Patent ID: 6048167
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: B62D,B65D

Abstract:
A method of collecting and transporting bulk material, comprising:providing a first vehicle for transporting bulk material;providing the first vehicle with an outlet at its rear end;using the first vehicle to collect bulk material;providing a second vehicle;providing the second vehicle with a bulk material compartment having a combined inlet/outlet at its rear end;expanding at least the rear portion of the bulk material compartment of the second vehicle laterally, to make it wider than its legal limit for road travel, and make its inlet/outlet wider than the outlet of the first vehicle;moving one of the vehicles relative to the other vehicle to bring them together and place the outlet of the first vehicle into registry with the inlet/outlet of the bulk material compartment of the second vehicle;transferring the bulk material out from the first vehicle, via its outlet into the second bulk material compartment of the second vehicle, via its combined inlet/outlet;following transfer of the bulk material from the first vehicle to the second bulk material compartment of the second vehicle, contracting the width of the bulk material compartment of the second vehicle back to a legal width for road travel;transporting the second vehicle to a receiving site for the bulk material; andat said receiving site, discharging the bulk material from the second bulk material receiving compartment via its inlet/outlet.