Abstract:
A method of and structure for quickly changing beds upon a truck frame by pivoting tracks to the rear of the truck frame. The front of empty tracks are raised. A bed with the front propped up is pulled upon the tilted rails. The front is secured from moving upward. Skirts on the rails prevent side ways movement by the bed which is pinned to the rails at the rear. To remove the bed, the front of the rails are raised to permit the bed to slid down onto props at front.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Provisional Patent Application 
     Applicants claims the benefit of their U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/139,937, filed Jun. 18, 1999. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     This application relates to trucks and more particularly to changing the beds upon the trucks so that a single truck can carry a different bed such as a dump bed, a liquid tank bed, a box bed, a van bed, or a cattle bed. In addition the truck can be converted to a tractor with the attachment of a fifth wheel bed. 
     (2) Description of the Related Art 
     Before this invention was made, patents such as Avery, U.S. Pat. No. 1,293,664 and Rosman, U.S. Pat. No. 1,784,975 described moving a bed onto a truck frame by having the bed stored upon a dock or platform having approximately the same height as the truck frame. 
     Smith U.S. Pat. No. 4,769,690 discloses a fifth wheel tractor with a conversion for placing a bed onto the fifth wheel. 
     Also it has been known that an automobile frame could have bodies placed upon them so that they functioned as a passenger carrying automobile or a truck. Examples of this are Windham U.S. Pat. No. 877,750 or Taketoshi U.S. Pat. No. 1,279,609. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Progressive Contribution to the Art 
     This invention provides a rapid transfer of multiple beds upon a single truck frame. No special platforms or docks are necessary for storing the beds when they are not attached to the truck. In this invention the bed is stored with the front end propped up by legs or props which are attached under the front area of the bed. Then, the front of the bed is at or above a truck frame height. Therefore the truck can be positioned in front of the bed and then the bed pulled onto rails which have been raised upward so that the bed is supported by the rails as it is pulled onto the rails. After the bed is substantially on the rails, then the rails are lowered. 
     In one embodiment of the invention the truck is manufactured to be used as a dump truck. Then the existing hydraulic cylinder is used to tilt the rails to the proper angels. 
     For trucks whose original utility was not as a dump truck can readily be outfitted by adding either a hydraulic cylinder at the front of the frame immediately behind the cab or by installing a scissor type lift to raise the rails. 
     (2) Objects of this Invention 
     An object of this invention is to convert a truck frame to carry different type beds. 
     Another object is to convert beds so that each bed may be attached to a converted truck frame. 
     Further objects are to achieve the above with elements that are sturdy, compact, durable, lightweight, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, ecologically compatible, energy conserving, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, install, operate, and maintain. 
     Other objects are to achieve the above with a method that is rapid, versatile, ecologically compatible, energy conserving, efficient, and inexpensive, and does not require highly skilled people to install, operate, and maintain. 
     Further objects are to achieve the above with a product that is easy to store, has a long storage life, is safe, versatile, efficient, stable and reliable, yet is inexpensive and easy to manufacture and utilize. 
    
    
     The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, the different views of which are not necessarily scale drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view with some elements broken away of a truck according to this invention shown with the frame tilted and a cable extending to a bed to began pulling the bed onto rails. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a tank bed on the rails with one prop in place and parts broken away. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of rail and housing with one skirt removed. 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the front of one of the rails, channel and ledge. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a dump bed on a truck according to this invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a tank bed ready to be pulled onto the rails according to this invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a side elevational fifth wheel bed ready to be pulled onto rails according to this invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a schematic of another structure for raising the rails on a truck frame, 
     FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a truck and dump bed showing yet another structure for raising the rails on a truck frame. 
     Catalogue of Elements 
     As an aid to correlating the terms to the exemplary drawing(s), the following catalog of elements is provided: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 10 
                 cab 
               
               
                   
                 12 
                 wheels 
               
               
                   
                 14 
                 frame 
               
               
                   
                 16 
                 pivot pins 
               
               
                   
                 18 
                 bracket 
               
               
                   
                 20 
                 rails 
               
               
                   
                 22 
                 rear 
               
               
                   
                 24 
                 front 
               
               
                   
                 25 
                 bed 
               
               
                   
                 26 
                 housing 
               
               
                   
                 28 
                 tower 
               
               
                   
                 29 
                 connect 
               
               
                   
                 30 
                 leg panels 
               
               
                   
                 31 
                 nose plug 
               
               
                   
                 32 
                 cylinder 
               
               
                   
                 33 
                 plate 
               
               
                   
                 34 
                 cavity 
               
               
                   
                 35 
                 winch 
               
               
                   
                 36 
                 rod 
               
               
                   
                 37 
                 cable 
               
               
                   
                 38 
                 skirt 
               
               
                   
                 39 
                 slide plates 
               
               
                   
                 40 
                 channel 
               
               
                   
                 42 
                 web 
               
               
                   
                 44 
                 channel flange 
               
               
                   
                 46 
                 ledge 
               
               
                   
                 47 
                 triangle 
               
               
                   
                 48 
                 hole for pin 
               
               
                   
                 52 
                 front bottom cover 
               
               
                   
                 54 
                 top 
               
               
                   
                 56 
                 prop 
               
               
                   
                 58 
                 tube 
               
               
                   
                 60 
                 rollers 
               
               
                   
                 62 
                 horizontal tube 
               
               
                   
                 64 
                 horizontal element 
               
               
                   
                 66 
                 downward prop 
               
               
                   
                 68 
                 cylinder 
               
               
                   
                 70 
                 trunnions 
               
               
                   
                 72 
                 brackets 
               
               
                   
                 74 
                 low housing 
               
               
                   
                 76 
                 upper link 
               
               
                   
                 78 
                 lower link 
               
               
                   
                 80 
                 pivot 
               
               
                   
                 82 
                 rod 
               
               
                   
                 84 
                 hydraulic cylinder 
               
               
                   
                 86 
                 fifth wheel 
               
               
                   
                 88 
                 fifth wheel bed 
               
               
                   
                 90 
                 prop 
               
               
                   
                 92 
                 rollers 
               
               
                   
                 94 
                 fenders or mud guard 
               
               
                   
                 96 
                 fifth wheel receptacle 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the attached drawing, particularly FIG. 1, it may be seen a truck having a cab  10 , rear wheels  12 , and frame  14 . At the rear of the frame is a pivot pin  16  FIG.  3 . The frame will have a frame height “h”. 
     Each of the pins  16  extend through brackets  18  which depend from rails  20 . (FIG. 3) The rails  20  extend the length of the frame from the rear end  22  to the front  24  adjacent to the cab  10 . A housing  26  (a side removed to show cylinder  32 ) is attached to the front of the rails  20 . 
     FIG. 2 and 3 show housing  26  on the rails  20 . Housing  26  has a main tower  28  which is securely fixed to the rails by leg panels  30 . 
     Referring to FIG. 1, the tower houses a hydraulic cylinder  32  which is anchored to frame  14 . 
     Also referring to FIG. 2 the housing  26  with its tower  28  and leg panels  30  conform to a standard dump bed in that the dump bed has a cavity  34  in its forward section which mates around the housing  26 . 
     Bed  25  (a dump bed) to be lifted by housing  26  has a cavity  34  to contain the housing  26 . Therefore, the cylinder  32  and cylinder rod  36  fits within the housing to raise the tracks  20  in the same mode as it would to raise a dump bed. In addition, the housing includes winch  35  with a cable  37  which extends back to connection  29  on the bed  25  which is to be loaded. 
     Therefore, to load the bed  25  with the bed already elevated by props  56 , the truck can back up to the bed as seen in FIG.  1 . The winch cable  37  is connected to cable connection  29  on the bed. Since the winch  35  is spaced back from the front  24  of the rails, it is necessary to space the connection  29  back from the front  24  of the bed  25 . The bed is pulled upon the rails  20 . 
     The rails have skirt flange  38  on the outer edge of each of rails  20 . The bed has channels  40  extending along the bottom which ride upon slide plates  39  on the rails  20 . The skirt  38  will guide the channels  40  as they are riding on the rails to hold them in proper position. 
     As seen in FIG. 2, the channels  40  will have their webs  42  outward and channel flanges  44  inward. A ledge  46  is attached to the leg panel  30 . Nose plug  31  on the front of channel  40  slides under the ledge  46 ; and therefore, retains the front of the bed in position. Each ledge  46  is reinforced by triangles  47  welded to the leg panel  30 . 
     The nose plug  31  is a square tube with its forward element turned up as seen in FIG.  5 . To attach the nose plug  31  on the channel  40 , first the plug  31  is welded to plate  33 . The plate  33  is then welded to the web  42  of the channel  40 . 
     The rear of the dump bed is anchored in position by a pin extending through hole  48  in the rear of the skirt  38  and through a corresponding hole  48  in the web  42  of the channel  40 . With this pin in place it may be seen that the back of the bed is locked to the rail. That is, it is held from moving up, forward, or backwards. The skirt  38  holds the channel  40  into position, as well as guides it. 
     Those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that any type of bed, i.e. a liquid container (FIG. 7) for hauling water or other liquids, a high pressure tank such a propane tank or butane tank, a van type bed, a flat bed, or a fifth-wheel (FIG. 8) could be mounted upon corresponding channels  40 . 
     The housing  26  has a front bottom cover  52 . The housing has top  54  to which the lifting rod  36  is connected. 
     Therefore, the invention provides that a single truck frame may be used to be used for many types of beds. 
     More particularly referring to FIG. 1 is a bed  25  is to be loaded upon the rails  20 . The cable  37  from winch  35  would be attached to the connection  29 . The bed itself will be elevated at its front by prop  56  which extends from tube  58 . The rear of the bed  25  will rest upon a pair rollers  60 . The front of the bed will be higher than the frame height h. 
     As the cable  37  is wound upon the winch  35  will cause the truck to roll rearward until the front of the bed contacts the slide plate  39  on top of the rails  20 . At that point (or slightly thereafter) as the weight is removed from the props the props will be withdrawn by moving them upward into the tubes  58 . 
     It will be understood at this time that the weight of the bed will be resting at its front upon the nose plug  31  and at the rear on the rollers  60 . With the continued operation of the winch  35  the bed will be pulled upward upon the rails  20 . It will be noted that the incline of the rails  20  is greater than the incline of the channels  40 . However as the bed is pulled onto the rails there will come a time when the it channels  40  will contact the rails  20  along a large portion of the length of the bed. At this point the rails should began to be lowered thus returning the rails  20  to a horizontal position. The lowering of the rails will be done as the winch continues to pull the bed onto the rails. 
     The winch will pull the bed until the nose plug  31  comes under the ledge  26  to be securely in place at that point. At that time the pin will be placed into the holes  48 , holding the rear of the bed securely onto the rails. 
     The rollers permit the back of the bed to move forward easily during the loading process. Also they prevent the rear of the bed to be in the dirt. Although in some cases it might be desirable to have the rollers removed normally to have them permanently attached is preferred. Attaching the rollers and brackets to the back of the truck be well within the skill of the art. 
     The most convenient way to mount the props on some beds is within vertical tubes extending along the sides of the bed. However when using beds such as a tank bed such an approach is not feasible. In this instance the preferred form is to attach horizontal tubes  62  across the channels  40 . It is preferred to use 3 inch square tubes. A top horizontal element  64  made of 2½ inch square tubing can be moved into the 3 inch tube  62 . Then a downward leg or prop  66  is attached to the horizontal element  64 . When the bed is not supported by the prop, the prop  66  is easily removed from the square tubing and set aside. 
     FIG. 10 illustrates an alternate structure and method for raising the rails  20 . In this instance an inverted multiple unit cylinder has an exterior cylinder  68 . Trunnion  70  on the cylinder  68  extends through brackets  72  at the front of the rails. A ledge will be provided within a forward low housing  74  which also houses the winch  35 . 
     FIG. 9 shows yet another method of raising the rails  20  from the frame  14 . In this example upper link  76  is pivoted to the rails  20 . Lower link  78  is pivoted to the frame  14 . The two links are connected together at the pivot  80 . A rod  82  from a hydraulic cylinder  84  will move the center pivot  80 . It will be seen from FIG. 9 that as the rod  82  is retracted the rails will be lowered but as the rod  82  extended the rails  20  will be elevated. 
     A fifth wheel  86  may be mounted upon a special fifth wheel bed  88 . The bed  88  is supported side supports such as the channels  40 . They will be attached together and provisions made for a prop  90  to elevate the forward end and the rollers  92  to support the rear. normally the mud guards or fenders  94  will be provided. A fifth wheel receptacle  96  will be provided upon the truck frame  14 . The fifth wheel bed  88  will be attached as before. In the use of the fifth wheel an additional lock between the truck frame and the fifth wheel bed will be required on each of them in alignment with the fifth wheel axis. Such locks or connections would be known to those with skill in the art. 
     With the installation of the fifth wheel bed the unit would be changed from a truck rig to a tractor and trailer rig. 
     The embodiments shown and described above are only exemplary. We do not claim to have invented all the parts, elements or steps described. Various modifications can be made in the construction, material, arrangement, and operation, and still be within the scope of my invention. 
     The restrictive description and drawings of the specific examples above do not point out what an infringement of this patent would be, but are to point out the advantages and the progressive contribution to the trucking arts and to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The limits of the invention and the bounds of the patent protection are measured by and defined in the following claims.