Abstract:
For a truck trailer bed or a truck cargo enclosure including one or more compartmented, hollow floor sections, a reinforcement system is provided. The system makes use of strip-like metal inserts which are introduced into selected compartments of the flooring sections that lie beneath a relatively compact, heavy object such as a coil of flat-rolled steel or like cargo. The inserts preferably will be fabricated from the same metallic substance as the flooring sections and will be of a transverse cross section that is identical to the compartments provided in the flooring sections. Having such a cross section, the inserts will fill the selected flooring section compartments and increase the rigidity and resistance of the compartments to damage caused by the concentrated object loading thereon.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a truck trailer of the type normally used to transport heavy cargo and, more particularly, to flat bed trailers employed to carry smaller, very heavy objects such as coils of flat-rolled steel and the like. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Included among known flat bed trailer structures is one formed of extruded and/or fabricated aluminum shapes including I-beams and tubular members of generally rectangular cross section. The I-beams and tubular members are assembled by providing shaped apertures in the web portions of the I-beams in closely spaced relation to their upper transversely disposed portions, positioning the tubular members through the apertures, welding oppositely disposed sections of the tubular members to the portions of the web of the I-beams defining the sides of the apertures therein, positioning aluminum flooring sections of an overall height the same as that of the horizontal portions of the I-beams on the tubular members together with outside rails secured to the ends of the tubular members and completing the longitudinal edges of the flooring. The flooring members and outside rails are secured to the tubular structure by welding to complete the structure. A structure such as the one just described in general terms is more fully disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,233. 
     Upon review of U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,233, it will be noted that the flooring sections are positioned between and extend longitudinally along the upper transversely disposed portions of the I-beams, and the flooring sections have a transverse cross section that is made up of a plurality of compartmented, hollow cells that are arranged side-by-side. The compartmented, hollow cross section serves to reduce the overall weight of the trailer structure and, for a variety of types of heavy cargo, to provide a strong and durable supporting surface. A variation of the compartmented cross section disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,564,233 is also known wherein the cells that make up the flooring section are fully enclosed on all sides by elements of the flooring section; however, the cells have a triangular cross section. (See FIG. 4 in the drawings.) Still further variations on these two floor sections are also known where the cells that comprise the sections are not fully enclosed on all sides. Rather, the sections are at least partially open on their bottom side and have members at the base of the cell walls, which allow the floor section to rest upon a subfloor structure positioned immediately thereunder. The subfloor structure, being so positioned, thereby provides a surface for closing off the open side of the floor section cells. (For a better understanding of the features of these open-celled flooring sections, see FIGS. 5 and 6 in the drawings.) Unfortunately, all of the above noted flooring sections have proven to be less than suitable when a need has arisen to transport relatively small, very heavy objects such as one or more coils of flat-rolled steel or perhaps massive, leg-supported machinery where a significant portion of the machinery&#39;s weight is concentrated at a relatively small area immediately under the leg(s). In the case of the objects mentioned, and others like them, permanent deformity of the floor section immediately beneath the objects has been known to occur when the concentrated load bearing down on the upper surface of the floor section causes bending and/or buckling of the hollow compartment walls. 
     The present invention is aimed at fortifying compartmented, hollow floor sections and eliminating the previously experienced permanent deformity. Floor fortification can be provided by the present invention in a localized manner and on an as-needed basis. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     With respect to a truck trailer bed including one or more compartmented, hollow floor sections, the present invention makes use of slender metal inserts which are introduced into selected compartments of the flooring sections that will lie immediately beneath a coil of flatrolled steel or a like object. The inserts preferably will be fabricated from the same metallic substance as the flooring sections and will be of a transverse cross section that is identical to the compartments provided in the flooring sections. Having such a cross section, the inserts will fill the selected flooring section compartments and increase the rigidity and resistance of those compartments to deformation caused by the concentrated object loading thereon. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a known flat bed trailer; 
     FIG. 2 is a vertical section in enlarged detail on the line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a vertical section in further enlarged detail of the flooring section shown in FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a vertical section in enlarged detail of another known flooring section which varies from that shown in FIG. 3 largely for its triangular-shaped cell cross section. 
     FIG. 5 is a vertical section in enlarged detail of a known flooring section which has an open-bottom cell construction. 
     FIG. 6 is a vertical section in enlarged detail of another known flooring section which also has an open-bottom cell construction. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a flooring section like that of FIG. 3 and a strip-like insert of the reinforcement system of the present invention as the insert is partially introduced into the flooring section; 
     FIG. 8 is a vertical section of the flooring section shown in FIG. 3, showing a plurality of strip-like inserts of the reinforcement system of the present invention having been introduced therein. 
     FIG. 9A provides an end view of an a strip-like insert of the present invention, usable with the flooring section shown in FIG. 3; 
     FIG. 9B provides an end view of another strip-like insert of the present invention, usable with the flooring section shown in FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 9C provides an end view of yet another strip-like insert of the present invention, usable with the flooring section shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a flooring section like that of FIG. 4 and a strip-like insert of the reinforcement system of the present invention as the insert is partially introduced into the flooring section; 
     FIG. 11 is a vertical section of the flooring section shown in FIG. 4, showing a plurality of strip-like inserts of the reinforcement system of the present invention having been introduced therein. 
     FIG. 12A provides an end view of an a strip-like insert of the present invention, usable with the flooring section shown in FIG. 4; 
     FIG. 12B provides an end view of another strip-like insert of the present invention, usable with the flooring section shown in FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 12C provides an end view of yet another strip-like insert of the present invention, usable with the flooring section shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a flooring section like that of FIG. 5 and a strip-like insert of the reinforcement system of the present invention as the insert is partially introduced into the flooring section; 
     FIG. 14 is a vertical section of the flooring section shown in FIG. 5, showing a plurality of strip-like inserts of the reinforcement system of the present invention having been introduced therein. 
     FIG. 15A provides an end view of an a strip-like insert of the present invention, usable with the flooring section shown in FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 15B provides an end view of another strip-like insert of the present invention, usable with the flooring section shown in FIG. 5; and 
     FIG. 15C provides an end view of yet another strip-like insert of the present invention, usable with the flooring section shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a flooring section like that of FIG. 6 and a strip-like insert of the reinforcement system of the present invention as the insert is partially introduced into the flooring section; 
     FIG. 17 is a vertical section of the flooring section shown in FIG. 6, showing a plurality of strip-like inserts of the reinforcement system of the present invention having been introduced therein. 
     FIG. 18A provides an end view of an a strip-like insert of the present invention, usable with the flooring section shown in FIG. 6; 
     FIG. 18B provides an end view of another strip-like insert of the present invention, usable with the flooring section shown in FIG. 6; and 
     FIG. 18C provides an end view of yet another strip-like insert of the present invention, usable with the flooring section shown in FIG. 6; and 
     FIG. 18D provides an end view of still yet another strip-like insert of the present invention, usable with the flooring section shown in FIG.  6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     By referring to the drawings and FIG. 1 in particular, it will be seen that a known flat bed trailer structure is disclosed which is preferably formed of aluminum extruded and fabricated sections. The portion of the flat bed trailer seen in FIG. 1 comprises a portion inwardly of the front end thereof. The trailer structure is formed of a pair of longitudinally disposed I-beams  10  comprising web portions  11  with upper and lower horizontally disposed flanges or chords  12  and  13  respectively. The I-beams  10  are each formed of a pair of T-shaped extrusions welded to one another longitudinally on a weld line  14 . The forward portion of the flat bed trailer has the I-beams  10  of reduced height by forming one of the web portions  11  in a tapered shape below the weld line  14 . A retractable double leg support  15  having pivoted ground engaging shoes  16  is attached to the forward portion of the flat bed trailer by semi-triangular mounting brackets  17  which are secured to several of a plurality of transversely positioned tubular frame members  18  which are located in longitudinally spaced transversely registering apertures  19  in the upper portions of the webs  11  of the longitudinally extending I-beams  10  as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings. 
     By referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that three of the tubular frame members  18  are shown double welded in three of the apertures  19 , a portion of an outside rail  25  being broken away. Each of the tubular frame members  18  are double welded in position in each of the pairs of transversely registering apertures  19  formed in the upper portions of the webs  11  of the I-beams  10 . Each of the opposite spaced vertical side walls of the tubular frame member  18  are welded by fillet welds to the portions of the I-beam web  11  defining the vertical walls of the aperture  19  therein so as to result in double welds joining the side walls of the tubular frame members  18  to the I-beams  10 . The lower portion of the aperture  19  is cross sectionally curved in a half circular shape matching that of the bottom portion  20  of the tubular frame members  18  which fit snugly therein. 
     By referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, a transverse section, on an enlarged scale, through the flat bed trailer may be seen and by referring thereto one of the transversely positioned tubular frame members  18  will be seen double welded in the apertures  19  in the webs  11  of the I-beams  10 . It will also be see that the upper transversely disposed portions  12  of the I-beams  10  form a portion of the floor of the flat bed trailer. Several longitudinal extending compartmented hollow flooring sections  26  are positioned longitudinally of the flat bed trailer in abutting parallel relation with the upper transversely disposed portions  12  of the I-beams  10 . The flooring sections  26  are welded to each of the transversely positioned tubular frame members  18  which support the same. 
     The outside rail  25  has vertically spaced inwardly extending right angular sections  27  and  28  on its upper and lower edges and an in-turned flange  29  spaced with respect to the upper flange  27 . The ends of each of the transversely positioned tubular frame members  18  abut the inner surface of the outside rails  25  and are welded thereto and the in-turned longitudinally extending rib  29  rests on the upper straight top portion of each of the transversely positioned tubular frame members  18  and thereby spaces the in-turned flange  27  thereabove on the same level as the upper surfaces of the flooring sections  26  and the upper surfaces of the transversely disposed portions  12  of the I-beams  10 . 
     The known flat bed trailer structure disclosed herein is formed of aluminum extrusions welded to one another in the finished flat bed trailer assembly and the spaced longitudinally extending I-beams  10  are fabricated from two such aluminum extrusions, each of which is T-shaped and which extrusions are arranged with one upright and one inverted and joined together by welding them continuously to one another on the weld line  14  hereinbefore referred to. The assembly of the I-beams from the two T-shaped aluminum extrusion enables the plurality of apertures  19  in each of the web portions  11  of the I-beams  10  to be stamped therein with a controlled size and configuration which insures the accurate and desirable positioning of the transversely positioned tubular frame members  18  where they may be easily and efficiently double welded and serve not only to cross brace the I-beams  10 , but provide continuous side to side supporting structure for the flooring of the flat bed trailer structure. 
     By referring to FIG. 3 of the drawings, a further enlarged vertical end view of one of the flooring sections  26  may be seen. It will be noted from FIG. 3 that the flooring structure  26  is comprised generally of a top wall  26   a , a bottom wall  26   b , a first vertical end or side wall  26   c , a second vertical end or side wall  26   d  and a plurality of transversely spaced, vertically extending intermediate walls  26   e  that, along with top and bottom walls  26   a  and  26   b  and end or side walls  26   c  and  26   d  define a plurality of hollow compartments indicated generally by the reference numeral  26   f . The hollow compartments  26   f  extend longitudinally along the entire length of the flooring section  26  and have a cross section that for the most part is rectangular. By referring to FIG. 3 it will be seen that not all of the hollow compartments  26   f  have cross sections that are identical. A first hollow end compartment  26   f ′ bounded in part by the end or side wall  26   c , while having a height that is the same the other compartments  26   f , has a width that is slightly greater than the width of most of the other compartments  26   f . Additionally, a second hollow end compartment  26   f ″ bounded in part by the end or side wall  26   d , has a width that is substantially the same as the compartment  26   f ′; however, the lower outside corner is notched in conformity with a raised channel  26   g  provided in bottom wall  26   b . The cross-sectional differences noted among the compartments  26   f ,  26   f ′ and  26   f ″ are the result of trailer component design and/or assembly considerations for the particular trailer structure described herein and such differences may not necessarily be encountered in the case of other known trailer structures making use of flooring sections similar in construction to the floor section  26 . 
     The concept of the present invention is not necessarily intended to be limited only to the flooring section  26 , but can be applied in any case of a trailer structure where flooring sections having compartmented, hollow cells are employed. Some exemplary flooring sections are provided in FIGS. 4,  5  and  6  of the drawings. The flooring section shown in FIG.  4  and generally identified by the reference numeral  46  is similar in a number of respects to the section depicted in FIG.  3 . Flooring section  46  has top wall  26   a , bottom wall  26   b , first vertical end wall  26   c , second vertical end wall  26   d  and raised corner channel  26   g . Instead of having transversely spaced, vertically extending intermediate walls  26   e  as shown in FIG. 3, the flooring section  46  has a plurality of inclined walls  46   a  which alternate in their direction of inclination as shown in FIG.  4  and which thereby define a plurality of generally triangular hollow compartments indicated by the reference numerals  46   b ,  46   b ′ and  46   c . Just as in the case of the hollow compartments  26   f ,  26   f ′ and  26   f ″ of the flooring section  26 , the compartments  46   b ,  46   b ′ and  46   c extend longitudinally along the entire length of flooring section  46 . 
     The flooring section illustrated in FIG.  5  and identified overall by the reference numeral  56  is substantially the same as the flooring section  46  except bottom wall  26   b  is absent from flooring section  56  with the result that a plurality of cells  56   a  is formed. As will be observed by reference to FIG. 5, each of the cells  56   a  has an opening  57  that extends along the length of the underside of the floor section  56 . Between each of the cells  56   a , there is provided a rib-like foot element  58  that serves to join the lower ends of the inclined walls  46   a  and to provide a horizontal flat surface  58   a  that extends along the length of floor section  56 . In use the, the floor section  56  will be laid upon a subjacent horizontal surface indicated by the letter “S” and the straight, dashed outline in FIG.  5 . The surface “S” may be part of a flat bed trailer structure or it may be the bottom of a cargo enclosure such as that found in a traditional non-trailer delivery truck or a van. Surface “S”, regardless of whether it is part of a trailer structure or is the bottom of a cargo enclosure, makes contact with the horizontal surfaces  58   a  and thus provides a means for closing off the bottom side of the cells  56   a . As will hereafter be illustrated, such closure of the cells  56   a  permits use of the floor reinforcement system of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 shows yet another flooring section with which the present invention may used. The flooring section, which is designated generally by the reference numeral  66 , has a top wall  66   a . Unlike the top wall  26   a  of the flooring sections  26 ,  46  and  56  already described, the wall  66   a  is provided on its top surface with a plurality of longitudinally extending, transversely spaced grooves  67  which are situated generally in the central region of wall  66   a . The top surface of wall  66   a  is further provided with longitudinal channels  68  which are positioned outwardly from the grooves  67  and inwardly from the outer lateral extremities  66   g  and  66   h  of the flooring section  66 . The flooring section  66  is further provided with a plurality of transversely spaced, vertically extending intermediate walls  66   b  that project downwardly from the top wall  66   a  to define a number of laterally adjacent cells. The flooring section  66  has basically two types of cells which are defined by the walls  66   b : (I) the cells  66   c  which are generally situated in the central region of the section  66  and inboard of the longitudinal channels  68  and the cells  66   d  which are located beneath the channels  68 . At the lower end of each of the walls  66   b , rib-like foot elements  66   e  and  66   f  are provided. As may be observed by referring to FIG. 6, the foot elements  66   e  and  66   f  have somewhat different cross sections (and the elements  66   f  may differ in their directional orientation relative to one another); however, the elements  66   e  and  66   f  function similarly to the foot elements  58  of flooring section  56 , as shown in FIG.  5 . The flooring section  66  has opposing side members  66   g  and  66   h  which complete the structure of the section  66 . Side member  66   g  resembles an L-shaped flange that extends downwardly from the top wall  66   a  at one of its ends and then inwardly toward the nearest of the vertically extending intermediate walls  66   b . Side member  66   h  is comprised of a number of vertically and horizontally extending portions. From the top wall  66   a , a first vertical portion  66   h ′ extends downwardly toward and intersects with a first horizontal portion  66 ″. The first horizontal portion  66   h ″ then extends outwardly from the first vertical portion  66 ′ and joins to a second vertical portion  66   h ′″. The second vertical portion  66   h ′″ extends downwardly from the first horizontal portion  66   h ″ and joins a second horizontal portion  66   h ″″ which extends inwardly toward the nearest of the vertically extending intermediate wall  66   b . The side members  66   g  and  66   h  as thus described define cells  66   j  and  66   i  respectively. The cells  66   c ,  66   d ,  66   j  and  66   h  have openings  70 ,  71 ,  72  and  73  respectively, which when the floor section  66  is placed on the subjacent horizontal surface “S” are become closed off in a fashion similar to that described above for the floor section  56 . Such closure of the cells  66   c ,  66   d ,  66   j  and  66   h  will also allow use of the floor reinforcement system of the present invention in a manner as will be hereinafter illustrated. 
     Returning now to FIG.  3  and the flooring section  26  depicted therein, the outer surface of the top wall  26   a  of the flooring section  26  is provided with a plurality of upwardly projecting ribs  26   h . The ribs  26   h  run longitudinally along the length of the flooring section  26 , and generally are evenly spaced transversely along the outer surface of the top wall  26   a  in groups of three. As will also be seen in FIG. 3, an object such as a heavy coil of flat-rolled steel is represented by the letter “L” and the curved, dashed outline and is shown to be resting on the top wall  26   a  of the flooring section  26 . Resting in such manner, the full weight of the coil L will be concentrated in a relatively small area on the top wall  26   a , defined generally by the width of the coil L taken along its longitudinal axis and the amount of linear contact made between the coil L and the top wall  26   a , such contact being measured transversely along wall  26   a . In past instances where the overall weight of the coil L was sufficiently large to exceed the bending and buckling resistance of the portion of the flooring section  26  lying immediately thereunder, permanent deformation or damage manifested in a form of crushing the portion of flooring section  26  underlying coil L has occurred, with one or more of the overly stressed compartment walls  26  perhaps becoming buckled or otherwise bent from their normal vertical orientation and with top wall  26   a  becoming bowed downward. (Permanent deformation of a similar nature can occur in other hollow compartment flooring sections including those shown in FIGS. 4,  5 , and  6  of the drawings and described hereinabove.) 
     The various aspects of the reinforcement system of the present invention, which is directed toward eliminating permanent deformation or damage like that discussed above, are illustrated for the flooring section  26  collectively in FIGS. 7,  8 ,  9 A,  9 B and  9 C. (Aspects of the invention as they relate to exemplary flooring systems  46 ,  56  and  66  are similarly illustrated in FIGS. 10,  11 ,  12 A,  12 B,  12 C,  13 ,  14 ,  15 A,  15 B,  15 C,  16 ,  17 ,  18 A,  18 B,  18 C and  18 D.) By referring to FIG. 7 of the drawings, a perspective view of a flooring section  26  along with a reinforcement member  40  of the present invention may be seen. It will be observed that the reinforcement member  40  is a bar-like structure that will be slidably introduced into any one or more of the hollow compartments  26   f  before an object such as the coil L is placed on the flooring section  26 . As indicated in FIG. 7 by the arrow identified with the letter “M”, the reinforcement member  40  will be movable into and out of the flooring section  26  in a longitudinal direction. Preferably the member  40  will have a length that corresponds to that of the compartment  26   f  into which it is introduced, and the member  40 ,when in use, will be fully inserted into the compartment  26   f . By referring to FIG. 8, it will be seen that the reinforcement system of the present invention is envisioned to include a plurality reinforcement members  40  that are introduced into compartments  26   f  that will be situated immediately beneath the coil L and into any desired number of contiguous compartments lying to the left and right thereof. In instances where the mass and/or size of the coil L may so dictate, as many as all of the compartments  26   f ,  26   f ′ and  26   f ″ of a flooring section  26  may receive one of the reinforcement members  40 , and additionally, more than one of the flooring sections  26  situated proximately to each other may contain reinforcement members  40 . 
     By referring to FIGS. 9A,  9 B and  9 C where end views are provided of reinforcement members usable with the flooring section  26 , it will be seen in FIG. 9A that a reinforcement member  40 A insertable specifically into the compartments  26   f  has a cross section that is identical to that of each of the compartments  26   f  and that will dimensionally allow the member  40 A to slide freely into and out of the compartments  26   f  and at the same time make contact with all four of the walls of the compartments  26   f . Similarly in FIGS. 9B and 9C, reinforcement members  40 B and  40 C will be seen, which are insertable specifically into the compartments  26   f ′ and  26   f ″, respectively Just as in the case of the member  40 A, the cross sections of members  40 B and  40 C will be the same as those corresponding respectively to compartments  26   f ′ and  26   f ″ and will also permit free sliding movement to occur and full contact will all walls of compartments  26   f ′ and  26   f ″ to be achieved. 
     The reinforcement of the present invention is used in a similar manner for the flooring sections  46 ,  56  and  66  shown in FIGS. 4,  5  and  6  of the drawings. FIGS. 10,  13  and  15 , provide a perspective view of each of the flooring section  46 ,  56  and  66  along with the reinforcement members  80 ,  90  and  100  of the present invention. In the case of the flooring section  46 , it will be observed that the reinforcement member  80  is a bar-like structure having a triangular cross section that will allow the member  80  to be slidably introduced into any one or more of the hollow compartments  46   b . Likewise in the case of the flooring sections  56  and  66 , the reinforcement members  90  and  100  are bar-like structures having cross sections corresponding to those of the cells  56   a  and  66   c  and thus the members  90  and  100  are slidably introduced in to any one or more or the cells which have a corresponding shape. FIGS. 11,  14  and  16  show a plurality of the reinforcement members  80 ,  90  and  100  as they will appear after having been introduced into the compartments  46   b ,  56   a  and  66   c  lying immediately beneath the coil “L” and into contiguous compartments lying to the left and right thereof. It will be noted that when members  80 ,  90  and  100  are utilized in such manner, they provide support and reinforcement to flooring sections  46 ,  56  and  66  in the same way as members  40  support and reinforce flooring section  26 . 
     FIGS. 12A,  12 B,  12 C,  15 A,  15 B,  15 C,  18 A,  18 B and  18 C provide cross-sectional end views of the reinforcement members which may be used with the flooring sections  46 ,  56  and  66  in any situation where it is necessary or desirable to reinforce all of the cells in any one of the flooring sections  46 ,  56  and  66 . It will be noted that just as in the case of the flooring section  26 , the reinforcement members for the flooring sections  46 ,  56  and  66  are provided with cross-sections that correspond to those of all cells present in the flooring sections with which they are used. 
     For the reinforcement system of the present invention, it is envisioned that the plurality of reinforcement members  40 ,  80 ,  90  and  100  will be fabricated from a metal that preferably is the same as that used to fabricate the flooring sections  26 ,  46 , 56  and  66 . In the case of the known trailer structure described hereinabove, the flooring sections  26 ,  46 ,  56  and  66  are fabricated of aluminum. Therefore, the plurality of reinforcement members  40 ,  80 ,  90  and  100  will likewise be fabricated of aluminum through the use of any suitable known fabrication technique. Other trailer structures may exist or come into use where metals other than aluminum are employed to make the flooring sections  26 ,  46 ,  56  and  66 , or compartmented, hollow flooring sections similar thereto. Where such other metals are used for the flooring sections  26 ,  46   56  and  66 , or similar flooring systems, the plurality of reinforcing members  40 ,  80 ,  90  and  100  used therewith preferably will be of a like metal, and all reinforcement systems such as that described herein and fabricated of metals other than aluminum are intended to be within the scope of the present invention. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made therein and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.