Tray position indicator extending down in front of the driver when the tray is in raised position

The present invention provides a tray position indicator including at least one elongated member, at least bracket member and an indication means whereby the tray position indicator provides a mechanical means of indicating and alerting a driver of the position of a tray of a rear-dump haul truck to reduce the likelihood of a driver driving away without first lowering the tray.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to dump haul trucks, and in particular, to a tray position indicator for rear-dump haul trucks which provides a means of indicating and alerting a driver of the position of a tray of a rear-dump haul truck to prevent the driver from driving away without first lowering the tray.

Whilst the invention may also be applied to other trucks which may have a tray or carriage that moves from a lowered to a raised position, for convenience sake it shall be described herein in terms of rear-dump haul trucks.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Rear-dump haul trucks are commonly used in the mining industry to transport coal or other goods around a mine site. These trucks are provided with trays which are raised in order to dump a load that the truck is carrying in a predetermined spot. The problem is that once the load has been dumped, occasionally the driver may drive away without remembering to first lower the tray. Such an instance can be hazardous as there is a potential for the raised tray of the truck to collide with an overpass or power lines or some other obstacle.

In order to overcome this problem, various electronic indicators have been developed which are adapted to be installed within the cabin of the truck and indicate to the driver that the tray is still in a raised position. These devices usually comprise a flashing light, or a speaker for a siren, to be installed within the cabin of the truck to attract the driver's attention before they drive away without first lowering the tray. The disadvantage of the prior art is that the devices are electronic and can easily fail due to their reliance on a power source for operation. In addition, if the bulb of the light is blown, or the siren sound fails to sound, the devices will fail to alert the driver of the tray's position. The prior art fails to provide a mechanical means of indicating and alerting the driver of the position of a tray provided on a rear-dump haul truck.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a tray position indicator for rear-dump haul trucks which provides a mechanical means of indicating and alerting a driver of the position of a tray of a rear-dump haul truck to reduce the likelihood of a driver driving away without first lowering the tray.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a tray position indicator including;

at least one elongated member;

at least bracket member; and

an indication means whereby the tray position indicator provides a mechanical means of indicating and alerting a driver of the position of a tray of a rear-dump haul truck to reduce the likelihood of a driver driving away without first lowering the tray.

A first elongated member is preferably adapted to form the body portion for the tray position indicator. The elongated member is preferably adapted to be positioned lengthwise/vertically across the top of the truck so that it extends from the front of the rear-dump haul truck to the rear of the rear-dump haul truck.

The indication means is preferably in the form of a downwardly extending member that is adapted to extend down in front of the driver's view when the tray is in a raised position. The downwardly extending member preferably has provided a connecting portion and a plate member. The connecting portion is preferably adapted to enable the indication means to be connected to the second elongated member. The connecting portion preferably has provided an aperture which is adapted to receive a front end of the second elongated member therein. The plate member is preferably adapted to provide a signage means and/or allow a sign to be connected thereto via a suitable securing means.

The bracket member which is preferably adapted to connect the elongated member to the truck and provide a pivot point for the tray position indicator. The bracket member preferably has at least one connecting portion. A first connecting portion of the bracket member is preferably adapted to provide a connection means for the bracket member to the truck. The first connecting portion is preferably in the form a cylindrical or annular portion having a central aperture which is adapted to receive an attachment means therethrough. A second connecting portion is preferably adapted to provide a connections means for the bracket member to the elongated member. The second connecting portion is in the form of a clamp like member having two portions which are adapted to be connected together, via at least one suitable fastening means such as a screw or bolt or the like, to securely hold the elongated member.

In an alternate embodiment, the tray position indicator preferably comprises two elongated members which are adapted to be connected to the rear of the truck via bracket members having a single indication means connected between the two elongated members.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood we will describe by way of non-limiting example of a specific embodiment thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 to 4show the tray position indicator according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In this preferred embodiment, the invention provides a tray position indicator1for rear-dump haul trucks which provides a mechanical means of indicating and alerting a driver of the position of a tray of a rear-dump haul truck to reduce the likelihood of a driver driving away without first lowering the tray. The tray position indicator1is preferably made of a polyethylene (poly) material, or any other suitable material which is strong, durable and flexible and meets the requirements of the invention. It is envisaged that the colour, shape and dimensions of the tray position indicator1may also be varied so that the tray position indicator1may be adapted for use with different sized and different model rear-dump haul trucks and/or other applications.

The tray position indicator1has provided at least one elongated member. In a preferred embodiment, the tray position indicator1preferably has provided a single elongated member20which is adapted to form the body portion for the tray position indicator1. The elongated member20preferably has a cylindrical rod-like shape. However, it is envisaged that the elongated member20could also have a rectangular rod-like shape or any other suitable shape or form. The elongated member20is preferably hollow along the entire length of the elongated member20. The elongated member20is preferably adapted to have a reinforcement means provided within the interior of the member20to provide additional strength and/or flexibility to the elongated member20. However, in an alternate embodiment, it is envisaged that the elongated member20could be solid. The combination of the material and reinforcement should be such that the elongated member20is both flexible and strong to withstand the weight of a tray3placed thereon for a long period of time, whilst also having memory to return to its initial straightened form as soon as the tray3is raised so that gravity will force the front of the tray position indicator1in a downward direction.

The elongated member20is adapted to be positioned lengthwise/vertically across the top of the truck2so that it extends from the front of the rear-dump haul truck2to the rear of the rear-dump haul truck2. The length of the elongated member20is preferably determined by the size of the truck2and tray3which it must pivot about to operate. The elongated member20is preferably connected to the truck2via a bracket member30. The bracket member30is preferably positioned at a predetermined point along the back half of the elongated member20to provide a connection that is off-centre which in turn will provide the tray position indicator1with a see-saw mechanism whereby the weight of the tray position indicator1will be biased on the front side of the device1.

Provided at the front end of the elongated member20is an indication means21which is adapted to indicate the position of the tray3to a driver. The indication means21is preferably in the form of a downwardly extending member that is adapted to extend down in front of the driver's view when the tray3is in a raised position. The downwardly extending member preferably has provided a connecting portion22and a plate member23. The connecting portion22is preferably adapted to enable the indication means21to be connected to the second elongated member20. The connecting portion22preferably has provided an aperture24which is adapted to receive a front end of the second elongated member20therein. The connecting portion22is preferably attached to the second elongated member20via a suitable securing means (not shown) such as a screw or bolt or the like. It is envisaged that the connecting portion22of the indication means21could also be integrally formed with the elongated member20and/or secured thereto via welding or any other suitable means. The plate member23is preferably integrally formed with, or welded to, the connecting portion22and is adapted to provide a signage means and/or allow a sign to be connected thereto via a suitable securing means such as a screw, rivet or bolt or the like. It is envisaged that the sign may vary depending on the particular machine or the purpose of the sign however, it is preferred that the sign may be coloured or have provided some other indicator which promotes safety and is adapted to make the sign noticeable and bring a driver's attention to the sign when it is in a lowered position indicating that the tray3position of the haul truck2is still raised.

The tray position indicator1has provided a bracket member30which is adapted to connect the elongated member20of the tray position indicator1to the truck2and provide a pivot point for the tray position indicator1to rotate about. The bracket member30preferably has at least one connecting portion. A first connecting portion25of the bracket member30is preferably adapted to provide a connection means to the truck2. The first connecting portion25is preferably in the form a cylindrical or annular portion25. The first connecting portion25preferably has provided a central aperture27which extends along the entire length of the cylindrical or annular portion25and is adapted to receive an attachment means (not shown) therethrough. The attachment means is adapted to provide connection to the truck2and can be a member which is attached to the truck and/or a member which can be attached to the truck2via a suitable securing/fastening means. In a preferred embodiment, the attachment means may be in the form of a rod-like member having at least one threaded portion for receiving a securing means, such as nut or the like, in order to fasten the attachment means and tray position indicator1to the truck2. Alternatively, the attachment means may also be in the form of a bolt or any other suitable attachment means. It is further envisaged that the style of the first connecting portion25may be modified to suit a different attachment means.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a second connecting portion26of the bracket member30is adapted to provide a connections means for the bracket member30to the elongated member20. The second connecting portion26may preferably be in the form of a clamp like member having two portions28which are adapted to be connected together, via at least one suitable fastening means such as a screw or bolt or the like, to securely hold the elongated member20within the grasp of the second connecting portion26. It is envisaged that second connecting portion26can also take on any other suitable form so long as it is capable of securely holding the elongated member20therein. In an alternate embodiment, the second connecting portion may be integrally formed with, or welded to, the second elongated member. In a further embodiment of the invention, the bracket member30may be hinged or may have provided a moveable joint member such that the bracket member may be able to act as a pivot point for the tray position indicator1enabling the bracket member30to be rigidly fixed to the rear of the dump haul truck whilst the elongated member20can be rotatable thereabout.

In practice, the tray position indicator1is attached and secured to the rear of the rear-dump haul truck. When the tray3of the truck2is in a normal lowered position the bottom of the tray and weight of the tray is place on the back end of the second elongated member20to raise the front end of the tray position indicator1so that the downwardly extending sign21is not blocking the driver's view. Once the tray3is raised, the weight will be lifted from the tray position indicator1and gravity will cause the sign21provided at the front end of the elongated member20to fall in front of, and obstruct, the driver's view and indicate and bring to their attention the fact that the tray3is still in a raised position requiring that it be lowered before driving away.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the tray position indicator1may comprise two elongated members20which are adapted to be connected to the rear of a rear-dump haul truck2via bracket members30. The two elongated members are adapted to be arranged and connected on either side of the truck2so that they are parallel and spaced apart. In the embodiment, the indication means21is adapted to be large enough so that it is connected to, and operated by, both elongated members20. This arrangement is particularly useful for larger trucks to ensure that the indication means21and warning is prominently displayed in front of the driver so that it cannot be ignored.

While we have described herein a particular embodiment of the tray position indicator1, it is further envisaged that other embodiments of the invention could exhibit any number and combination of any one of the features previously described. However, it is to be understood that any variations and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.