AU2019264581A1

AU2019264581A1 - Forward Unloading Aggregate Spreader

Info

Publication number: AU2019264581A1
Application number: AU2019264581A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jarrod Janson
Original assignee: Jansons Concrete & Haulage Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Janson's Concrete & Haulage Ltd Pty
Priority date: 2019-11-13
Filing date: 2019-11-13
Publication date: 2021-05-27

Abstract

The invention provides in one aspect, a forward unloading system for a truck. The truck having a load carrying area defined by a pair of sidewalls, rear wall and a front wall. The unloading system includes one hydraulic driven chain conveyor encased within conveyor rubber belt that is carried on the respective truck. The hydraulic conveyor assembly discharges into a variable width spreader box. Which has two variable speed augers. And dischargers through up to 20 individually controlled discharge openings. -A I ~ i~

Description

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EDITORAL NOTE

2019264581 There is four pages of Description

A Truck Forward Unloading spreading System

Field of the Invention This invention relates to unloading systems for trucks that enables the truck to unload its payload forward through the trucks original engine tunnel via a level conveyor from its load carrying area into a variable width spreader box, which in turn traverse the material across the box segments to enable even discharge over the required spreading area.

Background of the Invention Large trucks are used every day in the transport and civil construction industry. By far the most common heavy transport and delivery vehicles are tipping trucks. These trucks use gravity to deliver the payload at the desired location. As the load carrying area of the truck or trailer is raised at one end, the floor of the load carrying area assumes a steeper and steeper incline, relative to the ground. Once the slipping angle is reached, the payload, typically aggregates, begins to subside and slide down the slope and exits the truck from the rear. Then fed into a "spreader box" commonly called a Cockrell to spread these aggregates the truck must reverse over the freshly sprayed Bitumen coated road surface to spread an even layer of stones/aggregates. The conventional spreader box is a fixed width. Therefore the vehicle is OVERSISE at all times.

There is a significant risk to death and or injury to personnel as the truck is conducting all of it work whilst reversing and concentration for the driver is at its highest level to maintain the appropriate speed and tipper height to maintain an even discharge / covering. Generally the spreading width is limited to 2.7 - 3 meters, which requires a minimum of two trucks to seal a single lane width of generally 3.5 meters. This has created a demand for more trucks on each site. Which exacerbates the danger with trucks reversing in tandem or triple in close proximity. This constant reversing whilst monitoring the spread position, speed, discharge rate, overhead obstacles, personnel and other equipment, is extremely fatiguing for the driver. Tipping a truck over or colliding with property or personnel is the danger they pose to life and limb, as well as surrounding infrastructure, because of the inherent danger of reversing and susceptibility to rollover events on sloping ground. Furthermore, when the vehicle body is raised, the body of the vehicle becomes higher, and therefore has the potential to come into contact with overhead obstacles in the vicinity of the dumping location, such as power lines, telephone lines, tree branches, bridges, etc. as the tipping portion is raised.

Finally, every time a vehicle is reversing there is an inherent danger of colliding with person or property creating injury or death. Also time pressures often cause drivers to move whilst the body is in the air. This may also result in collision with overhead obstacles or sudden rollover. It is an object of the present invention to provide an unloading system for a truck that at least mitigates some of these problems.

Disclosure of the Invention

The invention provides in one aspect, a forward unloading system for a truck. The truck having a load carrying area defined by a pair of sidewalls a rear wall and a Front wall and gate. The unloading system includes one hydraulic driven chain conveyor encased with conveyor rubber, which feeds the spreader box. Preferably the rate of unloading from the truck is controlled so that the size of the layer deposited on the ground is sufficiently small enough to enable the wheels of the truck is able to ride over the layer as the truck is moved forward. The truck can also be used for spreading material 40mm minis in its normal configuration.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 & 2 is a view of the truck, load carrying compartment, conveyor and spreader box fitted identifying the specific components of the truck.

Figure 3 & 4 is a view of the truck, load carrying compartment, conveyor and spreader box fitted identifying the specific components of the load carrying conveyer assembly.

Figure 5 is a view of the conveyor and spreader box fitted identifying the specific components of the spreader box assembly.

Figure 6 is a view of the truck, load carrying compartment, conveyor and spreader box fitted note the spreader box is in its fully retracted position for travel.

Figure 7 is a view of the truck, load carrying compartment, conveyor and spreader box fitted note the spreader box is in its fully extended position for operation. And cameras for alignment and monitoring spreading.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Firstly, the truck specific items are numbered 1-9 the load carrying / conveyor specific numbered 10-19, the Spreader box assembly labeled 20-29

Figures 1 & 2 We see the engine 1 has been fitted to the rear of the chassis of the vehicle coupled to the Transmission 2. In relation to the axles from the front axle 4a and 4b are both steer axles and 4c is the driven axle and 4d is a "lazy axle " (non driven). This ensures the engine "tunnel" 5 is clear for conveyor 10 to fit longitudinally within the chassis limits.

Figures 3 & 4

The load carrying compartment consists of a conveyor assemblylO which consists of a conveyor belt driven by up to six chains 14 which transverse in tracks 15 the chain is driven hydraulically by the drive gearbox 11 (which can either be lhs or rhs mount), through head sprocket drive assembly 1lb the chain adjustment is preformed by adjusting chain sprocket tail end assembly 12 and the conveyor belt adjusted by tail adjuster drum assembly 13. The chains 14 and conveyor belt 14b are adjusted independently of each other. The load carrying area consists of two side walls 16a, 16b, rear end 17 and front end 18. 16a, 16b, 17 and 18 are all bolted together and fixed to conveyor frame assembly by bolts also. Front end 18 encases a sliding gate 18a to allow for discharge. The gate is actuated by either a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or a positioned in rails linear actuator 19. Also fitted to the spreader box (not shown) a "vibrator" free sticky material if the occasion arises.

Figure 5 Shows the spreader box assembly attached to the main conveyor 10. The spreader box can also be fitted independently to the chassis frame of the truck via mounting brackets. The spreader box assembly 20 consists of support frame 21 two spreader boxes 22 and 22. The spreader boxes are positioned on rails 23 which allow for widening by hydraulic, pneumatic or linier actuators 24. To enable even distribution of the aggrigates, crushed rock, gravel or like (material), there are two augers 25 and 25 fitted and hydraulically driven. Distrubution of the"material" is controlled by up to numerous sliding gates 26 which are positioned in slide rails, the gates 26 are actuated independently by pneumatic hydraulic or electrical actuators 27. Regulation of the discharge opening is conducted by limiting the travel of the sliding gates 26 by stop bar 28 adjusted by a actuator 30 through a bell crank 29. this allows for infinite adjustment from 0mm -100 mm. The adjustment of the stop bar can be done from within the main control of the cabin or from outside by a "spotter". Also fitted to the spreader box (not shown) a "vibrator" free sticky material if the occasion arises.

Figure 7 Depicts guide pin 31 and video camera 32 for position and track alignment. Cameras for spreading monitoring 32.

EDITORAL NOTE

2019264581 There is one page of Claims

Claims

Claims

The design principle of the Forward Unloading Spreader is as follows. Key points. 1. Truck is based on either a factory built chassis unit, or modified unit. The conventional truck is either ordered or modified in such a way to place the engine in the rear of the chassis and drive is from the 4th axle in a 5 axle unit 3rd axle in in a four-axle unit, 2nd axle in a 3-axle unit or 2nd axle in a 2 axle unit.
2. There is a conveyor / chain fitted full length of the bin below the cabin through to the front of chassis. The conveyor / chain is hydraulically driven to discharge forward through the original engine "tunnel" into the front mounted spreader hopper.
3. The split spreader hopper hydraulically extends either side up to but not limited to 800-mm. total spread width from 2.4m wide to 4.2m plus wide and retracts as determined by the operator. Each spreader compartment is approx. 2.4m wide with numerous discharge doors. Each discharge door is individually controlled. The driver may opt to have all doors open at once, or in succession if there is a splay at start or finish of a run, or open any door individually as per discharge requirement.
4. There is a stop bar at the gate mechanism to regulate the gate open limit as required.
5. The spreader hopper houses 2 augers that are individually driven by 2 hydraulic motors, which transfer the gravel, rock or like to the outer limits of the spreader box. Optical eyes, transmitting to a PLC to control main conveyor and auger direction and speed to maintain predetermined hopper level.
6. Also fitted to the spreader box a "vibrator" free sticky material if the occasion arises.
7. The operator controls the entire unit within the cabin by the onboard control panel. Firstly loading the truck, then travels to site. The operator then selects the bin opening width on the control panel to suit job requirements, 8. sets the stop bar to pre determined setting, 9. then selects "pre load spreader" the PLC will then in sequence open the door on the carrying compartment, start the conveyor, start the auger. Once the outer portions of the spreader box is filled to the preset level 10. the auger/s will stop followed by the discharge conveyor witch has its own level sensor placed in the center portion of the bin. The spreading of the product is ready to start. The operator then selects the appropriate gear for travel speed and proceeds to spread. All the operator is required to do now once in the spread zone is to align him/her self with the aid of 11. Indicator bar and camera and open the required discharge gates and the auger/s and conveyor will start as required maintaining bin level through out the discharge cycle.