Cargo box

An improved cargo box particularly suited for use in transporting compacted cargo, such as refuse. The cargo box is characterized by a pair of vertically oriented side walls disposed in a pair of forwardly converging planes, a floor of a planar configuration inclined rearwardly, a conveyor traversing the floor including a plurality of endless chains, each being characterized by a plurality of mutually spaced T-bars rigidly affixed thereto, a discharge opening disposed in a transverse plane at the rear end of the box, above the conveyor, a drive unit mounted at the rear of the box, beyond the confines thereof, and a pivotal door, for closing the discharge opening, supported in suspension by a cantilevered pivot in a manner such that the door normally gravitates to an open position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention generally relates to cargo boxes and more particularly to a 
cargo box for an overland vehicle particularly suited for use in 
transporting compacted, bulk refuse. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The prior art is replete with cargo boxes for vehicles employed in 
transporting bulk cargo, such as refuse, in compacted configurations. 
Among the cargo boxes heretofore employed in transporting bulk cargo, such 
as refuse and the like, are pivotal dump boxes supported in a manner which 
facilitates a discharge of its contents through a tipping of the box, and 
bottom dump boxes which open along the bottom thereof for permitting the 
contents to gravitate vertically. 
Currently, substantial attention is being devoted to the disposal of refuse 
such as rubbage and similar materials in non-burning modes. Among the 
various techniques now being employed in the disposal of refuse, is that 
of employing refuse in land-fill projects wherein refuse is used to fill 
ravines, washes and the like and then covered over for purposes of 
reclaiming the land for other uses. 
Of course, land-fill projects normally entail a delivery of great 
quantities of refuse to areas remote from a center of refuse collection. 
Therefore, it is common practice to employ vehicles equipped with 
relatively large cargo boxes capable of transporting loads of suitable 
proportions from collection centers to land-fill projects remote from the 
collection centers. 
Since the bulk to mass ratio of refuse is substantially greater than the 
bulk to mass ratio of other types of cargo, such as gravel and the like, 
it is possible to transport large quantities of refuse employing vehicles 
equipped for highway operations. Therefore, elongated cargo boxes mounted 
on semi-trailer suspension systems have been employed in transporting 
refuse from collection centers to land-fill projects. 
Designers of such vehicles continuously have been plagued by problems 
related to the unloading of such vehicles. For example, in order for a 
vehicle of the type hereinbefore mentioned to fulfill existing needs, it 
is necessary that the vehicle possess a capability of depositing loads in 
precise locations within time periods of minimal durations. Moreover, the 
discharge of contents must be complete in order to avoid excessive labor 
costs in sweeping-out the cargo box. Unfortunately, the principles often 
employed in the design of dump boxes cannot be applied, simply because of 
the length of the cargo box tends to prohibit a use of pivotal dump boxes 
and the bulk of the loads tends to prohibit a use of bottom-dump systems. 
In those instances where conveyors extended along the bottom of a cargo 
box have been proposed for rearwardly discharging contents from a cargo 
box, damage to the conveyors has been experienced in view of excessive 
stress developed by loads applied thereto as the conveyors are advanced 
through relatively long distances in order to effectively discharge the 
contents. 
Moreover, a great deal of difficulty has been encountered in completely 
discharging loads of refuse in time periods of minimal duration utilizing 
conveyors extended along the floor of cargo boxes. Additionally, since 
refuse normally includes relatively large, heavy fragments of materials 
such as broken concrete, tree trunks and the like, a conveyor situated 
along the bottom of a cargo box is subjected to destructive impact as 
loads of refuse are delivered thereto from loading vehicles. 
Damage to conveyors, of course, can and often do result in substantial loss 
of operational time. Due to the economic investment in rolling-stock, time 
lost in performing repairs imposes a substantial economic burden on those 
paying for transport services. 
Finally, it is desirable for a refuse vehicle to possess the capabilities 
for rapid and complete discharge of contents in order to reduce labor 
costs and turn-around time. 
It is, therefore, the general purpose of the instant invention to provide 
an improved cargo box particularly suited for use in effectively and 
economically transporting refuse from collection centers, normally located 
in urban areas, to remote areas at which refuse disposal is completed, 
such as in areas at which reclamation through land-fill projects is being 
achieved. 
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore, an object of the instant invention to provide an improved 
cargo box which overcomes the aforementioned difficulties and 
disadvantages. 
It is another object to provide an improved cargo box particularly suited 
for use in transporting and discharging refuse. 
It is another object to provide an improved cargo box particularly suited 
for use in transporting and rapidly discharging, at precise locations, 
large loads of bulk cargo in a compacted configuration. 
It is another object to provide an improved cargo box for use in 
transporting compacted loads of refuse adapted to rapidly discharge the 
load without subjecting discharge conveyors to excessive stress. 
It is another object to provide an improved cargo box having a pair of 
vertically oriented side walls disposed in a pair of converging planes, a 
floor disposed in an inclined plane and an elongated floor conveyor for 
facilitating discharge of compacted loads of bulk cargo without unduly 
stressing the floor conveyor. 
It is another object to provide in an overland vehicle adapted to be 
employed in transporting refuse, a cargo box having an inclined floor, a 
pair of converging side walls, and a floor conveyor extended along the 
upper surface of the floor of the box comprising a plurality of endless 
chains, each being characterized by a plurality of T-bars extended 
transversely thereof, and a readily removable drive unit for the conveyor. 
Another object is to provide an improved elongated cargo box particularly 
suited for use in transporting refuse although not necessarily restricted 
thereto, since the cargo box embodying the instant invention may find 
utility in transporting loads other than refuse. 
These and other objects and advantages are achieved through the use of an 
improved cargo box having a pair of converging side walls, and inclined 
floor extended beyond a transverse discharge opening provided between the 
walls, a floor conveyor including a plurality of independent endless 
chains, each being characterized by a plurality of T-bars extended 
transversely thereof and affixed thereto, and a pivotal door suspended 
from a cantilever pivot in a manner such that the door is biased by its 
weight to an open position, as will hereinafter be more readily apparent 
by reference to the following description and claims in light of the 
accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now with more particularity to the drawings, wherein like 
reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the 
several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a cargo box, generally designated 
10, which embodies the principles of the instant invention. 
The cargo box 10 is fabricated from stock sheet metal employing fabrication 
techniques, such as welding and the like, well understood by those 
familiar with the fabrication of cargo boxes for overland vehicles such as 
trucks, trailers and the like. Moreover, while the cargo box 10 is 
illustrated as being supported by a suspension system, not designated, of 
a type frequently employed in supporting semi-trailers, it is to be 
understood that the cargo box 10 can be employed as a cargo box for a 
truck, full trailer and similar vehicles. 
The cargo box 10 includes a transversely oriented front wall 11 and a pair 
of vertically oriented side walls 12 and 14, of planar configurations, 
which extend the length of the cargo box. As a practical matter, each of 
the side walls is supported by a stringer 16 extended therebeneath and a 
stringer 18 extended thereabove and a plurality of vertical support 
members 20, of flanged channular configurations, sometimes referred to as 
hat-section configurations, extended between the stringers. Additionally, 
a plurality of mutually spaced tension bars 22 is extended between and 
affixed to the stringers 18 located at opposite sides of the box. These 
bars function as tie-bars and maintain the spacing between the side walls 
12 and 14 substantially uniform. Where so desired, similar supports are 
provided for the front wall 11. 
It should be appreciated fully that the internal surfaces of the side walls 
12 and 14 are of substantially planar and uninterrupted configurations, 
whereby friction between loads and these surfaces is reduced as a load is 
advanced therealong in order to facilitate a rapid and practical discharge 
of contents from the cargo box. 
It is also important to note that the side walls 12 and 14 are arranged in 
uniformly converging planes having a minimal spacing at front or leading 
end of the cargo box 10, and maximum spacing at the rear or discharge end 
of the cargo box. The purpose of the converging relationship of the planes 
within which the side walls 12 and 14 are disposed is to facilitate 
discharge of a compacted load as will hereinafter become more readily 
apparent. 
At the rear or discharge end of the cargo box 10, there is provided a 
discharge opening 23 through which discharge of contents from the box is, 
in operation, achieved. This opening, in turn, is closed by a door 24 
comprising a planar panel suspended by a pair of suspension mechanisms, 
each being generally designated 26, of a dog-leg configuration which 
permit the door 24 to be biased by its mass to a normally open position 
with respect to the opening 23. 
Each of the suspension mechanisms 26 includes a bracket affixed at its base 
to one of the side walls 12 and 14 and projected rearwardly therefrom in a 
coplanar relation with the side wall to which it is affixed. Additionally, 
each of the mechanisms 26 includes another bracket 30 which is affixed at 
its base to the door 24, near the uppermost edge portion thereof, and 
projected normally therefrom in a plane arranged in mutual parallelism 
with the plane of the brackets 28. It will, of course, be understood that 
the brackets 28 and 30, of each suspension mechanism 26, are in 
juxtaposition, whereby the ends of the brackets 28 and 30 are disposed in 
alignment. Through the ends of the brackets there is provided a plurality 
of coaxially aligned openings or bosses through which is extended a pair 
of pivot pins 32 which serves to couple the brackets 28 and 30, of each 
suspension mechanism 26 in pivotal relation. Thus, the pair of suspension 
mechanisms 26 serves to support the door 24 for angular displacement about 
an axis spaced rearwardly from the opening 23. Since the brackets 30 are 
rigidly affixed to the door 24 forwardly of the pivot pins 32, the door is 
biased by its mass to a position such that the center of the mass lies 
beneath the axis when the door is in an unrestrained configuration. This 
position is illustrated in FIG. 1. 
In order to restrain the door 24 in a closed configuration with respect to 
the opening 23, there is provided a pair of simultaneously operable 
latching mechanisms, each being generally designated 34, each of which is 
mounted on one of the side walls 12 and 14 near the opening 23. Since the 
latching mechanisms 34, of the aforementioned pair of latching mechanisms, 
are of a common design and construction, and function in a similar manner 
to achieve a similar result, it is believed that a detailed description of 
a single one of the latching mechanisms 34 is sufficient to provide a 
complete understanding of the instant invention. 
Each latching mechanism 34, FIG. 4, includes a pivotal dog 36 mounted on 
the rearmost vertical support member 20 for the side wall to which it is 
affixed. As a practical matter, the dog 36 is extended rearwardly from the 
wall and terminates in a downwardly projected fluke 38 provided at its 
distal end. This fluke serves to engage and capture a locking pin 40 
rigidly secured to the door 24 and extended laterally therefrom for thus 
restraining the door in a closed relationship with the opening 23. In 
practice, the dog 36 is supported for pivotal motion by a suitable 
coupling 42 affixed to the aforementioned rearmost support member 20. 
In order to impart angular displacement to the pivotal dog 36, in an upward 
direction for thus releasing the pin 40, there is provided a dog actuating 
linkage, not designated, which includes a pneumatic actuator 44 
interconnected with the dog through connecting links 46 and 48. 
The actuator 44, as shown, comprises an air-operated ram, the base of which 
is pivotally connected with the side wall of the box 10 through a suitable 
bracket 50 welded or otherwise secured to the rearmost support member 20. 
The actuator 44 includes a downwardly inclined, axially extensible shaft 
52 which terminates in a clevis 54 pivotally connected with one end of the 
connecting link 46, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to 
the side wall through a pivot pin 56 extended therethrough. It is to be 
understood that the connecting link 46 is a pivotal link and that the 
pivot pin 56 serves to establish a pivotal axis located beneath the end of 
the pivotal dog 36 remote from the fluke 38. The connecting link 48 is, in 
turn, pivotally connected at one end with the connecting link 46, near the 
pivot pin 56, and at the other end thereof to the pivotal dog 36, at the 
end thereof remote from the fluke 38, at a pivot point, designated 60, in 
spaced relation with the coupling 42. 
It should, therefore, be appreciated that as axial extension is imparted to 
the shaft 52, the connecting link 46 is angularly displaced, downwardly, 
about the pivot pin 56 for tensioning the connecting link 48, whereupon 
the pivotal dog 36 is angularly displaced about the axis of the pivotal 
coupling 42 for thus lifting the fluke 38. The pin 40 thus is released by 
the dog 36 so that the door 24 is thus permitted to swing freely about the 
pivot pin 32. Consequently, the door is now unrestrained and caused to 
advance to its normally open position under the influence of its mass. 
In order to assure that the pivotal dog 36 is continuously urged in angular 
displacement toward its normal position, wherein the fluke 38 is 
positioned to engage the locking pin 40, there is provided a tension 
spring 62 extended between and affixed to the dog 36, near the pivot point 
60, and the support member 20 on which the dog is mounted. 
In order for an operator of a vehicle equipped with the box 10 to be 
advised of the instantaneous position of the door 24, relative to the 
opening 23, there is provided a visual indicator comprising a 
spring-biased flag 64. This flag is supported for pivotal motion about a 
vertical axis established by a pivot pin 66 mounted on the rearmost edge 
of the rearmost support members 20 located at the opposite sides of the 
opening 23. 
Each of the flags 64 includes an elongated body, not designated, 
terminating in a bifurcation comprising legs 68 and 70 which intersect at 
the pivot pin 66. The leg 68 is angularly related to the plane of the body 
of the flag 64 and is positioned to be engaged by a lip 72 projected 
laterally from the door 24, while the leg 70 is continuously engaged by a 
resilient element comprising a leaf spring 74. This spring functions as a 
torsion spring for continuously urging the flag 64 to pivot outwardly, 
about the pivot pin 66, and away from the plane of the wall to which it is 
attached. Thus, the flag is urged to pivot into a line of vision for an 
operator of the vehicle to which the cargo box 10 is affixed. 
Of course, it is to be understood that as the lip 72 of the door 24 engages 
the leg 68, the flag is pivoted in a reversed direction, out of the line 
of vision of the operator, into a substantially coplanar relationship with 
the wall of the box 10 to which it is attached. Thus, the flag 64 
continuously serves to provide visual intelligence indicative of the 
position of the door 24 relative to the discharge opening 23. 
The actuators 44 of the pair of latching mechanisms 34 are connected in a 
parallel circuit with an on-board air supply, not shown, via a solenoid 
valve 76. The solenoid 76 is, in turn, controlled by a toggle switch 78 
preferably provided in the cab of the vehicle equipped with the box 10. 
Thus, an operator of the vehicle is afforded access to a control circuit 
through which release of the latching mechanism 34 is controlled. 
The design of the circuit employed for controlling the pair of latching 
mechanisms 34 is varied as desired. However, it is preferred to connect 
the pressure side of the actuators 44 with the solenoid valve 76, via a 
three-way air switch conveniently located with respect to the door 24. In 
practice, the three-way air switch includes a pressure, an exhaust and a 
lock position. This switch can be mounted externally of the cargo box 10, 
near the rear thereof so that not only must an operator close the toggle 
switch 78 but an assistant must close the three-way switch 80 in order to 
avoid an unfortuitous operation of the actuators 44. Of course, a suitable 
tubing is employed in fabricating the circuit in a manner well understood 
by those familiar with the fabrication of pneumatic circuits. 
Turning again to FIG. 1, it is noted that the cargo box 10 is provided with 
a floor 82. The floor 82 includes a floor plate 84, also of a 
substantially uninterrupted, planar configuration, supported by a 
plurality of transversely oriented supports, not shown, also of hat-shaped 
cross-sectional configurations. It is here important to note that the 
floor 82 is oriented in a plane inclined downwardly toward the rear of the 
box. Moreover, it is important to note that the floor extends beneath and 
beyond the discharge opening 23 of the cargo box, as best illustrated in 
FIGS. 1 and 2. 
Extended along the upper surface of the floor plate 84, is a floor 
conveyor, generally designated 90. The floor conveyor 90 includes a 
plurality of independent conveyor chains 92 arranged in parallelism. Each 
of the conveyor chains 92 is of an endless configuration and includes a 
plurality of T-bars 94 rigidly fixed to selected links of the chains and 
extended transversely thereof. 
As best illustrated in FIG. 1, each of the conveyor chains 92 is trained 
about one of a plurality of idler sprocket assemblies 96 provided at the 
front end of the box 10. Each of these assemblies includes a sprocket 
wheel 98 mounted on a stub axle 99 supported by a pair of spaced journal 
bearings 100 supported by a carriage 101 adjustably supported, in turn, by 
a pair of laterally spaced, forwardly projected bracket members 102. The 
members 102 are rigidly mounted on a beam 104 transversely related to the 
front or leading end of the floor 82. 
In order to facilitate a tightening of each of the conveyor chains 92, 
independently of the other chains of the plurality, each is provided with 
a screw-threaded adjustable stop 106. Each stop 106 is received in a pair 
of aligned screw-threaded bodies 108 welded or otherwise rigidly affixed 
to the transverse beam 104, with one end of the stop being disposed in an 
abutted relation with a carriage 101. 
By axially displacing a selected adjusting stop 106, the adjacent carriage 
101 is moved forwardly, or permitted to move rearwardly, as desired. In 
practice, suitable studs are affixed to the carriages 101 and extended 
through suitably formed slots, not designated, formed in the brackets 102. 
Thus, each of the carriages is adapted to be affixed to the carriage 101 
for purposes of securing the idler sprocket assembly 96 in place whereby 
the chain 92 trained thereabout is appropriately tensioned. 
At the rear of the floor conveyor 90 there is provided a drive unit, 
generally designated 110 which is, in operation, employed for purposes of 
advancing the conveyor 90 along the floor 82 of the cargo box 10. The 
drive unit 110 includes a shaft 112, FIG. 7, upon which is mounted a 
plurality of sprockets 114, FIG. 2. The opposite ends of the shaft 112 are 
supported by a pair of journal bearings 116. The bearings 116 are mounted 
and secured in place by suitable bolts 118 extended through apertures 
formed in the housing for the journal bearings 116 and received by the 
frame, not designated, of the cargo box. It is important here to note that 
in order to accommodate a rapid disassembly, and a subsequent assembly, of 
the drive unit 110, the frame for the cargo box is provided with an 
elongated, inclined slot 120 which is configured to accept the ends of the 
shaft 112. A removable stop 122 is provided to be received within each of 
the slots 120 for securing the ends of the shaft 112 in place, once they 
have been inserted into the frame. A suitable keeper 124, which may be 
welded to the stop, is provided for securing each of the stops 122 in 
place. 
Rotary motion is imparted to the shaft 112 through a sprocket wheel 130 
rigidly affixed to one end of the shaft 112 in concentric relation 
therewith. The sprocket wheel 130 is secured to the shaft 112 by any 
suitable means, including a key and keyway coupling. In spaced relation 
with the sprocket wheel 130 there is provided an hydraulic motor 132 
suitably supported by the frame of the cargo box 10. 
As a practical matter, the hydraulic motor 132 is provided with a sprocket 
wheel 134 about which is trained an endless chain 136, also trained about 
the sprocket wheel 130. Consequently, once the hydraulic motor 132 is 
activated, the chain 136 is advanced in response to rotary motion imparted 
to the sprocket wheel 130 for thus imparting rotary motion to the shaft 
112 and, consequently, the sprockets 114 mounted thereon. The motor 132 is 
connected within a suitable hydraulic circuit, not illustrated, through 
suitable tubing 138 in a manner well understood by those familiar with the 
assembly of hydraulic systems. Furthermore, it is to be understood that 
the motor 132 is supported by a suitable plate, not designated, supported 
by a fairing 140. A stop 142 is provided for facilitating position 
adjustment for the motor 132. 
In view of the foregoing, it is to be understood that once the motor 132 is 
energized, the sprocket wheel 134 is driven in rotation, whereupon the 
sprocket wheel 130 is driven, responsively, through the chain 136 for 
thereby imparting rotary motion to the shaft 112, and the sprockets 114, 
for advancing the conveyor chains 92 simultaneously for thus causing the 
conveyor 90 to advance along the upper surface of the floor plate 84. 
It is here important to note that because the floor conveyor 90 extends 
beyond the discharge opening 23 of the cargo box 10, contents being 
discharged from the box are conveyed completely through the discharge 
opening and, therefore, beyond the cargo box 10. Thus, a complete 
discharge of the contents of the box is assured. It is also important to 
note that the floor conveyor 90 is open to the environment at the rearmost 
end thereof, so that contents, such as refuse, adhering to the floor 
conveyor as it passes from above to beneath the floor 82, are transported 
beyond the box and permitted to gravitate to the ground, rather than be 
entrapped in the box. Thus, a complete discharge of the contents from the 
box is insured. 
It is also important to note that beneath the floor 82 there is provided a 
plurality of tracks 150, FIG. 3, which engage the T-bars 94 only at the 
ends thereof. Thus, the T-bars are supported as they are transferred from 
the rear of the cargo box 10 to the front thereof. Moreover, each of the 
lower runs of the conveyor chains 92 is also open to the environment so 
that refuse which may adhere to the chains 92, as they pass from above to 
below the floor 82, is permitted to fall downwardly to the ground, without 
being reintroduced into the cargo box at the front end thereof. 
With a view to further avoidance of an entrapment of contents within the 
cargo box 10, there is provided along each side of the floor conveyor 90 
an elongated fairing 152. Each of the fairings 152 is inclined with 
respect to the floor plate 84 so that the internal surfaces of the side 
walls 12 and 14, in effect, are inclined near the floor plate. Similarly, 
a fairing 154 is extended along each of the upper edges of the cargo box 
10 for thus providing a substantially continuous inclined surface which 
precludes collection of contents along the upper edges of the side walls. 
As shown in FIG. 1, an inclined access door 156 is pivotally suspended from 
the front wall 11 and rests upon the fairings 152, just above the floor 
conveyor, so that the idler sprocket assemblies 96 are protected from the 
contents of the cargo box. Thus, entrapment of the contents within the box 
10 is further precluded. 
In order to assure that contents are confined within the cargo box 10, 
during transport, there is provided a pair of screen doors 160. Each is 
pivotally mounted by suitable hinges, not designated, mounted along the 
top of the side walls 12 and 14. It will be understood that the screen 
doors 160 are supported for pivotal motion from a position above the cargo 
box to an outwardly extended position, whereby access to the interior of 
the cargo box 10 is afforded for loading purposes. 
It should be appreciated that once a resilient cargo, such as refuse, 
including rubbish and the like, has been loaded within the cargo box 10, 
and compacted, there is a tendency for the cargo to "swell" or expand and 
frictionally "bind" or adhere to the side walls and floor of the cargo box 
10. Consequently, a load of refuse possesses a propensity to become bound 
or fixed in place due to the frictional engagement of the refuse with the 
internal surfaces of the cargo box. However, due to the inclination of the 
floor plate 84 and the divergence of the walls 12 and 14 of the cargo box, 
slight motion, in a rearward direction, of the floor conveyor 90 is 
sufficient to release the cargo from frictional engagement with the side 
walls of the cargo box. The conveyor floor then transports the contents 
through the discharge opening 23 with minimal stress being developed 
therein and with minimal attendant loading of the drive unit 110. 
Additionally, it should be understood that often a load of refuse, such as 
rubbish and the like, contains water and other liquids, which percolate 
through the load. This can and does become troublesome, since it is highly 
desirable if not imperative that draining of such liquids along streets 
and highways be avoided. Consequently, there is provided near the rear end 
of the cargo box, between the upper and lower runs of the floor conveyor, 
a tank 170. This tank communicates with the interior of the cargo box 10, 
via a myriad of apertures 172 formed in the floor plate 84. These 
apertures permit water percolated through the contents of the cargo box to 
be collected within the tank 170. 
A drain 174 closed by a closure cap 176 is provided for draining fluids 
from the tank 170. An additional drain 178 having a cap 180 is provided, 
where desired, for assisting in draining and flushing the tank 170. 
It also is important to appreciate that even though large massive objects 
such as broken slabs of concrete and the like are, during loading, dropped 
from substantial heights above the floor conveyor 90, the floor conveyor 
tends to suffer little damage due to the fact that T-bars 94 do not serve 
to interconnect the various conveyor chains 92. 
Moreover, in the event one of the chains of the floor conveyor is broken, 
or a T-bar bent, the floor conveyor is permitted to continue to operate 
for discharging the load. Consequently, in the event that one or more of 
the chains 92, or a T-bar 94, are damaged, the operation of the floor 
conveyor 90 is not severely impaired. Furthermore, due to the fact that 
the drive unit 110 is supported within the slot 120, rapid disassembly of 
the drive unit is facilitated, since the chains 92 can be readily 
uncoupled and the drive shaft 112 "dropped" through the slots. 
OPERATION 
It is believed that in view of the foregoing description, the operation of 
the device will readily be understood and it will be briefly reviewed at 
this point. 
With the cargo box 10 assembled in the manner hereinbefore described, it is 
prepared for operation by towing to a loading device or the like. 
At the loading ramp, usually located at a collection center, smaller pickup 
refuse vehicles are discharged into the cargo box 10. 
Once the cargo box 10 has been properly loaded with refuse and suitably 
compacted, the cargo box is transported to an area at which unloading 
occurs, such as rural areas within which land-fill projects are being 
carried on. In the event that during transport water or other liquids 
percolate through the refuse forming the load of cargo, the liquids are 
permitted to drain down the inclined floor of the cargo box and pass 
through the apertures 172 to be collected within the tank 170, whereby 
spillage is avoided. 
The operator of the vehicle now backs the cargo box 10 into a position for 
discharge of the load through the discharge opening 23. The toggle switch 
78 and the three-way air switch 80 are now closed for causing the 
actuators 44 to become energized, simultaneously, for axially extending 
the shafts 52 thereof. The dogs 36 are responsively pivoted through 
operation of the linkage which includes the links 46 and 48. Thus, the 
locking pin 40 is released from the flukes 38 of the dogs 36, whereupon 
the forces of gravity acting on the mass of the door causes the arms of 
the brackets 30 to pivot downwardly about the pivot pins 32. Thus the door 
is moved to an unrestrained configuration in which the door is inclined 
away from the opening 23, as illustrated in FIG. 1. 
As a consequence of the gravity induced displacement of the door, the door 
is removed from the path of the contents of the cargo box, prior to 
activation of the drive unit 110, and hence prior to the conveyor 90 being 
activated. Since the dimensions of the door 24 are substantial, the weight 
of the door is substantial. By removing the door from engagement with the 
contents of the cargo box, prior to the drive unit 110 being activated, 
the weight of the door does not serve to place a load on the chains 92 as 
they are advanced from their initial or starting positions. Ultimately, of 
course, the door is engaged and lifted by the contents of the cargo box as 
the conveyor advances so that the weight of the door tends to place a load 
on the chains 92. This occurs, however, only after the contents are 
released from their frictionally bound condition, due to the expanding 
shape of the box, and, therefore, at such time loading, as a loading of 
the chains 92, is minimal. Thus excessive loading of the chains 92 is 
avoided at a critical moment in the operation of the conveyor 90. 
As the door 24 pivots away from the discharge opening 23, the torsion 
spring 74 causes the flag 64 to pivot outwardly into the line of vision of 
the operator. The operator now energizes the motor 132, through a suitable 
selector valve, not shown, whereupon the drive unit 110 is activated for 
causing the shaft 112 to rotate for advancing the chains 92 of the floor 
conveyor 90 in unison. The stress thus developed in the chains of the 
floor conveyor 90 is maximized at the instant the chains begin to advance. 
Immediately thereafter, the load of cargo is released from its bound 
condition, due to the angular relationship of the side walls 12 and 14 and 
the inclination of the floor 82. 
As the floor conveyor 90 is advanced along the floor plate 84, the load of 
refuse is advanced by the conveyor through and beyond the discharge 
opening 23, prior to its being dropped or permitted to gravitate to the 
ground. Due to the openness of the lower run of the floor conveyor, as it 
is supported by the tracks 150, and the effects of the fairings 152, 154 
and the inclination of the access door 156, the refuse is substantially 
completely discharged from the cargo box 10, all without additional labor. 
Once the load is completely discharged, an operator merely advances the 
door 24 into a closed relationship with the opening 23, whereupon the flag 
is removed out of the line of the operator's vision and the cargo box thus 
prepared for refilling. 
In view of the foregoing, it should readily be apparent that the cargo box 
10 which embodies the principles of the instant invention provides a 
practical solution to the problem of providing suitable transport devices 
for refuse such as rubbish and the like, to land-fill projects and the 
like. 
Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is 
conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is 
recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the 
invention, which is not to be limited to the illustrative details 
disclosed.