Tipper assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12434614-B2
Application number	US-202017613806-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2020
Priority date	May 24, 2019
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

A tipper assembly comprises a chassis having a first chassis linkage point; a body pivotally attached to the chassis about a body pivot axis, the body being pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position; a tailgate moveable between a closed position in which the tailgate is arranged across an end opening of the body and an open position in which the tailgate is pivoted away from the end opening; and a first tailgate lift assembly configured to lift the tailgate from the closed position to the open position on movement of the body from the lowered position to the raised position. The first tailgate lift assembly comprises: a first arm having a tailgate end fixedly attached to the tailgate and a first arm linkage point, the first arm being pivotally attached to the body about an arm pivot axis, the arm pivot axis being arranged between the tailgate end and the first arm linkage point; and a first linkage assembly connecting the first arm linkage point to the first chassis linkage point, the first linkage assembly comprising an arm link and a rapid opening assembly, the rapid opening assembly having a first end attached to the body or the chassis and a second end attached to an intermediate portion of the arm link. The rapid opening assembly is configured to create a v-shape in the arm link, drawing the first arm linkage point closer to the first chassis linkage point on rotation of the body about the body pivot axis from the lowered to the raised position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A tipper assembly comprising:
a chassis having a first chassis linkage point;
a body pivotally attached to the chassis about a body pivot axis, the body being pivotable between a lowered position and a raised position;
a tailgate moveable between a closed position in which the tailgate is arranged across an end opening of the body and an open position in which the tailgate is pivoted away from the end opening; and
a first tailgate lift assembly configured to lift the tailgate from the closed position to the open position on movement of the body from the lowered position to the raised position;
wherein the first tailgate lift assembly comprises:
a first arm having a tailgate end fixedly attached to the tailgate and a first arm linkage point, the first arm being pivotally attached to the body about an arm pivot axis, the arm pivot axis being arranged between the tailgate end and the first arm linkage point; and
a first linkage assembly connecting the first arm linkage point to the first chassis linkage point, the first linkage assembly comprising an arm link and a rapid opening assembly, the rapid opening assembly having a first end attached to the body or the chassis and a second end attached to an intermediate portion of the arm link;

wherein the rapid opening assembly is configured to create a v-shape in the arm link, drawing the first arm linkage point closer to the first chassis linkage point on rotation of the body about the body pivot axis from the lowered to the raised position.

2. The tipper assembly as in claim 1 wherein:
the arm link is pivotally attached to the first arm linkage point and the first chassis linkage point; and
the first end of the rapid opening assembly is attached to the body at a first body linkage point, the first body linkage point preferably being disposed on a side of the body between the arm pivot axis and the tailgate opening.

3. The tipper assembly as in claim 1 wherein:
the arm link is pivotally attached to the first arm linkage point and a body linkage point; and
the first end of the rapid opening assembly is attached to the first chassis linkage point.

4. The tipper assembly as in claim 1 wherein the arm link comprises:
a chain or wire; or
a first element pivotally attached to a second element; or
a flexible element.

5. The tipper assembly as in claim 1 wherein the rapid opening assembly comprises an offset link;
wherein the offset link is configured to laterally displace the intermediate portion of the arm link on rotation of the body about the body pivot axis from the lowered to the raised position such that the first arm linkage point and the first chassis linkage point are thereby drawn together.

6. The tipper assembly as in claim 5 wherein the offset link comprises;
a chain or wire; or
a rigid element.

7. The tipper assembly as in claim 5 wherein the offset link is configured to push the intermediate portion of the arm link.

8. The tipper assembly as in claim 5 wherein the offset link is configured to pull on the intermediate portion of the arm link.

9. The tipper assembly as in claim 1 , the tipper assembly further comprising a second tailgate lift assembly configured to lift the tailgate from the closed position to the open position on movement of the body from the lowered position to the raised position, wherein the first tailgate lift assembly is arranged on a first side of the body and the second tailgate lift assembly is arranged on a second side of the body.

10. The tipper assembly as in claim 9 wherein the second tailgate lift assembly is of the same construction as the first tailgate lift assembly.

11. The tipper assembly as in claim 9 , wherein the second tailgate lift assembly comprises:
a second arm having a tailgate end fixedly attached to the tailgate and a second arm linkage point, the second arm being pivotally attached to the body about the arm pivot axis, the arm pivot axis being arranged between the tailgate end and the second arm linkage point; and
a second linkage assembly connecting the second arm linkage point to the second chassis linkage point, the second linkage assembly comprising a second arm link and a second rapid opening assembly, the second rapid opening assembly having a first end attached to the body or chassis and a second end attached to an intermediate portion of the second arm link;
wherein the second rapid opening assembly is configured to create a v-shape in the arm link, drawing the second arm linkage point closer to the second chassis linkage point on rotation of the body about the body pivot axis from the lowered to the raised position.

12. The tipper assembly as in claim 1 further comprising a tipper actuator configured to lift the body into the raised position relative to the chassis, where in the first tailgate lift assembly is configured to be actuated by movement of the tipper actuator.

13. A machine comprising the tipper assembly as in claim 1 .

14. A dump truck comprising the tipper assembly as in claim 1 .

Assignees

• Caterpillar Sarl

Inventors

• LOWERSON Julian
• Stoker Mark

Classifications

• B60P1/267 Primary

  Controlling degree of tailboard or sideboard movement in dependence upon degree of tipping movement, e.g. by linkage or cam · CPC title

• B60P1/26 Primary

  Means for controlling movement of tailboards or sideboards {(open loading compartments with movable sideboards or tailgates B62D33/027)} · CPC title