Abstract:
According to the present invention, the crop transport system is a trailer equipped with a hydraulic ram at one end used to pivot the end up for loading and unloading of a crop container, and further has a hydraulic system for keeping all of the wheels of the trailer in contact with the ground. Additionally, a unique system of guides is utilized to direct the loading and unloading of the crop container as well as the securing of the same in place aboard the trailer.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to loading and shipping of crops by using a trailer and basket system.  
           [0002]    When transporting crops from the agricultural site to the processing facility, typically several trucks are employed for the task. Depending upon the site&#39;s volume, this may require a multitude of trucks, and moreover, a multitude of trailers. This need arises because often crops cannot be processed immediately, or as quickly as they are harvested. As such, crops must often spend some time waiting in or near the harvest site before they are processed.  
           [0003]    This creates a problem in that some locations may or may not have storage bins or other facilities for storing these offloaded crops before they are weighed, treated and/or processed. As a result, these offloaded crops must be moved, sometimes multiple times, which is both time-consuming and inconvenient. Additionally, the crops in contact with the ground which can lead to insect infestation, rot and so forth.  
           [0004]    This problem can be overcome, as it is now, by utilizing tractor-trailers which can leave detachable trailers at the harvesting location full of goods, and travel back and forth within the harvesting site, as well as from the site to the processing facility where another trailer is waiting. While using several trailers is certainly more cost-efficient than using an individual truck and trailer for each load, this has several economic disadvantages relative to the current invention.  
           [0005]    Another currently-used approach is to leave the product in heaps at the harvest site, thus leaving the truck and trailer free to return to the processing facility to transport additional goods. This method is more economically advantageous in that it requires fewer trucks and/or trailers, but is disadvantageous in that the crops typically reside on the ground and in disorder, which can lead to insect infestation, rot, and the like, as previously mentioned.  
           [0006]    The current invention fills the existing gap in technology by providing a crop trailer and basket system. This system permits the truck and trailer to be reused, while leaving the relatively less-expensive basket behind at the processing facility. By leaving the crop in the basket at the harvest site, the crop is not left in direct contact with the ground, preventing insect infestation, as well as keeping the product neat and organized. Additionally, the baskets permit the truck and trailer, which are the bulk of the cost of previous systems, to be towed back to the processing facility, drastically reducing the amount of equipment needed to transport crops.  
           [0007]    It is known in the art to produce trucks which are capable of dumping product, as is known to load containers on and off of a trailer. The current devices in this field do not, however, offer the unique combination of trailer and basket in the configuration presented herein.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    One object of the invention is to provide a device capable of loading and unloading a crop container on a trailer utilizing a hydraulic assembly to pivot a trailer up and down.  
           [0009]    Another object of this invention is to provide a trailer with a hydraulic assembly used to keep all rear wheels of a trailer in contact with the ground during loading and unloading.  
           [0010]    Still another object of the invention is to provide a device which employs a wheeled system used to guide and secure a crop container on a trailer.  
           [0011]    Other objects and advantages of this invention shall become apparent from the ensuing descriptions of the invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0012]    According to the present invention, the crop transport system is a trailer equipped with a hydraulic ram at one end used to pivot the end up for loading and unloading of a crop container, and further has a hydraulic system for keeping all of the wheels of the trailer in contact with the ground. Additionally, a unique system of guides is utilized to direct the loading and unloading of the crop container as well as the securing of the same in place aboard the trailer. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of this invention. However, it is to be understood that this embodiment is intended to be neither exhaustive, nor limiting of the invention. They are but examples of some of the forms in which the invention may be practiced.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 shows a side view of the trailer and container assembly in the down position.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 shows a side view of the trailer and container assembly in the up position.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 shows a side view of the hydraulic assembly of the axle stabilizer in the down position.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 shows a side view of the hydraulic assembly of the axle stabilizer in the up position.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 shows a side view of the trailer and container assembly loading a cargo container.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 6 shows a side view of the trailer and container assembly with a loaded cargo container.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7 shows a cutaway view of the trailer chassis with the cargo container partly on the trailer.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 8 shows a cutaway top view of the trailer and container assembly locked in place.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 9 shows a rear view of the trailer illustrating the roller guides and guide rails.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 10 shows a front view of the trailer illustrating the guide rails.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 11 shows a detail view of the vertical guide system.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 12 shows a detail view of the winching system. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0026]    Without any intent to limit the scope of this invention, reference is made to the figures in describing the various embodiments of the invention. Referring to FIGS. 1 through 12, crop transport system  100  is pictured.  
         [0027]    Crop transport system  100  can be a standalone vehicle, or it can be a tractor-trailer system as pictured in FIGS. 1 and 2. In one such tractor-trailer embodiment, trailer  101  will have as part of system  100  cargo container  102 . Cargo container  102  can be substantially encased, with all sides enclosed except for the top, as in FIGS. 1 and 2. Other applications may require that cargo container  102  be completely closed in, as in FIGS. 7 and 8, when used in applications with light cargo, which may be carried off by wind gusts during transport, or those contents which may need to be secured to prevent theft or unauthorized tampering. In such an application, cargo container  102  may utilize a hinged lid or rear hatch  124 , to permit the loading and unloading of the payload.  
         [0028]    In order to integrate cargo container  102  with trailer  101 , a series of rails  103  can be mounted to cargo container  102  from front to back, which are used to guide cargo container  102  onto trailer  101 . These rails not only serve as a guiding system to load and unload cargo containers  102 , but also limit the movement of cargo container  102  while loaded on trailer  101  by engaging some part or protrusion from cargo container  102  such as alignment pins or similar devices.  
         [0029]    In another embodiment, a dual rail system may be employed, wherein matching rails can be mounted on trailer  101  which complement rails  103  mounted on cargo container  102 . These matching rails add additional guiding forces and provide additional stability while loaded. It should be noted that other types of guide systems can be utilized in this or the previously-described system, such as guide cabling or the like, and such options are not limited to rails  103  disclosed herein.  
         [0030]    Another element that can be used in these exemplary embodiments is that of a vertically mounted roller guide  104  mounted on trailer  101 . Such an embodiment may include spindle  105  on which is mounted wheel  106  whose orientation is horizontal, or parallel to trailer&#39;s  101  bed.  
         [0031]    As part of securing cargo container  102 , rails  103  may employ a lip  107  which engages wheel  106  such that vertical motion of cargo container  102  is limited. In addition, wheel  106  and spindle  105  prevent horizontal motion as well, permitting motion only in a direction parallel to that of trailer&#39;s  101  bed. This parallel motion is controlled by winching system  108 , which, when coupled with the above-referenced limits of motion, effectively locks cargo container  102  in place.  
         [0032]    Another exemplary embodiment of cargo container  102  has rails  103  mounted on cargo container  102  where the distance between rails  103  increases, so that rails  103  are closer together at the end of cargo container  102  than they are at the front of cargo container  102 . This achieves the result of requiring less precision when cargo container  102  is first loaded, and aligning cargo container  102  as it is loaded upon trailer  101 .  
         [0033]    Either alone, or in conjunction with the embodiments listed above, another improvement of trailer  101  of the crop transport system includes a stabilization system  109 . Stabilization system  109  includes sub-chassis  110  which is affixed to trailer  101  on the underside of the rear end of trailer  101 . Attached to sub-chassis  110  are axles  111  which provide the support and mobility required for trailer  101  to be moved, as is generally employed in a typical tractor-trailer arrangement.  
         [0034]    At the forward end of trailer  101  are both hitching assembly  112  and extendible member  113 , which can be hydraulic cylinder as pictured in FIGS. 1 and 2, or some other device capable of raising and lowering forward end of trailer  101 . This motion by trailer  101  utilizes gravity to enable loading and unloading of cargo container  102 .  
         [0035]    In addition, trailer  101  includes winching assembly  108  which moves longitudinally along trailer  101 . Winching assembly  108  is used to load and unload cargo container  102 , which can be controlled via chains, cabling, or any other similar transporting device, by pulling cargo container  102  onto trailer  101 . The connection is forged between cargo container  102  and trailer  101  via hook  122  and catch  123 , the latter of which is a part of winching assembly  108 .  
         [0036]    Sub-chassis  110  is attached to the rear of trailer  101  by rotatable attachment  116 , and can include small frame  115 , attached to sub-chassis  110  and to trailer  101 , utilizing a connection system such as a pin and socket at both attachments to trailer  101  and sub-chassis  110 . This is such that sub-chassis can pivot along the rear. In combination with this, the front end of sub-chassis  110  is affixed to small frame  115  via second extendible member  117 , which, again, can be a device such as extendible member  113 .  
         [0037]    Because of the double-hinged action of the sub-chassis  110  and small frame&#39;s  115  arrangement, stop  119  and stop plate  120  may be employed to prevent the rear cargo container  102  from abutting the rear wheels  121  of the trailer.  
         [0038]    Horizontal rollers  118  can be employed at the end of trailer  101  to reduce friction as cargo container  102  is loaded thereon.  
         [0039]    In operation, crop transport system  100  begins its cycle of use at the crop site. Once brought to the appropriate part of the site and positioned, extendible member  113  is extended, so that front end of trailer  101  is tilted upward. Once tilted, rear end of trailer  101  is near the ground. Winching assembly  108  is then gradually released, which in turn lowers cargo container  102  to ground below.  
         [0040]    During this lifting procedure, second extendible member  117  can be extended such that sub-chassis  110  is forced downward, and thus its axles  111  are kept in contact with ground. This maintenance of contact with ground is what helps to keep trailer  101  level, and as a result, maintains stability. Also, stop  119  encounters stop plate  120  to prevent cargo container  102  from pivoting all the way rearward and contacting rear wheels  121 .  
         [0041]    During the unloading process, trailer  101  can be moved forward to facilitate unloading cargo container  102 . Once cargo container  102  is substantially unloaded, hook and catch are released, which detaches cargo container  102  from winching assembly  108  and thus trailer  101 , permitting cargo container  102  to be left behind.  
         [0042]    Crop or other payload can be loaded into cargo container  102 , where it can be stored until ready for processing. At such time, crop transport system  100  is dispatched to storage facility. If implemented, hinged or otherwise removable lid or rear hatch  124  will be closed and secured. Once at storage facility, crop transport system  100  is positioned on or near the location desired for cargo container  102  to be stored.  
         [0043]    Loading is a similar process to unloading cargo container  102 , but better illustrates more of the features contained in this invention. Cargo container  102  rests on ground, awaiting loading. Trailer  101  is backed up to cargo container  102  and extendible member  113  is extended in order to tilt trailer  101  upwards to prepare for loading. Simultaneously, second extendible member  117  may be extended to keep sub-chassis  110  and axles  111  in contact with ground below.  
         [0044]    Once tilted upward, trailer  101  is in position for winching assembly&#39;s  108  catch  123  to engage hook  122  of cargo container  102 . This engagement is achieved by backing up trailer  101  to cargo container  102 , or otherwise placing cargo container  102  in relatively close proximity to trailer  101 . Once engaged, winching assembly  108  is drawn toward the front of trailer  101  by motor or other mechanical device capable of pulling winching assembly  108  toward the front of trailer  101 . As cargo container  102  is pulled upward, rails  103  on cargo container  102  will engage roller guides  104  which straighten cargo container  102  by virtue of the gradual decrease in spacing of rails  103 . Simultaneously, if implemented, lip  107  of rails  103  will engage roller guides  104  such that lip  107  is restricted vertically by roller guides  104 . This essentially “locks” cargo container  102  in place on trailer  101 . In concert with this loading, extendible member  113  is retracted, lowering trailer  101 , and, if utilized, second extendible member  117  is retracted as well, permitting sub-chassis  110  to return to its position tucked under trailer  101 .  
         [0045]    Once cargo container  102  is loaded on trailer  101 , crop transport system  100  can be transported to the processing facility for dumping of the contents. Once brought to the appropriate part of the site and positioned, rear hatch  124  is opened to permit the extrication of goods from cargo container  102 . Next, extendible member  113  is extended, so that front end of trailer  101  is tilted upward. Once tilted, rear end of trailer  101  is near the ground, and the contents of cargo container  102  will be released and unloaded so that crop transport system  100  may return to the harvesting site to obtain another full cargo container  102 .  
         [0046]    During this lifting procedure, second extendible member  117  will be extended such that sub-chassis  110  is forced downward, and thus its axles  111  are kept in contact with ground. This maintenance of contact with ground is what helps to keep trailer  101  level, and as a result, maintains stability. Also, stop  119  encounters stop plate  120  to prevent cargo container  102  from pivoting all the way rearward and contacting rear wheels  121 .  
         [0047]    This loading and unloading process enables the truck to return to the site where cargo is and pick up additional cargo containers  102 . Effectively, then, this multitude of cargo containers  102  is just as efficient from a storage standpoint as many conventional trailers, but at a fraction of the cost and complexity, and thus is logistically superior.  
         [0048]    Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.