Truck mounted bulk material transfer unit

• US 20070031227A1
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Donelson Construction Co. LLC
• Original Assignee: Donelson Construction Co. LLC
• Inventors: Donelson, Michael, Donelson, Terrence
• Granted Patent: US 8,033,775 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/523
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/38 forming the main load-transporting element or part thereof B60P1/365 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 41/008 frames mounted on wheels or caterpillar for movement on rail tracks B65G41/02

Abstract

A material transfer unit is described that includes a truck, a hopper configured for mounting proximate a rear of the truck, and a conveyor comprising a catch section, a head section and a conveyor belt extending therebetween. The catch section is configured for placement under the hopper and the head section is configured for placement proximate a front of the truck. The head section is further configured for movement with respect to the truck for placement of transferred material.

Claims

1. A material transfer unit comprising:

a truck;

a hopper configured for mounting proximate a rear of the truck;

a first conveyor comprising a catch section, a head section and a conveyor belt extending therebetween, a portion of said catch section configured for placement under said hopper, said head section configured for placement proximate a front of said truck and further configured for movement with respect to said truck for placement of transferred material.

2. A material transfer unit according to claim 1 wherein said hopper is configured to be folded to a width that is legal for movement along a roadway.

3. A material transfer unit according to claim 1 wherein said hopper comprises tail lights and turn signals.

4. A material transfer unit according to claim 1 wherein said first conveyor comprises a belt and a conveyor drive pulley, said conveyor drive pulley configured to be hydraulically driven utilizing gear reduction.

5. A material transfer unit according to claim 4 further comprising a snubber pulley, said snubber pulley positioned to maintain an increased amount of contact between said belt and said drive pulley.

6. A material transfer unit according to claim 1 further comprising hydraulic stabilizers mounted to a front of said truck to stabilize and level said first conveyor.

7. A material handing unit according to claim 1 comprising a hydraulic system configured to raise said catch section of said first conveyor for travel and lower said catch section into a proper position for use.

8. A material handing unit according to claim 1 wherein to configure said head section for movement with respect to said truck, said unit comprises a second hydraulic system configured to retract said head section for travel of said truck and extend said head section from said truck into a position for use.

9. A material handing unit according to claim 1 comprising at least one operator station configured to allow an operator to adjust a speed of said conveyor.

10. A material handling unit according to claim 1 wherein said conveyor belt has a width of about 42 inches.

11. A material handling unit according to claim 1 wherein said head section and said catch section are slidably engaged with one another.

12. A material transfer unit according to claim 1 further comprising a second conveyor, said second conveyor configured to extend from said truck, said second conveyor configured to be moveable to and from a travel position.

13. A material transfer unit according to claim 12 wherein the second conveyor is configured to catch and convey materials as the materials fall from a head end of said head section of said first conveyor.

14. A material transfer unit according to claim 12 wherein said second conveyor further comprises at least one swivel attachment configured to rotate and pivot the second conveyor.

15. A material transfer unit according to claim 12 wherein said second conveyor further comprises an end remote from said head end of said first conveyor when said second conveyor is extended from said truck.

16. A material transfer unit according to claim 15 wherein a height and lateral position of said second conveyor are adjustable.

17. A method for transferring materials comprising:

putting the materials into a hopper, the hopper extendible from a rear of a truck;

dropping the materials from the hopper onto a catch section of a first conveyor;

conveying the materials towards a front of the truck using the first conveyor;

adjusting a position of a head end of the first conveyor, the head end of the first conveyor extending from the front of the truck; and

conveying the materials off the head end of the first conveyor.

18. A method according to claim 17 further comprising folding sections of the hopper to ensure that all materials placed into the hopper are dropped onto the catch section of the first conveyor.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein conveying the materials towards a front of the truck comprises hydraulically driving a conveyor drive pulley using gear reduction.

20. A method according to claim 17 wherein conveying the materials towards a front of the truck comprises utilizing a snubber pulley that is positioned to maintain an amount of contact between a belt and a drive pulley of the first conveyor.

21. A method according to claim 17 wherein adjusting a position of a head end of the first conveyor comprises adjusting an elevation of the head end of the first conveyor utilizing of hydraulic stabilizers mounted between a front of the truck and the head end of the first conveyor.

22. A method according to claim 17 wherein dropping the materials from the hopper onto a catch section of a first conveyor comprises utilizing a hydraulic system to lower the catch section from a travel position into a position for use.

23. A method according to claim 17 wherein adjusting a position of a head end of the first conveyor comprises:

utilizing a hydraulic system to retract the head section of the first conveyor for travel; and

utilizing the hydraulic system to extend the head section from the truck for material transfer.

24. A method according to claim 17 further comprising folding sections of the hopper such that the truck, first conveyor, and hopper combination is configured for utilization along a roadway.

25. A method according to claim 17 further comprising catching and conveying the materials conveyed off the head end of the first conveyor with a second conveyor.

26. A method according to claim 25 further comprising moving said second conveyor to and from a travel position.

27. A method according to claim 25 further comprising:

rotating the second conveyor;

pivoting the second conveyor;

and adjusting the height of an end of the second conveyor.