MILLER INDUSTRIES TOWING EQUIPMENT INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160129852 | ROTARY CHAIN RACK FOR RECOVERY VEHICLES - A rotary chain rack located on a vehicle used to recover disabled vehicles, which may include a lower bin, one or more upper rotating carousels to which hooks carrying chains may be mounted, and a braking device for automatically stopping the rotation of the chain rack. | 05-12-2016 |
20150367766 | LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY CARRIER - A carrier having a platform or deck mounted on a subframe tiltable relative to the vehicle chassis. The platform is preferably slidable relative to the subframe. Sufficient clearance is provided such that the subframe is preferably located between the vehicle chassis frame and the rear wheels, and below the top of the chassis frame. The resulting carrier has a platform with a height substantially lower than that of previous carriers, providing it with a lower center of gravity, enabling a reduction in load angle, an increase in payload height, and enhanced dynamic road stability. | 12-24-2015 |
20150307331 | TRAVELER ROLLER - A recovery vehicle for recovering other, disabled vehicles, and a method for doing so. A vehicle frame extends along a longitudinal axis, and supports a travel base assembly carrying a boom. The travel base assembly can move along the longitudinal axis of the frame. Two or more traveler rollers may be located between the vehicle frame and the travel base assembly, for supporting the travel base assembly and facilitating longitudinal movement of the travel base assembly relative to the vehicle frame. The traveler rollers may include a plurality of rollers movable about a load-bearing member. Using the invention, a load may be lifted by the boom and moved between positions located at the rear and to the side of the recovery vehicle, without the need to first reposition the boom using boom lift or telescoping cylinders. | 10-29-2015 |
20150284219 | VEHICLE WRECKER WITH IMPROVED CONTROLS - A wrecker-type recovery vehicle for recovering other, disabled vehicles, and a method for doing so, which may use a CAN Bus, and which may employ wrecker controls located a distance from a side surface of the vehicle exterior, Traveler rollers may be used to facilitate longitudinal movement of a travel base assembly supporting the boom, relative to the vehicle frame. | 10-08-2015 |
20140205406 | TILTLOADER FOR TRANSFERRING CARGO - A device and method for moving tilt frame and transfer bed portions of a cargo transfer system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention may include a table and a pin secured to the transfer bed. The table may pivot on a horizontal axis allowing the transfer bed to be placed in a horizontal orientation during inclination of the tilt frame. The table may also pivot on a vertical axis so that the transfer bed may swing side-to-side, and may also pivot on a z-axis enabling the transfer bed to roll side-to-side relative to the table. An adjustable carriage with independently movable stabilizer legs may be used to level the transfer bed on uneven ground. The tilt frame may also include an extendable boom and a retractable roller system to facilitate loading and unloading of material such as flat rack platforms and pallets. | 07-24-2014 |
20140037411 | TRAVELER ROLLER - A recovery vehicle for recovering other, disabled vehicles, and a method for doing so. A vehicle frame extends along a longitudinal axis, and supports a travel base assembly carrying a boom. The travel base assembly can move along the longitudinal axis of the frame. Two or more traveler rollers may be located between the vehicle frame and the travel base assembly, for supporting the travel base assembly and facilitating longitudinal movement of the travel base assembly relative to the vehicle frame. The traveler rollers may include a plurality of rollers movable about a load-bearing member. Using the invention, a load may be lifted by the boom and moved between positions located at the rear and to the side of the recovery vehicle, without the need to first reposition the boom using boom lift or telescoping cylinders. | 02-06-2014 |
20130149084 | LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY CARRIER - A carrier having a platform or deck mounted on a subframe tiltable relative to the vehicle chassis. The platform is preferably slidable relative to the subframe. Sufficient clearance is provided such that the subframe is preferably located between the vehicle chassis frame and the rear wheels, and below the top of the chassis frame. The resulting carrier has a platform with a height substantially lower than that of previous carriers, providing it with a lower center of gravity, enabling a reduction in load angle, an increase in payload height, and enhanced dynamic road stability. | 06-13-2013 |
20130022435 | LOW PROFILE WHEEL LIFT - A low profile wheel lift having a new crossbar/boom pivot connection enabling a recovery vehicle to quickly engage a disabled vehicle to facilitate damage-free towing to a degree not previously possible. | 01-24-2013 |
20120294701 | AUTO HOOK-UP DEVICE FOR DISABLED VEHICLES - An auto-latch mechanism enabling a towing vehicle to hook-up and tow-away a disabled vehicle without the need for either operator of the vehicles to exit their interior. In a preferred embodiment, the auto-latch mechanism includes opposing guide plates and a plunger pin with a distal portion movable to a location between the plates. When a connecting portion of the disabled vehicle is positioned between the opposing plates, the plunger pin may be engaged to the connecting portion, to thereby accomplish hook-up of the disabled vehicle to the towing vehicle. A method for using the auto-latch mechanism is also disclosed and claimed. | 11-22-2012 |
20120275897 | LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY CARRIER - A carrier having a platform or deck mounted on a subframe tiltable relative to the vehicle chassis. The platform is preferably slidable relative to the subframe. Using Super Single rear wheels and an airbag suspension, for example, sufficient clearance is provided such that the subframe is preferably located between the vehicle chassis frame and the rear wheels. The resulting carrier has a platform with a height lower than that of previous carriers, providing it with a lower center of gravity, enabling a reduction in load angle and an increase in payload height. | 11-01-2012 |
20120039695 | LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY CARRIER - A carrier having a platform or deck mounted on a subframe tiltable relative to the vehicle chassis. The platform is preferably slidable relative to the subframe. Using Super Single rear wheels and an airbag suspension, for example, sufficient clearance is provided such that the subframe is preferably located between the vehicle chassis frame and the rear wheels. The resulting carrier has a platform with a height lower than that of previous carriers, providing it with a lower center of gravity, enabling a reduction in load angle and an increase in payload height. | 02-16-2012 |
20110135439 | Tiltable Loading System and Extendable Platform for Transferring Cargo - A device and method for transferring cargo are disclosed, including transferring cargo between an aft-loading aircraft and a ground transportation vehicle. In one embodiment, the invention may include a tilt frame, a transfer bed, and an adjustable carriage. The tilt frame may be pivotally engaged to a vehicle chassis where the tilt frame has a first end near the cab of the vehicle and a second end distal from the cab. The transfer bed may have a first end connected to the tilt frame and may be movable along an upper surface of the tilt frame. The adjustable height carriage may support a second end of the transfer bed. The transfer bed may be leveled at varying heights by moving the first end of the transfer bed along the upper surface of the tilt frame, and by varying the height of the carriage. | 06-09-2011 |
20100266376 | Tiltloader for transferring cargo - A device and method for moving tilt frame and transfer bed portions of a cargo transfer system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention may include a table and a pin secured to the transfer bed. The table may pivot on a horizontal axis allowing the transfer bed to be placed in a horizontal orientation during inclination of the tilt frame. The table may also pivot on a vertical axis so that the transfer bed may swing side-to-side, and may also pivot on a z-axis enabling the transfer bed to roll side-to-side relative to the table. An adjustable carriage with independently movable stabilizer legs may be used to level the transfer bed on uneven ground. The tilt frame may also include an extendable boom and a retractable roller system to facilitate loading and unloading of material such as flat rack platforms and pallets. | 10-21-2010 |
20100232925 | AUTO HOOK-UP DEVICE FOR DISABLED VEHICLES - An auto-latch mechanism enabling a towing vehicle to hook-up and tow-away a disabled vehicle without the need for either operator of the vehicles to exit their interior. In a preferred embodiment, the auto-latch mechanism includes opposing guide plates and a plunger pin with a distal portion movable to a location between the plates. When a connecting portion of the disabled vehicle is positioned between the opposing plates, the plunger pin may be engaged to the connecting portion, to thereby accomplish hook-up of the disabled vehicle to the towing vehicle. A method for using the auto-latch mechanism is also disclosed and claimed. | 09-16-2010 |
20100047046 | LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY CARRIER - A carrier having a platform or deck mounted on a subframe tiltable relative to the vehicle chassis. The platform is preferably slidable relative to the subframe. Sufficient clearance is provided such that the subframe is preferably located between the vehicle chassis frame and the rear wheels, and below the top of the chassis frame. The resulting carrier has a platform with a height substantially lower than that of previous carriers, providing it with a lower center of gravity, enabling a reduction in load angle, an increase in payload height, and enhanced dynamic road stability. | 02-25-2010 |
20090297314 | LOW CENTER OF GRAVITY CARRIER - A carrier having a platform or deck mounted on a subframe tiltable relative to the vehicle chassis. The platform is preferably slidable relative to the subframe. Using Super Single rear wheels and an airbag suspension, for example, sufficient clearance is provided such that the subframe is preferably located between the vehicle chassis frame and the rear wheels. The resulting carrier has a platform with a height lower than that of previous carriers, providing it with a lower center of gravity, enabling a reduction in load angle and an increase in payload height. | 12-03-2009 |
20090051506 | Programmable Light Display - Programmable light assemblies that may function in various operating modes, such as to function as marker lights and/or emergency lights, or have other functions, are disclosed. The protocol and architecture of the light assemblies enables the associated light fixtures to provide a constant current output despite the presence of substantially large voltage ranges, and even when submerged in water. Alternative embodiments of the programmable light assemblies of the invention provide many other features as described herein. | 02-26-2009 |
20080253853 | Attachment Device for Moving Cargo Containers - A device and method for transferring cargo are disclosed, including a device having a directional diverter and a means for securing the directional diverter to an ANSI/ISO corner fitting having a vertical face. The directional diverter may facilitate the conversion of horizontal movement of the container to inclined travel on an inclined surface, for example the inclined surface of a cargo transfer bed, such that when a force pulls the container in a direction generally normal to the vertical face and along the inclined surface, the directional diverter may contact the inclined surface prior to contact between the corner fitting and the inclined surface. In some embodiments, the directional diverter may be a sloped surface. In other embodiments, the directional diverter may be a roller or wheel. | 10-16-2008 |