Dump truck accessory

• US 4,790,715 A
• Filed: 11/20/1987
• Issued: 12/13/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: HTC Incorporated (Hikari Tsushin Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Richard E. Alexander
• Inventors: Alexander, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bucci, David A.
• Application Number:
  US07/123,127
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 414/489, 414/528, 414/519, 414/491, 414/332, 414/349-351, 298/7, 198/840
• US Class Current: 414/489
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/36 using endless chains or belts thereon

Abstract

A dump truck accessory is attached to the rear of a dump truck and serves to accurately deposit asphalt, sand, gravel or other material being hauled therein is provided. The preferred embodiment consists of a lateral conveyor belt combined with an end gate, which allows the operator to deposit the desired amount of material in a pile at the side of the truck, when the dump truck is stationary or in an elongated strip when the dump truck is moving. A uniquely designed leveling rod connects the accessory to the dump truck frame, and serves to maintain the conveyor belt in a functional attitude.

Claims

1. A dump truck accessory for a dump truck having a vehicle frame with forward and rearward ends, and a truck box having forward and rearward ends, said truck boxes and said vehicle frames being pivotally connected adjacent their rearward ends whereby said truck box can pivot about a horizontal truck box axis from a lowered position to an elevated position;

said accessory comprising;

an accessory frame comprising forward and rearward channel frames spaced apart and parallel to one another and extending transversely of said vehicle, a plurality of spacer frames extending between said channel frames;

first and second conveyor rollers extending between said channels frames in spaced apart parallel relation to one another, said first and second rollers being rotatably mounted for rotation about roller axes extending in the direction of travel of said vehicle, each of said rollers having an outer cylindrical surface and annular groove in said cylindrical surface;

an endless conveyor belt trained around said conveyor rollers, said belt having forward and rearward edges and having an endless rib trained around said conveyor rollers and protruding within said annular grooves of said conveyor rollers,

conveyor power means connected to said first conveyor roller for driving said first conveyor roller and said conveyor belt;

roller mounting means movably mounting said second conveyor roller to said accessory frame for adjustable movement toward and away from said first conveyor roller;

roller adjustment means connected to said roller mounting means for causing selective adjustable movement of said second conveyor roller relative to said first conveyor roller;

a forward attached to said forward channel frame and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom;

a rearward wall attached to said rearward channel frame and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom;

first and second end gates spaced apart from one another and spanning the distance between said forward and rearward walls, each of said end gates having a lower edges and being movable from as lower position wherein said lower edge is closely adjacent said conveyor belt to an upper position wherein said lower edge is spaced upwardly from said conveyor belt;

first and second manually operable gate actuating means attached to said first and second gates respectively for causing said gates to move between said upper and lower positions;

an elongated front flashing member having an upper edge attached to said forward wall and having a lower edge resting on said conveyor belt on a line spaced inwardly from said forward edge of said conveyor belt,

an elongated rear flashing member having an upper edge attached to said rearward wall and a lower edge resting on said conveyor belt on a line spaced inwardly from said rearward edge of said conveyor belt;

hinge means pivotally connecting said forward wall to said truck box for pivotal movement about a horizontal accessory axis located rearwardly of said truck box axis,

leveling link means having a forward end pivotally connected to said truck frame for pivotal movement about a first horizontal link axis located below said truck box axis, and having a rearward end pivotally connected to said accessory frame for pivotal movement about a second link axis located below said accessory axis, whereby said leveling link will maintain said accessory frame in a substantially constant level orientation in response to pivotal movement of said truck box between said lowered and elevated positions;

flap extension means attached to said rearward end of said truck body and engaging said front wall to permit the contents of said truck box to be deposited on said conveyor with a minimum of spillage to the ground.

2. A dump truck accessory according to claim 1 wherein said annular grooves in said conveyor rollers are V-shaped in cross-section and said rib of said conveyor belt is V-shaped in cross-section.

3. A dump truck accessory according to claim 2 wherein said conveyor power means is reversible for permitting selective reversal of the rotational direction of said conveyor power means drives said first conveyor roller and said drive belt.

4. A dump truck accessory for a dump truck having a vehicle frame with forward and rearward ends, and a truck box having forward and rearward ends, said truck box and said vehicle frames being pivotally connected adjacent their rearward ends whereby said truck box can pivot about a horizontal truck box axis from a lowered position to an elevated position;

said accessory comprising;

an accessory frame comprising forward and rearward channel frames spaced apart and parallel to one another and extending transversely of said vehicle, a plurality of spacer frames extending between said channel frames;

first and second conveyor rollers extending between said channel frames in spaced apart parallel relation to one another, said first and second rollers being rotatably mounted for rotation about roller axes extending in the direction of travel of said vehicle, each of said rollers having an outer cylindrical surface and annular groove in said cylindrical surface;

an endless conveyor belt trained around said conveyor rollers, said belt having forward and rearward edges and having an endless rib trained around said conveyor rollers and protruding within said annular grooves of said conveyor rollers,

conveyor power means connected to said first conveyor roller for driving said first conveyor roller and said conveyor belt;

roller mounting means movably mounting said second conveyor roller to said accessory frame for adjustable movement toward and away from said first conveyor roller;

roller adjustment means connected to said roller mounting means for causing selective adjustable movement of said second conveyor roller relative to said first conveyor roller;

a forward wall attached to said forward channel frame and extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom;

a rearward wall attached to said rearward channel frame and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom;

first and second end gates spaced apart from one another and spanning the distance between said forward and rearward walls, each of said end gates having a lower edge and being movable from a lower position wherein said lower edge is closely adjacent said conveyor belt to an upper position wherein said lower edge is spaced upwardly from said conveyor belt;

first and second manually operable gate actuating means attached to said first and second gates respectively for causing said gates to move between said upper and lower positions;

an elongated front flashing member having an upper edge and having a lower flexible edge;

an elongated front retaining member detachably secured to said front wall and engaging said upper edge of said front flashing member to hold said front flashing member in retentive engagement with said front wall with said lower edge of said front flashing member engaging and being deflected against said conveyor belt on a line spaced inwardly from said forward edge thereof;

an elongated rear flashing member having an upper edge and a lower flexible edge;

an elongated rear retaining member detachably secured to said rear wall and engaging said upper edge of said rear flashing member to hold said rear flashing member in retentive engagement with said rear wall with said lower edge of said rear flashing engaging and being deflected against said conveyor belt on a line spaced rearwardly from said forward edge thereof;

hinge members pivotally connecting said forward wall to said truck box for pivotal movement about a horizontal accessory axis located rearwardly of said truck box axis,

leveling link means having a forward end pivotally connected to said truck frame for pivotal movement about a first horizontal like axis located below said truck box axis, and having a rearward end pivotally connected to said accessory frame for pivotal movement about a second link axis located below said accessory axis, whereby said leveling link will maintain said accessory frame in a substantially constant level orientation in response to pivotal movement of said truck body between said lowered and elevated positions.

5. A dump truck accessory according to claim 4 comprising an elongated front channel attached to and extending along said upper edge of said front flashing member and being retentively engaged by said front retaining member, an elongated rear channel attached to and extending along said upper edge of said rear flashing member and being retentively engaged by said rear retaining member.

6. A dump truck assembly according to claim 5 wherein said front and rear channels are U-shaped in cross section and include spaced apart U-legs which retentively embraces the opposite sides of said upper edges of said front and rear flashing members respectively.