Wabash National, L.p.

Travis Smith McCloud

Andrzej Wylezinski

Scott A Storz

Scott M Lewit

Ronnal P Reichard

Mark Ehrlich

Timothy Frederick Marling

Bryan Yielding

Sandesh Gudemane

Josh Hagan

A composite structure of a cargo vehicle and a method of making the same are disclosed, where the composite structure includes one or more reinforced beams. Each of the reinforced beams includes an inner core surrounded by an outer layer and one or more reinforcing structures extending through the inner core. Each of the one or more reinforcing structures provides structural support to the reinforced beams.

Reinforced preforms for optimized composite structures

A cargo vehicle is disclosed having a composite floor assembly with at least one embedded hardpoint connector. The composite floor assembly may comprise a plurality of transverse beams and at least a portion of the composite floor includes at least one embedded hardpoint connector. The embedded connector may be used to securely and removably couple other vehicle components to the composite floor assembly, such as a landing gear assembly and/or a slide rail assembly.

Slide rail assembly and landing gear assembly with embedded hardpoint connectors

The present disclosure provides a kit assembly for a truck body including a plurality of composite panels that may be shipped from a manufacturer to a customer for subsequent assembly of the truck body. The composite panels of the kit assembly may be flat, rigid, and lightweight to facilitate shipment. The composite panels of the kit assembly may also include embedded anchors and/or adhered connectors to facilitate alignment and subsequent assembly of the cargo body using common mechanical fasteners.

Composite truck body kits

A composite structure is disclosed having a fiber-reinforce plastic and a wood layer. The wood layer includes an upper surface and a lower surface opposite the upper surface. At least a portion of the lower surface includes at least one engagement feature. A co-cure adhesive layer is applied to the lower surface of the wood layer. The co-cure adhesive layer bonds the fiber-reinforced plastic and the layer. The co-cure adhesive layer comprises at least one elastomer and at least one resin selected from a vinyl ester resin, a polyester resin, and an epoxy resin. The at least one engagement feature may comprise at least one of a groove, a dovetail groove, a curved groove, and a hole.

Composite structure with molded-in wood surface

A composite structure of a cargo body and a method of making the same are disclosed. The composite structure includes at least one anchor embedded between fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) layers. The embedded anchor includes a porous veil of nonwoven fibers in a polymer-rich matrix. Accessories may be coupled to the composite structure by anchoring mechanical fasteners into the embedded anchor.

Composite structures with embedded veils for anchoring fasteners

A cargo vehicle is disclosed having a composite floor assembly with at least one conduit extending along a length of the composite floor assembly. The at least one conduit may include a first internal cavity and a second internal cavity. The first internal cavity may be configured to route at least one vehicle component. The second internal cavity may be configured to receive at least one vehicle component or a plurality of mechanical fasteners. The mechanical fasteners may be used to couple a base rail to the composite floor assembly.

Composite floor with integrated conduit

Extruded molds and methods for manufacturing composite structures using the extruded molds are disclosed. The molds may include recessed or raised longitudinal features to impart a corresponding shape to the molded composite structures. The composite structures may be panels used to construct cargo vehicles, for example.

Extruded molds and methods for manufacturing composite truck panels

A cargo vehicle is disclosed having a composite floor assembly with at least one embedded hardpoint connector. The composite floor assembly may comprise a plurality of transverse beams, wherein a subset of the plurality of transverse beams includes at least one embedded hardpoint connector. The embedded connector may be used to securely and removably couple other vehicle components to the composite floor assembly, such as a landing gear assembly and/or a slide rail assembly.

A cargo vehicle is disclosed having a composite floor assembly with at least one embedded or laminated hardpoint connector. The composite floor assembly may comprise a plurality of transverse beams, wherein a subset of the plurality of transverse beams includes at least one embedded hardpoint connector. The composite floor assembly may comprise a plurality of transverse beams, wherein at least one hardpoint connector is laminated across a subset of the plurality of transverse beams. The embedded or laminated connector may be used to securely and removably couple other vehicle components to the composite floor assembly, such as a landing gear assembly and/or a slide rail assembly.

Low-profile slide rail assembly with embedded or laminated hardpoint connectors

A cargo vehicle configured to support cargo includes a frame assembly with at least one rail member defining a portion of an outer perimeter of the trailer. The cargo vehicle also includes a composite member adjacent to the frame assembly and a mounting member removably coupled to the at least one rail member and permanently coupled to the composite member.

Joining a rail member to a composite trailer structure

Beam

A cargo vehicle is disclosed having a composite floor assembly with at least one embedded hardpoint connector. The embedded connector may be used to securely couple other vehicle components to the composite floor assembly, such as a coupler assembly with a king pin.

Composite floor structure with embedded hardpoint connector and method of making the same

A composite floor structure having a plurality of transverse beams. Each transverse beam may include a preform core having a plurality of side surfaces and two end surfaces, and at least one reinforcing layer formed around each of the side surfaces of the preform core.

Transverse beam for composite floor structure and method of making the same

A cargo vehicle includes a composite floor assembly configured to support cargo, at least one wheel assembly configured to transport the cargo on the composite floor assembly, a suspension assembly associated with the at least one wheel assembly, and an intermediate adapter assembly. The intermediate adapter assembly is permanently coupled to the composite floor assembly and removably coupled to the suspension assembly such that the composite floor assembly is removably coupled to the suspension assembly.

Growing community of inventors

Cadiz, KY, United States of America

Travis Smith McCloud