Patent Abstract:
A generator trailer with anchor system adapted for transporting a large generator. The trailer has a bed with a front, rear and two sides surrounding the bed. There are at least four tightening devices. Each of the tightening devices includes a trailer component, an adjustable tension component and a generator component. The trailer component attaches to the trailer. The generator component is adapted to be attached to the generator. The adjustable tension component attaches between the attached trailer component and the attached generator component to provide tension to secure the generator to the trailer and provides a quick disconnect from the generator.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to trailers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a trailer with an anchor system for securing large generators for transport.  
         [0002]     Large generators are used at sites as temporary power. The generators are so large that a trailer is required to transport such a generator to and from a site, where it remains mounted. A trailer is also required to transport such a large generator that is to be installed temporarily at a site, until further decisions are made regarding utility. Typically, the generator is bolted or welded to the trailer to anchor the generator to the trailer, during transport. This increases the time and complexity to secure and remove the generator when using a trailer. When the generator is bolted to the trailer, specific wrenches are needed to secure or loosen the bolts holding the generator to the trailer. The use of bolts requires a person with enough strength to tighten and loosen the bolts, which could lead to strain type injuries to the person performing such a task.  
         [0003]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a trailer with an anchor system for a generator which provides an easy process for securing and unsecuring the generator in relation to the trailer.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A generator trailer with anchor system adapted for transporting a large generator. The trailer has a bed with a front, rear and two sides surrounding the bed. There are at least four tightening devices. Each of the tightening devices includes a trailer component, an adjustable tension component and a generator component. The trailer component attaches to the trailer. The generator component is adapted to be attached to the generator. The adjustable tension component attaches between the attached trailer component and the attached generator component to provide tension to secure the generator to the trailer and provides a quick disconnect from the generator. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0005]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a trailer with an anchor system according to the present invention.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a trailer with an anchor system according to the present invention.  
         [0007]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of a trailer with an anchor system according to the present invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a trailer with an anchor system according to the present invention.  
         [0009]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a tightening device according to the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a tightening device according to the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a tightening device according to the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a trailer with an anchor system according to the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a trailer with an anchor system according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     The present invention is a trailer with an anchor system for large generators, as show in  FIGS. 1-9 . The anchor system includes at least four tightening devices.  FIGS. 1-2  shows the trailer  10  as a trailer  10  with a bed  12  surrounded by a front  14 , rear  16  and two sides  18 .  FIG. 1  shows a generator  20  mounted on the bed  12  of the trailer  10 .  FIG. 2  shows the trailer  10  without the generator  20 . The trailer  10  includes extended walls  22  extending upward from the bed  12  of the trailer  10  at the front  14 , rear  16  and sides  18  of the trailer  10 . The bed  12  of the trailer  10  within the extended walls  22  is approximately the same size as the base of the generator  20 . The trailer  10  could also be without the extended walls  22 , such that the bed  12  is even with a top surface  24  of the front  14 , rear  16  and sides  18  of the trailer  10  and the generator  20  sits on the top surfaces  24 . The tightening devices  26  can be mounted two on each side  18  or one on each of the front  14 , rear  16  and sides  18 . The tightening devices  26  are designed to have a quick release feature to simplify attachment to the generator  20 .  
         [0015]     Two tightening devices  26  are shown mounted to each side  18  of the trailer  10 .  FIGS. 1-6  show a first version of the tightening device  26  and  FIGS. 7-8  show a second version of the tightening device  26 . The first version of the tightening device  26  is a ratchet  28  and ratchet strap  30 , as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 . The ratchet  28  includes a ratchet body  32  and a ratchet mechanism  34 . The ratchet body  32  is mounted to the sides  18  of the trailer  10 . The ratchet body  32  is shown with a bolt hole  36  for bolting the ratchet body  32  in a permanent manner to the trailer  10 . The ratchet body  32  could also be welded or attached by other fastening means to the trailer  10 . The ratchet mechanism  34  is shown as one of many of the standard ratchet mechanisms available which receives the ratchet strap  30 . One end of the ratchet strap  30  attaches to the ratchet mechanism  34 , while the other end of the ratchet strap  30  includes attachment of a clevis  38 . The clevis  38  is shown as a U-shaped clevis which two ends  40 . Each end  40  of the clevis  38  includes a bolt hole  42 . The clevis  38  is attached to the ratchet strap  30  by looping an end of the ratchet strap  30  about the U-shape clevis and sewing the end of the ratchet strap  30  to the ratchet strap  30 , as shown in  FIG. 3-6 .  
         [0016]     The generator  20  includes attachment points  44  along the sides of the generator  20  for each tightening device  26  and which align between the bolt holes  42  of the clevis  38 . The attachment points  44  include a bolt hole  46  to receive a bolt  48 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The bolt  48  is used to attach the clevis  38  to the attachment point  44  by placing the bolt  48  through one of the bolt holes  42  of the clevis  38 , through the bolt hole  46  of the attachment point  44  and finally through the other bolt hole  42  of the clevis  38 . A nut  50  is used to secure the bolt  48  in the bolt holes  42 ,  46 . The bolts  48  can be replaced by a pin. The pin shown have some locking means to retain the pin in the bolt holes  42 ,  46 . The ratchet mechanism  34  is used to tighten the ratchet strap  30  when the clevis  38  is attached to the generator  20  and the generator  20  is to be secured to the trailer  10 . The ratchet mechanism  34  is used to loosen the ratchet strap  30  when the clevis  38  is attached to the generator  20  and the generator  20  is to be unsecured from the trailer  10 . The tightening and loosening of the ratchet strap  30  is performed based on the particular style of ratchet mechanism  34  employed. The end of the ratchet strap  30  attached to the ratchet mechanism  34  can be easily removed from the ratchet mechanism  34  without the use of tools, thereby making it easy to unsecure the generator  20  from the trailer  10 . Also, if pins are used instead of bolts  48 , the clevis  38  can be quickly released from the attachment point  44  of the generator  20 .  
         [0017]     The second version of the tightening device  26  shown in  FIGS. 7-8  and includes a turnbuckle  52  and two attachment hooks  54 . Each attachment hook  54  includes a hook  56  extending from an attachment plate  58 . Each attachment plate  58  is shown with two bolt holes  60  and two bolts  62 . One attachment hook  54  is bolted to the trailer  10 , while the other attachment hook  54  is bolted to the generator  20  in an aligned manner. The attachment hooks  54  could also be secured by welding them to the trailer  10  and the generator  20 . The attachment hook  54  on the generator  20  acts as the attachment point  44 . The turnbuckle  52  includes a turnbuckle body  64  and two threaded eyes  66 . The threaded eyes  66  each have an eye  68  with a threaded shaft  70  extending from the eye  68 . The threaded shafts thread in and out of ends  72  of the turnbuckle body  64 . Each threaded eye  66  screws into one of the ends  72  of the turnbuckle body  64 , which is typical of a turnbuckle  52 . To secure the generator  20  to the trailer  10  the eyes  68  of the turnbuckle  52  are placed over the aligned hooks  56  attached to the trailer  10  and the generator  20 , as shown in  FIG. 8 . The turnbuckle body  64  is then turned to pull the eyes  68  toward the turnbuckle body  64  and hence tighten down the generator  20  to the trailer  10 . To unsecure the generator  20  from the trailer  10 , simply turn the turnbuckle body  64  such that the eyes  68  move away from the turnbuckle body  64 .  FIG. 9  is a slightly different version of tightening device of  FIGS. 7-8 .  FIG. 9  shows a ring  76  attached through a hole  78  in the structure of the generator  20 .  FIG. 9  shows a ring  76  attached to a ring holder  80 , where the ring holder  80  is attached to the side  18  of the trailer  10 .  FIG. 9  shows the turnbuckle body  64  with two threaded hooks  82 . Whereby, the hooks  82  engage the rings  76 .  
         [0018]     While different embodiments of the invention have been described in detail herein, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to the embodiments could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements are illustrative only and are not limiting as to the scope of the invention that is to be given the full breadth of any and all equivalents thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1