Abstract:
The disclosure describes a truck load comprising of noise suppressing and wear resistant load body liners. The liner assembly is made of sheets of rubber bonded to base plates. The base plates are removably attached to the load body floor, side walls and transition surfaces. The rear portion of the load body is provided with wear resistant grid liners containing retaining pockets.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a truck bed, and more specifically to a liner for a truck bed. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Off-Highway trucks for applications such as mining and quarry often haul materials which are abrasive in nature. During operation the load body or truck bed of such machines may be subject to severe wear and tear by such abrasive materials. As a result the truck bed is often subject to frequent repairs and sometime may even lead to a complete replacement, thus resulting in downtime and increase in cost. 
         [0003]    Furthermore, during loading and unloading of the hard and heavy substance such as rocks, a lot of noise may be generated because of the rocks hitting and rubbing against the load body surface. This noise can be a hazard to the surrounding environment and the operators of these machines. Hence there is a need for an improved load body. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,652,123 discloses a load body with a removable liner assembled on the floor of the truck bed. The liner is made of rubber bonded onto metal plates which is bolted to the floor of the load body as an assembly. The rubber liner is supported between the sides and the ends of the truck. However there are portions of the bed that are not covered and thus subject to significant wear. Moreover, the liner of the &#39;123 patent is not easily installable as a retro-fit unit into pre-existing machines and furthermore may itself be subject to damage and is not easily serviced and maintained leading to downtime and loss of productivity. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect, a liner assembly for use within a body of a truck is disclosed. The liner assembly includes a first panel portions structured and arranged to be removably attached to at least one of the floor, first and second sides and front wall of the body. The second panel portion contains retaining pockets structured and arranged to retain the materials loaded into the body. The first panel comprises of resilient substance such as rubber bonded to a base metal plate which is coupled to the load body. The second panel includes a plurality of metal plates structured and arranged to form a grid shaped assembly. The second panels when attached to the trailing end of the body floor and sides form a plurality of retaining pockets. These retaining pockets are configured to retain small portions of ore material to act a shield between the machine bed and the moving ore material thus preventing abrasion of the floor surface. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an off-highway machine having truck bed and liner assembly according to the present disclosure and is shown loaded with abrasive materials; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of the truck bed of  FIG. 1  however rotated to illustrate the liner assembly according to the present disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2B  is an enlarged view of the encircled portion in  FIG. 2A  illustrating the grid panel transition with the liner; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is perspective view of the liner panel portion of the liner assembly shown in  FIG. 2  with the load body and grid panel removed; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the liner portion shown in  FIG. 2B  taken along section 4-4 of  FIG. 2B ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the transition between the liner and grid panel taken along section 5-5 of  FIG. 2B ; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a side grid panel member of the grid panel assembly shown in  FIG. 2B  with other elements of the liner and grid panel removed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a “load bed” or perhaps more commonly referred to as a truck bed  12  is mounted on the frame  14  of a machine  10 . The truck bed  12  may be pivotally mounted to the frame  14  of machine  10 , such that the truck bed  12  may tilt in order to unload the machine  10 . The truck bed  12  is typically designed to tilt rearward with respect to the frame  14  of the machine  10  in order for a load  18  to be ejected in a direction which is away from the machine  10 . A hinge assembly  16  is provided to allow the truck bed  12  to pivot relative to the frame  14 . In this manner, the machine bed  12  is structured to carry a heavy load  18  such as rock, ore or other substance to a location to be ejected. 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 2  a liner assembly  36  is shown to protect an inner bed  20  of the truck bed  12 . The inner bed  20  of the truck bed  12  consists of a front region  32  and a rear region  34 . Within the front and rear regions  32 ,  34  of the truck bed  12  is a floor  22 , a right hand sidewall  24 , a left hand sidewall  26 , a front wall  28 , two front transition members  29 , two side transition members  30  and one center transition member  31 . 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3  a liner assembly  36  is shown and is designed to cover the front region  32  of the truck bed  12 . More specifically, the liner assembly  36  includes a floor panel  50 , two wall panels  52 , a vertically oriented front panel section  54 , two front transition panels  55 , two rear transition panels  56  and a center transition panel  57 . The panels may be removably attached to the floor  22  of the inner bed  20  as will be described below. Although in the exemplary embodiment the liner assembly  36  is removable relative to the truck bed  12 , in an alternative embodiment these panels may be permanently attached to the truck bed  12 . 
         [0017]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the attachment of liner panel  38  of liner assembly  36  to the truck bed  12  will now be described. The liner panel  38  includes a top member  40  and a bottom member  42 . The top member  40  may be made of a resilient material such as rubber or polyurethane. The bottom member  42  may be made from steel and/or other hard metallic substance. The top member  40  includes a first opening  48  and the bottom member  42  includes a second opening  49 . The first opening  48  and the second opening  49  may be concentrically aligned to facilitate proper engagement between the liner member  38  and a fastener or stud  88  during assembly. The first opening  48  is generally larger in diameter than the second opening  49 . The liner assembly  36  includes a thickness 44 which is generally greater than the length of the stud  88  in combination with the anticipated crush of the liner panel  38  when loaded to avoid damage to the stud  88 . It will be understood that the present disclosure contemplates multiple spaced first openings  48  and protruding studs  88  to be received within the first openings  48  to adequately secure liner panel  38  to truck bed  12 . In an exemplary embodiment the centerlines of two adjacent openings  48  in the liner panel  38  may be spaced at a distance of about 35 cm to 70 cm. Moreover, the front region  32  of the inner bed  20  may include a plurality of liner members  38  which comprise the liner assembly  36 . 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the liner portion attachment  80  includes a liner assembly  36 , a stud  88 , a washer  96  and a nut  98 . The stud  88  may be welded to the floor  22  of the truck bed  12 . The stud  88  includes a threaded portion  94 . The liner assembly  36  is removably attached to the floor  22  by means of the stud  88 , washer  96  and the nut  88 . The liner panel  38  may be placed on the floor  22 . The liner panel  38  is overlayed on the floor  22  such that the stud  88  may pass through the first opening  48  and the second opening  49 . The washer  96  is placed to rest on the bottom member  42  of the liner panel  38 . The aperture (not shown) in the washer  96  is configured to receives the stud  88 . The nut  98  may be fastened on to the stud  88  to attach the liner panel  38  to the floor  22 . The nut  98  may be tightened against the washer  96  along the threaded portion  94  of the stud  88 . The face  112  of the washer  96  may rest on the base member  42  of the liner panel  38 . Upon tightening of the nut  98  the washer may be held tightly against base member  42  causing the liner panel  38  to attach to the floor  22  of the machine bed  12 . Plug  100  of the liner assembly  36  is inserted in the first opening  48  of the liner panel  38 . The size of the plug  100  may be larger than the first opening  48 . The outer surface  106  of the plug  100  may be in interference fit with the first opening  48  of the liner panel  38 . The plug  100  may further contain a recessed pocket  102 . The recessed pocket  102  may overlay the stud  88  and nut  98 . The plug  100  further includes a groove  104 . The groove  104  may extend from the top surface  108  to the end  110  of plug  100 . A plug removal tool (not shown) may be inserted in groove  104  to pull out the plug  100  from the liner assembly  36  during disassembly. The front region  32  of the truck bed  12  may include a plurality of liner assemblies  36 . The liner assembly  36  may vary in size with respect to the size of floor  22  of the inner bed  20 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , each grid panel member  58  which, when placed side-by-side to overlay the rear region  34  of the truck bed  12 , may be designed to form a connecting grid panel assembly  59  hereinafter described. Each grid panel member  58  includes two side frames  60 , two end frames  62 , a plurality of longitudinal members  64  and a plurality of transverse members  66 . The two side frames  60  may be fixed with the two end frames  62 , by welding for example, to form a rectangular outer frame. The longitudinal members  64  may be positioned relative to the side frames  60  to be equally spaced apart and generally parallel with adjacent ones and are fixed, by welding for example, on their ends to the end frames  62 . The longitudinal members  64  contain rectangular grooves  65  to receive the transverse member  66 . The transverse members  66  contain rectangular grooves  67  to receive the longitudinal members  64 . The longitudinal members  64  and traverse members  66  are assembled such that the rectangular grooves  67  are overlaid on the rectangular groove  65 . Furthermore Each of transverse members  66  are positioned substantially parallel to the end frames  62  and are equally spaced apart and may be fixed with the side frames  60  and to the longitudinal members  64  by welding for example. Each grid panel member  58  may be fixed to the floor  22  of the inner bed  20  of the truck bed  12  through tack welding in several places along the grid panel member  58 , for example. The grid panel member  58  may be configured to suitable sizes as per the requirement of the floor  22 . 
         [0020]    As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the grid panel members  58  may be combined to overlay the rear region  34  of the floor  22  of the truck bed  12  to form a grid panel assembly  59 . Specifically, a pair of outer grid panels  68  may be connected with an inner grid panels  70 , transition grid panels  72  and side grid panels  76  to form the grid panel assembly  59 . The inner grid panels  68  and the outer grid panels  70  may be welded to the floor  22  in the rear region  34  of the truck bed  12 . The transition panels  72  are welded to the rear transition walls  30  in the rear region  34  of the truck bed  12 . The side grid panels  76  are welded to the right hand side wall  24  and left hand side wall  26  at the rear region  34  of the truck bed  12 . It will be understood that the aforesaid grid panels may be attached to the truck bed  12  by any other means known to those having ordinary skill in the art. The grid panel assembly  59  is configured to minimize wear and tear to the truck bed  12 . The quantity and size of the grid panels may vary with respect to the size of the rear region  34  of the truck bed  12 . It will be understood that each grid panel member may be removed, replaced or serviced relative to adjoining grid panel members with less effort since adjoining panels may remained attached the bed while a single grid panel member is serviced. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a liner panel retainer assembly  116  includes a base member  118 , top plate  120 , retainer plate  122  and a stiffener  124 . The base member  118  is welded to the floor  22  of the inner bed  20 . The top plate  120  is welded to the base member  118 . The top plate  120  may rest on the top surface of the base member  118  with the inner edges overlaying each other. The retainer plate  122  is welded to the top plate  120  forming a 90 degrees angle with the top surface of the top plate  120 . The stiffener  124  is welded to the top plate  120  and the retainer plate  122 . A plurality of stiffener plates  124  may be included to provide additional support to the retainer plate  122 . One side of the retainer plate  122  may abut with the top member  40  of the liner panel  38  of the liner panel assembly  36 . The liner panel retainer assembly  116  is configured to provide additional support to the liner panel assembly  36  during unloading operation. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the grid panel assembly  58  may be coupled to the floor  22  to form a plurality of retaining pockets  128 . Each retaining pocket  128  may comprise of a first wall  130 , second wall  132 , third wall  134 , and a fourth wall  136 . The top of the pocket is kept open to receive the ore material. The bottom of the retaining pocket  128  is covered by the floor  22 . The retaining pockets  128  are configured to retain ore substance at all times. The retained ore material acts as protective shield and prevents rubbing of ore material against the floor  22  during unloading operation. 
         [0023]    In another embodiment, in the rear portion  34  of the truck bed  12 , the grid panel assemblies  58 , may be replaced with sheet metal panels (not shown). The sheet metal panels may be of thickness in the range of between 12 mm to 25 mm. The sheet metal panels are attached to the truck bed  12  by means of a weld joint. These panels are made of steel or other equivalent hard metal with hardness value of 450 BHN. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0024]    The present disclosure provides low noise and wear resistant liners for a machine load body. The liner assembly  36  is assembled on floor  22  at the front region  32  of the truck bed  12 . Specifically, the floor panels  50  of the liner assembly  36  may be attached to the floor  22 . The two paneled walls  52  may be attached to the right hand side wall  24  and left hand side wall  26 . The paneled front section  54  may be attached to the front wall  28 . The front transition panel  55  may be attached to front transition wall  29  and rear transition panel  56  may be attached to the rear transition walls  30 . The center transition panel  57  may be attached to the center transition wall  31 . The paneled portions of the front region  32  comprises of plurality of liner assemblies  36 . The liner assembly  36  includes the grid panel assembly  58  which may be welded to the rear portion of the truck bed  12 . During operation when the truck bed  12  may be loaded with hard and abrasive substance such as rocks or granite and other hard ore material. The ore material comes in contact with the liner assembly  36  and the grid panel assembly  58 . The top member  40  of the liner assembly  36  is made of a resilient material like rubber. The liner assembly  36  is configured to act like a damper to reduce noise and impact of the ore material to the truck bed  12 . 
         [0025]    During unloading operation the truck bed  12  is lifted about the hinge assembly  14  through hydraulically energized cylinders  138  ( FIG. 1 ) as is customary. To protect the rear region  34  of the truck bed  12  from wear and tear during dumping or unloading, the grid panel assembly  59  is fixed to the rear region  34  of the floor  22  and protects the truck bed from the materials coming into direct and abrasive contact with the bed and thus avoiding the wear of the bed as they exit the truck bed  12 . In fact, it will be understood that the grid panel assembly  58  along with the floor  22  forms a plurality of retaining pockets  128  which retain material in these pockets  128  to further protect the truck bed  12 . These retaining pockets  128  are configured to retain small portions of material to act as a shield between the truck bed  12  and the moving material thus preventing abrasion of the grid panel assembly  59 . 
         [0026]    During operation due to severe wear and tear, some subsections of the liner portion attachments  80  may get damaged and as a result those subsections may require to be replaced with new panels from time to time. The damaged liner panels  38  may be dismantled and removed by removing plugs  100  relative to the damaged liner panel assembly  36  and further by removing the nuts  98  and washers  96  relative to the damaged liner portion attachment  80 . The new liner panel  38  may be installed on to the floor  22  to substitute the damaged liner panel  38 . The new liner panel  38  can be installed as per the procedure disclosed above in paragraph  17  of this application. 
         [0027]    Furthermore during operation, the grid panel members  58 , first transition grid panel  72 , second transition grid panel  74 , and two side grid panels  76  of the grid panel assembly  59 , may be subject to severe wear tear which may lead to their damage and as result they may require to be replaced occasionally from time to time. Such damaged grid panels may be removed by untacking or grinding the welds and may further be replaced with new grid panels. The new grid panels may be attached to the floor  22  of the of the rear portion  34  of the truck bed  12  by means of a weld joint. 
         [0028]    While aspects of the present disclosure have been particularly shown and described with reference to the embodiments above, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various additional embodiments may be contemplated by the modification of the disclosed machines, 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 upon the claims and any equivalents thereof.