VANGUARD NATIONAL TRAILER CORPORATION Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150197291 | Trailer Sail - A flexible trailer fairing for reducing aerodynamic drag on an over the road trailer is disclosed. A fourfold flexible fairing system may be used to reduce drag from both the trailer landing gear and wheel assembly. Numerous systems for keeping the flexible fairing taught while in continued use are also disclosed. | 07-16-2015 |
20090033060 | Converter Dolly Backup Device - A backup device for limiting the rotation of converter dollies about a trailer hitch is presented. A dolly mounted, laterally extending moveable bar is selectively pressed against the vertical members of the trailer's underride guard in order to prevent rotation of the dolly relative to the trailer. The bar is retracted from the trailer to allow significant rotation of the dolly during normal forward operation. The backup device is operable with many makes and models of trailers because the laterally extending bar provides a large area that the trailer underride guard may contact. In addition to being operable with many models of trailers, the present invention does not require specific features to be added onto a trailer pulling the converter dolly. Additionally, the large contact area of the laterally extending bar allows the device to function with dollies that are significantly rotated about a trailer hitch. The backup device is also robust, aerodynamic, and self contained. Although manual operation of the device is possible, by connecting the device to the pressurized trailer brake line, the electrical circuitry of the trailer, or other means, the backup device may be operated from within the tractor cab. | 02-05-2009 |
20090021047 | Cargo Container with U-Shaped Panels - A cargo container that includes a U-shaped panel, and/or an L-shaped panel is disclosed. The cargo container has a top, bottom, and two sides, each U-shaped and/or L-shaped panels forms part of the top and a side, or the bottom and a side. The cargo container may further include doors with hinges and/or doors that slide. Landing gear may support the container when not in transit. The U-shaped and/or L-shaped panels may be inhomogeneous in size and thickness to reinforce the areas of highest stress concentration such as the container edges or the attachment location of the landing gear. The cargo container may also have a bottom floor with a greater thickness than each of the significantly parallel sides, or a bottom floor with parallel or interconnected support protrusions. The U-shaped and/or L-shaped panels may include internal support structures. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing U-shaped and/or L-shaped panels. | 01-22-2009 |
20080303311 | Crash attenuating underride guard - An aerodynamic underride guard comprising an angled front section located ahead of the trailer landing gear, a crash attenuating middle section located between the trailer landing gear and the trailer wheel assembly, and an angled rear section located in proximity to the trailer wheel assembly. The front angled section deflects air away from the non-aerodynamic features of the trailer landing gear. The rear angled section deflects air away from the non-aerodynamic features of the trailer wheel assembly, and the crash attenuating middle section can prevent vehicles from under riding the trailer. | 12-11-2008 |
20080296930 | Trailer keel - A trailer fairing for reducing aerodynamic drag from trailer landing gear and/or wheel assembly is disclosed. The fairing may be directly connected to the forward facing structural supports of the landing gear, and an air tank may be located between the fairing and the cargo storage area. A single fairing may be used to reduce the drag from both the trailer landing gear and wheel assembly. The fairing may include a tapered front section and/or a rear section. The fairing may have rounded, oval, angled, and/or tapered sections. A plurality of fairings may also be used. | 12-04-2008 |
20080284131 | Cargo Tube - A tube shaped cargo container and method of manufacture. The cargo container is manufactured by a process that includes pultruding or extruding a seamless container with two sides, a roof, and a floor. Doors, landing gear, structural supports, another side, and a wheel assembly may be added after the pultrusion/extrusion process. The cargo container may include rounded side/floor and side/roof connections. The cargo container may include one or two rounded ends. | 11-20-2008 |
20080272617 | Trailer With Aerodynamic Rear Door - An aerodynamic cargo container with rounded rear doors is disclosed. The aerodynamic cargo container includes an angled rear area that reduces base drag when the container is transported. The rear sliding door allows for partial opening of the door and allows for operation of the door when the rear of the container is in close proximity to another object. The crash attenuating skirt deflects vehicles away from the cargo container. A pair of cargo doors may define the curved contour of the trailer rear section. These doors may have a plurality of pivoted and segmented sections that assume the curved contour of a stationary edge when the doors are moved to a closed position. | 11-06-2008 |