Abstract: An axle, for a mining machine, includes one or more segments, each defining a first wall portion, a second wall portion disposed opposite to the first wall portion, a third wall portion, and a fourth wall portion. The third wall portion extends between the first and the second wall portions to meet the first wall portion at a first corner portion and the second wall portion at a second corner portion. The fourth wall portion extends between the first and the second wall portions to meet the first wall portion at a third corner portion and the second wall portion at a fourth corner portion. The second thickness of the second corner portion and the third thickness of the third corner portion are greater than each of the first thickness of the first corner portion and the fourth thickness of the fourth corner portion.

Abstract: An axle, for a mining machine, includes one or more segments, each defining a first wall portion, a second wall portion disposed opposite to the first wall portion, a third wall portion, and a fourth wall portion. The third wall portion extends between the first and the second wall portions to meet the first wall portion at a first corner portion and the second wall portion at a second corner portion. The fourth wall portion extends between the first and the second wall portions to meet the first wall portion at a third corner portion and the second wall portion at a fourth corner portion. The second thickness of the second corner portion and the third thickness of the third corner portion are greater than each of the first thickness of the first corner portion and the fourth thickness of the fourth corner portion.

Abstract: A retention system for a bearing member includes a sleeve member and a retention member. The retention system includes an inner shoulder adapted to limit movement of the bearing member in at least one of a first axial direction and a second axial direction relative to the bore. The retention system includes an outer shoulder adapted to limit movement of at least one of the sleeve member and the retention member in at least one of the first axial direction and the second axial direction relative to the bore. The retention system includes a plurality of fasteners adapted to limit movement of each of the sleeve member and the retention member in at least one of the first axial direction and the second axial direction relative to the bore. Each of the sleeve member and the retention member is adapted to limit contact of the bearing member with the bore.

Abstract: A retention system for a bearing member includes a sleeve member and a retention member. The retention system includes an inner shoulder adapted to limit movement of the bearing member in at least one of a first axial direction and a second axial direction relative to the bore. The retention system includes an outer shoulder adapted to limit movement of at least one of the sleeve member and the retention member in at least one of the first axial direction and the second axial direction relative to the bore. The retention system includes a plurality of fasteners adapted to limit movement of each of the sleeve member and the retention member in at least one of the first axial direction and the second axial direction relative to the bore. Each of the sleeve member and the retention member is adapted to limit contact of the bearing member with the bore.

Abstract: A dual wheel adapter assembly for mounting dual wheel rims to a wheel hub is provided. The dual wheel adapter assembly may include a hollow cylindrical adapter, including a central bore defined by an inner surface of the adapter, a first contact surface, and a second contact surface. The dual wheel adapter assembly may also include an inboard wheel rim configured to support a tire, an outboard wheel rim configured to support a tire, and a wedge clamp configured to be coupled to the hub. The first contact surface may abut the hub and the wedge clamp may apply a compressive force to the second contact surface to couple the adapter to the hub.

Abstract: A front tower on a truck body for use with a mining vehicle. The truck body includes a truck bed including a canopy and a front exterior wall. The front exterior wall includes at least one front tower. The front tower includes two longitudinal plates spanning the front exterior wall, at least one gusset plate transverse and connected to the longitudinal plates, and a landing plate transverse and connected to the longitudinal plates. The landing plates are configured to transfer load stress from the bed to a frame of a mining vehicle.

Abstract: A liner for a floor of a truck dump body includes a frame formed of a plurality of frame bars coupled to the dump body floor; and a plurality of grid bars coupled to and extending substantially perpendicular to a frame bar to create a plurality of open bins configured to receive payload material; wherein the plurality of frame bars are curved to match a curvature of the dump body floor. A method of applying a curved liner to a truck dump body includes burning to shape a plurality of frame bars; attaching a plurality of grid bars substantially perpendicular to the plurality of frame bars to create a plurality of open bins; and welding the frame bars to a truck dump body floor; wherein the truck dump body floor has a curvature; and wherein the plurality of frame bars are curved to match the curvature of the truck dump body floor.

Abstract: A dual wheel adapter assembly for mounting dual wheel rims to a wheel hub is provided. The dual wheel adapter assembly may include a hollow cylindrical adapter, including a central bore defined by an inner surface of the adapter, a first contact surface, and a second contact surface. The dual wheel adapter assembly may also include an inboard wheel rim configured to support a tire, an outboard wheel rim configured to support a tire, and a wedge clamp configured to be coupled to the hub. The first contact surface may abut the hub and the wedge clamp may apply a compressive force to the second contact surface to couple the adapter to the hub.

Abstract: An improved piano tuning hammer for use by piano technicians, that allows dramatically increased tuning accuracy, ease of use, and speed. The improved tuning hammer is comprised of relatively large cross-sections. The improved tuning hammer may be comprised of lightweight materials. The relatively large cross-sections provide increased stiffness, which serves to increase the effectiveness of the tuning process.

Abstract: A method of forming a stress isolating joint on a dump body of on an off-highway rubber-tired haulage vehicle includes providing a first plate having an elongated edge, a top side, and a face, and providing a second plate including an elongated edge. Overlapping the first and second plates to define a widened seam bounded at least in part by the elongated edges of the respective plates, and welding along the elongated edge of the first plate to join the elongated edge of the first plate to an adjacent surface of the second plate. The weld and at least a portion of the second plate disposed along the widened seam cooperate to permit the second plate to apply a resisting load to the face of the first plate in response to the application of a load against an opposing face of the first plate.

Abstract: A method of forming a stress isolating joint on a dump body of on an off-highway rubber-tired haulage vehicle includes providing a first plate having an elongated edge, a top side, and a face, and providing a second plate including an elongated edge. Overlapping the first and second plates to define a widened seam bounded at least in part by the elongated edges of the respective plates, and welding along the elongated edge of the first plate to join the elongated edge of the first plate to an adjacent surface of the second plate. The weld and at least a portion of the second plate disposed along the widened seam cooperate to permit the second plate to apply a resisting load to the face of the first plate in response to the application of a load against an opposing face of the first plate.

Abstract: A dump body for use on an off-highway rubber-tired haulage vehicle includes a floor, a pair of sidewalls, and a front wall. The floor includes a forward edge, a pair of side edges, and a rear edge generally defining a spillway. A plurality of load bearing beams are mounted to a bottom surface of the floor and are disposed generally parallel to and straddling a longitudinal axis of the floor. Each of the sidewalls includes a lower edge mounted to a corresponding one of the side edges of the floor, each sidewall further including a forward edge, a rearward edge, and a top edge. The front wall includes a bottom edge, a top edge, and a pair of side edges, with the bottom edge mounted to the forward edge of the floor. Each of the side edges of the front wall is mounted to the forward edge of one of the sidewalls.

Abstract: A joint isolation system for use on a dump body of on an off-highway rubber-tired haulage vehicle includes a first plate having an elongated edge, a top side, and a face. A second plate is provided and includes an elongated edge. The first and second plates overlap each other to define a widened seam bounded at least in part by the elongated edges of the respective plates, and a weld is disposed along the elongated edge of the first plate joining the elongated edge of the first plate to an adjacent surface of the second plate, the weld and at least a portion of the second plate disposed along the widened seam cooperate to permit the second plate to apply a resisting load to the face of the first plate in response to the application of a load against an opposing face of the first plate.

Abstract: A dump body for use on a off-highway rubber-tired haulage vehicle includes a curved floor having a forward portion, a rearward portion, and a pair of side edges extending between the forward portion and the rearward portion. The floor includes a bottom surface adapted for pivotal attachment to the haulage vehicle. A pair of sidewalls are provided that are joined to the floor along a corresponding one of the edges of the floor. Each of the sidewalls includes a forward portion, and each of the sidewalls may be curved. A curved front wall is joined to the forward portion of the floor and to the forward portion of each of the sidewalls. Accordingly, the floor, the sidewalls, and the front wall cooperate to define a payload space.

Abstract: A joint isolation system for use on a dump body of on an off-highway rubber-tired haulage vehicle includes a first plate having an elongated edge, a top side, and a face. A second plate is provided and includes an elongated edge. The first and second plates overlap each other to define a widened seam bounded at least in part by the elongated edges of the respective plates, and a weld is disposed along the elongated edge of the first plate joining the elongated edge of the first plate to an adjacent surface of the second plate, the weld and at least a portion of the second plate disposed along the widened seam cooperate to permit the second plate to apply a resisting load to the face of the first plate in response to the application of a load against an opposing face of the first plate.

Abstract: A dump body for use on a off-highway rubber-tired haulage vehicle includes a curved floor having a forward portion, a rearward portion, and a pair of side edges extending between the forward portion and the rearward portion. The floor includes a bottom surface adapted for pivotal attachment to the haulage vehicle. A pair of sidewalls are provided that are joined to the floor along a corresponding one of the edges of the floor. Each of the sidewalls includes a forward portion, and each of the sidewalls may be curved. A curved front wall is joined to the forward portion of the floor and to the forward portion of each of the sidewalls. Accordingly, the floor, the sidewalls, and the front wall cooperate to define a payload space.

Abstract: A dump body for use on an off-highway rubber-tired haulage vehicle includes a floor, a pair of sidewalls, and a front wall. The floor includes a forward edge, a pair of side edges, and a rear edge generally defining a spillway. A plurality of load bearing beams are mounted to a bottom surface of the floor and are disposed generally parallel to and straddling a longitudinal axis of the floor. Each of the sidewalls includes a lower edge mounted to a corresponding one of the side edges of the floor, each sidewall further including a forward edge, a rearward edge, and a top edge. The front wall includes a bottom edge, a top edge, and a pair of side edges, with the bottom edge mounted to the forward edge of the floor. Each of the side edges of the front wall is mounted to the forward edge of one of the sidewalls.

Abstract: An improved cross-stiffened panel structure, such as used on bridges, load bearing floors, large haulage containers and dump trucks, is composed of a deck plate to which are attached a plurality of spaced apart stiffening ribs. A plurality of transverse beams, each having a cut-out shaped to fit over the external contour of the stiffening ribs, are welded to the deck plate except at the cut-outs. The cut-outs are dimensioned so that a nominal gap is maintained between the cut-outs and the stiffening ribs. In another embodiment, saddles are fabricated to fit over the stiffening ribs and welded to the deck plate while maintaining a nominal gap between the stiffening ribs and the saddles. The transverse beams cut-outs conform to the contour of the saddles and the transverse beams are welded to the deck plate and the saddles.

Abstract: A dual rear axle system for large vehicles in which the vehicle has a frame, and the axle system includes a forward axle housing, a draft arm having one arm affixed to the forward axle housing and the other pivotally affixed to the vehicle frame, a rearward axle housing spaced from and parallel to the forward axle housing, an axle extending through both axle housings having wheels and tires thereon, an upper linkage having one end pivotally attached to the upper portion of the forward axle housing and the other end pivotally attached to the upper portion of the rearward axle housing, lower linkage having one end pivotally attached to the lower portion of the forward axle housing and the other end pivotally attached to the lower portion of the rearward axle housing so that the axle housings are supported in spaced apart relationship with the axle housings independently free to move in vertical planes and compressible strut members extending between the axle housings and the frame for spring supporting the fram

Abstract: A steerable dual rear axle system for large vehicles in which the vehicle has a frame, and the axle system includes a forward axle housing, a draft arm having one arm affixed to the forward axle housing and the other pivotally affixed to the vehicle frame, a rearward axle housing spaced from the forward axle housing, an axle extending through both axle housings having wheels and tires thereon, an upper linkage having one end pivotally attached to the upper portion of the forward axle housing and the other end pivotally attached to the upper portion of the rearward axle housing, a lower linkage having one end pivotally attached to the lower portion of the forward axle housing and the other end pivotally attached to the lower portion of the rearward axle housing so that the axle housings are supported in spaced apart relationship with the axle housings being independently free to move in vertical planes, compressible strut members extending between the axle housings and the frame for spring supporting the frame