System for bracing disabled trailers, clamp therefor and method

Abstract

An I-beam clamp comprises a body having a seat and defining a medial plane extending through and perpendicular to the seat and a normal plane aligned with the seat; a pair of pads mounted to the body for movement between respective closed positions beyond the seat, on opposite sides of and in spaced relation to the medial plane and in spaced relation to the normal plane, and open positions, whereat each pad is disposed, relative to its closed position, in a direction away from both the normal plane and the medial plane; and an actuator for effecting movement of the pads between their closed positions and their open positions. Clamp pairs can be secured to a disabled trailer undercarriage and a brace can be disposed between each pair. A saddle can be secured to each pair to urge the brace towards the undercarriage and support same for towing.

1 . A clamp apparatus comprising: 
 a main body member terminating in a substantially planar seat portion, said main body member defining a medial plane which extends through the seat portion and is arranged perpendicular thereto and further defining a normal plane which is aligned with the seat portion;    a pair of pad portions comprising a first pad portion and a second pad portion;    mounting means for mounting the pad portions to the main body member for movement between respective closed positions, whereat said pad portions are located beyond said seat portion of the main body member, on opposite sides of and in spaced relation to the medial plane and in spaced, substantially equidistant relation to the normal plane, and respective open positions, whereat the first pad portion is disposed, relative to its respective closed position, in a direction away from the normal plane, and the second pad portion is disposed, relative to its respective closed position, in a direction away from both the medial plane and the normal plane; and    actuation means for effecting selective movement of the pad portions between their respective closed positions and their respective open positions.    
     
     
         2 . A clamp apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein, in its respective open position, the first pad portion is disposed, relative to its respective closed position, in a direction away from both the medial plane and the normal plane.  
     
     
         3 . A clamp apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the mounting means comprises a pivot arm rigidly extending from each pad portion and mounted to the main body member for rotation about a respective pivot axis arranged substantially parallel to the medial plane and to the normal plane.  
     
     
         4 . A clamp apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the actuation means comprises a coupler mounted on each pivot arm for rotation about a respective rotation axis extending substantially parallel to the pivot axis of each pivot arm.  
     
     
         5 . A clamp apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the actuation means further comprises a shaft extending between the coupler and the main body member and mounted thereto both for rotation about a shaft axis substantially normal to the rotation axis, said shaft being threadingly mounted to the coupler such that rotation of said shaft causes movement, in a direction parallel to the shaft axis, of the coupler relative to the main body member.  
     
     
         6 . A clamp apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the actuation means further comprises a handle member for effecting selective rotation of the shaft.  
     
     
         7 . A clamp apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the shaft extends from the coupler, through the main body portion, to a free end.  
     
     
         8 . A clamp apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the handle member comprises a mechanically-grippable head formed at the free end of the shaft.  
     
     
         9 . A clamp apparatus for clamping a structural member, said clamp apparatus comprising: 
 a central, main body member having an upper end forming a seat portion;    first and second pad portions for engaging said structural member;    first and second movable arms on which said first and second pad portions are respectively mounted, each arm being movably connected to said main body member and located on a side of said main body member opposite to the side on which the other arm is mounted, each arm being movable from a closed position where its respective pad portion is located beyond said seat portion to an open position where the pad portion is disposed further away from said seat portion than in its closed position; and    an actuation arrangement for affecting movement of each arm between the closed and open positions of the respective arm,    wherein in said open position, said arms and their respective pad portions can be placed around a portion of said structural member, and in said closed position, said portion of said structural member is clamped between said pad portions and said seat portion.    
     
     
         10 . A clamp apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein each arm is pivotably connected to said main body member and is pivotable between said closed position and said open position.  
     
     
         11 . A clamp apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein said actuation arrangement comprises first and second actuating devices each connected to a respective one of the arms and each actuating device includes a coupler rotatably mounted on the respective pivot arm and a rotatable shaft extending between and connecting the coupler and the main body member, said shaft being threadingly connected to its respective coupler such that rotation of the shaft about its longitudinal axis causes pivotal movement of its respective arm.  
     
     
         12 . A clamp apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising a saddle member connected to a bottom end of said main body member and adapted for connecting a brace member to said structural member.  
     
     
         13 . A clamp apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein each pad portion comprises a rigid tubular member connected to one end of its respective movable arm and having a central axis extending substantially transversely to said respective movable arm.