Patent ID: 7917266
Filing Date: 2011-03-29
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for estimating the volumetric capacity of a truck body having a pair of side walls a front wall and a floor, comprising: (a) establishing a side-to-side profile of a generic load model by extending a load side line upward at one or more predetermined material angles of repose from the the side walls of the truck body to a peak; (b) establishing a front-to-rear profile of a generic load model by extending a front load line upward from the front wall of the truck body at the one or more predetermined material angles of repose and a rear load line upward from at or near a rear edge of the floor of the truck body to a peak; (c) fitting the side load lines produced in step (a) and the front and rear load lines produced in step (b) into a generally conically shaped surface in which the profiles of the conical shaped surface are maintained at the one or more predetermined material angles of repose to form a final three-dimensional generic load model where the generally conical shaped surface intersects the side walls, front wall and floor of the truck body; and (d) calculating the volume of the final three-dimensional generic load model.