Abstract:
A mid-sized side dump trailer comprising a wheeled frame having a pair of wheels supporting the rearward end thereof and a steerable front wheel assembly of the forward end thereof with a forwardly extending tongue extending from the front wheel assembly for connection to a small vehicle such as a utility terrain vehicle, an all terrain vehicle or a small tractor. The small side dump body may be pivoted to either the first side of the trailer or to the second side of the trailer.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part application of the application Ser. No. 12/069,131 filed Feb. 7, 2008 entitled MINI-SIZED SIDE DUMP TRAILER. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a side dump trailer and more particularly to a mid-sized side dump trailer. Even more particularly, this invention relates to a side dump trailer having a hitch mounting structure at the forward end thereof to which either a ball hitch assembly or a gooseneck hitch assembly may be selectively secured thereto. The trailer also has a hitch at its rearward end to enable another trailer to be towed therebehind. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. 
         [0006]    Side dump bodies for use on trucks and trailers have become extremely popular in recent years since the introduction of the side dump trailer of co-applicant, Ralph R. Rogers, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,214 and many other patents granted to co-applicant. The side dump trailers of the prior art are extremely large and are not practical for smaller scale dumping needs. To applicants&#39; knowledge, no one has previously provided a mini-sized side dump trailer, such as disclosed in the co-pending application identified above, and which has a capacity of approximately 34 cubic feet with an additional capacity if the material in the side dump body is heaped. Further, in most prior art side dump bodies, the power for pivoting the side dump bodies from a transport position to side dumping positions is derived from the prime mover itself. In other words, the trailer is not self-contained. Since the small side dump trailer of the co-pending application will be pulled by small vehicles such as a utility terrain vehicle, an all terrain vehicle, or a small tractor, some of those vehicles may not have either a hydraulic pump system or an electrical system needed to power the side dump body of the trailer. 
         [0007]    Many of the problems of the prior art side dump trailers have been solved the mini-sized side dump trailer of the co-pending application. However, applicants have become aware of the need of a mid-sized side dump trailer having a capacity of approximately midway between the mini-sized trailer of the co-pending application and the full-sized prior art side dump trailers. Further, the side dump trailer of this invention includes interchangeable hitch structures at its forward which enables the trailer to be pulled by a vehicle having a ball hitch or having a gooseneck hitch structure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0009]    A mid-sized side dump trailer is disclosed which is adapted to be pulled by a small truck or tractor and which has a hitch at its rearward end which is adapted to enable another trailer to be pulled behind the side dump trailer of this invention. 
         [0010]    The side dump trailer of this invention includes a wheeled frame having a forward end, a rearward end, a first side and a second side. A side dump body is pivotally mounted on the wheeled frame and has a forward end, a rearward end, a first side and a second side. The side dump body is pivotally movable on the wheeled frame from a transport position to at least one side dumping position, and preferably two side dumping positions. 
         [0011]    The wheeled frame has a hitch mounting structure at its forward end to which a ball hitch assembly may be selectively secured thereto so as to extend forwardly from the forward end of the wheeled frame or to which a gooseneck hitch assembly may be selectively secured thereto so as to extend upwardly and forwardly from the forward end of the wheeled frame. The interchangeability of the ball hitch assembly and the gooseneck hitch assembly permits the trailer to be pulled by vehicles having different hitch structures at the rearward end thereof. The ball hitch assembly and the gooseneck hitch assembly are interchangeably bolted to the hitch mounting structure. 
         [0012]    The side dump body is pivotally movable by at least one hydraulic cylinder, and preferably by two hydraulic cylinders. A rechargeable battery is mounted on the wheeled frame which drives an electrically operated hydraulic pump fluidly connected to the hydraulic cylinders. The hydraulic pump may also be driven by a small engine mounted on the wheeled frame. Further, the hydraulic pump may be electrically connected to the vehicle electrical system for powering the same. The hydraulic hoses for the hydraulic cylinders may also be connected to the vehicle hydraulic system if the vehicle is a tractor or the like. 
         [0013]    It is therefore, the principal object of the invention to provide a mid-sized side dump trailer. 
         [0014]    A further object of the invention is to provide a mid-sized side dump trailer which has a hitch mounting structure at the forward end thereof to which a ball hitch assembly or a gooseneck hitch assembly may be selectively secured. 
         [0015]    A further object of the invention is to provide a mid-sized dump trailer which is ideally suited for landscapers, lawn services, farms and ranches, city maintenance, state and national parks, fairgrounds, sport complexes, golf courses, campgrounds, general contractors or the like. 
         [0016]    A further object of the invention is to provide a mid-sized dump trailer which is much more maneuverable and easier to use than the conventional full-sized side dump trailers. 
         [0017]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a mid-sized side dump trailer which has a self-contained power means for operating the movement of the side dump body. 
         [0018]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a mid-sized side dump trailer which may be remotely radio controlled. 
         [0019]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a mid-sized side dump trailer which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance. 
         [0020]    These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the trailer of this invention with a gooseneck hitch assembly at its forward end; 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the trailer of  FIG. 1  with the broken lines indicating a ball hitch assembly being mounted at the forward end of the trailer rather than the gooseneck hitch assembly; 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  is a partial front perspective view of the trailer prior to entry of the hitch assemblies being secured thereto; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the gooseneck hitch assembly; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of the ball hitch assembly; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the trailer; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the hitch structure which is secured to the rear of the trailer; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the hitch structure of  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a schematic of the means for dump trailer with respect to the wheeled frame; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 10  is a partial top view of the means for operating the hydraulic cylinder. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0031]    Embodiments are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific exemplary embodiments. These embodiments are disclosed in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense in that the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
         [0032]    The numeral  10  refers to the mid-sized side dump trailer of this invention which includes a wheeled frame  12  having a forward end  14 , a rearward end  16 , a first side  18 , and a second side  20 . Frame  12  includes longitudinally extending frame members  22  and  24  which have a rear frame member  26  secured to the rearward ends thereof and which extends therebetween. A front frame member  28  is secured to and extends between the forward ends of frame members  22  and  24 . Preferably, three transversely extending axle and wheel assemblies  30 ,  32  and  34  are secured to the frame members  22  and  24  but a single or double axle and wheel assembly may also be utilized. 
         [0033]    The numeral  36  refers to a hitch mounting structure and which includes a substantially vertically disposed mounting plate  38  which is welded to front frame member  28 . Two rows  40  and  42  of bolt openings  44  are formed in mounting plate  38  at one side thereof and two rows  46  and  48  of bolt openings  45  are formed in mounting plate  38  at the other side thereof. 
         [0034]    A side dump body  50  is pivotally mounted on the frame  12  such as disclosed in the co-pending application and is pivotally movable between a transport position and at least one side dumping position by at least one, and preferably two hydraulic cylinders  51  and  52 . The numeral  54  refers to a 12-volt DC motor which drives a hydraulic pump  56  which is fluidly connected to a reservoir  58  by hose or line  60 . Motor  54  is powered by a rechargeable battery  62  connected to a battery recharge unit  64  of conventional design. 
         [0035]    The numeral  66  refers to a valve, which is preferably radio controlled by transmitter  67  or remote control  67 . The output side of pump  56  is connected to the inlet side of valve  66  by hose or line  68 . Return line or hose  70  connects valve  66  to reservoir  58 . Valve  66  is fluidly connected to cylinders  51  and  52  as seen in  FIG. 9 . Valve  66  has hoses or lines  72  and  74  extending therefrom which may be connected to the hydraulic pump system of a vehicle  76  if the puling vehicle  76  has a hydraulic pump system. Pump  56  may also be powered by a small internal combustion engine  78  if so desired. 
         [0036]    The numeral  80  refers to a ball hitch assembly while the numeral  82  refers to a gooseneck hitch assembly, each of which may be selectively secured to the mounting plate  38 . Ball hitch assembly  80  includes a mounting plate  84  at the rearward end thereof which has four rows of bolt openings  85  formed therein which are and adapted to register with the four rows  40 ,  42 ,  46  and  48  of bolt openings  44  in mounting plate  38 . Bolts  86  extend therethrough the registering bolt openings in plates  38  and  84  to selectively secure ball hitch assembly  80  to the forward end of the frame  12 . 
         [0037]    The gooseneck hitch assembly  82  is provided with a mounting plate  88  which may be selectively secured to the mounting plate  38 . The mounting plate  88  has four rows of bolt openings  89  formed therein which are adapted to register with the four rows  40 ,  42 ,  46  and  48  of bolt openings  44  in mounting plate. Bolts  90  extend through the registering bolt openings in plates  38  and  88  to selectively secure gooseneck hitch assembly  82  to the frame  12 . 
         [0038]    The interchangeability of the ball hitch assembly  80  with the gooseneck hitch assembly  82  enables the trailer to be used with a vehicle having a ball hitch structure or a gooseneck hitch structure associated therewith. The hydraulic cylinders  51  and  52  of this invention may be manually controlled by the valve  66  or remotely controlled by the transmitter  67  as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The hydraulic pump  56  may be either powered by the 12-volt DC motor  54  or the engine  78 . Further, the pump  56  may be eliminated if the vehicle  76  has a hydraulic pump system. The electrical system of the vehicle  76  may also be used to power the motor  54  if so desired. The rechargeable battery  62  enables the mid-sized trailer to be conveniently used without the necessity of connecting the pump  56  to either the vehicle hydraulic system or to the electric system of the vehicle  76 . 
         [0039]    The numeral  92  refers to a hitch structure which is bolted or otherwise secured to the rear of the frame members  14  and  16 . Hitch structure  92  includes a receiver  94 , chain connectors  96  and  98  as well as various openings  100  formed therein to permit electrical wires, hoses, etc. to be extended therethrough for connection to the trailer connected to the hitch structure  92 . 
         [0040]    The mid-size of the side dump body, which has a capacity of approximately midway between the mini-sized side dump body of the co-pending application and the conventional side dump bodies of the prior art. The fact that the trailer has a rear hitch assembly  92  provided thereon enables the contractor or the like to pull a skid steer loader trailer or the like behind the side dump trailer  10 , thereby eliminating the need for the skid steer loader to be separately pulled to the job location. Therefore, it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objected. 
         [0041]    Although the invention has been described in language that is specific to certain structures and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the invention defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.