WO2002096682A2

WO2002096682A2 - Dump trailer and vehicle bed

Info

Publication number: WO2002096682A2
Application number: PCT/US2002/017047
Authority: WO
Inventors: Steve Wells; Phil A. Hogan
Original assignee: Braddock, Larry, D.
Priority date: 2001-05-31
Filing date: 2002-05-31
Publication date: 2002-12-05

Abstract

A dump bed travels forwardly and rearwardly on roller wheels, and has forward and rearward movement stops. When dumping is desired, the bed is moved rearwardly, and when it engages the rearward stop, it may be tipped to a dumping positions. The dump bed may be configured as a pull behind trailer or as a bed of a truck or other vehicle.

Description

DUMP TRAILER AND VEHICLE BED

Background of the Invention This invention relates to dump trailers and vehicle beds, and more particularly to an improved dump trailer and vehicle bed that can be easily operated by a user.

In construction and landscaping work, waste materials and such need to be hauled away from a job site, and dumped or otherwise disposed of. Use of a pickup truck, other type of truck, or trailers is often made for this purpose, but it is time consuming or difficult to empty the materials at a dump site. To overcome this, dumping beds or trailers have been developed, wherein the trailer or vehicle bed is able to tilt, so that the material therein can slide out under the force of gravity. Often these beds employ hydraulic lifting mechanisms, which increase the cost of the dumping mechanism substantially.

Summary of the Invention In accordance with the invention, a dump bed travels on roller wheels, and has forward and rearward movement stops. When dumping is desired, the bed is moved rearwardly. This is accomplished by either pushing it, or more often, by moving the vehicle in reverse briefly and then braking gently. When the bed engages the rearward stop, it may be tipped to a dumping position. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dump trailer that is easily operated.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved dump bed for a vehicle. The subject matter of the present invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, both the organization and method of operation, together with further advantages and objects thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements.

Brief Description of the Drawings FIG. 1 is a top view of a dump trailer in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a dump trailer in accordance with the invention in the locked position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a dump trailer in accordance with the invention in the dumping position;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a dump trailer in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a dump bed in accordance with the invention in the locked position, as mounted on a truck; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of a dump bed in accordance with the invention in the dumping position, as mounted on a truck.

Detailed Description

The system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a dumping bed that rides on rollers. A locking mechanism maintains the bed in an upright position, until such time as the lock is released for dumping action. The bed is able to move on the rollers to a dumping point, wherein a stop member engages a stop catch and the bed is then able to pivot up to a dumping position. The vehicle is then driven forward, dragging the rear of the bed. This action deposits the load completely, and the rear of the bed can then be lifted back to a horizontal position and rolled back to the locked position.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a side view of a dump trailer in accordance with the invention in the locked position, together with FIG. 4, a rear view of the dump trailer, a trailer body is provided comprising wheels and tires 12 (suitably two wheels, left and right, being provided) attached to an axle 14, which is connected to left and right elongate frame members 18 via leaf springs 16. The left and right frame members 18 are laterally spaced apart, but toward the front of the trailer, they join and carry a ball hitch 20 at the front most extent thereof. The ball hitch enables attachment of the trailer to a vehicle for towing, in a manner well known. Near the ball hitch, a short distance toward the rear of the trailer, a hitch jack 22 with wheel is provided, to assist in attaching and detaching the trailer to and from a vehicle.

A set of bed roller wheels 24 are mounted to the left and right frame members 18, suitably 6 total wheels being provided in the illustrated embodiment, three wheels on each of the left and right sides of the frame. The wheels are rotatable as demonstrated by arc 26 (FIG. 2) . Riding on the set of wheels is a dump bed 28, which carries a pair of combination frame and wheel track member 30 on the bottom thereof, aligned to define a wheel track which runs along the left and right wheel sets. The dump bed suitably has 3 sidewalls, and a removable rear tail gate 34. The tailgate is suitably rectangular, and has left and right lower pins extending from the lower edge thereof. The pins are suitably received in corresponding apertures in the dump bed, to hold the bottom portion of the tail gate in position. The upper portion of the tail gate has left and right outward extending members 52, which are suitably received in corresponding C- shaped slots 54 at the rearward upper edge of the dump bed. The C-shaped slots have an aperture therein, for receiving a retaining pin 56, which operates, to keep the tail gate held in place until such time as the pins are removed. After the pins have been removed, the tail gate may be lifted out of position at the back of the dump bed. Below the dump bed, approximately 1/3 the overall length of the bed from the rearward most extent thereof, a forward movement stop member 36 is provided, comprising a downwardly extending member having a cutout notch portion oriented forwardly. Beyond being a forward movement stop, it also hooks the dump bed to the trailer frame while in a locked position. This keeps the dump bed wheel track members 30 from jumping off the bed roller wheels 24. At a position slightly forward of the mid point of the front to back extent of the dump bed, a rearward movement stop member 38 is provided, comprising a downwardly extending member with a cut-out notch portion oriented toward the rear of the bed. The stop members are of sufficient length downwardly such that the cut-out notch portions are positioned to receive cross axle 40 therewithin, depending on the relative front to back position of the dump bed. Axle 40 extends between the left and right rearmost wheels 24.

In normal operation, the dump bed is adapted to roll forwardly and backwardly along the direction of arrow 48 (Fig. 2) . To prevent undesired rolling, a lock member 42 is provided, which suitably comprises a handle attached to the front wall of the dump bed with a rod portion extending down through a receiving aperture in a portion of the frame. A cotter pin 44 or other suitable securing mechanism is included to secure the lock member in a locked position if desired.

A safety latch 46 is also positioned at the front end of the dump bed, so as to latch the front end of the bed to the frame, to prevent dumping thereof until the latch is released. This provides protection against undesired tipping of the dump bed. This may comprise a safety chain.

The operation of the dump bed may be better understood by reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, which are side view of the dump bed trailer in the non-dump and dump positions respectively. Before dumping, the bed will normally be in the position as shown in FIG. 2. The bed is moved forwardly to the point where stop 36 has engaged the axle 40. Lock 42 and safety latch 46 are engaged. Typically, the dump bed will contain items or material that is to be dumped out.

To perform the dumping operation, the lock 42 and latch 46 are released, and the dump bed is rolled rearwardly along the direction of arrow 48. The rearward movement may be effected by either pushing the bed or by moving the vehicle in reverse briefly and then braking gently. When the bed engages the rearward stop, it may be tipped to a dumping position. Before dumping, the tail gate is suitably removed, so that the rear of the dump bed is open, to allow the material therein to escape when the dumping action takes place. When the dump bed rolls back to the point where rearward movement stop member 38 engages the axle 40, stopping the rearward movement. Since the rear movement stop is slightly forward of the front to back center of the dump bed, the bed will be inclined to pivot or tip down at its rear end, assuming the configuration of FIG. 3. Material inside the dump bed will then unload out of the bed onto the ground, or may be more easily pulled out of the bed. When the vehicle is driven forward, dragging the rear of the bed, the action deposits the load completely, emptying the dump bed. The bottom of the dump bed may suitably be provided with skid plates 37 (visible in FIG. 3) mounted at the rear of the bed, suitably on the left and right side. The skid plates ride along the ground when the bed is in the dump position, allowing relatively easy sliding of the bed along the ground. After the dump bed is emptied, it may be tipped back up to the non-dumping, horizontal position, and rolled forwardly on the wheels 36 to the locked position.

Suitable dimensions of the illustrated embodiment are shown in the Figs., but are not intended as limitations on the size and configuration of the dump trailer. These dimensions are: Overall front to back length, 12 feet; inside dump bed front to back length 8 feet 2 inches; inside dump bed side to side width, 6 feet; overall bed width, 6 fee 4 inches.

While the preferred embodiment is as a pull behind trailer, an alternative embodiment employs the dump bed mechanism mounted to a vehicle. This alternate embodiment could be inside a pickup truck bed, or as the entire bed of a pickup or larger sized truck. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are side views of the dump bed mounted to a truck 58, in the non-dumping and dumping positions, respectively.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, a dump bed is provided that enables desirable dumping movements with relative ease of operation.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

Claims What is claimed is:

1. A dump trailer comprising: a dump bed slidingly movable in a direction; a first movement stop member for defining an extent of movement of said dump bed in said direction.

2. A dump trailer according to claim 1, wherein said first movement stop member further comprises a pivot member about which said dump bed is pivotal between a dumping and non-dumping position.

3. A dump trailer according to claim 1, further comprising roller members on which said dump bed is adapted to slidingly move.

4. A dump trailer according to claim 1, further comprising a second movement stop for defining a extent of movement of said dump bed in a second direction opposite to said first mentioned direction.

5. A dump trailer according to claim 4, wherein said second movement stop comprises a plate member having a catch portion adapted to engage a portion of a frame when at a stop position comprising said extent of movement in said second direction.

6. A dump trailer according to claim 5, wherein said portion of a frame comprises an axle member.

7. A dump trailer according to claim 1, wherein said first movement stop comprises a plate member having a catch portion adapted to engage a portion of a frame when at a stop position comprising said extent of movement in said direction.

8. A vehicle, comprising: a dump bed slidingly carried on said vehicle, said dump bed being movable in a direction; a first movement stop member for defining an extent of movement of said dump bed in said direction.

9. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said first movement stop member further comprises a pivot member about which said dump bed is pivotal between a dumping and non-dumping position.

10. A vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising roller members on which said dump bed is adapted to slidingly move.

11. A vehicle according to claim 8, further comprising a second movement stop for defining a extent of movement of said dump bed in a second direction opposite to said first mentioned direction.

12. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said second movement stop comprises a plate member having a catch portion adapted to engage a portion of a frame when at a stop position comprising said extent of movement in said second direction.

13. A vehicle according to claim 12, wherein said portion of a frame comprises an axle member.

14. A vehicle according to claim 8, wherein said first movement stop comprises a plate member having a catch portion adapted to engage a portion of a frame when at a stop position comprising said extent of movement in said direction.