초록 ▼

A semi-trailer for transporting circular objects may include a coupler assembly configured to be connected to a towing vehicle, a rear frame member, a pair of side rails joined at rear ends thereof by the rear frame member and at front ends thereof by the coupler assembly, a rear wheel and axle asse

A semi-trailer for transporting circular objects may include a coupler assembly configured to be connected to a towing vehicle, a rear frame member, a pair of side rails joined at rear ends thereof by the rear frame member and at front ends thereof by the coupler assembly, a rear wheel and axle assembly mounted to the side rails between the front and rear ends thereof and at least one transportation well mounted to and between the side rails. The at least one transportation well may extend below the side rails. The at least one transportation well is configured to receive and hold therein while being transported by the semi-trailer at least one circular object.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A semi-trailer for transporting circular objects, comprising: a coupler assembly configured to be connected to a towing vehicle;a rear frame member;a pair of side rails joined at rear ends thereof by the rear frame member and at front ends thereof by the coupler assembly;a rear wheel and axle ass

1. A semi-trailer for transporting circular objects, comprising: a coupler assembly configured to be connected to a towing vehicle;a rear frame member;a pair of side rails joined at rear ends thereof by the rear frame member and at front ends thereof by the coupler assembly;a rear wheel and axle assembly mounted to the side rails between the front and rear ends thereof;plurality of transportation wells mounted to and between the side rails and extending below the side rails, wherein each transportation well is configured to receive and hold therein while being transported by the semi-trailer at least one tire in standing position with an axis of rotation of the tire perpendicular to the side rails;wherein each transportation well includes first and second lateral tire support members extending across the transportation well to define a space between the lateral tire support members that is sized to receive a treaded surface of the tire therein such that a portion of the treaded surface of the tire extends below the first and second lateral tire support members. 2. The semi-trailer of claim 1, wherein the tire support members are spaced-apart from and positioned below the side rails of the semi-trailer. 3. The semi-trailer of claim 1, further comprising a pair of support frames parallel to and positioned below the side rails of the semi-trailer, wherein the first and second lateral tire support members of each transportation well are coupled to the pair of support frames. 4. The semi-trailer of claim 3, wherein each transportation well includes a pair of W-shaped truss members, and wherein each W-shaped truss member is coupled to and extends between one of the side rails and one of the support frames. 5. The semi-trailer of claim 3, wherein the pair of support frames includes a first pair of support frames positioned forward of the rear wheel and axle assembly and a second pair of support frames positioned rearward of the rear wheel and axle assembly. 6. The semi-trailer of claim 5, wherein two transportation wells are positioned forward of the rear wheel and axle assembly and a third transportation well is positioned rearward of the rear wheel and axle assembly. 7. The semi-trailer of claim 6, wherein each transportation well includes a pair of W-shaped truss members, and wherein a first and second pair of W-shaped truss members are coupled to and extend between one of the side rails and one of the first support frames and a third pair of W-shaped truss members are coupled to and extend between one of the side rails and one of the second support frames. 8. The semi-trailer of claim 1, further comprising (i) a first tire stop member mounted to and between the side rails, the first tire stop member configured to provide a barrier to forward movement of a first tire during transport of the first tire by the semi-trailer, (ii) a second tire stop member mounted to and between the side rails, the second tire stop member configured to provide a barrier to rearward movement of the first tire and to forward movement of a second tire during transport of the first and second tires by the semi-trailer, and (iii) a third tire stop member mounted to and between the side rails, the third tire stop member configured to provide a barrier to rearward movement of the second tire during transport of the second tire by the semi-trailer. 9. The semi-trailer of claim 1, wherein the rear frame member operates as a tire stop member and is configured to provide a barrier to rearward movement of a tire during transport of the tire by the semi-trailer, wherein the rear frame member is rearward of the rear wheel and axle assembly. 10. A semi-trailer for transporting circular objects, comprising: a coupler assembly configured to be connected to a towing vehicle;a rear frame member;a pair of side rails joined at rear ends thereof by the rear frame member and at front ends thereof by the coupler assembly;a pair of support frame members parallel to the side rails and positioned spaced-apart from and below the side rails;a first plurality of support structures, wherein each support structure is coupled at one end to one of the side rails and at another end to one of the support frame members such that the plurality of support structures defines a generally W-shaped truss coupled to and positioned between each of the side rails and the support frame members, wherein the semi-trailer includes a transportation well configured to receive and hold therein while being transported by the semi-trailer at least one tire in standing position with an axis of rotation of the tire perpendicular to the side rails, and wherein the transportation well is defined by the pair of side rails, the pair of support frame members, and the first plurality of support structures, andfirst and second lateral tire support members coupled to and extending between the pair of support frame members to extend laterally across a width of the trailer, wherein the first and second lateral tire support members define a space therebetween that is sized to receive a treaded surface of the tire therein such that a portion of the treaded surface of the tire extends below the first and second lateral tire support members. 11. The semi-trailer of claim 10, further comprising a first tire stop member mounted to and between the side rails, the first tire stop member configured to provide a barrier to the forward movement of the tire during transport of the tire by the semi-trailer, and a second tire stop member spaced-apart from the first tire stop member and mounted to and between the side rails, the second tire stop member configured to provide a barrier to rearward movement of the tire during transport of the tire by the semi-trailer, wherein the pair of support frame members are parallel to, spaced-apart from, and positioned between the first and second tire stop members. 12. The semi-trailer of claim 11, wherein the rear frame member of the trailer is the second tire stop member. 13. The semi-trailer of claim 10, further comprising a second plurality of support structures, wherein each of the second plurality of support structures is coupled at one end to one of the side rails and at another end to one of the support frame members such that the second plurality of support structures defines a second generally W-shaped truss coupled to and positioned between each of the side rails and the support frame members, wherein the pair of side rails, the pair of support frame members, and the second plurality of support structures cooperate to define a second transportation well of the semi-trailer. 14. The semi-trailer of claim 13, wherein each second W-shaped truss is spaced-apart along a length of the semi-trailer from each first W-shaped truss. 15. The semi-trailer of claim 14, wherein the rear wheel and axle assembly is positioned between the first and second W-shaped trusses. 16. The semi-trailer of claim 13, wherein the second W-shaped truss coupled to each side rail and support frame members is adjacent the first W-shaped truss coupled to the same side rail and support frame member. 17. The semi-trailer of claim 10, wherein the first and second tire support members are positioned between and spaced-apart from the pair of support frame members of the semi-trailer. 18. The semi-trailer of claim 10, wherein only the laterally-extending tire support members are configured to engage and support a bottom portion of a tire thereon.