Agricultural dump cart

An agricultural dump cart including a frame, ground conveyance devices carrying the frame, a dump bed, a dumping mechanism and at least one live wall mechanism. The dump bed is coupled to and carried by the frame, and the dump bed has a non-dumping position and a dumping position. The dumping mechanism is connected to the dump bed, and is configured to move the dump bed between the non-dumping position and the dumping position. The at least one live wall mechanism is operatively located along a side of the dump bed, and is generally horizontal when the dump bed is in the dumping position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a non-provisional application based upon U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/477,028, entitled “DUMP CART WITH LIVE WALL FLOOR”, filed Mar. 27, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to agricultural crop material hauling devices, and, more particularly, to agricultural dump carts.

2. Description of the Related Art

Dump carts are well-known and commercialized, especially in the farming community. The dump carts, which may be towed by a vehicle such as a tractor, are often used in fields that are soft and muddy that require transfer trucks to stay at field ends and driveways. The carts are filled by a harvester in the field, then transported to the waiting transfer truck where the product being harvested is transferred into the transfer truck. Time is of the essence in harvesting some farm crops and it would be to the advantage of the farmer if he could more quickly harvest a certain crop and get it transferred to transfer vehicles.

One expeditious method for transferring crops from a harvester is to provide transfer of the crop from the harvester to a dump cart and then from the dump cart to a transfer truck. With prior art dump carts, it takes extra time to transfer the crop from the dump cart to a transfer truck, and it is very difficult to fill a transfer truck without spilling or overloading. Due to the challenges of filling transfer trucks completely, without spillage, many farmers use auger-type grain carts to transfer grain crops; however, they are slower to unload, and can damage grain resulting in deductions when sold. Auger-type carts can only be used for grain crops, thus requiring multiple type of carts if forage and root type of crops are harvested.

Dump carts of prior art, by design, have been limited in size and capacity which require two cart loads to fill most transfer trucks. The design of the invention has allowed for the capacity to be such that one cart load will fill most transfer trucks. Half as many trips from the harvester to the transfer trucks reduces labor and equipment costs because One cart and tractor can do the work of two. Fewer trips up and down the fields will also reduce compaction on the soil in the field which can help the subsequent crops.

Side dump trailers/carts are well known implements used in construction and agriculture. Some examples of side dump trailers, for transporting and dumping materials are shown in the following patents.

In U.S. Pat. No. 2,848,275, Armington describes a frameless side dump trailer, having a cart type body with a draw bar for attachment to a tractor and a rear extension member mounted to the rear wheels. The body is supported on each end by pairs of interlocking brackets with each bracket rotatably connected to the lower supporting parts. The trailer body is emptied by attaching a hoist or crane to the middle of one side of the body using a chain, and elevating the connected side with the hoist or crane. The rotational pins are permanently connected to the brackets and supports.

Rempel et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,038, disclose a power dump wagon with a conventional four-wheeled chassis with a triangular support frame (FIG. 4), holding a wagon box (FIG. 5). The box is pivotally fastened at one side to the triangular support frame at about ⅔ the height of the box. A piston and cylinder assembly is fastened between one edge of the chassis and near the center line of the box, at about ⅔ the box height. Extending the cylinder assembly pivots and empties the box. A conveyor in one side of the box assists in emptying the contents of the box. The box pivots only to one side of the chassis.

Bailey, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,494,798, discloses a dual side-dumping tractor and trailer assembly having a container bed supported on front and rear bunk assemblies. Hydraulic cylinders are fastened between each bunk assembly and one upper end of the container bed. The bunk assemblies are rotatably mounted to the trailer chassis (FIG. 7). Releasable hinge-mounted assemblies are positioned at each end of the bunks and are operated by cables. Releasing the hinges on one side of the trailer and extending the hydraulic cylinders dumps the contents of the container bed 10 (FIG. 5).

U.S. Pat. No. 5,431,481 by Boyer shows a side dumping trailer with a hopper box on a frame of a tractor-trailer. The box has side gates operated by hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, that control the opening of side doors of the hopper box, thus allowing dumping of the box contents to either side of the hopper box.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,214, Rogers describes a side dump trailer pulled by a truck having a fifth wheel. The trailer body is supported at the corners on rocker pin assemblies (FIG. 6). One of a pair of hydraulic cylinders is mounted at the top edge of each end of the trailer body and to the frame. Releasing the two rocker pin assemblies on one side of the trailer and extending the hydraulic cylinders, tilts the body to the opposite side and empties the trailer contents.

Golden, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,211, discloses a bidirectional side dump trailer with pivot connectors and supporting the trailer box. An elevating assembly beneath the box has two power cylinders with a lever between them to elevate and pivot the box to empty the contents.

In U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,971, Rogers describes another side dump trailer pulled by a truck having a fifth wheel. The trailer body is supported along both sides by supports that mate with other supports (FIG. 4). The first supports are rotatably attached in a permanent configuration, while other supports are releasably attached. A number of power cylinders are fastened between the frame and the bottom of the body which has the releasable supports. Extending the power cylinders with the supports detached rotates and tilts the body to empty the contents to one side of the trailer only.

Golden, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,906,417, discloses yet another bidirectional side dump trailer with hydraulically operated pivot connectors and with either a power cylinder below the box (FIG. 2) or with power cylinders at each end of the box (FIG. 11).

What is needed in the art is a dump cart with enhanced dumping capabilities to reduce spillage and damage to the crops during crop transfer operations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a side dumping cart with a live wall mechanism.

The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural dump cart including a frame, ground conveyance devices carrying the frame, a dump bed, a dumping mechanism and at least one live wall mechanism. The dump bed is coupled to and carried by the frame, and the dump bed has a non-dumping position and a dumping position. The dumping mechanism is connected to the dump bed, and is configured to move the dump bed between the non-dumping position and the dumping position. The at least one live wall mechanism is operatively located along a side of the dump bed, and is generally horizontal when the dump bed is in the dumping position.

The invention in another form is directed to a dump bed used by a dump cart having a frame, and ground conveyance devices carrying the frame. The dump bed has a dumping mechanism and at least one live wall mechanism. The dump bed is coupled to and carried by the frame, and the dump bed has a non-dumping position and a dumping position. The dumping mechanism is connected to the dump bed, and is configured to move the dump bed between the non-dumping position and the dumping position. The at least one live wall mechanism is operatively located along a side of the dump bed, and is generally horizontal when the dump bed is in the dumping position.

An advantage of the present invention is that the dump cart transfers crops from the dump cart to the transfer truck in a matter of seconds.

Another advantage is the live walls along with the baffle maintains an even distribution of the crops during the transfer action of the cart.

Yet another advantage is the weight balance in the transfer truck is maintained.

Still yet another advantage of the present invention is that it reduces or eliminates crop loss due to spillage during the transfer to a receiving vehicle.

Yet another advantage is that one cart can convey grain, root crops and forages, rather than requiring multiple types of carts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly toFIGS. 1-6, there is shown an agricultural dump cart10including a frame12carried by ground conveyance devices14, with a dump bed16coupled to and carried by frame12. Dump cart10also includes a tongue18. Dump bed16has a non-dumping position (seen inFIG. 1) and a dumping position (illustrated inFIG. 6). Ground conveyance devices14may be in the form of wheels or tracks14with tracks14being illustrated in the drawings.

There is a dumping mechanism20that is connected to dump bed16, and is configured to move dump bed16between the non-dumping position and the dumping position. Dumping mechanism20includes lifting hydraulic actuators22, tilting hydraulic actuators24and framework26. Dumping mechanism20is activated by an operator causing dump bed16to elevate from frame12as it follows framework26, then when dump bed16is elevated tilting hydraulic actuators24are activated causing dump bed16to tilt to the side of cart10.

Dump bed16has at least one live wall mechanism28operatively located along a side30of dump bed16. The live wall mechanism28is generally horizontal when the dump bed16is in the dumping position (seeFIGS. 5 and 6). Live wall mechanism28includes slats32and chains34that are coupled together to allow crop material CM that lies thereon to be discharged from dump cart10by the movement of slats32and chains34when live wall mechanism28is generally horizontal. Generally horizontal is to be understood to be more horizontal than vertical and includes tilted so that crop material CM can be dumped from dump cart10. Crop material CM on slats32move together with slats32as the crop material CM is transferred from dump bed16. Each live wall mechanism28has at least one chain34that runs along both sides of side30and tie slats32together. A drive mechanism36, which can be a hydraulic motor36, or an electric motor36, or the like, is coupled to chains34to thereby selectively drive chains34. It is contemplated that chains34can freewheel to allow slats32and chains34to move without being driven by drive mechanism36. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, four live wall mechanisms28are shown with two drive mechanisms36, each of which can drive two of the four live wall mechanisms28. Live wall mechanism28is referred to throughout even though when dump bed16is in a dumping position wall28is functioning as a floor with considerable weight from the crop material CM thereon. The continued reference to live wall mechanism28as a wall is intentional for the sake of clarity.

Live wall mechanisms28are positioned beside each other along side30of dump bed16, with each of the live wall mechanisms28being configured to move independent of each other. For example, as crop material CM is being transferred from dump bed16in the dumping position live wall mechanism28is configured to keep moving when the crop material CM in a receiving vehicle RV reaches a level comparable with the live wall mechanism28and the crop material CM stops flowing. An adjacent live wall mechanism28is configured to allow continued movement of crop material CM while the movement of crop material CM is stopped on the other live wall mechanism28. It is also contemplated that live wall mechanism28could stop when the crop material CM level is reached, either by a clutching mechanism or as a result of a sensor that senses the fill level in the receiving vehicle RV.

As can be seen, particularly inFIG. 3, side30and hence live wall mechanism28is angled outwardly relative to dump bed16when dump bed16is in the non-dumping position. In the dumping position live wall28is generally horizontal, and tipped toward receiving vehicle RV.

Dump bed16additionally has a baffle38positioned above live wall mechanism28as can be seen inFIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, with baffle38running substantially an entire length of dump bed16. Baffle38runs generally parallel with a bottom40of dump bed16. Baffle38serves to control the flow of crop material CM as dump bed16is transferring crop material CM by controlling the level of the crop material reaching the edge of the live wall mechanism28. It is also contemplated that baffle38can be removed, repositioned and be rotationally attached.

Additionally a resilient yet stiff side member42is coupled to a top edge of dump bed16. Member42may be made of a woven material that is impregnated with a resilient material such as a synthetic rubber. Member42serves to hold crop material CM in dump bed16, yet is forgiving to the surface of a feed mechanism (not shown) that is filling cart10in the field, in the event the feed mechanism should encounter member42.

Side member42, which can be considered a flexible extension42, runs along the fill side of dump cart10allowing for the harvester boom to run very low and close to bottom40of cart10giving product CM a short drop. This allows the harvester to unload faster with minimal crop breakage upon starting the fill of an empty cart10.

FIG. 4is a side view of cart10. It should be understood that the X-bracing26, creates a “truss effect” transferring some of the weight from the ends of the cross braced X frame26, inward to tracks14. This increases stability and reduces the deflection of carrying frame12, which allows for a much longer and higher load capacity than prior art dump carts.

FIG. 5is a partial schematized front view of dump box16being tipped for unloading. There is shown the live floor28on side wall30, the end of the baffle38, a portion of a transfer truck RV wherein the dotted line denotes the flow of the product CM out of dump box16. This illustrates the capability of dump box16to even out the flow of the crop CM. Baffle38keeps the depth of the crop CM getting transferred low enough that it cannot be pushed over the opposite side of the transfer truck RV, and when the crop CM is “backed up” or full, such that live wall28cannot transfer it laterally and outward, it stalls out on live wall28. Because the chain slats32are low in profile they slide under the crop CM without damaging it. Once the crop CM has stalled out across the entire cart10it can be driven fore and aft along the transfer truck. Once the crop CM again has empty space in receiving vehicle RV crop material CM is again accelerated laterally as live wall28is again able to move the crop material CM.

A dividing wall44separates front and back pairs of live walls28, and also helps transfer the weight of the crop material CM from floor40, over to the side30, and hence to cross braced X framework26on to ground engaging devices14.

During the dumping cycle, the first, approximately one-half of the product CM is gravity fed to the truck RV for quick unload time. Thereafter, the live wall mechanism28moves to facilitate the movement of crop material CM so that it will fill in any open area in the transfer truck RV with a layer of crop CM that slides under baffle38, giving quick, controlled topping-off of the transfer truck RV.

The dump cart10of the present invention has a very low fill side with a flexible extension42allowing it to drive very close to the harvester without damaging the harvesters unload boom, and it also allows the unload boom to be much lower at the start of an empty cart. A lower boom transfers crops much faster and the short drop lessens crop damage. Driving closer to the harvester also gives the unload boom a greater reach across the cart and the ability to fill a wider cart. The wide cart design relies on the crops angle of repose to give large capacity with a low fill side.

In addition, the configuration of the inventive dump cart allows for the weight of the suspended payload to be transferred back along the carrying frame to the axle through the x-bracing, giving better stability and weight distribution.