Aluminum flatbed with unique front connection
AssigneeMac Trailer Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsJames A. Maiorana, Denis Gosselin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drop deck trailer frame includes a front section having a first upper surface, a rear section having a second upper surface lower than the first upper surface, and an improved connection between the front and rear sections which tends to reduce cracking which commonly occurs in drop deck trailer frames due to the stresses in the region of the connection. The connection preferably includes a semicircular weld. In addition, heat treated bent flanges are typically used to provide additional strength. Fasteners such as bolts are also typically used to connect various flanges.
Claims20
A drop deck trailer frame comprising:
- a front section having a first upper surface;
- a rear section having a second upper surface lower than the first upper surface;
- an S-shaped flange on the front section;
- an I-beam of the rear section defining the second upper surface and comprising a vertical plate having a top and a bottom, an upper flange secured to the top of the vertical plate and having a front end, and a lower flange secured to the bottom of the vertical plate and having a front end;
- a first upwardly extending flange which extends from adjacent the front end of the upper flange to adjacent the front end of the lower flange;
- and
- a second upwardly extending flange which extends from adjacent the front end of the upper flange to adjacent the front end of the lower flange.
A drop deck trailer frame comprising:
- a front section having a first upper surface;
- a rear section having a second upper surface lower than the first upper surface;
- an S-shaped flange on the front section;
- an I-beam of the rear section defining the second upper surface and comprising a vertical plate having a top and a bottom, an upper flange secured to the top of the vertical plate and having a front end, and a lower flange secured to the bottom of the vertical plate and having a front end;
- an upwardly extending flange which extends from adjacent the front end of the upper flange to adjacent the front end of the lower flange;
- and
- an L-shaped flange adjacent the upwardly extending flange.
A drop deck trailer frame comprising:
- a front section having a first upper surface;
- a rear section having a second upper surface lower than the first upper surface;
- a longitudinally extending I-beam of the rear section defining the second upper surface and comprising a vertical plate having a top and a bottom, an upper flange secured to the top of the vertical plate and having a front end, and a lower flange secured to the bottom of the vertical plate and having a front end;
- a first upwardly extending flange of the rear section which extends from adjacent the front end of the upper flange to adjacent the front end of the lower flange and which has a lower end;
- a second upwardly extending flange of the front section which extends from adjacent the front end of the upper flange to adjacent the front end of the lower flange, which extends upwardly beyond the upper flange and which has a lower end;
- a longitudinally extending third flange of the front section which extends below the lower ends of the first and second upwardly extending flanges and includes a generally horizontal tongue which extends rearwardly beyond the lower ends of the first and second upwardly extending flanges and below the lower flange;
- a plurality of first bolts extending from the first upwardly extending flange to the second upwardly extending flange;
- and
- a plurality of second bolts extending from the tongue to the lower flange of the I-beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.