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US 10,479,419 B2Granted
Composite refrigerated semi-trailer and method of making the same
AssigneeWabash National, L.P.
InventorsScott A. Storz, Jeffrie Scott Bauer, Andrzej Wylezinski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A refrigerated composite semi-trailer is disclosed that may improve thermal efficiency, fuel efficiency, and costs of manufacturing.
Claims21
A semi-trailer for use with a tractor, the semi-trailer comprising:
- a composite floor having:
- an upper surface;
- a lower surface;
- a right longitudinal support beam that extends downward from the lower surface, wherein the right longitudinal support beam is made from a composite material;
- and
- a left longitudinal support beam that extends downward from the lower surface, wherein the left longitudinal support beam is made from a composite material;
- and
- a roof;
- a right sidewall coupled to the floor and the roof;
- a left sidewall coupled to the floor and the roof;
- a nose coupled to the floor, the roof, the right sidewall, and the left sidewall;
- and
- a slide rail assembly defining a plurality of holes configured to couple the semi-trailer to a wheel assembly, the slide rail assembly comprising:
- a right rail coupled to and vertically aligned with the right longitudinal support beam of the composite floor;
- and
- a left rail coupled to and vertically aligned with the left longitudinal support beam of the composite floor.
13 more elements
A semi-trailer for use with a tractor, the semi-trailer comprising:
- a composite floor having:
- an upper surface;
- a lower surface;
- a first longitudinal support beam that extends downward from the lower surface, wherein the first longitudinal support beam is made from a composite material;
- and
- a second longitudinal support beam that extends downward from the lower surface, wherein the second longitudinal support beam is made from a composite material;
- and
- a roof;
- a right sidewall coupled to the floor and the roof;
- a left sidewall coupled to the floor and the roof;
- a nose coupled to the floor, the roof, the right sidewall, and the left sidewall;
- and
- a landing gear assembly configured to support the semi-trailer on the ground, the landing gear assembly coupled to and vertically aligned with the first and second longitudinal support beams of the composite floor.
10 more elements
A semi-trailer for use with a tractor, the semi-trailer comprising:
- a composite floor having:
- a first internal support beam made from a composite material;
- a second internal support beam made from a composite material;
- a third internal support beam made from a composite material;
- a fourth internal support beam made from a composite material, wherein the third and fourth internal support beams extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the semi-trailer and the first and second internal support beams are positioned longitudinally intermediate the third and fourth internal support beams;
- and
- a recess defined between the first and second internal support beams;
- and
- a roof;
- a right sidewall coupled to the floor and the roof;
- a left sidewall coupled to the floor and the roof;
- a nose coupled to the floor, the roof, the right sidewall, and the left sidewall;
- and
- a king pin assembly configured to couple the semi-trailer to the tractor, the king pin assembly being received within the recess and adhesively bonded to the first and second internal support beams of the composite floor.
11 more elements
A semi-trailer for use with a tractor, the semi-trailer comprising:
- a composite floor having:
- a first internal support beam made from a composite material;
- a second internal support beam made from a composite material;
- and
- a recess defined between the first and second internal support beams;
- and
- a roof;
- a right sidewall coupled to the floor and the roof;
- a left sidewall coupled to the floor and the roof;
- a nose coupled to the floor, the roof, the right sidewall, and the left sidewall;
- and
- a king pin assembly configured to couple the semi-trailer to the tractor, the king pin assembly being received within the recess and adhesively bonded to the first and second internal support beams of the composite floor, wherein:
- each of the first and second internal support beams tapers inward from top to bottom;
- and
- the king pin assembly tapers outward from top to bottom.
12 more elements
A semi-trailer for use with a tractor, the semi-trailer comprising:
- a composite floor having:
- a first internal support beam made from a composite material;
- a second internal support beam made from a composite material;
- and
- a recess defined between the first and second internal support beams;
- and
- a roof;
- a right sidewall coupled to the floor and the roof;
- a left sidewall coupled to the floor and the roof;
- a nose coupled to the floor, the roof, the right sidewall, and the left sidewall;
- and
- a king pin assembly configured to couple the semi-trailer to the tractor, the king pin assembly being received within the recess and adhesively bonded to the first and second internal support beams of the composite floor, wherein:
- the first and second internal support beams travel inward toward one another such that the recess is trapezoidal-shaped;
- and
- the king pin assembly mimics the trapezoidal-shape of the recess.
12 more elements
A semi-trailer for use with a tractor, the semi-trailer comprising:
- a composite floor having:
- a first internal support beam made from a composite material;
- a second internal support beam made from a composite material;
- and
- a recess defined between the first and second internal support beams;
- and
- a roof;
- a right sidewall coupled to the floor and the roof;
- a left sidewall coupled to the floor and the roof;
- a nose coupled to the floor, the roof, the right sidewall, and the left sidewall;
- and
- a king pin assembly configured to couple the semi-trailer to the tractor, the king pin assembly being received within the recess and adhesively bonded to the first and second internal support beams of the composite floor, wherein the composite floor includes a composite skirt positioned around the first and second internal support beams, wherein the composite skirt is sandwiched between at least one outer connector and at least one interior connector.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.