Granted Patent B2

US 12,466,639 · App. 18/972,409 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Inventor: Michael Kloepfer (Delhi, CA)

Assignee: Titan Trailers Inc.

B65D90/08B60P3/221B60P3/2225B65D88/127B65D90/024B65D88/06B65D90/16

Abstract

Claims (18)

1 . An apparatus for manufacturing an obround shell, the apparatus comprising:

a cradle comprising a first set of ring segments, each ring segment of the first set of ring segments having a semi-annular shape, wherein the first set of ring segments are rigidly mounted on at least one longitudinal frame member to longitudinally space and align concentrically the first set of ring segments to form a semi-cylindrical frame;

a second set of ring segments, each ring segment of the second set of ring segments having the semi-annular shape, the second set of ring segments corresponding respectively pairwise to the first set of ring segments;

for each ring segment of the first set of ring segments, alignment guides extending from respective outer edges of end faces of the ring segments; and

constricting means provided at and operable to couple and to variably space respectively opposable ends of the corresponding pairs of the first set of ring segments and the second set of ring segments to form an obround frame.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the cradle further comprises at least three of the longitudinal frame members.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a rolling apparatus configured to roll the obround frame about a longitudinal axis of the obround frame.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the rolling apparatus comprises a tank roller comprising a base and at least a pair of cylindrical rollers mounted on the base.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising at least one spacer to maintain an obround shape of the obround shell during manufacturing of the obround shell.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one spacer comprises at least one spacing disk.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein each of the at least one spacing disk comprises a first semi-disk having a semi-circular shape, a rectangular plate, and a second semi-disk having the semi-circular shape, configured for rigid assembly to form the spacing disk and also configured for disassembly of the spacing disk into the first semi-disk, the rectangular plate, and the second semi-disk.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one spacer comprises at least one spacing ring comprising an inflatable tube and a rim formed with an outer U-shaped channel configured to receive the inflatable tube.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein respective inner edges of the end faces of the first set of ring segments and the second set of ring segments have an inner edge spacing of between 5′ and 12′, and the constricting means are operable to variably space the respectively opposable ends of the corresponding pairs of the first set of ring segments and the second set of ring segments between 10″ and 32″ greater than the inner edge spacing.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second set of ring segments are mutually unconnected.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the opposable ends of the corresponding pairs of the first set of ring segments and the second set of ring segments comprise respective flanges defining through holes, and the constricting means comprise respective nut and bolt combinations.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each ring segment of the first set of ring segments and the second set of ring segments has a radially inwardly facing continuous surface configured for contacting an outer surface of the obround shell.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the radially inwardly facing continuous surface is semi-cylindrical.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first set of ring segments defines a radial opening, and the radial openings are aligned angularly with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cradle.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (5)

References Cited (313)