Patent ID: 8196362
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: E05F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for remotely opening and closing a storage bin hatch cover, comprising: (a) a storage bin having side walls, a floor and a roof, a hatch in the roof, the hatch including a hatch opening, a hatch opening rim disposed around the hatch opening and a hatch cover having a depending hatch cover flange that is adapted to fit around the hatch opening rim, (c) a lift member secured to the hatch cover and extending on opposite sides of the hatch cover, (d) a pivot assembly including an elongated pivot member that is pivotably mounted at least indirectly to the roof of the storage bin at a location that is spaced away from the hatch, the pivot member operable for pivoting between a first position and a second position, a crank arm fixed to the pivot member and two opposite lift arms fixed to the pivot member toward the opposite ends thereof, the pivot assembly and the lift arms arranged such that when the pivot member is in the first position, the lift arms are positioned under the opposite ends of the lift member such that when the pivot member is rotated toward the second position, the lift arms contact the lift member and raise the lift member and the storage bin hatch cover such that the lower edge of the hatch cover flange adjacent to the pivot assembly is raised above the upper edge of the rim surrounding the hatch opening, a first cable attached to the crank arm, the crank arm so arranged and the first cable extending sufficiently to be accessible to an operator standing near the floor of the bin so that the operator may rotate the pivot member from the first position to the second position by pulling the first cable thereby causing the storage bin hatch cover to be lifted from the closed position to the raised position, (e) at least one rear pulley mounted to the roof of the storage bin at a location that is spaced away from the hatch and opposite from the pivot assembly, (f) a second cable attached to the hatch cover at a location generally opposite the lift member, the second cable running through the at least one rear pulley and running to a location proximate to the end of the first cable so as to also be accessible by the operator so that the operator may pull on the second cable to cause sliding movement of the hatch cover from the raised position and an open position wherein at least a portion of the storage bin hatch opening is exposed, (g) a third cable at least indirectly attached to the bin hatch cover at a location generally opposite the attachment location of the second cable, the third cable running to a location proximate to the ends of the first and second cables so as to be accessible by the operator so that the operator may pull the third cable to cause sliding movement of the hatch cover from the open position to the closed position.