Trellis frame and body support assembly for dump trucks

Abstract

Off-road rear dump truck (10), comprising: a grid frame (20), the grid frame (20) having a length and a width and including: a pair of cylindrical rear supports (211) on a rear side of the lattice frame (20), the cylindrical rear supports (211) having a first common axis and being spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the lattice frame (20), a pair of outer frame tubes (201), the outer frame tubes (201) extending longitudinally generally horizontally in a longitudinal direction of the lattice frame (20), and a pair of support rockers (274), the support rockers (274) being spaced apart from one another in the width direction of the lattice frame (20) and configured to be rotatably mounted about respective axes in the width direction of the lattice frame (20), the axes being parallel to one another and orthogonal to the first common axis of the cylindrical rear supports (211); and a trough body (30) contacting the grid frame (20) according to a six-point contact arrangement, the trough body (30) having a length and a width and including: a rear pivot support (310) provided on a bottom (35) of the trough body (30) and toward a rear side of the trough body (30), the rear pivot support (310) having a pair of cylindrical rear pivot pins (311), the cylindrical rear pivot pins (311) having a second common axis and being spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the trough body (30), a pair of flat contact surfaces (301) provided on the bottom (35) of the trough body (30) at a central portion of the trough body (30), the flat contact surfaces (301) being spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the trough body (30), and a pair of vertical support structures (370) extending from a front surface (37) of the trough body (30), the pair of vertical support structures (370) being spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the trough body (30), wherein the six-point contact arrangement includes the pair of cylindrical rear supports (211) of the lattice frame (20) rotatably coupled to the pair of cylindrical rear pivot pins (311) of the rear pivot support (310) of the body body (30), the pair of vertical support structures (370) of the body body (30) removably mounted in the pair of support rockers (274), and the pair of flat contact surfaces (301) positioned adjacent outer lateral surfaces of the pair of outer frame tubes (201).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The present disclosure relates to dump trucks, and more particularly to lattice frame and body support assemblies for dump trucks and systems, components, and methods thereof. State of the art

[0002] Typically, rear-loading dump trucks have a dump body pivotally connected to a dump frame adjacent to a rear end of the dump body. A problem can arise with the connection between the dump body and the dump frame. The connection between the dump body and the dump frame can provide load support points. These load support points can be sensitive to limitations such as manufacturing variations, poor maintenance practices, and / or unreliable support definitions. This can result in additional reinforcement of multiple load paths.

[0003] Additionally, conventional lattice frames for dump trucks can be configured with static applications in mind. However, vehicle applications are at least partially dynamic in nature, and dump trucks can be a particularly challenging application due to loads on the lattice frame, as well as the bending, twisting, and / or flexing that can occur when the truck travels over various types of terrain, such as off-road.

[0004] JP 2012 - 25 285 A ("the '285-JP patent document") describes a dump truck in which a member other than a hinge can support at least one inertial force in the forward direction under inertial forces acting on a loading platform thereof. According to the '285-JP patent document, the dump truck includes a frame, hinge pins arranged at a rear portion of the frame, and the loading platform freely rotatably mounted to the frame via the hinge pins.The '285-JP patent document also describes that a front stop structure is arranged on the frame, that the front stop structure serves to support the inertial force acting on the bed in the forward direction by abutting a front part of the bed sitting on the frame, and that the front stop structure is configured such that a front abutment plate abutting the front part of the bed is rotated by a four-bar linkage.

[0005] US 2016 / 0 264 187 A1 shows a rear dump truck with a lattice frame. Brief description of the revelation

[0006] In one aspect, a support assembly for a dump truck is disclosed. The support assembly may include a grid frame and a body. The body may be configured to be positioned on the grid frame. The grid frame may include at least one rear support, at least one outer elongated support member extending generally horizontally in a longitudinal direction, and at least one support rocker configured to be laterally rotatable about an axis extending horizontally in a longitudinal direction of the grid frame. The body may include a rear pivot support having at least one rear pivot pin provided on a bottom of the body, at least one flat, vertically oriented contact surface provided on the bottom of the body, and at least one vertical support structure extending from a front surface of the body.The at least one rear support of the grid frame may be configured to be pivotally coupled to the at least one rear pivot pin of the rear pivot support of the trough body, wherein the at least one vertical support structure of the trough body may be configured to be removably mounted in the at least one support rocker, and the at least one flat, vertically oriented contact surface may be configured to be positioned adjacent to an outer side surface of the outer elongate support member.

[0007] In another aspect, a support system for a dump truck is disclosed. The support system may consist of a grid frame and a body. The body may be operatively positioned on the grid frame. The grid frame may include a pair of rear supports at a rear side of the grid frame, the rear supports being spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the grid frame; a pair of outer frame tubes extending generally horizontally in a longitudinal direction; and a pair of support legs, the support legs being spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the grid frame and configured to be laterally rotatable about respective axes, the axes being parallel to each other.The tray body may include a rear pivot support provided at a bottom of the tray body, the rear pivot support having a pair of rear pivots spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the tray body; a pair of flat contact surfaces provided at the bottom of the tray body, the flat contact surfaces being vertically aligned and spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the tray body; and a pair of vertical support structures extending from a front surface of the tray body, the pair of vertical support structures being spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the tray body, and each vertical support structure having a downwardly facing contact surface.The rear supports of the lattice frame may be pivotally coupled to the rear pivot pins of the rear pivot support of the body, the vertical support structures of the body may be removably mounted in the support rockers, and the flat contact surfaces may be positioned adjacent to outer side surfaces of the outer frame tubes when the body of the dump truck is in a rest position.

[0008] And in yet another aspect, an off-road rear dump truck is disclosed. The off-road rear dump truck may consist of a grid frame having a length and a width and a dump body having a length and a width. The dump body may contact the grid frame according to a six-point contact arrangement.The lattice frame may include a pair of cylindrical rear supports at a rear side of the lattice frame, the cylindrical rear supports having a first common axis and being spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the lattice frame; a pair of outer frame tubes, the outer frame tubes extending longitudinally generally horizontally in a longitudinal direction of the lattice frame; and a pair of support rockers, the support rockers being spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the lattice frame and configured to be rotatably supported in the width direction of the lattice frame about respective axes, the axes being parallel to each other and orthogonal to the first common axis of the cylindrical rear supports.The body may include a rear pivot support provided at a bottom of the body and toward a rear side of the body, the rear pivot support comprising a pair of cylindrical rear pivot pins, the cylindrical rear pivot pins having a second common axis and being spaced from each other in a width direction of the body; a pair of flat contact surfaces provided at the bottom of the body at a central portion of the body, the flat contact surfaces being spaced from each other in the width direction of the body; and a pair of vertical support structures extending from a front surface of the body, the pair of vertical support structures being spaced from each other in the width direction of the body.The six-point contact arrangement may include the pair of cylindrical rear supports of the lattice frame pivotally coupled to the pair of cylindrical rear pivots of the rear pivots of the body body, the pair of vertical support structures of the body removably mounted in the pair of support rockers, and the pair of flat contact surfaces positioned adjacent to outer side surfaces of the pair of outer frame tubes.

[0009] Further features and aspects of this disclosure will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of a machine according to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine from Fig. 1, with an operator's cab removed therefrom to show a grid frame and a trough body thereof according to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Fig. 3 is a side view of a lattice frame according to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Fig. 4 is a front side view of a trough body according to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Fig. 5 is a lower side view of the trough body of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a lower portion of the trough body of Fig. 4, which particularly shows a rear pivot support according to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Fig. Figure 7 is a further enlarged view of a portion of the rear pivot support of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a front side view of the tray body positioned on the grid frame according to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Fig. 9 is an exploded view of the grid frame and the tray body to show defined contact points according to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. Detailed description

[0010] Now with reference to the drawings and with specific reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, these figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a machine 10. The machine 10 may be a mobile machine that performs any type of operation associated with an industry such as mining, construction, or any other industry known in the art. For example, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the machine 10 may be an earthmoving machine, in particular an all-terrain rear dump truck 10.

[0011] The machine 10 may include a lattice frame 20 supported by front wheels 14 and rear wheels 16 (including respective tires). The front and rear wheels 14, 16 may be connected to the lattice frame 20 by front suspension members and rear suspension systems, respectively. The machine 10 may also include a bed or body 30 supported by the lattice frame 20. Such a bed or body 30 may be referred to herein as a trough body 30. The trough body 30 may be configured as a receptacle for receiving conveyed material.

[0012] A rear portion 34 of the body 30 may be pivotally coupled or attached to a portion (including portions) on a rear side 24 of the grid frame 20. As discussed in more detail below, portions of the body 30 may be movably positioned between the rear portion 34 and a front portion 36 of the body 30 relative to respective portions of the grid frame 20 to support the body 30 to the grid frame 20 in a rest position of the body 30. The rest position of the body 30 may be considered as positioning the body 30 such that the front portion 36 of the body 30 is in a lowermost position (i.e., not raised).The trough body 30 may be pivotally supported at the rear portion 34 about the rear side 24 of the lattice frame 20 to raise or lower the portion of the trough body 30 in front of the pivot pin (and thus move the portion of the trough body 30 behind the pivot pin in the opposite direction). Such pivotal support of the trough body 30 to raise the front portion 36 of the trough body 30 may result in contents being unloaded from the trough body 30. Likewise, pivotal support of the trough body 30 to lower the front portion 36 of the trough body 30 to the rest position may serve to receive contents in the trough body 30.

[0013] The machine 10 may include an operator's cab 18 supported by the lattice frame 20. The machine 10 may also be equipped with a steering mechanism and controls for moving the machine 10 and controls for raising and lowering the dump body 30. The steering mechanism and controls may be located within the operator's cab 18 of the machine 10.

[0014] The machine 10 may include a prime mover (not expressly shown) supported by the lattice frame 20. Generally, the prime mover may be provided in a lattice 21 of the lattice frame 20. The prime mover may be configured to drive the front and rear wheels 14, 16 in the forward or reverse direction. The prime mover may be oriented longitudinally on the lattice frame 20 along a direction of travel of the machine 10. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the prime mover may be oriented transversely. In an exemplary embodiment, the prime mover may be an internal combustion engine, which may be, for example, a two-stroke or four-stroke diesel engine. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the prime mover may be any other type of internal combustion engine, such as a gasoline engine or a gaseous fuel engine.The prime mover may be connected to the front and / or rear wheels 14, 16 via other components, such as a drive train (not shown), to transmit drive power to move the front and / or rear wheels 14, 16 in a forward or reverse direction.

[0015] Exhaust from the prime mover may be discharged from one or more exhaust outlets (not expressly shown). Optionally, the one or more exhaust outlets may be provided generally between the operator's cab 18 and a front wall 37 of the body 30 such that exhaust is provided to at least a predetermined portion of the front wall 37. A coupling (e.g., a bellows) may be provided to connect the one or more exhaust outlets to the front wall 37 of the body 30, for example, to a heating duct provided in or on the front wall 37 of the body 30 to heat the material being transported in the body 30. Such a heating configuration may be as set forth in U.S. Application No. 16 / 663,692, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0016] In general, a lattice frame according to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, such as lattice frame 20, may be a frame that includes structural elements connected to each other at nodes and / or joints. The structural elements may include hollow tubes and / or solid tubes and, in some cases, may be connected according to a triangulated structure. The structural elements may be made of, for example, metal, metal alloys, or reinforced composite materials.

[0017] Fig. 3 is a more detailed view of the lattice frame 20. As shown, the lattice frame 20 may include a pair of rear frame links 210 at the rear side 24 of the lattice frame 20, a pair of center lower frame links 220, a center upper horizontal frame link 225, a pair of center upper frame links 230, a pair of center upper frame node links 240, a pair of front upper frame links 250, a pair of front lower frame links 260, a front upper frame link 270, a pair of front upper suspension links 280, and a front lower suspension link 290. Although the above links are described as pairs, the links of a pair may not be identical. For example, the links of a pair may be symmetrical, generally, but not necessarily identical. The above links may be castings or fabrications.In general, a casting may refer to a connection that is not welded to another support component of the lattice frame 20, and a fabrication may refer to a connection that is welded to another support component of the lattice frame 20.

[0018] The middle lower frame connections 220 and corresponding connections may be as set forth in U.S. Application No. 16 / 663,892; the middle upper horizontal frame connection 225 and corresponding connections may be as set forth in U.S. Application No. 16 / 663,930; the middle upper frame connections 230 and corresponding connections may be as set forth in U.S. Application No. 16 / 664,042; the middle upper frame node connections 240 and corresponding connections may be as set forth in U.S. Application No. 16 / 663,955; the front upper frame connections 250 and corresponding connections may be as set forth in U.S. Application No. 16 / 664,010; the front lower frame connections 260 and corresponding connections may be as set forth in U.S. Application No. 16 / 664,104; the front upper suspension links 280 and corresponding connections may be as described in US application No.No. 16 / 664,124; and / or the front lower suspension linkage 290 and corresponding connections may be as set forth in U.S. Application No. 16 / 664,169. The foregoing applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0019] The grid frame 20 may also include a plurality of elongated support elements, such as elongated support elements 201. Elongated support elements may be circularly formed, for example, in the form of rods and / or tubes, according to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, wherein some or all of the rods and / or tubes may be solid or hollow.

[0020] As in Fig. 3, each elongated support member 201 may be provided between the rear frame joints 210 and the front upper frame joint 270 in a plan view of the trellis frame 20. In particular, each elongated support member 201 may be provided between the center upper horizontal frame joint 225 and one of the rear frame joints 210. Further, each elongated support member 201 may extend longitudinally substantially horizontally, in this case rearwardly from the center upper horizontal frame joint 225 at a positive acute angle relative to a horizontal plane passing through the front wheels 14 and the rear wheels 16. By providing the elongated support members 201 at an outer portion of the trellis frame 20 in a width direction of the trellis frame 20, the elongated support members 201 may be considered outer elongated support members 201.As an example, the outer elongated support members 201 may be outer frame tubes.

[0021] Each rear frame connection 210, which may be a casting, may include a rear support 211 and a rear suspension node 215. Discussed in more detail below, the rear support 211 may directly support the body 30, and the rear suspension node 215 may be coupled to a rear suspension member 115 of the rear suspension system. The rear frame connections 210 may also be coupled to a plurality of elongated support members, including the elongated support members 201. According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, each of the rear frame connections 210 may be seven-point connections. For example, according to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the rear frame connections 210 and the corresponding connections may be as set forth in U.S. Application No. 16 / 663,815, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0022] The rear support 211 may be configured as a pivot pin projection with a pivot pin bore or opening 212. According to one or more embodiments, an outer surface of the rear support 211 (i.e., the pivot pin projection) and the pivot pin bore 212 may be cylindrical. An axis of the pivot pin bore 212 may extend in a width direction of the lattice frame 20. Furthermore, the axes of the pivot pin bores 212 of the rear supports 211 of the pair of rear frame links 210 may be aligned with each other. That is, the axes of the pivot pin bores 212 may be coaxial or common.The pivot pin bore 212 may be configured to receive a pivot pin of a pivot pin interface 213, such that the pivot pin interface 213 is pivotally coupled to the rear support 211 via the pivot pin bore 212, and the pivot pin interface 213 may be pivotally mounted or rotate about the axes of the pivot pin bore 212 and the pivot pin of the pivot pin interface 213. As discussed in more detail below, the pivot pin interface 213 may also be coupled to a floor 35 of the trough body 30.

[0023] As in Fig. 3, the front upper frame link 270 may be fixedly coupled to the front upper suspension links 280, and a bottom of the front upper frame link 270 may be fixedly coupled to the front upper frame links 250. Additionally, the front upper frame link 270, which may be a fabrication, may include a body with a pair of rocker attachment interfaces 272 on an upper surface thereof. According to one or more embodiments, the front upper frame link 270 and corresponding links may be as set forth in U.S. Application No. 16 / 663,849, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0024] The rocker attachment interfaces 272 may be spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the grid frame 20, for example, provided on opposite outer side edges of the body of the front upper frame connection 270, as shown in Fig. 3. Each rocker mounting interface 272 may include a pivot pin bore configured to receive a pivot pin. Optionally, the pivot pin may be considered part of the rocker mounting interface 272. A rotation axis for the pivot pin bore and the pivot pin may be horizontal or substantially horizontal in the longitudinal direction of the lattice frame 20. Furthermore, the rotation axes for the rocker mounting interfaces 272 may be parallel to each other.

[0025] A support rocker 274 can be rotatably attached to each rocker attachment interface 272 via the pivot pin. Because the rocker attachment interfaces 272 can be spaced apart from one another in the width direction of the lattice frame 20, the support rockers 274 can also be spaced apart from one another. Furthermore, the support rockers 274 can be rotatably mounted or rotated laterally or in a width direction of the lattice frame 20 about the respective rotation axes defined by the rocker attachment interfaces 272.

[0026] According to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, each support rocker 274 may have an upwardly facing contact surface 275. The upwardly facing contact surface 275 may be concave, for example, semi-cylindrical, elliptical, or multi-plane. Additionally, the upwardly facing contact surface 275 may be or include a cushion. According to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the support rocker 274 and / or components thereof may be as described in U.S. Application No. 16 / 663,512 and / or U.S. Application No. 16 / 663,551, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As discussed in more detail below, the support rockers 274, particularly the upwardly facing contact surfaces 275 thereof, may receive a portion of corresponding vertical support structures 370 of the tray body 30.

[0027] Now with reference to Fig. 4-7, the trough body 30 may have a rear pivot support 310 and a pair of flat contact surfaces 301 on the bottom 35 thereof and a pair of vertical support structures 370 on the front wall 37 thereof.

[0028] The rear pivot support 310 may be provided on the rear portion 34 of the trough body 30, as shown in Fig. 5. The rear pivot support 310 may have a pair of rear pivot pins 311. The rear pivot pins 311 may be spaced apart from each other in a width or lateral direction of the trough body 30, as shown in Fig. 4-6. The rear pivot support 310 may also include a cross member 314 that may be provided between the rear pivot pins 311, fixedly connected to the rear pivot pins 311, or be a part of (i.e., integral and / or integral with) them.

[0029] The rear pivot support 310 may be fixedly coupled to the bottom 35 of the trough body 30. For example, the rear pivot support 310 may be welded to the bottom 35 of the trough body 30. More specifically, according to one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, each rear pivot pin 311 may be welded to a corresponding longitudinal body support member 377 on the bottom of the trough body 30. As shown in Fig. For example, as shown in Figure 6, each rear pivot pin 311 may be welded in line with the corresponding longitudinal body support member 377. Thus, the rear pivot pin 311 may be considered part of the longitudinal body support member 377 (i.e., integral and / or one piece therewith).

[0030] As in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, each rear pivot pin 311 may also include a plurality of cutouts 313, for example, two cutouts 313 spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the trough body 30. Each cutout 313 may receive a cross-body support member 378. Furthermore, the cutouts 313 of one of the rear pivot pins 311 may receive different cross-body support members 378, for example, adjacent cross-body support members 378, as shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. Additionally, as shown, each crossbody support member 378 may extend through a cutout 313 of one rear pivot pin 311 and through an opposite cutout 313 of the other rear pivot pin 311.

[0031] Each rear pin 311 may have a pivot bore 315. Fig. For example, Figure 6 shows that each rear pivot pin 311 has a pivot bore 315 with two aligned, spaced-apart pivot bore portions. The pivot bore 315 of one rear pivot pin 311 may be aligned with the pivot bore 315 of the other rear pivot pin 311 in the width direction of the body 30. Thus, the pivot bores 315 may have a common axis. Since the pivot bores 315 may be circular openings, the portion (or portions) of the rear pivot pin 311 forming the pivot bore 315 may be considered cylindrical.

[0032] According to one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the rear pivot pins 311 may also include a mounting interface 312 on an outer side surface thereof, as shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7. As a non-limiting example, the mounting interface 312 may include a pair of protrusions configured to mate with corresponding notches of the pivot pin interface 213. The rear pivot support 310 and the corresponding connections may be as set forth in U.S. Application No. 16 / 663,627, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0033] The rear pivot pins 311 may be rotatably coupled to the rear supports 211 of the lattice frame 20 via the pivot pin interface 213. More specifically, for each rear pivot pin 311 / rear support 211 pair, the rear support 211 may be provided in a pivot bore 315 of the rear pivot pin 311 (e.g., between the two pivot bore portions of a single rear pivot pin 311) such that the pivot bore 212 of the rear support 211 is aligned with the pivot bore 315 and such that a pin of the pivot pin interface 213 extends through the pivot bore 212 of the rear support 211 and the pivot bore 315 of the rear pivot pin 311. An arm 214 of the pivot pin interface 213 may have one or more notches configured to mate with one or more corresponding protrusions of the mounting interface 312.

[0034] The pivot pin interface 213 may be retained via the connection between the notches of the pivot pin interface 213 and the protrusions of the mounting interface 312. Furthermore, the arm 214 may be fixedly coupled to the mounting interface 312. For example, a bracket 316 may be fixedly or removably coupled to one or more protrusions of the mounting interface 312 via the arm 214 of the pivot pin interface 213 to prevent the pivot pin interface 213 from moving laterally outward from the rear pivot pin 311. The bracket 316 may be fixed to the protrusion(s) of the mounting interface 312 via bolts, rivets, or welding, as non-limiting examples.

[0035] The bottom 35 of the trough body 30 may include the plurality of flat contact surfaces 301, as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. The flat contact surfaces 301 may have the shape of a plate, such as a rectangular or square plate, although embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are not limited to the above geometries. Optionally, the flat contact surfaces 301 may have a chamfered portion at a lower edge thereof. The flat contact surfaces 301 may be provided generally at a central portion of the tray body 30. In a plan view of the tray body 30, the pair of flat contact surfaces 301 may be located in the longitudinal direction of the tray body 30 between the rear pivot support 310 and the pair of vertical support structures 370. Additionally, the flat contact surfaces 301 may be provided on corresponding longitudinal support body elements 377. For example, the flat contact surfaces 301 may be provided on inwardly facing surfaces of the longitudinal support body elements 377.Thus, in embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the flat contact surfaces 301 may be vertically oriented, as shown in FIG. Fig. 4 and Fig. 5. Furthermore, the flat contact surface 301 on one longitudinal support body element 377 may be spaced apart from the flat contact surface 301 on the opposite longitudinal support body element 377 in the width direction of the trough body 30. Therefore, Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show only one flat contact surface 301 (although this surface may include multiple flat contact surface portions, as discussed below), with the other provided on the inwardly facing surface of the proximal longitudinal support body member 377. The flat contact surfaces 301 may be coupled to the longitudinal support body members 377 by, for example, welding, riveting, or bolting, as non-limiting examples.

[0036] According to one or more embodiments, each flat contact surface 301 may consist of a first flat contact surface portion and a second flat contact surface portion spaced from the first flat contact surface portion in the longitudinal direction of the trough body 30, as shown in Fig. 5. Optionally, the first and second flat contact surface portions of the flat contact surface 301 may have the same configuration. Of course, each flat contact surface 301 may be represented by a single flat contact surface (e.g., a single plate) according to one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter. For example, only one of the first or second flat contact surface portions shown in Fig. 5, which form the flat contact surface 301.

[0037] As discussed in more detail below, when the tray body 30 is in a lowered position (i.e., rest position), the flat contact surfaces 301 attached to the tray body 30, as shown in Fig. 9. That is, the flat contact surfaces 301 may be provided adjacent to outer or lateral sides of the outer elongated support elements 201. According to one or more embodiments, the flat contact surfaces 301 may be parallel to the outer elongated support elements 201.

[0038] The vertical support structures 370 of the trough body 30 may extend from a front surface of the front wall 37 of the trough body 30. The vertical support structures 370 may be fixed to the front surface of the front wall 37, for example, by welding. The vertical support structures 370 may be spaced apart from one another in the width direction of the trough body 30. According to one or more embodiments, the vertical support structures 370 may be centered on opposite sides of a vertical centerline of the trough body 30 in a front view of the machine 10, as shown in Fig. 2. The vertical support structures 370 may be as set forth in U.S. Application No. 16 / 663,825, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0039] The vertical support structures 370 may be vertical, at least in the front view of the tray body 30. Depending on the configuration of the front wall 37 of the tray body 30, the vertical support structures 370 may be generally vertical in a side view of the tray body 30, for example, at an angle of 20 degrees or less from the vertical. According to one or more embodiments, in the side view of the tray body 30, some surfaces may be at one vertical angle and other surfaces at a different vertical angle. For example, an upper front surface portion of the vertical support structure 370 may be at an angle of 20 degrees from the vertical, and a lower front surface portion, which may include the lower portion forming the downwardly facing contact surfaces 317, may be vertical or approximately vertical.

[0040] According to one or more embodiments, the vertical support structures 370 may extend through a horizontal support structure 375, which may also be fixed (e.g., welded) to the front surface of the front wall 37. The intersection surfaces of the horizontal support structure 375 and each vertical support structure 370 may be fixedly attached, for example, by welding. The horizontal support structure 375 may be as set forth in U.S. Application No. 16 / 663,825, which, as noted above, is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0041] Each vertical support structure 370 may have a downwardly facing contact surface 371. According to one or more embodiments, the downwardly facing contact surface 371 may be convex, for example, semi-cylindrical, as shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 8 and Fig. 9, may be elliptical or multi-plane. The downward-facing contact surfaces 371 may be configured to be received or supported in the upward-facing contact surfaces 275 of the support rockers 274. Unlike the support rockers 274, the vertical support structures 370 themselves are not rotatably supported. Industrial applicability

[0042] As noted above, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to lattice frame and body support assemblies for dump trucks and systems, components, and methods thereof. Embodiments of the disclosed subject matter can provide a lightweight, durable machine configuration with reliable support definition of load points between the body 30 and the lattice frame 20, for example, with respect to dimensional variations due to tolerances and / or component deflections.

[0043] According to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the body 30 may operatively contact the grid frame 20 according to a predetermined contact arrangement. For example, embodiments of the disclosed subject matter may provide a six-point contact arrangement between the body 30 and the grid frame 20. According to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, such a contact arrangement may be provided when the body 30 is in a rest position. The rest position, as used herein, may mean that the body 30 is in a lowermost or fully lowered position and is not being raised by the lift cylinders 125, which may be coupled to the center lower frame links 220.

[0044] With reference to Fig. 9, which shows an exploded view of the lattice frame 20 and the body 30 of the machine 10, a first pair of contact points may be provided by the rear supports 211 of the lattice frame 20 and the rear pivot pins 311 of the rear pivot supports 310 of the body 30. Each rear support 211 may be pivotally connected to the body 30 via the rear pivot pin 311. Such a connection may allow the front portion 36 of the body 30 to be raised and lowered between the uppermost and lowermost positions by rotation about the common pivot axis created by the connection between the rear supports 211 and the rear pivot pins 311.

[0045] A second pair of contact points can be provided by positioning the flat contact surfaces 301 relative to the elongate support elements 201. In particular, the flat contact surfaces 301, which may be on the trough body 30 or a part thereof and not on the grid frame 20, can be provided adjacent to outer or lateral sides of the elongate support elements 201, as in Fig. 9. As noted above, the flat contact surfaces 301 may be positioned parallel to the elongated support members 201. Additionally, according to one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the flat contact surfaces 301 may contact the elongated support members 201. Such positioning of the flat contact surfaces 301 may occur when the tray body 30 is in the lowermost or rest position. Furthermore, such positioning of the flat contact surfaces 301 may absorb lateral forces from the corresponding elongated support members 201 of the grid frame 20. Additionally, as noted above, the flat contact surfaces 301 may include a chamfered portion at a lower edge thereof. Such a chamfered portion may assist in centering the tray body 30 when the tray body 30 is transferred to the rest or fully lowered position.

[0046] A third pair of contact points may be provided by the removably positioning of the vertical support structures 370, particularly the downward contact surfaces 371 thereof, on the support rockers 274, particularly the upward contact surfaces 275 thereof. According to embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, the downward contact surface 371 may be removably seated on the upward contact surface 275. Additionally, in a front view of the machine 10, a vertical centerline axis of the downward contact surface 371 of each of the vertical support structures 270 may be offset from the rotational axis (i.e., axis of rotation) of a corresponding one of the support rockers 274. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the vertical centerline axis of the downward contact surface 371 may be offset inwardly in a width direction of the machine 10 relative to the rotation axis for the support rocker 274.

[0047] The vertical support structures 370, particularly the downward contact surfaces 371, when they contact the upward contact surfaces 275 of the support rockers 274, can transfer load through the lattice frame 20 to the front suspension system and the front wheels 14. Furthermore, the vertical support structures 370 can provide support for horizontal components of force vectors related to the load of the body 30, which are transferred through the lattice frame 20 and the front suspension system to the front wheels 14. Indeed, optionally, the entire vertical load can pass through or be shared by the pivot pins 273 and the support rockers 274.To some extent, the vertical support structures 370 may provide support for horizontal components of force vectors related to the body 30 load transmitted through the trellis frame 20 and front suspension system to the front wheels 14 based on the inclination or offset of the pivot axis of the support rocker 274 relative to the vertical centerline of the vertical support structure 370, although the second pair of contact points discussed above may accommodate the horizontal loading.

[0048] Furthermore, since the support rockers 274 can be mounted laterally and independently of each other for rotation, and since both the support rockers 274 and the vertical support structures 370 have cooperating contact surfaces (i.e. upwardly directed contact surfaces 275 and downwardly directed contact surfaces 371, respectively), a proper fit between the vertical support structures 370 and the support rockers 274 can be maintained, particularly when the trough body 30 is in the rest position, even when the machine 10 is moving, for example. Such an arrangement, as schematically shown in Fig. 2, can thus provide a uniform load distribution LD with respect to each side of the support assembly (i.e., from side to side or laterally). By pivotally supporting the support rockers 274, the support rocker 274 can also accommodate any tolerance stackup in the body 30 and lattice frame 20. Additionally, a uniform bend radius of the support rocker 274 can ensure that the load transfer is directed back toward the center of the pivot pin 273 to reduce or eliminate bending moments.

[0049] Additionally in Fig. 2, in a front view, the support rocker 274 / vertical support structure 370 combinations may be arranged along the longitudinal axes of respective front struts 121 connected to respective front suspension members 120 on the same sides of the space frame 20. For example, the rotational axis of the support rocker 274 may be aligned with a longitudinal axis of a corresponding front strut 121. The longitudinal axes may intersect at a point CL1 on a vertical centerline on a top surface of the body 30. Of course, embodiments of the disclosed subject matter are not so limited, and the longitudinal axis of the front strut 121 may not be aligned with the support rocker 274 / vertical support structure 370 combination, as is the rotational axis of the support rocker 274. Likewise, in Fig.2, the longitudinal axes of additional suspension elements on opposite sides of the lattice frame 20 may intersect at a point CL2 on the same vertical centerline of the machine 10 as point CL1. The arrangement of the third pair of contact points can therefore evenly transfer the load from the body 30 via the support rockers 274 and the lattice frame 20 to the front suspension system.

[0050] While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by modifying the disclosed machines, assemblies, systems, and methods without departing from the spirit and scope of what is disclosed. Such embodiments should be understood to fall within the scope of the present disclosure as determined based on the claims and any equivalents thereof.

Claims

[1] Off-road rear dump truck (10), comprising: a grid frame (20), the grid frame (20) having a length and a width and including: a pair of cylindrical rear supports (211) on a rear side of the lattice frame (20), the cylindrical rear supports (211) having a first common axis and being spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the lattice frame (20), a pair of outer frame tubes (201), the outer frame tubes (201) extending longitudinally generally horizontally in a longitudinal direction of the lattice frame (20), and a pair of support rockers (274), the support rockers (274) being spaced apart from one another in the width direction of the lattice frame (20) and configured to be rotatably mounted about respective axes in the width direction of the lattice frame (20), the axes being parallel to one another and orthogonal to the first common axis of the cylindrical rear supports (211); and a trough body (30) contacting the grid frame (20) according to a six-point contact arrangement, the trough body (30) having a length and a width and including: a rear pivot support (310) provided on a bottom (35) of the trough body (30) and toward a rear side of the trough body (30), the rear pivot support (310) having a pair of cylindrical rear pivot pins (311), the cylindrical rear pivot pins (311) having a second common axis and being spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the trough body (30), a pair of flat contact surfaces (301) provided on the bottom (35) of the trough body (30) at a central portion of the trough body (30), the flat contact surfaces (301) being spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the trough body (30), and a pair of vertical support structures (370) extending from a front surface (37) of the trough body (30), the pair of vertical support structures (370) being spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the trough body (30), wherein the six-point contact arrangement includes the pair of cylindrical rear supports (211) of the lattice frame (20) rotatably coupled to the pair of cylindrical rear pivot pins (311) of the rear pivot support (310) of the body body (30), the pair of vertical support structures (370) of the body body (30) removably mounted in the pair of support rockers (274), and the pair of flat contact surfaces (301) positioned adjacent outer lateral surfaces of the pair of outer frame tubes (201). [2] The off-road rear dump truck of claim 1, wherein, in a front view of the off-road rear dump truck (10), one jackshaft-vertical support structure combination (274, 370) is located along a first longitudinal axis of a first front suspension strut (121), another jackshaft-vertical support structure combination (274, 370) is located along a second longitudinal axis of a second front suspension strut (121), and the first and second longitudinal axes intersect at a point on a centerline (CL1) of the body (30) at a top of the body (30). [3] An off-road rear dump truck according to claim 1, wherein each of the support rockers (274) has an upwardly directed semi-cylindrical contact surface (275), each of the vertical support structures (370) has a downwardly directed semi-cylindrical contact surface (371), and the downwardly directed semi-cylindrical contact surfaces (371) of the vertical support structures (370) are each supported in the upwardly directed semi-cylindrical contact surfaces (275) of the support rockers (274). [4] The off-road rear dump truck according to claim 1, wherein each of the flat contact surfaces (301) consists of a first flat contact surface portion (301) and a second flat contact surface portion (301) spaced apart from the first flat contact surface portion (301) in a longitudinal direction of the body body (30). [5] The off-road rear dump truck according to claim 1, wherein the six-point contact arrangement is provided when the body (30) of the off-road rear dump truck (10) is in a rest position. [6] The off-road rear dump truck according to claim 1, wherein, in a front view of the off-road rear dump truck (10), for each vertical support structure / jack combination (370, 274), a vertical centerline axis of a downward contact surface (371) of the vertical support structure (370) is offset inward in a width direction of the off-road rear dump truck (10) from the rotational axis of the jack (274). [7] Support arrangement for a dump truck (10), comprising: a grid frame (20) which includes: at least one rear support (211), at least one outer elongate support member (201) extending generally horizontally in the longitudinal direction, and at least one support rocker (274) configured to be laterally rotatably mounted about an axis extending horizontally in a longitudinal direction of the lattice frame (20); and a trough body (30) configured to be positioned on the grid frame (20) and including: a rear pivot support (310) having at least one rear pivot pin (311) provided on a bottom (35) of the trough body (30), at least one flat, vertically oriented contact surface (301) provided on the bottom (35) of the trough body (30), and at least one vertical support structure (370) extending from a front surface (37) of the trough body (30), each of the at least one vertical support structure (370) having a downwardly directed contact surface (371), wherein the at least one rear support (211) of the grid frame (20) is configured to be rotatably coupled to the at least one rear pivot pin (311) of the rear pivot support (310) of the trough body (30), the at least one vertical support structure (370) of the trough body (30) is configured to be removably mounted in the at least one support rocker (274), and the at least one flat, vertically oriented contact surface (301) is configured to be positioned adjacent to an outer lateral surface of the at least one outer elongate support element (201). [8] A support assembly according to claim 7, wherein in a front view of the support assembly, a support rocker-vertical support structure combination (274, 370) is located along a longitudinal axis of a front suspension strut (121), the longitudinal axis intersecting at a point on a vertical centerline (CL1) at a top of the body (30). [9] The support assembly of claim 7, wherein the downwardly directed contact surface (371) of the at least one vertical support structure (370) is configured to be supported in an upwardly directed contact surface (275) of the at least one support rocker (274). [10] The support assembly of claim 7, wherein each of said at least one flat, vertically oriented contact surface (301) consists of a first flat, vertically oriented contact surface portion (301) and a second flat, vertically oriented contact surface portion (301) spaced apart from said first flat, vertically oriented contact surface portion (301) in a longitudinal direction of said trough body (30).

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