Lift-and-tilt trailer
View Patent ↗A trailer lift that rises to high levels that may tilt for loading and unloading. The trailer lift includes a lift-and-tilt mechanism, a trailer base, and a trailer platform. The lift-and-tilt mechanism includes a lower-strut link, an upper-strut link, a support member, a lower lift cylinder, and an upper cylinder. The lower-strut link and the upper-strut link are pivotably and terminally attached to each other. The support member is positioned offset to the lower-strut link and is pivotably attached to the upper-strut link to guide the upper-strut link. The trailer platform is terminally and pivotably connected to the upper-strut link. Similarly, the trailer base is pivotably and terminally connected to the lower-strut link and the support member. The upper lift cylinder is pivotably mounted in between the upper-strut link and the trailer platform. The lower lift cylinder is pivotably mounted between the upper-strut link and the lower-strut link.
1. A lift-and-tilt trailer comprises:
an at least one lift-and-tilt mechanism;
a trailer base;
a trailer platform;
the lift-and-tilt mechanism comprises a lower-strut link, an upper-strut link, a support member, a lower lift cylinder, and an upper lift cylinder;
the lift-and-tilt mechanism being positioned in between the trailer base and the trailer platform;
the lower-strut link and the upper-strut link being terminally and pivotably attached to each other;
the support member being positioned offset to the lower-strut link along the upper-strut link;
the upper-strut link being terminally and pivotably connected to the support member;
the trailer platform being terminally and pivotably connected to the upper-strut link, opposite the lower-strut link;
the trailer base being terminally and pivotably connected to the lower-strut link and the support member, opposite the upper-strut link;
the upper lift cylinder being pivotably mounted in between the upper-strut link and the trailer platform;
the lower lift cylinder being pivotably mounted in between the lower-strut link and the upper-strut link;
a plurality of lower crossmembers;
a plurality of upper crossmembers;
the at least one lift-and-tilt mechanism comprises a first linkage and a second linkage;
the first linkage and the second linkage being oriented parallel to each other;
the first linkage and the second linkage being positioned offset to each other across the trailer base and the trailer platform;
the plurality of lower crossmembers being distributed along the lower-strut link of the first linkage and the lower-strut link of the second linkage;
each of the plurality of lower crossmembers being connected in between the lower-strut link of the first linkage and the lower-strut link of the second linkage;
the plurality of upper crossmembers being distributed along the upper-strut link of the first linkage and the upper-strut link of the second linkage;
each of the plurality of upper crossmembers being connected in between the upper-strut link of the first linkage and the upper-strut link of the second linkage;
an initial lift cylinder;
wherein the lift-and-tilt mechanism, the trailer platform, and the trailer base are configured into a collapsed configuration;
the trailer platform being positioned parallel and adjacent to the trailer base;
the initial lift cylinder being positioned in between the first linkage and the second linkage;
a first end of the initial lift cylinder is perpendicularly connected to a select lower member from the plurality of lower crossmembers; and
a second end of the initial lift cylinder being pressed against a select upper member from the plurality of upper crossmembers.
2. The lift-and-tilt trailer as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
the trailer platform being pivotably connected to the upper-strut link about a first axis;
the upper-strut link and the lower-strut link being pivotably connected to each other about a second axis;
the trailer base being pivotably connected to the lower-strut link about a third axis;
the trailer base being pivotably connected to the support member about a fourth axis;
the upper-strut link being pivotably connected to the support member about a fifth axis;
the first axis, the second axis, the third axis, the fourth axis, and the fifth axis being oriented parallel to each other;
the third axis and the fourth axis being positioned offset to each other along the trailer base; and
the second axis and the fifth axis being positioned offset to each other along the upper-strut link.
3. The lift-and-tilt trailer as claimed in claim 2 comprises:
a first end of the upper lift cylinder and a second end of the lower lift cylinder being positioned offset to each other along the upper-strut link;
the first end of the upper lift cylinder being pivotably mounted to the upper-strut link, adjacent to the first axis;
a second end of the upper lift cylinder being positioned offset to the first axis along the trailer platform; and
the second end of the upper lift cylinder being pivotably mounted to the trailer platform.
4. The lift-and-tilt trailer as claimed in claim 2 comprises:
a first end of the upper lift cylinder and a second end of the lower lift cylinder being positioned offset to each other along the upper-strut link;
the second end of the lower lift cylinder being pivotably mounted to the upper-strut link, adjacent to the second axis;
a first end of the lower lift cylinder being pivotably mounted to the lower-strut link, adjacent to the second axis; and
the fourth axis being positioned in between the second end of the lower lift cylinder and the second axis.
5. The lift-and-tilt trailer as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
the trailer base comprises a structural frame, an at least one pair of wheels, and a plurality of drop-legs;
the plurality of drop-legs being perimetrically distributed about the structural frame;
each of the plurality of drop-legs being oriented normal to the structural frame;
each of the plurality of drop-legs being laterally mounted to the structural frame;
the pair of wheels being coaxially positioned opposite to each other, across the structural frame; and
each of the pair of wheels being laterally and rotatably mounted to the structural frame.
6. The lift-and-tilt trailer as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
an electric generator;
an at least one hydraulic pump;
the lower lift cylinder and the upper lift cylinder being a hydraulic lift;
the hydraulic pump and the electric generator being mounted to the trailer base;
the hydraulic pump, the lower lift cylinder, and the upper lift cylinder being in fluid communication with each other; and
the electric generator being electrically connected to the hydraulic pump.
7. The lift-and-tilt trailer as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
a triangular-shaped frame;
a drive wheel assembly;
the drive wheel assembly comprises a U-shaped frame, a first motorized wheel, a second motorized wheel, a control lift cylinder, and a mounting arm;
the triangular-shaped frame being laterally connected to the trailer base;
the drive wheel assembly being positioned within the triangular-shaped frame;
the first motorized wheel being perpendicularly and rotatably mounted to a first leg of the U-shaped frame;
the second motorized wheel being perpendicularly and rotatably mounted to a second leg of the U-shaped frame;
the mounting arm being rotatably and centrally mounted to a connecting web of the U-shaped frame;
the triangular-shaped frame being terminally and rotatably connected to the mounting arm, opposite to the U-shaped frame; and
the control lift cylinder being pivotably mounted in between the mounting arm and the triangular-shaped frame.
8. The lift-and-tilt trailer as claimed in claim 7 comprises:
a trailer hitch coupler;
the trailer hitch coupler being positioned adjacent to the triangular-shaped frame, opposite to the trailer base; and
the trailer hitch coupler being laterally connected to the triangular-shaped frame.