Reduced weight live poultry hauling system

Abstract

A reduced-weight poultry cage is used in conjunction with a reduced-weight trailer to transport live poultry for maximizing the poundage of poultry being transported while reducing the number of trips and fuel expenses. The poultry cage includes a combination of aluminum and plastic elements that reduce cage weight, provide for nesting of cages in stacks as well as easy replacement of failed parts. Furthermore, a drop-deck aluminum trailer with a reduced floor and guide rail alignment stops allows for a durable yet lightweight trailer that can haul a plurality of stacks of these poultry cages, thereby maximizing cubic feet availability while being compliant with various road and bridge laws.

1 .- 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . An integrated system for conveying live poultry in cages on a trailer and optimized to maximize payload while minimizing cage and trailer weight, said system comprising:
 a reduced weight poultry cage comprising:
 an aluminum frame that defines a front, sides, a back, a top and a base of said cage; 
 a plurality of aluminum floor layers, each having an outer periphery that is supported within said frame; 
 a plurality of compartments formed within said frame on said plurality of floor layers, each of said compartments comprising a respective compartment door that is pivotally-mounted at the front of said cage; 
 and 
   a reduced weight trailer for hauling at least one of said reduced weight poultry cages, said trailer comprising:
 a plurality of aluminum main beams arranged longitudinally along the length of the trailer; 
 a frame structure formed from a pair of aluminum guide rails coupled together via a plurality of aluminum cross members, said frame structure coupled to said main beams; and 
 a suspension assembly located at a rear portion of said trailer for supporting said frame structure and said plurality of aluminum main beams upon a plurality of wheel axle assemblies. 
   
     
     
         7 . The integrated system of  claim 6  further comprising a first set of alignment members formed on said base of said cage, on opposite sides of said cage, and a second set of alignment members formed on said top of said cage, on opposite sides of said cage, said first set of alignment members configured to engage a second set of alignment members of another cage stacked thereon. 
     
     
         8 . The integrated system of  claim 6  wherein said trailer further comprises a floor secured only to a middle region of said frame structure along the length of the trailer. 
     
     
         9 . The integrated system of  claim 6  further comprising a pair of forklift tine sleeves, one sleeve located at the front of said cage and the other sleeve located at the back of said cage, said pair of sleeves being positioned at a base portion of said cage and which run from one side of said cage to the other side of said cage. 
     
     
         10 . The integrated system of  claim 7  further comprising a plurality of cage alignment stops on each aluminum guide rail to form transversely aligned pairs of cage alignment stops and wherein a pair of said transversely aligned cage alignment stops engage a corresponding pair of said first alignment members on said base portion of said cage when said cage is positioned on said trailer. 
     
     
         11 . The integrated system of  claim 6  wherein components of said aluminum frame are coupled together with fasteners. 
     
     
         12 . The integrated system of  claim 6  wherein said aluminum frame comprises a plurality of vertical struts and wherein two of said vertical struts, each located on one side of said cage, comprise a respective orifice therein, said orifice configured to receive a belt coupling therein for securing said cage to a hauling trailer. 
     
     
         13 .- 19 . (canceled)