Abstract: A brake spider for a braking system on over the road trailers. The brake spider is to be welded to a tubular axle of the vehicle and is of composite construction. An inner annular member is formed from a pair of rolled, semi-circular steel plates which are joined end to end to form a circular hub. An outer member is cast from ductile cast iron. The inner member includes apertures disposed about the circumference and extend through the hub such that the cast iron fills the apertures and mechanically interlocks the two members together as a composite of cast iron and steel. Because the inner hub portion is steel, it can readily be welded to the vehicle axle. A method of casting the spider of this construction is disclosed including an alternative which uses hollow tubular steel, pierced to form apertures, and sliced to provide the circular inner member.

Abstract: A shallow nose platform trailer provides improved load carrying capability due to its reduced platform height and thus increased volume capability. The trailer includes a pair of parallel, longitudinal main I-beams and a pair of channel beam side rails defining a height of about three and one-half inches (89 mm) at the forward portion of the trailer adjacent the kingpin. The webs and lower flanges of the I-beams curve downwardly to the rear and define a height of approximately twenty-five inches (635 mm) along the central and rear portion of the trailer. An apron plate extending between the forward portions of the I-beams carries and disperses the forces imposed on the trailer and longitudinal I-beams by the kingpin and fifth wheel. The apron plate defines a V-shaped notch at its rear. A plurality of transverse beams support a deck having an upper surface flush with the longitudinal I-beams and side rails.

Abstract: An enclosed trailer for towing by an over the road truck is provided having increased internal width for a given external width. The side walls of the trailer are constructed from a series of vertically extending, spaced apart, rigid plates, preferably metallic plates, and metallic reinforcing members which have an inwardly projecting, vertically extending rib that is positioned between the adjacent edges of adjacent pairs of plates. The reinforcing members are riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the outside of a pair of plates. Furthermore, the plates and reinforcing members are also rigidly secured to vertically extending flanges of the longitudinally extending top and bottom beams which form the juncture between the side walls and the top wall, and the side walls and the bottom wall, respectively. Because all elements of the trailer side walls are rigidly joined to the top and bottom beams, the overall strength and rigidity of the trailer is increased.

Abstract: A drop frame trailer in which the vertical webs of the beams in the joints between the gooseneck portion and a vertically extending portion are reinforced by welding generally triangularly shaped, unitary reinforcing members to the inboard and outboard sides thereof. The preferred reinforcing member is generally triangularly shaped and has a generally triangularly shaped opening positioned generally centrally therein. An alternative reinforcing member is generally hourglass shaped with no central opening therein.