Abstract: Landing gear for supporting a vehicle including a body for attachment to the vehicle, and a tubular leg carried by the body and having a sliding fit with the body for up and down movement relative to the body. The landing gear further includes a mechanism for slidably moving the leg up and down relative to the body. The mechanism includes a nut inside the tubular leg having a threaded bore, an upper bulkhead extending across the inside of the leg adjacent the upper end of the leg, and a lower bulkhead extending across the inside of the leg below the upper bulkhead for supporting the nut in a generally fixed position relative to the leg between the upper and lower bulkheads. Both the upper and lower bulkheads include openings aligned with the threaded bore of the nut. The mechanism also includes a screw shaft in threaded interconnection with the threaded bore of the nut and extending axially in the tubular leg, and a bearing in the body above the leg journalling the screw shaft for rotation on its axis.

Abstract: An air-ride suspension for a vehicle comprising a pair of leaf springs, plates and an axle clamped to the springs, a cross-beam secured at its ends to the plates spanning the leaf springs and a pair of air bags interposed between bottom plates on the cross-beam and top plates at the bottom of the vehicle.

Abstract: Landing gear for a vehicle comprising a tubular body for attachment to the vehicle, an adjustable-length leg slidable and finely adjustable in the body comprising an inner member slidable and coarsely adjustable in an outer member, two locking pins for locking the inner member in coarse adjusted position relative to the outer member, and a combination handle and spring biasing the pins to their locking position and movable to move them to retracted position.

Abstract: Air-ride suspensions for vehicles include composite leaf springs having fibers embedded in a resin matrix. Air springs are interposed between the leaf springs and the vehicle adjacent free ends of the leaf springs.

Abstract: Roof structure for a land vehicle, such as a tractor-trailer, comprising a series of roof bows extending transversely across the top of the vehicle spaced at intervals along the length of the vehicle, each roof bow being formed of sheet metal to have in transverse cross-section a central web, side flanges integral with the web extending downwardly from the web, and lips integral with the flanges at the lower edge of the flanges opposite the web extending inwardly toward one another from the flanges and terminating short of the central vertical longitudinal plane of the beam so that the roof bow has a longitudinal slot at the bottom thereof, and a ceiling comprising sheets of plywood at the bottom of the roof bows, with fasteners for securing the sheets in place each extending up through a hole in the respective sheet and through the slot of a respective roof bow and engaging the bottom of the respective sheet and lips at opposite sides of the slot of a respective roof bow.

Abstract: Landing gear for a vehicle such as a trailer, comprising a leg, a foot at the lower end of the leg adapted for engagement with the ground, a pair of generally channel-shaped members forming a tube which extends up from the foot and telescopically receives the lower end of the leg, an elastomeric member disposed in the tube between the lower end of the leg and the foot, and a bearing plate in the tube interposed between the elastomeric member and the lower end of the leg. The tube is attached to the lower end of the leg to permit limited telescopic movement of the leg and the foot whereby the foot is adapted to move upwardly relative to the leg as the landing gear accepts the weight of the vehicle thereby resiliently to compress the elastomeric member between the foot and the bearing plate. A method of making the foot and tube of the landing gear is also disclosed.

Abstract: A slider for adjustment of the suspension of a vehicle longitudinally with respect to the body of the vehicle, the slider comprising a pair of side rails, a frame adapted to carry the suspension slidable longitudinally of the body on the side rails, and a plurality of locking pins for locking the frame in various positions of adjustment relative to the side rails. The slider further comprises apparatus for retracting said locking pins including linkage interconnecting said pins for conjoint movement of the pins between extended and retracted positions. The linkage includes a shaft extending longitudinally of the frame, a crank for rotating the shaft, and a plurality of links interconnecting the shaft and the locking pins so that rotating the shaft retracts and extend the pins. A pull rod connected to the crank is manually movable from a first position to a second position for rotating the crank to rotate the shaft.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an improved slider providing adjustment of the suspension of a vehicle longitudinally with respect to the body of the vehicle. The slider is of the type comprising a pair of side rails secured at the left and right sides of the body in fixed position extending longitudinally of the body, and a frame carrying the suspension comprising left and right slide members slidable longitudinally of the body on the side rails, and a plurality of locking pins for locking the frame in various positions of adjustment relative to the side rails, the locking pins being retractible for permitting adjustment of the frame to a selected position of adjustment and extensible for locking the frame in a selected position of adjustment.

Abstract: Landing gear for a vehicle such as a trailer, comprising a leg, a foot at the lower end of the leg adapted for engagement with the ground, a pair of generally channel-shaped members forming a tube which extends up from the foot and telescopically receives the lower end of the leg, the members being generally symmetric about a central vertical plane of the tube, an elastomeric member disposed in the tube between the lower end of the leg and the foot, and a bearing plate in the tube interposed between the elastomeric member and the lower end of the leg. The tube is attached to the lower end of the leg to permit limited telescopic movement of the leg and the foot whereby the foot is adapted to move upwardly relative to the leg as the landing gear accepts the weight of the vehicle thereby resiliently to compress the elastomeric member between the foot and the bearing plate. A method of making the foot and tube of the landing gear is also disclosed.

Abstract: A suspension for tandem axles of a vehicle comprising a pair of walking beams to which the axles are attached in a manner permitting either beam to swing relative to the other, with an elastomeric interposed between the body of the vehicle and the beams, and with the beams restrained from longitudinal and lateral movement.

Abstract: A roof bow comprising an elongate member formed of sheet metal having an elongate intermediate reach and integral end reaches. The elongate member is formed to have in transverse cross-section a central web, side flanges integral with the web and lips integral with the side flanges at free edges of the side flanges. The flanges, in the intermediate reach of the elongate member, extend upwardly from the web, and the lips, in the intermediate reach, extend inwardly toward one another from the flanges and are generally coplanar. The portions of the flanges in each end reach of the roof bow are deformed with respect to the portions thereof in the intermediate reach to have a gradual transition from their upwardly extending disposition with respect to the web to a laterally outwardly extending position generally coplanar with the web. Portions of the lips along the end reaches lie generally flat against respective outer surfaces of the flanges.

Abstract: A tandem offset disc implement comprising a frame on wheels, a tongue pivoted at the forward end of the frame for hitching the disc to a tractor, the frame being movable up and down, forward and rearward gangs of discs on opposite sides of the frame swingable between a field position extending out from the sides of the frame and a transport position extending rearward and also swingable up and down relative to the frame, swivel wheels for the gangs, and linkages between the tongue and the gangs for maintaining the gangs in field position for tilling.

Abstract: A tandem offset disc implement comprising a frame on wheels, a tongue pivoted at the forward end of the frame for hitching the disc to a tractor, the frame being movable up and down, forward and rearward gangs of discs on opposite sides of the frame swingable between a field position extending out from the sides of the frame and a transport position extending rearward and also swingable up and down relative to the frame, swivel wheels for the gangs, and linkages between the tongue and the gangs for maintaining the gangs in field position for tilling.

Abstract: A floor system for a trailer or the like comprising a plurality of elongate sheet metal floor panels extending side-by-side lengthwise of the trailer on beams extending transversely of the trailer. Each of the metal floor panels comprises upper and lower panel members, the upper member being in the form of a shallow inverted channel, comprising a relatively wide web member, a pair of relatively narrow flanges extending down from the web member at opposite sides of the web member, and a pair of fastening lips extending laterally outwardly from the flanges at the lower edges of the flanges and bearing on the beams of the trailer. The elongate metal floor panels are mounted on the beams one alongside another with the fastening lips at adjacent sides of adjacent floor panels defining, in conjunction with the opposing flanges extending up from the fastening lips, upwardly opening generally rectangular recesses extending longitudinally of the trailer between adjacent floor panels.

Abstract: A sheet metal panel for a standing seam roof, a standing seam roof formed of the panels, and a method of installing the roof. Each panel is generally in the form of a shallow channel, having a web and first and second flanges extending up from the web at opposite sides of the web. The first flange has a downwardly opening channel section at its upper margin on the outside, with a sealing strip in this channel section. The second flange has a sealing lip section at its upper margin on the inside. In the roof, the panels are mounted alongside one another on the panel supporting means (e.g., purlins) of the roof, with the first and second flanges of adjacent panels alongside one another and with the lip section on the second flange of one of two adjacent panels sealingly engaging the sealing means in the channel section on the first flange of the other of two adjacent panels.

Abstract: Two embodiments of a trailer to be towed by a tractor or truck and hydraulically powered from a hydraulic power source on the tractor or truck for picking up round bales of hay lying on their sides in the field, and for transporting the bales. Each embodiment has spaced-apart rails adapted to lift and cradle round bales of hay, the spacing of the rails being variable for handling bales of different diameters, the rails being adapted to pick up bales in the manner of a fork lift. In the first embodiment, means is provided for towing the trailer either to the left or right of the towing vehicles as well as in line with the towing vehicle, and the trailer may be maneuvered for nonstop front or rear loading and unloading of bales. In the second (and simpler) embodiment, loading and unloading is from the rear only. In each embodiment, the rails are adapted to be positioned generally horizontally, with the bales lifted off the ground for transporting the bales, and to be lowered for unloading the bales.

Abstract: A post and rail fence construction comprising a tubular steel post adapted to be mounted in an upright vertical position and a steel rail generally of channel section adapted to extend generally horizontally from the post. The post has at least one hole therein for reception of one end of the rail which has a detent thereon. The rail is sufficiently resilient for springing the sides of the rail together for insertion of the rail and detent inside the post through the hole. On release, the sides of the rail spring apart into engagement with the post with the detent inside the post for locking the rail therein.

Abstract: A cargo carrier includes a trailer bed having a rear end raising and lowering structure including a pivotal tail section, said bed being slidingly supported by a carriage. The tail section is operable to pivot in response to fore and aft sliding movement of the bed on the carriage to lower and raise the rear end of the bed relative to the ground. In a modification, a second carriage is pivotally attached to the rear of the first carriage by a connecting frame, and slidingly supports the bed. The carrier also has a front end raising and lowering structure having members attached to the front end of the bed and adapted for attachment to a towing vehicle for lowering and raising the front end of the bed in response to fore and aft movement of the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A cargo carrier includes a trailer bed having a rear end raising and lowering structure including a pivotal tail section, said bed being slidingly supported by a carriage. The tail section is operable to pivot in response to fore and aft sliding movement of the bed on the carriage to lower and raise the rear end of the bed relative to the ground. In a modification, a second carriage is pivotally attached to the rear of the first carriage by a connecting frame, and slidingly supports the bed. The carrier also has a front end raising and lowering structure having members attached to the front end of the bed and adapted for attachment to a towing vehicle for lowering and raising the front end of the bed in response to fore and aft movement of the towing vehicle.

Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for placing a module unit on a site foundation. In accordance therewith means are provided for supporting a module unit alongside the foundation. Spaced tracks extend from between the module and support means across the foundation. Also included are first antifriction bearing means between the module and tracks for movement of the module along the tracks, second antifriction bearing means located between the module and the track for allowing transverse movement of the module relative to at least all but one of the tracks, and means between the first and second antifriction bearing means for providing rotation of the module unit relative to the tracks. Means are also provided for moving the module along the tracks.