Patents Assigned to General Trailer Company, Inc.
  • Patent number: 4287958
    Abstract: A load-monitoring vehicle suspension including a pair of wheel assemblies carried adjacent the opposite ends of a flexible transversal beam which supports the bed in the vehicle. This beam extends transversely of the bed's longitudinal axis, and supports the bed through two spaced journal connections which are disposed inwardly of the wheel assemblies, and which provide for the beam spaced journal axes that generally parallel the bed's longitudinal axis and intersect the beam's longitudinal axis. Load carried on the bed causes the beam to deflect substantially in pure bending, and such deflection is monitored by a strain-sensitive device mounted centrally on the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Assignee: General Trailer Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 4103927
    Abstract: A clamping device utilizing hingedly interconnected clamping members and operating mechanism for forcing the clamping members against a trailer reach telescopically received in a trailer member to frictionally secure the trailer reach and trailer member in a selected adjusted position relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Assignee: General Trailer Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 4103752
    Abstract: Weighing apparatus for a fifth wheel assembly, including a rockable subframe adapted for carrying such an assembly constructed for pivotal mounting with respect to an underlying vehicle frame. An inflatable air pad is disposed beneath the subframe, and is operable under inflation to pivot the subframe to a position wherein the pad carries a portion of any load borne by the subframe. Connected to the pad is a calibratable scale system for producing a load indication under such circumstances. Further provided is a safety locking system for releasably locking the subframe against pivoting under conditions of normal vehicle travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1978
    Assignee: General Trailer Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 3993326
    Abstract: An elongate vehicle having a steerable front frame and a trailing self-steering rear frame. The rear frame includes a wheel assembly mounted on a steerable subframe adjacent the front end of the rear frame. An elongate rear member extends from the front frame to the rear frame and is pivotally connected to the rear frame of swinging about a substantially upright pivot axis. A differential steering linkage pivotally interconnects the reach member, subframe, and rear frame whereby swinging the reach member relative to the rear frame, as occurs when the front frame turns, results in a smaller angular adjustment of the subframe and steerable front wheel assembly relative to the rear frame to automatically steer the rear frame in a path substantially tracking the front frame through the turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1976
    Assignee: General Trailer Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth J. Schmidt