Live bottom trailer effectively having extendible rear end via outward pivoting doors
First Claim
1. A material transport apparatus adapted to be mobilized by a vehicle for transporting material, comprising:
- a hopper structure supported on wheels such that the hopper is adapted to be mobile, the hopper structure including vertically extending sidewalls extending rearwardly from a front toward a discharge area, the hopper structure including an open top defined generally between the front, the discharge area, and the sidewalls;
a conveyor positioned generally at the bottom of the hopper structure between the front, the sidewalls and the discharge area, operative to convey material from the hopper structure toward the discharge area; and
a pair of horizontally outwardly pivoting doors mounted to the hopper structure, the doors swinging horizontally outwardly and inwardly relative to each other to correspondingly open and close the discharge area; and
a pair of actuators, one operatively connected to each door to pivot the doors horizontally inwardly and outwardly.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A live bottom trailer or vehicle having horizontally outwardly pivoting doors as the tailgate. The live bottom trailer includes a hopper having an opening top with sidewalls converging towards and endless conveyor. The endless conveyor is operable to mobilize material in the hopper rearwardly toward the rear discharge area of the trailer. A pair of doors are hinged to the hopper sidewalls and pivot outwardly away from each other. The doors can be positioned in a rearward projecting manner such that they direct material more deeply into an asphalt paver. The doors are independently controlled by pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders to allow the material to be directed left or right. The mechanical linkage which connects the cylinders to the doors has an over center position such that the doors stay locked even if pressure in the cylinders is lost when material in the hopper is exerting rearward force on the doors of the hopper.
46 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A material transport apparatus adapted to be mobilized by a vehicle for transporting material, comprising:
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a hopper structure supported on wheels such that the hopper is adapted to be mobile, the hopper structure including vertically extending sidewalls extending rearwardly from a front toward a discharge area, the hopper structure including an open top defined generally between the front, the discharge area, and the sidewalls;
a conveyor positioned generally at the bottom of the hopper structure between the front, the sidewalls and the discharge area, operative to convey material from the hopper structure toward the discharge area; and
a pair of horizontally outwardly pivoting doors mounted to the hopper structure, the doors swinging horizontally outwardly and inwardly relative to each other to correspondingly open and close the discharge area; and
a pair of actuators, one operatively connected to each door to pivot the doors horizontally inwardly and outwardly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A material transport apparatus adapted to be mobilized by a vehicle for transporting material, comprising:
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a hopper structure supported on wheels such that the hopper is adapted to be mobile, the hopper structure including an open top for receiving material dumped therethrough and spaced apart sidewalls converging inwardly toward an open bottom, the sidewall extending rearwardly from a front end to a first rear end;
an endless conveyor positioned generally in the open bottom of the hopper comprising an endless belt entrained around spaced apart sprockets, the endless belt being operative to convey material from the hopper structure to the rear end of the hopper structure; and
a pair of extensions, one for each side wall, the extensions being positionable to project rearwardly from the respective sidewalls and the first rear end to establish a second extended rear end located rearwardly of the first rear end such that the discharge area is effectively located further rearwardly. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of discharging material from the rear end of a live bottom material transport apparatus, the transport apparatus comprising a hopper structure carrying loose material and supported on wheels such that the hopper is adapted to be mobile, the hopper including a conveyor adapted to transport material from the hopper toward a discharge area of the hopper, comprising:
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providing a pair of doors at the discharge area, each door being hinged to the hopper such that the doors pivot horizontally outwardly away from one another, the doors having a closed position in which the discharge area is closed;
pivoting the doors horizontally outwardly away from each other to a position in which the discharge area has an discharge opening;
operating the conveyor to expel material rearwardly through the discharge opening; and
maintaining the doors in a position in which the doors project rearwardly from the discharge area in a position to engage and direct the expelled material further rearwardly from the discharge area. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
closing the doors such that a load is retained in the hopper; and
automatically locking the doors closed upon the doors reaching the closed position.
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22. The method of claim 21 wherein a mechanical linkage connects the doors to the actuator, and wherein the step of automatically locking comprises moving the mechanical linkage to an over center position during the step of closing.
Specification