Patent ID: 8152216
Filing Date: 2012-04-10
Classification: B60J

Abstract:
1. A vehicle-mountable self-contained independent cover operating system for operating a retractable cover with respect to an open top container or truck body mounted on a vehicle to cover and uncover the container or truck body comprising: (a) a flexible cover configured to cover an open top transport container of interest, the cover having a first end attached to a retracting storage source forming a roll thereon when said storage source is retracted, and a free end; (b) a support structure designed to be mounted on the vehicle at one end of the container or truck body to be covered, as located on said vehicle, said support structure having a base section and a mast section, the height of the mast section being adjustable with respect to the base section and a lift mechanism fixed with respect to the base section and operable to adjust the height of the mast section, said mast section having a cover support for the cover as retracted and said mast being connected to the free end of said cover; (c) a deployment mechanism for extending and retracting said flexible cover, said deployment mechanism further comprising a pair of spaced pivotally mounted articulated arms, one arm disposed on each side of a container to be covered, a drive mechanism connected to pivot each of said arms, each arm having two segments sequentially connected at a fixed angle, one of which includes an extendable member and so is of adjustable length and which includes a mechanical locking mechanism that also has a sliding wedge element for engaging and locking said extendable member, each of said arms having a free end generally connected such that pivoting said arms moves said storage source to extend and retract said flexible cover; (d) a self-contained hydraulic system comprising hydraulic fluid reservoir and hydraulic pump for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to operate the system; (e) a control system for controlling the operation of the system wherein said control system comprises an arm lock control that further comprises an electric interlock that controls the operation of said fluid-operated arm length locking mechanisms to lock said mechanism during deployment and retraction of said flexible cover; (f) an electrical connecting element for connecting said independent cover operating system to a source of electric power; and (g) wherein said independent cover operating system is self-contained such that it needs only to be connected to said source of electric power so that the system can be mounted on an existing vehicle chassis without modification of existing vehicle systems.