U.S. patent application number 15/217762 was filed with the patent office on 2018-01-25 for bed liner fastening system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to Caterpillar Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Caterpillar Inc.. Invention is credited to Aaron K. Amstutz, Tony Fischer, Qiaoyu Lu, Kristina Melvin, Dean W. Walters.
Application Number | 20180022293 15/217762 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60935593 |
Filed Date | 2018-01-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180022293 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fischer; Tony ; et
al. |
January 25, 2018 |
Bed Liner Fastening System and Method
Abstract
A bed liner system for use in a bed floor of a material hauling
machine includes a lower panel that is attachable to the bed floor.
The lower panel includes a first plate having a first flange, a
first central opening and two first central slots disposed, one
each, on either side of the first central opening. The bed liner
system further includes an upper panel that is attachable to the
lower panel. The upper panel includes a top plate having a second
flange having a second central opening and two second central slots
disposed that are aligned with corresponding features of the first
flange such that a block having a top flange and a bottom flange
connected by a web is insertable through the first and second
central openings and slidable through one each of the two first and
second central slots.
Inventors: |
Fischer; Tony; (Peoria,
IL) ; Lu; Qiaoyu; (Peoria, IL) ; Amstutz;
Aaron K.; (Peoria, IL) ; Walters; Dean W.;
(Peoria, IL) ; Melvin; Kristina; (Peoria,
IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Caterpillar Inc. |
Peoria |
IL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Caterpillar Inc.
Peoria
IL
|
Family ID: |
60935593 |
Appl. No.: |
15/217762 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/39.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P 1/286 20130101;
B60R 2013/018 20130101; B60R 13/01 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 13/01 20060101
B60R013/01 |
Claims
1. A bed liner system for use in a bed floor of a material hauling
machine, the bed liner system comprising: at least one lower panel
that is attachable to the bed floor, the at least one lower panel
including a bottom plate, the bottom plate having a first flange,
the first flange including a first central opening and two first
central slots disposed, one each, on either side of the first
central opening; at least one upper panel including a top plate,
the top plate having a second flange, the second flange including a
second central opening and two second central slots disposed, on
each, on either side of the second central opening; a block having
a top flange and a bottom flange connected by a web; wherein, when
the at least one upper panel is engaged with the at least one lower
panel, the second flange is disposed over the first flange, the
first and second central openings are aligned, and the two first
central slots are aligned with the two second central slots such
that the block is insertable through the first and second central
openings and slidable through one each of the two first and second
central slots such that the web occupies one of the two first and
second central slots to secure the at least one upper panel to the
at least one lower panel.
2. The bed liner system of claim 1, wherein the two first central
slots are collinear and extend from a middle portion of the first
central opening away from each other, and wherein the two second
central slots are collinear and extend from a middle portion of the
second central opening away from each other.
3. The bed liner system of claim 2, further comprising a stop wall
at which each of the two first and second slots terminates, and
ledges disposed on either side of each central slot in the at least
one upper and lower panels, the ledges extending between the
corresponding central opening and the stop wall.
4. The bed liner system of claim 3, wherein, when the web of the
block is engaged in the corresponding first and second central
channels, the corresponding ledges are engaged between the top and
bottom flanges of the block.
5. The bed liner system of claim 1, further comprising a second
block disposed in the other of the two first and second central
slots.
6. The bed liner system of claim 5, further comprising a pad having
a central leg, the central leg being insertable in the first and
second central openings and of sufficient size to engage the block
and prevent sliding motion of the block into the first and second
central openings when the block is disposed such that the web
occupies the corresponding one of the two first and second central
slots.
7. The bed liner system of claim 6, further comprising: a first
tapered opening extending through the bottom plate of the at least
one lower panel, the first tapered opening having a cross sectional
area that increases in a direction towards a bottom surface of the
bottom plate; a second tapered opening extending through the top
plate of the at least one upper panel, the second tapered opening
having a cross sectional area that decreases in a direction away
from the top surface of the top plate; wherein the first and second
tapered openings are aligned when the at least one upper panel is
engaged with the at least one lower panel; and an end leg having a
varying cross sectional area that matingly engages and extends
through the first and second tapered openings, the end leg having
an hourglass shape.
8. The bed liner system of claim 7, wherein the first and second
tapered openings define a pair of tapered openings disposed on one
side of the first and second central openings, and wherein the bed
liner system further includes a second pair of tapered openings
disposed on an opposite side of the first and second tapered
openings such that a second end leg is insertable there
through.
9. The bed liner system of claim 8, wherein the central leg, the
end leg, and the second end leg are formed integrally with the pad,
the pad further including a top shelf.
10. The bed liner system of claim 9, further comprising a well
formed in the second flange, wherein the top shelf is disposed in
the well such that a top surface of the top shelf is coplanar with
the top surface of the top plate.
11. The bed liner system of claim 1, wherein the at least one lower
panel is made from an elastic material having a first hardness, the
at least one upper panel is made from an elastic material having a
second hardness, and the block is made from an elastic material
having a third hardness.
12. The bed liner system of claim 11, wherein the first hardness is
greater than the second hardness.
13. The bed liner system of claim 11, wherein the first hardness is
equal to the third hardness.
14. The bed liner system of claim 1, further comprising: a first
plurality of lugs formed on the bottom plate, the first plurality
of lugs being separated by a first plurality of channels; and a
second plurality of lugs formed beneath the top plate, the second
plurality of lugs being separated by a second plurality of
channels; wherein, when the at least one upper panel is disposed on
the at least one lower panel, the first plurality of lugs is at
least partially disposed in the second plurality of channels and
the second plurality of lugs is at least partially disposed in the
first plurality of channels to interlockingly engage the at least
one upper panel with the at least one lower panel.
15. The bed liner system of claim 1, wherein the first and second
central openings, the two first central slots, the two second
central slots and the block, together, at least partially define a
first engagement arrangement.
16. The bed liner system of claim 15, further comprising a second
engagement arrangement.
17. The bed liner system of claim 1, wherein the at least one upper
panel includes a third flange disposed at an offset relative to the
second flange and the top plate, the third flange being engageable
between corresponding first and second flanges of an adjacent upper
panel and an adjacent lower panel in the bed liner system.
18. The bed liner system of claim 17, wherein the third flange
forms a third central opening at two third central slots, the third
central opening and two third central slots being aligned with
corresponding first and second central openings and two first and
second central slots in the adjacent upper and lower panels such
that a corresponding block connecting the adjacent upper and lower
panels passes through the third central opening and occupies one of
the two first and second central slots.
19. The bed liner system of claim 18, wherein the at least one
lower panel and the adjacent lower panel abut one another without
overlapping structures.
20. The bed liner system of claim 1, further comprising a
protrusion formed on the web of the block, the protrusion disposed
within a combined opening of the first and second central openings.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to bed liners for
material hauling machines and, more particularly, to a fastening
and retention method and system or a machine bed liner system.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Machines having beds for hauling bulk or aggregate material
are known. In general, liners for the beds of such machines have
been used to prevent damage and wear to the machine bed, especially
when hauling abrasive cargo such as earth, gravel and the like. In
certain known applications, bed liners are permanently installed in
a truck's bed, for example, by spraying a coating onto the internal
surfaces of the bed that contact the cargo. In other applications,
removable and/or replaceable liners are installed.
[0003] One previously proposed bed liner is described in U.S. Pat.
No. 8,708,391, which describes a system for providing replaceable
wear surfaces on abrasive-material handling-equipment. The system
includes at least one replaceable surface structured and arranged
to provide a replaceable surface onto a bed of a hauling vehicle.
The replaceable surface includes at least one wear-resister element
that resists wear. The replaceable surface includes at least one
magnet that magnetically attaches the replaceable surface to a bed
of the hauler. While the magnetically attachable, removable liner
may be at least partially effective in preventing damage and wear
to the bed liner, it is relatively complex and expensive to
construct. Moreover, the liner that includes magnets can create
stress concentrators in the liner, which can lead to premature wear
and failure of the attachment arrangement of the liner.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one aspect, the disclosure describes a bed liner system
for use in a bed floor of a material hauling machine. The bed liner
system includes at least one lower panel that is attachable to the
bed floor. The at least one lower panel includes a first plate
having a first flange. The first flange includes a first central
opening and two first central slots disposed, one each, on either
side of the first central opening. The bed liner system further
includes at least one upper panel including a top plate. The top
plate has a second flange including a second central opening and
two second central slots disposed, on each, on either side of the
second central opening. The bed liner system further includes a
block having a top flange and a bottom flange connected by a web.
When the at least one upper panel is engaged with the at least one
lower panel in the bed liner system, the second flange is disposed
over the first flange, the first and second central openings are
aligned, and the two first central slots are aligned with the two
second central slots such that the block is insertable through the
first and second central openings and slidable through one each of
the two first and second central slots such that the web occupies
one of the two first and second central slots to secure the at
least one upper panel to the at least one lower panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a hauling machine having a bed
for hauling material and a bed liner disposed in the bed in
accordance with the disclosure.
[0006] FIG. 2 is an outline view of a bed liner system in
accordance with the disclosure.
[0007] FIG. 3 is an outline view of a lower bed liner panel in
accordance with the disclosure.
[0008] FIG. 4 is an outline view of an upper bed liner panel in
accordance with the disclosure.
[0009] FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a connection port in a
bed liner panel in accordance with the disclosure.
[0010] FIGS. 6 and 7 are outline views from different perspectives
of a connection block in accordance with the disclosure.
[0011] FIGS. 8 and 9 are outline views from different perspectives
of a connection pad in accordance with the disclosure.
[0012] FIGS. 10-13 represent partial assembly steps for securing
bed liner panels in accordance with the disclosure.
[0013] FIGS. 14 and 15 are sectional views through a bed liner
panel connection in accordance with the disclosure.
[0014] FIG. 16 is a removal key in accordance with the
disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 17 is a view of a removal tool during use in accordance
with the disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Aspects of the disclosure will now be described in detail
with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers
refer to like elements throughout, unless specified otherwise. FIG.
1 shows a schematic view of a machine 100 having a bed liner in
accordance with the disclosure. The machine 100 shown in the
illustrated, exemplary embodiment is a mining truck, but other
machines may use a bed liner in accordance with the present
disclosure. For example, a liner may be used to line the work
implement or a bucket of a wheel loader or excavator, the blade of
a bulldozer or motor grader, and the like. In general, the term
"machine" may refer to any machine that performs some type of
operation associated with an industry such as mining, construction,
farming, transportation, marine or any other industry known in the
art. Accordingly, the machine 100 may be an earth-moving machine,
such as a wheel loader, excavator, dump truck, backhoe,
motor-grader or the like.
[0017] In the embodiment shown, the machine 100 includes a frame
102. The frame 102 is configured to mount and/or support various
components of the machine 100 including, but not limited to, an
engine system, a transmission system, an operator cabin and the
like, all of which are known and are not described in further
detail herein for simplicity. The frame 102 supports a bed 104,
which in the illustrated embodiment is arranged to pivot with
respect to the frame 102 such that material unloading can be
effected. The bed 104 defines a volume therein for holding material
loaded. The volume is defined by a floor portion and walls
surrounding the floor on three sides. A rear portion of the bed is
open, as shown, but can alternatively have a door or gate in the
known fashion. The bed is also open from the top for loading of
loose or aggregate material therein.
[0018] In this, generally familiar configuration, the bed 104 is
loaded from the top by a loader (not shown) in the known fashion.
During a loading operation, material may be dropped into the
internal volume of the bed from the top when a bucket full of
material is tipped to unload material into the internal cavity. As
can be appreciated, the first few initial loads of material that
are deposited into the bed will fall a maximum height with respect
to the floor of the bed, and will collide with the floor as they
pile and accumulate therein with successive bucket loads being
deposited. Additionally, when the bed 104 is tipped for unloading
or, as is the case with other known truck systems, when a blade
pushes material off the bed and through the back of the machine,
the material in the bed will drag along the floor of the bed until
it falls off the end of the bed.
[0019] As can be appreciated, the nature of the loading and
unloading material from the bed may cause damage and wear to the
material of the floor of the bed, and also the lower portions of
the surrounding bed walls. In at least these areas, a liner having
replaceable panels may be added. In the present disclosure, the
replaceable panels are configured to both protect the native bed
material from wear and damage, and also to cushion impacts of
material onto the bed, which with prolonged use will also increase
the service life of the various machine components of the machine.
In addition, depending on the bed material, friction may also be
reduced for material dragging along the bottom of the bed, which
can reduce weathering and corrosion in the native bed material. The
bed 104 is thus configured to receive and contain material as the
machine transports the material from one location to another. The
bed 104 includes a floor 106 and a number of side walls 108. The
floor 106 and the side walls 108 are disposed in a manner such that
a hollow, load receiving volume 110 is formed therein. In other
embodiments, the bed 104 may include only the floor 106 and the
side walls 108 may be omitted as required in case of hauling
machinery or equipment having a size larger than that of the floor
106.
[0020] The floor 106 includes a liner system 112 installed thereon.
The liner system 112 is configured to provide a wear surface over
the floor 106, as described above. More specifically, the liner
system 112 acts as an intermediate surface between the floor 106
and material (not shown) received on the bed 104, to reduce or
eliminate erosion of the native material of the floor 106 during
material loading and unloading. The liner system 112 described
herein is advantageously a modular system that includes permanent
and replaceable, wear components such that, when the liner system
112 becomes worn during use, certain portions of the liner system
112 that come in regular contact with the materials hauled by the
machine 100 can be replaced to overhaul or renew the liner system
112 with minimal cost and effort.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a module 200 of the liner system 112. As
can be seen, the module 200 includes various components in a
grouping, which can be duplicated to cover a majority of a floor
106 in a machine 100 irrespective of the size of the floor 106. In
other words, while a particular grouping of components is shown for
the module 200, more than one module 200 can be connected and
combined to produce the liner system 112 on a machine of any size
and configuration. Moreover, while the components that make up the
module 200 are shown as flat, curved and/or contoured components
can also be used to accommodate different geometries of machine
systems that can be protected by a liner including, but not limited
to, loader or excavator buckets, earthmoving machine blades and the
like.
[0022] The module 200 as shown, is made up of, essentially, two
panels, a lower panel 202 and an upper panel 204. Each of the upper
and lower panels 202 and 204 forms longitudinal channels 206 that
include longitudinal channels 208 and a transverse channel 210 that
surround lugs 212. The channels and lugs are arranged such that the
upper and lower panels 202 and 204 engage in an interlocking
fashion where, for example, lugs 212 in the lower panel 202 are
disposed within channels in the upper panel 204 and vice versa when
an upper panel 204 is disposed on top of and has engaged a
corresponding lower panel 202. This engagement resists a shear
motion along a plane parallel to the major dimensions of the panels
when the panels are installed in the liner system 112 to discourage
or prevent relative sliding motion between the panels, for example,
when a bucket or bed is tipped, or when material is pushed off the
bed by a blade during an unloading operation of the machine 100.
The system may be installed in any appropriate or desired
orientation, including at an angle, relative to the direction of
material unloading.
[0023] To prevent detachment of the upper panel 204 from the lower
panel 202, the module 200 further includes engagement arrangements
214 having keyed features, as will be described hereinafter. In the
illustrated embodiment in FIG. 2, six engagement arrangements 214
are shown, arranged in three pairs of two, with the two central
ones shown with engagement components therein to attach, in the
middle, the two upper panels 204 shown in the figure to the two
lower panels 202, which are also shown in the figure.
[0024] A lower panel 202 is shown removed from the liner for
illustration in FIG. 3. The lower panel 202 includes a base plate
302 that has a uniform thickness, T, along its generally
rectangular shape. The lugs 212, are arranged on top of the base
plate 302 such that the troughs of the channels 208 and 210
coincide with a top surface 304 of the base plate 302. In the
embodiment shown, the height or thickness of the lugs 212 is about
equal to the thickness T of the base plate 302, which makes the
entire thickness of the lower panel 202 from the bottom of the base
plate 302 to the top surface of the lugs 212 to about 2T, but other
dimensions may be used. Moreover, the lugs 212 and base plate 302
are integrally formed in a single body, which can be molded out of
rubber, polyurethane or another material of the type having at
least some elastic properties. In the illustrated embodiment, a
Shore A hardness of the lower panel 202 is about 90, but any
hardness in the range between Shore A 50 and Shore D 60 may be
used. The base plate 302 forms two engagement arrangement 214
features on one side extension or side flange thereof that is free
of lugs 212.
[0025] An upper panel 204 is shown removed from the liner for
illustration in FIG. 4. The upper panel 204 includes a top plate
306 having a top surface 308 that also has a uniform thickness T
along its generally rectangular shape. The lugs 212 are arranged on
the bottom surface of the top plate 306 such that the troughs of
the channels 208 and 210 coincide with a bottom surface of the top
plate 306. In the embodiment shown, the height or thickness of the
lugs 212 is about equal to the thickness T of the top plate 306,
which makes the entire thickness of the upper panel 204 from the
top of the top plate 306 to the bottom surface of the lugs 212 to
about 2T, but other dimensions may be used. Moreover, the lugs 212
and top plate 306 are integrally formed in a single body, which can
be molded out of rubber, polyurethane or another material of the
type having at least some elastic properties. In the illustrated
embodiment, a Shore A hardness of the upper panel 204 is about 70,
but any hardness in the range between 50 and 95 may be used.
[0026] The upper panel 204 forms four engagement arrangement 214
features on side extensions or side flanges thereof, which are free
of lugs 212 and which are disposed along different, parallel planes
for connecting adjacent panels together, as will be described
hereinafter. More specifically, a first flange 310 has a thickness
T and has a top side that is coplanar with the top surface 308 to,
essentially, form an extension of the top plate 306. A second
flange 312 is flat, rectangular and has a thickness T, and has a
bottom side 314 that is coplanar with the bottom surfaces of the
lugs 212 such that a top side 316 of the second flange 312 is
offset from the top surface 308, but parallel thereto, by a
distance that is about equal to the thickness T.
[0027] As can be appreciated, while the lower panel 202 and the
upper panel 204 are made of similar materials, it is contemplated
that they may have the same or different properties, especially
with respect to material hardness, coefficient of friction, and
abrasion resistance. In one embodiment, the top panel may be
constructed by overlaying multiple layers of elastomeric material,
where a top layer of the top panel (roughly thickness T) will be
one color and the bottom portion, including the mounting blocks,
will be molded in a different color. In this way, exposure of the
differently colored lower layer will be readily evident to the
machine operator and will communicate excessive wear of the upper
panel, at least locally, to facilitate its timely removal and
replacement. Alternatively, the top panel may be molded in various
layers of differently colored material to indicate the degree of
wear of the panel. In one contemplated method for manufacture, the
various layers can be made by a two-step or multi-step casting of
polyurethane or co-molding rubber. Additionally, the top portion,
that is primarily responsible for withstanding wear during usage,
may be formulated with additives to improve the abrasion resistance
and lower the coefficient of friction.
[0028] In this respect, in the illustrated embodiment, the lower
panel 202 is made of a "harder" material, while the upper panel 204
is made of a "softer" material, i.e., different Shore A or
durometer hardness, but still the same base material type such as
rubber, polyurethane and the like. The differences in material
hardness, while optional, are intended to facilitate replacement of
various components during service, and also to protect the bottom
layer of the liner from damage under extreme loading conditions,
where the upper layer of "softer" material acts to absorb at least
some of the impact loading of material being dropped onto the liner
during loading.
[0029] An enlarged, detail view of a portion of an engagement
arrangement 214, as formed in a first flange 310 of an upper panel
204, is shown in FIG. 5. As shown, the portion of the engagement
arrangement 214 defines one of three such arrangements that are
aligned when the upper and lower panels 202 and 204 are secured to
one another. As can be gleaned from FIG. 2, for example, an
engagement arrangement includes features that are aligned on
adjacent panels from the flange of a lower panel 202, the second
flange 312 of an adjacent upper panel 204, and the first flange 310
of an upper panel 204, which in the illustrated embodiment is
disposed in the middle, in that order, going in a direction from a
base plate 302 towards a top plate 306. While in one embodiment
these three layers may have the same thickness T, as described
above, they can also have different thicknesses as shown, for
example, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.
[0030] Each of the three, aligned engagement arrangements 214
includes openings that are generally aligned. As shown in FIG. 5,
and also in reference to FIGS. 14 and 15, an engagement arrangement
214 includes a central opening 402 having a generally rectangular
shape with rounded corners. The central opening 402 is open to two
central slots 404 disposed, one each, on either side of the central
opening 402. In the illustrated embodiment, the central slots 404
are collinear and extend from the middle of the central opening 402
away from each other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal
channels 206 (FIG. 4), but other orientations can be used. Each
central slot terminates at a stop wall 406 and has ledges 408
disposed on either side of the central slot 404 and extending
between the central opening 402 and the stop wall 406. The stop
walls 406 are recessed relative to the top surface 308 and are
disposed in a well 410.
[0031] On a side opposite the central slot 404 relative to the stop
wall 406, but still within the well 410, is a tapered opening 412
having a generally rectangular shape whose cross sectional area
gradually or, as shown, linearly, reduces in a downward direction.
As can be seen from FIGS. 14 and 15, the central opening 402,
central slots 404, stop walls 406, ledges 408 and tapered openings
412, which are described above relative to a first flange 310 of an
upper panel 204, are essentially duplicated in the lower panels 202
and also in the second flange 312 of the upper panel 204 but with
some minor differences. For example, where the taper in the tapered
openings 412 in the first flange 310 is inward in a downward
direction, the taper in the tapered openings 412 in the second
flange 312 and in the lower panel 202 is outward in the downward
direction such that the tapered openings 412, when the upper and
lower panels 202 and 204 are assembled, has a generally hourglass
shape when viewed in cross section along a plane that is
perpendicular to the upper and lower panels 202 and 204. There is
also no well 410 in the lower panel 202 and the second flange 312.
These features are best seen in FIGS. 14 and 15.
[0032] For connecting adjacent panels, each engagement arrangement
214 further includes two blocks 414. A block 414 is shown from two
different perspectives in FIGS. 6 and 7. In reference to these
figures, the block 414 includes a body 416. The body 416 is
generally shaped as a segment of an I-beam, which includes a top
flange 418 and a bottom flange 420 connected by a web 422. At least
one nub or protrusion 424 is formed on one end of the web 422 about
midway between the top and bottom flanges 418 and 420, but it is
contemplated that an additional nub or protrusion may be formed on
the opposite side of the web. The body 416 may be made of an
elastic material and, in the illustrated embodiment, is made from
the same, "harder" material as the lower panel 202 (FIG. 3), as
previously described, but they can also be made from the "softer"
material as the upper panel 204, or any other material, for
example, polyurethane, rubber, plastic, composite material, metal
and the like.
[0033] For locking the blocks 414 in place, each engagement
arrangement 214 further includes a pad 426, which is shown from two
different perspectives in FIGS. 8 and 9. The pad 426 includes a
body 428 that forms a top shelf 430, a central leg 432, and two end
legs 434. The top shelf 430 has a generally rectangular, elongate
shape that corresponds to the size, shape and depth of the well 410
(FIG. 5). The central leg 432 includes two channels 436 that extend
transversely relative to the longitudinal dimension of the top
shelf 430 and are positioned such that they correspond to a height
dimension of the protrusion 424 (FIG. 7). Each of the end legs 434
is tapered inwardly and then outwardly as it extends away from the
top shelf 430 to provide an hourglass shape that generally
corresponds to the shape of the tapered openings 412 (FIG. 5). To
that end, an inwardly and then outwardly tapered surface 438
surrounds each end leg 434. At an end of each central leg 432 and
two end legs 434 is a chamfered surface 440, which facilitates
insertion of the pad 426 into the engagement arrangement 214. The
body 428 may be made of an elastic material and, in the illustrated
embodiment, is made from the same, "softer" material as the upper
panel 204, as previously described, but they can also be made from
the "harder" material as the lower panel 202, or any other
appropriate material.
[0034] An assembly sequence for engaging adjacent panels in the
liner system 112 is shown in FIGS. 10-13. In FIG. 10, two adjacent
lower panels 202 (on the left side, as illustrated) and 202' (on
the right side, as illustrated) are placed adjacent to one another
on the bed of a machine, and are secured thereto by appropriate
methods such as fasteners or, as in the illustrated embodiment, by
use of a relatively elastic adhesive that can withstand low and
high temperatures. In one contemplated embodiment, an intermediate
layer such as fabric may be molded into the bottom face of the
bottom panels 202, to aid adhesion of the elastic panels to the
metal substrate of the bed of the machine.
[0035] After the lower panels 202 and 202' have been attached to
the bed of the machine, a first upper panel 204 is placed over the
lower panel 202' such that the lugs and channels interlock and the
engagement arrangement features align, as shown. A second upper
panel 204' is placed over the lower panel 202 and, partly, the
second flange 312 of the first upper panel 204, such that the
corresponding lugs and channels interlock and the features of the
engagement arrangement 214 align, as shown. With the panels in
place, a first block 414 is inserted through the central opening
402 (FIG. 10) and pushed (FIG. 11) such that the ledges 408 are
engaged between the top and bottom flanges 418 and 420 and the web
422 occupies the central slot 404. In this orientation, the block
414 is oriented such that the protrusion 424 points towards and
extends into the central opening 402. In the illustrated
embodiment, the distance between the two flanges on the block is
sufficient for a snug fit, but in an alternative embodiment the
dimensions may be selected to be slightly less than the overall
thickness of the flanges in the three layers to provide a pinching
as the block is inserted that holds the panels securely
together.
[0036] A second block 414 is inserted and pushed in a similar
fashion into the second central slot 404, as shown in FIG. 12. To
secure the blocks 414, a pad is inserted over the assembly, as
shown in FIG. 13, such that the top shelf 430 occupies the well
410, the central leg 432 occupies the central opening 402, and each
of the end legs 434 occupies the tapered openings 412, as shown in
FIGS. 14 and 15. To seat the pad 426, a rubber mallet can be used
to push the pad downwardly while also deforming the interfering
structures elastically until the pad is fully seated and the top
surface of the top shelf 430 is coplanar with the top surface 308
of the second upper panel 204'. For removing the various components
maintaining engagement of the panels during replacement of damaged
upper panels with new ones, the assembly sequence can be carried
out in reverse.
[0037] For removing the pad 426 during disassembly, one possible
embodiment for a retracting system and method is shown in FIGS. 16
and 17. An extractor pin 500 is shown in FIG. 16. The extractor pin
500 includes a threaded section 502, which is shown having coarse
threads similar to a corkscrew, or any other coarse screw type, and
an eye section 504. The extractor pin 500 can be threaded into the
pad 426, one through each end leg 434, as shown in FIG. 17 so that
the pad can be pulled from the well 410. The extractor pin 500 can
be inserted directly into the pad 426 or into a pilot hole that was
previously drilled into the pad. For pulling the pad, a tool 600
can be used, as shown in FIG. 17. The tool includes a handle 602
connected to a semi-circular head 604. The head includes hooks 606
that can engage the eye 504 of a corresponding extractor pin 500
such that, as the tool 600 is rotated, a force urging the extractor
pin 500 away from the corresponding second upper panel 204' can be
applied to elastically deform the pad material enough to pull the
pad from its engagement with the surrounding structures in the
engagement arrangement 214.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0038] It will be appreciated that the foregoing description
provides examples of the disclosed system and technique. However,
it is contemplated that other implementations of the disclosure may
differ in detail from the foregoing examples. All references to the
disclosure or examples thereof are intended to reference the
particular example being discussed at that point and are not
intended to imply any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure
more generally. All language of distinction and disparagement with
respect to certain features is intended to indicate a lack of
preference for those features, but not to exclude such from the
scope of the disclosure entirely unless otherwise indicated.
[0039] Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to
serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each
separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated
herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the
specification as if it were individually recited herein. All
methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order
unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted
by context.
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