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

• US 7,369,978 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2000
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Philippi-Hagenbuch Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Philippi-Hagenbuch Incorporated
• Inventors: Hagenbuch, Leroy G., Brinkman, Philip T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Paul
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRAIG, DWIN M
• Application Number:
  US09/593,647
• Time in Patent Office: 2,884 Days
• Field of Search: 703/8, 703/1, 703/2, 374/45, 373/48, 298/23.R, 296/26.03, 296/183.2, 701/124
• US Class Current: 703/8
• 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 process for making a body of a vehicle for hauling material, the process comprising:

determining a desired location for a load center of gravity on a chassis of the vehicle;

determining a desired volumetric capacity for the body;

developing a three dimensional volumetric model of a load to be carried in the body on the chassis that includes corner voids, using data collected from an anticipated point of use;

adjusting a set of design parameters of the body until the load center of gravity for the three-dimensional volumetric model of the load is located proximate the desired location for the load center of gravity on the chassis and the volume of the three dimensional volumetric model approximates the desired volumetric capacity; and

producing the body in accordance with the set of design parameters.

2. The process of claim 1 where the set of design parameters includes one or more of (1) a position of the body'"'"'s floor, (2) a position of the body'"'"'s sidewalls (3) a length of the floor, (4) a height of sidewalls, (5) a distance between the respective sidewalls and (6) a position of the body front wall.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the three dimensional volumetric model is substantially conical.

4. The process of claim 1 including adjusting the set of design parameters such that the location of the load center of gravity for the three-dimensional volumetric model of the load approximates a lowest possible location while maintaining proximate alignment with the desired location for the load center of gravity.

5. The process of claim 1 further including adjusting the set of design parameters to allow material to be dropped into the body from a lowest practical vertical elevation over a floor of the body.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein adjusting a set of design parameters of the body includes curving a rear edge of the floor to correspond with the corner voids in the three-dimensional volumetric model.

7. A process for making a body of a haulage vehicle comprising:

modeling a shape of a load of heaped material in three dimensions, where the shape of the load of heaped material is substantially conical;

modeling the body of the haulage vehicle to hold the modeled load of heaped material, where the shape of the body is determined by predetermined parameters and conforms to the shape of the modeled load of heaped material in three dimensions; and

producing the body according to the modeled body determined by values of the predetermined parameters and the-modeled load of the heaped material.

8. The process of claim 7 where the predetermined parameters include one or more of (1) a position of the body'"'"'s floor, (2) a position of the body'"'"'s sidewalls (3) a length of the floor, (4) a height of sidewalls, (5) a distance between the respective sidewalls and (6) a position of the body front wall.

9. The process of claim 7 including adjusting the predetermined parameters to locate a location for a center of gravity of material held in the modeled body that approximates a lowest possible position for the center of gravity.

10. The process of claim 7 further including adjusting the predetermined parameters to allow material to be dropped into the modeled body from a lowest practical vertical elevation over a floor of the body.

11. The process of claim 7 wherein the predetermined parameters include a curved rear edge of a floor of the body complementing the conical shape of the load of heaped material where the load meets the floor.

12. The process of claim 7 wherein the shape of the load is dependent on a type of the material.