Patent ID: 8182046
Filing Date: 2012-05-22
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
1. A securing mechanism for a gate of a bottom dump trailer, the securing mechanism comprising: a pin adapted to be coupled to a first door of the gate of the bottom dump trailer; a latch adapted to be rotatably coupled to a second door of the gate of the bottom dump trailer, the latch movable into a plurality of positions comprising a locked position and an unlocked position, the latch comprising a notch adapted to receive the pin when the latch is in the locked position; an electrical actuator adapted to use electrical energy to move the latch between the locked position and the unlocked position, the electrical actuator further adapted to move, while the gate is closed, the latch into the locked position to engage the notch to the pin, the gate restrained from opening when the notch and the pin are engaged; a latch pin coupled to the second door of the gate of the bottom dump trailer, wherein the latch is rotatably coupled to the latch pin; a pin support coupled to the first door of the gate of the bottom dump trailer, the pin coupled to the first door of the gate via the pin support; and a latch pin support coupled to the second door of the gate of the bottom dump trailer, the latch pin coupled to the second door of the gate via the latch pin support; wherein the pin support comprises a first inner plate and a first outer plate, the pin support coupled to the first door of the gate via the first inner plate, the pin comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the pin coupled to the first inner plate and the second end of the pin coupled to the first outer plate such that the pin is disposed between the first inner plate and the first outer plate; and wherein the latch pin support comprises a second inner plate and a second outer plate, the latch pin support coupled to the second door of the gate via the second inner plate, the latch pin comprising a first end and a second end, the first end of the latch pin coupled to the second inner plate and the second end of the latch pin is coupled to the second outer plate such that the latch pin is disposed between the second inner plate and the second outer plate.