Process for three-dimensional modeling and design of off-highway dump bodies

• US 8,113,763 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philippi-Hagenbuch Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Philippi-Hagenbuch Incorporated
• Inventors: Brinkman, Philip T., Hagenbuch, Leroy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): KEENAN, JAMES W
• Application Number:
  US12/106,794
• Publication Number:
  US 20080193273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,394 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.03, 296/183.2, 298/23.R, 298/1.R, 701/124, 414/397, 414/809
• US Class Current: 414/809
• 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 four or less passes of a loading bucket, the dump body having opposing sidewalls and a floor, where the opposing 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:

for a first pass of the loading bucket whose volume is substantially ¼

or more than a volumetric capacity of the dump body,

(a) positioning the loading bucket over the dump body so that material released from the loading bucket is distributed on the floor of the body to be centered between the opposing sidewalls of the body;

(b) lowering the loading bucket while maintaining the position that allows the distribution of the material in the body to be centered between the opposing sidewalls when released from the loading bucket;

(c) releasing the door of the bucket and freeing the material held in the bucket to drop into the dump body when the bucket is at a height above the floor that allows the door of the loading bucket to swing openly toward the floor and one of the opposing sidewalls of the body without interference with the opposing sidewalls and the floor of the dump body, where the height of the bucket is such that if the bucket was positioned off-center between the opposing sidewalls, the door of the bucket would collide with the said one of the opposing sidewalls when released;

filling the dump body with the material and to capacity within three or less additional passes of the loading bucket; and

dumping the material from the rear of the truck such that the material is deposited behind the truck.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein second and subsequent passes of the loading bucket are positioned to drop material from the bucket (1) at a location approximately centered between the opposing sidewalls, (2) at a height over the floor that substantially minimizes a distance the material falls and (3) without the sidewalls interfering with the door when the door is released and the material is freed to fall.

3. A haulage body for mounting to a truck dimensioned to be filled to capacity with material in four or less passes of a loading shovel whose loading bucket includes a hinged door that swings open and releases the material for loading into the haulage body, the haulage body comprising:

a member forming a hinge joint with a chassis of the truck such that the haulage body pivots to discharge the material of a load from a back of the truck such that the material is deposited behind the truck;

opposing sidewalls each having a height (h);

a floor having a width (w) defined by a spacing of the opposing sidewalls, which is a wider spacing of the opposing sidewalls than the spacing of the sidewalls in conventional dump bodies of similar volumetric capacity, and the width (w) and the height (h) and other dimensions of the body defining a haulage volume that is four or less times a volume capacity of the loading bucket; and

a dimensional relationship between the height (h) of each of the opposing sidewalls and the width (w) of the floor that allows the door of the loading bucket to open and release the material into the body for at least a first pass of the loading shovel without the door colliding with one of the opposing sidewalls and the floor when the loading bucket is both (1) positioned such that the released material targets an area on the floor centered between the opposing sidewalls and (2) at an elevation over the floor that would cause the opening of the door to collide with the said one of the opposing sidewalls if the bucket is moved laterally at the elevation toward one of the sidewalls.

4. The haulage body of claim 3 wherein the dimensional relationship between the height (h) of each of the opposing sidewalls and the width (w) of the floor allows the door of the loading bucket to be positioned on second and subsequent passes of the loading bucket to drop material from the bucket at a location that (1) distributes the material into the body to be approximately centered between the opposing sidewalls and (2) substantially minimizes a distance the material falls when released from the loading bucket, without a sidewall or previously loaded material interfering with the opened door.

5. A system for moving material, the system comprising:

a truck carrying a dump body having opposing sidewalls spaced relatively wider apart than conventional dump bodies of similar volumetric capacity;

a hinge joint securing the dump body to a chassis of the truck such that the dump body pivots to discharge material from a back of the truck such that the material is deposited behind the truck;

a loading bucket having a volumetric capacity that is approximately or more than the volumetric capacity of the dump body such that the dump body is loaded to capacity in four or less passes of the loading bucket;

a door of the loading bucket that swings between closed and opened positions which, when opened, releases material contained in the loading bucket to fall freely from the bucket; and

the opposing sidewalls each of a height (h) and a floor of a width (w) comprising the dump body whose relative dimensions of the height (h) and width (w) enable the loading bucket to be positioned when releasing material from the loading bucket during a first pass of loading material into the body such that (1) the material targets a location on the floor that is centered between the opposing sidewalls and (2) a height of the bucket'"'"'s position above the floor is such that lateral repositioning of the bucket at the height results in the opening of the door of the loading bucket colliding with one of the sidewalls.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the dimensional relationship between the height (h) of each of the opposing sidewalls and the width (w) of the floor allows the door of the loading bucket to be positioned on second and subsequent passes of the loading bucket to drop material from the bucket at a location that (1) distributes the material into the body to be approximately centered between the opposing sidewalls and (2) substantially minimizes a distance the material falls when released from the loading bucket, without a sidewall or previously loaded material interfering with the opened door.