Trailer adapted for use with a stone slinger

• US 20090010743A1
• Filed: 07/02/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wolfgang G. Wilz
• Original Assignee: Wolfgang G. Wilz
• Inventors: Wilz, Wolfgang G.
• Application Number:
  US11/824,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20090010743A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/339
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/36 using endless chains or belts thereon
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/56 the load-transporting element having bottom discharging openings

Abstract

The present invention is drawn to a self unloading bottom discharge trailer. The trailer includes a coupler attached to the trailer adapted for attachment to a trailer hitch. The trailer also includes a hopper configured to carry an aggregate material and having a bottom discharge opening for unloading the aggregate material. A transfer conveyor belt system is disposed at least in part under the bottom discharge opening. The transfer conveyor belt is sized and shaped to receive bulk material from the bottom discharge opening and convey and elevate the material away from the bottom discharge opening. A throw conveyor belt is positioned adjacent the transfer conveyor belt system to receive bulk material from the transfer conveyor belt system. The throw conveyor belt is operable at varying speeds to throw the bulk material variable distances into the hopper of an adjacent bulk material transport vehicle.

Claims

1. A self unloading bottom discharge trailer, comprising:

a coupler attached to the trailer adapted for attachment to a trailer hitch;

a hopper configured to carry an aggregate material and having a bottom discharge opening for unloading the aggregate material;

a transfer conveyor belt system disposed at least in part under the bottom discharge opening, said transfer conveyor belt sized and shaped to receive bulk material from the bottom discharge opening and convey and elevate the material away from the bottom discharge opening; and

a throw conveyor belt positioned adjacent the transfer conveyor belt system to receive bulk material from the transfer conveyor belt system, said throw conveyor belt operable at varying speeds to throw the bulk material variable distances into the hopper of an adjacent bulk material transport vehicle.

2. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the coupler is configured to attach the trailer to another trailer to form a set of trailers.

3. The trailer of claim 1, further comprising at lease one motor operably coupled to the transfer conveyor belt system and the throw conveyor belt and operable to drive the belts.

4. The trailer of claim 1, the transfer conveyor belt system further comprising:

a first conveyor belt disposed under the hopper and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hopper; and

a second conveyor belt disposed adjacent a discharge end of the first belt and extending at an incline with respect to the first conveyor belt to a distal end adjacent the throw conveyor belt at a higher elevation than the discharge end of the first belt.

5. The trailer of claim 4, wherein the second conveyor belt is angularly adjustable with respect to the first conveyor belt.

6. The trailer of claim 4, wherein the first and second conveyor belts each include a continuous belt, and a drive wheel, a tension wheel, and at least one idler wheel, associated with the continuous belt such that the drive wheel turns the continuous belt around the tension wheel and the idler wheels.

7. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the throw conveyor belt is positionable between an operable position with the throw conveyor belt extending from a discharge end of the transfer conveyor belt system to a remote position away from the hopper, and a stowed position with the throw conveyor belt positioned adjacent the hopper.

8. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the throw conveyor belt includes flow directors to direct the flow of material being thrown from the throw conveyor.

9. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the throw conveyor belt has a discharge end with a spreader to spread the aggregate material discharged from the throw conveyor belt.

10. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the throw conveyor belt is removable from the trailer.

11. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the throw conveyor belt is operably connected to the transfer conveyor belt system with a lower hydraulic arm that positions the throw conveyor belt in an operable position or a storage position.

12. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the throw conveyor belt is angularly adjustable with respect to the transfer conveyer belt system.

13. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the adjacent bulk material transport vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a stone slinger vehicle, a dump truck, or combinations thereof.

14. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the transfer conveyor belt system and the throw conveyor belt are positioned adjacent a front end or back end of the trailer.

15. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the throw conveyor belt further includes a flow control device to contain and direct the flow of aggregate material on the throw conveyor.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein the transfer conveyor belt system and the throw conveyor belt are positioned adjacent a front end or back end of the trailer.

25. The trailer of claim 1, wherein the throw conveyor belt further includes a flow control device to contain and direct the flow of aggregate material on the throw conveyor.

16. An aggregate material transport device, comprising:

a first hopper having a discharge opening;

a stone slinger coupled to the discharge opening and configured to receive material from the hopper for delivery to a dump site remote from the hopper, the stone slinger further comprising;

i) a frame pivotally associated with the hopper adjacent the discharge opening; and

ii) a conveyor belt movable on the frame, and movable at a sufficiently rapid rate so as to propel aggregate material away from the hopper to the remote dump site;

a second hopper having a discharge opening, said second hopper adapted for being pulled as a trailer behind the first hopper; and

a transfer conveyor disposed under the discharge opening of the second hopper, extending to an upper transfer point adjacent the first hopper, and configured to transfer material from the second hopper to the first hopper.

17. The device of claim 16, further comprising a throw conveyor having a proximal end disposed adjacent the upper transfer point of the transfer conveyor and a distal end positionable adjacent the first hopper, said throw conveyor including a frame with an endless conveyor belt movable on the frame and movable at a sufficiently rapid rate so as to propel aggregate material into the first hopper.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein the throw conveyor belt is operable at varying speeds to throw the bulk material from the second hopper variable distances into the first hopper.

19. The device of claim 16, wherein the stone slinger further comprises:

a swing arm operably coupled to the first hopper and the frame, and operable to swing the frame to an angular position with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first hopper; and

a motor operably coupled to the swing arm, and operable to position the frame in a desired angular position.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the first hopper is attached to a frame of a motorized vehicle and the second hopper is a trailer removably coupleable to the frame of the motorized vehicle.

21. The device of claim 16, wherein the first hopper includes a trailer removably coupleable to a motorized vehicle and the second hopper includes a trailer removably coupleable to the first hopper trailer.

22. The device of claim 16, wherein the transfer conveyor includes a conveyor belt system, further comprising:

a first conveyor belt disposed the discharge opening of the second hopper and parallel to a longitudinal axis of the second hopper; and

a second conveyor belt disposed adjacent a discharge end of the first conveyor belt and extending to an elevated distal end.

23. The device of claim 22, further comprising a throw conveyor having a proximal end disposed adjacent the elevated distal end of the second conveyor belt and a distal end positionable adjacent the first hopper.

26. A method for unloading aggregate material from a trailer, comprising:

engaging a discharge opening in a first hopper coupled to the truck to release aggregate material from the first hopper;

engaging a stone slinger to receive and propel aggregate material from the first hopper to a remote dump site, the stone slinger including

i) a frame pivotally connected to the hopper adjacent the discharge opening,

ii) an endless conveyor belt movable on the frame, and

iii) being movable at a sufficiently rapid rate so as to propel aggregate material away from the hopper to the remote dump site;

positioning a second hopper coupled to a trailer adjacent the first hopper;

opening a discharge opening in the second hopper to release aggregate material from the second hopper; and

engaging a conveyor to receive and move aggregate material from the second hopper to the first hopper.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of engaging the conveyor further comprises:

engaging a conveyor belt disposed adjacent the discharge opening of the second hopper to receive and move aggregate material from the second hopper to a throw conveyor belt; and

engaging the throw conveyor belt to receive and propel aggregate material from the conveyor belt into the first hopper.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of engaging the conveyor transfers material from the second hopper to the first hopper to refill the first hopper after the stone slinger at least substantially empties or is in the process of emptying the aggregate material from the first hopper.