Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A tank trailer for transporting cargo material includes a tank, and the tank includes a wall portion that defines a longitudinal axis of the tank and an internal chamber adapted to carry the cargo material. The wall portion includes a first sidewall, and the first sidewall includes a first cross-sectional radius of curvature that tapers proceeding in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The wall portion further includes a second sidewall and a third wall. The third wall is coupled to the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and the third wall includes a second cross-sectional radius of curvature that is substantially uniform proceeding in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled tank body having an integrated heat transfer panel is disclosed. The tank body may be mounted to a truck, trailer, or other mobile equipment and used for transporting a fluid at a temperature that is greater than that of the ambient environment. In an illustrative embodiment, the tank includes a barrel segment having a first sheet and an adjacent second sheet. The first sheet is joined to the second sheet along a first edge and a second, opposing edge. The first sheet is also joined to the second sheet at a plurality of locations between the first edge and second, opposing edge and enclosed at the ends to form a fluidly-sealed area. The tank includes a fluid inlet to facilitate pressurization of the fluidly-sealed area to generate a hydroformed cavity between the first sheet and the second sheet.

Abstract: A tank trailer has a container formed from a tubular body and one or more polar bosses coupled to distal ends of the tubular body. The trailer includes a pumping system that has one or more pipes fluidly coupled to the interior of the container via an interface at one of the polar bosses. The tank trailer may have a base support and one or more circumferential support members coupling the base support to the composite container, or the support functionality of the base may be instead accomplished by the container. The one or more polar bosses may include an inner circular surface and an outer circular surface, wherein the outer circular surface has one or more flat portions that complement and engage one or more concave features of the substantially tubular body.

Abstract: A tank trailer for transporting corrosive fluids is disclosed that includes a chassis and one or more cradle supports supporting a corrosion-resistant tank. The chassis is formed from a first material that is a high-strength material. The corrosion-resistant tank has a substantially cylindrical body and a plurality of ring supports, with each such ring support surrounding and reinforcing at least a portion of the cylindrical body. The ring supports may be formed from a material that is the same as, or similar to, the first material used to form the chassis. The first material and second material are joined at interfaces between (1) the cylindrical body and the cradle supports and (2) the cylindrical body and the ring supports. The interfaces comprise a third material that is compatible with the first material and the second material.

Abstract: A container for particulate materials that is adapted to be mounted on a trailer for transport on a roadway includes a plurality of hoppers, a shell that is disposed over the plurality of hoppers, and an internal U-shaped divider plate between each pair of adjacent hoppers.

Abstract: A container for particulate materials that is adapted to be mounted on a trailer for transport on a roadway includes a plurality of hoppers, a shell that is disposed over the plurality of hoppers, and an internal U-shaped divider plate between each pair of adjacent hoppers.

Abstract: A tank trailer for transporting corrosive fluids is disclosed that includes a chassis and one or more cradle supports supporting a corrosion-resistant tank. The chassis is formed from a first material that is a high-strength material. The corrosion-resistant tank has a substantially cylindrical body and a plurality of ring supports, with each such ring support surrounding and reinforcing at least a portion of the cylindrical body. The ring supports may be formed from a material that is the same as, or similar to, the first material used to form the chassis. The first material and second material are joined at interfaces between (1) the cylindrical body and the cradle supports and (2) the cylindrical body and the ring supports. The interfaces comprise a third material that is compatible with the first material and the second material.

Abstract: A temperature-controlled tank body having an integrated heat transfer panel is disclosed. The tank body may be mounted to a truck, trailer, or other mobile equipment and used for transporting a fluid at a temperature that is greater than that of the ambient environment. In an illustrative embodiment, the tank includes a barrel segment having a first sheet and an adjacent second sheet. The first sheet is joined to the second sheet along a first edge and a second, opposing edge. The first sheet is also joined to the second sheet at a plurality of locations between the first edge and second, opposing edge and enclosed at the ends to form a fluidly-sealed area. The tank includes a fluid inlet to facilitate pressurization of the fluidly-sealed area to generate a hydroformed cavity between the first sheet and the second sheet.

Abstract: A container for particulate materials that is adapted to be mounted on a trailer for transport on a roadway includes a plurality of hoppers, a shell that is disposed over the plurality of hoppers, and an internal U-shaped divider plate between each pair of adjacent hoppers.

Abstract: A container for particulate materials that is adapted to be mounted on a trailer for transport on a roadway includes a plurality of hoppers, a shell that is disposed over the plurality of hoppers, and an internal U-shaped divider plate between each pair of adjacent hoppers.

Abstract: A container for particulate materials that is adapted to be mounted on a trailer for transport on a roadway includes a plurality of hoppers, a shell that is disposed over the plurality of hoppers, and an internal U-shaped divider plate between each pair of adjacent hoppers.

Abstract: A multi-modal system for transport of particulate material includes a plurality of ship based hoppers mounted within the hold of a ship. Each such hopper includes a container for particulate material, a container inlet by which particulate material can be loaded into the container by entrainment, and a container outlet through which particulate material can be unloaded from the container by entrainment. The system also includes a product loading internal manifold located within the hold of the ship and connected to a container inlet for a plurality of ship based hoppers, and a product unloading internal manifold located within the hold of the ship and connected to a container outlet for a plurality of ship based hoppers.

Abstract: A container for use in transporting particulate materials includes a plurality of product compartments, with each such compartment having a material outlet in communication therewith through which particulate material in the compartment may be discharged. The container also includes a gas-tight bulkhead separating a pair of adjacent product compartments, and an unloading system that is adapted for removal of particulate materials from the product compartments. The unloading system includes a source for supplying a pressurizing gas, and one or more top air conduits connecting the pressurizing gas source to the product compartments for conveying pressurizing gas to the product compartments. The unloading system also includes a material conveying conduit that is in fluid communication with one or more of the material outlets and which includes a discharge end through which particulate material may be unloaded.

Abstract: An apparatus for unloading particulate material from a container having a thermally-conductive shell includes an outlet for particulate material from the container, a material conveying conduit that is connected to the particulate material outlet, and an inlet and an outlet for pressurized gas. A conduit is also provided between the pressurized gas outlet and the material conveying conduit, along with a blower, compressor or other means for pressurizing gas and a conduit between the blower and the pressurized gas inlet. The outlet for pressurized gas is arranged with respect to the inlet for pressurized gas so that the pressurized gas is directed to flow from the inlet across at least a portion of the thermally-conductive shell to the outlet. The conduit between the pressurized gas outlet and the material conveying conduit is arranged so that pressurized gas entering the material conveying conduit may entrain material that is discharged from the particulate material outlet.

Abstract: A hatch cover assembly for an access port includes a hatch which is adapted to cover the access port and a mechanism for applying a generally vertically-directed force to the hatch to raise it upwardly off the port, while maintaining the hatch in a generally-horizontal attitude. The assembly also includes a mechanism for mounting the hatch on the access port so that the hatch may be rotated about a generally vertical shaft from a closed position which covers the port to an open position which exposes the port, while avoiding any non-pivotal horizontal movement of the hatch with respect to the access port.