Abstract:
An apparatus for facilitating removing cargo from a dump truck. A plurality of air hammers are strategically located on an underside of a cargo bed of a dump truck and placed in operative communication with an on board air source carried by the dump truck. Energization of the air hammers facilitate dumping the load.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The following invention relates generally to devices which help remove material which adheres to the bottom and side walls of the cargo carrying bed on the dump truck. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The use of vibration in order to facilitate migration of materials has long been known. It is also known to provide vibrators on the underside of vehicles under the payload area in order to allow the material in the dump truck body portion to be slid off of the truck, particularly when the payload has a high coefficient of friction or tends to clump. 
     The following prior art reflects the state of the art of which applicants are aware and is included herewith to discharge applicants&#39; acknowledged duty to disclose relevant prior art. It is stipulated, however, that none of these references teach singly nor render obvious when considered in any conceivable combination the nexus of the instant invention without invention having taken place. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 PATENT NO. 
                 ISSUE DATE 
                 INVENTOR 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 1,820,320 
                 August 25, 1931 
                 Pickop 
               
               
                   
                 3,106,652 
                 October 8, 1963 
                 Burt 
               
               
                   
                 3,003,733 
                 October 10, 1961 
                 Peterson 
               
               
                   
                 3,343,876 
                 September 26, 1967 
                 Rapp 
               
               
                   
                 3,363,806 
                 January 16, 1968 
                 Blakeslee, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 3,408,872 
                 November 5, 1968 
                 Simmons, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 3,408,876 
                 November 5, 1968 
                 Andrews 
               
               
                   
                 3,438,677 
                 April 15, 1969 
                 Redpath 
               
               
                   
                 3,485,401 
                 December 23, 1969 
                 Meyer 
               
               
                   
                 3,731,907 
                 May 8, 1973 
                 Lash 
               
               
                   
                 3,747,980 
                 July 24, 1973 
                 Hansen 
               
               
                   
                 3,879,018 
                 April 22, 1975 
                 Hunter 
               
               
                   
                 4,175,906 
                 November 27, 1979 
                 Johnston, et al. 
               
               
                   
                 SU 763-163 
                 September 18, 1980 
                 Greben 
               
               
                   
                 4,522,500 
                 June 11, 1985 
                 Hyer 
               
               
                   
                 SU 1180-279-A 
                 September 23, 1985 
                 Vniistroidormash 
               
               
                   
                 SU 1291-465-A 
                 February 23, 1987 
                 Tashk 
               
               
                   
                 SU 1657-423-A 
                 June 23, 1991 
                 Timokhin 
               
               
                   
                 5-85249 
                 June 14, 1991 
                 Katayama 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     For example, the patent to Lash teaches the use of a bin or hopper vibrator system. The vibrator is an unidirectional pneumatic vibrator which includes a sleeve member having a tapered bore therein for positioning upon a correspondingly tapered pin member. An adapter unit is provided which may be affixed to a surface to be vibrated, and which includes a pin member having a taper corresponding to the taper of the bore in the sleeve of the vibrator. 
     The patent to Redpath teaches the use of a vibrator for dumping vehicles. The vibrator comprises an electric motor controlled from the cab of the truck which drives a shaft having an eccentric weight thereon. The shaft is mounted in a pair of bearings. When the vehicle is in dumping position the vibrator is run in order to loosen material that adheres to the bottom or sides of the cargo area. 
     The patent to Hansen teaches the use of a vibrator for dump trucks. A vibrator for the box of a dump truck is formed with an elongated square tube containing apertured plates with the first plate at one end of the tube, the second plate adjacent to the other end of the tube and the third plate between the other two and nearer to the first plate. Bolted to the outer face of the first plate is an electric motor with its shaft projecting through the aperture in the first plate and connected to the first shaft with a flexible coupling whereby actuation of the motor will vibrate the box of the dump truck. 
     The patent to Johnston, et al., teaches the use of a vibrator for a dumping vehicle. The vibrator includes a pressure relief valve, when the valve opens, hydraulic fluid is pumped to a hydraulic motor which drives a vibrator which is bolted to the dump body. The vibrator loosens the material being dumped and prepares it to slide out of the body at its natural dumping angle. 
     The other prior art listed above but not specifically described teach other devices which further catalog the prior art of which the applicant is aware. These references appear more remote on their face from the references specifically discussed above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The instant invention is distinguished over the known prior art in the multiplicity of ways. For example, applicants&#39; novel use of an air driven vibrating system benefits from the air compressor hardware already on board the vehicle in practically all dump-type trucks. As a consequence, the device according to the present invention allows for ready retrofit without onerous retrofitting and finding clearance for other types of drive instrumentalities, such as electric or hydraulic drives. 
     By tapping into the pre-existing air compressor on the dump truck, retrofitting can proceed with maximum dispatch by routing air lines to strategic locations on the underside of the dump trucks cargo area and provide a suitable control in the air line for actuating an air hammer. 
     Applicants have modified a commercially available, hand-held, trigger operated air hammer to compactly nest adjacent an underside of the cargo area. The hammer is supported securely preferably adjacent the forwardmost portion of the cargo area and slightly inboard. Routing the air line to the source of compressed air commonly found adjacent the engine of the dump truck and providing an in-line air switch allows the device to economically and expeditiously be retrofitted on an existing dump truck. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, the primary objection of the present invention is to provide a new and novel air vibrator for use on a cargo area of a dump truck. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as characterized above which is easily retrofitted to commercially available dump trucks by merely tapping into the pre-existing source of compressed air, and routing an air line to air hammers strategically located on an underside of the cargo area of the dump truck. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a present device as characterized above which is extremely durable in construction and safe to use. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a device as characterized above which can be integrated during the course of initial manufacture of the dump truck or can be easily retrofitted as a kit. 
     Viewed from a first vantage point it is an object of the present invention to provide a kit for installation on a dump truck to facilitate the removal of cargo from a cargo bed of the dump truck comprising, in combination: an air line communicating from a source of air to an underside of the cargo bed, a support located on the underside of the cargo bed, air hammer means deployed between the support and a bottom face of the cargo bed, and means for directing air to the air hammer means. 
     Viewed from a second vantage point it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for removing material from a dump truck, the steps coupling the air hammer to a source of compressed air on the dump truck, and activating the air hammer to dislodge contents within the cargo bed after elevating the cargo bed and releasing a confining gate of the cargo bed. 
     Viewed from a third vantage point it is an object of the present invention to provide a dump truck comprising, in combination: a source of air, an air vibrator located under a dump truck bed, and means for activating the air vibrator to remove cargo from said bed. 
     These and other objects will be made manifest when considering the following detailed specification when taken in conjunction with the appended drawing figures. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is perspective view of the air hammer detailing its installation into a U-shaped channel support. 
     FIG. 2 reflects the deployment of the air hammer strategically to an underside of the cargo bed of the dump truck. 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmented view looking down from the cargo area of the truck bed having a portion of the bed removed to show the air hammer addressing the truck bed. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view indicating fastening details of the U-shaped channel support to an under carriage of the cargo bed. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines  5 — 5  of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a side view of the truck schematically depicting the fluid circuitry of the air line between the air hammer and an existing on board truck air source. 
     FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the exploded parts of the air hammer according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Considering the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the various drawing figures, reference numeral  10  is directed to the apparatus according to the present invention. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, the apparatus  10  according to the present invention is shown in its environment. In essence, a dump truck D, having a cargo bed B allows the bed to move from a lowered to a raised position (shown) by means of a cylinder C. The dump truck D normally includes a source of energy E, such as a battery and an engine and the source of energy is operatively coupled between an enabling switch S and an air pump P. The air pump P communicates with an accumulator A controlled by a first valve V 1  with the accumulator A optionally protected on a down stream side by a second valve V 2 . A communicating link L extends from valve V 1  back to the source of energy E when the interior pressure of the accumulator A is within acceptable ranges. As the pressure within the accumulator lowers, a signal through the line L commands for the pump P to provide more air. Valve V 2  can be manually operated and allows communication of the air through a conduit  2  to a third valve V 3  which can be used to operate the gate G of the dump truck. A switch  4  is deployed at the valve V 3  and can direct air first to the gate G and second to the air hammer  20  communicating therewith via a conduit  6 . FIG. 2 reflects the underside of the bed B and shows conduit  6  communicating to a branch  8  that leads to first and second air lines  12 ,  14 . FIG. 2 also shows channel iron support  18 , preferably U-shaped in section and affixed to the underside of the cargo bed B. FIG. 2 shows two possible orientations of the U-shaped channel iron supports  18  in circle A and circle B. One orientation allows the U-shaped iron  18  to be orientated parallel to the long axis of the bed B and the other is transverse thereto. It is preferred that two air hammers are provided per truck cargo bed, one within each of the U-shaped channel supports  18  and that they be placed adjacent a leading edge of the cargo bed and slightly inboard. 
     FIGS. 1 through 5 show the mounting details of the air hammer  20  both onto the U-shaped channel  18  and onto the underside of the cargo bed B. The U-shaped channel  18  includes a bight portion  18   a  and two upwardly extending legs  18   b . The bight portion  18   a , at extremities remote from the central area, project away from the upwardly extending legs  18   b  to provide a tongue  22  at each end thereof for fastening to the under carriage of the cargo bed B. Holes  24  are located on the tongue  22  to receive bolts  24  fastening to the under carriage of the cargo bed via supporting rails R commonly found on the cargo bed underside. 
     The air hammer  20  includes a base plate  26  which mounts onto the bight portion  18   a  of the U-shaped channel within the legs  18   b  so that it nests within the hollow of the U-shaped channel. The base  26  fastens to the bight portion  18   a  of the channel by means of fasteners  28 . Thus, a hammer head  30  of the air hammer faces an underside of the cargo bed B. 
     The hammer head  30  of the air hammer  20  is the working surface which pulses against the underside of the cargo bed B. As shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 5, the hammer head  30  reciprocates between the positions shown in solid lines and dotted lines so that repeated blows are provided to the underside of the cargo bed B by motion of a hammer head along the direction of the double ended arrows Z. When the accumulator A of FIG. 6 is delivering approximately 90 pounds per square inch of air pressure, the hammer head  30  will deliver approximately 4500 blows per minute. 
     Once the air system has been enabled, manipulation of valve V 3  via the switch  4  will direct air to both air hammers  20 . Referring to FIG. 7, the hammer head  30  is disc shaped, connected to a cylindrical hammer stem  32  which is slidably disposed within hollow of a locking nut  34  that threads within a casing  36  that is fixed to the base  26 . Threads  35  on the nut  34  engage threads  37  on the casing  36 . The interior of the casing  36  includes in ascending order, a circular lower valve case  40 , a circular valve disk  41 , a circular upper valve case  42 , a pair of cylindrical valve pins  43 , a cylindrical piston  44  overlying the upper valve case  42  and having a truncated conical top taper, and a cylinder  45  having a hollow bore which is complenentally formed to receive the piston  44  therewithin. The valve pins  43  pass through the upper valve case  42  and extend within the lower valve case  40 . Air is admitted into the casing  36  via inlet  50  which communicates with the air lines  12 ,  14 . An air bleed screw  52  is received in a portal  54  and controls back pressure because the portal  54 , like the air inlet  50 , communicate within the casing. Air admitted within the casing affects the valve disk  41  from its annular seat  40   a  complementally configured on the lower valve case  40 . Upward air pressure is transferred to the piston  44  which causes vertical motion upwardly as shown in FIG.  7 . The planar truncated end of the piston, reciprocating in the cylinder  45 , directly contacts the flat bottom of stem  32  of the hammer head  30  to provide it with positive vertical translation. 
     The locking nut  34  has an interior thread  37  which coacts with the thread  39  on the cylinder  45  and secures same. Vertical reciprocation of the stem  32  beyond a certain point allows excess air to pass through portal  55  located on a top portion of the cylinder  45 , relieving the air pressure and causing the hammer head  30  to fall downwardly in a negative vertical direction. The repeating pulsing caused by making and braking the fluidic path with the portal  55  provides the high rate of reciprocation. 
     In use and the operation, the dump truck is taken to a site where the material contained within the cargo bed is to be dumped, the air system is energized, the truck bed is elevated such that it is inclined as shown in FIG. 6, and the gate G is released. Next, the air vibrator is energized to facilitate the removal of truck cargo content from the truck. 
     Moreover, having thus described the invention, it should be apparent that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the scope and fair meaning of the instant invention as set forth hereinabove and as described hereinbelow by the claims.