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US 9,308,852 B2Granted
Method of manufacturing a trailer
AssigneeMac Trailer Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsScott A. Kibler, Denis Gosselin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trailer and method of manufacturing a trailer are provided. The trailer has a storage vessel which may include hoppers and which is partially formed from a plurality of top wall segments having peaks. The peaks or other components may be angled relative to one another to provide improved aerodynamics. A jig is provided to facilitate the manufacturing process.
Claims20
A method comprising the steps of:
- providing first, second and third top wall segments to be used in forming a trailer storage vessel;
- wherein the first, second and third top wall segments are initially separate from one another and have respective front and back edges;
- each of the top wall segments is curved as viewed from a front of the respective top wall segment;
- the first top wall segment has a first peak extending from adjacent the front edge of the first top wall segment to adjacent the back edge of the first top wall segment;
- the second top wall segment has a second peak extending from adjacent the front edge of the second top wall segment to adjacent the back edge of the second top wall segment;
- and the third top wall segment has a third peak extending from adjacent the front edge of the third top wall segment to adjacent the back edge of the third top wall segment;
- placing the first top wall segment into a jig in a first top wall segment inverted position so that the first peak is inverted;
- positioning the second top wall segment on a first lift of the jig in a second top wall segment inverted position so that the second peak is inverted and so that when the first lift is in a first lift position, the front edge of the second top wall segment is adjacent the back edge of the first top wall segment, and the inverted second peak angles upwardly and rearwardly;
- welding the front edge of the second top wall segment to the back edge of the first top wall segment while the first lift is in the first lift position;
- positioning the third top wall segment on the first lift in a third top wall segment inverted position so that the third peak is inverted and so that when the first lift is in a second lift position rearward of the first lift position, the front edge of the third top wall segment is adjacent the back edge of the second top wall segment, and the inverted third peak angles upwardly and rearwardly;
- and
- welding the front edge of the third top wall segment to the back edge of the second top wall segment while the first lift is in the second lift position.
9 more elements
A method comprising the steps of:
- providing first, second and third top wall segments to be used in forming a trailer storage vessel;
- wherein the first, second and third top wall segments are initially separate from one another and have respective front and back edges;
- each of the top wall segments is curved as viewed from a front of the respective top wall segment;
- the first top wall segment has a first peak extending from adjacent the front edge of the first top wall segment to adjacent the back edge of the first top wall segment;
- the second top wall segment has a second peak extending from adjacent the front edge of the second top wall segment to adjacent the back edge of the second top wall segment;
- and the third top wall segment has a third peak extending from adjacent the front edge of the third top wall segment to adjacent the back edge of the third top wall segment;
- placing the second top wall segment into a jig in a second top wall segment inverted position so that the second peak is inverted;
- positioning the first top wall segment on a first lift of the jig in a first top wall segment inverted position so that the first peak is inverted and so that when the first lift is in a first lift position, the front edge of the second top wall segment is adjacent the back edge of the first top wall segment, and the inverted first peak angles upwardly and forward;
- welding the front edge of the second top wall segment to the back edge of the first top wall segment while the first lift is in the first lift position;
- positioning the third top wall segment on a second lift of the jig in a third top wall segment inverted position so that the third peak is inverted and so that when the second lift is in a second lift position rearward of the first lift position, the front edge of the third top wall segment is adjacent the back edge of the second top wall segment, and the inverted third peak angles upwardly and rearwardly;
- and
- welding the front edge of the third top wall segment to the back edge of the second top wall segment while the second lift is in the second lift position.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.