Abstract A truck described herein comprises a loading table mounted on a body frame of said truck in such manner that said loading table may move in the forward direction along said body frame when an impact force larger than a predetermined value is applied to a vehicle body of said truck. An energy absorber means is interposed between said body frame and said loading table for absorbing the kinetic energy possessed by said loading table. In one aspect of the invention, the truck also comprises a stopper mounted on said body frame to limit the forward motion of said loading table along said body frame, the stopper also including separate energy absorber means for absorbing the kinetic energy of said loading table. Each of said energy absorber means consists of a member which absorbs the kinetic energy through friction, elastic deformation, plastic deformation, or through their combined effect.
A truck comprising: a body frame; a loading table positioned on said frame; energy absorber means operatively related to said frame and the table, said energy absorber means including a slot in one of said frame and said loading table, said slot extending substantially longitudinally of the truck; and means for joining said table to the frame, said joining means including a member penetrating said slot and being dimensioned such that when a force exerted on said table is in excess of a predetermined value to cause movement of the table with respect to the frame, the kinetic energy of said movement is absorbed by the penetrating member expanding said slot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A truck comprising: a body frame; a loading table positioned on said frame; energy absorber means operatively related to said frame and the table, said energy absorber means including a slot in one of said frame and said loading table, said slot extending substantially longitudinally of the truck; and means for joining said table to the frame, said joining means including a member penetrating said slot and being dimensioned such that when a force exerted on said table is in excess of a predetermined value to cause movement of the table with respect to the frame, the kinetic energy of said movement is absorbed by the penetrating member expanding said slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A truck according to claim 1, wherein said joining means comprises a metallic plate connected by bolts to the table and the frame and wherein said penetrating member is one of said bolts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A truck according to claim 2, wherein said plate is substantially V-shaped.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A truck according to claim 1, wherein a cab is provided on the front end of said truck and wherein a stopper member for restricting forward displacement of said loading table is provided on said body frame between said cab and the table.