Abstract: A platform trailer includes a neck reinforcement structure located in the neck region. The neck reinforcement structure includes a first beam reinforcement structure located adjacent an inner side of the first beam that is oriented toward the second beam, and a second beam reinforcement structure located adjacent an inner side of the second beam that is oriented toward the first beam. A plurality of internal cross members extend between and interconnect the first and second beam reinforcement structures. A fifth wheel plate is fixedly secured to and that extends between both the first and second beams. A kingpin is connected to the fifth wheel plate and is adapted to be engaged by an associated tractor fifth wheel. The neck reinforcement structure allows for use of aluminum alloy beams with a reduced height in the neck region of the trailer.

Abstract: A flatbed trailer design that uses clamps, or a clamp and an L-bracket, to secure aluminum main beams to their respective suspension hangers without penetrating the lower flange portion of the main beams. Where the main beams are I-shaped, a clamp secures a part of the lower flange portion on each side of the main beam web to a support plate that is welded to the suspension hanger. Where the main beams are L-shaped, a clamp secures a part of the lower flange portion to the support plate that is welded to the suspension hanger; an L-bracket is then used on the other side of the L-shaped main beam to secure the main beam web to the support plate.

Abstract: A frame longitudinal beam structure for chassis frames of utility vehicles, in particular for trucks and/or buses, has at least one frame longitudinal beam of modular construction extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction when in the mounted state. The beam has a base profile extending over substantially the entire length of the frame longitudinal beam and having a plate-shaped central web which, as viewed in cross section, extends between opposite frame longitudinal beam regions, such as between upper and lower flanges. The central web is substantially rectilinear along the longitudinal extent of the base profile. Supplemental profiles formed by separate components are attached to the central web in areal abutment. A plurality of supplemental profiles are attached to the central web such that, in the direction of extent of the longitudinal beam, at least two frame longitudinal beam regions of different profile cross section are formed.

Abstract: A mobile lift crane includes a carbody made from two side members and two end cross members connected to each other with a carbody connection that can be disconnected such that the side members and end cross members can be individually transported between job sites and reassembled at a new job site. Preferably the two side members are interchangeable with each other when making the carbody, and the two end cross members are also interchangeable with each other. Further, each of the side members and end cross members preferably has a section of a roller path and section of a ring gear attached to them while being transported and assembled.

Abstract: A frame for a heavy-duty vehicle includes a pair of spaced-apart, parallel, elongated and longitudinally extending main members. Each one of a pair of hangers is attached to and depends below a respective one of the main members. An axle/suspension system is mounted on the hangers. A vertically disposed brace structure extends between and is attached to the hangers and the main members. The brace structure includes a hanger cross member disposed perpendicularly between the hangers and a pair of inclined members each of which extend between and are attached to the hanger cross member and to a respective one of the main members or to a respective one of the main members and a respective one of the hangers. The brace structure efficiently dissipates loads from the axle/suspension system into the frame adjacent the hangers and eliminates the need for additional cross members within the frame.

Abstract: A flatbed trailer includes first, second and third flatbed sections whereby the first and second sections are joinable in an extendable configuration and the first and third sections are joinable in an alternate and typically standard configuration. The trailer can be switched between the extendable and alternate configuration within a fairly short time. The invention thus eliminates the need for both a standard extendable trailer and a separate non-extendable trailer, and provides the ability to use the alternate configuration when the extendable configuration is not necessary in order to substantially reduce the weight which would otherwise be involved with the use of the extendable configuration.

Abstract: A flatbed trailer comprising front and rear flatbed trailer sections and a method of operation is provided. In one embodiment, a first support assembly is configured to lift the front flatbed trailer section relative to the rear flatbed trailer section, and second support assembly is configured to lift the rear flatbed trailer section relative to the front flatbed trailer section. Roller wheels may provide rolling engagement between the front and rear flatbed trailer sections, and slide members may provide sliding engagement between the front and rear flatbed trailer sections.

Abstract: A flatbed trailer includes first, second and third flatbed sections whereby the first and second sections are joinable in an extendable configuration and the first and third sections are joinable in an alternate and typically standard configuration. The trailer can be switched between the extendable and alternate configuration within a fairly short time. The invention thus eliminates the need for both a standard extendable trailer and a separate non-extendable trailer, and provides the ability to use the alternate configuration when the extendable configuration is not necessary in order to substantially reduce the weight which would otherwise be involved with the use of the extendable configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a front flatbed trailer section, a rear flatbed trailer section, a first support assembly carried by one of the front and rear flatbed trailer sections, and wherein the first support assembly at least partially disengages the other of the front and rear flatbed trailer sections. A method of extending a trailer comprising the steps of providing a first flatbed trailer section and a second flatbed trailer section with a slide member and a first support assembly, displacing the first support assembly in a first direction, separating the first and second flatbed trailer sections in a vertical direction, and moving one of the first and second flatbed trailer sections in a horizontal direction relative to the other of the first and second flatbed trailer sections.

Abstract: A drop floor for a mobile home or a park model home creates additional space and headroom between the ceiling and floor. A home built according to the invention typically includes a frame supported upon an axle. The frame has numerous cross members extending between a pair of opposite side members and includes a first portion located at a first height with respect to the axle and a second portion located at a second height below the first height. A building structure is supported on the first and second frame portions. The invention includes a drop floor construction method where floor decking is attached to the second portion of the frame so that the floor decking is in contact with the frame and located at the second height, which is below the first height. The drop floor includes nailers, closure material and insulation so that the drop floor can rest upon the ground surface if desired.

Abstract: Vehicle suspension assemblies including air spring assemblies and components of the vehicle suspension assemblies are described. A vehicle suspension assembly that is attachable to a pair of vehicle frame rails includes a pair of support beams and a cross member, such as a cross tube, extending between and connected to the pair of support beams. Each support beam includes a locator-tab and each air spring assembly includes a locator-tab-slot for receiving a locator-tab of a support beam. The cross tube is fastened to the air spring assembly via a retention strap that wraps around portions of the cross tube. The locator-tabs and locator-tab-slots may be operable, alone or in combination with the retention strap, as a lateral restraint. In this regard, the lateral restraint may restrain the air spring from moving in a lateral direction between two frame rails to which the vehicle suspension assembly attaches.

Abstract: A primarily aluminum extendable flatbed trailer has front and rear flatbed sections adjustable to various trailer lengths. Reinforcing plates with holes therein are connected to an aluminum longitudinal rail on one flatbed section. Holes in the rail aligned with the reinforcing plate holes removably receive a locking pin which secures the front section to the rear section. The locking pin slidably engages the reinforcing plates and associated wear bars. A generally vertical web strengthener is secured to a vertical longitudinal web on the rail adjacent the suspension of the trailer. Tubular aluminum braces are used in various locations. A friction reducing plastic slide member on one flatbed section slidably engages the other flatbed section. Another trailer includes first, second and third flatbed sections whereby the first and second sections are joinable in an extendable configuration and the first and third sections are joinable in a standard configuration.

Abstract: A structural member for a vehicle has a slot extending into one structural wall thereof, for receiving and holding a bolt, wherein said structural member including said slot has been formed by extrusion. The slot extends the length of the structural member for slidably receiving the head of one or more bolts wherein the land area of each bolt head extends beyond the slot opening to overlay the wall area carrying the slot. Each bolt carries at least two flat faces below its head wherein the juxtaposed edges of the slot carrying wall retains, i.e., refrains, the bolt from rotating. The slot includes an interior wall or sidewalls continuous with the slotted structural wall. The structural member may include an I-beam, a rectangular tube, a C-channel and the like. Corners are radiuses and right angles are avoided to reduce or remove stress risers.

Abstract: The aluminum trailer frame and trailer includes aluminum side rails with bowed forward sections which converge on an aluminum trailer tongue beam. A plurality of aluminum cross members are laterally mounted to opposing side rails. Each cross member has a generally C-shaped cross section with an embedded, generally C-shaped bolt head channel near the mid-section of the C-shaped cross member. The channel has opposing tabs which trap a bolt head and the channel extends the length of the cross members. Two bunk rail beams or other accessory supports or beam supports are mounted on the cross members via bolts having bolt heads that are slidably disposed in the bolt head channels. Accessories are movably mounted on the cross members by bolts in bolt head channels.

Abstract: A cross member for a heavy duty over-the-highway tractor having an integral fifth wheel hitch such that the fifth wheel hitch is connected to the cross member rather than to brackets mounted to the frame rails of the vehicle. In one embodiment, the fifth wheel hitch is connected to sliding rails that span two cross members so that the fifth wheel hitch can be positioned at various points between the cross members.

Abstract: Off-site factory built structure employs a chassis including two interior longitudinal beam members joined at their ends to a perimeter structure. A floor system is integrated within the chassis perimeter. A ledger member is fixed to the inner surface of each longitudinal perimeter member so that a top surface lies in a plane coincident with top surfaces of the interior longitudinal beams. Lateral members are coupled to the tops of the interior longitudinal beams and to the top of the ledger members. The lateral members include secondary stiffening members such as C-channel members, metal Z-channel members, or other metal members of similar structural capacity, spaced apart from each other by a maximum distance S, related to the width of the floor system W, by the equation: S 12?½W.

Abstract: A tractor trailer having an adjustable wheel assembly, the trailer comprising at least two laterally spaced frame members. A plurality of openings are located in the frame members, with each opening having a flange section structured to receive a wheel assembly locking-pin. The flange section increases the load-bearing area of each frame member opening.

Abstract: A suspension system includes a steer beam of a generally I-beam like construction having a web and flanges. A plurality of lightening apertures are located through the web and by reinforcing the lightening apertures and adjusting the relationship of the web to the flanges a greatly lightened steer beam is provided without reducing the strength and rigidity thereof. The lightening apertures are preferably elongated slot-like apertures oriented along the length of the web. Each lightening aperture includes a reinforced area along its perimeter that is integrally formed within the web.

Abstract: An improved frame for transporting a building structure on a wheel assembly. The frame comprises a first and a second longitudinally extending beam with each longitudinally extending beam having a major vertical height. A first and a second structural beam defines a minor vertical height. The first and second structural beams are interposed between a front segment and a rear segment of the longitudinally extending beams. The wheel assembly is mounted to a bottom portion of the structural beams thereby lowering the vertical height of top portions of the structural beams and the longitudinally extending beams.

Abstract: A floor frame assembly for facilitating the construction of buildings including mobile homes and modular homes. The floor frame assembly includes longitudinally extending structural support beams which are arranged side by side. The structural support beams are rigidly connected by a plurality of cross members extending therebetween. A plurality of one-piece outriggers are separately secured to the longitudinal beams and transversely extend laterally outward therefrom. The outriggers are substantially rectangular in shape.

Abstract: An improved modular support assembly is disclosed for reinforcing an end of a transverse beam disposed upon a longitudinally extending beam of a manufactured home. The modular support comprises a truss portion comprising an upper member, a depending member and a brace. The upper member is positioned to be supported by the longitudinally extending beam. The depending member is connected to extend downwardly from the upper member. The brace interconnects the upper member and the depending members. The truss portion is connected to the transverse beam for enabling the brace to coact with the longitudinally extending beam of a manufactured home for providing a bracing between the upper member and the longitudinally extending beam for supporting the end of the transverse beam thereby.

Abstract: A unibeam chassis with at least two longitudinal unibeam members and two lateral unibeam members each of which members being joined the one to the other by a single contiguous uniflange, wherein each of the two longitudinal unibeams comprises a longitudinal web, a longitudinal flange, and the uniflange, each of the two lateral unibeams comprises a lateral web, a lateral flange, and the uniflange, and the single contiguous uniflange is fastened in a perpendicular orientation to each of the longitudinal and lateral webs, and the longitudinal and lateral flanges are fastened in a perpendicular orientation to each of the longitudinal and lateral webs.

Abstract: A frame assembly for a motor vehicle and method of manufacturing the same. The method comprises the steps of: forming a rearward frame module, forming a forward frame module, and forming a central frame module comprising a pair of longitudinal central frame siderails.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a unique composite trailer and van type container for the transport and management of bulk freight utilizing steel and aluminum components to take advantage of the durability and light weight of aluminum components and the proven strength and fabrication ease of structural steel. More particularly, the composite trailer and container comprises the integration of two dissimilar metals secured together by using a bi-metal intermediate element. The bi-metal intermediate element provides for the welding of different metals together thereby forming a superior bond between the intermediate element and dissimilar metals. This construction also makes it possible to eliminate the galvanic corrosion so often experienced with contact between different metals.

Abstract: A unibeam chassis with at least two longitudinal unibeam members and two lateral unibeam members each of which members being joined the one to the other by a single contiguous uniflange, wherein each of the two longitudinal unibeams comprises a longitudinal web, a longitudinal flange, and the uniflange, each of the two lateral unibeams comprises a lateral web, a lateral flange, and the uniflange, and the single contiguous uniflange is fastened in a perpendicular orientation to each of the longitudinal and lateral webs, and the longitudinal and lateral flanges are fastened in a perpendicular orientation to each of the longitudinal and lateral webs.

Abstract: A rail frame assembly for a motor vehicle comprises a rearward frame module having a pair of generally parallel rearward frame rail members interconnected by a rearward cross-member assembly. A central frame module includes a pair of generally parallel central frame rail members interconnected by a central cross-member assembly, the central frame members each having a generally U-shaped transverse cross-sectional configuration including a vertical base wall portion and a pair of outwardly extending generally parallel horizontal wall portions extending from opposite ends of the base wall portion. The U-shaped central frame members are each bent between two spaced positions thereof, and one of the horizontal wall portions extending from one end of the base wall portion has metallic grains therein substantially stretched at a location between the spaced positions.

Abstract: Composite of trailer construction utilizing steel and aluminum components to take advantage of the durability and light weight of aluminum components and the proven strength and fabrication ease of structural steel. More particularly, the process of the present invention is directed towards an apparatus and method of securing two dissimilar metals together in a trailer construction by using a bi-metal intermediate element which is provided for the welding of the like materials to form a superior bond between the bi-metal and the respective dissimilar materials.

Abstract: A vehicle frame (200) has a rear portion with a rear siderail (204) of hat-shape cross-section, and a front portion with a front siderail (202) of C-shape cross-section received within the hat-shaped rear side-rail. The siderails are attached to each other at a joint (206) and have respective vertical sections (208) and (210) in overlapped contact with each other at the joint and providing a first mounting pad (230) of increased stock thickness. A cross member (226) is attached to the siderails at the joint and has a vertical flange (228) in overlapped contact with a respective vertical section (214) of the rear siderail to provide a second mounting pad (232) of increased stock thickness. A spring hanger (218) is mounted to and extends horizontally between the mounting pads.

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: A frame or chassis for mobile homes and the like provides a pair of laterally spaced, parallel I-beams extending the length of the frame. Wood floor joists are mounted on top of the I-beams and extend laterally beyond the I-beams in both directions. One-piece uniriggers having substantial tensile strength but relatively minor column strength in compression are connected to their ends directly or indirectly to the ends of the floor joists. The uniriggers provide outrigger portions extending downwardly and inwardly to the adjacent I-beam and a cross member portion extending laterally between the I-beams. The uniriggers are welded to the bottoms of the I-beams and cooperate with the associated floor joist to provide a trusslike structure which prevents rolling action of the beams. The frame or chassis provides adequate strength and rigidity when the frame is being supported by wheels and axles for road transportation and also when the frame is supported at intervals around its periphery at a use location.

Abstract: A semi-truck trailer gooseneck assembly comprises a single curved plate extending transversely between and beyond the twin parallel longitudinal girders to form a single lower flange. The curved plate extends from the assembly supporting the floor over the fifth wheel and connecting the king pin to the trailer. The rear portion of the curved plate extends to the horizontal flat lower flanges of the twin girders extending substantially the length of the trailer. The result is a structure of increased strength and moment of inertia permitting the web depth of the gooseneck to be substantially decreased.The rear corner post comprises a two piece welded assembly wherein the major section is substantially an elongated "S" and the minor section "L" shaped. The shapes are welded together to form a hollow center portion and a pocket portion. The "L" section forms a contact for the rear door and the pocket engages the curtain to enable the curtain to be fully tightened when closed.

Abstract: An improved I beam construction for longitudinal I beams preferably as used n trailer frames. The I beam is comprised of a top flange, a bottom flange, a vertical web wall interconnecting the top and bottom flanges along their centerlines in a customary manner, for a substantial part of its length, with the novel aspect including a portion of the vertical web wall offset laterally toward the outer side edges of the top and bottom flanges so that said offset wall portion is essentially flush with those said edges. The purpose of this offsetting is to provide more advantageous horizontal and vertical mounting surfaces for saddle mount capability and attachment of a trailer's wheel suspension assembly, which construction is found to be stronger than can otherwise be fabricated.

Abstract: A vehicle frame assembly including two generally parallel, elongated side rail members and a plurality of cross members connecting the side rail members; each of the side rail members including an upper plate member, a lower plate member and a web member between the upper and lower plate members, the web member including a plurality of primary web sections having a truncated-triangular shape located along the length of the side rail member, adjacent primary web sections being inverted and spaced laterally with respect to one another and intermediate web sections connecting adjacent primary web sections.