主权项 |
1. A system for locking a dovetail of a trailer with respect to a flatbed of the trailer, the system comprising:
a flatbed, the flatbed comprising a first railing formed on a periphery of an underside of the flatbed and extending to an end of the flatbed; a dovetail pivotally connected to the end of the flatbed at a pivot point, the dovetail comprising a second railing formed on a periphery of an underside of the dovetail, wherein the dovetail is pivotable between: a travel position, wherein the first railing and second railing are substantially aligned, and a gap is formed between the end of the flatbed and the end of the dovetail below the pivot point; and a loading position, wherein the dovetail is pivoted downward about the pivot point, such that the gap is closed; and a sled, the sled being slideably connected to the flatbed, and moveable via an actuating means attached to the flatbed, the sled comprising an elongate sliding member slideably engaged within the first railing, wherein the actuating means moves the sled between: a locked position, wherein when the dovetail is in the travel position, the sliding member is moved toward the dovetail so as to fill the gap and engage both the first and second railings, thereby preventing the dovetail from pivoting relative to the flatbed; and an unlocked position, wherein the sliding member is moved away from the dovetail so as to clear the gap, thereby allowing the dovetail to pivot relative to the flatbed into the loading position. |