BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cross Reference

Not Applicable.

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to a modular trailer system.

Description of the Related Art

Trailers that may be tilted by raising the front end and dumping the contents out of the rear end by force of gravity are well known. These trailers are typically attached to trucks or other vehicles to haul the trailer and accompanying load. The trailer itself typically includes a front wall and sidewalls and may have a removable or swinging tail gate. The tail gate is typically closed during loading and transportation of the materials and is removed or opened to unload the materials.

Trailer walls were traditionally constructed using sheet material. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,971,926 and 7,338,111, both of which are incorporated herein by reference, attempted to improve on traditional sheet material walls by using hollow extruded panels. The panels have a double wall construction with inner and outer shells to provide increased puncture resistance, wear resistance, and strength, while remaining lightweight. In both patents, a separate top rail was attached to the top of the walls.

Such panels have to be welded to each other on both the inside and outside of the trailer, as well as to the floor and to the top rail. As such, assembly of such trailers is time consuming and costly. In addition, aluminum trailers, while lightweight, are not strong enough to haul certain loads, such as boulders.

Based on the foregoing, it is desirable to provide a modular trailer system with a curved cross section made of curved panels.

It is further desirable for adjacent panels to be capable of being attached without double welding, reducing assembly cost.

It is further desirable for the system to provide optional steel components to reinforce the trailer for certain uses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general, in a first aspect, the invention relates to a modular trailer system comprising a plurality of curved panels, where each panel is elongate and has a first side with an angled projection and an opposing second side with an angled slot such that the angled projection of one panel is capable of fitting into the angled slot of another panel, allowing the panels to join together to form a continuously curved surface. The plurality of curved panels may form a trailer body with an open top, where the open top is narrower than a widest point of the trailer body due to the curvature of the continuously curved surface. The modular trailer system may further comprise a first top rail with an angled slot capable of receiving the angled projection of one of the plurality of curved panels and a second top rail with an angled projection capable of fitting into the angled slot of another of the plurality of curved panels. The plurality of curved panels, first top rail, and second top rail may be assembled together to form an elongate trailer body with a partially circular cross section, such that the trailer body has a continually rounded bottom and sides and an open top.

The plurality of curved panels, first top rail, and second top rail may be joined via a weld on each joint, located on an exterior of the trailer body. The joints may not be welded on an interior of the trailer body. Alternately, the plurality of curved panels, first top rail, and second top rail may be joined via adhesive in each joint.

The plurality of curved panels may be made of extruded aluminum. The modular trailer system may further comprise a liner, which may be made of steel, UHMW, aluminum, nylon, plastic, or any other desired material. Each of the top rails may comprise an inwardly projecting lip, and the liner may be located within an interior of the trailer body and below the lips of the top rails.

