Trailer support wheel assembly

Abstract

A trailer support wheel assembly having a wishbone frame pivotally connected to the trailer frame at two rear mounting points and adjustably connected to the trailer frame at a single forward point. A resilient suspension assembly and spindle is contained by the wishbone frame assembly, and the spindle is further connected to one or more wheels which may be lowered into contact with the ground. The wishbone frame assembly may be adjustably positioned to permit the wheels to carry a greater or lesser load portion of the trailer as it is connected to a vehicle.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A trailer support wheel assembly for attachment to cross frame struts of a trailer comprising: 
       a) a wishbone-shaped frame having two rearward frame sections pivotally connectable to a first cross frame strut, and having a single forward frame section with a plurality of mounting points;  
       b) a forward mounting bracket connectable to a second cross frame strut at a position which permits engagement of said forward mounting bracket with said plurality of mounting points;  
       c) means for connecting said forward mounting bracket to said forward frame section at any of said plurality of mounting points;  
       d) a spindle rotatable connected to said wishbone-shaped frame about a proximate vertical axis, and at least one wheel rotatably connected to said spindle;  
       e) at least one steering dampener connected between said spindle and one of said cross frame struts; and  
       f) a resilient suspension mounted between said wishbone-shaped frame and said spindle.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said means for connecting further comprises a mounting bolt connectable through said forward mounting bracket and any of said plurality of mounting points, wherein each of said plurality of mounting points comprise holes through said forward frame section. 
     
     
       3. The operation of  claim 2 , further comprising a turning arm fixedly connected to said spindle, and said at least one steering dampener having an end connected to said turning arm. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one steering dampener further comprises two steering dampeners, each of said steering dampeners having one end pivotally connected to said turning arm and a second end pivotally connected to said first cross frame strut. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a pair of U-brackets respectively affixed to said first cross frame strut, each U-bracket in alignment with a respective rearward frame section, and a hinge pin connecting each said U-bracket to one of said rearward frame sections. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising a cylinder affixed to said wishbone-shaped frame and aligned to receive an upper portion of said spindle. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said resilient suspension further comprises a compression spring. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said compression spring further comprises a coil spring having a first end mounted about said cylinder and having a second end contacting said turning arm. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein said at least one wheel further comprises two wheels wherein each of said two wheels is rotatably connected on opposite sides of said spindle. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising alignable slots through each of said cylinder and said spindle, and a linch pin insertable through said slots to fixedly connect said spindle to said cylinder. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said resilient suspension further comprises a compressible air bag. 
     
     
       12. A trailer support wheel assembly for attachment to cross frame struts of a trailer, comprising: 
       a) a support frame for said wheel assembly, said support frame having means for pivotally connecting to one cross frame strut and means for adjustably connecting to a second cross frame strut, said support frame having an open ended cylinder mounted intermediate said means for pivotally connecting and said means for adjustably connecting;  
       b) a spindle an upper end in said cylinder and having a lower end;  
       c) at least one wheel rotatably connected proximate said spindle lower end;  
       d) a turning arm affixed to said spindle; and  
       e) at least one steering dampener connected between said turning arm and said support frame.  
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein said support frame means for pivotally connecting to one cross frame strut further comprises a U-bracket fixably attachable to said one cross frame strut and a hinge pin connecting said U-bracket to said support frame. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said support frame means for adjustably connecting to said second cross frame strut further comprises a U-bracket fixedly attachable to said second cross frame strut and a plurality of holes in spaced alignment through said support frame, and a bolt connecting said U-bracket to said support frame through any of said plurality of holes. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said at least one steering dampener further comprises two steering dampeners each having an end connected to said turning arm with said spindle intermediate said dampener connections. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising a coil spring having one end about said cylinder and having another end adjacent said turning arm. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one wheel further comprises two wheels respectively mounted on opposite sides of said spindle. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising an air bag in said cylinder, and wherein the upper end of said spindle comprises a closed end. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 18 , further comprising an air valve connected to said air bag and having an end projecting through said cylinder. 
     
     
       20. A trailer support wheel assembly for attachment to a trailer, the trailer support wheel assembly comprising: 
       
         a support frame operably connected to the trailer;  
       
       
         a retraction mechanism for moving the support frame with respect to the trailer between a retracted position and an extended position;  
       
       
         at least one wheel operably connected to the support frame;  
       
       
         a suspension mechanism operably attached to the at least one wheel for controlling movement of the at least one wheel with respect to the support frame; and  
       
       
         a steering dampener operably attached to the at least one wheel for controlling pivoting of the at least one wheel with respect to the support frame. 
       
     
     
       21. The trailer support wheel assembly of  claim 20 , and further comprising a spindle rotatably connected to the support frame, wherein the at least one wheel is rotatably connected to the spindle opposite the support frame. 
     
     
       22. The trailer support wheel assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one wheel comprises a pair of wheels connected in axial alignment on opposite sides of the spindle. 
     
     
       23. The trailer support wheel assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the suspension mechanism comprises a coil spring, an air bag, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       24. The trailer support wheel assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the steering dampener comprises at least one dashpot-type cylinder. 
     
     
       25. A trailer support wheel assembly for attachment to a trailer, the trailer support wheel assembly comprising: 
       
         a support frame operably connected to the trailer;  
       
       
         a retraction mechanism for moving the support frame with respect to the trailer between a retracted position and an extended position;  
       
       
         at least one wheel operably connected to the support frame; and  
       
       
         a suspension mechanism operably attached to the at least one wheel for controlling movement of the at least one wheel with respect to the support frame. 
       
     
     
       26. The trailer support wheel assembly of  claim 25 , and further comprising a spindle rotatably connected to the support frame, wherein the at least one wheel is rotatably connected to the spindle opposite the support frame. 
     
     
       27. The trailer support wheel assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the at least one wheel comprises a pair of wheels connected in axial alignment on opposite sides of the spindle. 
     
     
       28. The trailer support wheel assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the suspension mechanism comprises a coil spring, an air bag, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       29. A method of stabilizing a trailer that is operably connected to a vehicle, the method comprising: 
       
         operably attaching a trailer to a vehicle;  
       
       
         attaching a support frame to the trailer proximate to where the trailer is attached to the vehicle, wherein the support frame is movable with respect to the trailer between a retract position and an extended position;  
       
       
         operably attaching at least one wheel to the support frame; and  
       
       
         controlling pivoting of the at least one wheel with respect to the frame with a steering dampener. 
       
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 29 , wherein a spindle rotatably connects the at least one wheel to the support frame. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one wheel comprises a pair of wheels connected in axial alignment on opposite sides of the spindle. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 29 , wherein pivoting of the at least one wheel is controlled by at least one dashpot-type cylinder. 
     
     
       33. A method of towing a trailer by a vehicle, the method comprising: 
       
         providing a vehicle;  
       
       
         providing a trailer;  
       
       
         operably attaching a trailer to a vehicle;  
       
       
         operably attaching a support frame to the trailer proximate to where the trailer is attached to the vehicle, wherein the support frame is movable with respect to the trailer between a retract position and an extended position;  
       
       
         operably attaching at least one wheel to the support frame;  
       
       
         rolling the support wheel along a road surface as the vehicle tows the trailer along the ground surface; and  
       
       
         dampening vibrations associated with the vehicle and the trailer striking irregularities in the road surface. 
       
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 33 , wherein a spindle rotatably connects the at least one wheel to the support frame. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one wheel comprises a pair of wheels connected in axial alignment on opposite sides of the spindle. 
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 33 , wherein the suspension mechanism comprises a coil spring, an air bag, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 33 , wherein pivoting of the at least one wheel is controlled by at least one dashpot-type cylinder. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 33 , wherein dampening vibrations is performed by a suspension mechanism operably attached to the at least one wheel for controlling movement of the at least one wheel with respect to the support frame.