Highway transportable material storage apparatus and frame assembly therefor

A portable self-erecting storage apparatus for asphaltic mix or the like is disclosed, and which comprises a main frame, and three separate wheeled carriages which are mounted in tandem and are concurrently pivotable between a lowered ground engaging position so that the apparatus is highway transportable, and a raised position so that the frame contacts the ground and thus forms the foundation pad for the apparatus during use. The illustrated embodiment includes a secondary frame which supports a storage container, and the secondary frame and the container may be pivoted about an elevated axis between a generally horizontal transport position and a vertical upright or operative position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a portable self-erecting storage apparatus 
for temporarily storing and dispensing materials such as asphaltic mix and 
the like. Also, the invention relates to a frame assembly such as an 
apparatus which is characterized by the ability to permit the frame 
assembly to be lowered into ground engaging contact so as to provide a 
foundation pad for the material storage apparatus during use thereof. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
When paving highways with asphaltic mix, it is desirable to locate the 
storage apparatus for the mix as near as possible to the construction site 
so that the trucks which carry the mix to the site do not have to travel 
long distances. To meet this objective, storage apparatus of various 
configurations have been proposed which are highway transportable, and 
which permit the apparatus to be moved to the construction site, erected, 
and used, and then dismantled and moved to a different construction site. 
Most designs of the described apparatus include a main frame which 
supports the material container, and a wheeled carriage which permits the 
apparatus to be transported on a highway. Once the apparatus is at the 
construction site, a trench is prepared in the ground, and the apparatus 
is moved so that the wheels enter the trench. As a result, the main frame 
is lowered into ground engaging contact and so that it thereafter serves 
as a foundation pad. 
A significant problem with the above construction is the fact that during 
the time the apparatus is in use at a particular site, which may extend 
for several months, the trenches become filled with dirt and debris around 
the wheels. As a result, it is extremely difficult to remove the apparatus 
from its lowered position when the job is completed and it is desired to 
move the apparatus to a new location. 
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a portable 
storage apparatus of the described type which avoids the above-noted 
problem associated with the removal of the apparatus from a construction 
site. 
It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide a 
portable storage apparatus of the described type which incorporates a 
relatively simple wheel mounting arrangement which permits the main frame 
to be lowered into ground engaging position without moving the wheels into 
a trench, and which also permits the main frame to be readily lifted from 
the ground when it is desired to move the apparatus along the highway to a 
new construction site. 
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are 
achieved in the embodiment illustrated herein by the provision of a frame 
assembly which comprises an elongate main frame having parallel opposite 
side beams which define a longitudinal direction, and at least one 
transverse support beam mounted to the main frame and extending 
transversely with respect to the opposite side beams. The assembly also 
includes wheeled ground engaging carriage means which includes a pair of 
longitudinal arms, means pivotally mounting one end of each of the said 
arms to the main frame for pivotal movement about a horizontal transverse 
axis, a transverse strut extending transversely between and 
interconnecting the arms, with the transverse strut being located in 
generally vertical alignment with the one transverse support beam, an axle 
extending transversely between and mounted to the other end of each of the 
arms, road engaging wheels mounted to the opposite ends of the axle, and 
air bag suspension means disposed between the transverse strut and the one 
transverse support beam. Air control means is also provided for 
selectively supplying air to the air bag suspension means so as to pivot 
the carriage means about the transverse axis to a lowered ground engaging 
position when the air bag means is filled, and exhausting air from the air 
bag suspension means and so that the carriage means pivots about the 
transverse axis to a raised position with respect to the main frame and 
the main frame is lowered to engage and rest upon the ground. 
In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus also includes a secondary frame 
including a forward end portion and an opposite rear end portion, with the 
rear end portion being pivotally mounted to the main frame for pivotal 
movement about an elevated horizontal pivotal axis. Also, a storage 
container is mounted to the secondary frame and is positioned between the 
forward and rear opposite end portions, and lifting means in the form of a 
pair of hydraulic cylinders is mounted between the main frame and the 
secondary frame for pivoting the secondary frame and the container between 
a horizontal transport position and an upright or operative position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring more particularly to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a 
portable self-erecting material storage apparatus in accordance with the 
present invention is illustrated generally at 10. In FIG. 1, the apparatus 
10 is shown being transported along the highway by a conventional tractor 
12. 
The illustrated embodiment of the material storage apparatus 10 comprises a 
main frame composed of two parallel opposite side beams 14, 15 which 
define a longitudinal direction and which extend along the majority of its 
length. The left or forward end of the frame as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 
mounts an extension 16 which is positioned somewhat above the level of the 
side beams, and which in turn mounts a conventional fifth wheel 17 for 
joining the apparatus to the tractor 12. The extension 16 also mounts a 
conventional jack 18 for independently supporting the forward end of the 
frame to facilitate joinder of the fifth wheel to the tractor as well as 
release of the fifth wheel therefrom. The opposite or rear end portion of 
the main frame mounts wheeled carriage means 20 by an arrangement which 
permits the carriage means to be selectively moved vertically between a 
lowered ground engaging position (note FIGS. 1 and 8) and which permits 
highway transport of the apparatus, and a raised position wherein the main 
frame contacts the ground (note FIGS. 2 and 9). 
The main frame of the apparatus 10 rigidly mounts a pair of vertical 
support braces 22, which extend upwardly from respective ones of the side 
beams 14, 15, and an inclined support brace 24 extending between the upper 
end of each of the support braces and the associated side beam. Further, a 
control house 26 is mounted on the main frame above the wheeled carriage 
means, which houses the various control panels associated with the 
apparatus. 
The main frame of the apparatus 10 also mounts a secondary frame which 
includes a forward end portion 28 and an opposite rear end portion 29. The 
secondary frame in turn encloses and supports a mix storage container 30. 
The container is of conventional design, and includes an open top, lower 
discharge gate 31, and insulated side walls. Also, a conventional weigh 
batcher 32 is disposed below the discharge gate. 
The rear end portion 29 of the secondary frame is pivotally mounted to the 
main frame, which permits pivotal movement of the secondary frame with 
respect to the main frame about an elevated horizontal axis 34 which 
extends between posts of the upper ends of the vertical support braces 22, 
and adjacent the joint between each vertical brace 22 and its associated 
inclined brace 24. Thus the pivotal axis 34 is elevated so as to lie 
substantially in horizontal alignment with the upper portions of the 
secondary frame and the container in the horizontal position thereof, and 
so that the container is elevated in the upright position a distance 
sufficient to receive a truck T therebelow, note FIG. 2. 
The secondary frame also includes a supporting framework 36, which is 
pivotally mounted for movement about an axis 37 which is parallel to the 
axis 34. The axis 37 is located adjacent the weigh batcher 32 and on the 
side thereof opposite the axis 34. The supporting framework 36 comprises a 
pair of support legs 38, two cross braces 40, and inclined transverse 
braces 42. The entire framework is initially supported adjacent the weigh 
batcher, and it is designed to be lowered by a winch (not shown) to a 
vertical position when the apparatus is erected. The lower ends of the two 
support legs 38 are then pinned to the main frame at 43, so that the legs 
then support a portion of the weight of the secondary frame and container. 
The forward end portion 28 of the secondary frame includes a framework 
which is adapted to engage a material conveying apparatus in the manner 
described in detail in copending and commonly owned application Ser. No. 
07/296,492 filed concurrently herewith. 
The storage apparatus 10 further comprises lifting means mounted between 
the main frame and the secondary frame for pivoting the secondary frame 
and the container between a horizontal transport position (FIG. 1) and an 
upright position (FIG. 2). In the illustrated embodiment, this lifting 
means comprises a pair of hydraulic jacks 45, with the two jacks being 
aligned on opposite sides of the apparatus. More particularly, each jack 
45 is pivotally attached to one of the side beams at 46, and is pivotally 
attached to the secondary frame at 47. 
As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the apparatus 10 further comprises a 
supporting gridwork mounted to the main frame at the rear end portion 
thereof and which supports the control house 26 thereupon. The gridwork 
comprises four transverse beams 50 extending transversely between the 
opposite side beams 14, 15, and a pair of longitudinal beams 52 positioned 
parallel to and between the side beams. Also, first and second transverse 
support beams 53, 54 extend between the longitudinal beams 52 in each of 
the three central rectangular areas defined between the transverse beams 
50 and the two longitudinal beams 52. 
In the illustrated embodiment, the wheeled carriage means 20 comprises 
three separate wheeled carriages 56, 57, 58 which are mounted in tandem to 
the supporting gridwork. Each wheeled carriage comprises a pair of 
depending mounting posts 60 (FIGS. 8 and 9) which are mounted to 
respective ones of the longitudinal beams 52 of the gridwork. Also, each 
carriage includes a pair of aligned longitudinal arms 61, which are 
pivotally mounted at one end to respective ones of the posts 60 for 
pivotal movement about a common horizontal transverse axis 62. The two 
arms 61 are thereby disposed vertically below and longitudinally aligned 
with respective ones of the longitudinal beams 52 of the gridwork. A 
transverse strut 64 extends transversely between and interconnects the two 
arms 61, and the transverse strut 64 of each carriage is located generally 
below one of the first transverse support beams 53. An axle 65 extends 
transversely between the other end of each of the arms 61, and is fixedly 
mounted thereto by means of a saddle 66. Also, road engaging double wheels 
68 are mounted to opposite ends of the axle and so as to lie in the outer 
open areas defined between the side beams 14, 15, transverse beams 50, and 
longitudinal beams 52. 
Each of the three carriages further comprises an air bag suspension system 
which is disposed between the transverse strut 64 and the associated 
transverse support beam 53. As illustrated, the air bag suspension system 
comprises a plurality of four separate air bags 70 which are mounted in 
transverse alignment with each other and so as to be generally equally 
spaced apart from each other in the transverse direction. The air bags are 
of conventional design and each includes a metal piston 71 mounted to the 
strut 64 and a flexible, air-tight bellows 72 mounted between the piston 
71 and the support beam 53. Also, each carriage preferably includes a pair 
of shock absorbers 74 mounted between the axle 65 and the second 
transverse beam 54. Further, a reinforcing post 75 extends transversely 
between the two arms 61 of each carriage and is located between the 
transverse axis 62 and the transverse strut 64. 
The apparatus 10 of the present invention further includes an air control 
system as best seen in FIG. 10, for selectively and concurrently supplying 
air to all of the air bags 70 of each of the carriages. As will be 
apparent, supplying air to the air bags acts to pivot each carriage about 
the axis 62 to a lowered ground engaging position as seen in FIG. 8. 
Exhausting air from the suspension system causes the carriages to pivot 
about the axis 62 and lift to a raised position with respect to the main 
frame and such that the main frame is lowered by gravity to engage and 
rest upon the ground, note FIG. 9. The air control system preferably 
comprises an air tank 76 which may for example comprise the same air tank 
in the tractor 12 which is used to supply air pressure for the brakes. A 
line 77 leads from the air tank to a pressure responsive safety valve 78, 
which acts to close the line 71 in the event a predetermined minimum 
pressure is present. Also, there is provided a ride height control valve 
80 for each carriage which is mounted to the main frame and connected by a 
linkage 81 to the axle 65. The valve 80 is thus able to automatically 
meter air to and from the air bags to maintain a constant ride height, 
when the carriages are in their road engaging or lowered position. A 
separate drain valve (not shown) may also be provided for exhausting air 
from the bags 70. 
To effect erection of the apparatus at the construction site, the apparatus 
is initially brought to the desired location by the tractor 12, and the 
tractor is then released while the jack 18 supports the weight of the 
front end portion of the apparatus. Next, the jack 18 is raised to lower 
the front end portion, and the valve 80 is opened to raise the three 
wheeled carriages and thereby lower the rear end portion. As a result, the 
side beams 14, 15 come to rest upon the ground surface and thereafter 
serve as a foundation pad during use of the apparatus. 
To complete the erection process, the two hydraulic jacks 45 are extended, 
which causes the secondary frame of the storage assembly to pivot about 
the elevated axis 34, and until the elevated position as shown in FIG. 2 
is reached. Upon reaching the elevated position, the supporting framework 
36 is lowered by a winch (not shown) from its storage position so as to 
extend vertically between the secondary frame and the main frame. The two 
support legs 38 of the supporting framework are then pinned to the main 
frame at 43 so as to partially support the weight of the secondary frame 
and the container. Thus the pair of vertical braces 22 and the two support 
legs 38 define an open space therebetween, note FIGS. 2 and 3. As a final 
step, a pair of outriggers 82 are extended laterally as seen in FIG. 4 to 
provide improved lateral support for the apparatus. 
It will also be seen that the erected or elevated location of the axis 34 
results in the secondary frame and the container being elevated a distance 
sufficient to permit a dump truck T to be driven therebelow. In this 
regard, the area between the side beams 14, 15 of the main frame below the 
erected container may be filled with gravel or the like to permit the 
truck to be driven through the opening defined between the vertical braces 
and the support legs and as shown in FIG. 2. 
In use, the hot asphaltic mix is delivered by a truck from a production 
plant, and an elevator (not shown) of the type disclosed in the 
above-referenced copending application Ser. No. 07/296,492 lifts the hot 
mix and discharges it into the insulated storage container. When desired, 
a predetermined amount of the hot mix is discharged into the weigh batcher 
and then discharged into an awaiting truck T. 
In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred 
embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, 
they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes 
of limitation.