Fruehauf Corporation

Tara N Banerjea

George Chieger

Stephen J Ringe

Donald B Stinson, Jr

Robert B Schwartz

An over-the-road vehicle in the nature of a trailer or a van has a body provided with an open end formed by oppositely disposed side pillars, a header and a sill. A pair of doors are hinged to the pillars with channel members secured near the opposite door edges having bearings at the ends in which locking rods are secured against edgewise movement while being pivotally mounted within the channel members. The ends of the rods are supported in cantilever from the ends of the channel members having on the ends a cam finger which engages cams within castings secured to the header and sill by which the doors are moved to secured closed position when the rods are rotated. When a load is applied to the inner surface of the door, the ends of the locking rods will bend from the ends of the channel members providing a bending moment from the channel ends to the ends of the rods. When the force is substantially increased, the rods will engage the edge of the door to change the length of the bending moment arm thereby withstanding the increased load without any permanent damage to the hardware or door edge.

Dimpled door hardware

A trailer having a front undercarriage assembly including lower members or 'feet' that are adapted to automatically retract when the trailer is coupled to a tractor. Direct mechanical linkages are provided throughout the retracting mechanism to insure positive operation of the apparatus. In addition, a novel latching mechanism is disclosed that is adapted to automatically lock the vehicles in the coupled position and permit convenient disengagement of the trailer from the tractor.

Automatic supports

The disclosure relates to a support structure for a thin sheet metal roof skin for an over-the-road trailer or van. The roof skin is supported on transverse roof bows which are secured to side rails mounted on the top of side wall posts. The bows are of slightly convex form and are of V-section at the center to maximize strength and minimize snagging. The bows are formed to a unique configuration at the ends and are secured by rivets to the rails. The attachment edge of the skin is vertically spaced from the ends of the bows so as to reduce vibration and stress transfer from the skin to the top of the posts.

Roof system for vans

A cargo container formed of extruded light metal framing members and cooperating panels is made in subassemblies composed of parts which are secured together primarily by riveting, the subassemblies also being secured to one another primarily by riveting, although certain key fastenings are made by welding, and parts are limitedly telescopable prior to welding, to accommodate variations resulting from manufacturing tolerances. Fastening means for securing cargo within the container, and for securing the container against displacement in a vehicle during transportation, are integrated with rigid framing elements.

Air cargo container

The disclosure relates to a solution to the problem of distortion and deformation of the floor of a lightweight shipping container. Heretofore, relatively heavy loading of lightweight shipping containers has caused the floor thereof to deflect sufficiently to distort the side walls and end walls of the container and often permanently deform the floor. In practicing the present invention, the floor boards adjacent the side walls of the container are modified so as to increase the resistance thereof to shear loads and thus minimize deflection.

Growing community of inventors

Warren, MI, United States of America

Tara N Banerjea