Rocker support insert

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11518288-B2
Application number	US-201916663551-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 25, 2019
Priority date	Oct 25, 2019
Publication date	Dec 6, 2022
Grant date	Dec 6, 2022

Abstract

A rocker support insert for a support rocker comprises a support plate configured to be removably coupled to a top portion of a rocker body; and a support padding fixedly coupled to a top surface of the support plate such that a portion of the top surface of the support plate remains exposed. A top surface of the support padding can define a concave upward-facing contact surface, and the support padding can be thicker than the support plate.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A rocker support insert for a support rocker configured to be pivotally coupled to a rocker attachment interface of a space frame of an off-highway rear haul truck, the rocker support insert comprising:
an arcuate support plate configured to be removably coupled to a top portion of a rocker body of the support rocker, each of a top surface and a bottom surface of the arcuate support plate being smooth; and
an arcuate support padding fixedly coupled to the top surface of the arcuate support plate such that a portion of the top surface of the arcuate support plate remains exposed,
wherein a top surface of the arcuate support padding defines a concave upward-facing contact surface configured to have seated thereon a convex down-facing contact surface of a vertical support structure provided on a front wall of a dump body of the off-highway rear haul truck,
wherein the arcuate support padding includes a center support portion and a plurality of peripheral portions surrounding the center support portion, the center support portion forming the top surface of the arcuate support padding that defines the concave upward-facing contact surface,
wherein each of the peripheral portions of the arcuate support padding is tapered from thick to thin from the center support portion toward a corresponding outer edge of the arcuate support plate, and
wherein a maximum thickness of the arcuate support padding is greater than a maximum thickness of the arcuate support plate.

2. The rocker support insert of claim 1 , wherein the arcuate support plate has a uniform thickness which corresponds to the maximum thickness of the arcuate support plate.

3. The rocker support insert of claim 1 , wherein the arcuate support plate has a length greater than a width thereof, and the arcuate support padding has a length greater than a width thereof, the length and width of the arcuate support padding respectively being less than the length and width of the arcuate support plate.

4. The rocker support insert of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the top surface of the arcuate support plate that remains exposed includes a ledge around an entire periphery of the arcuate support padding.

5. The rocker support insert of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the top surface of the arcuate support plate that remains exposed includes opposing ends of plate coupling extensions configured to removably couple the arcuate support plate to the top portion of the rocker body.

6. The rocker support insert of claim 1 , wherein the arcuate support padding consists of a single elastomer padding member.

7. The rocker support insert of claim 6 , wherein the elastomer of the single elastomer padding member is short A natural rubber having a hardness based on L=A*d 4 −B*d 3 +C*d 2 −D*d+E, where A, B, C, D & E are constants, L is load, and d is displacement.

8. The rocker support insert of claim 1 , wherein the concave upward-facing contact surface is one of semi-cylindrical, elliptical or multi-planar.

9. A rocker support insert for a support rocker comprising:
a support plate configured to be removably coupled to a top portion of a rocker body; and
a support padding fixedly coupled to a top surface of the support plate such that a portion of the top surface of the support plate remains exposed, a top surface of the support padding defining a concave upward-facing contact surface,
wherein the support padding includes a center support portion and a plurality of peripheral portions surrounding the center support portion, the center support portion forming the top surface of the support padding that defines the concave upward-facing contact surface,
wherein each of the peripheral portions of the support padding is tapered from thick to thin from the center support portion toward a corresponding outer edge of the support plate, and
wherein the support padding is thicker than the support plate.

10. The rocker support insert of claim 9 , wherein a length and a width of the support padding respectively are less than a length and a width of the support plate.

11. The rocker support insert of claim 9 , wherein the support plate and the support padding are curved so as to form an obtuse angle.

12. The rocker support insert of claim 9 , wherein the portion of the top surface of the support plate that remains exposed includes a ledge around an entire periphery of the support padding.

13. The rocker support insert of claim 9 , wherein the portion of the top surface of the support plate that remains exposed includes opposing ends of plate coupling extensions configured to removably couple the support plate to the top portion of the rocker body.

14. The rocker support insert of claim 9 , wherein the support padding is comprised of an elastomer.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Chapagain Pradeep
• Morge Ryan P

Classifications

• B60P1/28 Primary

  Tipping body constructions · CPC title

• B60P1/283 Primary

  Elements of tipping devices · CPC title