Patent Application
20090121467
The present invention relates to apparatus that mount on motor vehicles as supports for accessory equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to assemblies and methods for attaching assemblies to truck rigs, which assemblies support supplemental generators on truck rigs.
Over the road diesel-powered tractor trailer rigs carry a significant amount of interstate transport of goods. Often, freight loads carried in the trailers are transported distances that require in excess of 8 to 10 hours travel time.
In an effort to reduce accidents, hours-of-service (HOS) rules were adapted to oversee driver operating time and rest time. In 1962, HOS rules allowed drivers to drive up to 10 hours after taking 8 hours off-duty. This however created a “day” as short as 18 hours and disrupted normal biological rhythms that re-occur at approximately 24 hour intervals. HOS rules adopted in 2005 provided for drive-time limit of 11 hours and prohibited drivers from driving beyond the 14th hour after coming on duty following 10 consecutive hours off-duty. The HOS rules also included a 34 hour recovery provision and maximum on-duty hours after which a driver may not operate a commercial motor vehicle without recovery.
The effect of the hours of service regulations is to require solo drivers to stop driving for a significant period of time before resuming a long haul trip. To facilitate rest-stops, the travel trailer rigs were equipped with sleeper berths. Sleeper berths are separate cabins carried behind the cab and typically accessible through the cab. The sleeper berths allow the truck driver to rest in the truck at truck stops and rest areas on highways, rather than having to rent a room which adds to transportation costs. This also allowed trucks to continue moving by duel driver teams. Sleeper berths have developed into comfortable quarters that include HVAC, cooking devices such as microwave ovens, and entertainment such as radios and televisions, thereby providing a livable home center.
During these rest periods, truck drivers tend to idle the engine to provide heat or air conditioning, to keep the engine warm during extreme temperatures, to maintain adequate battery voltage while using electrical appliances, safety, and habit. A recent report estimates that approximately 500,000 trucks idle annually over 300 days per year. Trucks that use diesel fuel, idle the fuel away at the rate of 1 gallon per hour, which equals approximately 2,400 gallons per truck of fuel annually. Approximately 1.2 billion gallons of diesel fuel are consumed each year in the United States from idling of diesel trucks. Idling creates a cost of $1.8 billion (at a $1.50 per gallon) annually.
In addition to the cost of the consumed fuel, there are environmental effects. Every 28 hours in the United States, the same amount of fuel is idled away as was lost in a significant recent oil transportation disaster in Alaska (11 million gallons of crude oil spilled). Diesel exhaust contains small particulates, and such exhaust contributes to ozone formation (smog), and acid rain. Each idling truck emits over 21 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) and approximately 0.3 tons of nitrogen oxides (NO2) annually, totaling over 11 million tons and 150 thousand tons respectively due to idling trucks. Diesel exhaust also contains sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons.
As an alternative to diesel truck idling, some truck stops provide electrical connections so that truckers can plug into commercial electrical service for about one-third of the cost of a gallon of diesel fuel typically consumed during an overnight rest period. Electrified truck stops eliminate the need for diesel trucks to idle during rest stops by providing grid-supplied electrical power through electrical outlets mounted on pedestals at the parking space. Drivers can connect their trucks to these electrical outlets at truck stops and rest areas, and receive the power needed to operate heating, air conditioning, and other electrical appliances such as televisions, microwaves and refrigerators.
As another alternative, some diesel trucks are provided with auxiliary power units. These are typically 5 to 10 horse-power generators that are installed on trucks and used for heat and air conditioning, electrical power and heat to the engine and fuel. The generators attach to structural beams of the frame of the tractor rig. The structural beams extend longitudinally rearwardly of the cab of the truck. Typically, the structural beams are C-shaped steal members disposed in opposing relation. Often however this space behind the cab is crowded, and includes the coupler assembly for connecting or hitching the travel trailers to be pulled by the tractor rig, as well as tool boxes, fuel tanks, HVAC equipment, and other equipment. Often the generator mounts by cantilever attachment to the side face of one of the support members. This may displace a tool box, so the change is not without some adjustment. To attach the generator as a cantilever to the structural beam however often requires drilling holes through the side face of the structural member. Bolts extend through the openings and connect to the generator frame. This often is not satisfactory, as some manufacturers caution against drilling or modifying the structural members of the travel trailer rig.
Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an assembly that readily installs on truck rigs for supporting generators that provide power to the truck during rest stops. It is to such that the present invention is directed.
The present invention meets the need in the art by providing an assembly for readily attaching a generator to a structural C-beam of a truck chassis. The assembly includes member means that defines a generator support surface and has opposing distal end attachment portions, with at least one distal end portion that defines a first opening therein. At least a pair of elongated members for attaching a respective distal end attachment portion of the member means to a respective flange of a C-beam of a truck chassis. Each elongated member defines a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface offset from the first bearing surface and an opening therethrough. A fastener for each elongated member extends through the aligned opening in the elongated member and in the opening in the respective distal end attachment portion. The elongated members for being disposed with the first bearing surface contacting the respective distal end attachment portion and the second bearing surface contacting an interior surface of the flange of the C-beam with the fastener extending through the aligned openings in the elongated member and the distal end attachment portion for rigidly attaching the member means to the C-beam.
Objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.
With reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,
The assembly 12 includes a pair of elongated members 44 that cooperatively secure the angle member 30 to the C-beam. Each elongated member 12 defines a first bearing surface 46 and a second bearing surface 48. The second bearing surface 48 is offset from the first bearing surface 46. The elongated member 44 also defines an opening 50. A fastener, such as a bolt, extends though the opening 50 in the elongated member 44 and through an aligned one of the second openings 38 in the angle member 30. As best illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, the elongated member 44 in side view defines an elongated S-shape member. The bearing surfaces 46, 48 are offset. In the illustrated embodiment, the elongate member is a steel plate that has been pressed to define the S-shape with the offset bearing surfaces. In an alternate embodiment, the elongated member is a machined part having stepped offset bearing surfaces 46, 48.
With continuing reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, a generator mount generally 56 comprises a threaded bolt, washers, a nut, and a resilient bushing member 58 received on the bolt for cushioningly supporting a generator.
A distal end edge 59 of the angle member 30 abuttingly contacts an inner surface of a web portion of the C-beam.
The tubular member 72 further defines second openings 78 in distal end portions. A fastener 80 extends through the opening 50 of a respective one of the elongate members 44 and an aligned one of the first openings 76 in order to attach the tubular member 72 to the flange 41 of the C-beam of the truck chassis 10. The elongated members 44 disposed with the first bearing surface 46 contacting a side of the tubular member opposing the generator support surface and the second bearing surface 48 contacting an interior surface of the flange of the C-beam. The fasteners extend through the opening 50 in the elongated member that is aligned with the first opening of the tubular member 72 for rigidly attaching the tubular member to the C-beam.
One of the elongated members 44 is provided for each mount 92 to cooperatively secure the mount to the C-beam, as discussed below. A fastener extends through the opening 50 in the elongated member 44 and the aligned opening 106 in the arm portion 96. The elongated member 44 is disposed with the first bearing surface 46 contacting the arm portion 96 of the mount 92 and the second bearing surface 48 contacting an interior surface of a second flange 41 of the C-beam, The fastener extend through the opening 50 aligned with the opening 106 in the arm portion 96. The hook 94 contactingly engages to the free edge of the opposing first flange, for rigidly attaching the mount 92 to the C-beam. At least a pair of the mounts are used to attach the generator 14 to the side of the C-beam.
The foregoing specification describes various embodiments of the present invention that provides an assembly readily installed on truck rigs for supporting accessories including generators that provide power to the truck rig during rest periods and other non-driving operations involving the track rig and a need for electrical power to the truck rig and methods of attaching such assemblies to truck rigs. It is to be understood, however, that numerous changes and variations may be made in the construction of the brackets for mounting generators to truck rigs within the spirit and scope of the present invention and that modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the scope thereof as set forth in the appended claims.
