Patent ID: 6565109
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A kingpin assembly for an aluminum frame trailer, comprising:an aluminum frame member including a bottom and a kingpin receiving opening in said bottom; an aluminum kingpin mounting block including a downwardly opening socket surrounded by a base; a steel kingpin having a kingpin head within said socket and a kingpin shaft depending from said kingpin head; a plurality of fasteners detachably connecting the kingpin head to the aluminum mounting block; said kingpin shaft extending downwardly from the kingpin head through the kingpin opening in the bottom of the aluminum frame member, and projecting downwardly from and below the aluminum frame member; said aluminum kingpin mounting block being welded to the aluminum frame member, for securing the aluminum mounting block and the steel kingpin to the aluminum frame member; wherein said aluminum frame member comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced apart transverse box beams that extend upwardly from the bottom of the aluminum frame member, wherein the kingpin opening in the bottom of the aluminum frame member is between the transverse box beams, wherein the aluminum mounting block is welded to the transverse box beams; wherein the aluminum frame member comprises two extrusions welded together to form the aluminum frame member; wherein each extrusion comprises a portion of the bottom of the aluminum frame member and a different one of the transverse box beams; and wherein the portions of extrusion which provide the bottom of the aluminum frame member are welded together between the transverse box beams.