US3820223A - Trailer cap and method of forming same - Google Patents

Trailer cap and method of forming same Download PDF

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Publication number
US3820223A
US3820223A US00330077A US33007773A US3820223A US 3820223 A US3820223 A US 3820223A US 00330077 A US00330077 A US 00330077A US 33007773 A US33007773 A US 33007773A US 3820223 A US3820223 A US 3820223A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
trailer
cap
roof
end cap
curved
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00330077A
Inventor
C Cramb
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
NEW BUS COMPANY A DE CORP
CARLBUILT Inc
Original Assignee
CARLBUILT Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by CARLBUILT Inc filed Critical CARLBUILT Inc
Priority to US00330077A priority Critical patent/US3820223A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3820223A publication Critical patent/US3820223A/en
Assigned to NEW BUS COMPANY, THE, A DE. CORP. reassignment NEW BUS COMPANY, THE, A DE. CORP. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: CARL-BUILT, INC.,
Assigned to NEW BUS COMPANY, THE reassignment NEW BUS COMPANY, THE SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: CHICKASHA BANK & TRUST CO.
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
    • B60P7/00—Securing or covering of load on vehicles
    • B60P7/02—Covering of load
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D22/00—Shaping without cutting, by stamping, spinning, or deep-drawing
    • B21D22/02—Stamping using rigid devices or tools
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B21—MECHANICAL METAL-WORKING WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D—WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL
    • B21D53/00—Making other particular articles
    • B21D53/88—Making other particular articles other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60D—VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
    • B60D1/00—Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices
    • B60D1/58—Auxiliary devices
    • B60D1/62—Auxiliary devices involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60J—WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES
    • B60J7/00—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs
    • B60J7/08—Non-fixed roofs; Roofs with movable panels, e.g. rotary sunroofs of non-sliding type, i.e. movable or removable roofs or panels, e.g. let-down tops or roofs capable of being easily detached or of assuming a collapsed or inoperative position
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49789—Obtaining plural product pieces from unitary workpiece
    • Y10T29/49794—Dividing on common outline

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to a metal trailer cap which joins the front end wall to the roof of trailers and more particularly a method of forming such end caps by utilizing a metal press.
  • An object of the invention is to provide a trailer end cap of sheet metal formed by a male and female die in 3 a press utilizing a rectangular piece of sheet metal stock to form two end caps which are joined together and are subsequently cut apart by a correspondingly shaped die cutter and also trimmed peripherally to form two end caps from the single sheet of material.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a trailer end cap of sheet metal formed by a sheet metal press having shape limitations corresponding with the limitations of the sheet metal being employed to enable the rapid formation of two trailer end caps from a single rectangular sheet of sheet metal.
  • FIG. I is a schematic perspective view of a trailer employing the end cap of the present invention therein.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the end cap.
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of the product after it has been deformed from a sheet panel into an intermediate structure.
  • FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the intermediate structure of FIG. 3.
  • a horse trailer is generally designated by numeral in FIG. I which may be of conventional construction and includes supporting wheels 12, side walls 14, a towing tongue 16, an arcuately curved front end wall 18 and a roof 20 and an end cap generally designated by the numeral 22 which incorporates the present invention therein in which the peripheral edges of the end cap 22 are connected to the front end wall 18 and the roof 20 by conventional joining techniques.
  • the end cap 22 is constructed of sheet metal and includes a top or roof portion 24 that is in alignment with the roof 20 with the forward and side edge portions of the end cap being downwardly curved at 26 and also arcuate in configuration when observed from the top or bottom.
  • the rearward edge of the end cap is straight as designated by numeral 28.
  • the curved peripheral edge 26 may be curved as part of a circle or may be semi-elliptical in configuration. When a semi-elliptical construction is desired, the dimensions of the major and minor axes of the ellipse may vary.
  • a rectangular sheet of sheet metal 30 is utilized and the corners thereof are cut off as indicated at 32 in FIG. 3.
  • the sheet metal used is a deep draw, aluminum kill sheet steel that is manufactured by Republic Steel Co.
  • the intermediate product illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and designated by numeral 34 is formed in a sheet'metal press capable of exerting a 1,000 ton force with the end product having dimensions generally 62 inches in width, 72 inches in length and 15 inches in depth with the radius of curvature in the curved peripheral wall portion being substantially 12 inches.
  • the intermediate product 34 is die cut by using a shaped die cutter either to cut the intermediate product lengthwise or crosswise into two end caps with the crosswise cut designated by broken line in FIG. 3 and indicated by reference numeral 36 defining the end edge 28.
  • the terminal edge of the curved periphery 36 is trimmed by a trimming die thus forming two end caps 22 from the single panel of sheet metal.
  • the metal pressing or stamping technique substantially reduces the time required to form a trailer end cap as compared with the welding of triangular segments or gores together and substantially reduces the time and labor required in forming an end cap for a trailer of this type as compared with a metal spinning technique.
  • the trailer end cap formed by employing the metal pressing or stamping technique produces a more uniform trailer end cap that is relatively rigid in construction and also enables variation in the shape, size and configuration of the 'end cap as compared with the spinning technique which is limited to a shape that is generated by revolving a panel of sheet metal about a rotational axis.
  • the overall front to rear length of the cap 22 as shown in FIG. I may vary between approximately 30 inches to 40 inches.
  • trim line which forms the bottom edge of the edge portion 26 may be varied elevationally to vary the depth of the cap.
  • the crosswise cut 36 may be varied as to its relation to the center line along the substantially straight side edge portions of the formed intermediate product shown in FIG. 3. Further, the thickness of metal can be varied within certain limits.
  • the method of forming a closure end cap between a vertical front end wall of a horse transporting trailer and a substantially horizontal roof of the trailer in which the roof is provided with a substantially flat top portion and downwardly curved side edge portions and the front end wall is provided with rearwardly extending and generally parallel side edge portions and a semi-cylindrical curved front portion consisting of the steps of pressforming a generally rectangular panel of sheet metal in a male and female die to form an intermediate product having a central substantially flat, semi-elliptical panel, downwardly curved peripheral edge portions of the same curvature as the downwardly curved side edges of the roof and having a lower edge conforming with the curvature of the upper edge of the front end wall and a laterally projecting flange integral with the bottom edge of the downwardly curved peidentical pieces by die cutting the semi-elliptical flat panel and the downwardly curved peripheral wall with a single operation of a die cutter having a flat portion confonning with the transverse dimension of the

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Body Structure For Vehicles (AREA)
  • Shaping Metal By Deep-Drawing, Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

A TRAILER CAP FORMING A CLOSURE BETWEEN THE ROOF AND FRONT END WALL OF A TRAILER OF THE TYPE HAVING A CURVED FRONT END WALL AND A CURVED OR BOWED ROOF IN WHICH THE CAP IS FORMED BY A MALE AND FEMALE DIE IN A METAL PRESS.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Cramb June 28 1974 [5 TRAILER CAP AND METHOD OF 1.707,172 3/1929 Nathanson 29/010. 20 FORMING SANIE 2,983,033 5/1961 Cox 29/159.0l 1 3,066,631 12/1962 Geary 29/416 Inventor: Clayton Cramb, NaShv1ll9,Tenn- 3.151.390 10/1964 Schevenel1.. 29/407 Assigneez Carlbum, Inc" Chickasha, Okla 3,389670 6/1968 Caple 1 1 113/116 BB Filed Feb- 6, 1973 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Herbst [2]] AppL NO: 330 077 Attorney, Agent, or Firm1-larvey B. Jacobson; Clarence A. OBrien [52] US. Cl. 29/415, 113/116 BB 151 110.01.... B23p 17/00 [57] I ABSIRACT [58] Field 6: Search 113/1 16 BB; 29/415, 416, A traller p forming 91951119 between the roof and 29 4 3 1 20; 29 24 front end wall of a trailer of the type having a curved front end wall and a curved or bowed roof in which 5 R f r n Ci d the cap is formed by a male and female die in a metal UNITED STATES PATENTS 814,568 3/1906 Stagg press.
1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEUJUH28 1914 3820.223
I I will! 1|;
1 TRAILER CAP AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to a metal trailer cap which joins the front end wall to the roof of trailers and more particularly a method of forming such end caps by utilizing a metal press.
2. Description of the Prior Art Trailer caps constructed of sheet metal have been used where an arcuately curved front end wall is joined to the forward end of the roof of a trailer. U.S. Pat. No. 3,389,670 discloses a trailer cap and discusses the conventional technique of employing a plurality of triangular segments -or gores which are joined together by welding or the like. This prior patent also discloses a technique in which the sheet metal is formed by utilizing a spinning technique. While such spinning technique is employed, the limitations inherent in the spinning technique limit the shapes and configurations that can be formed and also require considerable expenditure of time and labor in forming the end cap. As set forth in that patent, the material and labor costs involved adversely affect the manufacturing cost of the trailer end cap.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a trailer end cap of sheet metal formed by a male and female die in 3 a press utilizing a rectangular piece of sheet metal stock to form two end caps which are joined together and are subsequently cut apart by a correspondingly shaped die cutter and also trimmed peripherally to form two end caps from the single sheet of material.
Another object of the invention is to provide a trailer end cap of sheet metal formed by a sheet metal press having shape limitations corresponding with the limitations of the sheet metal being employed to enable the rapid formation of two trailer end caps from a single rectangular sheet of sheet metal.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a schematic perspective view of a trailer employing the end cap of the present invention therein.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the end cap.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the product after it has been deformed from a sheet panel into an intermediate structure.
FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the intermediate structure of FIG. 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now specifically to the drawings, a horse trailer is generally designated by numeral in FIG. I which may be of conventional construction and includes supporting wheels 12, side walls 14, a towing tongue 16, an arcuately curved front end wall 18 and a roof 20 and an end cap generally designated by the numeral 22 which incorporates the present invention therein in which the peripheral edges of the end cap 22 are connected to the front end wall 18 and the roof 20 by conventional joining techniques.
The end cap 22 is constructed of sheet metal and includes a top or roof portion 24 that is in alignment with the roof 20 with the forward and side edge portions of the end cap being downwardly curved at 26 and also arcuate in configuration when observed from the top or bottom. The rearward edge of the end cap is straight as designated by numeral 28.
The curved peripheral edge 26 may be curved as part of a circle or may be semi-elliptical in configuration. When a semi-elliptical construction is desired, the dimensions of the major and minor axes of the ellipse may vary.
In fonning the end cap, a rectangular sheet of sheet metal 30 is utilized and the corners thereof are cut off as indicated at 32 in FIG. 3. The sheet metal used is a deep draw, aluminum kill sheet steel that is manufactured by Republic Steel Co. The intermediate product illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and designated by numeral 34 is formed in a sheet'metal press capable of exerting a 1,000 ton force with the end product having dimensions generally 62 inches in width, 72 inches in length and 15 inches in depth with the radius of curvature in the curved peripheral wall portion being substantially 12 inches. After the intermediate product 34 has been formed, it is die cut by using a shaped die cutter either to cut the intermediate product lengthwise or crosswise into two end caps with the crosswise cut designated by broken line in FIG. 3 and indicated by reference numeral 36 defining the end edge 28. At the same time, the terminal edge of the curved periphery 36 is trimmed by a trimming die thus forming two end caps 22 from the single panel of sheet metal.
The metal pressing or stamping technique substantially reduces the time required to form a trailer end cap as compared with the welding of triangular segments or gores together and substantially reduces the time and labor required in forming an end cap for a trailer of this type as compared with a metal spinning technique. Moreover, the trailer end cap formed by employing the metal pressing or stamping technique produces a more uniform trailer end cap that is relatively rigid in construction and also enables variation in the shape, size and configuration of the 'end cap as compared with the spinning technique which is limited to a shape that is generated by revolving a panel of sheet metal about a rotational axis. For example, the overall front to rear length of the cap 22 as shown in FIG. I may vary between approximately 30 inches to 40 inches. Also, the trim line which forms the bottom edge of the edge portion 26 may be varied elevationally to vary the depth of the cap. The crosswise cut 36 may be varied as to its relation to the center line along the substantially straight side edge portions of the formed intermediate product shown in FIG. 3. Further, the thickness of metal can be varied within certain limits.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
I claim: l. The method of forming a closure end cap between a vertical front end wall of a horse transporting trailer and a substantially horizontal roof of the trailer in which the roof is provided with a substantially flat top portion and downwardly curved side edge portions and the front end wall is provided with rearwardly extending and generally parallel side edge portions and a semi-cylindrical curved front portion consisting of the steps of pressforming a generally rectangular panel of sheet metal in a male and female die to form an intermediate product having a central substantially flat, semi-elliptical panel, downwardly curved peripheral edge portions of the same curvature as the downwardly curved side edges of the roof and having a lower edge conforming with the curvature of the upper edge of the front end wall and a laterally projecting flange integral with the bottom edge of the downwardly curved peidentical pieces by die cutting the semi-elliptical flat panel and the downwardly curved peripheral wall with a single operation of a die cutter having a flat portion confonning with the transverse dimension of the flat panel and a radiused edge portion at each edge for conforming with the radius of curvature of the downwardly curving side walls of the intermediate product thereby providing two pieces having a substantially semielliptical flat panel having a straight edge at one end thereof and a downwardly curving radiused edge portion around the remainder of the periphery thereof with the radius of curvature of the downwardly curved peripheral portion not exceeding approximately twelve inches, and securing one of said pieces to the horse transporting trailer with the downwardly curved peripheral wall portion being secured to the upper edge of the front end wall of the trailer, the straight edge of downwardly curved side edges of the roof of the trailer.
US00330077A 1973-02-06 1973-02-06 Trailer cap and method of forming same Expired - Lifetime US3820223A (en)

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4206715A (en) * 1978-05-05 1980-06-10 Greene Carl B Vehicle body end cap and method of forming same

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4206715A (en) * 1978-05-05 1980-06-10 Greene Carl B Vehicle body end cap and method of forming same

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: NEW BUS COMPANY, THE, A DE. CORP.

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:CARL-BUILT, INC.,;REEL/FRAME:004826/0450

Effective date: 19871102

AS Assignment

Owner name: NEW BUS COMPANY, THE, P.O. BOX 948, CHICKASHA, OK7

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CHICKASHA BANK & TRUST CO.;REEL/FRAME:004852/0144

Effective date: 19880408

Owner name: NEW BUS COMPANY, THE, OKLAHOMA

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CHICKASHA BANK & TRUST CO.;REEL/FRAME:004852/0144

Effective date: 19880408