Freightliner Corporation

Homer Franklin Wright, Jr

Edmond Kalstiantz

Luis A Novoa

James Edward Hill

Ernest Friesen

A sidewall skin is provided having a front edge, rear edge, top edge, and bottom edge, and a first exterior side and a second interior side. An inwardly directed front flange is provided along the front edge, and an inwardly directed flange is also provided along the top edge. The sidewall skin has a inwardly stepped transition region spaced rearwardly of the front edge. A rear corner is formed in the skin at a location forwardly of the rear edge and rearwardly of the transition region. A portion of the skin between the rear edge and rear corner forms part of the back wall of the truck cab. The sidewall skin is preferably adhesively secured to a sidewall framework with fasteners being virtually eliminated during the sidewall assembly process. The adhesive may be heat cured, which may involve a first partial heat curing step to provide the sidewall with handling strength followed by a second heat curing step. The second step is typically accomplished during curing of paint after a truck cab is assembled.

Truck cab sidewall and method for making the same

A truck cab sidewall assembly and method for making the same are disclosed. A sidewall skin is provided having a front edge, rear edge, top edge, and bottom edge, and a first exterior side and a second interior side. An inwardly directed front flange is provided along the front edge, and an inwardly directed flange is also provided along the top edge. The sidewall skin has a inwardly stepped transition region spaced rearwardly of the front edge. A rear corner is formed in the skin at a location forwardly of the rear edge and rearwardly of the transition region. A portion of the skin between the rear edge and rear corner forms part of the back wall of the truck cab. The rear comer is preferably formed by a roll forming technique. The transition region is preferably formed by a die-press.

Truck cab sidewall skin and method for making the same

A truck door frame and door installation assembly and method for making the door frame are disclosed. Specifically, a door frame constructed of a monolithic piece of sheet metal completely bounds a door opening. The door frame is attached to an underlying sidewall frame structure. The door frame has a pilot hole therethrough for receiving a protruding alignment element from a door positioner and supporter. Other truck cab assembly components, such as the roof structure and firewall assembly, are attachable to the door frame. A door installation assembly and method for adjusting and installing a door in the closed position is also provided. In particular, a piano hinge having a first flap is mounted to a fore side edge of a door. The second flap of the hinge is mounted to an exterior hinge receiving surface of the door frame and extends forwardly and substantially perpendicularly to the fore side edge and first flap when the door is closed. The door can therefore be adjusted or properly aligned and fastened when the door is in the closed position within the door frame.

Truck door frame and door installation assembly

An opening is provided through the front of a truck cab assembly during the manufacture process for allowing access to the interior of the truck cab for installing components therein. The opening most preferably substantially extends from sidewall to sidewall in the horizontal direction, and substantially from the roof structure to the floor structure in the vertical direction. On an assembly line, the front opening is preferably oriented perpendicularly to the direction of travel of truck cabs along the assembly line during a major portion of the vehicle truck cab assembly process. A firewall-dashboard assembly which facilitates easier installation and assembly of certain components is also disclosed. Specifically, the firewall is pre-assembled and combined with a dashboard sub-assembly prior to mounting these components to the truck cab. The firewall-dashboard assembly preferably contains at least the instrument panel, and the brake, clutch, and accelerator mechanisms. The firewall-dashboard assembly is mounted in part to rails along the floor of the truck cab structure. The firewall-dashboard assembly and door frames of the truck sidewalls include brackets which position the firewall to define the lower boundary of a windshield window opening.

Truck cab front opening and firewall assembly

A reinforced coach joint for joining a roof of a truck to the sidewalls and/or rearwall of the truck involves clamping inwardly projecting flanges of the components to be joined between elongated reinforcing elements. Preferably the reinforcing elements define respective upwardly and downwardly opening channels that extend substantially around the periphery of the sidewalls, at least in a sleeper compartment area of a truck, and the rearwall of the truck. In a specific form, a lower reinforcing element has major sections with an h-shaped construction with an inner leg that projects upwardly above the elevation of the roof flange. This upwardly projecting reinforcing leg may engage a reinforcing leg of a sidewall reinforcing element positioned above the roof flange to further rigidify the construction.

Growing community of inventors

Vancouver, WA, United States of America

Homer Franklin Wright, Jr