Abstract:
A side-dumping trailer in which the load is dumped through one side of the trailer box by opening one side of the trailer box and subsequently tilting the entire box. The side is opened by moving the entire vertical side of the trailer box upwardly away from the load on hinged arms. A method of unloading a particulate load from a truck and side-dumping trailer by jack-knifing the trailer, opening the side of the trailer box, tilting the entire trailer box and then driving the truck forward.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims priority from U.S. provisional application No. 60/533,223 filed Dec. 31, 2003. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The invention relates to the field of vehicles for hauling materials, and more particularly to vehicles for hauling particulate material having side dumping facility. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Side dumping trailers have previously been used, particularly in mining and agricultural applications for ease of unloading certain materials especially particulate materials. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,214 Rogers. Typically the dump box is open at the top for loading and unloading and the dump box is pivoted about a longitudinal axis below the box to dump the material over the top side edge of the dump box. A problem with such configurations is that in order to fully dump materials the side walls of the dump box are tapered rather than extending vertically from the bottom surface. The potential volume of the load is therefore reduced. Another problem with previous side dumping trailers is that the materials cannot be dumped far enough away from the side of the trailer to avoid interference with the movement of the trailer. 
   For applications such as transporting loads such as hog fuel or wood chips which are high volume but relatively light, it is important to maximize the volume of the trailer to make transport of such material economical while allowing for ease of loading and unloading. Live floors can be used for such applications but cannot be used with B-train trailers. There is therefore a need for a high-volume side dumping trailer for particulate materials. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The invention provides a side-dumping trailer in which the load is dumped through one side of the trailer box by opening one side of the trailer box and subsequently tilting the entire box. According to one aspect of the invention the side is opened by moving the entire vertical side of the trailer box upwardly away from the load. According to a further aspect the lower edge of the opening side has sealing latches to secure the side in the closed position during transport. The invention also provides a method of unloading a particulate load from a truck and side-dumping trailer by jack-knifing the trailer, opening the side of the trailer box, tilting the entire trailer box and then driving the truck forward. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     In drawings which disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention: 
       FIG. 1  is a side elevation view of a truck and trailer incorporating the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an end view of the trailer shown in  FIG. 1  incorporating the invention with the hinged side in the closed position; 
       FIG. 3  is an end view of the trailer shown in  FIG. 1  incorporating the invention with the hinged side in the open position, with intermediate positions shown in dotted outline; 
       FIG. 4  is an end view of the trailer shown in  FIG. 1  incorporating the invention with the hinged side in the open position, and the box tilted for dumping; 
       FIG. 5  is an end perspective view of the trailer shown in  FIG. 1  incorporating the invention with the hinged side in the open position; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the trailer shown in  FIG. 1  incorporating the invention with the hinged side in the open position and the truck jack-knifed for unloading; 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the trailer shown in  FIG. 1  incorporating the invention with the hinged side in the open position and the truck jack-knifed for unloading and the box tilted for dumping; 
       FIG. 8  is a front elevation view of the lower latch for the hinged side of the invention; and 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the lower latch for the hinged side of the invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION 
   Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, the invention may be practiced without these particulars. In other instances, well known elements have not been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative, rather than a restrictive, sense. 
   With reference to  FIG. 1 , a truck  10  has a B-train trailer  12  comprising two side-dumping trailers  14  according to the invention. While a preferred embodiment of the invention is incorporated into two trailers such as A-train or B-train to maximize the volume, the invention will also have application to simple trailers, full trailers or semi-trailers with one trailer. In the preferred form of the invention the trailers  14  have “possum” floors  16  to maximize the volume. Each trailer has top  18 , front end wall  20 , rear end wall  22 , closed side wall  23  and opening side wall  24 . Preferably front end wall  20 , rear end wall  22 , and closed side wall  23  are formed of hollow-core aluminum extrusion panels. Opening side wall  24  is provided with more rigidity while retaining lightness by constructing it as a composite of high tensile steel bolted to aluminum. Top  18  may be open but preferably is closed by a mesh or solid tarp  80  to prevent material from blowing out. The tarp may be a standard roll tarp as used on chip vans and trailers or a flip tarp or tarp frame. 
   With reference to  FIGS. 2–5 , side hinged wall  24  is supported at both ends on lower hinged arms  30  and upper hinged arms  32 . Lower arms  30  are pivotally connected to the frames of end walls  22  at  34  and are pivotally connected to the edges of side  24  at  36 . Hydraulic cylinders  38  are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the trailer frame at  40  and are pivotally connected to arms  30  at  42 . Upper arms  32  are pivotally connected to the frame of end walls  22  at  44  and are pivotally connected to the edges of side  24  at  46 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , activation of hydraulic cylinders  38  raises side  24  from the closed position shown in  FIG. 2  to the open position shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 4 , the trailer box  15  is hingedly connected at both ends at  50  to trailer end frames  52 . The hinges  50  are formed in steel outriggers  51  secured to the frames  52 . Hydraulic cylinders  54  are pivotally connected at their lower ends  56  to the trailer end frames  52  and are pivotally connected to the trailer box  15  at  58 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , activation of hydraulic cylinders  54  tilts box  15  from the transport position shown in  FIG. 2  to the dumping position shown in  FIG. 4 . The preferred maximum angle A of tilt for dumping is about 50 degrees from horizontal. 
   When hinged sides  24  are in the closed position for transport, they are tightly sealed along their lower edges by a number of powered paddle latches  60  as shown in  FIG. 8–9 . Preferably about 5 to 7 of these paddle latches  60  are spaced along lower edge  25 , mounted on lower box rail  62 .  FIGS. 8 and 9  show the latch in the closed position, with the open position shown in  FIG. 9  in dotted outline. Pad  70  is hinged on arms  72 . Arms  72  are hingedly connected to intermediate arm  74  which in turn is hingedly connected to rod  66  and is hinged on support  76 . A pneumatic or hydraulically powered cylinder  64  extends rod  66  to open the latch to free side  24  for opening. When power is released from cylinder  64 , spring  65  withdraws rod  66  and pad  70  is pressed tightly against lower edge  25 . 
   Each trailer box  15  is loaded with hydraulic cylinders  38  and  54  in retracted positions, whereby side  24  is closed, and latches  60  are closed against lower edge  25 . Where a tarp is used to cover top  14 , in the case of a roll tarp the tarp is rolled open, or in the case of a frame tarp the frame is opened. The load of particulate material then flows into the interior of box  15  through top  14  to the desired level and the tarp is closed and tied down with restraining devices if applicable. The retraction of cylinders  54  will secure the boxes  15  in horizontal position for transport, although they may also be provided with automatic locking valves to lock the boxes  15  in horizontal position. To unload the trailers, preferably a remote control is used to activate the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders. Where there is not an elevated dumping station, the driver jack-knifes the truck as shown in  FIG. 6 . Cylinders  64  are remotely activated to release paddle latches  60  and free sides  24 . Cylinders  38  are then activated to open sides  24  to the fully open position as shown in  FIG. 6 . Cylinders  54  are then remotely activated to tilt boxes  15  and dump the load as shown in  FIG. 7 . The truck driver then moves the truck forward away from the dumped load  90  until fully dumped. Cylinders  54 ,  38  and  64  are then retracted to fully close the boxes  15  and the dump has been completed. 
   To facilitate the flow of particulate material during unloading, in the preferred embodiment the length of closed side  23  is about 4 inches shorter than side  24  to give the interior a slightly wedge shape. 
   As will be apparent to those skilled in the art in the light of the foregoing disclosure, many alterations and modifications are possible in the practice of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.