Caterpillar Inc.

Andres Munoz-Najar

Timothy J Bromenshenkel

David William Holthaus

Edward Patrick Ormiston

Venkata Rama Varma Dantuluri

Vertical support structure

A support arrangement for a haul truck comprises a space frame and a dump body operatively positioned on the space frame according to defined contact points. The space frame can include at least one rear support, at least one outer elongate support member, and at least one support rocker configured to pivot laterally about an axis. The dump body can include on a bottom thereof a rear pivot support and at least one flat contact surface, and on a front face thereof at least one vertical support structure. Each rear support of the space frame is configured to be pivotally coupled to the rear pivot support of the dump body. Each vertical support structure of the dump body is configured to be removably seated in a corresponding support rocker. Each flat contact surface is configured to be positioned adjacent to an outer lateral surface of an outer elongate support member.

Haul truck space frame and body support arrangement

A support structure arrangement for a front wall of a dump body comprises a first vertical support structure and a second vertical support structure. The first and second vertical support structures can be elongate structural members spaced in a width direction from each other. Bottom portions of the first and second vertical support structures can form down-facing contact surfaces.

Haul truck dump body front wall support

A space frame for a machine is disclosed. The space frame may have a first end configured to be connected to front wheels of the machine. The space frame may also have a second end configured to be connected to rear wheels of the machine. Further, the space frame may have primary structural members arranged substantially lengthwise between the first end and the second end. In addition, the space frame may have secondary structural members connected between the primary structural members to form substantially triangulated structures allowing the space frame to support a payload to empty vehicle weight ratio ranging from about 1.2:1 to 2:1.

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Champaign, IL, United States of America

Andres Munoz-Najar