Modular cab, sleeper and roof structural assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle
A modular cab/sleeper/roof structural assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle according to the present invention provides greater manufacturing flexibility and unrestricted access between a cab/sleeper unit. The structural assembly includes a top-free cab unit having a front wall, opposing side walls, and a bottom portion. A top-free sleeper unit positioned behind the cab unit has a rear wall, opposing side walls, and a bottom portion. Fasteners couple the cab unit and the sleeper unit such that an upwardly opened carriage assembly is formed. A unitary roof member fixedly encloses the opened carriage assembly and forms an integral modular unit. The unitary roof member has a front portion connected to the front wall of the cab unit, a rear portion connected to the rear wall of the sleeper unit, and opposing side portions connected to the opposing side walls of the cab and sleeper units. The cab unit, sleeper unit and roof member are not independent structures; however, when they are assembled, the units constitute a durable cab/sleeper unit.
1. A method of assembling a top-free cab unit, a top-free sleeper unit and a roof member to form a modular cab/sleeper/roof structural assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a top-free cab unit having a front wall, opposing side walls, and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having sills;
providing a top-free sleeper unit having a rear wall, opposing side walls, and a bottom portion, the bottom portion having sills;
aligning an open rear portion of said cab unit with an open front portion of said sleeper unit, the sills of the cab unit bottom portion overlapping the sills of the sleeper unit bottom portion;
fixedly joining the aligned cab unit and sleeper unit to form an upwardly open carriage assembly including fastening overlapping parts of the sills of the cab unit bottom portion and the sills of the sleeper unit bottom portion;
enclosing said upwardly open carriage assembly with a roof member; and
fixedly joining said upwardly open carriage assembly and said roof member to form an integral modular unit.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising connecting said integral modular unit to a chassis member.
3. A method of assembling a top-free cab unit, a top-free sleeper unit and a roof member to form a modular cab/sleeper/roof structural assembly for a truck-tractor vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:
providing a top-free cab unit having a front wall, opposing side walls, and a bottom floor portion;
providing a top-free sleeper unit having a rear wall, opposing side walls, and a bottom floor portion;
aligning an open rear portion of said cab unit with an open front portion of said sleeper unit, wherein the respective bottom floor portions and respective side walls are placed in contact;
fixedly joining the aligned cab unit and sleeper unit to form a carriage assembly having an upwardly facing opening; and,
fixedly joining said roof member at the upwardly facing opening of said carriage assembly to form an integral modular unit capable of being mounted as a unit on a chassis.