Abstract:
An adjustable schnable system in which the ride height of the transport object may be adjusted by the operator is disclosed and claimed. The adjustable schnable is comprised of a plurality of sections including front and rear portions having goosenecks and multiple axles therein. Vertical elevation of the goosenecks is controllable via hydraulic cylinders. Two pivotably adjustable arms are cooperatively engaged to both the front and rear goosenecks. Two v-type frames, having lateral beams, are pivotably mounted between and to each set of adjustable arms. The transport object, inserted between the two v-type frames, is held secure by compression forces. Raising the goosenecks causes the transport object to lift higher with respect to the adjustable schable system, rather than causing movement of the lateral beams of the vee-type frame in relation to the transport object. Control over the adjustable arms allows manipulation of the transport object ride height.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to trailers. The embodiments shown and described herein are more particularly for Schnable trailers for use with over-the-road tractor-trailer units for transporting wind generator tower sections. 
       CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0002]    None 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0003]    No federal funds were used to develop or create the invention disclosed and described in the patent application. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  provides a side view of the adjustable Schnable with a transport object engaged with the Schnable. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2A  provides a top view of a portion of the adjustable Schnable. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2B  provides a top cross-sectional view of a portion of the adjustable Schnable. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  provides a detailed view of the front portion of the adjustable Schnable. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  provides a detailed view of the rear portion of the adjustable Schnable. 
           [0010]      FIG. 5A  provides a detailed view of the adjustable arm of a portion of one embodiment of the adjustable Schnable. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5B  provides a detailed view of the V-type frame. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  provides a detailed view of the mounting plate of one embodiment of the adjustable Schnable. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  provides an overview of the adjustable Schnable with the front and rear portions coupled together without a transport object. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION-LISTING OF ELEMENTS 
       [0014]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Element Description 
                 Element Number 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Schnable System 
                  1 
               
               
                   
                 V-type Frame 
                  2 
               
               
                   
                 Adjustable Arm 
                  3 
               
               
                   
                 Front Gooseneck 
                  4 
               
               
                   
                 Rear Gooseneck 
                  5 
               
               
                   
                 Hydraulic Cylinder 
                  6 
               
               
                   
                 Front Jeep 
                  7 
               
               
                   
                 Front Portion 
                  8A 
               
               
                   
                 Rear Portion 
                  8B 
               
               
                   
                 Front Gooseneck Foot 
                  9 
               
               
                   
                 Rear Gooseneck Foot 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 Front Gooseneck Tower 
                 11 
               
               
                   
                 Rear Gooseneck Tower 
                 12 
               
               
                   
                 Inner Box-Shaped Member 
                 13 
               
               
                   
                 Outer Box-Shaped Member 
                 14 
               
               
                   
                 Base 
                 15 
               
               
                   
                 Mounting Plate 
                 16 
               
               
                   
                 Mounting Plate Bolt Hole 
                 17 
               
               
                   
                 Mounting Plate Bolt 
                 18 
               
               
                   
                 Base Slots 
                 19 
               
               
                   
                 Mounting Plate Ear 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 Upper Pivot 
                 21 
               
               
                   
                 Lower Pivot 
                 22 
               
               
                   
                 Adjustable Arm Mount 
                 23 
               
               
                   
                 Lateral Support Mount 
                 24 
               
               
                   
                 Base Pivot 
                 25 
               
               
                   
                 Pintle Hitch 
                 26 
               
               
                   
                 Transport Object 
                 27 
               
               
                   
                   
                 28 
               
               
                   
                 Chain Anchor 
                 29 
               
               
                   
                 Multi-Axle Steering Dolly 
                 30 
               
               
                   
                 Pin 
                 31 
               
               
                   
                 Pin Hole 
                 32 
               
               
                   
                 Turntable 
                 33 
               
               
                   
                 Angled Support Beam 
                 34 
               
               
                   
                 Lateral Support Beam 
                 35 
               
               
                   
                 Wooden Pad 
                 36 
               
               
                   
                 Base Mount 
                 37 
               
               
                   
                 Fixed Axle 
                 38 
               
               
                   
                 Rotatable Axle 
                 39 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views,  FIGS. 1 and 2  disclose and describe an adjustable Schnable with a front portion  8 A and a rear portion  8 B. A Schnable as known to those skilled in the art is a trailer wherein the transport object  27  is attached to an axle structure at each end so that the front and rear axle structures are connected together only by the transport object  27 , the general principle being well known to those skilled in the art. The embodiment disclosed and described herein is especially suited to the transport of large cylindrical transport objects  27 , but improvements and derivations on the disclosed invention will become obvious to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. To improve presentation of the invention hydraulic hoses and associated plumbing or portions of the hydraulic systems described herein that are well known in the art are not shown. 
         [0016]    The invention described and disclosed herein provides for a Schnable in which the ride height of the transport object  27  may be adjusted as needed by the operator. The Schnable is comprised of two distinct sections, a front portion  8 A and a rear portion  8 B. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , a multi-axle front jeep  7 , similar in function to a dolly and well known to those skilled in the art, is connected to a semi-tractor via a typical Pintle hitch  26  simultaneously pivotable about a substantially vertical and a substantially horizontal axis, also well known to those skilled in the art in the embodiment shown. Other Pintle type hitches, such as king pin or fifth wheel type may also be used but are not shown in the embodiment. The front jeep  7  is connected to the front gooseneck  4  via another typical Pintle hitch  26  pivotable about two distinct axes. The vertical elevation of the front of the front gooseneck  4  with respect to the front jeep  7  is controlled by the front gooseneck tower  11  via one or more hydraulic cylinders vertically mounted, as is well known to those skilled in the art. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the front gooseneck tower  11  is positioned just ahead of the first axle on the front jeep  7  at the Pintle hitch  26 , one means of coupling said front jeep  7  to a front gooseneck  4 , as recited in the claims, connecting the front gooseneck  4  to the front jeep  7 . The vertical elevation of the rear of the front gooseneck  4  with respect to the front jeep  7  is controlled by the front gooseneck foot  9  via one or more hydraulic cylinders vertically mounted to a foot that engages the front jeep  7  to fix the vertical relation between the rear of the front gooseneck  4  and the front jeep  7 , which is also well known to those skilled in the art. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the front gooseneck foot  9  is located approximately over the most rearward axle of the front jeep  7 . 
         [0017]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the front gooseneck  4  carries two adjustable arms  3  that are pivotably engaged (about a substantially horizontal axis) at one end with the front gooseneck  4  to form a lower pivot  22 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5A , the adjustable arms  3  are formed by two box-shaped members, where an inner box-shaped member  13  is fitted inside an outer box-shaped member  14  and the inner box-shaped member  13  is slideable within the outer box shaped member  14  so that the length of the adjustable arms  3  is variable, one means of facilitating and adjustable arms  3 , as recited in the claims. A plurality of corresponding pin holes  32  accept a pin  31  that when the pin  31  is inserted into corresponding pin holes  32 , the position of the inner box-shaped member  13  is fixed relative to the position of the outer box-shaped member  14 , thereby fixing the length of the adjustable arms  3 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5A , one end of a hydraulic cylinder  6  is affixed to the outer box-shaped member  14  and the other end of the hydraulic cylinder  6  is affixed to the inner box-shaped member  13  so that when the pins  31  are not in place, actuation of the hydraulic cylinder moves the inner box-shaped member  13  with respect to the outer box-shaped member  14  and thereby adjusts the length of the adjustable arms  3 . Adjustable arm mounts  23  are affixed to the front gooseneck  4  and provide the connection point between the front gooseneck  4  and the adjustable arms  3 . 
         [0018]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the inner box-shaped member  13  of the adjustable arms  3  is pivotably engaged about a substantially horizontal axis with the adjustable arm mounts  23  affixed to the front gooseneck  4  at the lower pivot  22  while the opposite end of the adjustable arms  3 , the outer box-shaped member  14  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5A , is pivotably engaged about a substantially horizontal axis with a lateral support beam  35  through lateral support mounts  24  affixed to the lateral support beam  35  to form an upper pivot  21 . Therefore, each adjustable arm  3  is pivotably engaged at each end, which allows for easy adjustment of the length of the adjustable arms  3 , one means of facilitating a pivotable engagement of V-type frames  21  to said front gooseneck  4  in combination with said lower base pivots. The lateral support beam  35  is affixed to one angled support beam  34  at its first end and another angled support beam  34  at its second end, as shown in  FIG. 5B . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the side of the lateral support beam  35  that faces the transport object  27  incorporates wooden pads  36  affixed to the lateral support beam  35  to prevent any metal to metal contact between the transport object  27  and the lateral support beam  35 . Both angled support beams  34  are affixed to a base  15  at the ends of the angled support beams  34  that are opposite the lateral support beam  35 . This orientation of lateral support beams  35 , angled support beams  34  and base  15  create a V-type frame  2 , which is shown in detail in  FIG. 5B . 
         [0019]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the base  15  is pivotably engaged with the front gooseneck  4  about a substantially horizontal axis through base mounts  37  to form base pivots  25 . This makes the V-type frame  2  pivotable at its bottom portion through the base pivots  25  and simultaneously pivotable at its top portion via the upper pivots  21 . This pivotability of both the top and bottom portions of the V-type frame  2  allows for maximum adjustability when adjusting the length of the adjustable arms  3  to change the ride height of the transport object  27 , when loading the transport object  27 , when unloading or when simply adjusting the transport object  27 . 
         [0020]    A mounting plate  16  is mechanically engaged with the transport object  27  through mounting plate bolts  18  and mounting plate bolt holes  17 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the mounting plate  16  is constructed with two mounting plate ears  20  and a plurality of mounting plate bolt holes  17  substantially following the shape of the flange of a tower section (not shown). The base  15  is formed with two corresponding base slots  19  of such a dimension and in such a position on the base  15  to accept and engage the mounting plate ears  20  and thereby fix the position of the mounting plate  16 , and subsequently the transport object  27 , with respect to the base  15 . Thereby, the axial dimension of the transport object  27  controls the distance between the front portion  8 A and rear portion  8 B and dictates the overall length of the Schnable. 
         [0021]    In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4  and  5 A, when the hydraulic cylinders  6  are actuated, the base  15  and the angled support beams  34  pivot with respect to the front gooseneck  4  about the base pivots  25 , the angled support beams  34  pivot with respect to the adjustable arms  3  about the upper pivots  21 , and the adjustable arms  3  pivot with respect to the front gooseneck  4  about the lower pivots  22 . 
         [0022]    The rear gooseneck  5  is a mirror image to the front gooseneck  4 , and operates in essentially the same manner, and in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  consists of elements that are functionally the same as those of the front gooseneck  4 , but mirror images. The rear gooseneck  5  is connected to a multi-axle steering dolly  30 , well known to those skilled in the art, via a typical Pintle hitch  26  allowing rock and spin (pivotable simultaneously about a substantially horizontal and vertical axis). At the Pintle hitch  26 , one means of coupling said multi-axle steering dolly  30  to a rear gooseneck  12  as recited in the claims, a rear gooseneck tower  12  controls the vertical position of the rear of the rear gooseneck  5  with respect to the multi-axle steering dolly  30  in the same way the front gooseneck tower  11  controls the vertical position of the front of the front gooseneck  4  with respect to the front jeep  7 , as is well known to those skilled in the art. A rear gooseneck foot  10  controls the vertical position of the front of the rear gooseneck  5  with respect to the multi-axle steering dolly  30  in the same way the front gooseneck foot  11  controls the vertical position of the rear of the front gooseneck  4  with respect to the front jeep  7 . The adjustable arms  3  and base  15  of the rear gooseneck  5  are engaged to the rear gooseneck  5  in the same manner as the adjustable arms  3  and base  15  of the front gooseneck  4  are engaged to the front gooseneck  4 . The adjustable arms  3  and base  15  are also pivotable with respect to the rear gooseneck  5  in the same manner as the corresponding elements in the front gooseneck  4  are pivotable with respect to the front gooseneck  4 . The lateral support beam  35  and angled support beams  34  of the rear gooseneck  5  are affixed in the same manner as the corresponding elements of the front gooseneck  4  are affixed, and are pivotable with respect to rear gooseneck  4  and elements thereof in the same manner as the corresponding front gooseneck  4  elements are pivotable with respect to the front gooseneck  4  and elements thereof. 
         [0023]    The rear gooseneck  5  is engaged with the multi-axle steering dolly  30  via a typical Pintle hitch  26 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , the multi-axle steering dolly  30  consists of five axles. The forward three axles are fixed, referred to as fixed axles  38 , and the rearward two axles are mounted on a turntable  33 , referred to as rotatable axles  39 , rotatable about a vertical axis with respect to the fixed axles  38 , as is well known to those skilled in the art. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  4 , the angle of the rotatable axles  39  mounted on the turntable  33  with respect to the fixed axles  38  is determined either by a steering arm (not shown) or by hydraulic cylinders  6 , as is well known to those skilled in the art. 
       OPERATION 
       [0024]    In normal operation of the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-7 , the transport object  27  is fitted with mounting plates  16  at each end. The adjustable arms  3  of both the front gooseneck  4  and the rear gooseneck  5  are retracted so that they are of the least length allowable, the front gooseneck tower  11  and the rear gooseneck tower  12  are lowered and the front gooseneck foot  8  and the rear gooseneck foot  9  are retracted so that the front gooseneck  4  and rear gooseneck  5  are as low as possible with respect to the front jeep  7  and the multi-axle steering dolly  30 , respectively. The transport object  27  is then lifted onto the front and rear portions of the Schnable by external equipment so that the mounting plate ears  20  of the mounting plate  16  attached to the rear of the transport object  27  fit into the base slots  19  in the base  15  of the rear gooseneck  5  and the mounting plate ears  20  of the mounting plate  16  attached to the front of the transport object  27  fit into the base slots  19  in the base  15  of the front gooseneck  4 . Engagement of the mounting plate ears  20  with the base slots  19  substantially fixes the position of the bottom of the transport object  27  with respect to the front portion  8 A and rear portion  8 B of the Schnable, whereas the length of the transport object  27  dictates the length of the Schnable when transporting the transport object  27 . 
         [0025]    The adjustable arms  3  on the front gooseneck  4  and the rear gooseneck  5  are then extended via the hydraulic cylinders  6 , one means of adjusting said adjustable arms  3 , as recited in the claims, until the wooden pads  36  on each lateral support beam  35  are touching the respective ends of the transport object  27  and a pin  31  is inserted through the pins holes  32  of each adjustable arm  3 . If the pin holes  32  of the inner box-shaped member  13  and the outer box-shaped member  14  do not align, the adjustable arms  3  are lowered until two pin holes  32  align, and the pin  31  is inserted at that pin hole  32  to fix the length of the lift arms  3 . 
         [0026]    At this point, the front gooseneck tower  11  and rear gooseneck tower  12  are raised. Raising the front gooseneck tower  11  and rear gooseneck tower  12  when the position of the bottom of the transport object  27  is fixed by the engagement of the mounting plate ears  20  with the base slots  19  (thereby fixing the axial distance between the base  15  of the front gooseneck  4  and the base  15  of the rear gooseneck  5 ) causes the lateral support beam  35  on both the front gooseneck  4  and rear gooseneck  5  to move towards the transport object  27 . This occurs due to pivoting primarily at the base pivots  25  and both upper pivots  21  on both the front gooseneck  4  and rear gooseneck  5 . Once the wooden pads  36  have fully engaged the transport object  27 , the transport object  27  is held secure by a compression force, and further raising of the front gooseneck tower  11  and rear gooseneck tower  12  will cause the transport object  27  to lift higher with respect to the front jeep  7  and the multi-axle steering dolly  30 , rather than cause the lateral beams  35  to move towards the transport object  27 . In this way, the length of the adjustable arms  3  can be adjusted to control the ride height of the transport object  27 . 
         [0027]    The shorter the adjustable arms  3  are adjusted, the higher the front gooseneck tower  11  and rear gooseneck tower  12  will have to be raised before the wooden pads  36  engage the transport object  27 . Before the wooden pads  36  have engaged the transport object  27 , raising the front gooseneck tower  11  causes the base  15  to pivot at the base pivots  25  so that the elevation of the base slots  19  (and hence the elevation of the mounting plate  16  and the transport object  27 ) is lowered. The longer the adjustable arms  3  are adjusted, the lower the front gooseneck tower  11  and rear gooseneck tower  12  will have to be raised before the wooden pads  36  to engage the transport object  27 , thus causing the transport object  27  to ride at a higher elevation due to minimal pivoting of the base  15  towards the ground surface before the wooden pads  36  have engaged the transport object  27 . Adjusting the adjustable arms  3  to the longest allowable length and increasing the ride height of the transport object  27  facilitates movement of the Schnable over objects on the road or uneven surfaces on the roadway. Adjusting the adjustable arms  3  to the shortest allowable length and decreasing the ride height of the transport object  27  facilitates movement of the Schnable under viaducts, highline wires or any other obstacle associated with tall vehicles or cargo. 
         [0028]    Because both the front gooseneck  4  and rear gooseneck  5  are respectively mounted to the front jeep  7  and multi-axle steering dolly  30  on typical Pintle hitches  26  with an axis of pivot substantially in the vertical plane in cooperation with an axis of pivot substantially in the horizontal plane, the length of the lift arms  3  on the front gooseneck  4  and rear gooseneck  5  need not be equal. Rather, the ride height of the transport object  27  may be adjusted merely by adjusting the length of the lift arms  3  on the front gooseneck  5 . In this case, the discrepancy in adjustable arm  3  length between the adjustable arms  3  on the rear gooseneck  6  and the adjustable arms  3  on the front gooseneck  5  will be accounted for by the pivoting of the front gooseneck  5  about the Pintle hitch  26  on the front jeep  7  coupled with the pivoting of the rear gooseneck  6  about the Pintle hitch  26  on the multi-axle steering dolly  30 , both pivoting about an axis substantially in the horizontal plane, in combination with the pivoting of the base  15  and lateral support beam  35  of both the front gooseneck  5  and rear gooseneck  6  about an axis substantially in the horizontal axis at the respective upper pivots  21  and base pivots  25 . 
         [0029]    When the transport object  27  is disengaged from the front portion  8 A and rear portion  8 B of the Schnable, the front portion  8 A and rear portion  8 B are subsequently mechanically engaged with each other for empty transport, often through chains. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , this configuration is used to transport the Schnable when the transport object  27  is no longer engaged with the Schnable. 
         [0030]    It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments pictured and described herein, but is intended to apply to all similar apparatuses incorporating a Schnable with adjustable length adjustable arms  3  to control the transport object  27  ride height and Schnables constructed in such a geometry for appropriately centering the load. Accordingly, modifications and alterations from the described embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention.