Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Structural detail
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-01
2001-05-01
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Structural detail
C296S181700, C296S183100, C052S586100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224142
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to trailer structures and, more particularly, to livestock trailer sidewall slat constructions.
BACKGROUND
Horses, cattle, and other livestock are commonly transported from one location to another in specially constructed trailers which include sidewalls, roofs, floor decking structures, and loading gates or doors. The dimensions and features of these trailers vary widely depending on the type of livestock to be transported and the specific end uses for which the trailers are designed. For example, horse trailers range from single horse, standard hitch trailers, to multi-horse, goose-neck trailers that include living quarters for equestrians.
The sidewall structures of many livestock trailers are formed with panels supported by and welded to posts emending upwardly from the floor decking structures. However, difficulties have been encountered with even the most advanced sidewall panel constructions. The sidewalls are commonly assembled by welding a plurality of panels to upright posts. Frequently, water seeps into the trailer at the connections between adjacent panels, and heat generated while welding heats the panels to the extent that their exterior surfaces are discolored by oxidation. Additionally, the panels are preferably made from aluminum making it difficult to insulate the trailers.
Another problem is encountered with reliability of the welds between the panels and the upright posts. If an insufficient amount of material is provided by the panels for the weld connection, the attachment material can melt away or insufficient penetration is made into the attachment material while trying to keep from melting the attachment material away. Further, the livestock being transported in the trailers will kick the sidewalls. Unfortunately, the animals are strong enough to dent the panels and occasionally break the weld connections between the panels and the upright posts. To inhibit damage from kicking, kick plates are sometimes attached to the inner side of the sidewalls. However, their attachment is undesirably difficult because of the preferred non-planar configuration of the panel walls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one important object of the present invention is to provide an improved sidewall construction which inhibits discoloration, has more reliable welds, is better insulated, and to which kicking plates and other such devices are more easily attached.
In carrying out the foregoing and other objects, the present invention contemplates an improved sidewall slat for use in a trailer. The slat includes an outer skin and an inner skin which is spaced apart from the outer skin to define an internal gap therebetween. A reinforcing bulkhead is positioned in the gap and connects the inner skin and the outer skin.
In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of bulkheads divide the gap into a plurality of internal chambers which are operative to inhibit convection between the inner and outer skins, and the gap is filled with an insulating material. A weld location line is formed in an exposed surface of the inner skin, and the inner skin is substantially flat having substantially planar surfaces. The outer skin is preferably scalloped having alternating peaks and valleys on both its exterior and interior surfaces. Alternatively, the interior surface of the outer skin is substantially planar. The inner and outer skins and the bulkhead are preferably integrally formed, but in an alternate embodiment, the inner and outer skins are formed by separate components which are adhered together. In this alternate embodiment, the bulkheads comprise generally V-shaped bulkheads which receive the peaks of the interior surface of the outer skin.
The present invention further contemplates incorporating the foregoing slat construction into a trailer for transporting livestock. The trailer includes a trailer frame with a plurality of upright posts extending upwardly from a floor of the trailer. A plurality of sidewall slats as described above are attached to the upright posts by weld connections. Preferably, the weld connections are centrally positioned between the bulkheads at the weld location lines.
In a preferred embodiment of the trailer, at least one of the sidewall slats includes an edge having an elongated tongue, and an adjacent sidewall slat includes an edge having opposed legs defining a groove which receives the tongue therein. The height of the tongue and the height of the legs are preferably greater than the width of the groove between the legs to inhibit the penetration of water through the sidewall of the trailer.
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Commercial Car Journal, Feb. 1960, p. 136.
Hovey Williams Timmons & Collins
Pape Joseph D.
Patel Kiran B.
Sooner Trailer Manufacturing Co.
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