Side dump trailer and door assembly

Abstract

A side dump trailer body (11) and door (13) assembly, the inside of the door assembly (13) having a support plate (59), the outside of the support plate (59) being supported by a frame assembly (61, 63, 75, 67, 69) to minimize bending of the support plate (59). The body (11) has a floor (19), a front end wall (27) and a rear end wall (29), and a side wall (17) opposite the opening closed by the door (13). The door (13) pivots relative to the floor (19) along a longitudinal axis extending near a lower longitudinal extent of the door (13). The trailer body (11) and door (13) assembly has an elastically bendable plate (91) overlying and supported on the support plate (59) and supported by at least part of the floor (19) and connected to the floor (19) along an axial extent spaced from the opening.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to bulk material handling, and in particular to a vehicle for transporting bulk solids. The invention is particularly applicable to a bulk solids transport vehicle having a body which receives bulk solids and is emptied by tilting the body about a pivot axis. BACKGROUND

[0002] The following discussion of the background of the application is merely provided to aid in understanding the present application. It should not be considered admissions that any of the information referred to was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

[0003] Bulk solids transport vehicles have long been used to transport bulk solids such as rock and ore from mine sites. Typically, these vehicles have rear or side discharge bodies to discharge their load. In mine site applications, the vehicles can be very large, with a load capacity of 80 tonnes or more. When the vehicles are to travel on public roads, the maximum load can be between 35 and 40 tonnes. Typically, these vehicles are trailers which are connected to a prime mover by a turntable or "fifth wheel". In road train applications, the connection to the trailer is by a turntable or "fifth wheel" to a dolly which in turn is hitched to a similar (or dissimilar) trailer.

[0004] Progress has been made in reducing the weight of the trailer. This has been achieved by, for example, constructing the trailer body (carriage) as a structural frame (ladder frame) which does not incorporate longitudinal and transverse members, and constructing the body from a resiliently deformable steel sheet material which provides inherent structural rigidity without the need for a frame to support the steel sheet material.

[0005] Examples of the applicant's side discharge trailers are described in the patent specifications of Australian patents 2005220210 and 2012323778, the contents of which are incorporated herein by cross-reference. The side discharge trailer has a door provided along a side of the body, which is hingedly mounted along the floor of the body. The door is opened and closed by the action of hydraulic rams mounted at each end of the trailer body.

[0006] The body of the trailer is in turn hingedly mounted to the trailer chassis and can be tilted by the action of hydraulic rams mounted at each end of the body and the chassis to raise the body so that the door side and opening are at a minimum height.

[0007] The action of tilting the body and opening the door enables material to be quickly discharged from the trailer and away from the wheels of the trailer. This allows the operator to drive straight past to discharge the load without the need to reverse. The door is hingedly connected to the body by an axial array of bushes which are lubricated to ensure that the bushes do not generate a significant frictional effect when in motion.

[0008] These side dump trailers have issues that stem from the repeated transport of fine particulate cargo, particularly corrosive ore concentrates such as nickel, copper. The current hinge system that connects the door to the body can prematurely fail when transporting this type of material as they become points for material to hang up on, causing material to build up around the hinge area. This can cause severe localized crevice corrosion, pitting, and abrasive wear around the hinge location. Fine particulate cargo also creates a lubrication issue for the hinge as the material that builds up around the hinge location can contaminate the grease as the dump truck goes through a load cycle. This will eventually cause abrasive wear inside the hinge assembly and shorten the overall life of the hinge.

[0009] These side dump trailers have another issue when transporting fine particulate cargo in cold or humid climates. It has been found that moisture in the cargo can freeze or stick together during transport. When the side dump trailer attempts to dump the cargo in these conditions, the cargo that has stuck together greatly increases the angle of repose required for the cargo as the particles can no longer freely slide across each other's surfaces. The side dump trailer is unable to effectively dump the cargo due to the increased coefficient of static friction of the material, resulting in a significant decrease in the efficiency of the trailer operation.

[0010] This issue is also prevalent to a lesser extent in climates with high relative humidity (RH) as the increased ambient humidity in the environment causes the fine particles to stick to each other, again increasing the angle of repose required for the material to successfully complete a dump cycle. This issue is exacerbated by the body and door of the side dump trailer being made of steel as the temperature differential between the ambient air and the steel body causes condensation to deposit, which further causes the cargo to stick to each other, hindering the side dump trailer from completing a thorough dump cycle.

[0011] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. SUMMARY

[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide an alternative construction of the trailer body and door to achieve additional weight reduction and, preferably, also to improve the sealing of these mating parts when the door is closed.

[0013] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a side dump trailer body and door assembly having an inner side with a support plate, the outer side of the support plate being supported by a frame assembly to minimize flexing of the support plate, the body having a floor, a front end wall and a rear end wall, and a side wall opposite an opening closed by a door, the door being pivotable relative to the floor along a longitudinal axis extending proximate a lower longitudinal extent of the door; and the trailer body and door assembly having a resiliently flexible panel covering and supported on at least a portion of the support plate and the floor, and connected to the floor along an axial extent spaced from the opening.

[0014] Preferably, the end walls along the upper edge of the opening are coupled by longitudinally extending brace bars to avoid flexing of the end walls. While other supports can also be effective to prevent such flexing, brace bars are considered simple and effective.

[0015] Preferably, the resiliently flexible panel forms a pivot mount connecting the door to the body.

[0016] Preferably, the door is suspended from each of the end walls by a pair of double-acting rams, one attached to each end wall. The double-acting rams are actuated in use to open and close the door.

[0017] Preferably, the resiliently flexible panel connected to the support plate extends along the entire support plate to provide a wear resistant surface when unloading cargo from the trailer.

[0018] Preferably, the resiliently flexible panel connected to the support plate is mounted to the support plate by a plurality of plate-like projections incorporated into the resiliently flexible panel, each of the plate-like projections extending within and being supported in a complementary shaped aperture in the support plate. The position of the frame assembly and support plate relative to the resiliently flexible panel is located by the arrangement of plate-like projections extending through the complementary shaped apertures.

[0019] Preferably, the axial extent spaced from the opening is no less than one fifth the distance from the opening to the centerline of the trailer body.

[0020] Preferably, the line spaced from the opening is between one fifth the distance from the opening to the centerline of the trailer body and the centerline of the trailer body.

[0021] With reference to the two structural arrangements described above, the radius of the bend of the elastically bendable plate can be such that it does not form a too sharp portion when the door is closed. The plate-shaped projection associated with the elastically bendable plate is received in a complementary shaped hole in the door support plate for positioning the door relative to the body and the elastically bendable plate forms a hinge structure that is bent at a radius at the interface of the door and the body. The elastically bendable plate is biased towards a flat position due to the elastically bendable nature of the plate so that it will always rest against the support plate. The plate-shaped projection associated with the elastically bendable plate is received in a complementary shaped hole in the door support plate to prevent the elastically bendable plate from sliding upwards relative to the support plate.

[0022] In another embodiment, the line can be positioned away from the centerline and away from the opening, including moving towards and possibly at the top of the side wall, but this embodiment is less preferred because it requires an increase in the elastically bendable plate. The elastically bendable plate need not cover the entire body and door and in practical applications, it is sufficient that the line of attachment of the plastic plate to the body be somewhere between the centerline of the trailer body and the opening, towards the opening, but not too close to the opening so as to cause the elastically bendable plate to bend too much when the door is closed.

[0023] Preferably, the elastically bendable plate is secured to the floor by a plurality of fasteners extending along the axial extent. The fasteners can be staggered relative to the axial extent of the body to provide additional strength to the connection between the elastically bendable plate and the floor.

[0024] Preferably, the fasteners comprise lock nuts and bolts, and most preferably, pins and collar fasteners. These fasteners can be of the type manufactured by Huck Manufacturing Company under the proprietary name "Huck bolts".

[0025] Preferably, the bolts each have a dome head or button head configuration and the head is on the inside of the trailer body.

[0026] Preferably, the floor and the side wall comprise a profiled plate that extends to partially cover the elastically bendable plate.

[0027] Preferably, another plate extends below the elastically bendable plate and towards the door, the floor and the other plate being formed with overlapping holes for the plurality of fasteners to clamp the elastically bendable plate between the floor and the other plate.

[0028] Preferably, the door is provided with inwardly extending guide wings at each end thereof, the guide wings extending substantially parallel to and immediately adjacent to the front and rear end walls, the guide wings each having an upper arcuate edge that cooperates with a front guide pin attached to the front end wall and a rear guide pin attached to the rear end wall to guide the door when opening and closing.

[0029] Preferably, the guide wing is disposed on the inner side of the body.

[0030] Preferably, each of the upper arc-shaped edges is provided with a stop portion for engaging with the guide pin to limit the opening degree of the door. This design prevents the door from opening and the flexible bending plate from bending beyond the desired position. Typically, the door opening degree will allow the support plate and the base plate of the body to extend in the same plane.

[0031] Preferably, each guide wing has a lower edge opposite to the upper arcuate edge. This lower edge has a lower arcuate portion that engages with a resiliently flexible plate, such that when the door moves from the open position to the closed position, the curvature of the resiliently flexible plate matches the shape of the lower arcuate edge. The lower edge is opposite to the upper arcuate edge, meaning they are located on different sides of the guide wing. The end of the lower edge is adjacent to the upper arcuate edge because they meet due to the arcuate structure of the upper arcuate edge and the lower arcuate portion of the lower edge.

[0032] Preferably, the guide wing includes at least one tooth extending from the lower edge, the tooth being configured to be received within a groove formed in the edge of the resiliently flexible plate to position the resiliently flexible plate relative to the guide wing.

[0033] Preferably, the flexible bendable plate is a flexible bendable plastic plate.

[0034] Preferably, the flexible plastic sheet is selected from one of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, polydicyclopentadiene, and general composite fiber-reinforced polymers. The fibers in the fiber-reinforced polymer can be glass fibers, carbon fibers, or basalt fibers.

[0035] Optionally, the flexible bendable plate is a flexible bendable sheet metal made of alloy steel such as spring steel.

[0036] Preferably, in the closed position, the door extends between the inner edges of the front end wall and the rear end wall.

[0037] Preferably, the end walls are all single-plate structures, and include a single-plate reinforcing coaming along their top. The reinforcing coaming has a bracket connected to the end wall by fillet weld along its lower edge. The end wall and coaming have mounting members for securing a hydraulic jack to it. The mounting member includes at least one plate extending through a groove in the end wall and coaming and into a jack fixing bracket for attaching one end of the hydraulic jack. The at least one plate is fixed in a suitable position within the groove by welding. The other end of the jack is attached to a door. The coordinated operation of the front and rear jacks opens and closes the door, which is hinged to the body.

[0038] One or more plates serve a dual purpose: first, during the assembly of the end wall and the surrounding plate, the plates enable the positioning of these components, ensuring that the relative positions of the components are correctly set before welding begins; second, since the push rod mount is primarily fixed to the metal plate, one or more plates can enhance the bending resistance of the push rod mount.

[0039] The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly are intended for use with the chassis structure described in the applicant's Australian Patent 2005220210, but can also be easily adapted to other chassis, such as those with rubber mounting surfaces between the body's bottom plate and the chassis.

[0040] The front and rear walls and the reinforcing panels are preferably made of elastically deformable plate material.

[0041] The end wall panels are preferably made of a plate material that can be elastically deformed.

[0042] The end wall and the top of the end wall panel are preferably provided with a cover flange.

[0043] Preferably, the sides of the body are also made of a resiliently deformable plate material. Reinforcement can be provided by external flanges at the ends and cladding along the longitudinal edges to prevent the walls from bending outwards.

[0044] Preferably, the fixed sidewalls and the base plate are constructed using a fully welded process, with overlapping joints at the connection points to form a rigid single-plate structure. Further reinforcement can be provided by welding reinforcing plates at least at the junctions of the front and rear walls with the fixed sidewalls and the base plate.

[0045] Preferably, the elastically deformable plate material comprises a plate with a Brinell hardness of at least 370. The plate material can be selected from quenched and tempered plates, wear-resistant steel, high-impact steel, or high-strength steel. In practical applications, plates with Brinell hardnesses of 400, 450, 500, 550, or 600 can be selected. The yield strength is preferably 1000 to 1800 MPa, with 1200 to 1500 MPa being most suitable. Attached Figure Description

[0046] Three preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and the following description of the side-dump trailer body for transporting bulk solids: Figure 1 This is a side view (viewed from the door side) of the tilt-over trailer body according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 A front view of the tilt-over trailer body according to any embodiment; Figure 3 This is an isometric top view of the tilting unloading trailer body of the first embodiment, with the door in the closed position; Figure 4This is an isometric top view of the tilting unloading trailer body of the first embodiment, with the door in the open position; Figure 5 This is a top view of the tilt-over trailer body of the first embodiment, with the door in the closed position; Figure 6 This is a top view of the tilting trailer body of the first embodiment, with the door in the open position; Figure 7 for Figure 5 The sectional view of section AA also shows the interior of the rear end wall of the side-tipping trailer body; Figure 8 for Figure 6 The sectional view of the middle BB section also shows the interior of the rear end wall of the side-tipping trailer body; Figure 9 This is a front view of the body of the tilt-over trailer according to any embodiment (with the door in the closed position), and the door is shown in the open position with a dashed outline. Figure 10 An isometric view showing details of the door frame and door support plate in a tilt-over trailer; Figure 11 for Figure 10 A view of the top edge of the door frame and support plate; Figure 12 for Figure 10 and Figure 11 A side view showing details of the door frame and support plate; Figure 13 An isometric view of the rear end of the machined plastic plate used in the body of the tilt-unloading trailer of the first embodiment, showing the position when the door is closed; Figure 14 for Figure 13 The isometric view of the processed plastic sheet shows the position used when the door is closed. Figure 15 for Figure 13 and 14 The outer plan view of the processed plastic sheet shows the position used when the door is closed; Figure 16 A plan view of the guide vane used for a side-tipping trailer; Figure 17 for Figure 16 Isometric view of the guide vane in the image; Figure 18 for Figure 16 and Figure 17 The edge view of the guide wing in the image; and Figure 19 This is a cross-sectional view through a partial door near the rear of the trailer in the first embodiment, showing the trailer elements at the rear of the trailer; Figure 20 for Figure 4 Isometric view of detail B; Figure 21 A cross-sectional view taken across the bottom plate of the side-dump trailer in the first embodiment, showing details of the plastic sheet being attached to the bottom plate; Figure 22 This is an isometric top view of the tilting unloading trailer body of the second embodiment, with the door in the open position; Figure 23 for Figure 5 The sectional view of section AA also shows the interior of the rear end wall of the side-tipping trailer body, but it is the side-tipping trailer body according to the second embodiment. Figure 24 A cross-sectional view taken across the bottom plate of the side-dump trailer in the second embodiment, showing details of the plastic sheet being attached to the bottom plate; Figure 25 A side view (viewed from the door side) of the tilt-over trailer body according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 26 for Figure 25 A magnified side view showing some details. Detailed Implementation

[0047] The illustrated embodiment shows a tilting body 10 for a tilting unloading trailer. (Refer to...) Figure 3 The tilting body 10 has a top-opening body 11 and a side-opening door 13. In use, the tilting body is designed to be mounted on a chassis (not shown) for transporting bulk materials on mining roads and off-road when connected to a tractor or trailer bogie.

[0048] The top-open body 11 has a side portion 17 and a base plate 19 integrally formed by three plate portions 21, 22, and 23 joined together by fillet welds along axial extension lines 25 and 26 (due to limitations in the standard stock plate width). Plate portions 22 and 23 have bends as shown.

[0049] The front wall 27 and the rear wall 29 are connected to the side 17 and the bottom plate 19 by fillet welds to form an enclosure for holding and transporting bulk solids. The rear wall 29 is mirror-symmetrical to the front wall 27.

[0050] like Figures 3 to 8 The first embodiment (and the second embodiment shown) Figure 22 and Figure 23As shown, a webbing 33 is connected to the front wall 27 and the rear wall 29 by fillet welds, located between these components and plates 21, 22, and 23 that form the side portion 17 and the bottom plate 19 by fillet welds. A webbing 35 extending along the inner upper surface of the side portion 17 provides a reinforcing structure to prevent bending of the side portion 17. The structural rigidity of the upper region of the front wall 27 and the rear wall 29 is further enhanced by a webbing 37 with an arcuate flange 39 at the top and a U-shaped groove bracket 41, which is also fixed by fillet welds at the upper corner between the side portion 17 and the front wall 27 and between the side portion 17 and the rear wall 29. The webbing 37 has a portion 37a that extends obliquely outward (obliquely outward relative to the end wall 27), and a portion 37b that extends parallel to the end wall 27 at the top of this portion, and an arcuate flange 39 at the top of this portion. As mentioned above, the front wall 27 and the rear wall 29 are mirror images of each other, so the structures at both ends are identical.

[0051] A structural enclosure 45 is disposed along the underside of the base plate 19 at the edge of the opening closed by the door 13. The structural enclosure 45 extends from the front end wall 27 and the rear end wall 29, and is fixedly connected to them via a front flange 47 and a rear flange 49. The front flange 47, the rear flange 49, and the structural enclosure 45 support three bushings 51, which pivotally mount the body 11 to the edge of a trailer chassis (not shown) for tipping. A U-shaped bracket 41 covers mounting points 53 on each of the front end wall 27 and the rear end wall 29 for mounting one end of a double-acting hydraulic jack, the other end of which is fixed to the trailer chassis, thereby tilting the body 11 around the bushing 51. Brackets 54 are provided on both the front end wall 27 and the rear end wall 29 for mounting supports for the hydraulic lines used for the hydraulic jack.

[0052] A strut 55 is installed at the upper corner of the front wall 27 and the rear wall 29. This strut extends longitudinally along and above the opening within the body 11. The strut 55 secures the front wall 27 and the rear wall 29 to prevent them from bending outwards, which would cause fine particles to spill out of the tilted body 10 when the door 13 is closed. A segmented arcuate support 57 extends laterally from the strut 55 to the top of the side 17 of the body 11, its length being half the length of the body 10. This support 57, together with the convex arcuate flange 39, forms a support surface for supporting a tarpaulin (not shown) covering cargo, a standard configuration for transporting granular goods.

[0053] The trailer body is made of high-strength steel that has undergone quenching and tempering. This steel is produced by the Swedish steel company SSAB and was selected for its high mechanical strength and fatigue resistance, properties that ultimately help extend the trailer's service life. The trailer's expected working life is approximately 31,200 cycles over 10 years.

[0054] Hardox 450 ™ It is primarily used on surfaces within the body that are expected to come into contact with transported goods. Because of its high hardness, this material can resist localized plastic deformation during loading and unloading. The thickness of Hardox 450 within the body ranges from 4 mm to 10 mm.

[0055] Strenx 700™ is used in the structural components of the body and trailer chassis because its high mechanical strength makes it the optimal choice for achieving load-bearing capacity. The material is available in body and chassis structural components with a nominal thickness of 4 mm and a maximum thickness of 16 mm.

[0056] The enclosure structure 31 consists of an outwardly opening door 13. In the closed position, the door 13 extends between the inner edges of the front wall 27 and the rear wall 29. The door 13 is formed by a support plate 59, which is made of 4 mm high-strength steel sheet that has been quenched and tempered, extends across the entire inner surface of the door, and is supported by an upper longitudinal enclosure 61 and a lower longitudinal enclosure 63. The upper longitudinal enclosure 61 and the lower longitudinal enclosure 63 are bridged by a front transverse rib 65 located at the front end of the body and a rear transverse rib 67 located at the rear end of the body, and are also bridged by two spaced-apart transverse ribs 69, which are spaced apart from the front transverse rib 65 and the rear transverse rib 67. The support plate 59 is made of Hardox 450. ™ The upper longitudinal panel 61, the lower longitudinal panel 63, and the transverse ribs 65, 67, and 69 are made of Strenx 700. ™ The components are fabricated into a channel-shaped structure and connected by fillet welds, and are then connected to the support plate 59 by fillet welds. The support plate 59 has five rectangular holes 71 that extend through it, three of which are evenly spaced along the upper region of the support plate 59, and the other two are located in the lower region of the support plate 59, below the front and rear upper holes.

[0057] Both the front transverse rib 65 and the rear transverse rib 67 have push rod mounting rods 73, which are pivotally attached to the front transverse rib 65 and the rear transverse rib 67, respectively, and pivotally attached to one end 75 of a double-acting hydraulic push rod 77. The other end of the double-acting hydraulic push rod 77 is pivotally attached to a push rod mounting member 79 welded to the enclosure 37, as well as to the front end wall 27 and the rear end wall 29 at both ends of the body 11. The push rod mounting rods 73 are pivotally attached to the front transverse rib 65 and the rear transverse rib 67, with their attachment position slightly above the midpoint of the height of the front transverse rib 65 and the rear transverse rib 67 from the lower longitudinal enclosure 63 to the upper longitudinal enclosure 61. In this way, the door 13 is balanced at the end of the hydraulic push rod 77, as will be explained later. The hydraulic push rod 77 is actuated in use to open and close the door 13.

[0058] Reference Figure 4 , 7 Doors 13, 8, 16 to 20, are provided with inwardly extending guide wings 81, and a guide wing is installed on the bottom plate of the front transverse rib 65 and the rear transverse rib 67 at both ends of door 13. Figures 16 to 18 The guide wing 81 is shown attached to the rear transverse rib 67. The guide wing 81 is attached to the front transverse rib 65 and... Figures 16 to 18 The guide vanes shown are mirror-symmetrical. Guide vanes 81 extend substantially parallel to the front and rear walls, adjacent to them, on the inner sides of the front and rear walls 27 and 29, respectively. Each guide vane 81 has an upper arcuate edge 83 with a constant radius following a trajectory that defines the axis of rotation of the door 13 when opened and closed by the hydraulic push rod 77. The upper arcuate edge 83 of each guide vane 81 engages with a front guide pin 85 attached to the front wall 27 and a rear guide pin 87 attached to the rear wall 29, respectively, to guide the door during opening and closing.

[0059] Each upper arc-shaped edge 83 includes a stop formed by a catch 89, which engages with guide pins 85, 87 to limit the opening degree of the door 13. This design prevents the door from opening and the plastic panel from bending beyond the desired position. Typically, the door is opened to such an extent that the support plate 59 extends in the same plane as the base plate 19 of the body 11.

[0060] The trailer body 11 and door 13 have a resiliently bendable plate 91 made of 8 mm thick ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) plastic sheet, which covers and supports the support plate 59, extends to the plate 23 of the base plate 19, passes under a portion of the plate 23 of the base plate 19, and connects to the base plate 19 along an axial region spaced apart from the opening. At this connection, the plate 23 together with another 3 mm thick low carbon steel plate 93 forms the base plate 19, sandwiching the UHMWPE plate 91 in the middle.

[0061] UHMWPE board 91 Figures 13 to 15 The UHMWPE plate 91 is shown forced into a folded position when the door 13 is closed. Five rectangular pads 95 are plate-like protrusions on the outer side of the UHMWPE plate 91 where it contacts the door's support plate 59. The size and arrangement of these pads allow them to be accommodated and engaged with rectangular holes 71 within the support plate 59 of the door 13, positioning the UHMWPE plate 91 relative to the support plate 59 of the door 13. The rectangular pads 95 are also made of UHMWPE and are welded to the UHMWPE plate 91. Due to the elastic biasing force of the UHMWPE plate 91 towards a flattened position, the rectangular pads 95 will maintain their engagement with the rectangular holes 71.

[0062] Refer again Figures 16 to 18The lower edge 97 of the guide wing 81 is provided with an arc angle 99, so that when the door 13 moves from the open position to the closed position, the curvature of the UHMWPE plate 91 can match the shape of the arc angle 99.

[0063] Each guide vane 81 includes at least one tooth extending from the lower edge 97, the tooth having the form of two tabs 101 and 103 by which the guide vane 81 is welded to the door support plate 59 and the front transverse ribs 65 and rear transverse ribs 67 at both ends of the door 13. The two tabs 101 and 103 are respectively accommodated in grooves 105 and 107 formed in the edge 109 of the UHMWPE plate 91 to position the UHMWPE plate 91 relative to the guide vane 81.

[0064] The guide vanes 81 are all made of three-layer laminated welded Slenx 700 ™ The structure is designed to provide greater thickness in areas where greater stress is expected during unloading operations, therefore thickened ends are provided near the location where the guide wing is attached to the door panel 59 and near the location where the hook 89 is located.

[0065] As previously described, the UHMWPE plate 91 is configured to cover and support the support plate 59, and is positioned via holes 71 on the support plate 59 and tabs 101, 103 on the guide wing 81. The UHMWPE plate 91 extends across the low-carbon steel plate 93 located beneath the entire base plate 19 of the body 11, and extends beneath a portion of the plate 23 of the base plate 19. The UHMWPE plate 91 is secured to the plate 23 and the low-carbon steel plate 93 by clamping at the junctions of a plurality of fasteners 111 distributed along the axial range of the body 11. While the axial range in this first embodiment is close to the centerline of the body (within 10% of the body width), it is closer to the door opening. The fasteners 111 are staggered relative to the axial range of the body 11 to provide additional strength to the connection between the UHMWPE plate 91 and the base plate 19, reducing the risk of the UHMWPE plate 91 breaking along a single line. The fasteners pass through pre-drilled holes in the plates 23 and 93.

[0066] The fasteners include bolts 113, each bolt having a cylindrical head 115 structure located inside the trailer body 11 to minimize particulate matter adhesion, and a locking nut 117 located below the body 11 to abut against the plate 93. The preferred fasteners 111 for this application are pin and collar fasteners, specifically those manufactured by Hack Manufacturing Company under the proprietary name "Hack Bolts".

[0067] In the manner described above, the UHMWPE plate 91 forms a pivotal mounting for connecting the door 13 to the body 11. This pivoting is controlled by the following factors: the elastic properties of the UHMWPE plate 91, the positioning of the UHMWPE plate 91 achieved by fasteners 111, holes 71 in the door, and tabs 101 and 103 on the lower edge 97 of the guide wing 81, and the balance of the door achieved by fixing the top rod mounting rod 73 to the top rod 77.

[0068] UHMWPE sheet 91 extends along the entire support plate 59 to provide a wear-resistant surface when unloading cargo from the trailer 10.

[0069] In the structure described above, when the door 13 is closed, the bending radius of the UHMWPE sheet 91 prevents it from forming overly sharp sections. The plate-like protrusions 95 attached to the plastic sheet 91 are accommodated in complementary-shaped holes 71 in the support plate 59 of the door 13, allowing the door 13 to be positioned relative to the body 11. Simultaneously, the UHMWPE sheet 91 forms a hinge structure to guide the bending radius of the arc angle 99 at the junction of the door 13 and the body 11. Due to its elastic bending properties, the UHMWPE sheet 91 tends towards a flat position, thus always abutting against the support plate 59. The plate-like protrusions 95 attached to the plastic sheet are accommodated in complementary-shaped holes 71 in the support plate 59 of the door to prevent the UHMWPE sheet 91 from sliding upwards relative to the support plate 59.

[0070] Figures 22 to 24 A second embodiment is shown, which differs from the first embodiment in many respects. Firstly, the linear axial range of the fastener 111 is farther from the centerline of the body 11, and closer to the opening of the body 11 and the door 13. From Figure 23 As can be seen, the axial range of fastener 111 is positioned along the lower edge 97 of the guide wing, close to hook 89 (observed when door 13 is closed) and away from the arc angle 99, so that fastener 111 will not bend when door 13 is opened and closed. Therefore, in base plate 19, Hardox 450 TM The other plate 119 is connected to the steel plate 23 by fillet weld, allowing the steel floor to extend closer to the door. This arrangement means that the low-carbon steel plate 93 in the base plate 19 can be omitted. Hardox 450 TM The plate 119 is located above the UHMWPE plate 91 and is fixed directly by fastener 111 as described in the first embodiment.

[0071] Both embodiments are superior to those described in the applicant's previous patent applications. A particular advantage lies in the use of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) material within the dump truck body without compromising its mechanical properties and wear resistance. This reduces weight by approximately 600 kg compared to current models, resulting in an estimated total unloaded weight of 2631 kg for the chassis and dump truck body combination. This reduction in unloaded weight offers significant advantages, as potential customers will be able to carry greater loads while still complying with national heavy vehicle standards. This not only improves the trailer's operational efficiency but also reduces lifetime carbon emissions for both unloaded and fully loaded dump trucks (carrying the same volume as the applicant's prior art dump trucks) due to reduced fuel consumption. Furthermore, the use of UHMWPE within the trailer body allows for the inclusion of flexible hinges. These hinges eliminate the need for existing lubrication bushings, which suffer severe wear and corrosion cracking when transporting particulate matter. This ultimately extends the estimated service life of the dump truck.

[0072] The UHMWPE sheets used in the prototype were manufactured by the German plastics manufacturer R Chling supplied UV-stabilized Polystone® because of its longer lifespan compared to other products in outdoor locations. This plastic has a significantly lower density than its counterpart with a density of 0.93. It uses steel, but still maintains a high tensile yield strength of 20.67 MPa. The issue of insufficient strength compared to the existing Hardox 450™ steel is compensated for by increasing the thickness of the plastic in its application areas (compared to the thickness of the steel), resulting in overall net weight reduction while maintaining functionality.

[0073] The flexibility of plastics also presents some drawbacks to the design, as they can generate significant deformation and stress under load. Therefore, to enhance the rigidity of the design, steel supports (in the form of door frames 61, 63, 65, 67, 69 and the lower panel 45) are used to support the front and bottom areas of the plastic panel 91, ensuring the composite structure is rigid and can withstand significant deformation. However, the pivot area lacks any steel supports, allowing it to bend freely along the shape of the bend 99 of the guide wing 81.

[0074] A third embodiment of the invention introduces a structural hinge for door 13, formed by a U-shaped clamp assembly whose axis of rotation extends along a longitudinal axis near the lower longitudinal extent of the door. In all embodiments, door 13 pivots about this longitudinal axis, but as previously described, the pivoting about the axis of rotation in the first two embodiments is determined by the elastic properties of the UHMWPE plate 91, the positioning of the UHMWPE plate 91 achieved by fasteners 111, holes 71 in the door, and tabs 101, 103 located at the lower edge 97 of the guide wing 81, and the balance of the door achieved by securing the top rod mounting rod 73 to the top rod 77. In the third embodiment, the pivoting about the axis of rotation is restricted by the structural hinge, which provides greater strength than the arrangements of the first and second embodiments alone. The UHMWPE plate 91 is located above the structural hinge, protecting the pin and bushing assembly from abrasion by loose, abrasive material loaded as cargo in the trailer body.

[0075] Except for the arrangement discussed herein, the third embodiment is identical to the second embodiment in all other respects.

[0076] The outward-opening door 13 is formed by a support plate 59, which is made of 4 mm thick high-strength steel plate that has been quenched and tempered. This support plate extends across the entire inner surface of the door and is supported by an upper longitudinal circumference plate 61 and a lower longitudinal circumference plate 63. The upper and lower longitudinal circumference plates 61 and 63 are bridged by a front transverse rib 65 located at the front end of the body, a rear transverse rib 67 located at the rear end of the body, and a central transverse rib 121 equidistantly located between the transverse ribs 65 and 67. The upper and lower longitudinal circumference plates 61 and 63 are also bridged by two spaced-apart transverse ribs 69, which are spaced apart from the front transverse rib 65, the central transverse rib 121, and the rear transverse rib 67. The support plate 59 is made of Hardox 450 steel. ™ Formed by the upper longitudinal panel 61, the lower longitudinal panel 63, and the transverse ribs 65, 67, and 69, made of Strenx 700 ™ The components are fabricated into a channel-shaped structure and connected by fillet welds, and then connected to the support plate 59 by fillet welds.

[0077] The front transverse rib 65, the rear transverse rib 67, and the central transverse rib 121 each have an arm 123 extending downward beyond the lower longitudinal circumference 63. This arm has perforated fingers 125 and 127 that accommodate a pin 129 in a U-shaped clamp arrangement. The pin 129 passes through and is accommodated in a bushing 51, which also pivotally mounts the body 11 to the edge of the trailer chassis (not shown) for unloading.

[0078] Compared to the first embodiment, in order to align the front transverse rib 65 at the front end of the body and the rear transverse rib 67 at the rear end of the body with the bushing 51, the bushings at the front and rear ends of the body 11 are moved to align with the front transverse rib 65 and the rear transverse rib 67. Furthermore, it is unnecessary to provide the rectangular hole 71 in the support plate 59 of the door 13 (for positioning the UHMWPE plate 91 relative to the support plate 59 of the door 13), or the rectangular pad 95 welded to the UHMWPE plate 91, because the positioning of the plate 91 relative to the door 13 is not as crucial for controlling the opening and closing posture of the door as in the first and second embodiments.

[0079] It should be noted that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A tilt-over trailer body and door assembly, the door assembly having an inner support plate, the outer side of which is supported by a frame assembly to minimize bending of the support plate, the body having a base plate, a front end wall and a rear end wall, and a side wall opposite an opening closed by a door, the door pivoting relative to the base plate along a longitudinal axis extending in a lower longitudinal region near the door; and the trailer body and door assembly having a resiliently bendable plate covering and supported on the support plate and at least partially supported by the base plate, and connected to the base plate along an axial region spaced apart from the opening.

2. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The end wall is connected along the upper edge of the opening by a strut to prevent the end wall from bending.

3. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The resiliently bendable plate forms a pivot mount for connecting the door to the body.

4. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The door is suspended from each of the end walls by a pair of double-acting push rods, with each end wall having a double-acting push rod attached.

5. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The resiliently bent plate connected to the support plate extends along the entire support plate to provide an abrasion-resistant surface when unloading cargo from the trailer.

6. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The resiliently bent plate connected to the support plate is mounted to the support plate by a plurality of plate-shaped protrusions coupled to the resiliently bent plate, each of the plate-shaped protrusions extending into and being supported in a hole of complementary shape in the support plate.

7. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The axial range spaced apart from the opening is at a distance from the opening that is not less than one-fifth of the distance from the opening to the centerline of the trailer body.

8. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to claim 7, wherein, The line spaced apart from the opening is located between the centerline of the trailer body and one-fifth of the distance from the opening to the centerline of the trailer body.

9. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The flexible bendable plate is secured to the base plate by clamping with a plurality of fasteners extending along the axial range.

10. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to claim 9, wherein, The fasteners are staggered relative to the axial range of the body to provide additional strength for the connection between the resiliently bent plate and the base plate.

11. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to claim 9 or 10, wherein, The fasteners include lock nuts and bolts, and are most preferably pin and collar fasteners.

12. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to claim 11, wherein, The bolts all have a dome head or cylindrical head structure, and the head is located inside the trailer body.

13. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The base plate and the sidewalls include a shaped plate, the base plate extending to partially cover the resiliently bendable plate.

14. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, Another plate extends below the resiliently bent plate and toward the door, and the base plate and the other plate have overlapping holes for the plurality of fasteners to clamp the resiliently bent plate between the base plate and the other plate.

15. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The door has inwardly extending guide wings at both ends. The guide wings extend substantially parallel to and adjacent to the front end wall and the rear end wall. Each guide wing has an upper arc-shaped edge. The upper arc-shaped edge cooperates with a front guide pin attached to the front end wall and a rear guide pin attached to the rear end wall to guide the door when it is opened and closed.

16. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to claim 15, wherein, The guide wing is disposed inside the body.

17. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to claim 15 or 16, wherein, The upper arc-shaped edges all include a stop portion for engaging with the guide pin to limit the degree of door opening.

18. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein, Each guide wing has a lower edge opposite to the upper arc-shaped edge. The lower edge has a lower arc-shaped portion, which cooperates with the elastically bendable plate so that when the door moves from the open position to the closed position, the curvature of the elastically bendable plate matches the shape of the lower arc-shaped portion.

19. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to claim 18, wherein, The guide wing includes at least one tooth extending from the lower edge, the tooth being configured to be received within a groove formed in the edge of the resiliently flexible plate to position the resiliently flexible plate relative to the guide wing.

20. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, In the closed position, the door extends between the inner edges of the front and rear walls.

21. The side-tipping trailer body and door assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The end walls are all single-plate structures, and each includes a single-plate reinforcing shroud along its top. The reinforcing shroud has a bracket connected to the end wall by fillet weld along its lower edge. The end wall and the shroud have mounting members for fixing a hydraulic jack to it. The mounting members include at least one plate extending through a groove in the end wall and the shroud and into a jack fixing bracket for attaching one end of the hydraulic jack. The at least one plate is fixed in a suitable position within the groove by welding.

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