# US 11,440,598 B2 · Platform trailer with reinforced neck

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- Number: US 11,440,598 B2
- Document ID: US11440598B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/901,667
- Filed: 2020-06-15
- Published: 2020-10-01
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2012-03-02
- Assignees: East Manufacturing Corporation
- Applicants: East Manufacturing Corporation
- Inventors: Howard D. Booher; Russell D. Pittman; Derek Davies
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440598B2

## CPC

- B62D 53/061: {of flat bed or low loader type or fitted with swan necks (detachable swan necks B62D53/065; swan neck-fifth wheel couplings B62D53/08)}
- B62D 21/20: trailer type, i.e. a frame specifically constructed for use in a non-powered vehicle
- B62D 29/008: {predominantly of light alloys, e.g. extruded}
- B62D 33/02: Platforms; Open load compartments {(flat wagons including posts or standards B61D3/08)}
- B62D 53/08: Fifth wheel traction couplings {(tractors for handling trailers in terminals B62D49/007)}
- B62D 53/0842: {King pins}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A platform trailer includes a neck reinforcement structure located in the neck region to provide for a reduced height in the neck region of the trailer to increase the cargo-carrying capacity of the trailer. The height in the neck region of the trailer is less than 30% of the height in the rest of the trailer. A fifth wheel plate includes a main portion secured to both the first and second beams of the trailer. The fifth wheel plate includes a bifurcated tail portion including a first tail portion connected to the first beam and a second tail portion connected to the second beam. A kingpin is connected to the fifth wheel plate and is adapted to be engaged by an associated tractor fifth wheel.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A trailer comprising:
a forward end and a rear end spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal axis;
a cargo supporting platform that extends between said forward end and said rear end and that comprises left and right laterally spaced-apart sides;
a chassis connected to said platform and comprising first and second beams that extend parallel to each other and that each extend parallel to said longitudinal axis, said first and second beams each comprising a maximum height H1;
an axle assembly connected to said chassis and comprising left and right rotatable wheel and tire assemblies;
said trailer comprising a neck where said first and second beams each comprise a second height H2 that is less than 25% of said maximum height H1;
said trailer further comprising a neck reinforcement structure connected to said neck, said neck reinforcement structure comprising:
a first beam reinforcement structure connected to said first beam;
a second beam reinforcement structure connected to said second beam;
at least one internal cross member that extends between and interconnects the first and second beam reinforcement structures; and,
a fifth wheel plate connected to a lower flange of both said first and second beams and extending between the first and second beams;
a kingpin connected to said fifth wheel plate, wherein said second height H2 of said first and second beams is measured at an axial location along said longitudinal axis corresponding to an axial location of said kingpin along said longitudinal axis;
wherein:
said first and second beams each comprise an I-beam profile and include an upper flange, said lower flange, and a web that extends between said upper and lower flanges;
said first beam reinforcement structure comprises a first inner plate abutted with said web of said first beam between said upper and lower flanges on an inner side of said first beam that is oriented toward said second beam; and
said second beam reinforcement structure comprises a second inner plate abutted with said web of said second beam between said upper and lower flanges on an inner side of said second beam that is oriented toward said first beam.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The trailer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fifth wheel plate comprises a main portion connected to and extending between said first and second beams and further comprises a bifurcated tail portion including spaced-apart first and second tail portions each connected to said main portion, said first tail portion connected to said first beam and said second tail portion connected to said second beam.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The trailer as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first and second tail portions of said fifth wheel plate each extend axially rearward from said main portion of said fifth wheel plate toward said rear end of said trailer to at least an axial location where said first and second beams define a height that is at least equal to said first height H1.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The trailer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said maximum beam height H1 corresponds to a height of said first and second beams measured at a midpoint of said trailer, wherein said midpoint is defined by an axial location along said longitudinal axis that is halfway between the forward end and the rear end.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The trailer as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first inner plate is connected to said web of said first beam by a first plurality of primary fasteners, and wherein said second inner plate is connected to said web of said second beam by a second plurality of primary fasteners.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The trailer as set forth in claim 5, wherein said internal cross member comprises a first end welded to said first inner plate and a second end welded to said second inner plate.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The trailer as set forth in claim 6, wherein said main portion of said fifth wheel plate is connected to said internal cross member between said first and second beams by a plurality of fasteners.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The trailer as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said first beam reinforcement structure further comprises a first outer plate abutted with said web of said first beam between said upper and lower flanges on an outer side of said first beam that is opposite said inner side of said first beam such that said web of said first beam is located between said first inner plate and said first outer plate; and, said second beam reinforcement structure further comprises a second outer plate abutted with said web of said second beam between said upper and lower flanges on an outer side of said second beam that is opposite said inner side of said second beam such that said web of said second beam is located between said second inner plate and said second outer plate.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The trailer as set forth in claim 8, wherein: said first inner plate and said first outer plate are connected to said web of said first beam by a first plurality of primary fasteners that each extend through said first inner plate, said web of said first beam, and said first outer plate; and, said second inner plate and said second outer plate are connected to said web of said second beam by a second plurality of primary fasteners that each extend through said second inner plate, said web of said second beam, and said second outer plate.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The trailer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second beams are defined from aluminum alloy, and wherein said first and second beam reinforcement structures are at least partially defined from a second metal that is dissimilar with respect to aluminum alloy.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The trailer as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second metal comprises carbon steel.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The trailer as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second metal comprises stainless steel.