Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/704,184, filed Nov. 7, 2003, now abandoned, and incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to logging, more specifically to transportation in the logging industry. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     To maximize efficient use of labor and fuel in the ground freight industry, independent truckers and trucking companies are constantly in search of loads to minimize financial loss due to unwanted transportation of an empty truck. A return trip of an empty truck or any empty leg of a multiple-point haul is costly in terms of fuel and labor. In the logging industry, empty return trips are common due to an inability of prior art logging trailers to carry any load other than cut timber. Prior art logging trailers typically transport cut timber to sawmills. Due to the construction of prior art logging trailers having fixed bunks, prior art logging trailers are unable to haul wood residuals or another type of load. 
     For a number of reasons, global wood residual production has increased dramatically. Primary timber processing mills in the United States generate an abundance of wood residuals in the form of bark, sawmill slabs, edgings, sawdust, peeler cores, and wood chips. Primary timber processing generates an estimated 30.3 million tons of bark and 86.7 million tons of other wood residues annually. Wood residual production has also increased from other sources such as municipal solid waste and waste generated from construction, repair, and demolition debris. 
     Nearly all wood residuals are used to produce other products, primarily paper, non-structural panels, and fuel. It is expected that the amount of wood residues produced yearly will continue to increase due to the changing character of global timber production and advances in engineering that are constantly providing new uses for wood residuals. The nature of wood resources globally is changing towards smaller trees and non-traditional species of trees or genetically modified species that are generally considered to be less desirable for traditional lumber production. Accordingly, engineering advances over recent years have increased the ability for wood residuals to be formed into buildable lumber products usable for construction. Due to the increased production and demand for wood residuals, there exists a need for apparatuses and methods that can facilitate the transportation of both whole cut timber and wood residuals such as bark, chips, and the like. 
     The changing character of global forest resources and the movement towards smaller trees has also rendered prior art methods for preparing a load of cut timber cumbersome and inefficient. For example, stands of timber harvested in recent years have become more diverse in log size and species, creating load weights that are difficult to estimate. Logs of varying diameter and length must be transported with greater frequency. Smaller trees and different species in a given stand of timber to be harvested may need to be sorted and thereafter, the sorted logs may need to be transported to different locales. Sorting and transportation to a variety of locales has created a need for methods and apparatuses that can provide flexibility relating to how loads of cut timber are prepared for transportation. Transportation companies may wish to pre-load cut timber in sorted piles for transportation at some later date, in rhythm with trucking capacity. Furthermore, variable log sizes and species create a need for methods and apparatuses that can accurately weigh loads to be transported to match truck and trailer capacity such that the load can be maximized within legal limits, and that a single haul of cut timber is sufficiently full to maximize overall value of the trip. Accordingly, there exists a need for apparatuses and methods permitting the pre-bunking of cut timber and accurate weighing of the load prior to placement on a logging truck&#39;s trailer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention permits efficient transportation in the logging industry by providing an apparatus, method and system allowing both the transportation of cut timber and some other load. Further, the invention provides flexibility in preparing a load of cut timber to be transported by permitting one to sort, pre-bunk, and prepare a load of cut timber for transportation accommodating varied log lengths and varied log diameters as well as a variety of species. 
     In an embodiment of the invention a system is provided for pre-bunking and transporting cut timber that includes a portable skid, a plurality of cradles that are adapted to be releasably attached to the portable skid and a trailer that has attachment hardware for releasable attachment of the portable skids. This system permits logs to be loaded onto U-shaped cradles, for example while the trailer is being otherwise used or transported from a remote location. Upon arrival of the trailer, and completion of the loading of the U-shaped cradles, the load of logs can be moved as a unit with the cradles from the skid and releasably attached to the trailer. 
     The skid may include a pair of longitudinal skid members connected with transverse members, and the U-shaped cradles may comprise a base member, oppositely disposed upright members and a locking member that engages the trailer attachment hardware. The trailer attachment hardware may be releasably attachable to the trailer. 
     In the disclosed method for preparing a load of logs for transporting the steps include releasably attaching a plurality of U-shaped cradles to a portable skid, loading cut timber onto the U-shaped cradles, securing the cut timber to the U-shaped cradles, removing the U-shaped cradles from the portable skid and moving the U-shaped cradles with the logs to a trailer, and releasably attaching the U-shaped cradles to the trailer. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an end planar view of a pre-bunking apparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention fully laden with logs of varying sizes; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the pre-bunking apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  fully laden with logs of varying sizes; 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic view showing a tractor lifting portable bunks secured to a load of logs to be transported; 
         FIG. 4  is a side planar view of a truck trailer usable according to principles of the present invention whereby portable bunks secured to logs of varying sizes are loaded therein; 
         FIG. 5A  is a side planar view of a collapsible portable bunk usable in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 5B  is a partial side planar view of the portable bunk depicted by  FIG. 5A ; 
         FIG. 6A  is an end planar view of one portable bunk usable in accordance with principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6B  is the opposite end planar view of the portable bunk shown in  FIG. 6A ; 
         FIG. 7  is a partial opposite end planar view of a bottom end of a portable bunk usable in accordance with principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom view of a rotatable container lock usable in accordance with principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9A  is a side planar view of bunking hardware usable with principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9B  is a top view of the bunking hardware depicted by  FIG. 9A ; 
         FIG. 9C  is an end planar view of bunking hardware depicted in  FIGS. 9A and 9B ; 
         FIG. 10  is a side planar view of bunking hardware as shown in  FIGS. 9A-9C  wherein the bunking hardware is mounted to bunking station assemblies; 
         FIG. 11  is a side planar view of a pre-bunking apparatus with removable bunking hardware and portable bunks fully laden with logs of varying sizes; 
         FIG. 12  is a side planar view of a pre-bunking apparatus with removable bunking hardware and a plurality of portable bunks fully laden with logs of varying lengths and varying diameters. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A pre-bunking apparatus usable according to principles of the present invention is depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2  schematically.  FIG. 1  is an end planar view of pre-bunking apparatus  10 , showing portable bunk  14  and chain and cord assembly  16 . Chain and cord assembly  16  is connected at one end to cord tie loop  20  and wrapped around a load of logs  12 . Once wrapped around load of logs  12 , chain and cord assembly  16  is connected to a hand winch  18  and pulled tightly around the load of logs  12  to contain the load of logs  12  within portable bunk  14 . The portable bunk  14  is explained in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 5-7 . Generally, portable bunk  14  is of a similar configuration to bunks mounted on prior art truck trailers, having generally a U-shape cradle and a width from one end of the U to the other that is about the same distance as the width of a regular trailer bed for hauling freight. In the embodiment depicted by  FIGS. 1-3 , there are at least two portable bunks  14  and  15 . The portable bunks  14  and  15  depicted in  FIGS. 1-3  are generally of the same configuration. Portable bunk  14  includes a bunk base member  24  upon which the load of logs  12  rests. The bunk base member  24  rests on top of a portable skid  21  which is comprised generally of first and second sledding members  22  and cross-members  26 . Portable bunks  14  and  15  are detachable from portable skid  21 . In the depicted embodiment, as seen best in  FIG. 3 , bunk base member  24  may be hollow creating a bunk tube  65  wherein a lifting surface  30  can be received. As shown in  FIG. 3 , a tractor  28  is used to lift the portable bunk  14  from the portable skid  21  once the load of logs to be transported  12  is secured by way of chain and cord assembly  16  through hand winch  18 . One of skill in the art will recognize that there are a variety of ways to securely hold a load of logs to be transported  12  within portable bunk  14  and that chain and cord assembly  16  along with hand winch  18  are but one. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , portable bunks  14  and  15  including a load of logs to be transported  12  are loaded by tractor  28  into trailer  32  which has been adapted to receive and securely fasten portable bunks  14  and  15  through the use of bunking hardware (not depicted). Suitable bunking hardware is explained below with reference to  FIGS. 9A-9C . With continuing reference to  FIG. 4 , trailer  32  may be of the kind disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,985 granted to Whitehead. Trailer  32  includes a retractable side wall disposed between a first end wall  35  and second end wall  37  and opposite a first side wall  39 . Logs to be transported  12 , being securely fastened to portable bunks  14  and  15  through the use of chain and cord assemblies  16  and  17 , are loaded through the retractable side wall and securely fastened to the trailer bed  36  through the use of bunking hardware described below with reference to  FIGS. 9A-9C . It is important to note that the invention is not limited to use of a trailer as disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,985. Any trailer adapted to carry both portable bunks  14  and  15  and a load such as wood residuals is usable with the present invention. For example, any trailer that has been adapted to secure portable bunks  14  and  15  and subsequently adapted to carry a load is within the spirit and scope of the invention. By way of example only, trailer  32  is adapted to carry wood residuals or any other load by extending the retractable side wall (not depicted) through the use of vertical straps  34 . According to the depicted embodiment, trailer  32  has a soft retractable side wall that rolls up around a torque roller through the use of a winch (not depicted). The invention is not limited to the use of a trailer with walls; a flatbed trailer adapted to secure portable bunks  14  and  15  is also usable with apparatuses and methods of the invention. 
     Through the use of trailer  32  and portable bunks  14  and  15  as depicted in  FIGS. 1-4 , the depicted embodiment permits hauling of cut timber as well as pick-up and hauling of wood residuals or any other load. A load may be contained within trailer  32  by affixing into place the retractable side wall. Alternatively, trailer  32  could have four hard walls and an open top through which portable bunks  14  and  15  are top-loaded and thereafter secured to the bed through bunking hardware. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that trailer  32  could be configured in a variety of other ways to permit both the fastening of portable bunks  14  and  15  and the ability to carry a load. For example, trailer  32  could be loaded with portable bunks secured with logs to be transported  12  by first removing first end wall  35  or second end wall  37 . 
     With continued reference to the embodiment depicted by  FIGS. 1-4 , pre-bunking apparatus  10  can be connected to a scale (not shown) providing gross weight of logs to be transported after the same have been loaded onto portable bunks  14  and  15  and portable skid  21 . A suitable scale is available from Structural Instrumentation, Inc., Seattle, Wash., Model No. 91-00910. The scale usable with the invention can also be connected to a remote display, Model No. 9400RMD also available from Structural Instrumentation, Inc., Seattle, Wash. The remote display provides an accurate readout of gross weight of logs to be transported after the same have been loaded onto pre-bunking apparatus  10 . 
     Methods of the present invention permit the operator or operators to adjust the load of logs to be transported  12  according to predetermined trailer or truck capacities. One of the benefits of the present invention permits operators to maximize value of the load of logs to be transported by accurately pre-bunking logs to be transported that are of varying sizes and species. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 11 and 12  where a pre-bunking apparatus utilizing principles of the present invention is depicted.  FIG. 11  shows a portable skid  21  fully laden with long logs to be transported  122 .  FIG. 12  shows a portable skid  21  fully laden with logs of varying lengths and sizes  124 . Through reference to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , one aspect of the invention incorporating removable bunking hardware  72  is further described. Suitable removable bunking hardware  72  is explained in greater detail with reference below to  FIGS. 9A-9C . In general, bunking hardware  72  is comprised of a plurality of guide members and locking means mounted width-wise on either the trailer bed  36  or portable skid  21 . Bunking hardware  72  generally includes a receiving end  84  and a shoe end  90  (in  FIG. 9B ), both of which include locking means and a plurality of gusseted guide members extending vertically from either trailer bed  36  or portable skid  21  and adapted generally to guide portable bunk  14  into place and securely fasten portable bunk  14  on either portable skid  21  or trailer bed  36 . According to the embodiment depicted by  FIGS. 11 and 12 , removable bunking hardware  72  can be alternately switched and secured into a plurality of bunking hardware stations  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 , and  142 , respectively. Suitable bunking hardware stations usable with the depicted embodiment are described in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 10  below; however, in general they are comprised of fixed assemblies, built into either portable skid  21  or on trailer bed  36  at various positions, underneath bunking hardware  72 . The bunking hardware stations generally include a bored hole adapted to receive a locking member mounted to the underside of removable bunking hardware  72  at each end. Locking pins may engage a locking member mounted to the underside of bunking hardware  72  in a manner suitable to securely hold bunking hardware  72  onto the bunking stations. Trailer bed  36  as well as portable skid  21  include a plurality of bunking hardware stations  132 ,  134   136 ,  138 ,  140 ,  142  equipped with bored holes  131  adapted to receive locking members from the bunking hardware  72 . According to the depicted embodiment, pre-bunking hardware  72  can be moved to any pre-bunking hardware station  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 ,  140 , or  142 . In the case of the trailer  32  (as seen in  FIG. 4 ), where it is desirable to carry a load of wood residuals or other material, the ability to remove the bunking hardware  72  provides the added benefit of providing a flat bed whereupon a load may slide freely, aiding methods of loading and unloading trailer  32 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 5A , portable bunk  14  will be described in greater detail. Portable bunk  14  is generally comprised of U-shaped bunk cradle  38  and bunk base member  24 . According to one embodiment, bunk base member  24  is an elongated hollow member disposed lengthwise at the base of U-shaped bunk cradle  38 . A U-shaped bunk cradle  38  is comprised of a first collapsible member  40  that extends vertically from one end of bunk base member  24 , terminating with a tapered edge  43 . At the other end of base bunk member  24 , a second collapsible member  41  is disposed vertically from the end of base bunk member  24  opposite first collapsible member  40  and ending with a tapered edge  47 . Both second collapsible member  41  and first collapsible member  40  are rotatably attached to either end of bunk base member  24  through pin assemblies  70  and  58 , respectively. In operation, second collapsible member  41  may be collapsed through rotation of approximately 90° from vertical such that second collapsible member  41  is ultimately laid at rest substantially parallel to bunk base member  24 . Additionally, first collapsible member  40  is also rotatable approximately 90° from vertical such that it rests substantially parallel to bunk base member  24 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 5A , portable bunk  14  includes both a heel end  61  and a toe end  52 . Heel end  61  is located at the base of second collapsible member  41  while toe end  52  is located at the base of first collapsible member  40 . The portable bunk&#39;s toe end  52  is referred to as such because it is at this end that the portable bunk  14  is slid securely into the bunking hardware  72  which is described in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 9A-9C . In general, bunking hardware  72  includes a plurality of vertically extending gusseted guide members that form a “shoe” adapted to receive and lock into place toe end  52 . Furthermore, bunking hardware  72  includes a receiving end opposite that of the “shoe” end and also comprised of a plurality of gusseted guiding members and at least one locking surface wherein the heel end  61  of portable bunk  14  is guided and locked into place as described in further detail below with reference to  FIGS. 9A-9C . 
     Heel end  61  includes a container lock  44  which in  FIG. 5A  is partially covered by container lock housing  42 . Container lock  44  is described in greater detail below, however, in general it includes a rotatable locking member  46  that is adapted to engage a locking surface located on bunking hardware  72 . On either side of bunk base member  24  welded into place are cradle side plates  55  and  51 . Cradle side plates  55  and  51  are welded onto the heel end  61  and toe end  52  respectively. Container lock housing  42  is welded on cradle side plate  55  located at the heel end  61  of bunk base member  24 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 5B , container lock  44  is mounted to the heel end  61  of portable bunk  14 . Container lock  44  can be any locking mechanism suitable for securely fastening portable bunk  14  to suitable bunking hardware  72 , such as that described below. In the disclosed embodiment, container lock  44  is an off-the-shelf item available from Buffers USA Inc., SAF-T-LOC® Model No. 3133-1. Container lock  44  is mounted on cradle side plate  55  at the heel end  61  of portable bunk  14 . As seen best in  FIG. 8 , container lock  44  includes a locking member  46  which is generally rectangular in shape with both a short end  66  and a long end  68 . In operation, locking member  46  is rotatably retractable within housing  42  through opening  64 . Opening  64  is sized slightly larger than locking member  46  to permit the upward retraction of locking member  46  within housing  42 , once locking member  46  has been rotated to match an orientation permitting its retraction through opening  64 . Once portable bunk  14  has been loaded with logs to be transported  12 , it is unlocked from the portable skid  21  through rotation of the container lock  44  and especially the locking member  46 , through a twisting and lifting manipulation of handle  60  in a manner that orients the locking member  46  in alignment with the opening  64  of the housing  42 , thereby permitting locking member  46  to retract up and inside of housing  42 , freeing portable bunk  14  and permitting its removal from portable skid. Once the portable bunks  14  and  15  have been lifted and removed from the portable skid  21 , they are transported to the trailer  32  whereupon they are slid into bunking hardware  72  with toe end  52  being slid in first. Subsequently, container lock  44  is again rotated such that locking member  46  is in alignment with the opening  64  of housing  42  sufficient to permit locking member  46  to protrude from housing  42  and be rotatably engaged with a locking surface upon bunking hardware  72 , thereby locking portable bunk  14  securely into place on the trailer  32 . 
       FIG. 6A  shows a side planar view of heel end  61  of bunk base member  24 . As discussed above, heel end  61  is hingedly connected to a second collapsible member  41  which extends essentially vertically from bunk base member  24 . Second collapsible member  41  is rotatably collapsible about pin assembly  70  which is transversely mounted through cradle side plate  55 . Cradle side plate  55  is welded at heel end  61  and flush with bunk tube opening  63 . Bunk tube opening  63  is a rectangular space at the heel end  61  of bunk base member  24 . Bunk tube opening  63  is an entrance space for bunk tube  65 , which extends through the length of bunk base member  24 . In this particular embodiment, bunk tube  65  and especially bunk tube opening  63  are of a size sufficient to receive a lifting surface such as the fork of a forklift or tractor which can be slid through the length of bunk tube  65 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS. 6B and 7 , toe end  52  of portable bunk  14  is described in greater detail. As discussed briefly above, toe end  52  is hingedly connected to a first collapsible member  40  extending essentially vertically from the toe end of bunk base member  24 . First collapsible member  40  is hingedly connected by way of pin assembly  58  which is transversely interposed through cradle side plates  51 . Welded on the side of cradle side plate  51  is chain link fastener  48  which is used in this particular embodiment to secure chain and cord assembly  16  (not depicted). Toe end  52  includes gusseted sides  56  and toe end plate  54 . Gusseted sides  56  extend away from the terminus of the toe end  52  of bunk base member  24  such that toe end side plate is disposed in a plane slightly beyond the terminus of bunk base member  24 . Toe end plate  54  thus protrudes away from a vertical plane in which bunk base member  24  ends. The protruding nature of toe end  52  and especially toe end plate  54  permits the engagement of a locking pin through end hole  50 . A suitable locking pin is rotatably connected to bunking hardware  72  which is described in greater detail with reference to  FIGS. 9A-9C . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 9B , bunking hardware  72  is described in greater detail. Bunking hardware  72  does not differ in configuration when mounted on either trailer bed  36  or portable skid  21 .  FIG. 9B  is a top view of bunking hardware  72  showing receiving end  84  and shoe end  90 ; these respective ends are disposed opposite one another at locations along the width of either trailer bed  36  or portable skid  21 . Receiving end  84 , when mounted on trailer bed  36  is preferably located on the side of trailer bed  36  where portable bunks  14  and  15 , after having been secured to a load of logs to be transported  12  are loaded. As discussed previously, a trailer usable with the invention has a retractable sidewall through which portable bunks  14  and  15  are loaded. Accordingly, receiving end  84  is preferably mounted on the side of trailer bed  36  that will receive a load of logs to be transported  12  after the same have been securely mounted to portable bunks  14  and  15 . Disposed opposite of receiving end  84  is shoe end  90  and the distance between shoe end  90  and receiving end  84  is about equal to the width of trailer bed  36 , or the width of portable skid  21 . 
     Receiving end  84  includes a first guide block  74  and a second guide block  78 . First guide block  74  and second guide block  78  are generally of the same configuration and each are comprised of elongated, vertically extending, rectangular box-like members welded at their respective bases onto a bunking hardware plate  89 . Extending from second guide block  78  and towards receiving end  84  is a gusseted catch  80  which is generally configured as an angled plate welded at one end to bunking hardware plate  89  and extending to the length of bunking hardware plate at its terminus at receiving end  84 . Gusseted catch  80  as best seen in  FIG. 9C  is bent at its top end along an acute angle away from a position normal to the plane containing bunking hardware plate  89 . Through the use of an acute angle away from a normal position perpendicular to bunking hardware plate  89 , gusseted catch  80  serves to guide bunk base member  24  when the same is loaded into bunking hardware  72  along a direction  91 . In operation, portable bunks  14  and  15  are loaded into bunking hardware  72  along a direction  91  from both a distance away from receiving end  84  and above bunking hardware plate  89  such that it is preferable to use a gusseted catch  80 , in case the alignment of bunk base member  24  is slightly off from the mid-point of bunking hardware plate  89 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 9B , first guide block  74  is disposed opposite second guide block  78  at a width substantially equal to the width of bunk base member  24  such that when bunk base member  24  sits between first guide block  74  and second guide block  78  it is substantially prevented from sliding laterally. As best seen in  FIGS. 9C and 9B , extending towards receiving end  84  at a level lower than the top of first guide block  74 , locking surface  76  is disposed in a horizontal plane. Locking surface  76  includes a space  82  for receiving rotatable locking member  46 . Receiving space  82  and locking surface  76  permit the passage therethrough of rotatable locking member  46  (as seen in  FIG. 8 ). Thus, locking surface  76  may securely hold portable bunk  14  at receiving end  84  of bunking hardware  72  through rotation of rotatable locking member  46  after portable bunk  14  has been loaded into bunking hardware  72  along direction  91 . 
     Extending from the horizontal plane in which locking surface  76  is disposed, and at a gradually decreasing downward angle, slide  81  is positioned. Slide  81  has a width no greater than the width of receiving space  82  and preferably, slide  81  is tapered, as best seen in  FIG. 9B . Slide  81  serves to prevent the abrupt catch, or “snag” of rotatable locking member  46  when during operation, rotatable locking member may extend below bunk base member  24  if it has not been retracted up inside container lock housing  42 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , shoe assembly  86  is described in greater detail. Shoe assembly  86  is disposed at the shoe end  90  of bunking hardware plate  89  and it is generally adapted to receive the toe end  52  of portable bunk  14 . Shoe assembly  86  is comprised of a first gusseted guide member  92  and a second gusseted guide member  94 . First gusseted guide member  92  is generally constructed from a plate rectangular in construction and bent at an acute angle away from a position normal to toe end surface  102 . As best seen in  FIG. 9B , both first gusseted guide member  92  and second gusseted guide member  94  are constructed to angle laterally away from one another such that distance  99  is greater than distance  101 . Greater distance  99  permits guiding of the toe end  52  of portable bunk  14  as the same is loaded into bunking hardware  72  along direction  91 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIGS. 9A and 9B , shoe assembly  86  includes locking pin  88  which is sized to be inserted into end hole  50  which is bored through toe end plate  54 . Shoe assembly  86  further includes a latch  100  and locking pin handle  98  both of which are affixed to the outside of toe end surface  102  and adapted to rotate locking pin  88  into place. 
     With reference now to  FIG. 10 , bunking hardware  72  and bunking station assembly  108  are described in greater detail.  FIG. 10  shows the bunking hardware  72  locked into bunking station assembly  108 . Bunking station assemblies  108  are disposed generally at locations opposite one another on either the trailer bed  36  or the portable skid  21 . The bunking station assemblies  108  have a recessed area  107  which in this particular embodiment takes the form of a bored hole, sized to receive a hardware locking member  110 . Locking member  110  can take the form of a pen that extends downward from the underside of the bunking hardware  72  adjacent the heel and toe ends. If the locking station assembly  108  is located on the portable skid  21 , the recessed area  107  could take the form of a hole through the sledding members  22  with a tube through which hardware locking member  110  could be slidably engaged and thereby locked with a first transverse locking pin  112 . 
     With continuing reference to  FIG. 10 , first transverse locking pin  112  is connected securely to the bunking hardware stations through the use of a first retention chain  116 . As seen in  FIG. 10 , element  120  represents either the trailer bed  36  or the skid cross-member  26 , depending upon whether the bunking station assembly  108  is located on the portable skid  21  or the trailer  32 . In this particular embodiment, bunking hardware  72  is mounted above bunking station assemblies  108  and a space  105  is created by spacers  104  and  106 . Spacers  104  and  106  are disposed beneath bunking hardware plate  89  and are physically connected to hardware locking members  110  providing a point of rest for bunking hardware  72  on the top of bunking station assembly  108 . Spacers  104  and  106  can optionally be load cells for measuring gross weight. Spacers  104  and  106  can vary in size to increase or alternatively decrease space  105  as desired. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Category: 7