US3872984A

US3872984A - Material transport

Info

Publication number: US3872984A
Application number: US443391A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond L Moser; Robert N Stedman
Original assignee: Caterpillar Tractor Co
Current assignee: Caterpillar Inc
Priority date: 1973-04-25
Filing date: 1974-02-19
Publication date: 1975-03-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-03-25

Abstract

A material transport vehicle is provided with a material stuffing mechanism for transferring material from a loading bin mounted ahead of a relatively large material receiving body carried on the rear end of the vehicle chassis. A pusher mechanism is reciprocably mounted within the body and includes a pair of pusher members pivotal to a first position providing an opening between such members to admit material from the loading bin into the body and to a second position to form a substantially continuous wall for compacting material within the body and subsequently ejecting it therefrom.

Description

o Muted Mates Patent 1191 1111 3,872,984 Moser et al, 1 Mar. 25, 1975 1 MATERIAL TRANSPORT 3,490,631 1/1970 Smith 214/503 3,584,755 6/1971 Smith 214/833 [751 lnventoFsl Raymmd MOS", 5m 3,653,271 4/1972 Worthington 214/82 ux Robert Stedma", Chtlllcothe, 3,661,281 5/1972 Herpich et a1. 214/833 both of 3,672,520 6/1972 Linville 214/82 [73] Assigneez Caterpillar Tractor Peoria, In. 3,730,367 5/1973 Heffington... 214/518 [22] Filed: Feb. 19, 1974 Primary ExaminerLeo Friaglia [211 App}. N02 443,391 Attorney, Agent, or Firm -Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Related U.S.'Applicati0n Data [57] ABSTRACT [62] I13Iivis3io8nl5of76S5er. No. 354,450, April 25, 1973, A material transport vehicle is provided with a material stuffing mechanism for transferring material from V a loading bin mounted ahead of a relatively large ma- 214/833 2 l i terial receiving body carried on the rear end of the ve- [S8] Fie'ld g 510 hicle 'chassis. A pusher mechanism is reciprocably mounted within the body and includes a pair of pusher members pivotal to a first position providing an open- [56] References Cited ing between such members to admit material from the UNITED STATES PATENTS I loading bin into the body and to a second position to 2,961,105 11/1960 Shubin 214/833 form a substantially continuous wall for compacting 312111309 10/1965 .214/83'3 material within the body and subsequently ejecting it 3,232,463 2 1966 Weir 214/510 therefrom 3,325,024 6/1967 Shubin .1 214/302 3.351,222 11/1967 Morrison 214/302 18 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 69 28 1 J." 1 A 6 1 1 l 1 W11 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Front loading refuse trucks have attained wide acceptance for the collection of residential-type refuse because of the close proximity of the refuse loading opening to the operator cab. This enables the vehicle to be efficiently loaded and operated by a one-man crew. Such front loading refuse vehicles have not been adapted to utilizing the mechanical ejector commonly found on rear loading refuse trucks because of the difficulties encountered with attempting to place such an ejector at the front end of the body without interfering with the front loading opening into the body. Consequently, refuse is gravity discharged from most front loading vehicles by tilting the body upwardly and rearwardly. Because of the adhesiveness of the refuse this discharging method normally leaves a substantial amount of residue inside the body which reduces capacity during subsequent use and which ultimately must be manually removed for obvious reasons. Furthermore, a separate compactor mechanism is usually employed to increase the density of the refuse in the load carrying body for optimum loading capacity. However, the attempts made to compress refuse into the bodies of various front loading vehicles have not been completely satisfactory due to the relatively inefficient loading and compacting devices employed by the prior art which have only been operative through a limited range or portion of the total load'carrying space within the body.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a material transport having an improved pusher mechanism disposed within a material receiving body which permits material to be loaded into one end of the body and to be discharged from the other.

Another object of this invention is to provide such an improved pusher mechanism which insures effective distribution and compaction of material uniformly throughout the entire expanse of the body.

Another object ofthis invention is to provide such an improved pusher mechanism which provides positive mechanical discharge ofmaterial to insure its complete removal from the body.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent upon reference to the accompanying drawings and following descriptlon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a material transport having a pusher mechanism embodying the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the pusher mechanism disposed in a material receiving position.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating the pusher mechanism in an intermediate material loading position.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view similar to the preceding FIG., but illustrating the pusher mechanism in a material packing-ejecting position.

FIG. 5 is a rear sectional view taken along the line V-V of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view similar to FIG.

2, but illustrating an alternate embodiment of the pusher mechanism of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring more particularly to the drawings, a material transport having an improved pusher mechanism embodying the principles of the present invention is generally indicated at 10 in association with a material handling vehicle 11. The material handling vehicle 11 includes a chassis 12 having an elongated main frame 14 disposed along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and supported by front and

rear wheels

16 and 17, respectively. As best shown in FIG. 2, the main frame 14 includes a relatively broad open-topped material loading box 18 interposed the front and

rear wheels

16 and 17. The loading box 18 is formed by a horizontal floor 19 disposed across the bottom of the frame and vertical sidewalls 20 positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle at opposite sides of the floor. A rearwardly and upwardly inclined wall 22 is disposed across the rearward end of the loading box and a perforate front wall 23 is disposed across the forward end thereof. A pair of horizontally disposed channel members 25 are individually mounted to the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 20 of the loading box.

An operators cab 27 is carried-on the forward end of the main frame 14 and has a rear wall 28 disposed adjacent to the front wall 23 of the loading box 18. The cab 27 has a recess 29 formed therein opening through the rear wall 28.

As shown in FIG. 1, the material handling vehicle 11 further includes an elongated material receiving body.

30 which is carried on top of the rearward end of the main frame 14. The body 30 has a forwardly disposed material loading end 31 and 'a rearwardly disposed ma terial'ejection end 32; As best shown in FIG. 2, the material loading end is spaced behind the rear wall 28 of the cab and is disposed in partially covering relation over the loading box 18 intermediate the front and

rear walls

23 and 22 thereof, respectively. The loading box is thereby divided into a forward portion defining a loading bin 34 disposed ahead of the material loading end 31 and a rearward portion defining a material directing channel 35 underlying and extending rearwardly from the loading end of the body 30.

The material receiving body 30 is formed by a top wall 37, a bottom wall 38, and parallel opposite sidewalls 39. The sidewalls are individually spaced outwardly from the sidewalls 20 of the loading box 18 and are rigidly connected to the respective opposite lateral edges of the top wall and bottom wall of the body. The bottom wall has-an opening41 formed therein which is coincident with thematerial directing channel 35 of the loading box 18 to provide communication between the loading bin 34 and the body 30.

A pair of horizontally disposed guide rails 42 are individually mounted to the inside surface of each of the sidewalls 39 and extended along their full lengths for purposes subsequently to be described.

The material ejection end 32 of the body 30 is normally closed by a tailgate 44 as shown in FIG. 1. The

tailgate is pivotally attached along its upper edge to the rear end of the top wall 37 of the body by a hinge 45. The tailgate is controlled for movement between open 3 and closed positions by selective actuation of a hydraulic jack 46. I

As best shown in FIGS. 2 through 4, a material stuffing mechanism 50 is reciprocably mounted for longitudinal movement within the loading bin 34 and includes an arcuately shaped stuffer blade 51 having a height substantially equal to the height of the sidewalls 20 in the loading bin. A pair of rollers 52 are attached by a bracket 53 to each of the opposite sides of the stuffer blade and are rollably mounted in the channel members 25 which extend substantially the length of the loading bin and a relatively short distance through the perforate front wall 23 to guide the stuffer blade during its reciprocative movement. A pair of hydraulic jacks, one of which is shown at 54, each have a cylinder end connected to the frame 14 and a rod end pivotally connected to the stuffer blade 51. Extension and retraction of the jacks effects longitudinal movement of the stuffer blade through the loading bin 34.

An extensible and retractable cover device 56 includes a pair of

cover plates

58 and 59. Cover plate 58 has one end rigidly connected to the upper edge of the stuffer blade 51. A lost motion mechanism 60 is utilized to couple the

cover plates

58 and 59 together to fully cover the loading bin 34 when the stuffing mechanism is extended and to provide compact storage of the cover device when the stuffing mechanism is retracted. Such lost mechanism includes an upwardly extending lip 62 formed on the other end of the plate 58 whichis slidably mounted within a groove 63 formed in the under surface of the plate 59. -When retracted, the cover device 56 is stored out of the way in the recess 29 provided in the cab 27.

The pusher mechanism includes-a traveling carrier frame 65 having a pair of laterally disposed side plates 66. The side plates are individually positioned in spaced parallel relationship to the opposite sidewalls 39 of the material receiving body 30 and form a pair of relatively narrow cavities 68 respectively therebetween. The side plates 66 are disposed in substantially parallel alignment with the opposite sidewalls of the loading box 18 for a purpose to be subsequently described. Each side plate is generally triangularly shaped and includes a forward end 69 having a substantially vertical edge 70, and a rearwardly disposed lower corner 71 having a generally inclined edge 72 extending upwardly and forwardly therefrom which forms an upper apex 73 with the vertical edge 70.

A pair of outwardly extending end plates 74 are individually attached to the inclined edges 72 of each of the side plates 66. The end plates 74 have outward edges disposed in relatively closely material scraping relationship with the corresponding sidewall 39 of the material receiving body 30.

The side plates 66 of the carrier frame 65 are interconnected by a transverse support member 76 which is disposed between the apexes 73 thereof for maintaining their spaced relationship and for additional strength and rigidity. Each of the side plates rotatably mounts a pair of longitudinally spaced rollers 78 which are disposed within their respective cavities 68 in rolling engagement within the guide rails 42 during reciprocative movement of the carrier frame 65 between the loading end 31 and the ejection end 32 of the body 30.

The pusher mechanism 10 further includes a normally upright pusher blade 80 disposed transversely between the side plates 66 of the carrier frame 65 adjacent to their front edges 70. The pusher blade includes opposite upper and

lower ends

82 and 83, respectively,-

and a rearward wall 84. The rearward wall is formed having an upper planar surface 86 and a lower contoured surface 87.

The upper end 82 is pivotally mounted at a pivot con nection 89 to the carrier frame 65 adjacent the apexes 73 of the side plates 66 for providing pivotal movement of the pusher blade from a normally upright material receiving position forming the front wall of the body 30, as shown in FIG. 2, to an inclined material compacting-ejecting position which is substantially parallel with the inclined edges 72 of the carrier side plates 66, as shown in FIG. 4.

When the pusher blade 80 is disposed in the material receiving position shown in FIG. 2, the lower end 83, in conjunction with the floor 19 and sidewalls 20 of the loading box 18, combine to form a .rectangularly shaped opening 90 at the rear of the loading bin 34.

A material loading ramp 92 is laterally disposed between the side plates 66 of the carrier frame 65 and is normally extended downwardly into the material directing channel 35 to provide an inclined surface 94 leading from the open rear end of the loading bin 34 and into the body 30 for loading purposes. The ramp 92 includes a pivot end 95 disposed adjacent the lower rearward corner 71 of the carrier side plates 66 and a forwardly extending free end 96.

The pusher mechanism 10 is manipulated by a power actuating device 98 which includes a pair of telescoping multi-stage hydraulic jacks 99. The jacks are individually longitudinally disposed along the base of each of the carrier cavities 68. Each jack 99 has its cylinder end pivotally mounted to the material receiving body 30 by a bracket 100 and its rod end pivotally connected to one end ofa pair of levers 102, as best shown in FIG. 5 A pair of shafts 103-each have one end individually nonrotatably attached to the other ends of the levers 102. The shafts 103 are rotatably extended through their associated carrier side plates 66 adjacent the lower corners 71 thereof and have their opposite ends nonrotatably connected to the pivot end 95 of the ramp 92. The shafts 103 also-function as a pivot connection for pivotally connecting the pivot end of the ramp to the carrier frame 65.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 through 5, a pair of links 105 are individually disposed between the carrier side plates 66 and opposite lateral sides of the pusher blade 80 and the ramp 92. A first pivot connection 106 pivotally connects one end of the links to the ramp 92 intermediate its pivot end 95 and its free end 96. A second pivot connection 107 pivotally connects the other end of the link to the pusher blade 80 adjacent its lower end 83.

SECOND FORM An alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein components identical to those employed in the first form are designated by corresponding reference numerals. In this embodiment, an alternate pusher mechanism 110 has a carrier frame 111 which includes a pair of laterally spaced upstanding sidewalls 112 having a rearwardly disposed lower corner 113. The sidewalls have a parallel spacing equidistant to the width of the material loading box 18 for permitting upward pivotal movement of a loading ramp 115 between the sidewalls. The ramp includes a free end 116 and a pivot end 117. The pivot end 117 is connected to the sidewalls adjacent to the lower corners 113 thereof and the power actuating device 98 in the same manner as described with respect to the first form. A pusher blade 118 is formed integrally with the sidewalls and includes a rearward wall 119 having a rearwardly disposed peak 120 disposed intermediate upper and lower ends 121 and 122, respectively, of the pusher blade. The rearward wall 119 also has a forwardly sloping surface 124 extending upwardly from the peak 120 and an arcuately shaped surface 125 extending forwardly and downwardly therefrom.

OPERATION While the operation of the present invention is believed to be clearly apparent from the foregoing description, further amplification will subsequently be made in the following brief summary ofsuch operation. In operation, material is deposited into the loading bin 34 when the pusher mechanism and the material stuffing mechanism 50 are disposed in their normal material receiving positions, as best shown in FIG. 2. After the material is loaded, it is transferred from the loading bin 34 by the material stuffing mechanism 50 through the selective actuation of the hydraulic jacks 54. Such actuation causes longitudinal movement of the stuffer blade 51 through the loading bin from its forward position shown in FIG. 2 to its rearward position shown in FIG. 3. During such movement, the stuffer blade causes the material to be forced through the rectangular opening 90 at the rear end ofthe loading bin, up the loading ramp 92 and into the material receiving body 30.

As repetitive cycles of the material stuffing mechanism 50 begin filling the body with material, the subse quent material being forced into the body by the stuffer blade 51 results in some preliminary compaction of the material in the body. During the cycling of the stuffer blade the cover device 56 prevents material from spilling over onto the jack side of the stuffer blade which permits continuous loading as any deposited material is automatically scraped off the cover device into the loading bin by engagement with the rear wall 28 of the operators cab 27 upon retraction of the cover device into the recess 29.

The pusher mechanism 10 is periodically employed during the above loading operation to obtain greater compaction of the material and to more evenly distribute it throughout the body 30. The utilization of the pusher mechanism 10 also aids in preventing the possi ble buildup of localized concentrations of material in the body, such as along the bottom wall 38 thereof. The pusher mechanism is utilized by the selective actuation of the telescoping hydraulic jacks 99. Acting through the levers 102 and shafts 103, the initial extension of the jacks 99 causes counterclockwise pivotal rotation of the ramp 92 through an arcuate path from a lower position shown in FIG. 2, through an intermediate posi tion shown in FIG. 3, to a raised position shown in FIG. 4.

As best shown in FIG. 3, the arcuately shaped stuffer blade 51 is formed coincident to the arcuate pathfollowed by the free end 96 of the ramp between the lower and intermediate positions so that substantially all of the material transported into the material directing channel by the stuffer blade is transferred into the material receiving body 30 by the upward pivotal movement of the ramp.

In the lower position wherein the free end .96 of the ramp is disposed along the floor 19 of the loading box 18 as shown in FIG. 2, the second pivot connections 107 of the links 105 are disposed forwardly of and elevationally higher than the first pivot connections 106. Therefore, when the ramp pivots upwardly to its intermediate position, the lower end 83 of the pusher blade is induced by the links to pivot forwardly to permit sufficient operating clearance between it and the free end of the ramp. Upon reaching the intermediate position wherein the free end of the ramp is disposed along the contoured lower surface 87 adjacent to the lower end 83 of the pusher blade as shown in FIG. 3, the second pivot connections 107 are forwardly of and substantially level with the first pivot connections 106. Consequently, as the ramp continues upwardly toward its raised position, the links cross. over center to cause the lower end of the pusher blade to reverse its forward pivotal movement and to swing rearwardly in relatively close following relationship with the ramp. In the raised position wherein the free end 96 is disposed along the rearward wall 84 intermediate the: upper planar surface 86 and the contoured lower surface 87 as shown in FIG. 4, the second pivot connections 107 are disposed rearwardly of and elevationally lower than the first pivot connections 106. Such a condition permits the disposition of the upper planar surface 86 in substantially linear alignment with the inclined surface 94 of the ramp to form'a continuous wall having a relatively steep inclined rearward surface extending downwardly and rearwardly from the carrier side plate apexes 73 to the pivot end 95 of the ramp.

Between the intermediate and raised positions of the ramp the links and the contoured surface 87 coact to maintain the free end 96 of the ramp in relatively close material scraping. relationship to the rearward wall 84 of the pusher blade to minimize and tendency for accumulation of material on the pusher blade.

As the ramp 92 is raised through the initial extension of the telescoping jacks 99, the material contained thereon is propelled upwards to aid in the distribution of the material in the upper portion of the body 30. Continued extension of the jacks causes rearward movement of the pusher mechanism 10 along the guide rails 42 from the front loading end 31 toward the rear ejection end 32. With the tailgate 44 closed, such rearward travel of the pusher mechanism 10 results in further compaction of the material in the body 30, and the inclined surface of the. continuous wall functions as a wedge to further aid in propelling the material upwardly to obtain a uniform distribution of the material throughout the body.

Upon the completion of the extension of the telescoping jacks 99, the jacks are retracted to return the pusher mechanism 10 to the front loading end 31 of the material receiving body 30 and toits former material receiving position as shown in FIG. 2. Additional material may then be loaded into the body 30 by subsequent cycles of the material stuffing mechanism 50 in the manner previously described.

After completing the loading of the material receiving body 30, the body is unloaded by raising the tailgate 44 through the actuation of the jacks 46 and by cycling the pusher mechanism 10 in the above described manner. Such action causes the complete discharge of the material from the ejection end 32 of the body 30 without leaving any appreciable residue remaining therein,

particularly due to the sloping rearward surface of the continuous wall from which material is permitted freely to gravitate. Repositioning of the pusher mechanism 10 at the loading end 31 of the body and closing of the tailgate 44 reconditions the vehicle for the further collection of material.

OPERATION OF SECOND FORM The structure of the alternate pusher mechanism 110 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6, operates in essentially the same manner as the structure heretofore described wherein the ramp 115 is pivotal in an arcuate path between a lower position. forming an opening through the pusher mechanism 110 for admitting material into the material receiving body and a raised position forming a substantially continuous wall transversely across the body. As in the first form, the free end 116 of the ramp is disposed along the floor 19 of the material loading box 18 in the lower position as shown in FIG. 6. In the raised position, the free end is disposed along the peak 120 so that the continuous wall has a rearward surface sloping upwardly and forwardly from the pivot end 117 of the ramp to the upper end. 121 of the pusher blade. The arcuately shaped surface 125 is formed coincident tothe arcuate path of the ramp so that the free end 116 thereof is continually disposed in relatively closely spaced material scraping relationship to such surface throughout the entire range of pivotal movement ofthe ramp along the surface. Be-' cause the pusher blade 118 is formed integrally with the carrier frame 111, the arcuately shaped surface 125 is substituted for the pivotal movement of the previ-' ously described pusher blade 80. However, the links 105 are eliminated which were formerly-required to co ordinate such pivotal movement of the pusher blade 80 with pivotal movement of the ramp 92.

In view of the foregoing, it is readily apparent that the structure of the present invention facilitates the operation and rapid loading of material with a one-man crew by locating the loading bin of the material receiving body immediately behind the operator cab. Thus, the necessity and expense of having additional crew members to do such loading is thereby eliminated. In addition, because the loading bin is integrally formed into the main frame of the vehicle, the top of the bin is much closer to the ground than that of bins customarily placed on top of the frame. Consequently, the time and energy required to load material into the bin is also greatly reduced. It is further apparent that the load carrying efficiency of the vehicle is greatly increased by the structure of the pusher mechanism which causes the material to be forced upwardly by the action of the ramp relative to the pusher blade and the movement of the inclined continuous wall formed by the coacting pusher blade and ramp to distribute the material uniformly throughout the entire volume of the body in a maximum compacted condition. The pusher mechanism also functions as an ejector for attaining complete and positive discharge of material from the rear of the body when the tailgate is raised.

It is therefore readily apparent that the ramp and pusher blade coact in a unique manner to load, compact and discharge material handled by the transport vehicle of the present invention unlike any vehicle heretofore devised for the purpose.

While the invention has been described and shown with particular reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be apparent that variations might be possible that would fall within the scope of the present invention which is not intended to be limited except as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is: l. A material transport vehicle having a longitudinal axis and comprising;

a vehicle chassishaving an elongated frame disposed along said longitudinal axis; 7 an elongated material receiving body carried on said frame and having a loading end and an ejection end; v a loading bin having an open end disposed forwardly adjacent to said loading end of the body;

powered material stuffing means movable through said loading bin for transferring material therefrom through said open end;

pusher means disposed transversely of and reciprocably mounted within said material receiving body and having a pair of members which are relatively movable with respect to each other when disposed adjacent said loading end of the material receiving.

body between a first position providing an opening therebetween communicating with said open end of the loading bin for receiving material therethrough and into said body and asecond position forming a substantially continuous wall; and

power actuating means operatively associated with said pusher means for selectively moving said members between said first and second positions and for selectively reciprocating said pusher means between said loading and ejection ends of said material receiving body.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said frame includes, V

an open-topped material loading box integrally formed therein and having forward and rearward ends, a floor, and substantially vertical sidewalls positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle at opposite sides of said floor, said loading end ofthe body being disposed in partially covering relation to said loading box intermediate the forward and rearward ends thereof, said loading box being divided into a forward portion defining said loading bin and a rearward portion defining a material directing channel disposed beneath the loading end of said material receiving body.

3. The vehicle ofclaim 2 wherein one of said pair of members of said pusher means is a generally upright pusher blade having opposite upper and lower ends and a rearward wall, and the other of said pair of members is a ramp having a pivot end and'an opposite free end.

4. The vehicle of claim 3 wherein said material receiving body includes a pair of opposite, parallel sidewalls and a bottom wall having an opening formed therein coinciding with said material directing channel, said pusher means includes a carrier frame having a pair of interconnected laterally spaced upstanding side plates individually disposed adjacent to said opposite sidewalls of the body and each having a forward end, a lower rearward corner, and a pivot connection mounted adjacent said lower rearward corner whereby said pusher blade is adapted to be supported by said carrier frame in interconnecting relation therebetween adjacent the forward ends of said side plates, and said pivot connections pivotally mounting the pivot end of said ramp to said side plates of the carrier frame.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the lateral spacing of said sidewalls of the loading box are substantially equidistant to the lateral spacing of said side plates of the carrier frame whereby said ramp is permitted to move in an arcuate path between a lower position in which the free end of said ramp is disposed adjacent the floor of the loading box and a raised position in which said free end is disposed adjacent said rearward wall of the pusher blade.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein said power actuating means includes;

a pair oflevers individually rotatably mounted to said side plates of the carrier frame and having opposite ends with one end thereof nonrotatably mounted to said pivot end of the ramp; and pair of hydraulic jacks individually longitudinally disposed adjacent to said side plates of the carrier frame and having one end pivotally connected to the other end of said levers and the other end of said jacks connected to said body whereby initial extension of said hydraulic jacks causes the pivotal movement of said ramp from said lower position to said raised position and further extension of said jacks causes movement of said pusher means toward the ejection end of said body.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein said pusher means includes;

a pair of laterally spaced horizontal guide means longitudinallyextended within and attached to said material receiving body; and

a pair of roller means attached to each of said side plates of said carrier frame and individually rollably engaging said guide means whereby said carrier frame is mounted for longitudinal movement between said loading and ejection ends of said body.

8. The'vehicle of claim 7 wherein said side plates of the carrier frame are generally triangularly shaped and are disposed in substantially parallel spaced relationship to their respectively associated sidewalls of said body and have substantially vertically disposed front edges at their forward ends and generally inclined rearward edges sloping upwardly and forwardly from their lower rearward corners to form an apex with their respective front edges; and

outwardly extending end plates connected to said inclined rearward edges and having outwardly disposed edges disposed in closely spaced material scraping relationship to their respectively adjacent sidewalls of said body. 9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein said pusher means includes;

pivot means pivotally connecting the upper end of said pusher blade to the carrier frame adjacent to the apexes of the carrier side plates; and control means including a link having a first pivot connection pivotally connecting one end thereof to the ramp intermediate its pivot and free ends, and a second pivot connection pivotally connecting the other end of the link to the pusher blade adjacent to its lower end for coupling the pusher blade to the ramp whereby initial upward pivotal movement of said ramp from said lower position positions said pusher blade so as to allow the free end of the ramp to move into material scraping relationship with the rearward wall of said pusher blade adjacent its lower end and thereafter continued pivotal movement of said ramp toward said raised position is 0perative through said link to maintain said material scraping relationship of the free end of the ramp with said rearward wall.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein said second pivot connection is disposed forwardly of and elevationally higher than said first pivot connection when the ramp is in its lower position forwardly of and substantially level therewith when the free end of the ramp is raised adjacent the lower end of the pusher blade and rearwardly of and elevationally lower than the first pivot connection when the ramp is in its raised position to induce forward pivotal movement of the pusher blade during initial upward pivotal movement of the ramp to permit clearance of the free end of the ramp with the lower end of the pusher blade and thereafter to induce rearward pivotal movement of the pusher blade in relatively closely spaced following relationship with the ramp during continued upward pivotal movement of the ramp toward the raised position.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein said control means includes a contoured lower surface formed on therearward wall-of said pusher blade to cooperate with said link in maintaining said material scraping re lationship of the free end of the ramp with the rearward wall and permit substantially linear alignment of the pusher blade with the ramp when disposed in its raised position to minimize entrapment of material therebetween.

12. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein said pusher blade 7 is formed integrally with said carrier frame and said rearward wall thereof includes;

a rearwardly disposed peak formed thereon interme diate the upper and lower'ends of said pusher blade and having a relatively steep forwardly sloping surface extending upwardly therefrom and an arcuately shaped surface extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom.

' 13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein said arcuately shaped surface substantially coincides with the arcuate path of said ramp so that the free end thereof is contin ually relatively closely disposed adjacent to said arcuately shaped surface throughout the entire pivotal movement of the free end along said surface.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said continuous wall is formed when said ramp is disposed in said raised position with said free end of the ramp is disposed adjacent to said peak, said continuous wall having a rearward surface sloping forwardly and upwardly from the pivot end of said ramp to the upper end of said pusher blade.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein said material receiving body includes;

a tailgate pivotally connected to an upper edge of said ejection end of the body in normally closing relation; and

hydraulic means connected between said tailgate and said body for selectively raising said tailgate for permitting the ejection of material from said body during rearward movement of said pusher means.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said material stuffing means includes;

extensible and retractable cover means for covering said loading bin when said material stuffing means is disposed adjacent said open end of said loading bin; and

an upright arcuately shaped stuffer blade disposable coincident to the arcuate path of the free end of said ramp between the floor of said loading box and the lower end of said pusher blade so that said free end of the ramp is disposed in relatively closely spaced relation to said stuffer blade throughout its movement along said arcuate path.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein said stuffer blade includes an upper edge;

said cover means includes a pair of cover plates, one

of said cover plates having one end rigidly connected to the upper edge of said stuffer blade; and

lost motion means coupling the other end of said one cover plate to the other cover plate to provide ment of such material with said rear wall of the cab. l l

Claims

1. A material transport vehicle having a longitudinal axis and comprising; a vehicle chassis having an elongated frame disposed along said longitudinal axis; an elongated material receiving body carried on said frame and having a loading end and an ejection end; a loading bin having an open end disposed forwardly adjacent to said loading end of the body; powered material stuffing means movable through said loading bin for transferring material therefrom through said open end; pusher means disposed transversely of and reciprocably mounted within said material receiving body and having a pair of members which are relatively movable with respect to each other when disposed adjacent said loading end of the material receiving body between a first position providing an opening therebetween communicating with said open end of the loading bin for receiving material therethrough and into said body and a second position forming a substantially continuous wall; and power actuating means operatively associated with said pusher means for selectively moving said members between said first and second positions and for selectively reciprocating said pusher means between said loading and ejection ends of said material receiving body.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said frame includes; an open-topped material loading box integrally formed therein and having forward and rearward ends, a floor, and substantially vertical sidewalls positioned parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle at opposite sides of said floor, said loading end of the body being disposed in partially covering relation to said loading box intermediate the forward and rearward ends thereof, said loading box being divided into a forward portion defining said loading bin and a rearward portion defining a material directing channel disposed beneath the loading end of said material receiving body.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein one of said pair of members of said pusher means is a generally upright pusher blade having opposite upper and lower ends and a rearward wall, and the other of said pair of members is a ramp having a pivot end and an opposite free end.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein said power actuating means includes; a pair of levers individually rotatably mounted to said side plates of the carrier frame and having opposite ends with one end thereof nonrotatably mounted to said pivot end of the ramp; and a pair of hydraulic jacks individually longitudinally disposed adjacent to said side plates of the carrier frame and having one end pivotally connected to the other end of said levers and the other end of said jacks connected to said body whereby initial extension of said hydraulic jacks causes the pivotal movement of said ramp from said lower position to said raised position and further extension of said jacks causes movement of said pusher means toward the ejection end of said body.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein said pusher means includes; a pair of laterally spaced horizontal guide means longitudinally extended within and attached to said material receiving body; and a pair of roller means attached to each of said side plates of said carrier frame and individually rollably engaging said guide means whereby said carrier frame is mounted for longitudinal movement between said loading and ejection ends of said body.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein said side plates of the carrier frame are generally triangularly shaped and are disposed in substantially parallel spaced relationship to their respectively associated sidewalls of said body and have substantially vertically disposed front edges at their forward ends and generally inclined rearward edges sloping upwardly and forwardly from their lower rearward corners to form an apex with their respective front edges; and outwardly extending end plates connected to said inclined rearward edges and having outwardly disposed edges disposed in closely spaced material scraping relationship to their respectively adjacent sidewalls of said body.

9. The vehicle of claim 8 wherein said pusher means includes; pivot means pivotally connecting the upper end of said pusher blade to the carrier frame adjacent to the apexes of the carrier side plates; and control means including a link having a first pivot connection pivotally connecting one end thereof to the ramp intermediate its pivot and free ends, and a second pivot connection pivotally connecting the other end of the link to the pusher blade adjacent to its lower end for coupling the pusher blade to the ramp whereby initial upward pivotal movement of said ramp from said lower position positions said pusher blade so as to allow the free end of the ramp to move into material scraping relationship with the rearward wall of said pusher blade adjacent its lower end and thereafter continued pivotal movement of said ramp toward said raised position is operative through said link to maintain said material scraping relationship of the free end of the ramp with said rearward wall.

11. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein said control means includes a contoured lower surface formed on the rearward wall of said pusher blade to cooperate with said link in maintaining said material scraping relationship of the free end of the ramp with the rearward wall and permit substantially linear alignment of the pusher blade with the ramp when disposed in its raised position to minimize entrapment of material therebetween.

12. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein said pusher blade is formed integrally with said carrier frame and said rearward wall thereof includes; a rearwardly disposed peak formed thereon intermediate the upper and lower ends of said pusher blade and having a relatively steep forwardly sloping surface extending upwardly therefrom and an arcuately shaped surface extending downwardly and forwardly therefrom.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein said arcuately shaped surface substantially coincides with the arcuate path of said ramp so that the free end thereof is continually relatively closely disposed adjacent to said arcuately shaped surface throughout the entire pivotal movement of the free end along said surface.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein said material receiving body includes; a tailgate pivotally connected to an upper edge of said ejection end of the body in normally closing relation; and hydraulic means connected between said tailgate and said body for selectively raising said tailgate for permitting the ejection of material from said body during rearward movement of said pusher means.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein said material stuffing means includes; extensible and retractable cover means for covering said loading bin when said material stuffing means is disposed adjacent said open end of said loading bin; and an upright arcuately shaped stuffer blade disposable coincident to the arcuate path of the free end of said ramp between the floor of said loading box and the lower end of said pusher blade so that said free end of the ramp is disposed in relatively closely spaced relation to said stuffer blade throughout its movement along said arcuate path.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein said stuffer blade includes an upper edge; said cover means includes a pair of cover plates, one of said cover plates having one end rigidly connected to the upper edge of said stuffer blade; and lost motion means coupling the other end of said one cover plate to the other cover plate to provide overlapping compact storage of the cover means in its retracted position.

18. The vehicle of claim 17 including an operator cab carried on the forward end of said frame, said cab having a rear wall disposed adjacent the forward end of the loading box, and a recess formed therein opening through said rear wall for accommodating said cover means therein when disposed in its retracted position so that material upon said cover means is automatically removed therefrom into said loading bin upon engagement of such material with said rear wall of the cab.