Dry Goods Bulk Trailer with Uninterrupted Slope Sheet

Abstract

A dry goods bulk trailer for transporting fluidic dry goods includes a frame supported on rear wheels and arranged for connection at a front end to a towing vehicle. A containment structure on the frame assembly for supporting the fluidic dry goods therein includes front and rear slope wall assemblies which slope downwardly and inwardly towards centrally located bottom discharge hoppers. Each slope wall assembly includes an inner panel, an outer panel and at least one internal structural member joined between the panels to provide sufficient structural support to enable the slope wall assembly to be only supported on the trailer frame about its perimeter. The inner panel is joined to the structural member without fasteners so that the inner surface thereof is substantially uninterrupted for easier cleanout. The outer surface of the outer panel is uninterrupted by frame members to minimize collection of snow and ice thereon.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a dry goods bulk trailer for handling and transporting fluidic dry goods, for example grains, fertilizer, or salt, which include front and rear slope walls which direct material downwardly and longitudinally inwardly towards central bottom discharge hoppers of the trailer, and more particularly the present invention relates to a dry goods bulk trailer in which the front and rear slope walls are formed so as to be substantially uninterrupted by fasteners at the inner surface thereof and so as to be substantially uninterrupted by frame members at the outer surface thereof.BACKGROUND[0002]Dry goods bulk trailers are commonly used for transporting various forms of fluidic dry goods, for example grains such as wheat or barley or various other forms of particulate material such as fertilizer, salt, and the like. The typical construction of a dry goods bulk trailer includes a main frame assembly and a containment structure incorp...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a new way to create a structural assembly for a frame of a trailer. By using a special mounting technique that doesn't require fasteners, the frame is designed to prevent any debris or material from getting caught in the gaps between the frame and the wall. The frame also has inner and outer panels that provide strength and allow for easy cleanout. This new design eliminates the need for additional uprights and ensures a smooth surface.

Problems solved by technology

The single layer of sheet material forming the inner surface of the slope wall is typically joined to the crossbars using rivets or other similar fasteners due to the inability to weld aluminum to the structural members typically formed of steel.

Due to the large number of fasteners required for joining sheets at respective seams and for joining the sheets to the crossbars, the resulting inner surface is interrupted by numerous protruding fastener heads upon which transported material can be caught such that the containment area is difficult to fully clean out even after the majority of material has been discharged through the bottom discharge hoppers.

A further problem arises due to the location of the crossbars which form a shelf at the exterior bottom side of the slope walls upon which road debris can become entrapped.

Intermediate posts are typically also required to support the crossbars relative to the frame which add to the problem of debris collection thereon.

Particularly, snow and slush are known to be collected on the crossbars and support posts, which form ice on the bottom side of the slope walls in colder climates, resulting in undesirable added weight to the trailer, which in turn limits the cargo carrying capacity.

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