Galvanized upper coupler assembly
A method of making a vehicle coupler assembly comprises the steps of assembling together a coupler assembly, the coupler assembly comprising a coupler grid plate and a kingpin coupled together with the coupler grid plate and extending below a bottom surface of the coupler grid plate and after assembling together the coupler grid and the kingpin, applying a coating to at least a portion of the coupler assembly.
1. A method of making a vehicle coupler assembly comprising the steps of:
assembling together a grid assembly, the grid assembly comprising a coupler grid plate, a kingpin, a support bracket, and a set of cross-members, the kingpin extending below a bottom surface of the coupler grid plate and the cross-members defining a kingpin channel in which the kingpin and the support bracket are positioned, no part of the grid assembly having been galvanized prior to assembling together the grid assembly;
after assembling together the grid assembly, applying a galvanizing coating to at least a portion of the grid assembly including a portion of the kingpin; and
after applying the galvanizing coating, applying a rust preventative coating to the grid assembly including a portion of the previously galvanized portions, the rust preventative coating is a wax coating, an epoxy paint, or a water emulsified asphaltic coating.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the galvanizing coating is applied by flame-spraying at a station positioned in-line of a trailer coupler manufacturing line.
3. The method of claim 1 , further including a step of finishing the coupler assembly, the finishing step comprising the step of:
positioning a cover plate over the kingpin.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the galvanizing coating is selected from the group consisting of zinc, magnesium, aluminum, alloys of zinc, alloys of magnesium, and alloys of aluminum.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the galvanizing coating is between about 0.2 mil and about 20 mils.