Abstract:
A land vehicle for transporting and distributing aggregate material has an opening formed in the floor portion of a cargo area. A funnel rotatably connected to a bottom side of the floor portion beneath the opening communicates with a receiving end of a boom having a conveyor. The boom is hingeably connected to the funnel and fully stowable beneath the floor portion of the chassis when not in use. During operation, the boom is rotated outward by the funnel and is extended upward. A flow of aggregate material enters the funnel through the opening in the floor portion and is transferred off the vehicle by the conveyor.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention generally relates to land vehicles, including but not limited to systems for unloading cargo carried by the vehicles. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Land vehicles are commonly used for transportation of aggregate materials. For example, materials such as seed for planting crops may be transported over large distances between a distributor and a client by trucks travelling on public highways. Typically, seed is packaged in bags arranged on pallets or contained within large plastic bins loaded onto trucks by forklifts for distribution to customers. When a customer purchases seed from a distributor, the packaged seed is typically loaded onto a truck or band (or semi) trailer for transportation. Once the seed arrives at its destination, the pallets or bins are unloaded from the truck for use in the field. 
         [0003]    After the seed has been unloaded, the aggregate seed material is taken out of its packaging and reloaded onto farm carts having conveyor delivery systems capable of gradually unloading the aggregate onto an advancing seed planting machine. One example of such a farm cart is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,044 titled “Seed Cart With Loading/Unloading Conveyor System,” issued to G. Baskerville on Mar. 30, 1999. 
         [0004]    This method of handling aggregate seed material and other similar materials, for example, grain or feed, is effective for transportation from the source to the user. However, the successive loading and unloading of the aggregate, as well as the removal of the aggregate from its packaging for transportation by cart to the site of use in the field, are both time consuming and wasteful (inasmuch as some of the aggregate is lost during the various loading and unloading procedures). 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The disclosure describes, in one aspect, a land vehicle capable of transporting and unloading aggregates via a conveyor system. The conveyor is included in a moveable boom that can be stowed completely within the side edges of the vehicle. The aggregate is typically packaged in bags or large bins loaded onto the vehicle with a forklift. The vehicle has an opening formed in the floor portion of a cargo area. A funnel rotatably connected to a bottom side of the floor portion, beneath the opening, communicates with a receiving end of a boom having a conveyor. The boom is hingeably connected to the funnel and stowable completely beneath the floor portion of the chassis when not in use. During operation, the boom is extended and a flow of aggregate material enters the funnel through the opening in the floor portion, where it is transferred off the vehicle by the conveyor. The delivery system, including the funnel and boom, is advantageously modular and suited for connection to any type of vehicle, including rail cars. Moreover, placement of the delivery system beneath the floor of the vehicle provides a flat work surface around the opening such that a multitude of packaging forms for the aggregate can be used. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, the disclosure provides a method for unloading aggregate material from a land vehicle. The method includes rotating a funnel rotatably connected to a floor portion of the vehicle about a vertical axis. The boom pivots with respect to the funnel to a desired material deposition location adjacent to the vehicle. The conveyor is activated and a flow of aggregate passes through an opening formed in the floor portion of the vehicle into the funnel, routed to a receiving end of the boom such that the flow of aggregate falls onto the conveyor, and transported along the conveyor to a delivery end of the boom. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a truck having a delivery system connected to the bottom of a band trailer in accordance with the disclosure. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a top view of a truck having a delivery system in accordance with the disclosure. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a partial breakaway view of a trailer having a delivery system at a service position in accordance with the disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a partial breakaway view of a trailer having a delivery system in a stowed position in accordance with the disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a partial cross section of a trailer from the side, the trailer having a delivery system and related mechanical components connected to the bottom of the floor of the trailer in accordance with the disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a diagram for a hydraulic circuit for use with the delivery system in accordance with the disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 7-9  are examples of different vehicles having delivery system(s) associated therewith in accordance with the disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    The present disclosure describes, in one aspect, a delivery system for use with a flat-bedded vehicle, for example, a truck, trailer, band trailer, or rail car. The delivery system is advantageously configured for directly unloading an aggregate material carried by the vehicle in a multitude of packaging configurations. The delivery system is well suited for applications requiring unloading of the aggregate by conveyor or, in general, gradual unloading of the aggregate while the vehicle is in motion. The embodiments described herein use an application for transporting aggregate seed for planting for illustration and by way of example but, as can be appreciated, the apparatus and methods described herein may be used for any other type of aggregate material. 
         [0015]    A side view of a truck  100  comprising a cab  102  and band trailer  104  is shown in  FIG. 1 , with a top view shown in  FIG. 2 . The band trailer  104  is enclosed by a shell  106  covering a floor portion  108 . The floor portion  108  is part of a frame  110  having a hinge  112  connected to the cab  102  and wheels  114 . The floor  108  has a top or deck side  116  enclosed by the shell  106 , and a bottom side  118 . The deck  116  is generally flat to allow for ingress of forklifts during loading. As can be appreciated, the truck  100  is suited for travel on public roads and highways and is capable of carrying cargo requiring protection from the weather or other road conditions. 
         [0016]    A delivery system  200  is connected on the bottom side  118  of the floor  108  between the wheels  114  and the hinge  112 . In general, the delivery system  200  may be connected anywhere along the bottom of the trailer  104  between features supporting or dragging the trailer along. The delivery system includes two main portions, a funnel portion  202  connected to the trailer  104 , and a boom portion  204  pivotally connected to the funnel  202 . As can be seen in the partial cutaway of  FIG. 2 , the funnel  202  is positioned below an opening  206  formed in the floor  108 . The opening is located on one side of the centerline  208  of the truck  100 , which extends along the center of the vehicle. The position of the funnel  202  closer to the side of the trailer  204  allows for greater reach of the boom  204  during operation. As shown by the dashed line semicircle, the boom  204  can swing out from the side of the trailer  104  when an operator so desires, and deposit aggregate material carried by the truck  100  anywhere within an area covering a segment of a circle having a radius, R, where R is the length of the boom  204 . The boom  204  can also pivot about the funnel  202  such that the service range of the boom  204  might be reduced as the boom  204  is tilted upward. The boom  204  can be swung completely beneath the trailer  104  such that no portion thereof extends beyond the side of the trailer  104  when not in use. 
         [0017]    A partial breakaway of the trailer  104 , from a rear perspective, is shown in  FIG. 3 . The opening  206  in the floor  108  may include a grate  302  to protect against falling objects. An annular flange  304  having a ledge  308  is connected to the bottom side  118  of the floor  108  surrounding the opening  206 . The ledge  308  extends perpendicularly therefrom and surrounds the opening  206 . The funnel  202  forms a rim  310  around a mouth opening  311  corresponding to the ledge  308 . A bushing ring  312  is disposed over the ledge  308 , and a clamp or collar  314 , having a “C” cross section, encircles the ledge  308 , rim  310 , and bushing ring  312 . The collar  314  may comprise two halves, each half having a semicircular outline, that are hinged on one side thereof and that have a clamping mechanism securing them together on another side thereof, such that, when connected, the two halves of the collar  314  extend substantially around the rim  310 . As can be appreciated, other configurations are possible for slideably connecting the ledge  308  with the rim  310 , for example, at least three angled elements symmetrically disposed around the periphery of the rim  310  and connected to the trailer  104  may both isostatically support the funnel  204  and allow for sliding motion between the rim  310  and ledge  308 . With the clamp  314  installed, the funnel  204  is rotatably connected to the ledge  308  of the annular flange  304 . The bushing ring  312  provides a sliding interface to reduce friction between the clamp  314  and the ledge  308 . 
         [0018]    The funnel  204  is advantageously offset to permit a greater range of tilting motion and improved reach for the boom  204  relative to the sides of the band trailer  104 . More specifically, a centerline, A, of the mouth opening  311  is offset from a centerline, B, of the spout opening  321  by a distance, C. As can be appreciated, the offset distance C will bring the spout opening  321  of the funnel  204  closer to the edge of the trailer  104  when the funnel  204  is rotated. By positioning the spout opening  321  closer to the edge of the trailer  104 , the range of motion of the boom  204  is increased, and the distance within which the boom  204  may extend and deposit material is increased. 
         [0019]    The boom  204 , shown here in cross section, includes a support structure  316  rotatably supporting rollers  318  on either end. One of the rollers  318  may be free rolling and the other may be powered by a motor (not shown). In the embodiment presented, the roller  318 A disposed on the distant end of the boom  204  is connected to a motor acting to rotate the roller  318 A and advance a conveyor belt  320 . The conveyor  320  is capable of motion along the length of the boom  204  and may be any type of conveyor belt known. Selection of an appropriate type should be made according to the type of aggregate material being transferred; in the case of aggregate seed material, for example, a conveyor made of nylon and/or wire reinforced rubber belting material having “scoop” protrusions  322  formed along its length may be selected to promote efficient motion of the aggregate along the boom  204 . 
         [0020]    A pair of support hinges  324  pivotally connect the support structure  316  of the boom  204  to the funnel  202  such that the conveyor belt  320  is located beneath the spout opening  321  of the funnel  202 . Each support hinge  324  advantageously allows pivoting motion of the boom  204  with respect to the funnel  202 . Motion of the boom  204  is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder  326  connected between the funnel  202  and the support structure  316 . The cylinder  326  is one of many examples of linear actuators suitable for pivoting the boom  204 . Other examples of linear actuators include pneumatic pistons, electrical solenoids, rack and pinion drives, and so forth. In the embodiment shown, the cylinder  326  receives hydraulic fluid under pressure from a fluid supply line or hose  328 , which acts to selectively extend or retract the cylinder  326 . As the cylinder  326  extends, the support structure  316  pivots around the support hinges  324  to raise the boom  204 . Conversely, retraction of the cylinder  326  lowers the boom  204 . 
         [0021]    A partial breakaway of the trailer  104  showing the boom  204  in a stowed position beneath the floor  108  is shown in  FIG. 4 . One advantage of mounting the delivery system  200  beneath an otherwise typical band trailer is the ability to stow the boom  204  fully below the bottom side  118  of the floor  108 . While the boom  204  is in the stowed position, no portion of the delivery system  200  extends out beyond the edge of the floor  108 , allowing the trailer  104  to travel safely and legally on public roads and highways. 
         [0022]    More specifically, storage of the boom  204  under the trailer  104  may be accomplished by retracting the cylinder  326  to an appropriate extent, bringing the boom  204  in a generally horizontal position. Subsequently, the funnel  202  may be rotated such that the boom  204  swings under the floor  108  in a position generally parallel to the centerline  208  of the trailer  104  (the centerline visible in  FIG. 2 ). Rotation of the funnel  202  may be accomplished by any suitable arrangement. In the embodiment described, a hydraulic motor  402  is connected via a bracket (not shown) to the bottom side  118  of the floor  108 . A rotating sprocket  404  connected to the motor  402  is engaged or meshed with a drive chain  406  engaging and surrounding the funnel  202 . Actuation of the motor  402  in either direction rotates the sprocket  404 , which pulls the chain  406  in one direction. The chain  406  is coupled to the funnel  202  such that the entire assembly, which broadly includes the offset funnel  202  and boom  204 , rotates with respect to a vertical plane  408  that includes the centerlines A and B passing through the mouth opening  311  and spout opening  321  of the offset funnel  204 . In the embodiment shown, rotation of the offset funnel  204  occurs about the centerline A passing through the center of the mouth opening  311  but other configurations are possible. Moreover, a chain tensioning device  410  is arranged to maintain tension in the chain  406  and to keep the chain  406  engaged with the sprocket  404 . The device  410  is capable of taking up slack in the chain  406  that is created due to rotation of the irregular or offset-cone shape of the funnel  204 . 
         [0023]    A partial cross section of the trailer  104  is shown in the segmented view of  FIG. 5 . In this view, the mechanical components and controls providing the power to move the various actuators can be seen. A platform  502  is connected to the bottom side  118  of the floor  108 . The platform  502  may be bolted with brackets or alternatively welded onto the trailer  104 . A small engine or electric motor  504  connected to a hydraulic pump  506  pumps hydraulic fluid from a reservoir  508 . As can be appreciated, any suitable power transmission device may be used instead of a hydraulic system, for example, a pneumatic or mechanical arrangement may be used in conjunction with appropriate actuators. In the illustrated embodiment, the pump  506  pumps hydraulic fluid to an arrangement of control valves  510 . 
         [0024]    The control valves  510  are configured for selectively supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to various actuators in the delivery system  202 . A first or lift control valve  512  may be arranged for two-way gating of pressurized fluid flow to and from the hydraulic cylinder  326  via first and second hoses  514  and  516 . During operation, the lift control valve  512  may selectively connect either side of a piston included in the cylinder  326  with either a source of fluid or a drain, causing the piston to move within the cylinder  326  in the desired direction. In a similar fashion, a second or steer control valve  518  may selectively gate a pressurized fluid flow through the hydraulic motor  402  via third and fourth hoses  520  and  522  to cause rotation of the funnel  202  in either direction. Finally, a third or supply control valve  524  may selectively gate a flow of pressurized fluid to a conveyor motor (not shown) operating to sustain rotation of the conveyor belt (described above and shown in  FIG. 3 ). Each of the control valves  510  may be mechanically or electrically controlled. In the case of electrical control, the position or setting of one or more of the control valves  510  may be actuated by an electrical actuator, for example, an electrical solenoid, operated by electrical switches. As can be appreciated, the control valve arrangement  510  may be positioned anywhere on the band trailer or even within the cab of the truck, or even by remote control in the case of electrical actuation of the valves, to permit safe and effective operation of the delivery system  200  by the user. 
         [0025]    A hydraulic diagram for a system  600  is shown in  FIG. 6 . The system  600  is one example for a hydraulic system suited for operating the delivery system  200 . The system  600  includes an engine or motor  602  operably connected to a pump  604 . The pump  604  is arranged to pump fluid from a reservoir  606  to a three-position four-port control valve  608 . The control valve  608  has an inlet port  610  and three outlet ports. A user may select to route the flow of fluid from the pump  604  into one of a first outlet port  612 , a second outlet port  614 , or a third outlet port  616 , while blocking flow to the two unselected ports, by simply moving the control valve  608  to a desired position either by mechanical or electrical actuation devices. 
         [0026]    The first outlet port  612  of the control valve  608  is connected to a two-position four-port lift control valve  618 . The lift control valve  618  is arranged to fluidly connect either side of a lift piston  620  with the fluid supply from the control valve  608  and a drain to the reservoir  606 . A user can selectively raise or lower the lift piston  620  by appropriately setting the lift control valve  618  either mechanically or electrically to a desired position. An optional needle valve  622  may be connected between the lift control valve  618  and the piston  620  to permit fine control and unpowered lowering of the piston  620 . 
         [0027]    The second outlet port  614  of the control valve  608  is connected to a two-position two-port supply control valve  624 . The supply control valve  624  selectively connects a hydraulic motor  626  operating the conveyor, as described above, to a flow of actuating fluid from the pump  604 . Fluid passing through the conveyor motor  626  operates to rotate the conveyor before returning to the reservoir  606 . 
         [0028]    The third outlet port  616  of the control valve  608  is connected to a two-position four-port control valve  628 . The control valve  628  is arranged to fluidly connect either side of a reversible hydraulic motor  630  with the fluid supply from the control valve  608  and a drain to the reservoir  606 . A user can selectively cause the motor  630  to reorient the funnel with respect to the truck, as described above, by appropriately setting the position of the control valve  628  either mechanically or electrically. 
         [0029]    The delivery system for unloading aggregate material from a truck finds special advantage when used for the transportation and delivery of aggregates between a source or distributor directly to the location of use by the customer. For example, transporting aggregate seed material from a source or distributor to a farm typically involves travel over public roads and highways. Thereafter, the customer has to unpack the seed and subsequently reload the seed into a field cart used for gradually depositing the seed into a planter machine. One example of a planting machine is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,584,322 titled “Mechanized Seed Distributor,” issued on Feb. 5, 1952 to H. J. Baldwin et al. This patent describes a mechanical planting vehicle coupled to a truck or cart. The cart gradually transfers the seedling material via conveyor to the vehicle spreading and planting the seedlings across the field. In contrast, use of the present system is efficient in labor and time because the truck carrying the seed to the customer can also be used in place of a seed cart to supply the aggregate seed material directly to a mechanical planter. Thus, the aggregate seed need only be loaded onto a truck once, at the distributor, and be off loaded directly at the point of use by the customer. Moreover, use of the band trailer is flexible in as much as different packaging arrangements for the seed material can be used with ease. 
         [0030]    Returning now to  FIG. 5 , the trailer  104  is shown in two potential modes of operation during dispensation of aggregate seed material at the customer&#39;s location. Two alternative seed packaging configurations are shown for illustration. In a first configuration, aggregate seed material  526  is packaged in a large, typically plastic, bin  528 . The bin  528  has an opening  530  positioned above the opening  206  in the floor  108  of the trailer  104 . During off-loading of the aggregate  526 , the trailer  104  may be in motion adjacent to a planting machine (not shown) and the boom  202  positioned such that aggregate falling out of the bin  528  passes through the grate  302  and opening  206  into the funnel  202 . From the funnel  202 , the aggregate  526  is routed onto the conveyor within the boom  202  and transported directly into a receiver opening of the planting machine. This arrangement is advantageously enabled by the positioning of the bin  528  over the opening  206  while the bin  528  rests on the flat floor  108  of the trailer  104 . Alternatively, in cases when aggregate seed material  530  is packaged in bags  532  loaded into the trailer  104  arranged on pallets  534 , a worker  536  may manually open the bags  532  to retrieve the aggregate  530 . The bags  532  can simply be emptied onto the floor  108  and pushed into the opening  206  and onto the conveyor. 
         [0031]    As can be appreciated, the modular nature of the delivery system  200  lends itself for attachment to any type of truck or other vehicles having cargo transportation areas with generally flat floors. Exemplary implementations of the delivery system  200  for use with land and rail vehicles are shown in  FIG. 7 ,  FIG. 8 , and  FIG. 9 . Starting with  FIG. 7 , a truck  700  includes a cab  702  connected with a band trailer  704 , which in turn is connected to a trailer  706 . Each trailer  704  and  706  is equipped with a delivery system  200  as described above. Because of the flexibility of attachment of the delivery system and associated mechanical components to any flat floor surface of a vehicle, the truck  700  is advantageously able to service more than one customer for any single trip from the distributor. A customer may, for example, receive the trailer  704  at the customer&#39;s facility and use it to not only temporarily store the aggregate, but can also attach the trailer  704  to any other form of motive conveyance for use in the field in conjunction with a seed planting machine. 
         [0032]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 8 , the delivery system  200  is shown attached to a typical box truck  800 . The truck  800  includes a cab  802  connected to a box  804  disposed on a single frame  806 . The truck  800  may advantageously be used for short hauls of aggregate to customers, and may even be a truck belonging to a customer temporarily fitted with the delivery system  200 . In this scenario, a distributor or seller of aggregate material may lease or lend modular units of delivery systems  200  for use by customers desiring to use their own trucks to transport the aggregate to their facilities. When a customer arrives at the distributor&#39;s facility in a truck optionally having a preformed opening in the floor of the cargo area, a distributor may simply load the truck with the aggregate material cargo and retrofit the delivery system onto the truck, thus avoiding the transportation costs or assets associated with delivery of the product to the customers. 
         [0033]    In the embodiment of  FIG. 9 , the delivery system  200  is shown attached to a rail car  900 . The rail car  900  is shown as a typical boxcar suited for transportation and delivery of aggregate material in containers or pallets alongside a track. In applications requiring delivery of aggregate material by rail to installations not suited for that purpose, the rail car  900  is advantageously capable of carrying the aggregate material to its destination and automatically depositing it in any location adjacent to the track efficiently and expeditiously. 
         [0034]    All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
         [0035]    The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0036]    Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.