Variable-geometry vessel for transport vehicle

• US 7,905,539 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2007
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jean-Claude D.E. Carli
• Original Assignee: Jean-Claude D.E. Carli
• Inventors: De Carli, Jean-Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): LYJAK, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US12/447,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20100060025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 296/26.13, 296/184.1, 298/13, 298/18, 239/657, 239/663
• US Class Current: 296/184.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/286 Loading buckets
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/027 movable

Abstract

Vessel (1) for a goods transport vehicle comprising two side walls (2) and a base (3), characterized in that it comprises means for the transverse movement (4) of the side walls (2) relative to the base (3). Advantageously, the means of transverse movement (4) are designed to move the bottom edges (5) of the side walls (2) in order to change the shape of the vessel from a basically rectangular shape to a basically U shape or vice versa. The present invention applies particularly to the transportation of bulk materials or made-up goods.

Claims

1. Vessel (1) for use on goods transport vehicles comprising two side walls (2) and a base (3), comprising:

means for transverse movement of the lower edges of said side walls (2) so as to tilt side walls (2) from a roughly perpendicular position to a position in which lower edges of side walls (2) are brought closer together and vice versa.

2. Vessel (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that said means for transverse movement (4) are placed roughly perpendicular relative to side walls (2).

3. Vessel (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that said means for transverse movement (4) include at least one rod (6) actuated by activation means (7).

4. Vessel (1) according to claim 3 characterised in that said activation means (7) are double-acting hydraulic cylinders (11).

5. Vessel (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that said means for transverse movement (4) coact with side walls (2) in their lower parts (5).

6. Vessel (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that said side walls (2) include in their lower part (5) a connecting element designed to coact with said transverse movement means (4).

7. Vessel (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that said transverse movement means (4) are located under the base (3) of said vessel (1).

8. Vessel (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that base (3) is provided with openings (9) to allow transverse movement of side walls (2) relative to base (3).

9. Vessel (1) according to claim 1 further comprising stakes (10) able to co-act in their upper parts with side walls (2) through tilting and sliding means.

10. Vessel (1) according to claim 9 characterised in that said tilting and sliding means consist of a hole (8) placed in the upper part of stake (10) able to receive a tenon situated in the upper part of side walls (2).

11. Vessel (1) according to claim 1 characterised in that each side wall (2) is moved by at least two transverse movement means (4) so as to distribute the displacement force.