Lightweight trailer with integral plate seams

• US 5,584,527 A
• Filed: 09/21/1994
• Issued: 12/17/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Inventors: Sitter, Don H.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAPE, JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US08/309,827
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 296/181, 296/191, 296/29, 296/183, 220/1.5, 52/464, 52/461, 52/459, 52/395, 52/467, 52/468, 52/470, 52/471, 105/397, 105/401, 105/404, 105/409
• US Class Current: 296/186.1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/046 built up with flat self-supporting panels; Fixed connections between panels B62D29/045, B62D33/048 take precedence

Abstract

An improved semi-trailer panel assembly which offers the strength and durability of a standard "post and sheet panel" trailer as well as the lighter weight and increased cargo area which, until now, has only been associated with a "plate-type" trailer. Multiple rectangular panels having a generally corrugated design are placed side-by-side upon the side of a semi-trailer. Seam extrusion members, each having two elongated grooves, are positioned between adjacent panels whereby the side edges of these panels are inserted into the grooves and secured in place with a flexible adhesive; no bolts or rivets are necessary for this function.. Small connection clips are also provided which snap over the side edges of the panels and ensure the proper positioning of the panel edges within the grooves for adhesion purposes. The upper and lower edges of all panels and extrusion members are then secured with bolts or rivets to the upper and lower base rails, respectively, of the trailer frame. The corrugated design of the side panels provides sufficient columnar strength for the trailer such that vertical support posts are not required. Accordingly, the interior width of the trailer may be extended, within regulatory guidelines, to at least 101 inches.

Claims

1. In a cargo-carrying trailer having a floor supported by a lower rail assembly, a roof supported by an upper rail assembly, a front wall secured between said lower rail assembly and said upper rail assembly, and a plurality of panels making up the side walls of the trailer, the improvement comprising:

(a) a plurality of rectangular and substantially planar vertical panels being mounted between said lower rail assembly and said upper rail assembly, said panels being of corrugated construction so as to include a plurality of individual channels of corrugation, said individual channels being vertically extending and horizontally aligned, said panels including side edges wherein said panels may be positioned upon said trailer with said side edges of adjacent panels being in near-abutting relation to each other, said side edges extending no further inward into said trailer body than an innermost interior surface of said panel;

(b) a plurality of attaching members being positioned between said side edges of adjacent panels, each of said attaching members having a vertical length approximately equal to a vertical height of said panels and including two outwardly extending channels to accommodate said side edges, said attaching members being mounted between said lower rail assembly and said upper rail assembly and extending no further inward into said trailer body than an innermost interior surface of said adjacent panels;

(c) means for securely attaching said side edges of said panels within said channels of said attaching members without the use of screws, bolts or rivets.

2. The cargo-carrying trailer of claim 1, wherein said panels are manufactured of aluminum.

3. A trailer body having a floor, a roof, a lower base rail, an upper base rail, a front wall and two side walls, said side walls comprising a plurality of substantially rectangular vertical panels having side edges, said side edges of adjacent panels being positioned in close parallel proximity to each other, said panels being mounted between said upper base rail and said lower base rail and being of corrugated construction so as to include a plurality of individual channels of corrugation, said individual channels being vertically extending and horizontally aligned, said side walls further comprising joining members positioned between adjacent panels, said side edges of adjacent panels being secured to a joining member without any screws, bolts or rivets, said joining member having a vertical height substantially equal to a vertical height of said panels and including two narrow channel sections to accommodate said side edges of adjacent panels, said side edges of adjacent panels being securely fastened within said channel sections with a flexible adhesive.

4. The trailer body of claim 3, further comprising multiple gauging clips, said gauging clips being snapped over said side edges of adjacent panels and wedgedly inserted into said channel sections such that said side edges are maintained in relatively central positions within said channel sections for adhesive application purposes.

5. An improved side wall panel for use with either road trailers or flat-car trailers, said panel being mounted between upper and lower side rails associated with a roof and floor, respectively, said panel having a substantially corrugated shape so as to include a plurality of individual channels of corrugation, said individual channels being vertically extending and horizontally aligned, said panel being substantially planar and having two side edges, multiples of said panels able to be connected at said side edges without any screws, bolts or rivets, said side walls further comprising joining members positioned between adjacent panels, said side edges of adjacent panels being attached to a joining member, said side edges of adjacent panels attached to a joining member with a flexible adhesive.

6. The improved side wall panel of claim 5, wherein said joining member has two channel sections to accommodate said side edges of said adjacent panels.

7. The improved side wall panel of claim 6, wherein multiple gauging clips are attached to said side edges of adjacent panels, said gauging clips positioning said side edges within an approximate center of said channel sections for adhesive application purposes.

8. In a cargo-carrying trailer having a floor supported by a lower rail assembly, a roof supported by an upper rail assembly, a front wall secured between said lower rail assembly and said upper rail assembly, and a plurality of panels making up the side walls of the trailer, the improvement comprising:

(a) a plurality of rectangular and substantially planar vertical panels being mounted between said lower rail assembly and said upper rail assembly, said panels being of corrugated construction so as to include a plurality of individual channels of corrugation, said individual channels being vertically extending and horizontally aligned, said panels including side edges wherein said panels may be positioned upon said trailer with said side edges of adjacent panels being in near-abutting relation to each other;

(b) a plurality of attaching members being positioned between said side edges of adjacent panels, each of said attaching members having a vertical length approximately equal to a vertical height of said panels and including two outwardly extending narrow channels to accommodate said side edges, said attaching members being mounted between said lower rail assembly and said upper rail assembly; and

(c) a flexible adhesive for securely attaching said side edges of said panels within said narrow channels of said attaching members.

9. The cargo-carrying trailer of claim 8, further comprising multiple gauging clips being affixed to said side edges of said panels, said gauging clips positioning said side edges in an approximate center of said narrow channels for adhesive application purposes.

10. An improvement in a wall structure for a cargo-carrying trailer, the improvement comprising:

(a) a plurality of side wall panels of corrugated construction, said side wall panels being vertically extending and horizontally aligned, each of said panels including side edges which extend no further inward into said trailer body than an innermost interior surface of said panel; and

(b) an attaching member positioned between opposing side edges of adjacent panels, each attaching member having an outwardly open channel on each front and rear edge thereof which receives the opposing side edges of adjacent panels, said attaching member extending no further inward into said trailer body than an innermost interior surface of said adjacent panels.

11. The improved wall structure of claim 10, further including means for securely attaching the side edges of adjacent panels within said channels of said attaching members without the use of screws, bolts or rivets.