IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,115,896
Granted Patent B1
US 12,115,896 · App. 18/231,034 · Granted Oct 15, 2024

Trailer system for transport of unit load devices

Inventors: Gerard Biagi (Gainesville, GA); Steven Sexton (Gainesville, GA); David Trenbeath (Gainesville, GA); Conner Lill (Gainesville, GA)
B60P1/02B60P1/44B60P1/6418B60P3/08B65D88/12B65G67/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,115,896
App. No.
18/231,034
Granted
Oct 15, 2024
Kind
B1
Abstract

A trailer system may have a first cargo area having a movable deck. The movable deck may be moved by an actuator. The movable deck may include a plurality of first rollers for engaging and translating cargo. And a movable tailgate may close the first cargo area when it is in a first position. The movable tailgate may have a plurality of second rollers for engaging and translating cargo when the movable tailgate is in a second position. The trailer system may have a plurality of movable decks, where each movable deck is coupled and moved by an actuator. Each actuator may comprise at least one of a hydraulic, pneumatic, and/or electromechanical system. The trailer system may further have a set of lower movable decks and a set of upper movable decks. The set of upper movable decks may be coupled to the lower movable decks by actuators.

Claims (35)

1. A trailer system comprising:

a first cargo area having a first movable deck, the first movable deck being moved by a first actuator;

the first movable deck comprising a plurality of first rollers for engaging and translating cargo;

a second cargo area having a second movable deck, the second movable deck being moved by a second actuator;

the second movable deck comprising a plurality of first rollers for engaging and translating cargo; and

a guide and constraint system for engaging cargo, the guide and constraint system comprising at least one flange that is hinged for rotating from a stowed position to an upright position.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a movable tailgate closing the first cargo area when the movable tailgate is in a first position, the movable tailgate further comprising a first set of second rollers different from the first rollers for engaging and translating cargo when the movable tailgate is in a second position.

3. The trailer system of claim 1 , further comprising pin actuators for locking each movable deck into a position for transport of cargo.

4. The trailer system of claim 3 , wherein each pin actuator comprises a pin and a spring.

5. The trailer system of claim 1 , further comprising a stop device positioned between two decks, the stop device having a first position which allows cargo to move over the stop device, the stop device having a second position which prevents cargo from moving between the two decks.

6. The trailer system of claim 5 , wherein the stop device comprises a movable arm that moves between the first position and the second position.

7. The trailer system of claim 6 , wherein the stop device further comprises a spring that is coupled to each movable arm.

8. The trailer system of claim 1 , wherein the guide and constraint system comprises a first set of flanges for receiving a unit load device having a first width, and a second set of flanges for receiving a unit load device having a second width.

9. A trailer system comprising:

a first cargo area having a first movable deck, the first movable deck being moved by a first actuator;

the first movable deck comprising a first set of first rollers for engaging and translating cargo;

a second cargo area having a second movable deck, the second movable deck being moved by a second actuator;

the second movable deck comprising a second set of first rollers for engaging and translating cargo, each first roller comprising a barrel roller; and

a guide and constraint system for engaging cargo, the guide and constraint system comprising at least one flange that is hinged for rotating from a stowed position to an upright position.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising: a movable tailgate closing the first cargo area when the movable tailgate is in a first position, the movable tailgate further comprising a first set of second rollers different from the first rollers for engaging and translating cargo when the movable tailgate is in a second position.

11. The trailer system of claim 10 , further comprising pin actuators for locking each movable deck into a position for transport of cargo.

12. The trailer system of claim 11 , wherein each pin actuator comprises a pin and a spring.

13. The trailer system of claim 10 , further comprising a stop device positioned between two decks, the stop device having a first position which allows cargo to move over the stop device, the stop device having a second position which prevents cargo from moving between the two decks.

14. A trailer system comprising:

a first cargo area having a first movable deck, the first movable deck being moved by a first actuator;

the first movable deck comprising a first set of first rollers for engaging and translating cargo;

a second cargo area having a second movable deck, the second movable deck being moved by a second actuator;

the second movable deck comprising a second set of first rollers for engaging and translating cargo;

wherein the first set of first rollers comprises rollers arranged in parallel rows across the first movable deck;

wherein the second set of first rollers comprises rollers arranged in parallel rows across the second movable deck; and

a guide and constraint system for engaging cargo, the guide and constraint system comprising at least one flange that is hinged for rotating from a stowed position to an upright position.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising: a movable tailgate closing the first cargo area when the movable tailgate is in a first position, the movable tailgate further comprising a first set of second rollers for engaging and translating cargo when the movable tailgate is in a second position.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the first rollers comprise barrel rollers; and the second rollers comprise spherical rollers.

17. The trailer system of claim 14 , further comprising pin actuators for locking each movable deck into a position for transport of cargo.

18. The trailer system of claim 14 , wherein the guide and constraint system comprises a first set of flanges for receiving a unit load device having a first width, and a second set of flanges for receiving a unit load device having a second width.

Continuity (2)
Continuation 16945603 · Jul 31, 2020
Provisional Application 62880882 · Jul 31, 2019