Abstract:
A dump truck having a dump body which includes an adjustable feedgate for adjusting the size of a passageway through a rear opening at the rear of the dump body. The feedgate is rotatably mounted within the rear opening to provide for improved control of the flow of materials within the dump body which pass through the rear opening when the feedgate is positioned into an open position. A side guide is incorporated into the feedgate to provide additional control of the flow rate of materials through the rear opening especially at low feed rates.

Description:
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/961,320 filed Oct. 31, 1997, now abandoned, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/524,492 filed Sep. 2, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,734. 
    
    
     The present invention relates to art of trucks and more particularly to a new and improved dump truck having an integrated spreader system which allows for improved control of dispensing the contents of the dump truck. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Trucks such as dump trucks have commonly been used to convey materials such as salt and/or sand for the purposes of spreading these materials onto road surfaces to improve the traction of the road surface during hazardous conditions. The materials in the truck are commonly dispensed by tilting the dump body of the truck thereby releasing the goods from the dump body and/or conveying the materials within the dump body a out through an opening in the rear of the dump body. Dump trucks with integrated spreader systems are illustrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,886,214 and 4,266,731. Both these patents illustrate the use of an integrated spreader system wherein the bottom of the dumper body includes a conveyor which is regulated to control the dispensing rate of the materials within the dump body and further include a rear spreader which disperses the materials from the dump body onto the road surface. For many years, asphalt spreading trucks have included a dump body with two openings in the rear tailgate. These openings included rotary feedgates that were manually moveable in a vertical direction to control the flow of asphalt through the openings as the asphalt was being spread with the dump body raised. Although prior spreading systems have improved the control of the dispensed materials from the dump body, a control mechanism for controlling the size of the passageway out of the dump body has yet to be developed which can be easily adjusted manually and/or automatically to provide better control of the dispensed materials from the dump body. Due to the lack of material conveyance designs which are easy and convenient to use and have the versatility to control the rate of dispense materials from a dump body, there has been a demand for a mechanism which both improves the control of the dispensing rate of materials from a dump body and which can be easily adjusted manually or automatically. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to trucks, particularly dump trucks and more particularly to a new and an improved dump truck which includes an improved conveyance mechanism for controlling the dispense rate of materials within the dump body. 
     In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a truck having a dump body having two side walls, a base and a rear end and front end. The rear end includes an opening which can be manipulated to control the dispensement rate of the contents within the dump body through the rear opening. The size of the aperture in the rear open is manipulated by an adjustable feedgate which is rotatably mounted in the rear opening. The side walls of the dump body are positioned essentially perpendicular to the base of the dump body or are angularly positioned with respect to the base so as to provide sloped surfaces. Preferably, the side walls of the dump body are angually positioned to provide slope surfaces which slope downward to the base of the dump body. At the base of the dump body, there is incorporated therein a conveyor system which rearwardly moves material within the dump body toward the opening in the rear end of the dump body. Preferably, the conveyor system extends longitudinally from the forward end to the rear end of the dump body and is evenly spaced between the two side walls of the dump body. The rear opening is preferably in longitudinal alignment with the conveyor system so that the materials in the dump body moved to the opening by the conveyor system will directly exit the dump body through the opening. The rear opening preferably has a width which is generally equal to the width of the conveyor belt of the conveyor system and the height of the opening is preferably less than half the height of the dump body. The rotatably adjustable feedgate mounted on the rear end of the dump body and preferably in the rear opening is adjustable by manual and/or mechanical means. The feedgate is designed to regulate the rate at which the material contents of the dump body are dispensed from the dump body through the rear opening. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the rear end of the dump body includes a tailgate which is pivotly attached to the rear end of the dump body. The tailgate preferably includes the rear opening. The tailgate of the dump body permits the truck to be used in both a regulated closed mode of operation wherein the tailgate is in the closed position and the contents of the dump body are conveyed toward the rear end of the dump body and through the rear opening in a controlled manner. The feedgate is preferably mounted on the tailgate and in the rear opening such that the tailgate can be positioned in an opened mode wherein the tailgate is laid in a flat open position extending in essentially the same plane of the base of the truck dump body. The design of the feedgate allows for operation in both modes without requiring a complicated configuration or operation to be used in either one of these modes. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the rear opening includes two side walls and a top wall and the feedgate is rotatably mounted in the rear opening to the two side walls of the rear opening. Such a mounting configuration facilitates in a compact and simplified. mechanism for controlling the feedgate position within the rear opening of the dump body. The feedgate includes an edge guard which is in contact with or closely adjacent to the conveyor belt when the feedgate is in the closed position. In the closed position, the feedgate blocks the access of the materials in the dump body from passing through the rear opening. As the feedgate is rotated into an open position, the edge guard of the feedgate upwardly retracts in a generally upward arc from the conveyor belt surface and controllably allows materials in the dump body to pass through and/or be conveyed through the rear opening. 
     In accordance with another feature of the present invention, the feedgate includes a feed guide having two panels positioned generally perpendicular to one another and rotatably mounted to each of the side walls of the rear opening. The feed guide is preferably mounted such that the feed guide can either be immediately retracted from the base of the dump body as the edge guard is retraced or delay in restricting until the edge guard has retracted to a minimum predefined position. Once the edge guard has reached or exceeded the predefined position, the edge guard and the feed guide simultaneously retract until the feedgate is positioned in the completely open position. The feed guide also can be mounted such that the feed guide retracts at a similar or different rate from the retraction rate of the edge guard. The feed guide is designed to add additional control to the dispensement of the materials from the dump body by limiting the size of the rear opening as the edge guard is retracted. This feedgate design provides additional control to the dispensement rate of the materials at especially low dispensement rates. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the feedgate is designed to permit the truck to be readily converted between a regulated closed mode of operation and an open mode of operation such that the dump body is not adversely affected with capacity and strength in either the regulated closed mode of operation or the open mode of operation. Such a design allows the tailgate to be used for hauling, dumping and spreading material from the dump body of the truck. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the feedgate can be mounted such that the feedgate can be manually opened and closed in an easy and efficient manner. Furthermore, the feedgate is also designed such that an automated system such as a hydraulic drive may be connected to the feedgate to move the feedgate in both an open and closed position. The hydraulic system can include an electrical control system arranged in the cab of the truck to allow an operator to operate the hydraulic system and control the dispensement rate of materials from the dump body of the truck. 
     The primary object of the present invention is to provide a truck which can dispense material in a controlled manner. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a truck having a dump body which dump body includes an opening having a feedgate which is rotatably incorporated into the opening of the dump body. The rotatably mounted feedgate is designed to control the rate of dispensement of materials from the dump body through the feedgate. 
     In accordance with still another object of the present invention, the feedgate is mounted into the tailgate of the dump body such that the tailgate can be positioned in a regulated closed mode of operation to control the dispensement of the contents of the dump body through the feedgate and an open mode of operation whereby the tailgate in a flat open position. 
     In accordance with still yet another object of the present. invention, the feedgate includes two feed guides mounted to the side of the rear opening which are designed to regulate the flow of materials from the receptacle through the feedgate especially at relatively low feed rate settings. 
     Another object of the present invention is a feedgate which is designed to be opened and closed manually or by automated operation. 
     Another object of the present invention, the feedgate design is simple and easy to operate and provides excellent control of the rate of dispensement of materials from the dump body. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention, the dump body includes a conveyor system incorporated into the base of the dump body which acts in cooperation with the feedgate to dispense materials from the dump body to better control the rate of dispensing of the materials from the dump body. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for controlling the rate of dispensement of materials from a truck which is economical to install and easy to operate. 
     These and other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following description taken together with the preferred embodiment disclosed in the accompanied drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference may now be made to the drawings, which illustrate various preferred embodiments that the invention may take in physical form and in certain parts and arrangement of parts wherein; 
     FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a truck which includes the rotatably feedgate in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the rear of the truck as shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  in FIG. 2 which illustrates the rotatable feedgate in an enlarged closed position; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the same cross-section as in FIG. 3 wherein the rotatable feedgate is positioned in a slightly open position; 
     FIG. 5 is another cross-sectional view taken along the same cross-section as in FIG. 3 whereby the rotatable feedgate is positioned in a greater open position than shown in FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is still another cross-sectional view taken along the same cross-section as in FIG. 3 wherein the rotatably feedgate is in a completely open position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the same, FIG. 1 illustrates a dump truck  10  which includes the rotatable feedgate of the present invention. Truck  10  includes a dump body  12  mounted on a truck frame, not shown. The dump body may be elevated for pivotal movement about a rear axis such that the dump body is pivoted between a normal or horizontal position. Although not shown, dump body  12  may be raised by a hydraulic lift such as a telescopic lift which is connected to the truck frame at the forward end of truck  10  to hydraulically raise and lower dump body  12  in a conventionally known manner. 
     Dump body  12  includes a rear end  14 , two sides  16  and  18 , a base  20 . and a front side. Rear end  14  preferably is a movable tailgate  22 . As shown in FIG. 1, tailgate  22  is positioned in a closed position. In a conventional manner, tailgate  22  is pivotally mounted either at the top or bottom of the tailgate. As shown in FIG. 1, tailgate  22  is mounted for pivotal movement about an upper transverse horizontal axis. A pair of tailgate pivot pins  24  are mounted on the tailgate and are inserted in cooperation with pivot bearings  26  which are attached to the back top ends of sides  16  and  18 . 
     As shown in FIG. 1, tailgate  22  is maintained in close position by tailgate latches  28  which are used to latch tailgate latch bars  30  which are attached to the tailgate. The tailgate latches are proximately located near lower back ends of sides  16  and  18 . The latches are used to latch the tailgate in its closed position and to mount the tailgate for pivotal movement about a lower transverse horizontal axis. Tailgate latches  28  are unlatched to dump the material contents of dump body  12  through the rear of dump body  12  when the dump body is elevated from the front of the truck. 
     Tailgate  22  can be pivoted downwardly from the lower transverse axis into an open flat position by extending it rearwardly from the bottom of the dump body. Although not shown, tailgate pivot pins  24  are disengaged from tailgate pivot bearing  26  and tailgate  22  is then be lowered to its lower flat open position. The procedure is reversed for remounting the tailgate for pivotal movement about its upper transverse axis. A chain or bar not shown can be attached to the tailgate and the dump body side  16  and/or  18  to maintain the tailgate in its flat open position. When the tailgate is in its flat open position, the rear end of the dump body is opened and the inner flat face of the tailgate provides a rearward extension of the generally flat dump body base of container  12 . The truck can then be used for open truck hauling and open truck dumping when the tailgate is positioned in the flat open position. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, a conveyor system  40  is integrated into the dump body  12  of truck  10  to provide a multi-purpose truck which may be used in both a dump mode and a regulated closed mode by simple manual or automatic conversion of truck  10  between these two modes. The dump mode of operation is the dispensement of materials from the dump body through tailgate  22  when tailgate latch bars  30  disengages from tailgate latches  28  as dump body  12  is raised. The regulated closed mode of operation is the dispensement of materials from the dump body through an opening  60  when the tailgate is latched in the closed position. 
     The conveyor system  40  comprises a central longitudinally extending conveyor belt  42  integrated into the base of dump body  12 . Conveyor  40  is preferably mounted in a conveyor recess  50  in base  20  of the dump body  12  such that conveyor belt  42  is receded from the surface plane of base  20 . The conveyor system comprises a central, longitudinally extending and conveyor belt  42  integrated into the base of container  12 . The effective width of conveyor system is established by conveyor recess  50  which is an overlying, longitudinally extending opening having a pair of laterally spaced down turned edges of the outer co-planar sections of the dump body base. The conveyor recess includes sloped surfaces  52  mounted on slope mount  54 . The sloped surface forms a sloped surface from the surface plane of base  20  to the top surface of the conveyor belt. The sloped surfaces are preferably flexible so as not to damage the conveyor belt and are preferably made of a rubber material which is durable and wear resistant to the various types of materials  34  conveyed in the dump body. A back flow shield  56  is mounted in conveyor recess  50  below conveyor belt  42 . Back flow shield  56  includes a blade  58  which is preferably flexible and is positioned in contact or closely adjacent to the bottom surface of conveyor belt  42 . The back flow shield is designed to prevent materials conveyed by the conveyor belt to be drawn under the truck. The conveyor system also includes a front sprocket shaft, not shown, and rear sprocket shaft  44 , each sprocket shaft having a laterally spaced conveyor sprocket  46  for supporting a laterally spaced conveyor belt  42 . The sprocket shafts are mounted into recess  50  in shaft holes  48 . Conveyor belt  42  may be a chain linked belt, a fabric belt, a rubber belt, etc. The belt may be flat or include ribs to facilitate in the conveyance of material  34  in the dump body. A suitable hydraulic electric or combustion drive mechanism, which is not shown, is connected to the front or rear sprocket shaft  44  for driving conveyor belt  42 . The conveyor belt, sprocket shafts and conveyor sprockets are all mounted in recess  50  such that the top of the conveyor belt is preferably positioned below the surface of base  20 . As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conveyor system is preferably positioned along the longitudinal center of base  20  of dump body  12 . 
     As previously discussed, side walls  16  and  18  of the dump body are preferably sloped to direct materials  34  toward the center of base  20 , into recess  50  and onto the surface of belt  42 . 
     The conveyor system can be used in a rear or front dispensing mode of operation by operating the conveyor system to convey the material contents of the dump body to the rear end or front end of dump body to dispense the material in the back of the rear wheels of truck  10 . For a rear dispensing mode a rear spinner, not shown, is preferably mounted onto the rear truck frame or tailgate  22  to dispense the materials to the rear of the truck and spread materials onto the roadway. The rear spreader is preferably in longitudinal alignment with the conveyor system and the tailgate opening so as to properly spread the materials exiting opening  60 . A gravity chute, not shown, is preferably included to direct the dispense materials from the tailgate opening to the spinner thereby properly spreading the material throughout the roadway. The spinner is also preferably mounted such that it can be rotated and positioned below the gravity chute or rotated in a retracted position to allow the tailgate to be opened and the materials removed from dump body  12  without coming in contact with the spinner. A suitable hydraulic drive or electric motor system is preferably connected to the spinner to drive the spinners. A control system is preferably integrated with the spinners conveyor system to control the amount of materials dispensed from dump body  12  to spread such materials throughout the roadway. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, tailgate  22  includes a feedgate  70  which controls the flow rate of materials  34  out of dump body  12  which are conveyed to tailgate  22  by conveyor system  40  when the truck is in the regulated closed mode. Feedgate  70  is mounted on tailgate  22  and within opening  60 . As discussed above, opening  60  is preferably positioned to be in longitudinal alignment with conveyor system  40 . As shown in FIG. 1, opening  60  is rectangular in shape and extends from the base of tailgate  22  to a height of less than about ½ the height of tailgate  22 . 
     Feedgate  70  is mounted to be selectively positioned either manually or automatically to be used in several modes of operation. Opening  60  includes a tailgate top  62  and two sides  64 . Preferably, opening  60  is 1 to 5 feet wide and 1 to 4 feet in height. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, feedgate  70  includes a face plate  72  and two side plates  74  which forms a feedgate cap  76 . Attached to the front edge of face plate  72  is edge guard  80 . Edge guard  80  is preferably a flexible material made of a flexible and durable rubber material. The use of a flexible edge guard eliminates or significantly reduces damage to the conveyor belt  42  when the feedgate is in the closed position. Edge guard  80  is shaped such that the edge guard will fit down into and between conveyor recess  50 . As shown in FIG. 3, edge guard  80  is positioned closely adjacent to and/or engages the top surface of conveyor belt  42  when feedgate cap  76  is in the closed position. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, feedgate  70  is in the closed position. In the closed position, the base of face plate  72  and the base of side plates  74  of cap  76  are in contact with and in parallel relationship to base  20  of dump body  12  and edge guard  80  is in contact with the top of conveyor belt  42 . In the closed position, materials  34  in dump body  12  are prevented from passing through opening  60  even when conveyor system  40  is in operation. As shown in FIG. 3, cap  76  closes the passageway through opening  60 . 
     The width of face plate  72  is designed to be less than the width of tailgate opening  60  to allow the face plate to pass through the opening. Face plate  72  is preferably curvilinear in shape. Face plate preferably has a radius slightly less than the distance between pin hole  78  and the top  62  of opening  60 . When cap  76  is in the closed position, face plate  72  extends from base  20  to top  62  of opening  60 . The arcuate shape of face plate  72  allows the face plate to be easily rotated between the closed and completely open position as illustrated in FIGS. 3-6. Two sides plates  74  are attached to the edges of face plate  72  to form cap  76 . The side plates are preferably welded together, but can also be bolted together. The feedgate is attached in opening  60  by positioning side plates  74  into opening  60  and closely adjacent to side walls  64  of opening  60 . Side plates  74  each include a pin opening  78  located near the lower back edge of the side plates and generally in the surface plane of base  20  for axial movement of the feedgate about base  20 . Pin opening  78  of each side plate is aligned with a pin hole  68  located in each side wall  64  of opening  60 . A feedgate pin  90  is inserted through pin opening  78  and pin hole  68  of each side plate until the end of each pin passes into each pin chamber  92  thereby attaching cap  76  in opening  60 . Both feedgate pins  90  are locked into position by attaching a pin clip  94  to the end of pin  90 . A bracket  96  supports pin in pin chamber  90 . Pin chamber  92  is a cavity in tailgate  22  positioned adjacent to each side wall  64  of opening  60 . The pin chamber allows for easy access to pin  90  to allow an operator to easily mount and dismount the cap  76  in opening  60 . The pin arrangement for the feedgate cap allows the feedgate cap to be rotated within opening  60  about pin  90 . 
     Face plate  72  includes a guide lift  82  attached to the interior front edge of the face plate. Face plate  72  also includes a housing  84  attached on the interior edge of face plate  72  and evenly positioned between side plates  74 . Housing  84  is generally “L” shaped and forms a generally straight surface  86  which lies in a plane that is generally perpendicular to base  20  of dump body  12  when feedgate  70  is in a closed position. A bar holder  100  is attached to surface  86  and includes two holder flanges  102  mounted parallel to one another. Each holder flange includes at least two holes  104  aligned such that a holder pin  106  can be inserted between the two holder flanges. A pin lock  108  is used to secure pin  106  in the holes of the holder flange. Guide lift  82  is designed to lift side guide  110  which is described in more detail below. 
     Feedgate cap  76  includes a safety bar  88  which is connected to the top edge of face plate  72 . Safety bar  88  holds lever  130 , when the lever is folded down as shown in phantom lines in FIG.  2 . 
     A cap seal  120  is attached to the top of opening  60  to seal the space between face plate  72  and the top of opening  60 . The plate seal is preferably a flexible and durable material such as rubber which is designed to slightly flex as feedgate cap  76  is opened and closed and to maintain a tight seal with the surface of the face plate. The seal formed by cap seal  120  prevents materials  34  in dump body  12  from passing between top  62  of opening  60  and cap  76 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, feedgate  70  includes a side guide  110 . Side guide  110  includes two side panels  112  and a guide top  114  extending between the two side panels. Each side panel  112  is positioned between and closely adjacent to side plates  74 . Side guide  110  is movably attached to pin  90  by passing pin  90  through pin hole  116  on each side panel  112 . As shown in FIG. 3, the side panels of side guide  110  preferably rests on base  20  and adjacent to each side of conveyor recess  50  when feedgate  70  is in the closed position. Each guide side preferably extends nearly to the interior surface of face plate  72  and has a arcuate shaped front edge having a radius which is slightly less than the radius of the face plate. As will be described in more detail below, side guide  110  cooperates with cap  76  to control the flow rate of materials  34  from dump body  12 , through opening  60 , especially at slower flow rates. 
     Side guide  110  preferably moves independently from cap  76 . As a result, side guide  110  can be configured either to move simultaneously with the movement of cap  76  or move with cap  76  only after the cap has moved beyond a preset position. Attached to guide top  114  is guide bar  118 . Guide bar  118  is preferably positioned betweens side panels  112  and the guide bar. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, feedgate  70  includes a lever  130  for manual opening and closing of the feedgate. Lever  130  is located near the top edge of face plate  72  and is mounted on lever mount  132  which is attached to side plate  74  nearest to side  18  of dump body  12 . A feedgate lock pin  134  is positioned on side plate  72  adjacent to lever mount  132 . Positioned adjacent to lever  132  is a lock flange  140  extending outwardly from tailgate  22 . Lock flange  140  includes several lock holes  142  and a flange platform  144 . Lock flange  140  is designed to lock feedgate  70  into position. Lock pin  134  is inserted into lock flange  140  to secure feedgate  70  in its various open and closed positions. Feedgate is locked into a desired position by moving lever  130  until lock pin  134  is aligned with the desired lock hole  142 . Lock pin  134  is then inserted into lock hole  142  thereby securing feedgate  70  into position. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, lock pin  134  includes a pin  136  threaded into a mounting boss  138  on lock flange  140 . In the completely open position of feedgate  70 , the edge of side plate  74  rests upon flange platform  144 . Lock pin  134  is positioned in open lock hole  146  thereby locking feedgate  70  in a completely open position. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, feedgate  70  controls the dispensement rate of materials  34  within dump body  12 . Feedgate is manually positioned in its various open and closed positions to control the flow rate of materials through opening  60 . As shown in FIG. 3, feedgate  70  is in the closed position. In the closed position, the base of cap  76  is in contact with and in parallel relationship to base  20  of dump body  12  and edge guard  80  extends into conveyor recess  50  and into contact with conveyor belt  42 . This closed position essentially seals opening  60  thereby preventing materials  34  from exiting through the opening even when conveyor system  40  is in operation. 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, feedgate  70  is in a slightly open position to allow a small amount of materials  34  within dump body  12  to exit through opening  60 . Lever  130  is pulled down by an operation until the feedgate is opened to the desired position. Feedgate is then locked into position by inserting lock pin  134  into lock holes  142 . The base of cap  76  moves in a non-parallel relationship to base  20  as the cap is rotated into an open position. The rate of flow of material  34  through opening  60  is maintained relatively constant by the operation of conveyor system  40  to continuously force material  34  under cap  76  and through opening  60 . Side guide  110  is shown to be resting on base  20  of dump body  12 . The side guide prevents the flow of material under side plate  74  and only allows the material to pass under face plate  72  of cap  76 . As shown in FIG. 4, the sides of are extended by side guide  110  as cap  76  is moved into an open position. Such a configuration allows for greater control of the flow of material through opening  60 , especially at low material flow rates. Although not shown, side guide  110  can be mounted such that it will raise up from base  20  of dump body  12  simultaneous with cap  76 . Such a configuration is achieved by placing holder pin  106  through holder holes  104  located below guide bar  118  when feedgate  70  is in the closed position. Such a position of holder pin  106  will force guide bar  118  to be immediately lifted as cap  76  is moved to the open position thereby causing side guard  110  to be simultaneously lifted from base  20 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, feedgate  70  is opened even more than shown in FIG.  4 . Feedgate  70  is locked into position by lock pin  134 . Side guide  110  is shown to be slightly raised from base  20  to allow additional amounts of material  34  to flow through opening  60 . Side guide  110  is raised by guide lift  82  contacting guide top  114  and thereby causing side guide  110  to be raised. Conveyor system  40  is then operated to maintain a relatively even flow of material through opening  60 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 6, feedgate  70  is illustrated in its completely open position whereby the edge of side plate  74  is resting on flange platform  144 . Feedgate  70  is locked into the completely open position by inserting lock pin  134  into open lock hole  146  on lock flange  140 . In the completely open position, the materials within dump body  12  freely pass through opening  60  at the maximum rates of dispensement. Conveyor system  40  is operated to assist in the high flow rate of material through opening  60 . In the completely open position, side guide  110  is preferably locked into position to prevent it from moving by locking guide bar in bar holder  100  by holder pin  106 , as shown in FIG.  6 . 
     Although not shown, it can be appreciated that dump body  12  can be converted into an open hauling position by laying open tailgate  22 . In such an operating mode, rotatable feedgate  70  is positioned in its completely open position to create a level surface on tailgate  22 . 
     It will also be appreciated that conveyor system  40  may be remotely controlled by an operator in the driver&#39;s cab. Further, the feedgate and conveyor system can be connected to an automated system to provide from easy operation by an operator while driving the truck. 
     The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment and alternates thereof. It is believed that many modifications and alterations of the embodiments disclosed will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the detailed description of the invention. It is intended to include all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the present invention.