Off-highway off-road dump truck
First Claim
1. A truck comprising:
- a frame having a forward end and a rearward end;
at least two rear wheels coupled to a portion of the frame and supporting the rearward end of the frame;
at least first and second strut modules, the first and second strut modules coupled to the frame near the forward end, wherein each of the strut modules includes;
a strut assembly oriented having an upper end, a lower end, and a strut axis, the strut assembly having a strut housing affixed at the upper end to part of the truck frame concentric with the strut axis and having a steer tube arranged to rotate about the strut axis relative to the strut housing;
a spindle assembly having a pair of oppositely disposed spindles extending from a spindle housing and defining a wheel rotation axis, the spindle assembly being carried at the lower end of the strut assembly for co-rotation with the steer tube about the strut axis, the spindle assembly constructed for damped movement along the strut axis relative to the truck frame;
a pair of wheel and tire assemblies, one each supported by a respective one of the spindles for rotation about the wheel rotation axis;
at least one drive motor associated with one of the spindles for drivingly rotating the respective wheel and tire assembly about the wheel rotation axis;
a steering mechanism adapted to rotate the steer tube and spindle assembly relative to the strut housing of each strut module independent of the other strut modules; and
an air cooling system constructed and arranged to pass ambient air at least through part of the motors to dissipate heat from the at least one drive motor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A normally off-highway off-road dump truck is disclosed. The truck has a frame with a forward end and a rearward end. The rearward end of the frame is supported by at least two wheels coupled to part of the frame. The truck also has a forward strut support coupled to the frame near the forward end. The truck has at least first and second strut modules coupled to the forward strut support. The first and second strut modules each have an independent steering mechanism and at least one wheel and tire assembly. Each of the first and second strut modules can also have one or more motors for driving a respective wheel and tire assembly independent of each other wheel and tire assembly of that strut module and of the other strut module.
33 Citations
88 Claims
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1. A truck comprising:
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a frame having a forward end and a rearward end;
at least two rear wheels coupled to a portion of the frame and supporting the rearward end of the frame;
at least first and second strut modules, the first and second strut modules coupled to the frame near the forward end, wherein each of the strut modules includes;
a strut assembly oriented having an upper end, a lower end, and a strut axis, the strut assembly having a strut housing affixed at the upper end to part of the truck frame concentric with the strut axis and having a steer tube arranged to rotate about the strut axis relative to the strut housing;
a spindle assembly having a pair of oppositely disposed spindles extending from a spindle housing and defining a wheel rotation axis, the spindle assembly being carried at the lower end of the strut assembly for co-rotation with the steer tube about the strut axis, the spindle assembly constructed for damped movement along the strut axis relative to the truck frame;
a pair of wheel and tire assemblies, one each supported by a respective one of the spindles for rotation about the wheel rotation axis;
at least one drive motor associated with one of the spindles for drivingly rotating the respective wheel and tire assembly about the wheel rotation axis;
a steering mechanism adapted to rotate the steer tube and spindle assembly relative to the strut housing of each strut module independent of the other strut modules; and
an air cooling system constructed and arranged to pass ambient air at least through part of the motors to dissipate heat from the at least one drive motor.
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2. A truck comprising:
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a frame;
a forward strut support coupled to the frame;
first and second strut modules coupled to the forward strut support;
a rear strut support coupled to the frame;
third and fourth strut modules coupled to the rear strut support, wherein each of the strut modules is steerable and each of the strut modules includes a tire mounted thereon. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A truck comprising:
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a frame having a forward end and a rearward end;
at least two rear wheels coupled to a portion of the frame and supporting the rearward end of the frame;
at least first and second strut modules, the first and second strut modules coupled to the frame near the forward end wherein each of the strut modules includes;
a strut assembly oriented having an upper end, a lower end, and a strut axis, the strut assembly having a strut housing affixed at the upper end to part of the truck frame concentric with the strut axis and having a steer tube arranged to rotate about the strut axis relative to the strut housing;
a spindle assembly defining a wheel rotation axis and being carried at the lower end of the strut assembly for co-rotation with the steer tube about the strut axis, the spindle assembly constructed for damped movement along the strut axis relative to the truck frame;
at least one front wheel supported for rotation about the wheel rotation axis;
a steering mechanism adapted to rotate the steer tube and spindle assembly relative to the strut housing; and
an air cooling system constructed and arranged to direct ambient air to portions of the strut for dissipating heat from the strut portions. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48)
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36. A truck comprising:
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a frame having a forward end and a rearward end;
at least two rear wheels coupled to a portion of the frame and supporting the rearward end of the frame;
at least first and second strut modules, the first and second strut modules coupled to the frame near the forward end, wherein each of the strut modules includes;
a strut assembly oriented having an upper end, a lower end, and a strut axis, the strut assembly having a strut housing affixed at the upper end to part of the truck frame concentric with the strut axis and having a steer tube arranged to rotate about the strut axis relative to the strut housing;
a spindle assembly defining a wheel rotation axis and being carried at the lower end of the strut assembly for co-rotation with the steer tube about the strut axis, the spindle assembly constructed for damped movement along the strut axis relative to the truck frame;
at least one front wheel supported for rotation about the wheel rotation axis;
a steering mechanism adapted to rotate the steer tube and spindle assembly relative to the strut housing; and
at least one drive motor supported by part of the spindle assembly and arranged to rotate the at least one wheel for driving the truck.
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46. A dump truck comprising:
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a frame having a longitudinal axis;
a dump body pivotally mounted on the frame for selectively pivoting from a carry position to a dump position; and
strut modules mounted to the frame, each strut module including at least one tire and being steerable such that the truck can be driven in parallel to the longitudinal axis and can also be driven substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, such that the dump body can be pivoted from the carry position to the dump position when the strut modules are arranged for driving in parallel with the longitudinal axis and the dump body can be pivoted from the carry position to the dump position when the strut modules are arranged for driving perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis.
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49. A dump truck comprising:
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a frame having a longitudinal axis;
a dump body pivotally mounted on the frame for selectively pivoting from a carry position to a dump position; and
strut modules mounted to the frame, the strut modules including tires and being steerable such that the truck can be driven in parallel to the longitudinal axis and can also be driven substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, the dump truck being operative for rear dumping wherein the dump body is pivoted through an arc from the carry position to the dump position and further being operative for side dumping wherein the dump body is pivoted through the arc from the carry position to the dump position.
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50. A method of operating a dump truck having a frame with a longitudinal axis, a dump body pivotally mounted to the frame, and a plurality of strut modules mounted to the frame for steering the truck, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) driving the truck forward to a position parallel to a dump location;
(b) turning the strut modules to drive the truck perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the frame;
(c) driving the truck in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis to locate the truck in the dump location; and
(d) pivoting the dump body to a dump position. - View Dependent Claims (51, 53)
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52. A strut module for a truck having a truck frame, the strut module comprising:
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a strut assembly oriented having an upper end, a lower end, and a strut axis, the strut assembly having a strut housing affixed at the upper end to part of the truck frame concentric with the strut axis and having a steer tube arranged to rotate about the strut axis relative to the strut housing;
at least one spindle assembly defining a wheel rotation axis and being carried at the lower end of the strut assembly for co-rotation with the steer tube about the strut axis, the spindle assembly constructed for damped movement along the strut axis relative to the truck frame;
at least one wheel and tire assembly mounted for rotation about the wheel rotation axis;
at least one drive motor carried by the strut assembly for drivingly rotating the at least one wheel and tire assembly about the wheel rotation axis; and
a steering mechanism adapted to independently rotate the steer tube and spindle assembly relative to the strut housing. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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68. A strut module for a truck having a frame, the strut module comprising:
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a strut assembly oriented having an upper end, a lower end, and a strut axis, the strut assembly having a strut housing affixed at the upper end to part of the truck frame concentric with the strut axis and having a steer tube arranged to rotate about the strut axis relative to the strut housing through an angle of at least about 90 degrees in each direction from a nominal position;
a spindle assembly defining a wheel rotation axis and being carried at the lower end of the strut assembly for co-rotation with the steer tube about the strut axis, the spindle assembly constructed for damped movement along the strut axis relative to the truck frame; and
a plurality of control lines having first ends coupled to and movable with the spindle assembly and having second ends coupled to a fixed portion of the truck, the control lines for operating various characteristics of the strut module, wherein the plurality of control lines are routed so as to permit both the damped movement of the spindle assembly and the maximum rotation of the steer tube and spindle assembly relative to the strut housing.
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77. A strut module for a truck having a frame, the strut module comprising:
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a strut assembly oriented having an upper end, a lower end, and a strut axis, the strut assembly having a strut housing affixed at the upper end to part of the truck frame concentric with the strut axis and having a steer tube arranged to rotate about the strut axis relative to the strut housing;
a spindle assembly having a pair of spindles extending oppositely therefrom and defining a wheel rotation axis, the spindle assembly being carried at the lower end of the strut assembly for co-rotation with the steer tube about the strut axis, the spindle assembly constructed for damped movement along the strut axis relative to the truck frame;
a pair of spaced apart wheel and tire assemblies each supported on a separate one of the spindles and rotatable about the wheel rotation axis;
a pair of motors one each cooperating with a respective one of the spindles for drivingly rotating the corresponding wheel and tire assembly;
oil cooled disc brakes associated with each spindle; and
an air cooling system arranged to pass ambient air through at least part of the motors and a portion of the oil cooled disc brakes to dissipate heat from each. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80)
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81. A strut module for a truck having a frame, the strut module comprising:
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at least one tire;
a shock absorbing portion for permitting damped relative movement between the at least one tire and the frame along a strut axis;
a steerable portion for rotating the tire about the strut axis; and
an air cooling system for collecting and directing air over cooled portions of the strut module to dissipate heat therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (82, 83, 84, 85, 86)
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87. A truck comprising:
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a frame;
a forward strut support coupled to the frame;
a rear strut support coupled to the frame;
first and second strut modules coupled to the forward strut support;
third and fourth strut modules coupled to the rear strut support, wherein each of the strut modules includes;
a strut assembly oriented having an upper end, a lower end, and a strut axis, the strut assembly having a strut housing affixed at the upper end to part of the truck frame concentric with the strut axis and having a steer tube arranged to rotate about the strut axis relative to the strut housing;
a spindle assembly having a pair of oppositely disposed spindles extending from a spindle housing and defining a wheel rotation axis, the spindle assembly being carried at the lower end of the strut assembly for co-rotation with the steer tube about the strut axis, the spindle assembly constructed for damped movement along the strut axis relative to the truck frame;
a pair of wheel and tire assemblies, one each supported by a respective one of the spindles for rotation about the wheel rotation axis;
a pair of drive motors, one each associated with each of the spindles for drivingly rotating the respective wheel and tire assembly about the wheel rotation axis;
a steering mechanism adapted to rotate the steer tube and spindle assembly relative to the strut housing of each strut module independent of the others strut modules; and
an air cooling system constructed and arranged to pass ambient air through at least part of the motors to dissipate heat from each motor.
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88. A truck comprising:
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a frame having a forward end and a rearward end;
at least two rear wheels coupled to a portion of the frame and supporting the rearward end of the frame;
a forward strut support coupled to the frame near the forward end;
at least first and second strut modules, the first and second strut modules coupled to the forward strut support, wherein each of the strut modules includes;
a strut assembly oriented having an upper end, a lower end, and a strut axis, the strut assembly having a strut housing affixed at the upper end to part of the truck frame concentric with the strut axis and having a steer tube arranged to rotate about the strut axis relative to the strut housing;
a spindle assembly having a pair of oppositely disposed spindles extending from a spindle housing and defining a wheel rotation axis, the spindle assembly being carried at the lower end of the strut assembly for co-rotation with the steer tube about the strut axis, the spindle assembly constructed for damped movement along the strut axis relative to the truck frame;
a pair of wheel and tire assemblies, one each supported by a respective one of the spindles for rotation about the wheel rotation axis;
a pair of drive motors, one each associated with each of the spindles for drivingly rotating the respective wheel and tire assembly about the wheel rotation axis;
a steering mechanism adapted to rotate the steer tube and spindle assembly relative to the strut housing of each strut module independent of the other strut modules; and
an air cooling system constructed and arranged to pass ambient air at least through part of the motors to dissipate heat from each motor.
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Specification