WO2004080742A2

WO2004080742A2 - Tarp covering system

Info

Publication number: WO2004080742A2
Application number: PCT/US2004/006594
Authority: WO
Inventors: Woody V. O'brian; Sean Vincent O'brian
Original assignee: O'brian Woody V; Sean Vincent O'brian
Priority date: 2003-03-06
Filing date: 2004-03-05
Publication date: 2004-09-23
Also published as: EP1606130A4; US7111891B2; WO2004080742A3; EP1606130A2; DE602004023702D1; US20050242612A1; EP1606130B1; ATE446209T1

Abstract

A tarp covering system for an open top container (12) of a vehicle includes (10) a pair arms assemblies (16) stowed beneath the base (14) of the container during travel and extendable and pivotal in a semi circular path for covering and uncovering the container.

Description

TARP COVERING SYSTEM Related Applications

This application claims the benefits of prior filed copending United States Provisional Application nos. 60/454,412 filed on March 6, 2003 and 60/532,990 filed on December 29, 2003, both entitled "Tarp Covering System".

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to covering systems for open top truck containers, and in particular, a flexible cover that is mechanically deployed on longitudinally rotatable and laterally retractable arms.

Background of the Invention

Conventional tarp covering systems for trucks include a pair of pivoting arms on opposed sides of an open top container that rotate between a retracted, stowed position in front of the container to an extended unfurled position at the rear wherein the tarp or flexible cover covers the container. The arms project laterally from the sides of the container and increase the overall width of the vehicle. In certain jurisdictions, regulations limit vehicle width and accordingly it would be desirable to provide a tarp covering system affording the benefits of current system while complying with applicable restrictions. Examples of such systems include United States Patents 5,031,955 to Searfoss, 4,874,196 to Goldstein, 4,516,802 to Compton, 5,058,956 to Godwin, and 5,129,698 to Cohrs. These systems employ pivoting arms mounted on laterally fixed pivots and accordingly are substantially wider than the container. Partially laterally retractable pivoting arms have been proposed as disclosed in European Patent 0 581 512 A1. The pivoting arms are laterally retracted by hydraulic cylinders in the forward and rearward positions. While presenting a narrower width than the fixed pivot arms, the arms remain laterally exterior of the container adding to the overall transit width of the vehicle, and if subject to width regulation reducing the width of allowable containers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a load covering system for open top containers wherein the pivoting arms for deploying the flexible cover reside laterally interior of the sides of the container during travel.

The foregoing object is accomplished in the present invention by pivoting arms that are laterally retracted and parked beneath the container in both the extended and retracted positions so as not to increase vehicle width during travel. According to the invention, a tarp assembly for covering an open top container of a truck, comprises a pair of articulating arm assemblies including lower arms pivotally connected at outer ends to the inner ends of upper arms, said lower arms pivotally connected at lower ends on opposed lateral sides of the container and rotationally mounted adjacent the base of the container about midway along the length of the container; a lateral actuator means for shifting the arm assemblies between a normal retracted position inwardly of the sides of the container and an extended position outwardly of the sides of the container, the lower arms located beneath said container in said retracted position, the upper arms located adjacent an end wall of the container in said retracted position; a retractable flexible cover transversely carried at one end to the outer ends of the arm assembly and connected adjacent the front end of the container at the other end; a rotary actuator for rotating the arm assemblies in said extended positions between forward position wherein said cover is stowed forward of the container and a rearward position wherein said cover overlies the container; and linear actuators connected between said upper arms and said lower arms for varying the angularity therebetween during movement between the forward position and the rearward position.

In another embodiment, particularly suited for container and truck configurations where there are limited mounting locations at the longitudinal center of the chassis, the pivoting arm assemblies are mounted on laterally telescoping rotary actuators, the arm assemblies including telescoping including upper and lower arm sections coupled with linear hydraulic cylinders for extension or retraction, the arrangement allowing the arm assemblies to rotate 180° in the laterally extended position whereby the container cover may be deployed over the open container top, and parked beneath and inward of the container.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above and other objects and features of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following written description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a tarp covering system for an open top truck container in accordance with an embodiment of the invention showing the tarp in the covered position; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the tarp in a preliminary unfurling position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the tarp covering system in the uncovered laterally retracted position;

Figure 4 is a rear end view of the tarp covering system in the covered laterally extended position;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the tarp covering system in the covered laterally retracted position;

Figure 6 is an end view of the rotary actuating system for the tarp covering system of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a side view of the rotary actuating system shown in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a side view of the tarp covering system of Figure 1 showing in solid lines the tarp arms in the uncovered position and in dashed lines in the covered position;

Figure 9 is a side view of the tarp covering system according to another embodiment in the uncovered laterally retracted position;

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing the tarp covering system in a partially raised position;

Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing the tarp covering the open top of the container;

Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 9 showing the tarp in the covered position;

Figure 13 is an end view showing the tarp covering system in the covered laterally extended position; Figure 14 is an end view showing the tarp covering system in the covered laterally retracted position;

Figure 15 is a view of the rotary actuator assembly for the embodiment of Figure 9 in the laterally retracted position;

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 15 showing the rotary actuary assembly in the laterally extended position;

Figure 17 is a fragmentary bottom view taken along line 17-17 in Figure 12 showing the upper arms in the laterally extended position;

Figure 18 is a view similar to Figure 17 showing the upper arms in the laterally retracted position;

Figure 19 is a side elevational view of the tarp covering system in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention;

Figure 20 is a fragmentary bottom view taken along line 20-20 in Figure 19 showing the upper arms in the laterally extended position;

Figure 21 is a view similar to Figure 20 showing the upper arms in the laterally retracted position; and

Figure 22 is a typical schematic of the actuator control system for the various embodiments of the tarp covering system..

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figures 1 through 7 of the drawings, in one embodiment of the invention, there is shown a truck 10 having an open top container 12 supported on a rear chassis 14. The container may a various designs conventionally employed in trash hauling and is generally characterized by a rectangular horizontal base peripherally bounded by vertically extending laterally spaced sidewalls and longitudinally spaced front and rear end walls. Depending on the capacity of the container, the length and height of the container vary accordingly.

The truck 10 is provided with a tarp covering system for a wide range of container sizes and generally comprises a pair of articulating arm assemblies 16 at the lateral sides thereof. The arm assemblies, as hereinafter described in detail, and stowed beneath the base of the container and inwardly of the side walls during loading and unloading of the container and during transportation. For transporting, the arm assemblies 16 are laterally extended outward of the sidewalls and pivot from a forward horizontal position to a rearward horizontal position to deploy a cover, such as a rectangular tarp over the upper open end of the container to prevent cargo loss during travel. The tarp may be formed of conventionally used materials and has a length sufficient for covering the longest and tallest containers and a width the same or slightly narrower than the container width.

The ami assemblies 16 are supported at lower ends by laterally retractable and extendable pivot assemblies 18 mounted on the truck chassis 14 beneath the base of the container. The arm assemblies 16 have upper arms 20 pivotally connected to lower arms 22. The lower arms 22 are connected at lower ends to the output shaft of the pivot assemblies. In the present embodiment, a rollup tarp spool assembly 24 is transversely supported at the outer ends of the upper arms 20. As described in a subsequent embodiment, the tarp spool assembly may be alternatively mounted on the container or the chassis.

The arm assemblies 16 are pivotable between a laterally retracted stowed forward position (Figures 3 and 5) wherein the spool assembly 24 is supported on a vertically extending mast support 26 at the front of the container 12 and a laterally retracted deployed rearward position (Figures 1 and 5) at the rear of the container. As the arm assemblies move from the laterally extend forward position a generally rectangular flexible tarp 28 unwinds from the spool assembly 24 and overlies the open top of the container 12. The free end of the tarp is attached at the top of the mast support 26 . An intermediate position is shown in Figure 2. In the forward and rearward positions, the lower arms 22 of the arm assemblies 16 are laterally inwardly retracted and parked beneath the outer side margins of the container 12 and the uppers arms 20 are adjacent the end of the container. Accordingly, the arm assemblies do not increase the overall travel width of the vehicle thereby complying with stringent regulations thereon. During actuation, the arm assemblies 16 are laterally extended from a stowed position beneath the outer side margins of the container (Figure 5) to an extend position beyond the sides of the container (Figure 4).

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the pivot assemblies 16 comprise a telescoping, rotationally locked sleeve assembly 30 of coaxial rectangular tubing mounted in a housing 32 attached to the chassis. The sleeve assembly 70 includes an output shaft 34 fixed at the outer end to the lower end of the lower arm 22. The sleeve assembly 30 is laterally shifted between an extended position and a retracted position by a linear actuator 36 in the form of a hydraulic piston assembly. The actuator 36 includes a cylinder 38 connected at a rear end to the housing 32 and having an output shaft 39 connected to a drive collar 40 fixedly mounted on the shaft 34. Accordingly, the actuator 36 under control of the operator and conventional hydraulic circuitry and control effects laterally inward and outwardly movement of the shaft 39 to extend and retract the sleeve assembly 30 to move the arm 22 between the laterally extended and retracted positions.

The sleeve assembly 30 is coupled at the inner end to an output shaft 40 of the drive gear 42 of a rack and pinion set 44. The rack 46 of the set 44 is slidably longitudinally supported the housing72. The rack 46 is connected by drive coupling 47 to the output shaft 48 of a linear actuator 49, preferably a hydraulic piston assembly. After extension of the arm assemblies by the actuator 34, upon movement the of the piston of the actuator 49, the rack 66 is translated to effect a corresponding rotation of the gear 42 thereby rotating the sleeve assembly 30 and the attached arm 22 of the arm assembly 16.

The outer ends of the upper arms 20 of the arm assemblies 16 are interconnected connected to an extendable strut assembly 52. The upper arms 22 are moved between a laterally extended position (Figure 4) and a retracted position (Figure 5) by a fluidic linear actuator 54, such a a hydraulic piston assembly. The spool assembly 24 is laterally supported on the upper arms by telescopic arms 56 that accommodate the lateral movement. The actuator 54 is cojointly extended and retracted in tandem with the lower actuators 36 during lateral movement of the arm assemblies between the retracted parked position and the extended tarp coverage position.

As shown in Figure 8, the base or lower arm 22 of the arm assemblies 16 is supported at about the mid length of the container 12 on the chassis 14. Each lower arm 22 has a length that extends beyond the ends of the container 12 in the rotated positions. As illustrated, the arm 22 is rotated about 180°. The outer ends of the lower arms 22 are transversely pivotally connected by transverse pin connections 58 to the lower ends of the upper arms 20. A linear actuator assembly 64, preferably a hydraulic piston assembly, is connected by a linkage 66 between the upper arm 20 and lower arm 22. The linkage 66 includes an L-shaped arm 67 pivotally connected at an upper end to the lower end of the arm 20. The lower end of the arm 67 is connected to a cross pin 68 received in a longitudinal slot in brackets 69 mounted on the lower arm 22, and also connected to the output shaft of the actuator 64. The piston of the actuator is extended and retracted to effect relative rotation about the pin connections 56 to articulate arms 20, 22 and accommodate the illustrated path of the spool assembly 24 during movement between the stowed position and the extended position shown in dashed lines as shown in Figures 1 through 3.

At the end positions, the lower arms 22 are moved to the stowed parked position beneath the container with the upper arms 20 normal thereto and adjacent an end wall of the container. Accordingly, the transporting width of the vehicle is determined solely by the container width so as to comply with any width regulations while providing the automated benefits of the articulating coverage system.

Referring to Figures 9 through 12 of the drawings, in another embodiment of the invention, there is shown a truck 100 having an open top container 102 supported on a chassis 104 at the rear. The truck 100 is provided with a tarp covering system 105 comprising a pair of pivotal and laterally shiftable arm assemblies 106 at the lateral sides thereof supported at lower ends by retractable pivots assemblies 108 mounted on the truck chassis for rotation about a transverse axis 109 and extension and retraction along the axis 109. The arm assemblies 106 have upper ends carrying a tarp on a spool assembly 110. The arm assemblies 106 are pivotable between a retracted stowed forward position (Figure 9) wherein the spool assembly 110 is supported on a vertical mast support 112 on the chassis at the front of the container, through intermediate positions at the front and rear ends of the container (Figures 10 and 11) to an extended deployed rearward position (Figure 12) at the rear of the container whereat the flexible tarp 114 is unwound from the spool assembly 110 and overlies the open top and front and rear walls of the container.

Referring to Figure 14, in the parked forward and rearward positions, the arm assemblies 106 are laterally inwardly retracted and stowed beneath the outer side margins of the container not contributing to the overall traveling width. During actuation, the arm assemblies are laterally extended beyond the sides of the container (Figure 13) to allowable the pivotal movement of the arm assemblies to extend and retract the tarp 114.

Each arm assembly includes a cylindrical lower arm 120, including a lower base 122 coupled to the output of the pivot assembly 108, and a tubular upper arm 124 telescopically supported by the lower arm 120. A double acting hydraulic cylinder 126 is connected at a lower end to the lower arm 120 and has an output shaft 127 connected to the upper arm 124. Accordingly, by conventional hydraulic circuitry, the cylinder may be actuated to telescopically shift the upper arm relative 124 to the lower arm 120 between retracted and extended positions. The spool assembly is laterally supported at the outer ends of the upper arms at telescoping connections allowing the arm assemblies to shift between the retracted and extended positions as described with reference to the first embodiment. More particularly as shown in Figures 17 and 18, the upper arms 124 of the arm assemblies 106 are connected to an extendable strut assembly 128. The upper arms 122 are moved between a laterally extended position (Figure 17) and a retracted position (Figure 18) by a fluidic linear actuator 129. The spool assembly 110 includes telescopic arms 131 that accommodate the lateral movement. The actuator 129 is extended and retracted in tandem with the lower actuators, described below, during lateral movement of the arm assemblies between the retracted parked position and the extended tarp coverage position.

As shown in Figures 15 and 16, each pivot assembly 108 comprises a rotary actuator 130 having telescoping a telescopic shaft 132 laterally outwardly terminating with a hub 134 rotatably coupled with the lower end of the arm assembly 106. The rotary actuator 130 is preferably of the double helical type as disclosed in United States Patent 4,313,367 to Weyer. The end of the shaft 132 is telescopically rotatably coupled to the output of the actuator 130 whereby the shaft rotates 180° to rotate the arm assemblies 106 between the forward and rearward positions under the control of conventional hydraulic circuitry.

The shaft 132 includes an enlarged piston 140 slidably supported in a cylindrical sleeve 142 mounted on the actuator. As shown in Figure 15, the piston 140 and the sleeve 142 establish at an inner end an expansion chamber 143. As shown in Figure 16, the piston 140 and the sleeve establish at the outer end a retraction chamber 144. When the expansion chamber 143 is pressurized through radial port 145, the shaft 130 is shifted to the position shown in Figure 15 thereby laterally inwardly retracting the arm assembly 106. When the retraction chamber 144 is pressurized through radial port 146, the shaft is shifted to the position shown in Figure 15 thereby laterally inwardly retracting the arm assembly 106.. Fluid ports 145, 146 and 162 on the sleeve 140 are connected by fluid lines with a fluid source and confrol assembly for selectively routing pressurized fluid to the retraction chamber 144 or the extension chamber 143 to shift the shaft 132 between the operative positions.

In operation, the arm assemblies 106 are initially parked in the forward inwardly retracted positions as shown in Figures 9 and 14. When it is desired to cover the container, the lateral hydraulic control system is operated to pressurize the extension chambers thereby shifting the shafts and the arm assemblies outwardly to the extended positions shown in Figure 13. The rotary actuator 130 is actuated by conventional hydraulics circuitry to pivot the arm assemblies rearwardly. Concurrently, the cylinders 126 are extended to control the effective arm length to keep the spool assembly 110 adjacent the front wall of the container in movement from the position of Figure 9 to the position of Figure 10. Thereafter the arm assembly is pivoted to the position of Figure 11 adjusting the arm length as required to position the spool assembly at the rear end of the container. The pivoting of the arm continues to the position of Figure 12 shortening the effective arm length as required. When rearwardly horizontal, the shafts of the actuators are retracted to park the arm assemblies below and inwardly of the sides of the container.

Referring to Figure 19, there is shown a further embodiment of the invention wherein the tarp spool assembly is carried on the truck chassis or container. While it is normally preferred to have the spool assembly carried on the arm assemblies to prevent dragging the tarp across exposed sharp objects in the container thereby damaging the tarp material, it certain instances such as an existing tarp installation or to reduce the weight on the arms, a vehicle mounted arrangement may be preferred. Therein, a truck 200 has an open top container 202 supported on a chassis 204 at the rear. The truck 200 is provided with a tarp covering system 205 comprising a pair of arm assemblies 206 at the lateral sides thereof supported at lower ends by retractable pivot assemblies 208 mounted on the truck chassis 204 for rotation about and extension and retraction with respect to a transverse axis. The arm assemblies 206 and the pivot assemblies 206 are substantially the same as described with reference to the prior embodiment with the differences detailed below.

A spool assembly 210 carrying a tarp 212 is mounted transversely on the chassis 204 at the lower front end of the container 202. The arm assemblies 206 are pivoted between a retracted stowed forward position 206a wherein the spool assembly 210 is supported on a rest support 212 at the front of the container 202, through intermediate positions 206b and 206c at the front and rear ends of the container to an extended deployed rearward position 206d at the rear of the container whereat the flexible tarp 212 is unwound from the spool assembly 210 and overlies the open top and front and rear walls of the container. In the parked forward and rearward positions, the arm assemblies 206 are laterally inwardly retracted by the pivot assemblies 208 and stowed beneath the outer side margins of the container. During extension and refraction of the tarp, the arm assemblies 206 are laterally extended beyond the sides of the container as described above.

As shown in Figures 20 and 21, the upper arms 222 of the arm assemblies 206 are connected to an extendable strut assembly 252. The free end of the tarp 212 is carried on a telescopic cross bar 256. The upper arms 222 are moved between a laterally extended position (Figure 20) and a retracted position (Figure 21) by a fluidic linear actuator 254. The cross bar 256 accommodates the lateral movement. The actuator 254 is extended and retracted in tandem with the lower actuators, described below, during lateral movement of the arm assemblies between the retracted parked position and the extended tarp coverage position.

In operation, the arm assemblies 206 are initially parked in the forward inwardly refracted position 206a. When it is desired to cover the container, the lateral hydraulic control system of the pivot assemblies 208 are actuated thereby shifting the shafts and the arm assemblies outwardly to the extended positions and the rotary actuator is actuated to pivot the arm assemblies rearwardly. Concurrently, the cylinders 226 are extended to control the effective arm length to keep the free end of the tarp 212 adjacent the front wall of the container in movement from the position 206a to 206b. Thereafter the arm assembly is pivoted to the position 206c adjusting the arm length as required to position the free end of the tarp 212 at the rear end of the container. The pivoting of the arm continues to the position 206 d Figure 12 shortening the effective arm length as required. When rearwardly horizontal, the shafts of the cylinders 226 are retracted to park the arm assemblies below and inwardly of the sides of the container.

The confrol system for the tarp covering systems described above may employ any conventional and appropriate hydraulic circuitry for enabling discrete confrol of the various linear and rotary actuators used in the described embodiments. Referring to Figure 22 showing a representative arrangement, a confrol system 300 for a tarp covering system includes a hydraulic pump 302 operated by the vehicle engine 304. Four actuators 306, 308, 310 and 312 are fluidly coupled with the supply line 314 of the pump 302 at three-way valves 316. The return lines of the actuators are fluidly coupled with the return line 318 of the pump. A pair of actuators 306 controls the lateral extension of an arm assemblies. Another pair of actuators 308 controls the rotation of the ami assemblies. A further pair of actuators 310 controls the effective length and articulation of the arm assembly. The actuator 312 controls the effective length of the of upper ends of the arm assemblies. Each of the foregoing actuators, in pairs as required, may be discretely controlled to effect the lateral extension and contraction of the arm assemblies, the semi-circular rotation of the arm assemblies between covered and uncovered conditions, the location of the tarp during traverse about the container, and the change in lateral width at the upper ends. The valves may be operated cojointly, through joy stick controllers, for operation of the arm rotation and articulation and in tandem for the lateral control movements. It will be appreciated that all of the foregoing embodiments of the invention provide a tarp covering system wherein arm assemblies normally stowed beneath a container and inwardly of the sides thereof may be laterally extended, pivoted in a semicircular path to deploy a tarp over the open top of a container and thereafter returned beneath the container thereby allowing the vehicle to travel between destination with an overall width determined by the container.

Having thus described various preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will now be appreciated that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the sprit and scope of the present invention. The disclosures and description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, which is defined solely in accordance with the following claim.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A covering system for covering an open top container carried on a truck chassis, the container being characterized by a rectangular base peripherally bounded by laterally spaced vertical side walls and longitudinally spaced vertical front and rear walls, said covering system comprising: a pair of arm assemblies each pivotally connected at a first transverse axis at lower ends on opposed lateral sides of the container to an output shaft of a first actuator unit on the chassis , said actuator unit being effective for laterally extending the arm assemblies from a first position beneath the base and laterally inward of the side walls of the container to an operative position outwardly of the side walls of the container, for rotating the arm assemblies about 180° from said operative position, and for retracting said arm assemblies after said rotating to a second position beneath said container and laterally inward of the container; and a cover member having a first end transversely carried at the outer ends of the arm assemblies and a second end transversely carried at the chassis, said cover member overlying the open top of the container after said rotating from said first position to said second position.

2. The covering system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said arm assemblies includes a lower arm and an upper arm, said lower arm operatively connected to said first actuator unit and located beneath said base of said container in said first position and said second position.

3. The covering system as recited in claim 2 wherein said cover member has said first end mounted on a roller assembly mounted transversely on the chassis and said second end transversely attached to the outer ends of said arm assemblies.

4. The covering system as recited in claim 2 wherein said cover member has said first end mounted on a roller assembly mounted transversely carried at the outer ends of said upper arms and said second end transversely attached to said chassis.

5. The covering system as recited in claim 2 wherein said lower arm and said upper arm of each arm assembly are slidably connected for extending and contracting the length of the arm assembly.

6. The tarp covering system as recited in claim 5 wherein sail upper arm and said lower arm are tubular members and telescopically slidably connected.

7. The tarp covering system as recited in claim 2 wherein said upper arm is pivotally connected at an inner end to an outer end of said lower arm for articulation about a second transverse axis, and a second actuator is connected to upper ami and said lower ami across said second transverse axis and effective for controlling articulation therebetween.

8. The tarp covering system as recited in claim 7 wherein said upper arms are vertically disposed and juxtaposed to said front wall of said container in said first position, and vertically disposed and juxtaposed to said rear wall of said container in said second position.

9. The covering system as recited in claim 5 wherein a cross member interconnects the outer ends of said upper arms, said cross member including a third actuator for laterally moving said outer ends of said upper arms in concurrence with movement of said first actuator.

10. The covering system as recited in claim 2 wherein said first actuator unit includes a linear actuator for extending said output shaft and a rotary actuator for rotating said output shaft.

11. The covering system as recited in claim 10 wherein said rotary actuator includes a rack and pinion drive with a gear coupled to said output shaft and a rack engaging said gear wherein said rack is reciprocated by a hydraulic cylinder to thereby rotate said gear and said output shaft.