Modular cab and sleeper structural assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle

A modular cab/sleeper structural assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle comprising:

• chassis frame means extending substantially longitudinal of the vehicle,
• a cab portion having a cab structural assembly and being mounted to said chassis frame means by first mounting means positioned proximate a front end portion of said cab structural assembly;
• a sleeper portion, including a sleeper structural assembly having a peripherally extending upper frame portion and a peripherally extending lower frame portion, said sleeper portion being positioned behind said cab portion and mounted to said chassis frame means by second mounting means coupled proximate a rear end portion of said sleeper structural assembly;
• an upper pair of bracket members coupled between said cab structural assembly and said upper sleeper frame portion at spaced-apart locations exterior to said cab portion and said sleeper portion;
• and
• a lower pair of bracket members coupled between said cab structural assembly and said lower sleeper frame portion at spaced-apart locations exterior to said cab portion and said sleeper portion;
• both said upper pair of bracket members and said lower pair of bracket members coupling said cab structural assembly and said sleeper structural assembly together at discrete locations independently of said chassis frame means and forming a substantially unified composite structure, and both cooperating to fixedly join said sleeper structural assembly and said cab structural assembly and causing said composite structure to function as an integral unit.

A modular cab/sleeper structural assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle comprising:

• chassis frame means extending substantially longitudinal of the vehicle,
• a cab portion including a fire wall portion contained in a substantially vertical plane proximate a cab front portion thereof, and a cab structural assembly mounted to said chassis frame means by a pair of mounts disposed substantially within said vertical plane and spaced-apart in a transverse orientation relative said cab portion;
• a sleeper portion including a rear wall and a sleeper structural assembly positioned behind said cab portion, said sleeper portion mounted to said chassis frame means by a pair of rear suspension mounts positioned proximate an intersection between a plane containing said rear wall and said chassis frame means, said pair of suspension mounts being spaced-apart in a transverse orientation relative said sleeper portion, and each rear suspension mount being provided by a damping component and a support suspension/isolation component;
• and
• coupling means coupled between said cab structural assembly and said sleeper structural assembly independently of said chassis frame means, said coupling means fixedly joining said sleeper structural assembly and said cab sleeper structural assembly together at discrete locations forming a substantially unified composite structure and causing said composite structure to function as an integral unit.

A method of improving ride quality and structural integrity of a modular cab/sleeper assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle including chassis frame means, a cab portion having a cab structural assembly and being mounted to said chassis frame means by first mounting means positioned proximate a front end portion of said cab structural assembly, and a sleeper portion having a substantially peripherally extending upper sleeper structural assembly and a substantially peripherally extending lower structural assembly, said sleeper portion being mounted to said chassis frame means by second mounting means positioned proximate a rear end portion of said sleeper structural assembly, said method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a lower portion of said cab structural assembly to said lower sleeper structural assembly at spaced-apart lateral locations by lower coupling means to produce substantially decreased relative motion therebetween,
• coupling an upper portion of said cab structural assembly to said upper sleeper structural assembly at spaced-apart lateral locations by upper coupling members to produce substantially decreased relative motion therebetween;
• mounting said cab structural assembly proximate a front portion thereof to said chassis frame means by said first mounting means at spaced-apart location transverse to said cab portion to produce a substantially stable mount thereof;
• and
• mounting said lower sleeper structural assembly proximate a rear portion thereof to said chassis frame means by said second mounting means at spaced-apart location transverse to said sleeper portion to produce a substantially stable mount thereof.