PROCESS FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODELING AND DESIGN OF OFF-HIGHWAY DUMP BODIES

• US 20080193273A1
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philippi-Hagenbuch Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Philippi-Hagenbuch Incorporated
• Inventors: Hagenbuch, LeRoy G., Brinkman, Philip T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,113,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/800
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/28 Tipping body constructions
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/15 Vehicle, aircraft or watercraft design
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/00 Manipulating 3D models or images for computer graphics

Abstract

A method of loading material into a dump body of a truck using a loading bucket whose volumetric capacity is approximately ⅓ or more than that of the dump body is provided. The dump body having side walls that are spaced relatively wider than conventional dump bodies. The loading bucket having a gate at a lower end thereof that when free swings open and causes the material contained in the loading bucket to drop into the dump body. The method including the steps of filling the loading bucket with an amount of earthen material and centering the loading bucket over the dump body. The bucket is then lowered to a position that: (1) substantially minimizes the clearance between the floor of the dump body and the swinging gate in its freed position; (2) allows the swinging gate to clear the side walls of the dump body as it swings through an arc after it is freed, and (3) allows the material to be discharged substantially in the center of the dump body. The swinging gate is then freed so as to open the bucket and allow the material held in the bucket to drop into the dump body.

Claims

1. A method of loading material into a dump body of a truck using a loading bucket whose volumetric capacity is approximately ¼

or more than that of the dump body, the dump body having sidewalls and a floor, where the sidewalls are spaced relatively wider than conventional dump bodies of similar volumetric capacity, and the loading bucket having a door at a lower end thereof that when free, swings open and allows the material contained in the loading bucket to drop into the dump body, the method comprising the steps of;

filling the loading bucket with an amount of earthen material;

positioning the loading bucket over the dump body;

lowering the bucket to a position that

(a) substantially minimizes the clearance between the floor of the dump body and the swinging door in its freed position so as to minimize splattering of the material dropped as it drops from the bucket into the dump body, thereby reducing the impact force on the dump body caused by the dropping material,

(b) allows the swinging door to clear the sidewalls of the dump body as it swings through an arc after it is freed, and

(c) allows the material to be discharged substantially in the center of the dump body so as to produce a more balanced load on the dump body; and

freeing the swinging door so as to open the bucket and allow the material held in the bucket to drop into the dump body, whereby the door swings open and clears both the sidewalls and the floor of the dump body while minimizing the height from which the material is dropped from the bucket, which is unlike the conventional dump bodies wherein the swinging door either collides with one of the sidewalls of the conventional dump body, drops the material from the bucket substantially off the center of the body or drops the material from a substantially greater height.

2. (canceled)