Abstract: A method is provided for loading material into a dump body of a truck using a loading bucket whose volumetric capacity is approximately ? or more than that of the dump body. The loading bucket is filled with an amount of earthen material and centered over the dump body. The bucket is then lowered to a position that: (1) substantially minimizes the clearance between the floor of the dump body and a swinging gate of the loading bucket in its freed position; (2) allows the swinging gate to clear the side walls of the dump body as it swings through an arc after it is freed, and (3) allows the material to be discharged substantially in the center of the dump body. After it is positioned, the swinging gate is then freed so as to release the material held in the bucket.

Abstract: A method of loading material into a dump body of a truck using a loading bucket whose volumetric capacity is approximately ? or more than that of the dump body is provided. The dump body having side walls that are spaced relatively wider than conventional dump bodies. The loading bucket having a gate at a lower end thereof that when free swings open and causes the material contained in the loading bucket to drop into the dump body. The method including the steps of filling the loading bucket with an amount of earthen material and centering the loading bucket over the dump body. The bucket is then lowered to a position that: (1) substantially minimizes the clearance between the floor of the dump body and the swinging gate in its freed position; (2) allows the swinging gate to clear the side walls of the dump body as it swings through an arc after it is freed, and (3) allows the material to be discharged substantially in the center of the dump body.

Abstract: A method is provided for loading material into a dump body of a truck using a loading bucket whose volumetric capacity is approximately ? or more than that of the dump body. The loading bucket is filed with an amount of earthen material and centered over the dump body. The bucket is then lowered to a position that: (1) substantially minimizes the clearance between the floor of the dump body and a swinging gate of the loading bucket in its freed position: (2) allows the swinging gate to clear the side wails of the dump body as it swings through an are after it is freed, and (3) allows the material to be discharged substantially in the center of the dump body. After it is positioned, the swinging gate is then freed so as to release the material held in the bucket.

Abstract: A method of loading material into a dump body of a truck using a loading bucket whose volumetric capacity is approximately ? or more than that of the dump body is provided. The dump body having side walls that are spaced relatively wider than conventional dump bodies. The loading bucket having a gate at a lower end thereof that when free swings open and causes the material contained in the loading bucket to drop into the dump body. The method including the steps of filling the loading bucket with an amount of earthen material and centering the loading bucket over the dump body. The bucket is then lowered to a position that: (1) substantially minimizes the clearance between the floor of the dump body and the swinging gate in its freed position; (2) allows the swinging gate to clear the side walls of the dump body as it swings through an arc after it is freed, and (3) allows the material to be discharged substantially in the center of the dump body.

Abstract: A method of loading material into a dump body of a truck using a loading bucket whose volumetric capacity is approximately ? or more than that of the dump body is provided. The dump body having side walls that are spaced relatively wider than conventional dump bodies. The loading bucket having a gate at a lower end thereof that when free swings open and causes the material contained in the loading bucket to drop into the dump body. The method including the steps of filling the loading bucket with an amount of earthen material and centering the loading bucket over the dump body. The bucket is then lowered to a position that: (1) substantially minimizes the clearance between the floor of the dump body and the swinging gate in its freed position; (2) allows the swinging gate to clear the side walls of the dump body as it swings through an arc after it is freed, and (3) allows the material to be discharged substantially in the center of the dump body.

Abstract: A process for designing dump bodies which more accurately takes into account field loading/haulage conditions is provided. The process includes gathering data from actual field environments including material density, front, rear and side angles of material repose and corner void information. From this data, a three dimensional model of the load is generated. This three dimensional load model is then used to design the truck body in an iterative process until the volume of the truck body and the distribution of weight of the three dimensional load model on the truck chassis is substantially the same as the desired volume and the distribution of weight on the truck chassis.

Abstract: A method of loading material into a dump body of a truck using a loading bucket whose volumetric capacity is approximately ? or more than that of the dump body is provided. The dump body having side walls that are spaced relatively wider than conventional dump bodies. The loading bucket having a gate at a lower end thereof that when free swings open and causes the material contained in the loading bucket to drop into the dump body. The method including the steps of filling the loading bucket with an amount of earthen material and centering the loading bucket over the dump body. The bucket is then lowered to a position that: (1) substantially minimizes the clearance between the floor of the dump body and the swinging gate in its freed position; (2) allows the swinging gate to clear the side walls of the dump body as it swings through an arc after it is freed, and (3) allows the material to be discharged substantially in the center of the dump body.

Abstract: An improved tailgate assembly for a truck body is provided. The tailgate assembly including a gate portion that is pivotally supported between a pair of opposing side beams for movement relative to the side beams between an operative and an inoperative position. Each of the side beams is pivotally attached to a respective side wall of the dump body such that the side beams and gate are movable relative to the truck body between an in-service, closed position wherein the gate portion encloses a rear end of the dump body and an out-of-service position wherein the gate portion is positioned adjacent a forward end of the dump body. The assembly also including a pivoting assembly for moving the gate portion between the operative and inoperative positions. The pivoting assembly is actuated as the side beams carry the gate portion to the out-of-service position and operable to pivot the gate portion relative to the side arms toward the forward end of the dump body from the operative to the inoperative position.

Abstract: An improved tailgate assembly for a truck body is provided. The tailgate assembly including a gate portion that is pivotally supported between a pair of opposing side beams for movement relative to the side beams between an operative and an inoperative position. Each of the side beams is pivotally attached to a respective side wall of the dump body such that the side beams and gate are movable relative to the truck body between an in-service, closed position wherein the gate portion encloses a rear end of the dump body and an out-of-service position wherein the gate portion is positioned adjacent a forward end of the dump body. The assembly also including a pivoting assembly for moving the gate portion between the operative and inoperative positions. The pivoting assembly is actuated as the side beams carry the gate portion to the out-of-service position and operable to pivot the gate portion relative to the side arms toward the forward end of the dump body from the operative to the inoperative position.