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The side rails of the chassis of a fixed bed truck are cut at the front end of the rear springs and pivotally interconnected using hinges incorporating hinge pins which are positioned below those side rails. A deck is secured to the rear section of the chassis for movement between a rearwardly incli

The side rails of the chassis of a fixed bed truck are cut at the front end of the rear springs and pivotally interconnected using hinges incorporating hinge pins which are positioned below those side rails. A deck is secured to the rear section of the chassis for movement between a rearwardly inclined position and a lowered position in which it extends over the front section of the chassis. An apron is pivotally mounted on the rear end of the deck for movement between an extended ramp position and a retracted position in which it depends downwardly from the deck. Hydraulic apparatus are provided for tilting the deck, extending the apron and latching the deck in its lowered position. The hinges and the latching systems are constructed so that the truck can still be driven safely even after structural failure of both hinge pins.

대표청구항 ▼

A vehicle which comprises: a front frame section; a motive power source on said front frame section; a rear frame section coplanar with the front frame section when the former is in a generally horizontal lowered first position; a transversely extending rear axle carrying ground engaging rear wheels

A vehicle which comprises: a front frame section; a motive power source on said front frame section; a rear frame section coplanar with the front frame section when the former is in a generally horizontal lowered first position; a transversely extending rear axle carrying ground engaging rear wheels and supporting the said rear frame section; a drive transmission shaft extending longitudinally between said motive power source and said rear axle and operatively coupled to said rear axle so as to transmit rotational drive movement thereto from said motive power source; slip means in said drive transmission and adapted to accommodate limited shortening of said drive transmission shaft on forward movement of said rear axle toward said motive power source; pivot means pivotally interconnecting the abutting ends of said front and rear frame sections for movement of said rear frame section between the generally horizontal lowered first position and a rearwardly and downwardly inclined second position about a pivot axis positioned sufficiently close to said rear axle that, on movement of said rear frame section out of said generally horizontal lowered first position thereof and into said inclined second position thereof, the resulting forward movement of said rear axle relative to said motive power source does not exceed said limited shortening of said drive transmission shaft which said slip means is adapted to accommodate, said pivot axis being positioned forwardly of said rear axle, and further being positioned below said rear frame section when that section is in said lowered first position thereof; a deck fixed on said rear frame section for conjoint pivotal movement therewith and extending generally forwardly over said front frame section when said rear frame section is disposed in said generally horizontal lowered first position thereof; and tilting drive means for moving said deck and said rear frame section between said lowered first position and said inclined second position thereof.