TRAILER REAR DOOR FRAME WITH ANGLED REAR SILL

• US 20080073941A1
• Filed: 08/28/2007
• Published: 03/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wabash National LP (Wabash National Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Wabash National LP (Wabash National Corporation)
• Inventors: WYLEZINSKI, ANDRZEJ
• Granted Patent: US 8,100,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 296/209
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/445 the loading platform, when not in use, being stored under the load-transporting surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 19/56 Fittings damping bouncing force in truck collisions, e.g. bumpers; Arrangements on high-riding vehicles, e.g. lorries, for preventing vehicles or objects from running thereunder

Abstract

A rear frame of a trailer has an elongated horizontal sill having a closed cross-section which is rigid in bending and in torsion. The elongated horizontal sill is formed of a fantail and a base plate attached to an underside of the fantail. The base plate has front and rear sections that are not notched as notching of the sill can weaken it. The front section is horizontal and the rear section is angled upwardly relative to the horizontal front section at a predetermined angle of approximately 22 degrees. The angling of the base plate provides a specialized geometry for accommodating a tuck-under lift gate. The sill also has minimal vertical dimensions to aid in the non-interference with legs of the tuck-under lift gate.

Claims

1. A rear sill of a trailer comprising:

an elongated horizontal fantail; and

an elongated base plate attached to an underside of said fantail, said base plate having continuous front and rear sections, said front section being horizontal and said rear section being angled upwardly relative to said horizontal front section at a predetermined angle.

2. The rear sill as defined in claim 1, wherein said fantail has a vertical rear wall having an upper end and a bottom edge, a vertical front wall having an upper end and a bottom edge, and a top wall which connects said upper ends of said rear and front walls, said bottom edges of said rear and front walls are offset from one another with said bottom edge of said rear wall being vertically higher than said bottom edge of said front wall.

3. The rear sill as defined in claim 2, wherein said top wall has a rear wall portion, a front wall portion and a vertical wall, said rear wall portion being connected to said upper end of said rear wall, said front wall portion being connected to said upper end of said front wall and being stepped downwardly from said rear wall portion, said vertical wall connecting said rear wall portion to said front wall portion.

4. The rear sill as defined in claim 2, wherein said rear section of said base plate has a rear edge which is attached to said bottom edge of said rear wall of said fantail, and said front section of said base plate has a front edge which is attached to said bottom edge of said front wall of said fantail, thereby providing a closed cross-section.

5. The rear sill as defined in claim 2, wherein a vertical dimension along said front wall of said fantail from said front section of said base plate to said rear wall portion of said fantail is approximately 5.25 inches.

6. The rear sill as defined in claim 2, wherein a horizontal dimension along said top wall is approximately 7.75 inches.

7. The rear sill as defined in claim 1, wherein said predetermined angle is approximately 22 degrees.

8. The rear sill as defined in claim 1, wherein said fantail and said base plate form a closed cross-section.

9. A combination comprising:

an elongated horizontal sill having a fantail and a base plate attached to an underside of said fantail, said base plate having continuous front and rear sections, said front section being horizontal and said rear section being angled upwardly relative to said horizontal front section at a predetermined angle; and

a bumper assembly secured to said elongated horizontal sill.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9, wherein said elongated horizontal sill has a closed cross-section.

11. A trailer comprising:

an elongated horizontal sill having a fantail and a base plate attached to an underside of said fantail, said base plate having continuous front and rear sections, said front section being horizontal and said rear section being angled upwardly relative to said horizontal front section at a predetermined angle;

first and second slide rails secured to an underside of said trailer;

a first support member being attached to said first slide rail;

a second support member being attached to said second slide rail; and

a tuck-under lift gate attached to said first and second support members.

12. The trailer as defined in claim 11, wherein said fantail has a vertical rear wall having an upper end and a bottom edge, a vertical front wall having an upper end and a bottom edge, and a top wall which connects said upper ends of said rear and front walls, said bottom edges of said rear and front walls are offset from one another with said bottom edge of said rear wall being vertically higher than said bottom edge of said front wall.

13. The trailer as defined in claim 12, wherein said top wall has a rear wall portion, a front wall portion and a vertical wall, said rear wall portion being connected to said upper end of said rear wall, said front wall portion being connected to said upper end of said front wall and being stepped downwardly from said rear wall portion, said vertical wall connecting said rear wall portion to said front wall portion.

14. The trailer as defined in claim 12, wherein said rear section of said base plate has a rear edge which is attached to said bottom edge of said rear wall of said fantail, and wherein said front section of said base plate has a front edge which is attached to said bottom edge of said front wall of said fantail, such that said elongated horizontal sill has a closed cross-section.

15. The trailer as defined in claim 12, wherein said elongated horizontal sill has a vertical dimension along said front wall of said fantail from said front section of said base plate to said rear wall portion of said fantail of approximately 5.25 inches.

16. The trailer as defined in claim 12, wherein said elongated horizontal sill has a horizontal dimension along said top wall of approximately 7.75 inches.

17. The trailer as defined in claim 12, further comprising a deck extension plate attached to said rear wall of said fantail.

18. The trailer as defined in claim 11, wherein said predetermined angle is approximately 22 degrees.

19. The trailer as defined in claim 11, wherein said elongated horizontal sill has a closed cross-section.

20. The trailer as defined in claim 11, further comprising first and second extension angles having tapered rear ends, said tapered rear end of said first extension angle being secured to said first slide rail and to said elongated horizontal sill such that said tapered rear end of said first extension angle is positioned proximate to said elongated horizontal sill, said tapered rear end of said second extension angle being secured to said second slide rail and to said elongated horizontal sill such that said tapered rear end of said second extension angle is positioned proximate to said elongated horizontal sill.

21. A method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a trailer with an elongated horizontal sill;

(b) connecting a tuck-under lift gate to an underside of said trailer without modification to said elongated horizontal sill.

22. The method as defined in claim 21, further comprising the step of:

(c) attaching a deck extension plate to said elongated horizontal sill.

23. The method as defined in claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

(a1) installing at least one slide rail to said underside of said trailer; and

(a2) attaching a support member to each said slide rail such that said tuck-under lift gate is connected to said support member.

24. The method as defined in claim 23, further comprising the step of:

(a3) securing an extension angle having a tapered rear end to each said slide rail and to said elongated horizontal sill such that said tapered rear end of said extension angle is proximate to said elongated horizontal sill.

25. The method as defined in claim 24, wherein in step (a3) said rear end of said extension angle is tapered prior to said extension angle being secured to each said slide rail and to said elongated horizontal sill.