TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to material moving equipment and, more particularly, to a dump assembly that can be mounted to a vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to utilize a dump truck to move material (e.g. , dirt). It can be desirable to minimize the weight of the dump truck in order to maximize vehicle operation efficiency. One area where substantial weight savings can be realized is the dump body. However, while minimizing the weight of the dump body, care must be exercised to ensure that the structural integrity of the dump body is not compromised.

Present dump body designs may be provided with various combinations of floor profiles and stiffening members. However, known dump body designs fail to fully capture the dual goals of reduced weight and uncompromised structural integrity.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of the present invention, a dump assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. The dump assembly includes a rail box configured to be mounted to the vehicle. A dump body is attached to the rail box. The dump body extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a floor plate having a plurality of interconnected curved sections. A stiffener is configured to reinforce the dump body. The stiffener is shaped to mimic the shape of the interconnected curved sections.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a dump assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. The dump assembly includes a rail box configured to be mounted to the vehicle. The rail box has a tunnel portion. A dump body is attached to the rail box. The dump body extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a floor plate having a plurality of interconnected curved sections. A stiffener is configured to reinforce the dump body. The stiffener extends through the tunnel portion of the rail box in a direction extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the dump body.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a dump assembly for a vehicle is disclosed. The dump assembly includes a rail box configured to be mounted to the vehicle. A dump body is attached to the rail box. The dump body extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a floor plate having a plurality of interconnected curved sections. A stiffener is configured to reinforce the dump body. The stiffener includes a plate having an edge that is in substantially continuous, uninterrupted contact with the plurality of interconnected curved sections of the floor plate.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure a dump assembly for an off-highway vehicle is disclosed. The assembly includes a dump body having a W- shaped profile and a support structure for the dump body. The support structure includes a plurality of stiffeners extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the dump body. Each of the plurality of stiffeners includes at least three plates and has a W-shaped profile that corresponds to the W-shaped profile of the dump body. An edge of each of the plurality of stiffeners is substantially in continuous, uninterrupted contact with the dump body. A plurality of rail boxes extend parallel to the longitudinal axis of the dump body. Each of the plurality of stiffeners includes at least one tunnel portion through which one of the plurality of stiffeners extend. The at least one tunnel portion is provided with at least one reinforcement plate. The dump assembly further includes a plurality of wear plates are secured to the dump body. The wear plates are arranged to follow the W-shaped profile of the dump body.

The dump body of the present invention is especially suited to off-highway vehicles that are used, for example, in mining operations. The combination of the particular features of the disclosed stiffeners, rail boxes, and floor plate provides a relatively lightweight assembly that remains robust enough for mining operation use. Additional features of the invention will become apparent and a fuller understanding obtained by reading the following detailed description made in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure relates upon consideration of the following description of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals, unless otherwise described refer to like parts throughout the drawings and in which: Fig. 1 is a dump truck provided with a dump assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the dump assembly of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is another perspective view of the dump assembly of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the dump assembly of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is sectional view along 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a detail view of as indicated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the dump assembly of Fig. 1 equipped with wear plates; and

Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view as indicated in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A dump assembly 18 according to one aspect of the present invention is shown in Figs. 1-7. In one example, the dump assembly 18 is mounted to an off -highway dump truck 200 (Fig. 1). However, it is contemplated that the dump assembly 18 can be mounted to any desired vehicle. The dump assembly 18 includes rail boxes 22 that are attached to a dump body 20. In one example, the dump assembly 18 includes two rail boxes 22. However, it is contemplated that the dump assembly 18 may include a fewer or greater number of rail boxes 22.

The rail boxes 22 are mounted to a part of the dump truck 200 (e.g. , chassis) to allow movement of the dump body 20 relative to the dump truck 200. In one example, an actuator 202 pivotally moves the dump body 20 relative to the dump truck 200 about a pivot point 204. The actuator 202 can move the dump body 20 between a lowered position to allow the loading of material into the dump body 20 and a raised position (as shown in Fig. 1) to unload material from the dump body 20. However, it is contemplated that other arrangements may be provided for producing types of movement of the dump body 20 relative to the dump truck 200 other than the above described pivotal movement.

The dump body 20 has a longitudinal axis 26 that extends along an x-axis between a first end 28 and a second end 30, a height that extends along a y-axis, and a width that extends along a z-axis between a first side 29 and a second side 31. The longitudinal axis 26 of the dump body 20 extends substantially parallel to a length of each rail box 22. The dump body 20 is arranged relative to the rail boxes 22 such that the longitudinal axis 26 of the dump body 20 is substantially centered between the rail boxes 22 (Figs. 4 and 5).

The dump body 20 includes a floor plate 32. The floor plate 32 has a plurality of interconnected curved sections 34, 36, 38 that give the floor plate 32 a wavelike appearance. In one example, the curved sections 34, 36, 38 are interconnected to give the floor plate 32 an approximate W-shaped cross section (Figs. 3 and 5). However, it is contemplated that the floor plate 32 may have a cross section other than W-shaped. In one example, the curved sections 34, 36, 38 are manufactured separately and subsequently joined. However, it is contemplated that the interconnected curved sections 34, 36, 38 may be manufactured integrally as a single unit. The first curved section 34 bows away from the rail boxes 22 and is arranged such that the peak of the curve (i.e., the point of the curve located furthest away from the rail boxes 22) is substantially centered along the longitudinal axis 26 of the dump body 22. The second curved section 36 and third curved section 38 are arranged on opposite sides of the first curved section 34, respectively. The second curved section 36 and third curved section 38 each bow toward the rail boxes 22. Both the second curved section 36 and the third curved section 38 terminate in respective panel joining sections 42, 44.

The dump body 20 is provided with a front panel 46, a first side panel 48, and a second side panel 50. The front panel 46 is secured to the floor plate 32 at the front end 28 of the dump body 20 as indicated in Fig. 3. The first side panel 48 is secured to the panel joining section 42 of the second curved section 36 at the first side 29 of the dump body 20. The second side panel 50 is secured to the panel joining 44 of the third curved section 38 at the second side 31 of the dump body 20. The front panel 46, the first side panel 48, and the second side panel 50 cooperate to circumscribe three edges of the floor plate 32 and cooperate with the floor plate 32 to define a space for receiving material. A fourth edge of the floor plate 32 (located at the second end 30 of the dump body 20) remains open to allow for the exit of material from dump body 20 when the dump body 20 is in the raised position. However, it is contemplated that the fourth edge of the floor plate 32 may be provided with a swinging panel that is moveable from a closed position to an open position to allow for the selective exit of material from the dump body 20.

A plurality of spaced apart stiffeners 60 are provided on the dump body 20 along the longitudinal axis 26 of the dump body 20. In one example, the dump body 20 is provided with six stiffeners 60. However, it is contemplated that the dump body 20 may be provided with a fewer or greater number of stiffeners 60. A longitudinal axis 61 of each stiffener 60 is arranged to extend substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 26 of the dump body 20 (Fig. 4). Each stiffener 60 includes a floor stiffener section 62, a first stiffener extension section 64, and a second stiffener extension section 66.

Each floor stiffener section 62 includes a first vertical plate 70, a second vertical plate 72, and a horizontal plate 74 (Fig. 6). In this context, the words "vertical" and "horizontal" refer to the orientation of the particular plate relative to the floor plate 32. The first and second vertical plates 70, 72 and the horizontal plate 74 are interconnected so as to give the floor stiffener 62 a substantially U-shaped cross section. However, it is contemplated that the first and second vertical plates 70, 72 and the horizontal plate 74 may be arranged to give each floor stiffener 62 any other desired cross section. For example, the first and second vertical plates 70, 72 and the horizontal plate 74 may be arranged to give each floor stiffener 62 a substantially H-shaped, π-shaped, or I-shaped cross section. Additionally, it is contemplated that the floor stiffener section 62 may include a fewer or greater number of vertical plates and/or horizontal plates and/or plates being arranged other than horizontal or vertical.

Opposite longitudinal edges 80, 82 of each of the first and second vertical plates 70, 72 are shaped so as to substantially replicate the W-shaped cross section of the floor plate 32. Similarly, the horizontal plate 74 is formed such that planar faces 84, 86 of the horizontal plate 74 substantially replicate the W-shaped cross section of the floor plate 32. Accordingly, the overall shape of each of the floor stiffener sections 62 along the longitudinal axis 61 of each stiffener 60 is substantially identical to the W-shaped cross sectional shape of the floor plate 32. In other words, when viewed from the perspective shown in Fig. 5, the overall shape of each of the floor stiffener sections 62 substantially mimics and follows the contours of the floor plate 32. However, it is contemplated that the longitudinal edge 82 of the first and second vertical plates 70, 72 not attached to the floor 32 plate may have a shape that deviates from the W-shaped cross section of the floor plate 32. Furthermore, it is contemplated that the horizontal plate 74 may be formed such that the overall shape of the planar faces 84, 86 of the horizontal plate 74 deviates from the W- shaped cross section of the floor plate 32. Each of the first stiffener extension sections 64 and each of the second stiffener extension sections 66 are provided at opposite longitudinal ends of a respective one of the floor stiffener sections 62. The first stiffener extension section 64 is secured to an exterior surface of first side panel 48. The second stiffener extension section 66 is secured to an exterior surface of the second side panel 50. The first stiffener extension section 64 and the second stiffener extension section 66 each have a cross section that is the same as the cross section of the floor stiffener section 62 (i.e. , composed of three plates arranged to form a U-shaped cross section). However, it is contemplated that either one of the first stiffener extension 64 or the second stiffener extension 66, or both the first and second stiffener extensions 64, 66, may have a cross section that is different from the cross section of the floor stiffener sections 62. Additionally, it is contemplated that the first stiffener extension 64 and/or the second stiffener extension 66 may include a fewer or greater number of plates.

It may be desirable to maximize the reinforcing effects of the floor stiffener sections 62 on the floor plate 32 by allowing the longitudinal edge 80 of the first and second vertical plates 70, 72 to remain in substantially continuous, uninterrupted contact with the floor plate 32. To this end, the rail boxes 22 are provided with tunnel portions 90 (Fig. 7) through which certain floor stiffeners 62 pass. The tunnel portions 90 permit the continuous, uninterrupted contact of the longitudinal edge 80 of the first and second vertical plates 70, 72, respectively, with the interconnected curved sections 34, 36, 38 of the floor plate 32. Reinforcement plates 92 may be secured to the rail boxes 22 to provide additional reinforcement to the rail boxes 22 in the area of the tunnel portions 90. In one example, the reinforcement plates 92 are secured to an exterior surface of the rail boxes 22 and are substantially U-shaped and approximate the perimeter of the tunnel portions 90. However, it is contemplated that the reinforcement plates 92 may additionally, or alternatively, be secured to an interior surface of the rail boxes 22. Additionally, it contemplated that the reinforcement plates 92 may be formed as other shapes.

The wear characteristics of the floor plate may 32 may be improved by the addition of wear plates 100 (Figs. 8 and 9). In one example, the wear plates 100 are substantially cuboid shaped and welded to the floor plate 32. However, it is contemplated that the wear plates 100 may have any other desired shape. Additionally, it is contemplated that the wear plates 100 may be secured to the floor plate 32 by any other desired method. For example, rivets can be used to secure the wear plates 100 to the floor plate 32. The use of multiple individual wear plates 100 allows for the implementation of protection for the floor plate 32 using easily produced components without necessitating the manufacture of a specialty wear plate having the profile of the W-shaped floor plate 32. Although the wear plates 100 are illustrated as being on only part of the floor plate 32, it is contemplated that a larger or smaller percentage of the floor plate 32 may be covered with the wear plates 100. Additionally, it is contemplated that any one or more of the front panel 46, the side panel 48, and the second side panel may be provided with the wear plates 100.

What has been described above are examples of the present invention. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the present invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the present invention are possible. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Additionally, although the present invention has been described with reference to a three dimensional Cartesian system (x, y, z) and terms such as length, width, and height, it is understood that such description is not meant to limit the present invention but is only used to facilitate the disclosure of the present invention.