초록 ▼

Improved trailers (e.g., semi-trailers) are disclosed. The trailers may include a floor having a top surface and a bottom surface, where the top surface is adapted to transport a payload, and an elongated shell connected to the bottom surface of the floor, where the elongated shell defines a portion

Improved trailers (e.g., semi-trailers) are disclosed. The trailers may include a floor having a top surface and a bottom surface, where the top surface is adapted to transport a payload, and an elongated shell connected to the bottom surface of the floor, where the elongated shell defines a portion of a substantially closed torsion-resistant chamber of the trailer. The trailers may have a torsion resistance that is substantially higher than conventional trailers of similar size and/or load capacity. The trailers may weigh substantially less than conventional trailers of similar size and/or load capacity. The trailers may realize a bending resistance that is at least equivalent to the bending resistance of conventional trailers of similar size and/or load capacity.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A trailer comprising: a floor having a top surface, a bottom surface, and extending continuously from a front end to a rear end, wherein the top surface is adapted to transport a payload;a rear wheel assembly; andan elongated shell comprising a bottom wall and side walls, wherein the side walls a

1. A trailer comprising: a floor having a top surface, a bottom surface, and extending continuously from a front end to a rear end, wherein the top surface is adapted to transport a payload;a rear wheel assembly; andan elongated shell comprising a bottom wall and side walls, wherein the side walls are secured to the bottom surface of the floor and the elongated shell extends behind the rear wheel assembly; andwherein the floor and the elongated shell define together a single, substantially hollow, internally undivided, and substantially closed torsion-resistant chamber with the bottom surface of the floor defining a top wall of the substantially hollow and closed torsion-resistant chamber, and wherein the substantially closed torsion-resistant chamber is free of lattice framework extending therein and the elongated shell is free of apertures that substantially degrade the resistance of the substantially closed torsion-resistant chamber. 2. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the floor delimitates upwardly the substantially closed torsion-resistant chamber. 3. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the trailer comprises a front, a middle and a rear and the elongated shell comprises a neck portion, and wherein the neck portion is located proximal to the front of the trailer. 4. The trailer of claim 3, wherein the elongated shell further comprises a plurality of supporting ribs, each one of the supporting ribs being superposed to the elongated shell inside the substantially hollow and closed torsion-resistant chamber in the neck portion. 5. The trailer of claim 4, wherein the elongated shell comprises a main body portion adjacent to the neck portion and the substantially hollow torsion-resistant chamber extends continuously from the neck portion to the main body portion. 6. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the elongated shell consists of the bottom wall and the side walls and the side walls of the elongated shell are welded continuously to the bottom surface of the floor and wherein the side walls comprise two lateral side walls spaced-apart from one another and extending continuously from a front end of the elongated shell to a rear end of the elongated shell and the two lateral side walls are aperture free. 7. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the floor comprises a plurality of elongated and juxtaposed support members. 8. The trailer of claim 7, wherein the trailer comprises a front, a middle and a rear and a first one of the plurality of elongated and juxtaposed support members is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the trailer, and wherein a second one of the plurality of elongated support members is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the trailer. 9. The trailer of claim 8, wherein the first one of the plurality of elongated support members is located proximal to the front of the trailer. 10. The trailer of claim 9, wherein the second one of the plurality of elongated support members is located proximal to the middle or rear of the trailer. 11. The trailer of claim 10, wherein at least one of the elongated support members comprises shaped internal members arranged between a top member and a bottom member, wherein the shaped internal members comprise at least one of an X-shaped, W-shaped, V-shaped and I-shaped internal members. 12. The trailer of claim 11, wherein the at least one of the elongated support members further comprises at least one thin member stretching between the shaped internal member and the top member. 13. The trailer of claim 11, wherein the at least one of the elongated support members further comprises at least one thin member stretching between the shaped internal member and the bottom member. 14. The trailer of claim 13, wherein the first support member has a larger height than the second support member, and wherein a transitional support member connects that first support member and the second support member. 15. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the elongated shell comprises at least one of a plurality of aluminum interconnected plates and a plurality of interconnected aluminum extrusions. 16. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the trailer is a flatbed trailer. 17. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the trailer realizes an angular deformation that is at least 25% better than the angular deformation of a conventional trailer of similar size and load capacity. 18. The trailer of claim 17, wherein the trailer weighs at least 10% less than the conventional trailer, and wherein the trailer has a bending resistance that is at least equivalent to the bending resistance of the conventional trailer. 19. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the floor is aperture free. 20. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the side walls comprise an end cap at a rear end of the elongated shell. 21. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the elongated shell extends to the rear end of the floor.