Dump trucks are a familiar sight on construction sites, mines and quarries all over the world, and In order to transport materials from one place to another, their beds must be lowered. This is accomplished by a hydraulic system that is either operated manually or by an electric motor.
The most common type of dump truck bed is made of steel and can be up to 10 feet long. It is hinged at the front end so that it can be raised and lowered as needed. A hydraulic system, comprised of a series of cylinders and pistons, holds the bed in its raised position until it is time to lower it for dumping operations.
The hydraulic system is powered by an engine-driven pump that pushes hydraulic fluid through a series of valves and cylinders located on the truck bed frame. The pump works in conjunction with a control valve which allows the operator to make adjustments to the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid.
When the valve is opened, it allows more pressure to enter the cylinders which forces them down, lowering the bed accordingly. Conversely, when the valve is closed, less pressure enters the cylinders which causes them to retract, raising the bed back up again.
Manual Operation
For smaller dump trucks or those without an electric motor-driven pump, manual operation may be used instead. This involves using levers located on either side of the truck bed which control the flow rate of hydraulic fluid into each cylinder individually. By pushing on one lever while pulling on another, you can cause one cylinder to move down while simultaneously raising another – allowing you to accurately control how far up or down you want your truck bed to go.
Electric Motors
On larger trucks with an electric motor-driven pump, this process becomes much simpler as electrical switches are used instead of manual levers for controlling how far up or down your truck bed goes. All you need to do is press a button or flick a switch in order for your truck bed’s hydraulic system to move accordingly.
Conclusion
Getting a dump truck’s bed down requires either manual operation using levers or electric motors with electrical switches depending on what type of dump truck you have. In both cases though, they both rely upon a hydraulic system that forces fluid into cylinders in order for them to move up or down accordingly – allowing you to get your dump truck bed where it needs to go.