Vehicle assembly having a sloped gate
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tank trailer comprising:
- a cylindrical body including;
a top;
a bottom;
a front;
a rear;
wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the front and the rear, and a vertical plane extends between the top and the bottom, and wherein the top, bottom, front, and rear bound and define an interior compartment adapted to carry a load;
wherein the rear is oriented at an acute angle relative to the vertical plane;
wherein the rear defines an opening that is in communication with the interior compartment;
a gate;
wherein the gate is movable between an open position and a closed position, and when in the closed position, the gate blocks the opening;
an actuator; and
a locking mechanism;
wherein the actuator is operative to cause the locking mechanism to rotate a center plate in one of a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction, wherein the locking mechanism is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and when in the locked position, the locking mechanism locks the gate to the cylindrical body; and
wherein the locking mechanism is remotely controllable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The current disclosure relates to a tank trailer for transporting meat packaging by-products. The tank trailer has a cylindrical body having a sloped rear end. An opening is formed in the sloped rear end, and a gate selectively blocks the opening. A locking mechanism is provided to securely lock the gate to the cylindrical body, thereby sealing the cylindrical body. The sloped rear end forms a chute through which meat by-products can be poured. The chute extends for a distance rearwardly of the trailer'"'"'s rear wheel assembly.
10 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A tank trailer comprising:
a cylindrical body including; a top; a bottom; a front; a rear;
wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the front and the rear, and a vertical plane extends between the top and the bottom, and wherein the top, bottom, front, and rear bound and define an interior compartment adapted to carry a load;wherein the rear is oriented at an acute angle relative to the vertical plane; wherein the rear defines an opening that is in communication with the interior compartment; a gate;
wherein the gate is movable between an open position and a closed position, and when in the closed position, the gate blocks the opening;an actuator; and a locking mechanism;
wherein the actuator is operative to cause the locking mechanism to rotate a center plate in one of a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction, wherein the locking mechanism is movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, and when in the locked position, the locking mechanism locks the gate to the cylindrical body; and
wherein the locking mechanism is remotely controllable.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of dumping a load out of a tank trailer, comprising steps of:
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providing a tank trailer having a cylindrical body including a top, a bottom, a front and a rear;
wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the front and rear, and a vertical plane extends between the top and bottom, and wherein the top, bottom, front, and rear bounds and defines a compartment;orienting the rear at an acute angle relative to the vertical plane; defining an opening in the rear that is in communication with the compartment; providing a gate at the rear, wherein the gate is selectively movable between a closed position and an open position; placing a load in the compartment and moving the gate to the closed position to close off access to the compartment; moving a locking mechanism provided on the gate or on the body from an unlocked position to a locked position; carrying the load in the compartment; defining a chute in a rear end of the body;
wherein the chute comprises a portion of each of a left side and a right side of the body as well as a portion of the bottom; andmoving the locking mechanism from the locked position to the unlocked position;
wherein the moving of the locking mechanism to the unlocked position includes;actuating a first actuator of the locking mechanism to rotate a center plate in one of a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction; moving locking rods of the locking mechanism inwardly towards the center plate; actuating a second actuator that is operatively engaged with the body and the gate; and
the method further includes;moving the gate from the closed position to the open position; and removing the load from the compartment through the chute. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A tank trailer comprising:
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a cylindrical body having a circumferential wall, wherein the body includes a front and a rear; and
wherein the wall bounds and define an interior compartment adapted to carry a load, and wherein the rear includes an inclined rear edge that bounds and defines an opening to the compartment, and wherein the opening is of substantially a same circumference as the circumferential wall;a gate movable between an open position and a closed position, and when in the closed position, the gate blocks the opening; a locking mechanism operative to move the gate between a locked position and an unlocked position, and when the locking mechanism is in the locked position the gate is unable to move to the open position;
wherein the locking mechanism comprises;a center plate; a first actuator operative to rotate the center plate in one of a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction; at least one locking rod operative to selectively move one of inwardly toward the center plate and outwardly toward the rear of the circumferential wall; and a second actuator operatively engaged with the cylindrical body and the gate, wherein the second actuator is actuated to move the gate between the open position and the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification