Patent Abstract:
A side dump truck or trailer comprising a wheeled frame having a plurality of side dump bodies pivotally mounted thereon which may be individually moved from a transport position to a side dumping position. Once the side dump body is in its dumping position, the side dump body may be moved somewhat upwardly and inwardly away from the pile of material which has been dumped at one side of the truck or trailer.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a side dump body and more particularly to a side dump body for use on a trailer or truck and which has increased carrying capacity when compared to conventional side dump trailers. More particularly, this invention relates to a side dump body wherein a plurality of side dump bodies are mounted on a trailer or truck with each of the side dump bodies being selectively pivotally movable between a transport position and a dumping position at one side of the truck or trailer. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Dump bodies which are employed on trailers or trucks normally are of the end dump type or the side dump type. Since the introduction of the side dump body disclosed in applicant&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 5,480,214, side dump trucks and trailers have experienced wide acceptance. Perhaps the only drawback to applicant&#39;s earlier side dump body is that the body does not have as much carrying capacity as an end dump body due to the fact that the side walls of the side dump body extend upwardly and outwardly from a bottom wall, rather than extending vertically upwardly from a bottom wall as in most conventional end dump bodies. The bottom dump or belly dump bodies also suffer the same drawback, since the side walls of those trailers normally extend upwardly and outwardly from a bottom wall rather than substantially vertically from a bottom wall. A further disadvantage of the conventional side dump and end dump trailers is that they are only able to haul a single commodity. 
     Applicant overcame the objections noted above to side dump trailers by way of the inventions disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,967,615; 6,179,385; 7,360,813 and 7,478,883. Although the side dump bodies of the above-identified patents perform their intended functions in an exceptional manner, it has been found that some of the contents of the side dump bodies, after they have been moved to their dumped position, may sometimes be present in the dumped side body due to the pile of dumped material extending upwardly into the interior of the side dump body. If the truck or trailer is moved forwardly or rearwardly in that condition, the dumped material which is piled along side the truck or trailer may damage the side dump body since the side dump body is normally constructed of light-weight steel or other metal material. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     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. 
     A side dump body is disclosed which has substantially vertically disposed side walls, a bottom wall, a back wall and a front wall to increase the carrying capacity of the body as compared to those side dump bodies having upwardly and outwardly extending side walls. One or more side dump bodies or units may be mounted on a truck or trailer. A first upstanding support is provided at the rear of the side dump body which has upper and lower ends. The lower end of the first support is operatively secured to the frame means of the truck or trailer and extends upwardly therefrom. A second upstanding support is also provided at the front of the side dump body which has upper and lower ends with the lower end thereof being secured to the frame means so as to extend upwardly therefrom in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to the first support. 
     A first generally upstanding pivot arm, having upper and lower ends, is also provided with the first pivot arm being pivotally secured intermediate its upper and lower ends to the first support adjacent the upper end thereof about a horizontal axis. A second generally upstanding pivot arm is also provided which has upper and lower ends with the second pivot arm being pivotally secured intermediate its upper and lower ends to the second support adjacent the upper end thereof about a horizontal axis. A first hydraulic cylinder having a base end and a rod end is provided with the base end of the first hydraulic cylinder being pivotally secured to the first pivot arm adjacent the lower end thereof about a horizontal axis. The rod end of the first hydraulic cylinder is pivotally secured to the back wall of the side dump body. A second hydraulic cylinder is also provided which has a base end and a rod end with the base end of the second hydraulic cylinder being pivotally secured to the second pivot arm adjacent the lower end thereof about a horizontal axis. The rod end of the second hydraulic cylinder is pivotally secured to the front wall of the side dump body about a horizontal axis. 
     The upper end of the first pivot arm is pivotally secured, about a horizontal axis, to the back wall of the side dump body. The upper end of the second pivot arm is pivotally secured, about a horizontal axis, to the front wall of the side dump body. A third hydraulic cylinder, having a base end and a rod end, is provided with the rod end of the third hydraulic cylinder being pivotally secured to the first pivot arm above the lower end thereof about a horizontal axis. The base end of the third hydraulic cylinder is pivotally secured to the first support intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof. A fourth hydraulic cylinder is also provided, having a base end and a rod end, with the rod end of the fourth hydraulic cylinder being pivotally secured to the second pivot arm above the lower end thereof about a horizontal axis. The base end of the fourth hydraulic cylinder is pivotally secured to the second support intermediate the upper and lower ends thereof. 
     Each of the first, second, third and fourth cylinders are movable between a retracted and extended position. The first, second, third and fourth cylinders are in their retracted positions when the side dump body is in its transport position. The extension of the first and second cylinders causes the side dump body to be pivotally moved from its transport position to a first dumping stage. The extension of the third and fourth cylinders, when the side dump body is in its first dumping stage, causes the dump body to be pivotally moved to a second dumping stage. The retraction of the third and fourth cylinders, when the side dump body is in its second dumping stage, causes the side dump body to be pivotally moved to a complete dumping stage. The retraction of the third and fourth cylinders, when the side dump body is in its second dumping stage, causing the side dump body to be pivotally moved to a complete dumping stage so that the side dump body is moved upwardly and inwardly with respect to the pile of material which has been dumped alongside the truck or trailer. The retraction of the first and second cylinders, when the side dump body is in its complete dumping stage, causes the side dump body to be pivotally moved to its transport position. 
     It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide an improved side dump body for use on a truck or trailer. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a side dump body having an increased carrying capacity when compared to conventional side dump bodies. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a side dump body which is stable during use. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a side dump truck or trailer wherein a plurality of side dump bodies are individually selectively pivotally secured to the frame means of the truck or trailer. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a side dump trailer which may be moved upwardly and inwardly with respect to the pile of material which has been dumped by the side dump body so that the side dump body will not engage the pile, thereby preventing damage to the side dump body if the truck or trailer is moved forwardly or rearwardly after the contents have been dumped therefrom. 
     These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       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. 
         FIG. 1  is a rear perspective view of the side dump body of this invention illustrating one of the side dump units in its dumped position; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the structure at the rear of one of the side dump units which pivotally move the side dump unit; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the side dump body of this invention with the broken lines illustrating the side dump unit in a first dumping position; 
         FIG. 4  is a partial side view of the side dump unit which illustrates the structure at the rear of the side dump unit and at the forward end of the side dump unit for pivotally moving the side dump unit; 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view illustrating the side dump unit in its transport position; 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 5  except that the side dump unit has been moved to a first dumping position; 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIGS. 5 and 6  except that the side dump unit has been pivotally moved to its second dumping position; and 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to  FIGS. 5-7  except that the side dump unit has been pivotally moved from the position of  FIG. 7  to a complete dumping position. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     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. 
     The side dump body of this invention is referred to generally by the reference numeral  10  and comprises one or more side dump bodies or units mounted on a frame means  14  which may be incorporated into a trailer or into what is commonly called a straight truck. While the drawings illustrate a side dump body  10  mounted on a trailer  16 , the side dump body can also be mounted on a truck as described. 
     Frame means  14  normally comprises a pair of longitudinally extending frame members  18  and  20  which are conventionally supported on a running gear  22 . For purposes of description, the frame means  14  will be described as including a forward end  24 , rearward end  26 , and opposite sides  28  and  30 . Inasmuch as each of the side dump bodies or units  12  are identical, only a single side dump body  12  will be described. Side dump body  12  includes a tub  32  including a bottom wall  34 , rear wall  36 , front wall  38 , and side walls  40  and  42 . A short tapered wall portion  44  is provided between bottom wall  34  and side wall  42 , as seen in the drawings, for a purpose to be described hereinafter. 
     A first tub pivot assembly  46  is secured to the frame means  14  at the rearward end of tub  32  while a second tub pivot assembly  46 ′ is secured to the frame means  14  at the forward end of the tub  32 . Inasmuch as second tub pivot assembly  46 ′ is identical to first tub pivot assembly  46 , only the first tub pivot assembly  46  will be described in detail with “′” indicating identical structure on the second pivot tub assembly  46 ′. Tub pivot assembly  46  includes an upstanding support, plate or carriage which is bolted or welded to the frame means  14 . Support  48  includes a laterally extending portion  50  having an opening  52  formed in its upper end and an opening  54  formed in its lower end. Tub pivot assembly  46  also includes a pivot arm having an opening  58  formed in one end thereof and an opening  60  formed in its other end. Pin  62  is secured to pivot arm  56  above opening  60  as seen in  FIG. 2 . A pin  64  is secured to pivot arm  56  intermediate the ends thereof. Pin  64  has a reduced diameter portion  66  which is received in opening  52  and secured therein by any convenient means such as a locking key or pin. Rear wall  36  of body  32  has an opening  68  formed therein which receives the inner end of a pivot pin  70  which extends through opening  58  in pivot arm  56 . A spacer washer  72  embraces pin  70  between pivot arm  56  and rear wall  36 . The pin  70  is maintained in the opening  68  by any conventional means. 
     The numeral  74  refers to an elongated hydraulic cylinder having a base end  76  and a rod end  78 . The base end  76  of cylinder  74  is pivotally secured to pivot arm  56  by pin  80  extending through base end  76  of cylinder  74  and through the opening  60  in pivot arm  56 . Pin  80  is maintained in position by any convenient means. The rod end  78  of cylinder  74  is pivotally secured to rear wall  36  of body  32  by means of pin  82  extending through rod end  78  and through an opening formed in back wall  36 . Pin  82  is maintained in position by any convenient means. 
     The numeral  84  refers to a hydraulic cylinder having a base end  86  and a rod end  88 . Pin  90  extends through base end  86  of cylinder  84  and through opening  54  in support  48  and is maintained therein by any convenient means. The rod end  88  of cylinder  84  is pivotally mounted on the pin  62  which extends from pivot arm  56  and is maintained thereon by any convenient means. 
     When the side dump body  12  is positioned on the truck or trailer in a transport position as seen in  FIG. 3 , the hydraulic cylinders  74  and  84  are in their retracted position. In that position, pin  70  located directly above pin  64  with pins  70  and  64  being positioned directly over frame member  20 . When it is desired to pivot the side dump body  12  to dump the contents therefrom, the side dump body  12  is initially moved from the position of  FIG. 5  to the first dumping stage as seen in  FIG. 6  by extending hydraulic cylinder  74  which causes the side dump body  12  to pivot about pin  70 . The side dump body  12  is then pivoted from the first dumping stage of  FIG. 6  to the second dumping stage of  FIG. 7  by extending hydraulic cylinder  84  which causes pivot arm  56  to pivot about pin  64  with the base end of hydraulic cylinder  74  pivoting about pin  80 . The contents or material  92  is then dumped from the side dump body  12  as seen in  FIG. 7 . Contents of the material  94  which may still be present in the lower portion of the side dump body  12  as seen in  FIG. 7  is illustrated by broken lines. 
     If the truck or trailer would move either forwardly or rearwardly, the material could cause damage to the side dump body since it is constructed of a light steel material. To prevent that situation from occurring, the hydraulic cylinder  84  is retracted from the position of  FIG. 7  to the complete dumping stage or position of  FIG. 8  which causes the side dump body  12  to move upwardly and inwardly since the retraction of the rod of hydraulic cylinder  84  pulls the lower end of pivot arm  56  to the right as viewed in  FIG. 8  which causes the movement of the side dump body from the position of  FIG. 7  to the position of  FIG. 8  so that no contents remain within the side dump body  12 . The side dump body  12  may then be moved from the complete dumping station illustrated in  FIG. 8  to its transport position of  FIG. 5  by retracting the hydraulic cylinder  74  which causes the side dump body  12  to pivotally move to its transport position. The small angled wall portion  44  provides sufficient clearance with respect to the frame of the vehicle so that the side dump body may pivot from the position of  FIG. 5  to the position of  FIG. 6  without striking any portions of the frame of the truck or trailer. The above described operation of the tub pivot assembly  46  is simultaneously duplicated in the tub pivot assembly  46 ′. 
     Thus it can be seen that a novel side dump body has been provided which accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 
     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.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1