Control system for controlling the position of a dump truck tailgate

• US 6,302,491 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2000
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gene D. Anderson
• Original Assignee: Gene D. Anderson
• Inventors: Anderson, Gene D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Stephen T.
• Application Number:
  US09/556,812
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 298/23.MD, 298/23.M, 298/23.5, 298/22.R, 292/267, 292/274, 292/298
• US Class Current: 298/23.00S
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/26 Means for controlling movement of tailboards or sideboards open loading compartments with movable sideboards or tailgates B62D33/027
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/283 Elements of tipping devices

Abstract

A control system for controlling the opening and closing of the tailgate of a dump truck includes an actuator unit which is mounted on the truck box or tailgate. The actuator unit controls the degree of opening of the tailgate during the unloading operation and therefore the rate at which the material is discharged from the truck box. A positional feedback unit produces an output signal indicating the movement of the tailgate between open and closed positions. This signal is displayed on a control panel of a control unit in the truck cab. An operator in the truck cab can therefore control opening and closing of the tailgate and can monitor the position of the tailgate. The control system effects an accurate metering of material from the truck box.

Claims

1. A control system for variably controlling and accurately metering the material discharged from a conventional dump truck, the dump truck including a cab, a chassis, a conventional rectangular shaped truck box structure, and a rectangular tailgate structure, the truck box structure being pivotally mounted on the chassis for pivoting movement between lowered transport and elevated unloading positions, the tailgate structure being pivotally connected at its upper edge portion to the rear upper end portion of the truck box structure for swinging movement between closed and open positions,

said control system comprising an actuator unit, means for mounting the actuator unit on one of the truck box and tailgate structures, means operatively connected to the actuator unit for engaging the other of the truck box and tailgate structures and cooperating with said actuator unit to selectively control the position of the tailgate structure as the tailgate structure moves between closed and open positions,

a positional feedback unit, means for mounting the feedback unit on one of the truck box and tailgate structures, said feedback unit being operable for continuously sensing the position of the tailgate structure as it moves between closed and open positions and producing output signals in response to the sensed movement of the tailgate structure,

a control unit adapted to be mounted in the cab of the dump truck and being operable to selectively control the actuator unit to thereby control the position of the tailgate structure during the unloading operation, the control unit receiving output signals from the positional feedback unit and converting such signals to positional information of the tailgate structure perceptible to an operator in the cab whereby the position of the tailgate structure may be continuously monitored by the operator and material within the dump truck box structure may be accurately metered as the material is unloaded from the truck.

2. The control system as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator unit is adapted to be mounted on the truck box structure, said engaging means comprising a latching member, means for mounting the latching member on the truck box structure, the latching member operatively connected to the actuator unit and adapted to engage the tailgate structure, said latching member being shiftable in one direction for engaging and moving the tailgate structure in a closing direction, and being shiftable in another direction to permit movement of the tailgate structure in an opening direction.

3. The control system as defined in claim 2 wherein said actuator unit comprises a hydraulic cylinder and piston actuator.

4. The control system as defined in claim 2 wherein said actuator unit comprises a rotary hydraulic motor.

5. The control system as defined in claim 2 wherein said latching member is of angular configuration.

6. The control system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control unit includes a visual tailgate structure position means for continuously providing an operator with visually perceptible information which corresponds to the position of the tailgate structure.

7. The control system as defined in claim 1 wherein said actuator unit is adapted to be mounted on the tailgate structure, a latching member, means for mounting the latching member on the tailgate structure, the latching member being operatively connected to the actuator unit and adapted to engage a locking pin on the truck box structure, said latching member being shiftable in one direction for causing movement of the tailgate structure in a closing direction to a closed position with the truck box structure, and being moveable in another direction for permitting movement of the tailgate structure in an opening direction.

8. In combination with a dump truck having a cab, a chassis, a conventional rectangular shaped truck box structure being pivotally mounted on the chassis for pivoting movement between lowered transport and elevating unloading positions, a rectangular shaped tailgate structure pivotally mounted at its upper edge portion to the rear upper end portion of the truck box structure for swinging movement of the tailgate structure between closed and open positions,

a control system for variably controlling and monitoring the position of the tailgate structure during unloading of material within the truck box, said control system comprising an actuator unit, means mounting said actuator unit on one of said truck box and tailgate structures, means operatively connected to the actuator unit for engaging the other of said truck box and tailgate structures and cooperating with said actuator unit to selectively control the position of the tailgate structure as the tailgate structure moves between closed and open positions,

a positional feedback unit mounted on one of said truck box or tailgate structures, said positional feedback unit being operable for continuously sensing the position of the tailgate structure as it moves signals in response to the sensed movement of the tailgate structure,

a control unit mounted in the cab and being operable to control the actuator unit to thereby control the position of the tailgate structure during the unloading operation, the control unit receiving output signals from the positional feedback unit and converting such signals to positional information of the tailgate structure whereby the position of the tailgate structure may be continuously monitored by the operator and material within the truck box structure may be accurately metered as the material is unloaded from the truck.

9. The control system as defined in claim 8 wherein the actuator unit is mounted on the truck box structure, said engaging means comprising a latching member, a locking pin on the tailgate structure, said latching member being moved into and out of engaging relation with the locking pin, said latching member being shiftable in one direction for engaging and moving the tailgate structure in a closing direction, and being shiftable in another direction to permit movement of the tailgate structure in an opening direction.

10. The control system as defined in claim 9 wherein said actuator unit comprises a cylinder and piston actuator.

11. The control system as defined in claim 9 wherein said actuator unit comprises a rotary hydraulic motor.

12. The control system as defined in claim 9 wherein said latching member is of angular configuration.

13. The control system as defined in claim 8 wherein said control unit includes visual position means for continuously providing an operator with visually perceptible information which corresponds to the position of the tailgate structure.