East Manufacturing Corporation

Derek T Davies

Howard D Booher

Russell D Pittman

A semi-trailer includes first and second main beams that extend parallel to a longitudinal axis. A left side rail extends parallel to the longitudinal axis and defines a left lateral side of the trailer, and a right side rail extends parallel to the longitudinal axis and defines a right lateral side of the trailer. A cargo platform extends between the left side rail and right side rails. A kingpin is located at a forward end of the trailer and is adapted to be engaged by a fifth-wheel of an associated vehicle for towing the trailer. An axle assembly is located at a rear end of the trailer and is connected to the first and second main beams. The axle assembly includes at least one left and at least one right rotatable wheel and tire assembly for movably supporting the trailer on a surface. Each of the left and right side rails includes a one-piece aluminum extrusion including an upper portion including a platform engaging portion engaged with the cargo platform, and a lower portion including a winch track adapted to be slidably engaged by an associated cargo strap winch. The lower portion further includes a hook engagement wall that projects away from the side rail toward the first and second main beams of the trailer. The hook engagement wall includes an upper surface oriented toward the cargo supporting platform and an opposite lower surface oriented away from the cargo supporting platform. The hook engagement wall includes a tapered nose including first and second nose walls that define a nose angle X such that said tapered nose is adapted to be received in an open recess of the associated cargo strap hook that defines a hook recess angle X'.

Side rail with flat hook retaining feature

A trailer includes a chassis with at least one axle including left and right wheel and tire assemblies that support the chassis for rolling movement on a surface. A body is supported on the chassis and includes: (i) left and right sidewalls spaced apart from each other and respectively located on opposite left and right lateral sides of the body; (ii) a curved floor that extends between the left and right sidewalls; (iii) a bulkhead located at a front end of the body and extending between the left and right sidewalls; (iv) a tailgate located a rear end of the body and extending between the left and right sidewalls, the tailgate movable relative to the left and right sidewalls between an opened position and a closed position; (v) an open-top cargo space for containing an associated bulk commodity defined between the left and right sidewalls, the floor, the bulkhead, and the tailgate, wherein a dump opening of the cargo space is defined between the left and right sidewalls and is blocked by the tailgate when the tailgate is in its closed position and is at least partially unblocked when the tailgate is in its opened position. The bulkhead includes a one-piece aluminum alloy bulkhead sheet formed into a three-panel shape comprising a left panel, a right panel, and a central panel. The bulkhead includes opposite inner and outer sides, with the inner side oriented toward the cargo space. A respective obtuse angle is defined between the central panel and each of the left and right panels on the inner side of the bulkhead.

Half-round trailer

A trailer neck reinforcement structure includes a first beam reinforcement structure including: (i) a first beam inner insert connected to an inner side of the first beam; and, (ii) and a first beam outer insert connected to an outer side of the first beam. A second beam reinforcement structure includes: (i) a second beam inner insert connected to an inner side of the second beam; and, (ii) and a second beam outer insert connected to an outer side of the second beam. Internal cross members extend between the first and second beam inner inserts. A first group of external cross members is located between the first beam outer insert and the left side rail, and a second group of external cross members is located between the second beam outer insert and the right side rail. Each external cross member comprises an inner segment connected to an outer segment.

Platform trailer with reinforced neck

A platform trailer includes a neck reinforcement structure located in the neck region to provide for a reduced height in the neck region of the trailer to increase the cargo-carrying capacity of the trailer. The height in the neck region of the trailer is less than 30% of the height in the rest of the trailer. A fifth wheel plate includes a main portion secured to both the first and second beams of the trailer. The fifth wheel plate includes a bifurcated tail portion including a first tail portion connected to the first beam and a second tail portion connected to the second beam. A kingpin is connected to the fifth wheel plate and is adapted to be engaged by an associated tractor fifth wheel.

A semi-trailer includes first and second main beams and left and right side rails. A cargo platform extends between the left and right side rails. Each of the side rails includes an aluminum extrusion including an upper portion including a platform engaging portion, and a lower portion including a winch track. The lower portion further includes a projecting hook engagement wall. The hook engagement wall includes an upper surface oriented toward the cargo supporting platform and an opposite lower surface. The hook engagement wall includes a tapered nose including first and second nose walls that define a nose angle X such that said tapered nose is adapted to be received in an open recess of an associated cargo strap hook that defines a hook recess angle X'.

A trailer neck reinforcement structure includes a first beam reinforcement structure that includes: (i) a first beam inner insert connected to an inner side of the first beam; and, (ii) and a first beam outer insert connected to an outer side of the first beam. A second beam reinforcement structure includes: (i) a second beam inner insert connected to an inner side of the second beam; and, (ii) and a second beam outer insert connected to an outer side of the second beam. Internal cross members extend between the first beam inner insert and the second beam inner insert. A first group of external cross members are located between the first beam outer insert and the left side rail, and a second group of external cross members are located between the second beam outer insert and the right side rail. Each external cross member comprises an inner segment connected to an outer segment.

A platform trailer neck reinforcement structure includes a first beam reinforcement structure that includes: (i) a first beam inner insert connected to an inner side of the first beam; and, (ii) and a first beam outer insert connected to an outer side of the first beam. The neck reinforcement structure also includes a second beam reinforcement structure that includes: (i) a second beam inner insert connected to an inner side of the second beam; and, (ii) and a second beam outer insert connected to an outer side of the second beam. Internal cross members extend between and interconnect the first beam inner insert and the second beam inner insert. A first group of external cross members are located between the first beam outer insert and the left side rail, and a second group of external cross members are located between the second beam outer insert and the right side rail. Each external cross member comprises an inner segment connected to an outer segment, said inner and outer segments of each external cross member of the first group connected respectively to the first beam outer insert and the left side rail, and the inner and outer segments of each external cross member of the second group connected respectively to the second beam outer insert and the right side rail.

A platform trailer includes a neck reinforcement structure located in the neck region. The neck reinforcement structure includes a first beam reinforcement structure located adjacent an inner side of the first beam that is oriented toward the second beam, and a second beam reinforcement structure located adjacent an inner side of the second beam that is oriented toward the first beam. A plurality of internal cross members extend between and interconnect the first and second beam reinforcement structures. A fifth wheel plate is fixedly secured to and that extends between both the first and second beams. A kingpin is connected to the fifth wheel plate and is adapted to be engaged by an associated tractor fifth wheel. The neck reinforcement structure allows for use of aluminum alloy beams with a reduced height in the neck region of the trailer.

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Louisville, OH, United States of America

Derek T Davies