{
  "patent_number": "US 11840398",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How Titan Trailers Builds Stronger, Smoother Cargo Containers",
  "original_title": "Quasi-cylindrical cargo container and construction",
  "summary": "A design for a cargo trailer shaped like a rounded tube made from flat and curved aluminum panels that are welded together to create a smooth, unobstructed interior.",
  "what_it_does": "This patent describes a method for constructing a quasi-cylindrical cargo container by joining curved and flat aluminum panels. The design uses two semi-cylindrical shells connected by flat extension panels to create a tube-like structure. The manufacturing process involves using external collars to compress the joints between panels while they are welded, ensuring a tight fit. The resulting container is unique because it lacks internal ribs or reinforcing bands, providing a completely smooth, hollow interior for cargo.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover standard rectangular or box-shaped cargo containers.",
    "Does not cover containers that rely on internal support ribs or annular bands for structural integrity.",
    "Does not cover containers made from materials other than those described, such as non-metallic composites.",
    "Does not cover non-welded assembly methods like bolting or riveting."
  ],
  "filed": "2018-06-15",
  "granted": "2023-12-12",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": "Titan Trailers Inc",
  "holder_url": "https://patentbrief.org/company/titan-trailers-inc",
  "inventors": [
    {
      "name": "Michael Kloepfer",
      "url": "https://patentbrief.org/inventor/michael-kloepfer"
    }
  ],
  "times_cited": 3,
  "tags": [
    "mechanical",
    "automotive"
  ],
  "abstract": "A quasi-cylindrical cargo container is formed of a plurality of rigid, curved panels together forming first and second semi-cylindrical shells, and a plurality of rigid, flat extension panels bridging the first and second semi-cylindrical shells. A method of manufacturing the container includes forming the first and second semi-cylindrical shell from the curved panels, forming the quasi-cylindrical shell from the first and second semi-cylindrical shells and the flat extension panels, forming collars conformably encompassing the quasi-cylindrical shell, constricting the collars to compress joints formed at abutting edges of pairs of adjacent panels, rolling the shell and collars sequentially to bring the joints to a lower position, welding inside seams of the joints when at the lower position, removing the collars, rolling the shell sequentially to bring the joints to an upper position, and welding outside seams of the joints when at the upper position.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11840398/starship-mars-configuration",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11840398/starship-mars-configuration/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US11840398",
  "relatedPatents": []
}