Truck apparatus coupleable to different body types and methods of interchanging the bodies

An apparatus and method for coupling different body types to a truck, specifically interchanging between dump and trailer bodies, so that a single truck may be used to perform dump truck and tractor truck operations. The truck includes a pair of rearward extending frame rails and a mounting bracket to which a 5th wheel may be releaseably attached. The truck is adapted for carrying at least one of a 5th wheel and a hydraulic lift system and, thus, is capable of being coupled to a trailer body or dump body, respectively. The truck is changed over from having a dump body to a trailer body by lifting the dump body with its hydraulic cylinder; attaching a hoist to a dump body; lifting the dump body with a hoist; removing at least part of the weight of the hydraulic cylinder from the truck; detaching the hydraulic cylinder from the truck; removing at least part of the weight of the dump body from a coupling pin holding the dump body to the truck; removing the coupling pin; positioning a 5th wheel onto mounting brackets; securing the 5th wheel to the mounting brackets; and coupling a trailer body to the 5th wheel. The method may be reversed in order to change over the truck from carrying a trailer body to a dump body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of vehicles for hauling materials and, more specifically, to an apparatus and method for coupling different body types to a truck.

2. Description of the Related Art

Dump trucks and tractor trucks have different hauling bodies for accomplishing different purposes. A dump truck includes a towing engine that is coupled to a hydraulically operated open-box (dump) body that is hinged at the rear. The front of the body can be raised to allow the contents (usually gravel or some type of soil for construction) to be discharged by gravity on the ground behind the truck at the site of delivery.

In contrast, a tractor truck is an articulated truck consisting of a towing engine (tractor) and a trailer body that carries the freight. The trailer remains generally in the same plane as the truck during unloading, which is usually performed by fork lifts.

It is desirous for trucking operations to have trucks with both types of dedicated bodies in order to provide a greater variety of services. However, dump trucks and tractor trucks are costly, each ranging from $90,000 to substantially more. Moreover, each truck requires separate permits, insurance, maintenance and other associated costs. And oftentimes, particularly for smaller operations, only one type of truck is being utilized for a project while the other remains idle. The high cost of a truck and limitations of the dedicated bodies can restrict a trucking operation's ability to expand into different services or cause the trucking operation to risk financial strain in order to expand.

Accordingly, what is needed in the art of vehicles for hauling materials is a truck that can be coupled to different body types in order to expand the utility of the truck and lower overall operations costs. Also needed in the art is for the truck to be interchangeably attachable to a dump body and trailer body, depending of the desired use. Further needed in the art is for the body changeover to be accomplishable by a single person within a short period of time, such as 15 minutes or less.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the foregoing and other objects, the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, provides various embodiments of a truck adapted for interchangeably coupling different bodies thereto, and methods of interchanging the bodies, in order to enhance the trucks utility.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the truck apparatus is adapted for being interchangeably coupled to a dump body and a trailer body and includes a truck having frame rails; mounting brackets attached to the frame rails; a 5thwheel having a mounting platform and adapted for being attached to the mounting bracket, wherein the 5thwheel is capable of being coupled to the trailer body; and a hydraulic cylinder adapted for being attached to the truck and the dump body. The truck includes a dump body hinged at the rear by a pin and a hydraulic system for raising the front of the body to allow the contents to be discharged by gravity.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method is provided for interchanging a dump body and trailer body on a truck and includes the steps of removing the dump body from the truck and attaching the trailer body to the truck. Additional steps include lifting the dump body with a hydraulic cylinder; attaching a hoist system to the dump body; removing at least part of the weight of the hydraulic cylinder from the truck; detaching the hydraulic cylinder from the truck; removing at least part of the weight of the dump body from a coupling pin; removing the coupling pin from the dump body and the truck; positioning a 5thwheel onto mounting brackets; releaseably attaching the 5thwheel to the mounting brackets; and coupling a trailer body to the 5thwheel.

In a preferred method of the present invention, the steps of the method may be reversed in order to remove the trailer body and attach a dump body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a vehicle for hauling material and, more specifically, a truck apparatus coupleable to different body types and methods for attaching and interchanging the bodies. In various embodiments, the truck includes a 5thwheel to which a trailer body may be attached or a hydraulic lift system for attaching a dump body. In other embodiments, the truck may include both a 5thwheel and a hydraulic lift system.

In various methods of the invention, the truck is converted between having a trailer body and a dump body. In various methods, a hoist system is utilized to remove the dump body and position the 5thwheel for coupling by the trailer body. In various methods, the hoist system is utilized to remove the 5thwheel and place the dump body on the truck.

Referring now to the drawings,FIG. 1illustrates an embodiment of a truck10configured for hauling a trailer body12, in accordance with the present invention.FIG. 2illustrates an embodiment wherein the truck10ofFIG. 1has been converted into a dump truck10ahaving a dump body12a, in accordance with the present invention. Methods are described herein wherein the trailer body12(FIG. 1) and dump body12a(FIG. 2) may be interchanged.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated embodiments the truck10,10ainclude a tractor14comprising a cab16, a chassis with a pair of rearward extending frame rails18, a front axle and at least one rear axle, and a hydraulic lift system20,20afor operation of the dump body12awhen the truck is being utilized as a dump truck10a. It is to be understood that the basic components of the truck are the same regardless whether the truck is being used with a trailer body12or dump body12a.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated byFIG. 3, a mounting bracket22is attached to each of the frame rails18. Each of the mounting brackets22are L-shaped with a downward extending section26being attached by bolts28to the side of the frame rails18and a lateral section30having a planar top surface that is essentially on the same plane as the top surface of the frame rails18. The lateral sections30include a plurality of openings32through which bolts34are received to releaseably attach a 5thwheel36to the truck10.

The 5thwheel36comprises a king pin plate38having a jaw slot40for coupling to a trailer body12(seeFIG. 1) in a conventional manner. The king pin plate38is secured to left and right mounts42by a pair of pins44, the mounts42being secured to a mounting platform46by any suitable means, for example by welding, as illustrated. The mounting platform46has left and right sections47,48joined by a forward cross member50. The left and right sections47,48each have a planar bottom surface that rests atop the respective left and right frame rails18and lateral sections30.

Preferably, the lateral sections30have a length greater than that of the mounting platform46so that the openings32therein allow for the 5thwheel36to be positioned further forward or rearward on the truck10depending on the load being carried. That is, the 5thwheel36may detached and moved forward or rearward to any location where the 5thwheel openings and mounting platform openings32can be coaxially aligned and secured thereat by bolts34. In an alternative embodiment, pins may be used in place of bolts34in order to simplify detachment of the 5thwheel36from the truck10when converting the truck between the trailer body12(FIG. 1) and dump body12a(FIG. 2).

In another embodiment, illustrated byFIG. 4, the present invention includes the same or similar truck components as previously described, but utilizes a slidable 5thwheel52instead of the previously described 5thwheel, and a mounting platform54that is suitable for use with the slidable 5thwheel52. That is, the truck10includes frame rails18, left and right L-shaped mounting brackets22each having a downward extending section26being attached by bolts28to the sides of the frame rails18and a lateral section30having a planar top surface that is essentially on the same plane as the top surface of the frame rails18. The lateral sections30are provided with a plurality of openings through which bolts68are received to releasebly attach the mounting platform54, which ultimately secures the slidable 5thwheel52, to the truck10.

The slidable 5thwheel52includes a king pin plate56having a jaw slot58for coupling a trailer body12(FIG. 1) to a truck10. Advantageously, the slidable 5thwheel52can be adjusted forward or rearward to allow the coupling point between the truck10and trailer12(FIG. 1) to be changed, in accordance with the load being carried, without having to disengage the mounting platform54from the truck10, as was required in the embodiment illustrated byFIG. 1.

The mounting platform54includes substantially identical left and right sections60(only the right section is principally shown) joined by a forward cross member (not illustrated) and a rearward cross members62. The left and right sections60each have a planar bottom surface that rests atop respective left and right frame rails18and lateral sections30. Left and right adjustment rails64are positioned atop the mounting platform sections60and are provided with a plurality of spaced adjustment slots66which provide selectable positions at which the slidable 5thwheel52may be secured. Concentric through-openings in the adjustment rails64, mounting platform sections60and mounting bracket30receive bolts68, or other means such as pins, to releaseable secure the components together. As such, the adjustment rails64and slidable 5thwheel52may be removed from the frame rails18by removing the fastening bolts68. Similarly, the mounting platform54may also be removed by removing additional bolts69.

A conventional hydraulic locking assembly70is provided to secure the slidable 5thwheel52in a predetermined position, and also to release the 5thwheel52from its locked position to enable the 5thwheel52to be moved to a new desired position. The locking assembly70includes substantially similar left and right locking blocks72(only the right side is shown) that are biased into adjustment slots66by springs74(partially shown) whereat the locking blocks72secure the 5thwheel52from moving in any direction relative to the truck frame18. To move the 5thwheel52to a new position, a hydraulic cylinder76articulates a linkage of lever arms (not shown) to overcome the biasing springs74in order to withdrawal and release the locking blocks72from respective slots66. Thusly, the 5thwheel52is no longer locked in a fixed position and may be relocated forward or rearward to a new position.

In the event that the locking assembly70fails, additional safety measures are provided to keep the trailer body (FIG. 1) from inadvertently detaching from the truck10. For example, the 5thwheel52is provided with left and right lateral flanges (not shown) that are received within respective left and right inward facing lower channels78(only right channel is shown) provided in the inward facing surfaces of the adjustment rails64. The lateral flanges may be moved forward and rearward within the channels78, however vertical movement is restricted by the adjustment rails64. Thus, the slidable 5thwheel52, and ultimately the trailer body12(FIG. 1), is restricted from vertically separating from the frame rail18.

Additionally, a rear stop member80is provided to limit rearward movement of the slidable 5thwheel52in case the locking assembly70fails. The stop member80includes left and right flanges82(only the right flange is shown) that are slidably received within the adjustment rail lower channels78, which restricts the stop member80for vertically separating from the truck10. Additionally, rearward movement of the stop member80is controlled by a pair of plates84secured to the mounting platform54by bolts69.

In each of the embodiments, the truck10,10ais equipped with necessary hydraulic and electrically lines (not shown) in order to operate the truck10,10awhen carrying either the dump body12a(FIG. 2) or trailer body12(FIG. 1). Common components include air lines to operate the slidable 5thwheel52, air brakes, and dump bed tail gate; hydraulic lines to lift the dump bed; and electrical lines for vehicle/body lights and signals.

Referring toFIG. 5, the truck10ais equipped with rearwardly disposed hinge assembly88for pivotally attaching the dump body12a. The hinge assembly88includes a pair of brackets90connected at the rear of the truck10a. Each bracket90includes laterally spaced plates92at which coupling collars94of the dump body12aare disposed. A laterally disposed coupling pin96is received through coaxial openings in the brackets90and collars94thereby rotatably joining the dump body12ato the truck10a.

The coupling pin96is releaseably secured in place by having an enlarged section98at one end of the coupling pin96and a securing pin (not shown) inserted through the coupling pin96at the opposed end such that the securing pin and enlarged section98limit lateral movement of the coupling pin96. Optionally, a secondary securing pin100may be provided through both the bracket90and coupling pin96in order to further ensure that the coupling pin96does not unexpectedly separate from the truck10a.

The coupling pin96may further include an alignment portion102to assist in properly aligning the coaxial openings in the bracket90and coupling pin96through which the secondary securing pin100is inserted when attaching the dump body12ato the truck10a. The exemplary illustrated alignment portion102includes a linear edge that abuts a linear edge of the bracket90. Proper alignment of the openings for inserting the secondary pin100occurs when the two linear edges are abutted and the coupling pin's enlarged section98is engaged against the bracket90.

Air and electrical lines provide for proper operation of the truck and bodies and include quick disconnect couplings as needed to convert between the body types12,12a(FIGS. 1 and 2). Additionally, a stop cable104is attached at one end to the truck10aand at the opposed end to the dump body12ato limit the lifting range of the dump body12afor safety considerations.

Referring toFIG. 6, the truck10aincludes the hydraulic lift system20afor lifting the front of the dump body12aso that material is discharged by gravity out of the dump body's rear gate. The hydraulic lift system20acomprises a hydraulic tank106for storing fluid and a hydraulic cylinder108rotatably attached to the dump body12aby a distal pin (not shown) and rotatably attached to the truck10aat a cradle110by a proximal pin112. A hydraulic line114provides hydraulic fluid from the tank106to the hydraulic cylinder108and is equipped with a quick release coupling. Air and electrical lines (not shown) extending rearward from the cradle area110, for operation of the tailgate and taillights are disposed at an elevation less than that of the frame rails18where they are protected against engagement by the body12a.

The cradle110includes members116laterally spaced from the hydraulic cylinder108and cross members118joining the lateral members116. The cross member118extend laterally beyond the lateral member116, to which laterally positioned plates120are attached. While the cross and lateral members118,116provide structural integrity, the lateral plates120serve to retain the proximal pin112that secures the hydraulic cylinder108to the cradle100and allows for its removal.

The proximal pin112is disposed through coaxial openings (not shown) in the laterally spaced members116and the hydraulic cylinder108, thereby rotatably coupling the hydraulic cylinder108to the cradle110. Lateral movement required to free the promixal pin112is restricted by the lateral plates120such that the pin112remains in proper operational position. To remove the proximal pin112, a swing arm124is manually rotated about a pivot to a position that leaves an opening126in one of the plates120uncovered (FIG. 6shows the swing arm124rotated to a position whereby the opening126is exposed). The opening126is aligned so that the proximal pin112(shown in phantom) may be passed there-through for egress out of the cradle110. To maintain the proximal pin112in working position in the cradle, the swing arm124rotated to a position whereby it blocks the opening126.

In the preferred embodiment, the hydraulic cylinder108is removed when the truck10is being used with a trailer body12, as illustrated inFIG. 1. Referring toFIG. 6, to facilitated removal, the proximal end of the hydraulic cylinder108is also provided with a chain128or bracket that is used when lifting the hydraulic cylinder108out of the cradle110. The process for interchanging the dump body and trailer body is described in greater detail further below.

In the aforementioned embodiments of the present invention, the hydraulic cylinder108must be in place and the 5thwheel removed in order for the truck10ato carry the dump body12a, as illustrated byFIG. 2. Conversely, the 5thwheel36must be in place and the hydraulic cylinder removed in order for the truck10to carry the trailer body12, as illustrated byFIG. 1.

Notwithstanding, it is contemplated that the truck may be configured to allow for both the 5thwheel and hydraulic cylinder to remain intact regardless of whether the truck is being utilized with a dump body or trailer body. This embodiment (not illustrated) is essentially the same as the embodiments described above, however, the hydraulic cylinder is capable of being laid in a position that doesn't interfere with the trailer body and, likewise, the 5thwheel may be positioned so that it doesn't interfere with the dump body.

For example, the rearmost cross member of the cradle may be configured to have a cutout intermediate section so that the hydraulic cylinder may be laid essentially flat. Additionally, the 5thwheel may be located at a position above the laid-down hydraulic cylinder by having a heightened mounting or adjustment bracket. As the 5thwheel is sufficiently elevated above the hydraulic cylinder, the trailer body may be coupled to the 5thwheel without interfering with the hydraulic cylinder. Conversely, to attach the dump body without interfering with the 5thwheel, the hydraulic cylinder may be actuated into partially elevated positioned above the 5thwheel. The hinge coupling the dump body to the truck may be configured to accommodate the additional height necessary to clear the 5thwheel by having elongated brackets that space the dump body upwards from the frame rails.

Referring to the embodiments illustrated byFIGS. 1-6, a method is provided for interchangeably attaching the trailer body12(FIG. 1) and dump body12a(FIG. 2) to the truck. As illustrated inFIG. 7, the method utilizes a hoist system132having four vertical corner posts134, lateral and cross beams136,138supporting the corner posts134, a boom arm system140for lifting and positioning the 5thwheel36, and a pair of forward and rearward chains142,144used for lifting and positioning the dump body12a(FIG. 8).

In operation, to change-over the truck from using a dump body12ato a trailer body12, the truck10ais driven into position within the hoist system132, as illustrated byFIG. 8. Ground flags may be provided to aid the driver in laterally aligning the truck10aand the lower rear cross beam136(FIG. 7) may be used as a rear stop.

Once the truck12ais properly positioned, the hydraulic cylinder108is removed by first actuating the hydraulic cylinder108to lift the front of the dump body12ato its maximum height whereat the hydraulic cylinder108is generally vertical, as shown inFIG. 9. Thereafter, the dump body12ais fixed to the hoist system132by inserting bars146that are located at the ends of the front chains142into sleeves148affixed at the front corners of the dump body12a. The front chains142are suitable for fully supporting the weight of the dump body12a. The weight of the hydraulic cylinder108and dump body12ais then removed from the hydraulic pin112(FIG. 6) by utilizing a hand wench150that is attached at one end to the bottom of the dump body12aand at the other end to the chain126(seeFIG. 6) at the bottom of the hydraulic cylinder108to lift the hydraulic cylinder108so that the hydraulic pin112may be freely moved. Referring toFIG. 6, the hydraulic pin112is then removed by pivoting the swing arm126thereby allowing for the hydraulic pin112to be manually removed through the opening124in the hydraulic cradle110. By quick disconnecting the hydraulic line114, the hydraulic cylinder108is detached from the truck10a, being only connected to the dump body12a.

The next step is to disconnect the dump body12afrom the truck10aby first disconnecting the stop cable104from the dump body12a, as illustrated byFIG. 5. The pins holding the coupling pin96may be removed at this time or just prior to removing the coupling pin96. Air and electrics lines for the rear gates and rear lights are disconnected by a quick disconnect couplings. Referring toFIG. 9, thereafter the rear of the dump body12ais attached to the hoist system132by connecting ratchets152between the rear chains144and brackets154affixed at the rear corners of the dump body12a. The ratchets152are used to lift the dump body12ain small increments until its weight is removed from the coupling pin96(FIG. 5) so that the pin96may be manually removed from engagement. The dump body12ais now fully detached from the truck10aand suspended by the hoist system132, as illustrated byFIG. 10.

Referring toFIGS. 7 and 11, to install the trailer body12(FIG. 1) on the truck10, the truck10is driven into position under a boom arm156of the boom arm system140where the 5thwheel36is being carried by a hoist chain158. The hoist chain158holds the 5thwheel36at hooks160(see alsoFIG. 3) located at each corner of the mounting platform46. A bracket162(FIG. 7) may be provided to space sections of the hoist chain158to facilitate connection to the mounting platform46. The 5thwheel36is lowered by a crank164(FIG. 7) to a desired positioned (shown in phantom inFIG. 11) onto the truck rails18whereat the openings in the mounting platform46and openings32in the mounting brackets22are aligned, as illustrated inFIG. 3. Bolts34are inserted through the openings and fixed by nuts to secure the 5thwheel36in placed. The trailer body12may now be coupled to the truck10in a conventional manner, as illustrated inFIG. 1.

It is to be understood that the steps of this method may be reversed so that the trailer body12may be removed and a dump body12ainstalled. That is, the trailer body12is uncoupled from the 5thwheel36in a conventional manner. Thereafter, the truck10is driven under the boom arm system140where the hoist chain158is attached to the hooks160(FIG. 7) in the 5thwheel mounting platform46, as illustrated byFIG. 11. Referring toFIG. 3, bolts34are removed thereby releasing the mounting bracket46and thus the 5thwheel36from attachment to the truck10. The boom arm system140is then used to lift the 5thwheel36from the truck10, as illustrated byFIG. 11.

Referring toFIG. 10, the truck10is then driven to a position within the hoist system132for installing the dump body12a. The ratchets152are attached to the brackets154at the rear of the dump body12aand are used to vertically adjust the dump body12aso that the coupling pin96can be inserted within openings on the brackets90and collars94in order to pivotally join the dump body12ato the truck10a, as illustrated byFIG. 5. The alignment portion102of the coupling pin96is engaged against a linear edge of the bracket90so openings in the brackets154and coupling pin96align into which secondary pins100may be positioned to further secure the coupling pin96. As the rear of the dump body12acoupled to the truck10a, the rearward chains144are removed from attachment and support of the dump body12a.

Referring collectively toFIGS. 6 and 9, the hand wench150is used to position the hydraulic cylinder108for being secured to the cradle110by the proximal pin112. Thereafter, the hand wench150is removed from attachment to the truck10a. Also, as the hydraulic cylinder108now fully supports the front of the dump body12a, the forward chains142are removed from attachment and support of the dump body12. The dump body12ais now fully attached to the truck10aand the truck may be operated as a conventional dump truck.

Regardless of whether the dump body is being interchanged for the trailer body, or vice versa, the conversion process requires only one person and may be performed in about fifteen minutes. As such, the foregoing embodiments provide methods of interchanging different types of bodies on a truck, specifically a dump body and a trailer body, thereby allowing the truck to perform a wider variety of tasks. And, as the conversion process may be preformed by one person without much downtime, the truck body may be changed multiple times a day as needed.

The foregoing provides a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Although truck embodiments and methods of attaching different bodies thereto have been described with reference to preferred embodiments and examples thereof, other embodiments and examples may perform similar functions and/or achieve similar results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the present invention and are intended to be covered by the following claims.