Automated system for securing a load to a flatbed truck
A system that is adapted for attachment to a flatbed trailer that provides automated tightening of tie down straps for securing the trailer's load. An electric motor is attached to each end of a drive shaft and used to rotate the drive shaft. Tie down straps are uncoiled from around the drive shaft, stretched over the load and attached to the opposite side of the trailer to start the load securing process. The motors are then engaged to rotate the drive shaft and provide automatic tightening of the tie down straps, which completes the securing process. Cotter pins can also be used to provide a backup locking mechanism.
The present invention relates generally to the field of trucking and more specifically to a system for securing loads to flatbed trucks.
Trucks provide the primary method for moving goods within the U.S. Tractor trailer trucks shoulder a majority of this logistical burden. Tractor trailers, also called 18 wheelers, take advantage of a standard coupling system that allows the same tractor to be connected to, and disconnected from, almost any trailer. Some trailers are enclosed and even refrigerated. Other trailers are open and consist primarily of the bed of the trailer, which is flat. Thus, these open trailers are referred to as flatbed trailers.
Flatbed trailers provide great flexibility to truckers. Because the trailer does not include an enclosure, the truckers are not limited to accepting loads that have to fit within the enclosure. A “load” refers to that which is to be loaded on a trailer, and anything that has already been loaded on a trailer. Since there are no walls to keep the load from falling off of a flatbed, all loads need to be secured to the bed of the trailer. Tie down straps are commonly used to secure loads to flatbeds. Thick straps are pulled over the top of the load and secured to opposite sides of the flatbed. A hand winch is used to tighten and hold each strap. Many hand winches have been adapted to allow a crow bar to be used to help tighten the strap. Using a crow bar gives leverage to the trucker, but even this advantage is not enough for some truckers to sufficiently tighten the straps for all loads.
What is needed in the field is a system that allows all truckers to safely secure any load to a flatbed trailer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAn automated system that is adapted for attachment to a flatbed trailer. The automated system allows any user to secure a load to the flatbed trailer. The system comprises at least one electric motor and at least one winch with an incorporated tie down strap. The electric motor includes a bracket for attachment to the bottom of the trailer. The electric motor has a drive shaft that extends out from a housing of the motor. The drive shaft runs along the length of the trailer and just under either side of the trailer. Control buttons including a tighten button and a loosen button are provided on the housing of the motor. The buttons are used for controlling the direction of rotation of the drive shaft. The winch also includes a bracket for attachment to the bottom of the trailer. The drive shaft is incorporated in the winch so that a portion of the drive shaft extends through the center of the winch. The winch includes an automatic locking mechanism that prevents unwanted turning of the drive shaft. A strap is provided with each winch and the strap has a first end that is permanently attached to the portion of the drive shaft that extends through the center of the winch. The length of the strap is initially wound around this portion of the drive shaft. The free end of the strap preferably includes an eye hole that allows temporary connection to a peg on the opposite side of the trailer. After the strap has been placed over the load on the trailer and secured on the opposite side, the user pushes the tighten button to wind the slack around the drive shaft and the load is secured. To loosen the strap the user pushes the loosen button, which releases the safety latch on the side of the wrench and allows the strap to be uncoiled.
When a second electric motor is used the second motor is attached to the terminal end of the drive shaft and the second motor operates in sync with the first electric motor. The second electric motor also includes a housing with tighten and loosen buttons. The control buttons on either housing can control the rotation of the drive shaft. Each motor housing preferably includes a tug switch that when flipped allows the drive shaft to rotate freely so the strap can be uncoiled and the free end can be moved over the load for securing. The electric motors can optionally include their own battery power supply on the trailer, but preferably the electric motors are connected to the electrical system of the tractor trailer.
The system includes a manual locking mechanism that acts as a back-up system for securing the load. A sleeve is provided on the side of each winch. The sleeve surrounds the drive shaft and has two holes that allow for passage therethrough of a cotter pin. A hole of similar diameter is also provided in the drive shaft and the manual locking mechanism is engaged by pushing the cotter pin through the holes in the sleeve and the hole in the drive shaft.
The drive shaft also includes other holes that are adapted for entry of a pole so the drive shaft can be turned manually in the event that power is not available for the electric motor.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a system that allows a any person, including woman, inexperienced truckers, elderly, and the disabled, to safely secure a load on a flatbed trailer, no matter what size the load.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe invention of the present application will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, given only by way of example, in which:
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept. For example, a system could be provided on both sides of the trailer thereby allowing automated tightening of the straps from either side of the trailer. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology of terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.
Claims
1. An automated system that is adapted for attachment to a tractor trailer wherein the trailer is a flatbed trailer having a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a right side and a left side, the automated system allowing any user to safely secure a load to the flatbed trailer, the system comprising:
- an electric motor, the electric motor having a motor bracket for attachment to the bottom of the trailer at a location near the front and right side of the trailer, the electric motor also having a drive shaft that extends out from a housing of the electric motor so that drive shaft runs under the right side of the trailer and parallel to the top of the trailer, wherein the housing of the motor includes a tighten button and a loosen button for controlling a direction of rotation of the drive shaft;
- a winch, the winch having a winch bracket for attachment to the bottom of the trailer near the right side of the trailer, wherein the drive shaft is incorporated in the winch so that a portion of the drive shaft extends through a center of the winch and the winch includes an automatic locking mechanism that prevents unwanted turning of the drive shaft; and,
- a strap, the strap having a first end that is permanently attached to the portion of the drive shaft that extends through the center of the winch, a length that is initially wound around the portion of the drive shaft that extends through the center of the winch, and a second end that can be temporarily connected to the left side of the trailer, wherein the strap gets wound around the drive shaft when the user pushes the tighten button and the strap is unwound from the drive shaft when the user pushes the loosen button.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a second winch, the second winch having a second winch bracket for attachment to the bottom of the trailer near the right side of the trailer, wherein the drive shaft is also incorporated in the second winch so that a second portion of the drive shaft extends through a center of the second winch and the second winch includes a second automatic locking mechanism that prevents unwanted turning of the drive shaft; and,
- a second strap, the second strap having a first end that is permanently attached to the second portion of the drive shaft, a length that is initially wound around the second portion, and a second end that can be temporarily attached to the left side of the trailer, wherein the second strap gets wound around the drive shaft when the user pushes the tighten button and the second strap is unwound from the drive shaft when the user pushes the loosen button.
3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:
- a second electric motor, the second electric motor having a second motor bracket for attachment to the bottom of the trailer at a location near the back and right side of the trailer, wherein the second electric motor is attached to an opposite end of the drive shaft and operates in sync with the electric motor.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second electric motor includes a second housing and the second housing includes a second tighten button and a second loosen button for controlling a direction of rotation of the drive shaft.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is adapted for connection to an electrical system of the tractor trailer.
6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
- at least one battery, wherein the at least one battery is electrically connected to the electric motor.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the winch further includes a manual locking mechanism comprising a sleeve that surrounds the drive shaft and a cotter pin, the manual locking mechanism being engaged by pushing the cotter pin through holes in the sleeve and a hole in the drive shaft.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes a tug switch, wherein the electric motor is disengaged from the drive shaft when the tug switch is flipped so that the drive shaft is allowed to rotate freely.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the drive shaft includes at least one hole that is adapted for entry of a pole, the at least one hole allowing the drive shaft to be turned manually in the event that power is not available for the electric motor.
10. The system of claim 4, wherein the drive shaft extends substantially from the front of the trailer to the back of the trailer.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 29, 2005
Publication Date: Mar 1, 2007
Inventors: Travis Williams (Riviera Beach, FL), Shantell Williams (Riviera Beach, FL)
Application Number: 11/213,401
International Classification: B61D 45/00 (20060101);