Trailer and Unloading Device

• US 20120034056A1
• Filed: 08/03/2011
• Published: 02/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: H.H. Schmidgall
• Original Assignee: H.H. Schmidgall
• Inventors: Schmidgall, H.H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,500,383 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/502
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/12 the load being tree-trunks, beams, drums, tubes, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 9/02 the controlling member being movable in different independent ways, movement in each individual way actuating one controlled member only
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20012 Multiple controlled elements

Abstract

In one embodiment of a trailer and/or unloading device, a front and rear roller assembly and chock may be moved along the length of the trailer. The front and rear roller assemblies may each include two rollers that may be actuated between a first and second position. The chock may include a stop that may be actuated between a first and second position. The arrangement of front and rear rollers and chock allows the operator to unload a plurality of objects placed on the trailer deck, one object at a time, while remaining in the cab of a prime mover. The moving components of the trailer and/or unloading device may be powered hydraulically. The trailer and/or unloading device may include strategically placed cameras and a control panel for operating the various elements of the trailer and unloading device placed in the cab of the prime mover.

Claims

1. An unloading device comprising:

a. a chock moveable in a first and a second direction, wherein said first and second directions are located in a single plane;

b. a stop pivotally secured to said chock, wherein said stop may be actuated between a first and second position, wherein said first position is within said single plane, and wherein said second position is above said single plane; and

c. a first and a second roller assembly moveable in said first and said second directions in said single plane, wherein a first object may be positioned and secured between said first and second roller assemblies, wherein said first and second roller assemblies are configured to cause said object to move in either said first or second direction when said first object is positioned between said first and second roller assemblies, and wherein said stop is configured to prevent a second object adjacent said first object from moving in either said first or second direction.

2. The unloading device according to claim 1 wherein said first roller assembly is further defined as a rear roller assembly and said second roller assembly is further defined as a front roller assembly, and wherein both said front and rear roller assemblies are further defined as comprising a pair of front rollers and a pair of rear rollers, respectively.

3. The unloading device according to claim 2 wherein said front and rear rollers are further defined as being able to actuate between a first position and a second position, wherein said first position is within said single plane, and wherein said second position is above said single plane.

4. The unloading device according to claim 3 further comprising a first drive mechanism associated with said chock and a second drive mechanism associated with said front and rear roller assemblies, wherein said first and second drive mechanisms are configured to move said chock and said front and rear roller assemblies in either said first or second direction.

5. The unloading device according to claim 4 further comprising a control panel, wherein said control panel is configured to allow an operator to control said first and second drive mechanisms and to actuate said front rollers, said rear rollers, and said chock between said first and second positions independently of one another.

6. The unloading device according to claim 5, wherein said front and rear roller assemblies are further defined as comprising at least two position wheels, wherein said position wheels are pivotally mounted to at least one of said roller assemblies.

7. A trailer for unloading a generally cylindrical object, said trailer comprising:

a. a frame spanning the length of said trailer;

b. a chock slidably engaged with said frame, wherein said chock is moveable in a first and second direction along the length of said frame, and wherein said first and second directions are located within a single plane;

c. a stop pivotally secured to said chock, wherein said stop may be actuated between a first and second position, wherein said first position is within said single plane, and wherein said second position is above said single plane;

d. a front roller assembly slideably engaged with said frame, wherein said front roller assembly is moveable in said first and second direction along the length of said frame;

e. a rear roller assembly slideably engaged with said frame, wherein said rear roller assembly is moveable in said first and second direction along the length of said frame and moveable along the length thereof, and wherein said front roller assembly is positioned between said chock and said rear roller assembly; and

,

f. an unloader positioned at the rear end of said frame.

8. The trailer according to claim 7 wherein said frame is further defined as comprising a first and a second I-beam rail, wherein a top surface of said pair of I-beam rails is slightly above said single plane, and wherein said I-beam rails are parallel with respect to one another.

9. The trailer according to claim 8 wherein said front roller assembly is further defined as comprising two opposed front rollers, wherein said front rollers are configured to be actuated between a first and a second position, wherein said first position is within said single plane, and wherein said second position is above said single plane, and wherein said front rollers are mechanically engaged with an actuator.

10. The trailer according to claim 9 wherein said rear roller assembly is further defined as comprising two opposed rear rollers, wherein said rear rollers are configured to be actuated between a first and a second position, wherein said first position is within said single plane, and wherein said second position is above said single plane, and wherein said rear rollers are mechanically engaged with an actuator.

11. The trailer according to claim 10 wherein said chock is further defined as comprising a drive mechanism, wherein said drive mechanism is configured to move said chock in either said first or said second direction along the length of said frame.

12. The trailer according to claim 11 wherein said rear roller assembly is further defined as comprising a drive mechanism, wherein said drive mechanism is configured to move said rear roller assembly in either said first or said second direction along the length of said frame.

13. The trailer according to claim 12 wherein said trailer is further defined as comprising a plurality of cameras, wherein said plurality of cameras are positioned to capture images of said chock, said front roller assembly, said rear roller assembly, and an area adjacent said unloader.

14. The trailer according to claim 13 wherein said drive mechanism associated with said chock is further defined as comprising:

a. a motor;

b. a first fixed chain spanning the length of and positioned within said first I-beam rail;

c. a second fixed chain spanning the length of and positioned within said second I-beam rail;

d. a jack shaft pivotally mounted to said chock; and

,

e. a roller chain communicating rotational energy from said motor to said jack shaft.

15. The trailer according to claim 14 wherein said trailer is further defined as comprising a control panel, wherein said control panel allows an operator to manipulate the position of said chock, front roller assembly, and rear roller assembly along the length of said frame, and wherein said control panel allows said operator to actuate said stop, said front rollers, and said rear rollers between said first and second positions independently of one another.

16. The trailer according to claim 15 wherein said front roller assembly and said rear roller assembly are further defined as comprising a first pair of position wheels pivotally mounted to said front roller assembly and a second pair of position wheels pivotally mounted to said rear roller assembly.

17. A method for controlling two independent items with a joystick, said method comprising the steps of:

a. assigning the fore and aft motion of a first item with a first line of an X-shaped joystick path; and

,

b. assigning the fore and aft motion of a second item with a second line of said X-shaped joystick path.