US2989200A - Drop bottom containers - Google Patents

Description

June 20, 1961' G. R. DEMPSTER ETAL 2,989,200-

DROP BOTTOM CONTAINERS Filed March 8, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR BYM Imam;

ATTORNEYS June 20, 1961 s. R. DEMPSTER ET AL 2,989,200

ATTORNEYS June 20, 1961 e. R. DEMPSTER ET AL 2,

DROP BOTTOM CONTAINERS Filed March 8, 1957 -3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q INVENTORs ATTORNEYS 2,989,200 DROP BOTTOM CONTAINERS George R. Dempster and William A. Herpich, Knoxville,

This invention relates to improvements in drop bottom containers of the character adapted for use in transporting and dumping refuse and other materials.

. Such a container is usually provided with a drop bot-- tom door which may be opened for dumping the contents from the container; The container is adapted to be filled sitting on the ground, floor or other support therefor. It maybe lifted onto hoisting means for transportation to a point of dumping, where the body of the container is held in elevated postion and the drop bottom door is opened to permit discharge of the contents therefrom.

The drop bottom door is hinged to the body of the container at the front wall of the body portion, so that it swings downward toward the hoisting means in the dumping'position of the container. For a container of large capacity, the length of the door imposes a substantial limitation on the opening movement thereof for dumping. If the door is long from front-to-back, the free edge of the door may strike the ground at the point of dumping and thereby limit the dumping angle of the door in its discharge position.

One object of this invention is to permit an increased dumping angle on the container with a long front-to-back thereof and compensating for such foreshortening of the door by an extension on the front wall portion of the body ofthe container.

Still another object of the invention is to provide sectional door structures at the bottom of the container, with a drop bottom door hinged to the body of the container adjacent the front wall thereof and coacting with abaffle platehinged to the rear wall structure thereof co-' acting with the drop bottom door to close the bottom portionand to permit of opening movement for dumping the contents.

' These objects may be accomplished, according to certain embodiments of the invention, by foreshortening the length of the door from front-to-back of the container so thatthedoor does not extendth'roughout the length of the container, and the body portion of the container has a bafile plate hinged to the'body portion adjacent the rear wall thereofin position to coact with thedrop bottom door to close the bottom of the container. Provision may be made for closing the baflie plate automatically as by -aspring-or counterweight connected'therewith, thereby effectively retaining the contents within the con tainer and permitting movement for discharging the contents therefrom. I r

JIt is preferable "that the baflie plate be held in its closed position by the drop bottom door, for which pur-' Unitcd States Patent tainer, illustrating the bottom structure of the container in different positions;

FIG. 2 is a detail side elevation of -a portion of the container and drop bottom door with a modified form of baffle plate;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the container;

FIG. 4 is an end elevation thereof;

FIG. 5 is a detail cross section through a portion of the container on which the battle plate is mounted; and

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing a modified form of baffle plate operating means.

The container, according to this invention, is adapted for use with any suitable form of hoisting means, either a truck mounted hoisting unit, as shown in the Dempster patent, No. 2,281,183, granted April 28, 1942; a self-propelled vehicle, as in the Dempster et a1. patent, No. 2,751,100, granted June 19, 1956; a hoisting unit of the character shown in the Dempster patent, -No. Re. 23,546, granted September 9, 1952, or a fork lift type of hoisting unit, as desired. The container is illustrated in connection with one form of hoisting unit, but it will be understood that it may be used with any other or desired form of hoisting means capable of handling and dumping a container of this type. r

'In the form of hoisting unit shown, a vehicle chassis is indicated generally by the numeral 1 and is of the typeof wheeled vehicle adapted to be self-propelled. A sub frame assembly 2 is mounted on the chassis 1 and includes a bucket rest 3 for supporting the container, located at the rear end of the chassis. The raising and lowering means comprises a boom assembly 4. The container is adapted to be pulled up on and held against a carriage assembly 5 capable of movement forward and backward relative to the chassis, as described more in detail in Dempster patent, No. 2,281,183.

The container comprises opposite end walls 6, a front wall 7 and a rear wall 8. The top of the container may" be either open or provided with suitable enclosing struc ture, which latter is indicated at 9 in FIGS. 1 and 3.

The bottom portion of the container comprises a drop bottom door 10, hinged at 11 to the body portion of the container adjacent the front wall 7, as, for example, at the lower edge of said front wall. door '10 extends from the front wall 7 toward the'rear wall 8 and preferably terminates short of a vertical plane These end wall sections 12 also have fixed thereon.

lifting pins 14 adapted for connection by a chain or other flexible device 15 (FIG. 1) with the free end portion of the boom assembly 4. This means provides not only for picking up and elevating the container, but it also allows for the opening of the drop bottom door 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1. During such opening and dumping movements, the body portion of the container-is held suspended on the carriage assembly 5 by an automatic Patented June 20, 1961,

The drop bottom 3 dumping hook, shown at 16 in FIG. 1, an example of which is illustrated in Jones patent, No. 2,729,496, granted January 3, 1956. This automatic hook engages a bail connected with the front wall 7 of the container, as indicated at 17 in FIG. 3.

To accommodate for the shortening of the drop bottom door 10 from front to back of the container, the plates forming the end walls 6 are cut oil at an oblique angle, as indicated at 18 in FIGS. 1 and 4, and the edges of the end wall sections 12 are likewise cut off in alignment with the edges 18, as indicated at 19. Thus, when the drop bottom door is closed, the edges 18 and 19 are in oblique alignment at each opposite end of the container.

A baffle plate is provided at 20, hinged at-21 to the lower edge of the rear wall 8 of the container, as shown more in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. counterbalance torsion springs 22 are coiled around the hinge pins and anchored with one end against the bottom face of the bafile plate, and the opposite end anchored by a retainer assembly 23 to the battle plate 20, thereby normally tending to swing the bafiie plate to the position thereof indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 1 and in full lines in FIGS. 4 and 5. The forward swinging movement of bafile plate 20 is limited by stop bars 24 on opposite ends thereof engaging against the edges 18 of the end walls 6.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5, the baffle plate 20 extends downward below the ends of edges 18 and has an angular portion 25 on the lower edge of the baflie plate in position to engage the upper face of the free edge of the drop bottom door 10, as shown in FIG. 5. If desired, however, the bafile plate may be shortened, as indicated at 20' in FIG. 2, thereby coacting with the edges 18 of the end walls 6, terminating substantially at the lower ends of the edges 18. In that event, an upturned bottom portion 10' is provided on the drop bottom door to close the portion of the container beneath the bafile 20'.

Any suitable counterbalance means may be used for closing the battle, as, for instance, by a counterweight, shown at 26 in FIG. 6, welded or otherwise connected to the hinge 21 that connects the baflle plate 20 with the body portion of the container.

The baffle plate 20 extends from end-to-end of the container, between the end walls 6, and cooperates with the drop bottom door 10 to close the opening through the bottom of the container. At the same time it is capable of opening movement for discharging the contents from the container and thereby providing for full opening of the drop bottom door structure, including the door 10 and the baffie 20 for effective discharge.

As the container is held in its elevated position by the automatic hook 16, shown in FIG. 1, and upon lowering of the boom structure 4, the drop bottom door 10 can move down to a full open position without danger of striking the ground or surface beneath the container. When the drop bottom door 10 is thus opened, the baffle 20 is free to be moved aside by the discharging contents of the container to the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1, so long as the contents are being discharged. Then, the springs 22, counterweight 26, or other suitable closing means will return the battle 20 to its dotted line position in FIG. 1, which is shown also in full lines in FIG. 5, with the lip 25 on the lower edge of the baflie in position to overlie the free edge of the drop bottom door 10, in this form of the invention.

Thus, the drop bottom door 10 will hold the bafiie in its closed position and it cannot swing open as long as the container bottom is closed; and the door itself will be held closed by the flexible devices 15 connected therewith at opposite ends, and which extend to the boom structure 4. With the modified form shown in FIG. 2, the battle plate 20' will not be held closed except by the action of the springs, counterweights or the like, unless it is made long enough to extend just inside and be embraced by the upturned portion 10' on the drop bottom door.

Normally, the container would be filled sitting on the ground or other supporting surface, with the parts in the positions shown in FIG. 4. In this position, the baflle and drop bottom door will hold the bottom portion of the container closed effectively during the filling and during the lifting of the container onto the hoisting unit for transportation to a remote point for dumping.

In this Way, the contents can be discharged effectively from a drop bottom container through an enlarged opening in the bottom of the container and without danger that the maximum size of drop bottom door made possible thereby, will strike the ground or surface beneath the container during dumping. The drop bottom door is free to move far enough so that the dumping action is not limited by such underlying surface, whereby greater dumping angle is made possible, and at the same time maintaining a long front-to-back dimension for the container, with full opening of the bottom thereof.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in certain embodiments, it is recognized that variations and changes may be made therein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. A container of the character described, comprising a body portion including opposite end walls, front and back walls, means connected with the body portion adjacent the front wall for suspending the container for discharging the contents therefrom, a drop bottom door hingedly connected with the body portion adjacent the front wall thereof and extending toward the rear wall, with the free edge of said door spaced appreciably forwardly from the rear wall, and a bathe plate hinged to the body portion adjacent the rear wall and extending therefrom substantially to the free edge portion of the drop bottom door, said end walls having oblique lower edge portions extending substantially in alignment with the free edge portion of the drop bottom door in closed position, and the baflie plate extending between said oblique edge portions adjacent thereto, said bafile plate having a lower edge portion extending downward in overlapping relation with the free edge portion of the drop bottom door and held in closed position thereby.

2. A container of the character described, comprising a body portion including opposite end walls, front and back walls, a drop bottom door, means hingedly connecting the drop bottom door at one edge thereof to the body portion adjacent the front wall thereof, end wall sections connected with the drop bottom door and upstanding therefrom coacting with the end walls, said drop bottom door extending from the hinge connection toward the rear wall and spaced therefrom, the end walls and end wall sections having oblique lower edge portions extending between the free edge of the drop bottom door and the rear wall of the container, a bafiie plate interposed between the end walls and extending from the rear wall substantially to the free edge of the door, means hinging said plate to the body portion adjacent the rear wall for swinging movement from a closed position between said oblique edges to an open position upon opening of the drop bottom door, and means yieldably urging said baffle plate to said closed position.

3. A container of the character described, comprising a body portion including opposite end walls, front and back walls, a drop bottom door, means hingedly connecting the drop bottom door at one edge thereof to the body portion adjacent the front wall thereof, end wall sections connected with the drop bottom door and upstanding therefrom coacting with the end walls, said drop bottom door extending from the hinge connection toward the rear wall and spaced therefrom, the end walls and end wall'sections having oblique lower edge portions extending between the free edge of the drop bottom door and the rear wall of the container, a baflle plate interposed between the end walls and extending from the rear wall substantially to the free edge of the door, means hinging said plate to the body portion adjacent the rear wall for swinging movement from a closed position between said oblique edges to an open position upon opening of the drop bottom door, and means yieldably urging said baffle plate to said closed position, said baffle plate having an angular-lip portion on the lower edge thereof in position to overlie the free edge of the drop bottom door in closed position, and thereby hold the bafile plate closed when the drop bottom door is closed.

4. In transporting and dumping equipment, the combination with a hoisting unit having container raising and lowering means thereon and means for supporting the container during dumping, of a container including a body portion having a drop bottom door hinged to the body portion at a side thereof adjacent the hoisting unit, means on the body portion at the side thereof toward the hoisting unit for connection with said body supporting means during dumping, said drop bottom door extending toward the opposite side of the container away from the hoisting unit, and a baflle pivotally connected with the body portion at the side thereof opposite from the hoisting unit and extending downwardly substantially to the free edge of the drop bottom door, said baffle being arranged at an oblique angle and having an offset edge portion in overlapping relation with the drop bottom door and held closed thereby.

5. A container of the character described, comprising a body portion including opposite end walls, front and back walls, means connected with the body portion adjacent the front wall for suspending the container for discharging the contents therefrom, a drop bottom door hingedly connected with the body portion adjacent the front wall thereof and extending toward the rear wall, with the free edge of said door spaced appreciably forwardly from the rear wall, and a baffle plate hinged to the body portion adjacent the rear wall and extending therefrom substantially to the free edge portion of the drop bottom door, said end walls having oblique lower edge portions extending substantially in alignment with the free edge portion of the drop bottom door in closed position, the batlle plate extending between said oblique edge portions adjacent thereto, said baffle plate having a lower edge portion extending downward in overlap ping relation with the free edge portion of the drop bottom door and held in closed position thereby, and means yieldably urging the baffle plate to said closed position.

6. A container of the character described, comprising a body portion including opposite end walls, front and back walls, means connected with the body portion adjacent the front wall for suspending the container for discharging the contents therefrom, a drop bottom door hingedly connected with the body portion adjacent the front wall thereof and extending toward the rear wall,

with the free edge of said door spaced appreciably forwardly from the rear wall, a bafile plate hinged to the body portion adjacent the rear wall and extending therefrom substantially to the free edge portion of the drop bottom door, said end walls having oblique lower edge portions extending substantially in alignment with the free edge portion of the drop bottom door in closed position, the bafile plate extending between said oblique edge portions adjacent thereto, said baffle plate having a lower edge portion extending downward in overlapping relation with the free edge portion of the drop bottom door and held in closed position thereby, and spring means connected with the baffle plate and yieldably urging said bafiie plate to said closed position.

7. A container of the character described, comprising a body portion including opposite end walls, front and back walls, means connected with the body portion adjacent the front wall for suspending the container for discharging the contents therefrom, a drop bottom door hingedly connected with the body portion adjacent the front wall thereof and extending toward the rear wan, with the free edge of said door spaced appreciably forwardly from the rear wall, a bafile plate hinged to the body portion adjacent the rear wall and extending therefrom substantially to the free edge portion of the drop bottom door, said end walls having oblique lower edge portions extending substantially in alignment with the free edge portion of the drop bottom door in closed position, the baflle plate extending between said oblique edge portions adjacent thereto, said baflle plate having a lower edge portion extending downward in overlapping relation with the free edge portion of the drop bottom door and held in closed position thereby, and a counterweight connected with the baffle plate and normally urging the baffle plate to said closed position.

8. A container of the character described, comprising a body portion including opposite end walls, front and rear walls, a drop bottom door, means hingedly connecting one edge portion of the drop bottom door to the body portion adjacent the front wall thereof, end wall sections connected with the drop bottom door and upstanding therefrom coacting with the end walls, said drop bottom door extending from the hinge means toward the rear wall and spaced forwardly therefrom, the end walls and end wall sections having oblique lower edge portions extending between the bottom of the drop bottom door and the rear wall of the container, said door having an angular lip portion, and a baflle plate pivotally mounted between the end walls and extending from the rear wall downward in overlapping relation with the angular lip portion of the drop bottom door and held in closed position thereby.

9. A container of the character described, comprising a body portion including opposite end walls, front and rear walls, a drop bottom door, means hingedly connecting the drop bottom door at one edge thereof to the body portion adjacent the front wall thereof, end wall sections connected with the drop bottom door and upstanding therefrom coacting with the end walls, said drop bottom door extending from the hinge connection toward the rear wall and spaced forward therefrom, the end walls and end Wall sections having oblique lower edge portions extending between the free edge of the drop bottom door and the rear wall of the container, and a baffle plate pivotally mounted between the end walls and extending from the rear wall substantially to the free edge of the door in overlapping relation therewith and held in closed position thereby.

10. In transporting and dumping equipment, the combination with a hoisting unit having container raising and lowering means thereon and means for supporting the container during dumping, of a container including a body portion having a drop bottom door hinged to the body portion at a side thereof adjacent the hoisting unit, means on the body portion at the side thereof toward the hoisting unit for connection with said body supporting means during dumping, said drop bottom door extending toward the opposite side of the container away from the hoisting unit with the free edge of said door spaced appreciably forward of the rear wall, and a baflle pivotally connected with the body portion at the side thereof opposite from the hoisting unit and extending downwardly substantially to the free edge of the drop bottom door, said baffle being arranged at an oblique angle in overlapping relation with the drop bottom door and held closed thereby.

11. In transporting and dumping equipment, the combination with a hoisting unit having container raising and lowering means thereon and means for supporting the container during dumping, of a container including a body portion having a drop bottom door hinged to the body portion at a side thereof adjacent the hoisting unit, means on the body portion at the side thereof toward the hoisting unit for connection with said body supporting means during dumping, said drop bottom door extending '7 toward the opposite side of the container away from the hoisting unit with the free edge of said door spaced appreciably forward of the rear Wall, said door having an angular lip portion, and a baflle pivotally connected with the body portion at the side thereof opposite from the hoisting unit and extending downwardly substantially to the angular lip portion of the drop bottom door, said baffie being arranged at an oblique angle, in overlapping relation with the angular lip portion of the drop bottom door and held closed thereby.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Summers Oct. 28, 1919 Jones Dec. 4, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Feb. 21, 1947

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