ISO
container.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Introduction
Refernng to the drawings in greater detail, the trailer 50 shown in Fig.
1 includes a winch assembly 100 for loading an ISO container 52 onto the deck
54 of
the trailer. Wheel mechanisms 200 are attached to at least the lower front
corners 56,
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57 of the container 52 allowing the trailer to roll under the container. The
trailer 50 is
also provided with inversion pulleys 300A, 300B for off loading the container,
and an
off load foot 350 (Fig. 32) is provided for connection to the rear 58 of the
container to
aide in off loading. A cable guide 400 and a container guide 420 are provided
to align
the container during loading, and a lockdown mechanism S00 (Fig. 24) is
provided to
hold the container in place on the trailer.
Figure 47 illustrates a bottom wheel assembly 600 and an intermediate
lockdown mechanism 700. A front lockdown mechanism 750 is shown in Figs. 48
and
49, and a pivoting container foot 800 is illustrated in Fig. 53. Utilizing the
bottom
wheel assembly 600 and the front and intermediate lockdown mechanisms, 700,
750
allows the containers to be transported on the trailer SO with the bottom
wheel
assemblies 600 and container feet 800 attached to the containers 52, 96 (Fig.
39) thereby
simplifying the loading and off loading process.
Trailer and Container
Refernng to Figs. 1 and 2, the standard components ofthe trailer 50 will
be described to the extent necessary for an understanding of the inventive
features
disclosed herein. The trailer includes a substantial flat deck 54 having a
length
extending between a front end 60 and a back end 62. The deck is substantially
flat in
that it has a small camber or arc from front 60 to back 62. The trailer also
has a width
extending between a first side 64 and a second side 66. Each side of the
trailer has a
side flange 68, 70 with an outer face 72 and a plurality of stake holes 73.
The trailer
also has a plurality of wheels 74 rotatably coupled with the deck 54 to
support and
transport the deck. The trailer also includes a hitch assembly 76 (Fig. 36)
for
connection to a towing vehicle 78 (Fig. 36). The hitch assembly is positioned
adjacent
to the front end of the deck, and the wheels are movable relative to the deck
as taught
in U.S. Patents No. 5,211,413 and No. 5,013,056. A control mechanism 80, 82
operates
to selectively control the functions of the trailer with the trailer control
80 raising and
lowering the back end 62 of the trailer and the winch assembly control 82
(Fig. 7) for
selectively activating the winch assembly 100. The winch assembly control 82
also
includes a remote control 81 on a cable 83 that is long enough to extend to
the back end
62 of the trailer 50. The trailer control 80, also includes a remote control
(not shown)
on a cable that is long enough to extend to the back of the trailer which is
designed for
operator safety.
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
The container 52 is an ISO container having opposed lower front corners
56, 57 and opposed lower rear corners 84, 86. Each corner is provided with a
corner
fitting 88, shown schematically in some drawings, having a slot shaped opening
90 with
rounded ends on each of the three exposed faces 92. The container 52 is
approximately
twenty feet in length, and forty foot containers 94 (Fig. 44) are also
provided. Thus,
each ISO container has four lower corners with corner fittings for the
attachment of
components to load, off load, and lockdown the container.
Winch Assembly and Operation
Refernng to Fig. 2, the winch assembly 100 includes a first movable
winch apparatus 102 and a second movable winch apparatus 104 operable to apply
force
to the container 52. The first and second winches are mounted on a transport
assembly
106 that is centrally attached to the trailer near the front of the deck 54.
The two winches 102, 104 are adapted for left hand and right hand
1 S rotation and are preferably hydraulic. The winches are otherwise
substantially identical
and will be described with reference to only one winch with identical
reference
numerals identifying the similar features of the winches. Refernng
additionally to Figs.
7 through 13, the winch includes a cable spool 108 and a winch cable 110 which
is
wound around the cable spool. The winch cable extends from the winch apparatus
through four roller guides 112, 114, 116, 118 on the cable side 119 of the
winch
assembly. The vertical roller guides 112, 114 restrict the movement of the
cable in the
horizontal direction and the horizontal roller guides 116, 118 restrict the
movement of
the cable in the vertical direction. The winch also includes a guide plate 120
having an
upturned end 122 for progressively layering the cable as it is wound onto the
spool 108.
The plate 120 is hingably connected by a hinge connection 124 relative to the
spool and
is biased with a spring 126 against the cable. The winch can be released by
the winch
controls 82, so that the cable can be withdrawn from the winch and have its
free end
128 (Fig. 16) attached to a desired component. The winch is activated to
retract the
cable 110 in a pulling direction, indicated by arrow 130, toward the winch and
wind it
on the spool 108.
The transport assembly 106 includes a guide shell 132, a first extendable
winch arm 134, a second extendable winch arm 136, and an actuating member 138.
The guide shell is rectangular, preferably substantially square, in cross
section and is
fixedly mounted on the trailer 50 with a mounting assembly 140 in a central
location
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
across the width of the trailer and adjacent to the front 60 of the deck 54
and the front
of the trailer 50. A first end 142 of the guide shell includes a large stop
144 attached
to the inner surface 146 of the guide shell with conventional fasteners 148.
Preferably,
the stop is U-shaped but can extend around the entire inside circumference of
the guide
shell. The stop 144 operates to center the second arm 136 in the guide shell.
The
second end 150 of the guide shell is provided with a small stop 152 which is
preferably
located on all four internal sides of the guide shell 132 and is split into
four parts. A
feed line opening 154 (Fig. 7) is formed in the cable side 119 of the guide
shell to
receive hydraulic lines 158 from the control mechanism 82. A mounting plate
160 is
attached to the cable side 119 to hold the lines in place and permit the
extendable winch
arms 134, 136 to slide around the lines 158.
The first extendable arm 134 is also substantially square in cross section
and is smaller than the guide shell, so that it is slidably received inside
the guide shell.
The first arm also has a stop 162 positioned on the outer surface 164 for
engaging the
small stop 152 of the guide shell thereby limiting the extension of the first
arm 134.
The stop is preferably bifurcated into two parts which are placed on the
opposite sides
of the first arm and extend across substantially the entire height of the
first arm. The
first winch 102 is fixedly attached inside the first arm adjacent to the outer
end 166 of
the first arm. The outer end 166 is adjacent the side 64 of the trailer. A
cable opening
168 is formed in the cable side 119 through which the cable 110 extends. The
roller
guides 112-118 surround the opening and are fixedly mounted to the cable side
119 of
the first arm 134. The cable side 119 of the first arm also includes a
hydraulic line slot
172 through which the hydraulic lines 158 extend. The slot 172 is of
sufficient length
to allow the arm to fully extend and fully retract without the ends of the
slot contacting
the hydraulic lines. The inner end 174 of the first arm is opposite the outer
end 166 and
has a spacer 176 on the upper and lower outer surfaces. The spacer 176 is
preferably
bifurcated into two parts which extend across substantially the entire width
of the first
arm. The spacer 176, in cooperation with the stop 162, slides against the
inner surface
146 of the guide shell to center the first arm inside the guide shell.
The second extendable arm 136 has features substantially identical to the
first extendable arm which are identified by identical reference numerals. The
second
arm is substantially square in cross section and is smaller than the first
arm, so that the
second arm is slidably received inside the first arm. The first arm, second
arm, and
guide shell are all parallel. The second arm has a bifurcated stop 178 on the
sides of the
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
arm and a bifurcated spacer 180 (Fig. 8) adjacent to the inner end 182 of the
second
arm. The bifurcated stop 178 contacts the large stop 144 to limit extension of
the
second arm 136. The bifurcated spacer 180 engages the inner surface 184 of the
first
arm, and the large stop 144 of the guide shell engages the outer surface 186
of the
second arm to center the second arm within the guide shell and within the
first arm
while allowing the second arm to slide relative thereto. The outer end 166 of
the second
arm is adjacent the other side 66 of the trailer.
The actuating member 138 preferably comprises a hydraulic cylinder.
The hydraulic cylinder comprises an elongated piston 188 and an elongated
cylinder
housing 190 in which the piston is slidably received. The cylinder is housed
inside of
the first and second arms 134, 136 with the piston being attached to the lower
portion
of the inner surface 184 of the first arm with a fixed connection 192. The
cylinder
housing 190 is attached to the inner surface 194 of the second arm 136 with a
fixed
connection 196.
In operation, the winch control 82 is operated to extend the arms 134,
136 and attached winches 102, 104 in opposite directions away from the center
of the
trailer and away from each other until the winches extend beyond the
respective sides
64, 66 of the deck 54. Thus, when a winch is moved, it is always moved away
from one
of the sides and preferably in a direction parallel to the width of the
trailer.
Referring to Figs. 38-40, in loading two twenty foot containers the
winches are moved apart and the winch cables are first connected to the
opposed front
corners 56, 57 of the front container 52 and the winches are activated to pull
the front
container substantially all the way forward on the deck 54. The free ends of
the cables
are then removed from the opposed front corners 56, 57 of the front container
52 and
are attached to the opposed front corners of the rear container 96. The
winches are then
activated again to pull the trailer under the rear container 96. The
extendable winches
allow the cables to extend on either side of the front container, so that the
front
container does not interfere with loading of the rear container 96. After the
containers
are loaded, the winch arms are retracted toward the center of the trailer, so
that the
winches are between the sides of the trailer.
Wheel Assembly and pperation
Refernng to Figs. 14 and 15, the wheel assembly 200 comprises a wheel
frame 202, an attachment assembly 204, and a wheel 206. The wheel is rotatably
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
mounted in the wheel frame 202, and the attachment assembly 204 attaches the
wheel
frame 202 to the corner fitting 88 of the container 52.
The wheel frame 202 comprises opposed vertical side walls 208, 210
joined by support rods 212, 214, a jack plate 216, and a rear plate 218. The
opposed
S side walls are preferably parallel and have outward protrusions 220, 222
through which
the front support rod 212 extends. The second support rod 214 is generally
centrally
located in the side walls and is positioned to center a jack 298 (Fig. 17)
over the wheel
206. The jack plate 216 is positioned adjacent to the top ends of the side
walls and is
preferably oriented in a horizontal plane. The rear plate 218 is positioned
adjacent to
the top ends of the side walls at the rear of the side walls and it is
preferably oriented
in a vertical plane. The side walls 208, 210 also include slide tabs 224, 226
adjacent
to the rear and bottom ends of the side walls. The slide tabs are generally
rectangular
and extend into the space between the two side walls. Preferably, the slide
tabs 224,
226 are elongated in a vertical plane.
The wheel 206 which is preferably made of a hard metal, is rotatably and
slidably mounted between the two side walls 208, 210 by a wheel shaft 228
extending
through lock slots 230, 232 in the opposite side walls. The shaft 228 is
secured with
conventional fasteners 234 and washers 235 at each end of the shaft. A pair of
lock
blocks 236, 238 each have an aperture 240, 242 through which the shaft 228
extends.
The lock blocks slide axially on the shaft, and the washers are sized to
prevent the lock
blocks from coming off the shaft. The lock blocks are preferably positioned
outside of
the side walls and are free to pivot around and slide on the shaft between the
side walls
and the washers. The lock blocks 236, 238 also include outer grasping portions
244, 246
which are sized so that they will not pass through the lock slots 230, 232.
The lock
blocks further include inner portions 248, 250 sized to fit into the lock
slots with
minimal clearance for hand insertion and removal. The inner portions together
with the
shaft fill the lock slots.
The attachment assembly 204 includes a fastener 252, an attachment
block 254, and a locking member 256. The fastener comprises a threaded end 258
for
threaded engagement with a nut 260 and an elongated head 262 sized to fit
through the
opening 91 in the corner fitting 88 when the fastener is held in the
orientation shown.
When the orientation of the fastener is rotated 90° it cannot pass
through the opening
91 as illustrated in Fig. 25. A pin 265 is also preferably used to hold the
fastener in
place while the attachment block is being connected to the corner fitting 88.
The pin
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
extends through small openings 267, 269 in the attachment block and fastener
respectively.
Referring additionally to Fig. 31, the attachment block 254 comprises
an aperture 264 for receiving the fastener 252 and a recess 266 on its outer
side 268 to
receive the nut 260. The inner side 270 has a fastener head engagement collar
272
which keeps the fastener head from rotating during tightening. The collar 272
is
generally U-shaped and includes upper and lower legs 274, 276 having flat
inner faces
278, 280 for engaging the fastener head 262 and curved outer faces 282, 284
which fit
between the fastener head and the ends of the opening 91 to fill the opening
91 whereby
the attachment assembly 204 is substantially fixed from moving relative to the
ISO
container 52. Each leg also includes a chamfer 279, 281 for easier engagement
with the
fastener head 262.
The attachment block 254 also includes opposed outward facing slide
channels 286, 288 which form a slide connection with the slide tabs 224, 226
allowing
1 S the wheel frame to slide up and down relative to the attachment block 254.
The wheel
frame 202 is held in place relative to the attachment block by the locking
member 256
which extends through a pair of apertures 290 in the side walls and through a
cylindrical
hole 292 in an upper portion of the attachment block. The slide tabs and
apertures 290
are all preferably aligned in the same vertical plane. A safety pin 296 is
provided to
prevent the locking member 256 from being inadvertently removed.
In operation and referring additionally to Figs. 16-20, the attachment
block 254 is fastened to the corner fitting 88 with the fastener 252, and the
slide tabs
224, 226 are slid into the slide channels 286, 288. The locking member 256 is
inserted
through the pair of apertures 290 and the opening 292 to lock the wheel frame
in place
relative to both the attachment assembly and the container. The rear plate 218
abuts
against the container 52 to stabilize the wheel assembly. At this point, the
wheel is in
the lowered position as shown in Fig. 17. A jack 298 is inserted into a jack
receiving
area 291 between the wheel 206 and the j ack plate 216. The j ack 298 includes
a curved
bottom 293 to engage the wheel 206 and a flat top 295 to engage the flat jack
plate 216.
The jack 298, which is preferably hydraulic, is then actuated to press the
jack plate
upwardly relative to the wheel to li$ the wheel frame and container as
illustrated in Fig.
19. The lock blocks are then manipulated to insert the inner portions 248 into
the lock
slots 230, 232 thereby locking the wheel in the raised position. The top 295
ofthe jack
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
298 is then retracted and the jack removed. Thus, a single jack can be used to
place a
container on wheels.
Using the wheel assembly 200 in the loading and unloading operation
is described with reference to Figs. 35-40. Wheel assemblies are attached to
the
opposed front corners 56, 57 of the container 52 and the winches 102,104 are
activated
to initially draw the trailer underneath the front of the container while the
container
remains substantially stationary. When the container is almost entirely on the
trailer,
i.e., the back end of the trailer is within three or four feet of the rear 58
of the container,
the trailer controls 80 are then operated to raise the back end 62 of the
trailer 50, and
wheel assemblies are attached to the opposed rear corners 84, 86 of the
container. The
back end of the trailer is then lowered again, and the winches are activated
to pull the
first container into place on the deck. The wheel frames are then removed from
the
attachment assemblies. The same procedure is repeated with the second
container 96
or a forty foot container 94 with the exception that wheel assemblies are
preferably not
attached to the rear of the second container or of the forty foot container,
so that the
trailer is pulled underneath the container to load the container onto the
trailer. If space
permits, the wheel frames are left attached to the opposed front corners of
the second
container, and space permitting, preferably all of the attachment assemblies
204 are left
on the containers.
In off loading the containers, the wheel frames are quickly reattached as
described above to the attachment assemblies for off loading. After the
containers are
off loaded, the attachment assemblies can then be removed from the corners of
the ISO
containers. As an alternative to the above loading operation, wheel assemblies
could
be attached to all four corners of the containers, and instead of the trailer
being backed
underneath the containers, the containers could be pulled up onto the trailer
or some
combination thereof.
Inversion Members and Operation
Refernng to Figs. 43-46, the trailer 50 is preferably provided with off
load pulleys 300 which act as inversion members to change the pulling
direction 130
(Fig. 7) of the winches. The off load pulleys 300 are operatively coupled with
the
container by a container attachment 302 and are rotatably mounted to the
trailer with
a trailer attachment 304.
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
The off load pulleys 300 preferably comprise cylindrical disks. The
perimeters 306 of the disks preferably define cable receiving grooves 308.
Preferably,
a first set of two pulleys 300A are positioned near to the front 60 of the
deck 54, and a
second set of two pulleys 300B are positioned near the center of the deck 54.
Each
pulley of the first set of pulleys 300A is positioned on opposite sides of the
trailer at the
same desired point along the length of the trailer approximately four feet
from the front
of the deck. The front pulleys are used to off load a forty foot container as
shown in
Fig. 44 or off load a front container. Each pulley of the second set of
pulleys 300B are
positioned on opposite sides of the trailer at the same desired point
approximately four
feet rearward from the center of the deck. The second set of pulleys can be
used to off
load any container but are preferably used to off load a rear twenty foot
container.
For sake of brevity the off load pulleys will be described with reference
to only one pulley. The container attachment 302 preferably comprises one of
the
container guides 428 which will be discussed in detail below. The container
attachment
attaches the free end 128 of the cable 110 to the front corners 56, 57 of the
container 52.
The trailer attachment 304 includes a shaft receptacle 310 welded to the
side flange 68 of the deck 54. The shaft receptacle 310 receives a shaft 312
into a
center aperture 320 and is locked in the shaft receptacle by a lock pin 314.
The shaft
312 is fixed from rotation by the lock pin 314, so that the pulley rotates on
a bushing
316 around the shaft 312. The pulley is attached to the shaft with a
conventional
fastener/washer assembly 318. Thus, the pulleys can be removed for transport
or left
attached in the shaft receptacle 310.
In operation, to unload a forty foot container 94, the winch cables 110
are wrapped around the first set of pulleys 300A and connected to the
container
attachment 302 at each front corner of the container as illustrated in Fig.
44. The winch
is activated to pull the container rearwardly until the rear end of the
container hangs far
enough over the back end of the trailer, so that the rear of the container
will not move
while the tractor is driven from underneath the container.
To unload two twenty foot containers, the winch cables 110 are wrapped
around the second set of pulleys 300B and the free ends 128 of the cables are
attached
to the front corners of the rear container 96 as shown in Fig. 43. The cables
are held in
the cable grooves 308 as the winches are activated to pull the container 96
rearwardly
until it overhangs the back end of the trailer enough to be off loaded. The
cables are
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
then disconnected from the rear container 96 wrapped around the first set of
pulleys
300A and attached to the front corners of the front container 52. The winches
are again
activated pulling the container rearwardly. When the front of the container
reaches the
first set of pulleys 300A the winch cables are removed from the first set of
pulleys and
wrapped around the second set of pulleys to continue pulling the front
container
rearwardly until its rear end hangs over the back end of the trailer. If the
winch cables
have sufficient length they can be wrapped around the second set of pulleys
initially.
Thus, the pulleys operate to alter the pulling direction of the winches and
preferably
substantially invert the pulling direction of the winches, so that the power
of the
winches can be used to both load and off load containers.
Off Load Foot and Operation
Refernng to Figs. 32-34, the off load foot 350 includes an attachment
assembly 352 for connection to a rear corner fitting of a container and a
downwardly
1 S extending leg 354 connected to the attachment assembly. The downwardly
extending
leg 354 engages the ground surface 85 (Fig. 42) to aid in off loading
containers.
The attachment assembly 352 comprises a fastener 356 for insertion into
the opening 90 of the corner fitting 88 and an attachment block 358 having a
central
aperture 360 receiving the fastener therethrough. The block also includes a
generally
U-shaped fastener head engagement collar 362 which includes upper and lower
legs
364, 366 for engaging the fastener head 368 and which fit between the fastener
head and
the ends of the opening 90 to fill the opening 90 whereby the attachment
assembly 352
is substantially fixed from moving relative to the ISO container 52. The
fastener 356,
block 358, and collar 362 are substantially similar to and operate in
substantially the
same manner as those components provided on the attachment block of the wheel
assembly.
The attachment block includes a pin hole 369 for receiving a pin 370
which extends through the pin hole and into an opening 372 in the fastener to
hold the
fastener and attachment block in place while the collar 374 is threaded onto a
threaded
end 376 of the fastener utilizing wrench holes 378 spaced around the
circumference of
the collar 374. To hold the tightened collar in place, a lock pin 390,
preferably provided
by transfernng pin 370, is inserted through one of four collar lock slots 392
formed
around the circumference of the collar and extends into an opening 394 in the
threaded
end 376 of the fastener 356.
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
The downwardly extending leg 354 includes an aperture 380 receiving
the fastener therethrough and a cylindrical torsion resistance member 382
having a
central aperture 384 concentric with the aperture 380 of the downwardly
extending leg
354. The downwardly extending leg has an upper end 386 and a ground end 388
with
the torsion resistance member 382 being attached adjacent to the upper end
386. The
downwardly extending leg has a base 396 attached thereto having elongated
upturned
edges 397, 398. The upturned edges preferably extend across the entire length
of the
downwardly extending leg and allow the off load foot to rock on top of the
ground
surface without damaging the ground surface.
In operation and referring to Figs 41 and 42, an off load foot 350 is
attached to each rear corner of the container, and the back end of the trailer
is lowered
until the base 396 contacts the ground surface 85 and lifts the rear end of
the container
off the back end of the trailer. The trailer is pulled forward out from
underneath the
container until there is approximately four feet of the container over hanging
the back
end of the trailer. This is a sufficient distance for the rear bottom edge of
the container
to securely engage the ground surface 85 without sliding. Preferably, the back
end of
the trailer is lifted again, and the off load feet are removed. The trailer is
then lowered
and pulled forward the rest of the way out from underneath the container.
The off load foot can also be utilized during the last several feet of
pulling a trailer with a cambered/arced deck under, for example, a 40 foot
container, to
keep from dragging the container bottom on the trailer. The rear of the
trailer is lifted,
and an off load foot is attached to each rear corner of the container. The
rear of the
trailer is then lowered until the ground end of the off load foot securely
contacts the
ground surface and lifts the rear of the container off the camber of the
trailer. The
trailer can then be pulled under the container to a loaded position.
Cable Guides
Referring to Figs. 3 through 6, the cable guide 400 is provided in
combination with the trailer and includes a stake-hole post 402 and a guide
portion 404
connected to a top end 406 of the stake-hole post. The stake-hole post is
elongated and
has a configuration and size, preferably two rods welded together, to fit
snugly in a
stake hole 73. The bottom end 412 of the stake-hole post is inserted into the
stake hole.
The guide portion 404 preferably comprises a cylindrical disk having a cable
groove
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
408 formed in its perimeter. The disk is preferably rotatably secured to the
stake-hole
post with a fastener/washer assembly 410.
In operation, the cable guide 400 is used to align a container 53 that is
out of alignment with the deck 54. The cable guide is capable of aligning the
container
53 if the container is oriented at an angle with the deck or positioned to one
side of the
deck as shown in Fig. 3. The cable guide 400 is inserted into a desired stake
hole along
the length of the trailer. The cable 110 is positioned in the cable groove
408. The
winches are activated pulling the container toward the deck and aligning the
container
with the deck. The cable guide can be moved from one stake hole to another to
better
achieve alignment, and cable guides can be used on both sides of the trailer.
As the
cable is pulled past the cable guide, the guide portion 404 rotates, so that
the cable
moves smoothly past the cable guide. The cable guide operates to alter the
pulling
direction of the winches, as desired, enough to align the container with the
trailer.
Container Guides
Two embodiments of the container guides 420A, 420B are shown in
Figs. 14 and 16. The embodiment shown in Fig. 14 will be discussed first. The
container guide 420A comprises a container guide body 422, an attachment
mechanism
424 for attaching the container guide body to the container, a winch cable
attachment
assembly 426, and a elongated downwardly extending member 428.
The container guide body 422 is preferably a flat plate having a first
aperture 430 for attachment to the cable and a second guide pin aperture 432
to receive
the downwardly extending member 428. The apertures are approximately the same
size, so that the cable can be attached to the rearward second aperture, or an
added third
aperture, for off loading containers with the inversion pulleys 300. The
container guide
body also has an attachment mechanism leg 434 connecting the container guide
body
to the attachment mechanism 424.
The attachment mechanism 424 comprises a twist lock tab 436 integral
to the attachment leg 434 for connection to the corner fitting of the
container. When
the attachment leg 434 is vertically oriented as shown in phantom lines, it
fits into the
opening 90 of the corner fitting. The container body and attachment tab have
been
rotated ninety degrees to lock the attachment tab in the corner fitting. The
twist lock
tab 436 allows the container guide body 422 to pivot relative to the
container. The
degree of pivot is controlled by the pulling angle of the cable.
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
The winch cable attachment assembly 426 comprises a U-shaped cable
termination 438 attached to the free end of the winch cable 110. Each leg 440,
442
comprises an aperture 444, 446 for alignment with the preferably circular
aperture 430
in the container body, and the legs are spaced far enough apart to receive the
container
S body therebetween. A lock member 448, preferably a cylindrical pin, extends
through
the apertures 430, 444, 446 to connect the free end 128 of the cable to the
container
guide body 422 and a safety pin 450 (Fig. 16) is inserted through an opening
452 in the
bottom of the lock cylinder 448 to prevent unintentional removal.
The downwardly extending member 428 preferably comprises a
cylindrical pin extending through the preferably circular aperture 432 in the
container
guide body. The member 428 includes an enlarged head 454 which prevents it
from
falling through the aperture 432. The downwardly extending member has a length
sufficient to extend below a top surface of the deck, and the container guide
body
extends away from the container a sufficient distance for the downwardly
extending
member to be positioned beyond the side of the trailer.
In operation and with reference to Figs. 21-23, the container guide body
is connected to the corner fitting and the winch cable is connected to the
container guide
body. The winches are activated to start pulling the trailer underneath the
container and
when the container is far enough on to the deck 54, the elongated member 428
is
dropped into the aperture 432 to hold the container in alignment with the deck
54. If
the container is being pulled all the way to the front of the deck, a
container guide is
preferably attached to both the front and rear corners of the container. As
the container
is moved relative to the deck 54, the elongated member 428 contacts the sides
64, 66
of the deck. The elongated member 428, slides against the sides of the deck
and
preferably rotates in the aperture 432 to roll against the sides of the deck.
The container guide can be used in conjunction with the cable guides by
placing the container guide on the corners and pulling the container towards
the trailer
until the elongated member 428 contacts the side of the container. The
container guide
then keeps the container from moving past the aligned position. This is
particularly
effective for correcting angular misalignments between the trailer and
container.
Refernng to Figs. 16 and 30, the second embodiment of the container
guide 420B includes a container guide body 456, an attachment mechanism 458
for
attaching the container guide body to the container, a winch cable attachment
assembly
460, and a elongated downwardly extending member 462. The winch cable
attachment
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
assembly 460 is substantially identical to the winch cable attachment assembly
426 of
the prior embodiment and will not be described again.
The container guide body includes two legs 464, 466 spaced at an angle
of approximately 90°. The first leg 464 comprises a short leg having an
aperture 468
for attachment to the winch cable. The second leg 466 comprises a long leg
which
operates as the elongated member 462 and includes an aperture 470 for
attachment to
the winch cable 110. An extension sleeve 484 is attached to an inner side 488
(Fig. 30)
of the body 456, so that the body is positioned beyond the side of the
trailer. The edges
of the body 456 have a chamfer 486 (Fig. 30) for engaging the side of the
trailer. The
container guide body 456 also includes a fastener aperture 472 at its pivot
corner 474,
so that the body 456 is attachable in two configurations. In one, the
elongated member
is substantially parallel to the deck and in the other, the elongated member
extends
below the top surface of the deck to engage the sides of the deck.
The attachment mechanism comprises a fastener 476, attachment block
478, collar 480, and safety pin 482 which are substantially identical to the
similar
components described in conjunction with the off load foot. Thus, these
components
will not be described again.
In operation and referring to Figs. 27-30, the cable is first attached to the
aperture 470 in the long leg 466, and the trailer is pulled underneath the
container until
the front of the container is elevated enough over the ground surface 85, so
that the
elongated member 462 can be extended downwardly without contacting the ground
surface. The cable is then removed from the long leg aperture 470; the
container body
456 is pivoted on the fastener around the pivot corner 474 until the long leg
466 extends
downwardly, and the cable is attached to the short leg aperture 468 to
continue pulling
the trailer underneath the container. The elongated member 462 contacts the
sides of
the trailer and operates to align the container and keep the container in
alignment during
loading.
Lockdown Mechanism
Refernng to Figs. 23-26, the lockdown mechanism 500 includes an
attachment member 502 for attaching to the container, a pivotal securement
member
504 for attaching to the deck, and an extension member 506. The attachment
member
502 preferably comprises the container guide body 422 of the first embodiment
of the
container guide 420A incorporating a twist lock tab 507 for quick connection
and
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
disconnection to the corner fitting. The attachment member 502 also includes
an
extension member aperture 508 and a cable connection aperture 510.
The pivotal securement member 504 comprises a pair of generally
rectangular tabs 512, 514 on opposite sides of the securement member. The
securement
members are preferably attached to the first and second outer faces 72 of each
side
flange 68, 70 so that there are a total of six securement members in locations
corresponding to the four corners of a loaded front container 52 and to the
two front
corners of a rear container 96. The tabs are received in weldment brackets
516, 518
which define openings 522 between the brackets and the side flange 68 allowing
the
rectangular tabs 512, 514 to be pivoted therein between a lockdown position
(Fig. 24)
and a disconnected position (Fig. 23). The rectangular tabs 512, S 14 also
include a
pivot chamfer 520 which provides further freedom in pivoting the tabs inside
the
openings 522. The pivotal securement member also includes an extension member
opening 524 near its movable end 526.
The extension member 506 is preferably provided by the downwardly
extending member 428 of the first embodiment of the container guide 420A. The
extension member 506 is preferably cylindrical having an enlarged cylindrical
head 528
to prevent it from passing through the extension member aperture 508. The
lower end
530 of the extension member has an opening 532 to receive a lock pin 534 which
prevents the securement member and the extension member from inadvertently
disconnecting. Once connected, the extension member 506 is substantially
perpendicular to the securement and attachment members which are substantially
parallel to each other.
In operation, the container is moved to the location shown in Fig. 23 and
the extension member 506 is lifted partially out of the extension aperture
508. The
securement member 504 is pivoted upwardly toward the extension member until it
is
substantially parallel with the attachment member 502. The extension member is
then
inserted through the aperture 524 in the securement member 504, and the lock
pin 534
is inserted through the opening 532 in the extension member. This lockdown
mechanism replaces the conventional lockdown mechanism 75 shown in Fig. 32
which
is still preferably used at the back end 62 of the deck. The improved lockdown
mechanism 500 is easier to attach and remove and thus is preferably used at
all
container corners on both sides of the trailer. Because at least one, but
preferably both,
of the attachment member and the securement member extend far enough so that
the
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
apertures 524, 508 are positioned beyond the side flange, the extension member
is
positioned beyond the side of the trailer, and the lockdown mechanism is
accessible
from beside the deck.
The features of the disclosed self contained trailer significantly simplify
the loading and off loading operations. The features allow a single person to
load and
off load containers. Further, these features allow containers to be more
easily loaded
from angled and misaligned orientations.
Bottom Wheel Assembly and Operation
Refernng to Figs. 47, 51, and 52, the bottom wheel assembly 600
includes a mounting bracket 602, and a plurality of non-castering wheels 604,
606, 608
rotatably mounted on a wheel axle 610. The mounting bracket 602 is mounted in
the
bottom hole 612 of a rear ISO container corner fitting 84 (56-front corner
fitting). The
mounting bracket 602 and wheels 604-608 are positioned below the container and
stay
within the extremities of the container 52 when attached no matter which
direction the
container is being moved.
The mounting bracket 602 includes a substantiallyrigid shoulder portion
614 and a substantially rigid attachment portion 616 formed by two opposed
components 618, 620. The two opposed components, which have substantially the
same outlines, include an inside component 618 and an outside component 620
spaced
apart from the inside component. To achieve the spacing, each of the
components
include curved ends 622. The opposed pairs of curved ends are fixedly
connected by
weld connections 624.
The shoulder portion 614 is substantially rectangular with upwardly
extending and rounded tabs 626 which define an upper pair of aligned lock pin
openings
628, 630. The inside lock pin opening 628 is substantially circular, and the
outside lock
pin opening 630 is also substantially circular and includes opposed
rectangular openings
632. The attachment portion 616 is generally rectangular with generally
triangular tabs
634 extending downwardly. The attachment portion 616 defines a lower pair of
aligned
wheel axle openings 636, 638. The inside wheel axle opening 636 is
substantially
circular, and the outside wheel axle opening 638 is also substantially
circular and
includes a downwardly extending rectangular key way 640.
The shoulder portion 614 is sized to inhibit the mounting bracket 602
from sliding in the bottom hole 612 and to properly position the lock pin
openings 628,
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
630 in the front ISO container corner fitting 56 (84-rear corner fitting), so
that the lock
pin openings 628, 630 are aligned with the base of the side hole 642 of the
ISO
container corner fitting 56. A lock pin 644 is inserted through the side hole
642 of the
ISO container corner fitting 56 and through the lock pin openings 628, 630.
The lock
pin openings are positioned to inhibit relative vertical movement between the
mounting
bracket 602 and the corner fitting 56. The lock pin 644 includes an inward key
pin 646
which passes through the rectangular openings 632 in the outside lock pin
opening 630.
When the lock pin 644 is rotated, the inward key pin 646 locks the lock pin in
position
thereby mounting the mounting bracket 602 onto the corner fitting 56. The
inward key
pin is positioned along the length of the lock pin so that the inner end 648
of the lock
pin 644 cannot be removed from the inside lock pin opening 628 without
aligning the
inside key pin 646 with the rectangular openings 632 in the outside lock pin
opening
630. In one embodiment the lock pin 644 also includes an outward key pin (not
shown)
positioned adjacent to the handle 650 of the lock pin 644.
The wheel axle 610 is cylindrical and extends through the wheel axle
openings 636, 638. The central wheel 606 is rotatably held on the wheel axle
610 and
positioned between the inside and outside components 618, 620 of the mounting
bracket
602. The inside wheel 608 is rotatably mounted on the wheel axle and is
positioned
outside of the mounting bracket and adjacent the inside component 618. The
inside
wheel 608 is held on the wheel axle by an inside wheel attachment pin 652
which
engages an inside wheel washer 654 also mounted on the wheel axle next to and
outside
of the inside wheel 608.
The outside wheel 604 is rotatably mounted on a wheel axle 610 and is
positioned outside of the mounting bracket and adjacent the outside component
620.
The outside wheel 604 is held on the wheel axle by an outside wheel axle
attachment
pin 656 which engages an outside wheel washer 658. The outside wheel washer
658
is mounted on the wheel axle next to and outside of the outside wheel 604.
The wheel axle also includes an axle key 660. The axle key is positioned
along the length of the wheel axle, so that it extends into the key way 640
formed in the
outside wheel axle opening 638. Thus, the axle key 660 substantially prevents
the
wheel axle from rotating. The wheel axle also includes a threaded lockdown
extension
662 and at least one but preferably a pair of rounded lockdown extensions 664
extending from opposite ends of the wheel axle. For purposes of definition,
the
lockdown extensions 662, 664 are not included in the bottom wheel assembly
600. The
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
threaded lockdown extension 662 cooperates with and forms a part of the
intermediate
lockdown mechanism 700 as described below. Thus, the threaded lockdown
extension
662 forms an intermediate lockdown area of the lockdown extension which is
attached
to the container by the mounting bracket 602. The rounded lockdown extensions
664
cooperates with and forms a part of the front lockdown mechanism 750 as
described
below. Thus, the rounded lockdown extensions 664 forms a front lockdown area
of the
lockdown extension which is also attached to the container by the mounting
bracket, so
that the lockdown extensions extend from the mounting bracket 602.
In operation and with reference to Figs. 56 through 59, two bottom wheel
assemblies 600 are attached to the lower front corner fittings 56, 57 of the
container 52
by lifting the container with the back end 62 of the trailer 50. Specifically,
chains 668
are hooked into chain hook holes 669, "gotchas" located in the approach plate
at the rear
of the trailer and attached to the front corner fittings, and the back end of
the trailer is
raised lifting the container off the ground. Blocks 670 are positioned
underneath the
container and the container is lowered onto the blocks. With the container
supported
on the blocks, the chains 668 are removed and the wheel assemblies are
attached by
inserting the positioning shoulder 614 of each mounting bracket inside the
bottom holes
612. The lock pins 644 are then inserted into the lock pin openings 628, 630
mounting
the wheel assemblies onto the bottom of the container. The back end 62 of the
trailer
is then positioned underneath the wheel assemblies and the front of the
container is
lifted off of the blocks 670. The blocks are then removed, and the back end 62
of the
trailer 50 is lowered to pull the trailer under the container keeping the back
end 62 of
the trailer off the ground 85. The wheel assembly and the mounting brackets
are sized
and positioned so that they are contained within the extremities of the
container, and
even with the lock pins 644 in place, there is still room for the attachment
member 502
of the lockdown mechanism 500 to be held in the side opening 642 of the corner
fitting.
Referring to Figs. 60-64, the trailer is then backed under the container
until the back end 62 of the trailer is near the rear corner fittings 84, 86.
The back end
62 is then lifted and two additional bottom wheel assemblies are attached to
the rear
corner fittings of the first container 52. If the second container 96 (Fig.
67) or the forty
foot container 94 (Fig. 68) is being loaded, then the container feet 800 are
attached to
the rear corner fittings. The trailer is then lowered and pulled the rest of
the way under
the container. The container is then secured with the proper lockdown
mechanisms
500, 700, 750 with the wheel assemblies 600 and container feet 800 still
attached. The
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
wheel assemblies 600 and container feet can also be left attached to the
containers when
the containers are stored. To load and off load the front container 52 without
removing
the wheel assemblies from the rear corner fittings 84, 86, wheel chocks (not
shown) can
be used to keep the container from rolling relative to the ground surface 85.
The
remaining details of loading and off loading the containers are as described
both above
and below.
Intermediate Lockdown Mechanism
Refernng to Figs. 47, 50, and 52, the intermediate lockdown mechanism
700 includes the threaded lockdown extension 662 of the wheel axle 610 and a
lockdown bracket 702, 704 having a securement portion 702 and a trailer
attachment
portion 704. The trailer attachment portion 704 is attached to the trailer 50,
and the
securement portion 702 selectively connects the lockdown extension to the
trailer
attachment portion.
The securement portion 702 includes a threaded lockdown extension
connector 706 and a generally triangular lockdown flange 708. The trailer
attachment
portion 704 includes a pair of clips 710, 712 and a central abutment block
714. The
lockdown flange 708 defines a slotted extension opening 716 near the top
corner of the
flange 708 receiving the lockdown extension 662 therethrough, and the clips
710, 712
are connected to the bottom corners of the flange 708, so that the clips are
spaced apart.
Thus, the flange 708 is attached to the trailer attachment portion. The clips
are
preferably U-shaped having top and bottom legs 718, 720 with the top legs 716
extending over the top of the deck, and the bottom legs 718 extending under
the deck.
Thus, the U-shaped clips engage a side flange 68 of the trailer receiving the
side flange
68 between the top and bottom legs 716, 718.
The lockdown extension connector 706 comprises a nut which threads
onto the lockdown extension 662. A washer 722 is interposed between the
lockdown
flange 708 and the connector 706. The central abutment block 714 is attached
to the
trailer side flange 68 underneath the flange at an intermediate location
between the front
end and back end 62 of the trailer 50.
In operation and with reference to Figs 50 and 66, the container is
positioned on the trailer, so that the lockdown extension 662 is aligned with
the
abutment block 714. The clips 710, 712 are then slid onto the trailer side
flange. The
clips are positioned on opposite sides of the central abutment block 714.
Substantially
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
simultaneously, the lockdown extension 662 is inserted into the extension
opening 716
of the lockdown flange 708. The extension connector 706 is threaded onto the
lockdown extension 662. The clips engage the central abutment block to
restrict
rearward and forward movement of the container, and the clips also restrict
vertical
movement of the container. Because a substantially identical lockdown
mechanism is
used on the opposite side of the container, the clips of the two intermediate
lockdown
mechanisms combine to restrict side to side movement of the container thereby
securing
the container to the trailer. If the container is a little off center on the
trailer, the
extension connector 706 can be further rotated to center the container.
The intermediate lockdown mechanism is preferably used for the rear
corners of the first container and the front corners of the second container.
Thus, there
are four blocks 714 attached to the trailer side flange 68. The intermediate
lockdown
mechanism 700 can also be used in place of the front lockdown mechanism 750.
Front Lockdown Mechanism
Refernng to Figs. 48, 49, and 51, the front lockdown mechanism 750
includes the rounded lockdown extensions 664 and a lockdown bracket 752, 754
having
a securement portion 752 and a trailer attachment portion 754. Again, the
trailer
attachment portion 754 is attached to the trailer S0, and the securement
portion 752
selectively connects the lockdown extension to the trailer attachment portion
754.
The securement portion includes a pair of spaced apart upper legs 756,
758 and a pair of spaced apart lower legs 760, 762. The lower legs 760, 762
are
attached to the trailer attachment portion 754. Each upper leg is combined
with a lower
leg underneath the respective upper leg, and the upper and lower legs are
spaced apart
to receive the rounded lockdown extensions 664 in the open ended slot
therebetween.
Thus, the rounded lockdown extension 664 are held between the upper legs 756,
758
and the trailer deck 54 as well as between the upper and lower legs. The
rounded
lockdown extensions 664 extend from opposite sides of the wheel axle 610
beyond the
inside and outside wheels 608, 604, and the upper and lower pairs of legs are
sufficiently spaced apart to receive the wheels 604-608 therebetween.
The lower legs 760, 762 each include an outwardly extending tip 764
extending away from the front end of the trailer. The outwardly extending tips
764 act
to guide the wheels between the pairs of upper and lower legs 756-762. The
bottom
legs also define aligned chock pin openings 766 for receiving a chock pin 768
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
therethrough. A cotter pin 770 is attached to the inside end 772 of the chock
pin 768
to secure the chock pin 768 in the chock pin openings 766. The upper legs
reduce in
thickness toward their back ends 774, so that the opening between the upper
and lower
legs increases in size towards the back ends of the upper legs to held guide
the rounded
lockdown extensions between the upper and lower legs 756-762. Further, the
back ends
774 are rounded to guide the extensions 664.
The trailer attachment portion 754 preferably comprises a stake hole
connector having a top plate 776, a stake hole arm 778, and a bottom plate
780. The
stake hole arm 778 is attached to the top plate and extends through a stake
hole 73 of
the trailer deck, and the top plate 776 sets on top of the trailer deck. The
stake hole arm
778 extends beyond or at least flush with the stake hole legs 782. The bottom
plate 780
is attached to the stake hole arm 778 with fasteners 784. The fasteners 784
thread into
the stake hole arm 778 until the bottom plate 780 engages the stake hole leg
782 thereby
holding the top plate 776 securely on top of the deck. The top plate 776 is
generally
rectangular with an expanded rear portion 786 which extends under the
outwardly
extending tips 764 of the lower legs 760, 762. The expanded rear portion 786
also
includes a ramp 788 allowing the wheels 604-608 to easily roll from the deck
to on top
of the top plate 776.
1n operation and with reference to Figs. 48, 49, and 56, the first container
52 is pulled forward by the winch assembly 100 and the wheels 604-608 are
pulled up
the ramp 788 onto the top plate 776. The container is pulled further forward
until the
rounded lockdown extension 664 is positioned between the upper and lower legs
756-
762 of the securement portion 752. Because the wheel axle is substantially
fixed from
rotation by the axle key 660 positioned in the key way 640 (Fig. 51 ), the
inward and
outward key pins 646, 650 are held in a position where they do not interfere
with
insertion of the rounded lockdown extensions between the upper and lower legs.
As
the rounded lockdown extensions 664 are pulled forwardly between the upper and
lower
legs, the upper leg elastically flexes upwardly as illustrated in Fig. 49.
Thus, the
rounded lockdown extensions 664 force the upper legs upwardly when the
extensions
664 are properly positioned, so that the chock pin 768 can be inserted through
the chock
pin opening 766 behind the wheels 604-608 fixing the chock pin relative to the
upper
and lower legs. The upper and lower legs restrict vertical, side to side, and
forward
movement of the container, and the chock pin 768 restricts rearward movement
of the
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
container. Thus, the front lockdown mechanism 750 secures the container 52 on
the
trailer 50.
The forty foot container 49 utilizes two wheel assemblies and two
container feet. The first container 52 has four wheel assemblies attached
thereto, and
like the forty foot container 94, the second container 96 has two wheel
assemblies and
two container feet. To accommodate these variations the trailer includes four
central
abutment blocks 714 and two front lockdown brackets 752, 754.
The above described lockdown mechanism 500 also includes a lockdown
extension, securement portion, and trailer attachment portion. The attachment
member
502 provides the lockdown extension. The securement member 504, extension
member
506, and lock pin 534 make up the securement portion, and the weldment
brackets 516
provide the trailer attachment portion.
Container Foot
Referring to Figs. 53-55, the container foot 800 includes a foot mounting
bracket 802 which is substantially identical to the wheel assembly mounting
bracket
602 and attaches to the container in substantially the same way. Thus, it is
possible for
the disclosed universal mounting bracket to mount a selected one of the bottom
wheel
assembly 600, the lockdown extensions 662, 664 and the container foot 800.
The container foot further includes a platform 804 pivotally attached to
the foot mounting bracket 802, by a pivot pin 806. The platform 804 is
substantially
rectangular having a large surface area, and a pair of triangular mounts 808
are attached
to the top of the platform 804. The mounts define pivot pin receiving openings
810.
The pivot pin 806 extends through the wheel axle openings 636, 638 in the
mounting
bracket 802 and through the pivot pin receiving openings 810. The triangular
mounts
808 are positioned between the inside and outside components 618, 620 of the
mounting bracket 802, and the pivot pin includes a lock key 812 which is
positioned
between the triangular mounts 808 to hold the pivot pin in position.
In operation and with reference to Figs. 55 and 63-66, when loading a
second twenty foot container 96 or a forty foot container 94 onto a trailer
50, a container
foot 800 is attached to each of the rear corner fittings of the container.
Specifically, the
trailer is backed underneath the second container 96 until the back end 62 of
the trailer
is near the rear corner fittings, and then the back end 62 of the trailer is
lifted to raise
the rear corner fittings. The container feet 800 are then connected to the
corner fittings,
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CA 02317375 2000-09-OS
and the trailer back end 62 is lowered until the platform 804 rests on the
ground surface.
Because the platform pivots relative to the foot mounting bracket 802, the
platform rests
parallel to the ground surface 85 thereby distributing the load of the
container to
minimize or substantially prevent damage to the ground surface.
The trailer is then backed further under the container until the mounting
brackets are received in container foot receiving slots 814, 816 (Fig. 57)
defined in the
back end of the trailer. To guide the foot mounting brackets 802 into the
slots 814, 816
each slot includes a widening mouth 818. The receiving slots are sized to
securely hold
the foot mounting bracket therein, so that the container foot operates as a
lockdown for
the container. As with the wheel assemblies, the container foot 800 is
positioned within
the extremities of the container, so that it can be left attached to the
container during
transport.
Although preferred forms of the invention have been described above,
it is to be recognized that such disclosure is by way of illustration only,
and should not
be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present
invention.
Modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as herein above set forth, could
be
readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of
the
appended claims.
The inventors) hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine of
Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of their
invention as it
pertains to any apparatus or method not materially departing from but outside
the literal
scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.
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