Trailer and method of transporting an engine
In a particular embodiment, a trailer is disclosed that includes a base, a frame extending from the base, and mounting structures coupled to the frame. The mounting structures are adapted to releasably secure an engine, such as an aircraft engine, to the frame such that the engine is secured to the frame and suspended above the base without contacting the base.
1. A trailer comprising:
a base;
a frame extending from the base; and
at least two mounting structures coupled to the frame and adapted to releasably secure an engine to the frame such that the engine is secured to the frame and suspended above the base without contacting the base, wherein a first mounting structure of the at least two mounting structures includes a conical portion sized to fit a corresponding mounting structure associated with the engine, the conical portion including an opening sized to receive a fastener associated with the engine, and a side opening adapted to provide access to tighten or loosen a nut to secure the fastener.
2. The trailer of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a movable chassis.
3. The trailer of claim 2 , further comprising:
a towing rod that is releasably coupled to the base; and
a bracket coupled to the base and sized to secure the towing rod when the towing rod is decoupled from the base.
4. The trailer of claim 1 , wherein the base comprises:
a rear axle coupled to two pneumatic tires; and
a front axle coupled to two pneumatic tires;
wherein the frame extends from the base proximate to the rear axle.
5. A trailer comprising:
a base;
a frame extending from the base, said frame including a pair of A-shaped frames extending in a direction that is substantially normal to the base, a top member coupled to distal ends of the pair of A-shaped frames, and a cross member coupled between the pair of A-shaped frames; and
at least two mounting structures coupled to the frame and adapted to releasably secure an engine to the frame such that the engine is secured to the frame and suspended above the base without contacting the base, wherein a distance between the top member and the cross member is at least partially determined by a pre-defined spacing between the at least two mounting structures.
6. The trailer of claim 5 , wherein a first mounting structure of the at least two mounting structures is coupled to the top member.
7. The trailer of claim 5 , wherein at least one mounting structure of the at least two mounting structures is coupled to the cross member.
8. The trailer of claim 1 , wherein a second mounting structure of the at least two mounting structures comprises:
a conical portion sized to fit a corresponding mounting structure associated with the engine; and
an attachment portion coupled to the second mounting structure conical portion, the attachment portion including an opening sized to receive a first fastener and a tool to rotate the first fastener to releasably couple the first fastener to the corresponding mounting structure of the engine.
9. The trailer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a step coupled to the frame and adapted to support a worker; and
a handle coupled to the frame to allow access to the at least two mounting structures.
10. The trailer of claim 1 , further comprising:
a releasable tow rod adapted to be coupled to a vehicle; and
a bracket adapted to secure the releasable tow rod when not in use.
11. The trailer of claim 1 in which said engine is an aircraft engine, said base includes a front axle having a pair of wheels and a rear axle having a pair of wheels, said frame extends from the base at a location along the base that is proximate to the rear axle, and the aircraft engine is supported by the frame without contacting the base.
12. The trailer of claim 11 , wherein a center of gravity of the aircraft engine is approximately centered above a center of the base.
13. The trailer of claim 11 , wherein the pair of wheels associated with the front axle and the pair of wheels associated with the rear axle comprise pneumatic tires.
14. The trailer of claim 11 , further comprising a storage box coupled to the frame and sized to receive at least one tool.
15. The trailer of claim 11 , wherein the mounting structures comprise:
upper mounting structures coupled to a top cross member of the frame; and
lower mounting structures coupled to a lower cross member of the frame.
16. The trailer of claim 11 , wherein each mounting structure comprises:
an attachment portion coupled to the frame; and
a conical portion sized to mate with an engine mounting structure associated with the aircraft engine.
17. The trailer of claim 11 , wherein the frame translates and distributes weight from the aircraft engine to the base.
18. A trailer comprising:
a base;
a frame extending from the base, wherein the frame comprises:
a first A-shaped frame extending substantially normal to the base on a first side;
a second A-shaped frame extending substantially normal to the base on a second side;
a top member coupling the first A-shaped frame to the second A-shaped frame at their respective apexes; and
a cross member coupling the first A-shaped frame to the second A-shaped frame at a location along the A-shaped frames that is below the respective apexes; and
at least two mounting structures coupled to the frame and adapted to releasably secure an engine to the frame such that the engine is secured to the frame and suspended above the base without contacting the base, in which said engine is an aircraft engine, said base includes a front axle having a pair of wheels and a rear axle having a pair of wheels, said frame extends from the base at a location along the base that is proximate to the rear axle, and the aircraft engine is supported by the frame without contacting the base.
19. The trailer of claim 18 , wherein each A-shaped frame of the first and second A-shaped frames comprises:
a rear member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the rear member coupled to the base at a rear portion of the base, the rear member extending from the base at an angle toward a front portion of the base;
a center stanchion having a proximal end and a distal end, the center stanchion coupled to the base at the proximal end of the center stanchion and extending from the base at an angle that is approximately normal to the base; and
a forward member having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the forward member coupled to the base at a center portion of the base, the forward member extending from the base at an angle toward the rear portion;
wherein the rear member, the center stanchion and the forward member are coupled at their respective distal ends at their respective apex.
20. A trailer comprising:
a base;
a frame extending from the base; and
at least two mounting structures coupled to the frame and adapted to releasably secure an engine to the frame such that the engine is secured to the frame and suspended above the base without contacting the base, in which said at least two mounting structures include a first mounting structure and a second mounting structure, and said engine is an aircraft engine, said first mounting structure being coupled to the frame at a first height and adapted to mate with a first corresponding engine mounting structure of the aircraft engine, the first mounting structure comprising a first opening sized to receive a first fastener associated with the aircraft engine and a second opening to provide access to a nut to secure the first fastener; and
said second mounting structure being coupled to the frame at a second height and adapted to mate with a second corresponding engine mounting structure of the aircraft engine, the second mounting structure comprising a third opening sized to hold a second fastener to mate with a corresponding recess of a mount structure associated with the aircraft engine;
wherein the first mounting structure and the second mounting structure cooperate to secure and support the aircraft engine such that the aircraft engine does not contact the base.
21. The trailer of claim 20 , wherein the second mounting structure further comprises a fourth opening sized to receive a tool adapted to tighten or loosen the second fastener.
22. The trailer of claim 20 , further comprising a support structure adapted to elevate the base to provide clearance for rotating a propeller coupled to the aircraft engine.
23. The trailer of claim 20 , wherein the first height is greater than the second height and wherein a difference between the first height and the second height is related to a relative spacing of the corresponding mounting structures of the aircraft engine.
24. A method of transporting an aircraft engine, the method comprising:
coupling an aircraft engine to a trailer, said trailer including a base, a frame extending from the base, and at least two mounting structures coupled to the frame and adapted to releasably secure the aircraft engine to the frame such that the aircraft engine is secured to the frame and suspended above the base without contacting the base;
positioning the trailer that is securing the aircraft engine at a location apart from a wing of an aircraft;
extending a support structure associated with the trailer to elevate an end of the base; and
rotating a propeller coupled to the aircraft engine to provide oil flow to bearings within the aircraft engine.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the propeller is attached to the aircraft engine during transit.
26. The method of claim 24 , further comprising:
removing a tow bar associated with the trailer; and
securing the tow bar to a bracket associated with the trailer.
27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the at least two mounting structures are adapted to mate with corresponding engine mounting structures of the aircraft engine.