Modular truck body and method for making the same

• US 3,923,337 A
• Filed: 05/23/1974
• Issued: 12/02/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bernard E. Proeschl, Samuel L. Kershaw
• Inventors: Proeschl, Bernard E., Kershaw, Samuel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Auton, Gary
• Application Number:
  US05/472,709
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 296/28M,28K,36,28D 298/9,10,17R 52/584,582,279
• US Class Current: 296/183.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/286 Loading buckets

Abstract

A modular truck body comprises a pair of upstanding side modules each having an L-shaped cross section, a bottom module having its outer edges secured to inner edges of the side modules and an upstanding front module secured between the side modules and having its lower edge secured to the bottom module. The modules are aligned and pre-assembled at a manufacturing plant and then disassembled for shipping purposes. At a customer'"'"''"'"'s job site or the like the modules are re-assembled and secured together for installation on the frame of a truck.

Claims

1. A modular truck body disposed on a longitudinal axis thereof comprisinG a pair of upstanding and laterally spaced side modules, each having an L-shaped cross section to comprise a generally vertical side section and a generally horizontal bottom section, a generally horizontal floor module having outer ends thereof secured to respective inner ends of said side modules, an upstanding front module having outer ends thereof secured between forward ends of said side modules and a lower edge thereof secured to said floor module, a plurality of longitudinally spaced L-shaped ribs having a Ushaped cross section secured exteriorly on each of said side modules, each rib terminating at an inner end short of the inner end of such side module, a plurality of transversely disposed and longitudinally spaced beams having a U-shaped cross section secured exteriorly on said bottom module, each beam extending between the inner ends of a pair of said ribs and terminating at outer ends thereof short of the outer ends of said bottom module, and a connecting member having a U-shaped cross section secured between each outer end of each of said beams and the inner end of a respective rib, wherein the inner end of each of said ribs and the outer end of each of said beams has a recess formed thereon along their entire edge for receiving an end of a respective connecting member therein, and wherein said side modules are further secured together by a plurality of combined alignment and releasable fastening means.

2. The modular truck body of claim 1 wherein a rearward end of said truck body is pivotally mounted on a frame of a vehicle and at least one hydraulic cylinder pivotally interconnected between said frame and said truck body for selectively tilting said truck body rearwardly about said pivot means.

3. The modular truck body of claim 2 wherein said vehicle further comprises an operator'"'"''"'"'s station and further comprising a canopy module secured on a forward end of said truck body to overlie and protect said operator'"'"''"'"'s station.

4. The modular truck body of claim 1 wherein said floor and front modules are secured together by welds at respective seams therebetween.

5. The modular truck body of claim 1 wherein each of said fastening means comprises a first bracket secured to said bottom module and a second bracket secured to a side module and positioned closely adjacent to said first bracket.

6. The modular truck body of claim 5 wherein each of said fastening means further comprises a pair of aligned apertures formed through said first and second brackets and a releasable fastener disposed in said apertures.

7. The modular truck body of claim 1 wherein a flange is formed on the end of each of said side modules, said flange overlapping said floor module.