Trailer stabilizer
View Patent ↗A trailer stabilizing device for stabilizing a parked freight trailer, the trailer stabilizing device comprising a frame separate from the support frame of the parked freight trailer, the stabilizing device frame having mounted thereto wheels and a hitch, the stabilizing device including a repositionable jack.
1. A trailer stabilizing device for stabilizing a parked freight trailer, the trailer stabilizing device comprising a frame separate from the support frame of the parked freight trailer, the stabilizing device frame having mounted thereto wheels, the stabilizing device including a freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack operatively coupled to a trailer plate configured to engage the parked freight trailer, the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack configured to deploy in a first direction to contact the ground while the trailer plate is repositioned by the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack in a second direction opposite the first direction, the stabilizing device further including a hook repositionable between a lowered position and a raised position, the lowered position corresponding to an engaged position allowing the hook to engage the ground, the raised position corresponding to a disengaged position inhibiting the hook from engaging the ground.
2. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , wherein the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack includes a first freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack and a second freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack.
3. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 2 , wherein:
the first freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack comprises a first screw jack;
the second freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack comprises a second screw jack; and,
at least one of the first screw jack and the second screw jack is operatively coupled to a drive shaft, a transmission, and a motor.
4. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , wherein:
the frame includes a first frame rail and a second frame rail; and,
the frame includes a first cross-member concurrently mounted to the first frame rail and the second frame rail.
5. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes a gooseneck hitch.
6. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes an opening through which at least a portion of the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack extends.
7. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , wherein:
the frame includes a first opening and a second opening:
the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack comprises a first freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack and a second freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack;
at least a portion of the first freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack extends through the first opening; and,
at least a portion of the second freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack extends through the second opening.
8. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 7 , wherein:
the first opening is on a right side of the frame;
the second opening is on a left side of the frame;
a drive of the first freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack extends through the first opening;
a drive of the second freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack extends through the second opening;
a vertical lift of the first freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack extends laterally beyond the right side of the frame;
a vertical lift of the second freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack extends laterally beyond the left side of the frame.
9. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , wherein a glad hand connector is operatively coupled to the frame.
10. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , wherein an electrical connector is operatively coupled to the frame.
11. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , wherein the wheels include a braking device.
12. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , wherein the hook is at least one of pneumatically, hydraulically, manually, and electrically repositioned between the engaged position and the disengaged position.
13. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , further comprising a cleat adapted to be mounted to the ground to releasably engage the hook, wherein engagement between the cleat and the hook operatively couples the frame to the ground.
14. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor configured to detect the hook occupying at least one of the raised position and the lowered position.
15. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 14 , wherein:
the sensor is communicatively coupled to a controller; and,
the controller is communicatively coupled to a transmitter operative to transmit information indicative of at least one of the hook occupying the engaged position and the hook occupying the disengaged position.
16. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , wherein the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack is operatively coupled to a rail that is repositionable with respect to a track coupled to the frame to guide movement of the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack with respect to the frame.
17. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , wherein the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack is operatively coupled to a track that is repositionable with respect to a rail coupled to the frame to guide movement of the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack with respect to the frame.
18. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , further comprising a king pin receiver that includes a generally planar plate having an opening defined by tapered walls that are configured to funnel a king pin of the parked freight trailer into a king pin slot of the king pin receiver.
19. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , further comprising a king pin receiver configured to funnel a king pin of the parked freight trailer into a king pin slot of the king pin receiver, wherein:
the king pin receiver includes a sensor operative to detect the king pin with respect to the king pin receiver;
the sensor is communicatively coupled to a controller configured to receive a signal from the sensor when the sensor detects the king pin;
the controller controls the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack; and,
the controller is configured to deploy the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack after receiving the signal from the sensor.
20. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 1 , further including a controller operatively coupled to a transmitter to transmit information concerning the trailer stabilizer device and a sensor to detect information concerning the trailer stabilizer device.
21. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 20 , wherein the controller is operatively coupled to a visual indicator.
22. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 21 , wherein the visual indicator displays at least one of a plurality of colored lights.
23. A trailer stabilizing device for stabilizing a parked freight trailer, the trailer stabilizing device comprising a frame separate from the support frame of the parked freight trailer, the stabilizing device frame having mounted thereto wheels, the stabilizing device including a freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack operatively coupled to a trailer plate configured to engage the parked freight trailer, the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack configured to deploy in a first direction to contact the ground while the trailer plate is repositioned by the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein:
the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack is operatively coupled to a damper that is operatively coupled to the frame;
the damper interposes the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack and the frame; and,
the damper is configured to allow the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack to float with respect to the frame.
24. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 23 , wherein the damper comprises a spring.
25. The trailer stabilizing device of claim 23 , further comprising a king pin receiver configured to funnel a king pin of the parked freight trailer into a king pin receiver, wherein the king pin receiver is operatively coupled to a damper, and wherein the damper is configured to allow the king pin receiver to float with respect to the frame.
26. A trailer stabilizing device for stabilizing a parked freight trailer, the trailer stabilizing device comprising a frame separate from the support frame of the parked freight trailer, the stabilizing device frame having mounted thereto wheels, the stabilizing device including a freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack operatively coupled to a trailer plate configured to engage the parked freight trailer, the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack configured to deploy in a first direction to contact the ground while the trailer plate is repositioned by the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack is operatively coupled to a rail that is repositionable with respect to a track associated with the frame to guide movement of the freight trailer load bearing repositionable jack with respect to the frame.