Infrastructure Truck Bodies

Abstract

The present invention relates to a road truck body lining for protecting a road truck body from wear, the road truck body lining comprising a plurality of main lining elements and a plurality of edge lining elements, the plurality of edge lining elements being arranged to be fixed to the road truck body, wherein each main lining element comprises a load-facing portion, one or more transition sides, and a truck body-facing portion, each transition side being adapted to engage with a corresponding transition side of an adjacent edge lining element of the plurality of edge lining elements, the truck body-facing portion being arranged opposite the load-facing portion. The truck body-facing portion comprises one or more end portions projecting from the respective transition sides of the load-facing portion, such that when the road truck body lining is in use, the one or more end portions of the truck body-facing portion are each arranged to be covered by a respective adjacent edge lining element, so that the respective adjacent edge lining element, by being fixed, clamps the main lining element to the road truck body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to truck bed linings, in particular to road truck bed linings and methods for installing road truck bed linings. Background Art

[0002] During infrastructure construction (capital construction) work, such as during road or highway construction, when road trucks are used to transport stone (crushed stone or natural stone), excavate earth or other materials, the truck bed is subject to significant wear and tear during the loading, transport and unloading of the materials. In addition, infrastructure projects are sometimes carried out in or near densely populated areas, so that the noise generated, for example, during loading / unloading, may be considered a nuisance and the competent authorities may issue restrictions on noise levels and when work can be carried out. Typically, road truck beds are made of steel, which can result in high noise levels, especially when material is loaded using, for example, a front loader (single-bucket loader) or an excavator. In addition, the excessive wear and tear to which the truck bed is subjected reduces the life of the truck bed. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to overcome or at least alleviate the problems associated with prior art road truck bodies. A specific object is to provide a road truck body lining for protecting a road truck body from wear and reducing environmental stress by reducing noise. The road truck body lining comprises a plurality of main lining elements and a plurality of edge lining elements, said plurality of edge lining elements being arranged to be fixed to a truck body. Each main lining element comprises: a load-facing portion (load-facing part); one or more transition sides, each transition side being adapted to connect with a corresponding transition side of an adjacent edge lining element of said plurality of edge lining elements; and a truck body-facing portion (truck body-facing part) arranged opposite said load-facing portion. The truck body-facing portion comprises one or more end portions protruding from the respective transition sides, such that when the road truck body lining is in use, said one or more end portions of the truck body-facing portion are each arranged to be covered by a respective adjacent edge lining element, so that once the respective adjacent edge lining element is fixed, it clamps the main lining element to the road truck body. The use of linings on road truck beds significantly reduces noise and vibration during, for example, truck loading. It also reduces carry-back, i.e. the amount of material that clings to the truck bed after unloading. By using edge lining elements to clamp the main lining element to the truck bed, the number of bolts or other fastening devices used to install the lining can be reduced.

[0004] According to an embodiment of the on-road truck body lining, the edge lining element is arranged to extend over an edge portion of the on-road truck body and to be fixed to the edge portion of the on-road truck body.

[0005] According to one embodiment of the road truck body lining, edge lining elements form lining transitions between non-parallel primary lining elements of the plurality of primary lining elements. Edge portions of the truck bed, such as the transitions between side walls and a bottom wall, are suitable for arranging edge lining elements, as the edge lining elements can be designed to cover, for example, the transition between a horizontal bottom wall and vertical side walls.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the road truck body lining, the plurality of main lining elements comprises at least one side lining element, which is arranged to extend over a side surface of the road truck body. The at least one side lining element has a transition side, and the at least one side lining element comprises mounting means for mounting the side lining element to the road truck body, and the mounting means are arranged remote from the transition side. This solution has the advantage that a dedicated mounting means is only required on the side remote from the transition side for mounting the side lining element to the road truck body. Consequently, mounting means on the truck bed are also only required at the corresponding locations, while the transition side of the side lining element is clamped to the truck bed via the edge lining elements.

[0007] According to an embodiment of the truck body lining, the plurality of primary lining elements comprises at least one bottom lining element, which is arranged to extend over the bottom surface of the road truck body, wherein the at least one bottom lining element has two transition side surfaces arranged opposite one another, each transition side surface comprising an end portion protruding from the respective transition side surface. This enables the bottom lining element to be clamped to the truck bed along the two ends, whereby the bottom lining element does not require mounting holes as corresponding fastening means, either in the bottom lining element itself or in the bottom of the truck bed.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the truck body lining, the plurality of main lining elements comprises at least one front lining element, the at least one front lining element being arranged to extend over the front surface of the road truck body, wherein the at least one front lining element has a transition side, and wherein the at least one front lining element comprises mounting means for mounting the at least one front lining element to the road truck body, the mounting means being arranged remote from the transition side. Similar to the side lining elements, the front lining element of the present invention reduces (similarly) the need for mounting means (e.g. bolts and holes for the bolts) in the front lining element and in the truck bed.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the truck body lining, the one or more end portions are made of the same material as the load-facing portion. This makes the manufacturing of the lining element simpler and less expensive than previously known solutions.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the truck body lining, the load-facing portion comprises an elastomer (e.g., rubber). This allows the lining element to easily adapt to truck bodies of varying shapes. For example, the end portion will readily adapt to transition portions, such as the transition from the horizontal floor of the truck bed to the vertical sidewalls of the truck bed, or from the horizontal floor of the truck bed to the vertical front wall of the truck bed. Typically, such transitions are achieved using angled transition edges in the truck bed, such as edges angled approximately 45 degrees relative to both the sidewalls and the bottom wall of the truck bed. Such transition edges are intended to reduce so-called kickback, the amount of material that remains attached to the bed after unloading. Reducing kickback is crucial because it significantly reduces the hauling capacity of road trucks, and avoiding right angles between the sidewalls and bottom wall has been found to be one way to achieve this. It should be noted that the 45-degree inclination is merely an example; the inclination can vary significantly between different truck beds and may depend on the material being transported. The end portion of this embodiment will adapt to virtually any inclination of such a transition edge or any other shape of truck body.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the truck body lining, the primary lining element has at least one connecting side, which is adapted to connect with the corresponding connecting side of an adjacent primary lining element, and wherein the connecting side forms an oblique angle with the load-facing front surface of the primary lining element, so that a primary lining element partially extends over the adjacent primary lining element located behind it. This has the advantage that, during unloading of the truck bed, when the transported material slides over the surface of the lining element, the material can be prevented from getting caught on the front-facing connecting side, or at least greatly reduced. The current solution forms an obtuse angle between the load-facing front surface of the primary lining element and the upstream (or forward) connecting side of the same primary lining element. Correspondingly, the present invention forms an acute angle between the load-facing front surface of the primary lining element and the downstream (or rearward) connecting side of the same primary lining element. If a perpendicular angle were chosen, the risk of material sliding over the surface getting caught and prying open the joint between adjacent lining elements would be greater, for example during unloading.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the truck body lining, each edge lining element includes a plurality of mounting holes for mounting the edge lining element to a road truck body. By arranging the mounting holes in the edge lining element, the number of mounting devices required to attach to the truck bed can be significantly reduced. Such mounting devices may include, for example, holes in the truck body for bolt and nut connections or bolts welded to the truck body.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the truck body lining, at least one group of the plurality of primary lining elements comprises one or more recesses which are arranged on the back side of the primary lining elements (which back side faces the road truck body) so as to provide a cavity between the road truck body and the primary lining elements. This has the advantage that when the material to be transported is loaded, the material of the primary lining elements will deflect into the cavity. Then, during unloading of the material, the primary lining elements will snap back, again forming a cavity on the back side. This has the great advantage that when the elements snap back, any backload accumulated on the lining elements will become loose and can be unloaded together with the rest of the material.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the truck body lining, at least one set of edge lining elements of the plurality of edge lining elements comprises one or more recesses arranged on the back side of the edge lining element (the back side facing the truck body) to provide a cavity between the truck body and the edge lining element. Similar to the main lining element, this significantly reduces the amount of backload adhering to the truck bed along the edge area.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the truck body lining, a plurality of stop plates are attached to the truck body so that they protect the rear connecting sides of the rearmost main lining element and / or edge lining element. Protecting the short sides of the rearmost lining element is advantageous. Road trucks are typically equipped with a cover door at the rear end of the truck bed to increase loading capacity. If rocks or the like are left between the cover door and the rearmost lining element, the lining element may be damaged when the door is closed.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the truck body lining, the mounting device of the at least one side lining element is arranged in the upper part of the at least one side lining element, remote from the transition side, and projects from the load-bearing surface of the side lining element. This solution has the advantage that the side lining element can be suspended from the upper edge of the road truck body.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the truck body lining, the protruding portion of the mounting device of at least one side lining element is arranged to be welded to the upper edge of the road truck body. Welding provides a strong, reliable and inexpensive connection. Bolted connections are also conceivable.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the truck body lining, the mounting device comprises at least two detachable parts. Providing a detachable mounting device simplifies the replacement of worn lining elements. If one part of the mounting device is welded to the truck body, the lining element can be replaced by disassembling the mounting device, removing the one part connected to the load-facing portion, and retaining the part welded to the truck body.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the truck body lining, the plurality of components of the mounting device are assembled by means of a threaded connection, and wherein the load-facing portion is attached to one of the components by means of a bolt and nut connection. Of course, other fastening means may also be applied, such as plug welding, gluing, Velcro, etc.

[0020] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for installing a road truck body lining is provided. The method comprises the following steps: placing at least one bottom lining element on the bottom surface of the road truck body; placing at least one side lining element on the side surface of the road truck body, and attaching the plurality of side lining elements to the road truck body; placing at least one front lining element on the front surface of the road truck body, and attaching the front lining element to the road truck body; placing a plurality of edge lining elements along edge portions of the road truck body, such that the plurality of edge lining elements cover one or more ends of the at least one side lining, the at least one front lining, and the at least one bottom lining, and attaching the plurality of edge lining elements to the road truck body such that the plurality of edge lining elements clamp the at least one side lining element, the at least one front lining element, and the at least one bottom lining element to the road truck body. This has the advantage, compared to an unlined truck bed, that noise and vibration are significantly reduced during, for example, loading. Furthermore, because the edge lining elements are used to clamp the side lining elements, the front lining elements, and the bottom lining elements to the road truck body, the number of mounting devices in the lining elements and the truck body can be significantly reduced. It should be noted that the order in which the bottom lining element, the front lining element and the side lining elements are placed on the truck body is not important. What is important is that they are placed before the edge lining elements that clamp the bottom lining element, the front lining element and the side lining elements to the truck body.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the method, a stop plate is attached at or near the rear end of the road truck body in order to protect the rear connecting side of the rearmost main lining element and / or edge lining element from wear.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the method, said at least one side lining element is mounted to an upper edge of the road truck body by means of mounting means arranged at an upper portion of said at least one side lining element.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the method, the mounting means arranged on the upper portion of the at least one side lining element protrude from the bearing surface of the side lining element. This solution has the advantage that the side lining element can be suspended from the upper edge of the road truck body.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the method, the mounting device is welded or bolted to the upper edge of the road truck body. Welding is a strong, reliable, and cost-effective way to fasten the liner to the truck body. Bolting has the advantage of being able to be easily disassembled and reassembled, for example to replace the liner.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the method, an attachment device is provided on the road truck body, and wherein the edge lining element is attached to the road truck body by means of the attachment device.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the method, the attachment means comprise bolts which are welded to the road truck body, the centre-to-centre distance of the bolts corresponding to the centre-to-centre distance of the corresponding openings in the edge lining element. This solution has the advantage that the bolts can be pre-set, so that the edge lining element can be simply put into place and tightened during the installation of the lining.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the method, the attachment means comprises a plurality of bolts pre-attached to a common fastening plate having a center-to-center distance corresponding to the center-to-center distance of corresponding openings in the edge lining element, wherein the fastening plate is welded to the road truck body. Pre-fabrication of the plate using bolts makes it easy to arrange the bolts at the correct center-to-center distance. Of course, it is also possible to arrange a single bolt on a single plate, and wherein the plate / bolt is attached to the truck body at a defined center-to-center distance by welding, gluing, etc.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the method, the bottom lining element is provided to the road truck body in a rolled-up (coiled) state and is unrolled during installation. This provides a time-saving installation solution.

[0029] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a road truck body having a road truck body lining according to any embodiment of the road truck body lining described herein, or a road truck body having a road truck body lining installed according to any method described herein.

[0030] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, the attached claims and the drawings.It is noted that the present invention relates to all possible combinations of several features.

[0031] In general, unless otherwise expressly defined herein, all terms used in the claims should be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field. Unless otherwise expressly stated, all references to "a / an / the element, device, component, means, step, etc." should be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, device, component, means, step, etc.

[0032] As used herein, the term "comprise" and variations of the term are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0034] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of a truck body with a truck body liner according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0035] Figure 2 and Figure 2a A schematic diagram of a side lining element according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0036] 3 and 3a show schematic diagrams of a bottom lining element according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a front lining element according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0038] Figure 5 An edge lining element according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0039] Figure 6 Details of an embodiment of the present invention are shown.

[0040] Figure 7 Details of a fastening device according to an embodiment of the invention are shown.

[0041] Figure 8 An embodiment of a method of installing a side lining element according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0042] Figure 9 Shown are details of a lining element according to an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness and to fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0044] Figure 1A schematic perspective view of a truck body 100 is shown, comprising a lining arrangement 200 covering a major portion of the load-bearing surface of the truck body 100. The lining arrangement 200 comprises a plurality of side lining elements 20, a bottom lining element 10, at least one front lining element 30, a plurality of edge lining elements 40 and at least one stop plate 50. Reference will now be made to Figures 1 to 9 The various components of a truck body liner are discussed in greater detail.

[0045] like Figure 2 and Figure 2a As shown in , each side lining element 20 includes a load-facing portion 21 and a metal mounting device 22 attached to the upper edge of the load-facing portion 21 by any suitable means, in this embodiment using a bolt and nut connection 121, wherein the nut and possibly a washer are arranged on the back side of the load-facing portion 21. The side lining element 20 also includes a transition side 25, which is adapted to connect and mate with the corresponding transition side 45 of the adjacent edge lining element 40. The load-facing portion 21 can be made of rubber, polyurethane or other suitable polymer or other suitable material. The end 23 is arranged along the transition side 25. The end 23 is made of the same material as the load-facing portion, i.e., rubber, polyurethane or other suitable polymer or other suitable material. This provides a simple and reliable construction that has sufficient structural integrity while having the flexibility required to adapt to different truck body shapes. The side lining element 20 also includes a mounting device 22 arranged on its upper side. The mounting device 22 includes a first part 123 and a second part 124 connected to each other by a threaded connection. Such a threaded connection comprises a plurality of bolts 125 which are screwed into openings in the first part 123 and the second part 124 which have corresponding threads. Alternatively, only the openings in the second part 124 may be provided with threads and the openings in the first part 123 may simply be of a size that allows the bolts to pass through. Furthermore, the load-facing portion 21 comprises a downstream connecting side 28 and an upstream connecting side 29. These connecting sides 28, 29 are arranged to connect and cooperate with adjacent connecting sides 28, 29 of adjacent side lining elements. This is of particular interest when the side lining element comprises a plurality of load-facing portions which are arranged close to one another and are attached to a common mounting device 22, the design of which will be discussed in more detail later, in particular with reference to Figure 9 Now refer to Figure 1 and Figure 8Next, we will discuss the installation of the side lining element 20. The entire side lining element 20, i.e., the lining of the entire sidewall of a road truck body, can be preassembled in a workshop. It typically comprises a mounting device 22 having at least two components 123 and 124 in the form of metal profiles, attached to each other via a threaded connection. This connection comprises a plurality of bolts 125, which are screwed into corresponding threaded openings in the first and second components 123 and 124. Alternatively, only the second component 124 may have threaded openings, while the openings in the first component 123 may only have openings to allow the bolts to pass through. The load-facing portion 21 can be manufactured as a single component or comprised of multiple adjacent components with corresponding connecting profiles 28 and 29 to form a lining for a road truck body. In either case, the load-facing portion 21 can be made of rubber, polyurethane, or other suitable materials. The load-facing portion 21 can be attached to the mounting device 22 via a bolt and nut connection 121, optionally with washers on both sides. Once the side lining element is assembled, it can be lifted into position on the road truck body 100 by means of a crane or similar device and suspended from the upper edge of the road truck body by means of the outwardly projecting first part 123 of the mounting device 22. Since the side lining element is thus temporarily arranged on the upper edge of the truck body, the first part 123 of the mounting device 22 is securely attached to the truck body by means of welds 126. These welds can be intermittent or extend along the entire length, or at least a substantial portion, of the upper edge of the truck body 100. Bolt connections are also conceivable, as can rivets. The fact that the entire side lining element 20 can be preassembled in advance allows for rapid installation on the truck body. A lifting device 127 can be provided along the upper edge of the mounting device 22, by means of which a crane or similar device can be attached to the side lining element 20.

[0046] Referring now to Figures 3 and 3a, the bottom lining element 10 will be discussed. This element includes a load-facing portion 11. The load-facing portion 11 can be made of rubber, polyurethane, or other suitable polymer, or other suitable material. The load-facing portion 11 is provided with three transition sides 15, each of which is adapted to connect and mate with a corresponding transition side 45 of an adjacent edge lining element 40. The bottom lining element 10 also has three ends 13 that protrude from the load-facing portion 11 in a flange-like manner and can be adapted to the shape of the road truck body 10. This ensures that the ends 13 will also match the surface of the truck body at the inclined edge portion of the truck body. In addition, the bottom lining element 10 includes a downstream connecting side 17 that is arranged to connect and mate with the stop plate 50 of the truck body. In this embodiment, the bottom lining element 10 comprises a single element that covers the entire bottom surface of the truck body. The bottom lining element 10 can be provided to the workshop in the form of a roll-up element and lifted to the rear end of the truck body 100 using, for example, a forklift. When in place, the rolled-up bottom lining element 10 can be simply unrolled to cover the bottom surface of the truck body. In another embodiment, the bottom lining comprises a plurality of bottom lining elements 10, each of which covers the entire width of the bottom surface of the truck body, but only a portion of its length. A plurality of bottom lining elements 10 can be arranged adjacent to each other, each having a downstream connecting side 17 and an upstream connecting side 18. These connecting sides are arranged to meet and mate with adjacent connecting sides 17, 18 of adjacent bottom lining elements. See also in this respect Figure 9 .

[0047] At least one front lining element 30 is also provided. This front lining element 30 will have substantially the same characteristics as the side lining elements. It includes a load-facing portion 31 and a transition side 35 adapted to interface with and mate with the corresponding transition side 45 of the adjacent edge lining element 40. An end 33 is arranged along the transition side 35. The end 33 is made of the same material as the load-facing portion, namely, rubber, polyurethane, or another suitable polymer or other suitable material. This provides a simple and reliable construction that has sufficient structural integrity while also having the flexibility required to accommodate different truck body shapes. It also includes a mounting device 32 that is arranged to be attached to the front surface of the truck body 100 by welding or bolting. Similar to the side lining elements 20, the mounting device 32 of the front lining element 30 includes at least a first component 133 and a second component 134, which are attached to each other via a threaded connection using bolts that are screwed into openings in the first and second components 133, 134. The load-facing portion 31 is attached to the second component 134 by means of a bolt and nut connection 131. The front lining element 30 can be pre-assembled in a workshop and simply lifted into position on the truck body and attached to the truck body along the upper part of the front wall thereof by means of mounting means 32. Welding, bolting or rivets may be used.

[0048] A plurality of edge lining elements 40 are also provided. These edge lining elements 40 can be Figure 5 and Figure 6 10, 20 and 21. The edge lining elements 40 are best seen in FIG. They are also made of rubber, polyurethane or other suitable polymers, or other suitable lining materials, and may also include a reinforcing plate 42 arranged on the back, i.e. the side facing the truck body, which may be made of metal or similar material. The edge lining element 40 includes transition sides 45 extending substantially along its long sides. These transition sides 45 are adapted to connect and cooperate with the transition sides 15, 25, 35 of the bottom lining element 10, the side lining elements 20 and the front lining element 30, as appropriate. The transition sides 45 may have an inclination required according to the shape of the main lining element and the inclination of the edge portion. The edge lining element 40 also includes one or more mounting holes 43 for attaching it to the truck body by means of attachment means 150 (e.g. bolts or rivet nuts). In addition, a sealing plug 44 may be provided to cover the hole 43 to avoid wear and tear on the hole 43 during use.

[0049] Figure 7Attachment means 150 are disclosed, which may be provided in the form of individual bolts 152 attached to a fixing plate 151 arranged to be welded to the surface of the truck body 100 at a center-to-center distance corresponding to the center-to-center distance of the holes 43 of the edge lining element 40, the weld being indicated at 155. Washers 153 and nuts 154 are used to secure the edge lining element 40 to the truck body. In an alternative embodiment, an elongated fixing plate 151 is provided, to which a plurality of bolts 152 are attached at appropriate center-to-center distances. It is even possible that a plate having a length corresponding to the length of the truck body is placed on the surface of the truck body and attached thereto (e.g., by welding) during installation.

[0050] A preferred embodiment of the main lining element and the edge lining element can be Figure 9 The upstream lining element 20 will form an acute angle between its downstream connecting side 27 and the load-facing surface, while the downstream lining element 20 will form an obtuse angle between its upstream connecting side 28 and the load-facing surface. This will cause the upstream lining element to overlap with the downstream lining element. The advantage of this is that when the material slides over the load-facing surface of the side lining element during unloading, it is usually along the Figure 9 The direction of arrow A prevents material from prying apart the joint between two adjacent side lining elements 20. This phenomenon can increase wear on the lining elements and cause material accumulation and increased backload. Although this overlapping scheme has been described with respect to the side lining elements, the same scheme can be applied to other lining elements of the present invention, such as adjacent bottom lining elements and adjacent edge lining elements.

[0051] The proposed installation method for the road truck body lining of the present invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. First, attachment devices 150 are provided on the truck body. These devices are preferably provided along the edge portion 102, which extends along the transition between the bottom wall 103 and the side walls 104 and the transition between the bottom wall 103 and the front wall 105. Typically, the edge portion 102 is inclined toward the side walls 104, the front wall 105, and the bottom wall 103. A smooth transition from the bottom wall to the edge portion, from the side walls to the edge portion, and from the front wall to the edge portion is provided in a smooth manner with a suitable radius. Any sharp edges increase the risk of material accumulation and should be avoided. Then, the front lining element 30 can be attached to the truck body 100 by means of mounting devices 32 extending along the upper edge of the front lining element, such as welding or bolts. No mounting devices are provided along the side edges or lower edges of the front lining element 30. Next, the bottom lining element 10 is arranged on the bottom wall 103 of the truck body 100. It should be noted that the present invention does not require drilling or similar operations in the bottom wall 103, and therefore does not require bolting of the bottom lining element 10. When the bottom lining element 10 has been arranged, the two side lining elements 20 are arranged along the side walls 104 of the truck body 100. These side lining elements are attached by using mounting devices 22 arranged along the upper edges of the side lining elements 20, for example by welding or bolting. The front lining element 30 and the side lining elements 20 can be lifted into place using a crane attached to the lifting device 127, and the bottom lining element 10 can be lifted onto the truck body in a rolled-up state using a forklift and simply unrolled onto the truck body. When this operation is completed, the edge lining element 40 is arranged to bridge between the bottom lining element 10 and the side lining elements 20, and between the bottom lining element 10 and the front lining element 30. The bottom lining element 10, the side lining elements 20 and the front lining element 30 all comprise flange-like ends 13, 23, 33 extending into the edge portion 102 of the truck body 100. When the edge lining element 40 is arranged and mounted to the edge portion 102 by means of, for example, attachment means 150, the bottom lining element 10, the side lining elements 20 and the front lining element 30 will all be clamped to the truck body 100. A great advantage of this solution is that for the parts of the bottom lining element 10, the side lining elements 20 and the front lining element 30 extending into the edge portion 102, it is not necessary to drill a plurality of separate mounting holes in the load-facing portion and the truck body. Instead, it is sufficient to provide only one set of attachment means 150 for the edge lining element 40. In Figure 1The finished lining can be seen in the figure, where the single line of attachment means can be seen in the edge portion 102. Stop plates 50 can also be seen here. These are preferably arranged along the downstream connecting sides of the last side lining element, the bottom lining element, and the edge lining element. Their advantage is that they protect the lining elements from damage when the cover doors of the truck body 100 are closed and there is still material remaining, which is pressed against the lining elements 10, 20, 40, thereby increasing wear.

[0052] The mounting device 22, 32 offers a major advantage when the side or front lining needs to be replaced. This is because the first component 123, 133 and the second component 124, 134 can be separated by opening the connection between the two components. Thereafter, the load-facing portion and the second component 124, 134 can be removed and replaced without having to remove the first component 123, 133 (which is often difficult to remove due to the welded connection). Removing the load-facing portion 21, 31 is also conceivable, but since it is typically made of rubber or a similar material and inherently lacks rigidity, the second component 124, 134 attached to it would be easier to handle. Accessing the back of the load-facing portion 21, 31 to remove and replace the nuts of the bolt and nut connection 121 can also be complicated. Since the opening of the second component 124, 134 has internal threads, this is not a problem using the split mounting device 22, 32 of the present invention.

[0053] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications of the embodiments described herein are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the number and size of the individual lining elements; the number of mounting holes; the size of the openings in the reinforcement plate; and the thickness of the load-facing portion shown in the accompanying drawings are provided by way of example only and are in no way limiting. Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the order in which the primary lining elements are positioned on the truck bed is unimportant. It is important that the bottom, side, and front lining elements are positioned prior to the placement and securing of the edge lining elements. This is because the edge lining elements clamp the primary lining elements to the truck bed. Furthermore, the load-facing portion of the lining element may include a recess on its back side. This recess forms a chamber between the load-facing portion and the outer surface of the road truck body. When the truck is loaded with material to be transported (e.g., gravel or similar material), the material on the load-facing portion will deflect into the recess. Then, as the material is unloaded, the material on the load-facing portion will rebound or spring back again and resume its original shape. This will loosen any accumulated material from the side lining elements, thus avoiding the problem of backloading (carryback), which is a problem that greatly reduces the overall transport capacity.

[0054] Furthermore, the term "road truck" is used throughout the application. Other terms used in the art, such as road truck, infrastructure truck, material transporter, etc., are also covered by the present invention.

Claims

1. A road truck body lining for protecting a road truck body from wear, the road truck body lining comprising: a plurality of primary lining elements, the plurality of primary lining elements comprising: at least one side lining element arranged to extend over a side surface of the road truck body; and a plurality of edge lining elements arranged to be secured to the road truck body, Each primary lining element comprises: Facing the load portion; one or more transition sides, each transition side adapted to interface with a corresponding transition side of an adjacent edge lining element of the plurality of edge lining elements; and A truck body facing portion is arranged opposite to the load facing portion, and the truck body facing portion includes one or more end portions protruding from the corresponding transition side of the load facing portion, so that when the road truck body lining is in use, the one or more end portions of the truck body facing portion are each arranged to be covered by a corresponding adjacent edge lining element, so that the corresponding adjacent edge lining elements clamp the main lining element to the road truck body when being fixed.

2. The road truck body lining of claim 1, wherein: The edge lining element is arranged to extend over an edge portion of the on-road truck body and is fixed to the edge portion.

3. The road truck body lining of claim 1, wherein: The edge lining elements form lining transitions between the non-parallel main lining elements.

4. The road truck body lining of claim 2, wherein: The at least one side lining element has a transition side, and wherein the at least one side lining element comprises mounting means for mounting the side lining element to the road truck body, the mounting means being arranged remote from the transition side.

5. The road truck body lining of claim 1, wherein: The plurality of main lining elements further comprise at least one bottom lining element, which is arranged to extend on the bottom surface of the road truck body, wherein the at least one bottom lining element has two transition sides arranged opposite to each other, and each of the transition sides comprises an end protruding from the corresponding transition side.

6. The on-highway truck body lining of claim 1, wherein: The plurality of main lining elements include at least one front lining element, which is arranged to extend on the front surface of the road truck body, wherein the at least one front lining element has a transition side, and wherein the at least one front lining element includes a mounting device for mounting the at least one front lining element to the road truck body, and the mounting device is arranged away from the transition side.

7. An on-highway truck body lining as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The one or more end portions are made of the same material as the load-facing portion.

8. An on-road truck body lining as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The load-facing portion includes an elastic body.

9. An on-road truck body lining as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The main lining element has at least one connecting side, which is suitable for connecting with the corresponding connecting side of an adjacent main lining element, and wherein the connecting side forms an inclined angle with the load-facing front surface of the main lining element so that the main lining element partially extends over the adjacent main lining element located behind it.

10. An over-the-road truck body liner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein Each edge lining element includes a plurality of mounting holes for mounting the edge lining element to the over-the-road truck body.

11. An over-the-road truck body liner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: At least one set of the plurality of primary lining elements comprises one or more recesses arranged on a back side of the primary lining elements facing the road truck body so as to provide a cavity between the road truck body and the primary lining elements.

12. An over-the-road truck body liner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: At least one set of edge lining elements of the plurality of edge lining elements includes one or more recesses arranged on a back side of the edge lining elements facing the over-the-road truck body to provide a cavity between the over-the-road truck body and the edge lining elements.

13. An over-the-road truck body liner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: A plurality of stop plates are attached to the road truck body such that the stop plates protect the rear connecting sides of the rearmost main lining element and / or edge lining element.

14. The on-highway truck body liner of claim 4, wherein: The mounting means of the at least one side lining element are arranged at an upper portion of the at least one side lining element remote from the transition side and protrude from the bearing surface of the side lining element.

15. The on-highway truck body liner of claim 14, wherein: The protruding portion of the mounting arrangement of the at least one side lining element is arranged to be welded to an upper edge of the road truck body.

16. An on-road truck body lining as claimed in claim 4 or 6, wherein: The mounting device comprises at least two detachable parts.

17. The on-highway truck body liner of claim 16, wherein: The components of the mounting arrangement are assembled by means of a threaded connection, and wherein the load-facing portion is attached to one of the components by means of a bolt and nut connection.

18. An over-the-road truck body liner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein The load-facing portion includes rubber.

19. A method of installing an over-the-road truck body lining, the method comprising: positioning at least one bottom lining element on a bottom surface of the over-the-road truck body; positioning at least one side lining element on a side surface of the on-road truck body, mounting the at least one side lining element to the on-road truck body; Positioning a plurality of edge lining elements along edge portions of the over-the-road truck body such that the plurality of edge lining elements cover one or more ends of at least one side lining panel and at least one bottom lining panel, and mounting the plurality of edge lining elements to the over-the-road truck body such that the plurality of edge lining elements clamp the at least one side lining element and the at least one bottom lining element to the over-the-road truck body.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: A stop plate is attached at or near the rear end of the road truck body to protect the rear connecting side of the rearmost main lining element and / or edge lining element from wear.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein: The at least one side lining element is mounted to an upper edge of the road truck body by means of mounting means arranged at an upper portion of the at least one side lining element.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein: The mounting means arranged on an upper portion of the at least one side lining element protrude away from a bearing surface of the side lining element.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein: The mounting means is welded or bolted to the upper edge of the road truck body.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein: Attachment means are provided at the on-road truck body, and wherein the edge lining element is attached to the on-road truck body by means of the attachment means.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein: The attachment means comprise bolts which are welded to the road truck body, the centre-to-centre distance of the bolts corresponding to the centre-to-centre distance of the corresponding openings in the edge lining element.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein: The attachment arrangement comprises a plurality of bolts which are pre-attached to a fastening plate and which have a centre-to-centre distance corresponding to a centre-to-centre distance of corresponding openings in the edge lining element, wherein the fastening plate is welded to the road truck body.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein: The bottom lining element is provided on the road truck body in a rolled-up state and is unfolded during installation.

28. An on-highway truck body comprising an on-highway truck body liner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18.

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