Mobile chassis gooseneck straightener
A mobile container chassis gooseneck straightener including a wheeled trailer. A frame structure of the straightener includes spaced top and bottom sections that receive a container chassis gooseneck. The frame structure includes a front end with a fixed column extending between the top and bottom sections. The frame structure includes a rear end comprising a removable link connecting the top and bottom sections. The removable link has a coupled state in which it rigidly secures the top and bottom sections and an uncoupled state in which the top and bottom sections are unsecured at the rear end. A hydraulic cylinder is supported by the frame structure and configured to exert vertical load on the container chassis gooseneck to be straightened within the frame structure. The frame structure is configured to bear the vertical load. A hydraulic power source is supported by the trailer and connected to power the hydraulic cylinder.
1 . A mobile container chassis gooseneck straightener comprising:
a wheeled trailer including a base and a tongue provided at a front end of the wheeled trailer and configured to join with a hitch of a tow vehicle;
a frame structure including a top section and a bottom section spaced from the top section to receive a container chassis gooseneck therebetween, the frame structure further including a front end with a fixed column extending between the top and bottom sections, and the frame structure further including a rear end comprising a removable link connecting the top and bottom sections, the removable link having a coupled state in which it rigidly secures the top and bottom sections via a direct vertical connection therebetween and an uncoupled state in which the top and bottom sections are unsecured at the rear end;
a hydraulic cylinder supported by the frame structure and configured to exert a vertical load on the container chassis gooseneck to be straightened within the frame structure, wherein the frame structure, including the removable link, is configured to bear the vertical load; and
a hydraulic power source supported by the wheeled trailer and connected with the hydraulic cylinder to power movement of the hydraulic cylinder.
2 . The mobile container chassis gooseneck straightener of claim 1 , wherein the removable link is one of two laterally-spaced removable links, each of which has a respective pivot connections with the frame structure.
3 . The mobile container chassis gooseneck straightener of claim 2 , wherein each of the two laterally-spaced removable links is counterweighted for pivoting movement about the respective pivot connections.
4 . The mobile container chassis gooseneck straightener of claim 2 , wherein the respective pivot connections are defined on the bottom section of the frame structure, and the two laterally-spaced removable links are selectively connected to the top section of the frame structure by respective locking pins to define the coupled state and the uncoupled state.
5 . The mobile container chassis gooseneck straightener of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of guides configured to guide the container chassis gooseneck into a prescribed horizontal and vertical position with respect to reaction members of the frame structure that are configured to bear loads applied by the hydraulic cylinder and transferred through the container chassis gooseneck.
6 . The mobile container chassis gooseneck straightener of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of guides include a king pin guide member having a king pin receptacle and a tapered inlet portion.
7 . The mobile container chassis gooseneck straightener of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of guides further comprises a plurality of vertical ramps extending forwardly to rear sides of the reaction members.
8 . The mobile container chassis gooseneck straightener of claim 1 , wherein the frame structure includes a front column assembly including the fixed column, an additional fixed column, and a crossbeam extending between the fixed column and the additional fixed column, the front column assembly having a resilient bumper on a rear-facing surface thereof.
9 . The mobile container chassis gooseneck straightener of claim 1 , wherein the hydraulic cylinder is one of a plurality of hydraulic cylinders spaced apart on two lateral sides of the frame structure.
10 . A mobile container chassis gooseneck straightener comprising:
a wheeled trailer including a base and a tongue configured to join with a hitch of a tow vehicle;
a frame structure including a top section and a bottom section spaced from the top section to receive a container chassis gooseneck therebetween, the frame structure further including a front end with a fixed column extending between the top and bottom sections, and the frame structure further including a rear end comprising a removable link connecting the top and bottom sections, the removable link having a coupled state in which it rigidly secures the top and bottom sections and an uncoupled state in which the top and bottom sections are unsecured at the rear end;
a hydraulic cylinder supported by the frame structure and configured to exert a vertical load on the container chassis gooseneck to be straightened within the frame structure, the frame structure, including the removable link, configured to bear the vertical load; and
a hydraulic power source supported by the wheeled trailer and connected with the hydraulic cylinder to power movement of the hydraulic cylinder,
wherein the removable link is one of two laterally-spaced removable links, each of which has a respective pivot connection with the frame structure, and
wherein each of the two laterally-spaced removable links is counterweighted for pivoting movement about the respective pivot connections.
11 . A mobile container chassis gooseneck straightener comprising:
a wheeled trailer including a base and a tongue configured to join with a hitch of a tow vehicle;
a frame structure including a top section and a bottom section spaced from the top section to receive a container chassis gooseneck therebetween, the frame structure further including a front end with a fixed column extending between the top and bottom sections, and the frame structure further including a rear end comprising a removable link connecting the top and bottom sections, the removable link having a coupled state in which it rigidly secures the top and bottom sections and an uncoupled state in which the top and bottom sections are unsecured at the rear end;
a hydraulic cylinder supported by the frame structure and configured to exert a vertical load on the container chassis gooseneck to be straightened within the frame structure, the frame structure, including the removable link, configured to bear the vertical load; and
a hydraulic power source supported by the wheeled trailer and connected with the hydraulic cylinder to power movement of the hydraulic cylinder,
wherein the removable link is one of two laterally-spaced removable links, each of which has a respective pivot connection with the frame structure, and
wherein the respective pivot connections are defined on the bottom section of the frame structure, and the two laterally-spaced removable links are selectively connected to the top section of the frame structure by respective locking pins to define the coupled state and the uncoupled state.