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: An improved tire rim clamp for retaining the dual tires and rims of a large mining truck or the like comprising a cylindrical member having a plurality of slotted openings circumferentially distributed around the inner beveled edge of the cylinder and a circular retention bolt flange extending radially inward at the other end of the cylinder such that the tire rim clamp can occupy the annulus formed between the axle housing and outer tire rim when bolted in place. Such a one piece tire rim clamp can be inserted into the outer tire rim when mounted to the axle housing using powered equipment, thus eliminating the difficult manual task of inserting and positioning a plurality of individual tire clamps during assembly or the servicing of the dual tires on a mining truck or the like.