Patent ID: 6499808
Filing Date: 2002-12-31
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
A dump vehicle, comprising:a wheeled frame including a cab adapted to receive an operator; a dump bed pivotally mounted on the frame, wherein the bed is adapted to hold a volume of material and includes a floor, a front wall, spaced-apart side walls, and a rear opening through which the material can be discharged from the bed; a hydraulic lift system adapted to selectively raise and lower the bed at an angle relative to the frame between a generally horizontal position and an inclined position, in which the bed is inclined at a downward angle from the front wall toward the rear opening; a pair of spaced-apart supports, wherein each support includes a hinge mechanism that is selectively positionable within a defined range of positions relative to the floor of the bed; a gate having a pair of lateral edges and a lower edge, wherein the gate is pivotally coupled to the supports by the hinge mechanisms and is selectively positionable within a range of positions that includes a closed position, in which the gate blocks the rear opening to prevent discharge of material from the bed through the rear opening; and a gate control mechanism connected to the gate, wherein the gate control mechanism selectively controls the position of the gate to raise the gate from the closed position to allow metered discharge of material, or to release the gate from the closed position so that the gate may pivot away from the closed position to allow unmetered discharge of material, wherein the gate control mechanism includes a lift mechanism adapted to selectively raise the gate from the closed position to allow metered discharge of material through a discharge opening defined between the lower edge of the gate and the floor of the bed, and further wherein the gate control mechanism includes a release mechanism adapted to release the gate from the closed position so that the gate may pivot away from the closed position.