WO2011120057A2

WO2011120057A2 - Vehicle tipper

Info

Publication number: WO2011120057A2
Application number: PCT/ZA2010/000012
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hendrik Oostenwald Johannes Lamprecht
Original assignee: Hendrik Oostenwald Johannes Lamprecht
Priority date: 2010-03-24
Filing date: 2010-03-24
Publication date: 2011-09-29
Also published as: WO2011120057A3

Abstract

A removable tipping apparatus for mounting on light delivery vehicles includes a bin (16) for transporting material. The bin (16) can be moved backward (away from the cab of the vehicle) until it overhangs the tailgate (20). At this point the bin (16) can be tipped and the material off loaded. The apparatus uses a winch (30) and pulley system to elevate the front part of the load bin (16) so that it can tilt to a predetermined incline to assist with the off loading of certain materials, such as sand or the like.

Description

VEHICLE TIPPER

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to improved tippers for delivery vehicles including trailers.

BACKGROUND ART

Delivery vehicles are often used to transport loose material such as building sand or gravel. The term delivery vehicle should be understood to include trailers for the purpose of this specification.

The unloading of this type of material is usually a laborious task as it is carried out by physically climbing onto the vehicle and unloading the material with a shovel or similar tool.

Although various inventions have been proposed to make this task easier and less labour intensive, most of these have failed due to the fact that conversion of the load bin into tippers or similar unloading means is very expensive.

Another drawback of current inventions is that the apparatus used tends to be very heavy which lowers the load capacity of the vehicle.

One of the most important failures of current systems is that they place too much strain on one part of the vehicle, usually the tail gate of the load bin. This strain can damage the tailgate in such a way that it is bent and subsequently cannot be closed any longer.

It is an object of this invention to provide a tipper for light delivery vehicles and trailers which does not have any of the abovementioned drawbacks. It is a further object to provide a tipper which may be removed when not in use. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention a tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles, includes a loading area and a base, the base being movable from a first position in which the apparatus is close to the cab of the vehicle to a second horizontal position in which the other end of the apparatus overhangs the end of the vehicle's load bin;

the loading area being movable from a first or horizontal position to a second position in which the loading area is angled downwardly and rearwardly to facilitate off-loading; the loading area being pivotally attached to the base at or near the rear end of the base, the pivotal attachment comprising the fulcrum for tilting the loading area.

Unlike prior art arrangements, the fulcrum is not the tailgate of the vehicle or any other part of the vehicle.

The apparatus may be mounted on its own frame in which case the whole apparatus may be removable so the vehicle can be used with or without the apparatus.

The base may include rollers or similar members to facilitate movement from the first to the second position. In a preferred form of the invention the apparatus is moved from the first to the second position manually.

The base may include a device to make this movement easier when the loading area is full.

In one form of the invention this device may include a sprocket with teeth which engages a chain or track located on the base of the load bin of the vehicle, and a removable handle to engage and rotate the sprocket.

In this form of the invention the apparatus is moved backward or forwards by turning the handle.

The apparatus may include an anchor and/or a stop to prevent the base from rolling too far. In a preferred form of the invention the stop/anchor is located in such a position that the apparatus stops at a predetermined position in which the end of the loading area overhangs the load bin and tailgate of the vehicle by a predetermined distance.

In another form of the invention the stop is located on the chain/track described above in order that the apparatus can only be moved between the predetermined positions.

The means to elevate the one end on the loading area may be in the form of a winch and pulley system.

In a preferred form of the invention the frame of the apparatus may include multiple, interengaging frames and/or similar structures on the front end (cab end) of the apparatus. These frames may be slidable between a position in which the frames lie in vertical abutment, and a position where the frames are extended and only overlap to limited degree.

The winch may be located at the base or the front of these frames.

In one form of the invention three interengaging frames are provided which include pulleys to assist in the elevating movement of the loading area.

The frames may include tracks or channels which engage rollers or similar structures on the other frames. In this manner the third or last frame is connected to the second or middle frame, and the second is connected to the first or outer frame. The frames may include stops to prevent sliding completely past and disengaging.

The pulleys may be located in such a way that that the frames and the structure slide to the extended position when the winch is engaged.

In one form of the invention the apparatus includes five pulleys and two fixed points, the first fixed point being the winch.

The cable of the winch passes through a first pulley located at the top of the outer frame, after which it passes through a second pulley located at the bottom of the second frame, and is extended through a third pulley located at the top of the second frame, a fourth pulley located at the bottom of the third frame and a fifth pulley located on the loading area, respectively. Finally the cable is anchored to the second fixed position located on the loading area.

When the winch is engaged to elevate the loading area, tension is exerted on the second and the fourth pulleys by the cable being wound onto the winch. The second and third frames are forced to slide upwards, thus the one end of the loading area is elevated and the loading area is tilted to be angled downwardly toward the rear of the vehicle, in so doing tipping off the load.

After the material has been unloaded, the direction of the winch may be reversed, thus slack is created in the cable as the cable is unwound. The tension on the second and fourth pulleys is released; the second and third frames are lowered into its overlaying position and the loading area back into its resting or horizontal position.

The base may now be rolled back and the tailgate of the vehicle closed.

The apparatus may include at least one safety feature which prevents the frames from collapsing when under load.

In the preferred form of the invention the apparatus includes three safety features.

The first of these is a limit switch which is connected to one of the frames, preferably the first one, and which prevents the frame from passing a predetermined angle with relation to the vertical. As soon as the frame reaches this limit the power to the winch is interrupted and the hoisting or lowering is stopped.

The second and third safety features are both integrated with the frames.

The second safety feature may comprise a formation which is adapted to engage a toothed section on the first frame. The formation may be spring-mounted and may be movable between a first position in which it is retracted from the toothed section of the frame, and a second position in which it protrudes to such an extent that it will engage the toothed section.

In this form of the invention the formation is preferably automatically moved from the first to the second position if the tension on the cable, to which the formation is connected, is released.

The third safety feature may be integrated with the last frame.

In this form of the invention the third safety feature comprises a spring mounted shaft with at least one protruding member located at the end thereof to engage a toothed section located on the frame. The shaft may be connected to the end of the cable and may be adapted to rotate to facilitate engagement with the toothed section if the tension in the cable is released.

It is preferred that the apparatus incorporates all three safety mechanisms, but they may also be utilised singularly or in combination.

The winch may be connected to the battery of the vehicle and may include remote operating means.

The winch may also include a limit switch to ensure that the tension in the cable cannot be more than a predetermined level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention is described below with reverence to the accompanying photographs, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear view of the apparatus in its first position according to the invention; Figure 2 is a similar view of the apparatus in its second position;

Figure 3 is an isometric view of the apparatus in its elevated position;

And

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the sprocket-and-chain device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the drawings, the apparatus as applied to removable tippers of light delivery vehicles includes a base 10, a loading area 12 and a frame 14.

In its resting position (figure 1) the apparatus is located on the load bin 16 of a delivery vehicle 18. The apparatus may be of a size to be transported on the enclosed load bin of the vehicle, thus with the tailgate/s 20 locked.

Before being tipped and the material unloaded, the base may be moved from a first position (figure 1) to a second position (figure 2) in which the posterior end of the i apparatus 24 overhangs the end 26 of the load bin 16 of the vehicle. This may be done to prevent undue load on the vehicle and to ensure that the material is unloaded faster and more efficiently.

In order to accomplish this movement a sprocket-and-chain device (figure 4) is provided. The device includes a sprocket 60 with teeth 62 which engages a chain 64. The device includes a removable handle (not shown) which engages and rotates the sprocket so the apparatus moves between the first and second positions.

Stops (not shown) are provided at both ends of the chain/track so the movement is limited to predetermined distances.

Rollers 28 on the base are also provided to facilitate movement it between these positions.

Once the base is in the correct location, a winch 30 is activated to elevate the posterior end 32 of the loading area (figure 3). When the loading area is elevated it uses its own base as a fulcrum. A hinge 34 may be provided.

A winch-and-pulley system (not shown)) is used to elevate the anterior end of the loading area. A cable 36 is fixed about a winch 30 and fed through a series of pulleys located on first 38 and a second 40 and a third 41 interengaging frames. The frames are adapted to slide between an interlocked position and an extended position. The first pulley 50A is located at the top of the first frame 42, the second 50B is located at the bottom of the second frame 44, the third pulley 50C is located at the top 46 of the second frame, the fourth 50D is located at the bottom of the third frame 47 and the fifth (not shown) and final pulley is located on the frame of the apparatus. The cable is anchored to the loading area 48 of the apparatus.

In use the winch is engaged and tension is exerted through the cable on the second 50C and the fourth 50D pulleys. This tension forces the second and third frames to slide up into its extended position, and as the anterior end of the loading area is attached to this frame, it is elevated.

The material may now be unloaded after which the winch is reversed and the second and third frames, and subsequently the loading area is lowered. The base may now be rolled back and the tailgate of the vehicle closed.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles, includes a loading area and a base characterised in that the base is movable from a first position in which the apparatus is close to the cab of the vehicle, to a second horizontal position in which the other end of the apparatus overhangs the end of the vehicle's load bin;

2. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 1 characterised in that the apparatus is mounted on its own frame.

3. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 1 characterised in that the whole apparatus is removable so the vehicle can be used with or without the apparatus.

4. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles as according to any of the above claims characterised in that the base includes rollers or similar members to facilitate movement from the first to the second position.

5. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to any of the above claims characterised in that the apparatus is moved from the first to the second position manually.

6. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the base includes a device to facilitate easy movement when the loading area is full.

7. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 6 characterised in that the device includes a sprocket with teeth which engages a chain or track located on the base of the load bin of the vehicle, and a removable handle to engage and rotate the sprocket.

8. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 7 characterised in that the apparatus is moved backward or forwards by turning the handle.

9. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claims 6 to 8 characterised in that the apparatus includes an anchor and/or a stop to prevent the base from rolling too far.

10. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 9 characterised in that the stop/anchor is located in such a position that the apparatus stops at a predetermined position in which the end of the loading area overhangs the load bin and tailgate of the vehicle by a predetermined distance.

11. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 9 characterised in that the stop is located on the chain/track in order that the apparatus can only be moved between the predetermined positions.

12. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles as claimed in any of the above claims characterised in that the means to elevate the one end on the loading area is in the form of a winch and pulley system.

13. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to any of the above claims characterised in that the frame of the apparatus includes multiple, interengaging frames and/or similar structures on the front end (cab end) of the apparatus, the frames being slidable between a first position in which the frames lie in vertical abutment, and a second position in which the frames are extended and only overlap to limited degree.

14. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 12 or 13 characterised in that the winch is located at the base of the frames.

15. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 12 or 13 characterised in that the winch is located at the front of the frames.

16. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 13 characterised in that three interengaging frames are provided which include pulleys to assist in the elevating movement of the loading area.

17. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to any of claims 13 to 16 characterised in that the frames include tracks or channels which engage rollers or similar structures on the other frames.

18. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles as claimed in claim 17 characterised in that the third or last frame is connected to the second or middle frame, and the second is connected to the first or outer frame.

19. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 13 characterised in that the frames include stops to prevent them sliding completely past the ends of the other frames and disengaging.

20. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claims 12 to 19 characterised in that the pulleys are located in such a way that that the frames and the structure slide to the extended position when the winch is engaged.

21. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claims 12 to 20 characterised in that the apparatus includes five pulleys and two fixed points, the first fixed point being the winch.

22. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 21 characterised in that the cable of the winch passes through a first pulley located at the top of the outer frame, after which it passes through a second pulley located at the bottom of the second frame, and is extended through a third pulley located at the top of the second frame, a fourth pulley located at the bottom of the third frame and a fifth pulley located on the loading area, respectively, and finally the cable is anchored to the second fixed position located on the loading area.

23. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claims 21 to 22 characterised in that when the winch is engaged to elevate the loading area, tension is exerted on the second and the fourth pulleys by the cable being wound onto the winch; the second and third frames being forced to slide upwards, the one end of the loading area being elevated and the loading area being tilted to be angled downwardly toward the rear of the vehicle, in so doing tipping off the load.

24. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claims 21 to 23 characterised in that the direction of the winch may be reversed, to create slack in the cable as the cable is unwound after the material has been unloaded.

25. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 24 characterised in that when the tension on the second and fourth pulleys is released; the second and third frames are lowered into an overlaying position and the loading area lowered back into its resting or horizontal position.

26. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 25 characterised in that the base is rolled back and the tailgate of the vehicle closed after the apparatus or the load area has been lowered.

27. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to any of the above claims characterised in that the winch is connected to the battery of the vehicle and includes remote operating means.

28. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to any of the above claims characterised in that at least one safety feature is provided which prevents the frames from collapsing when under load.

29. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 28 characterised in that the apparatus includes three safety features.

30. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claims 28 and 29 characterised in that the first safety feature is a limit switch connected to the first frame which prevents the frame from passing a predetermined angle with relation to the vertical.

31. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 30 characterised in that power to the winch is interrupted when the frame reaches the predetermined angle and the hoisting or lowering is stopped.

32. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claims 28 to 31 characterised in that the second and third safety features are both integrated with the frames.

33. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claims 28 to 32 characterised in that the second safety feature comprises a formation which is adapted to engage a toothed section on the first frame.

34. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 33 characterised in that the formation is spring-mounted and is movable between a first position in which it is retracted from the toothed section of the frame, and a second position in which it protrudes to such an extent that it will engage the toothed section.

35. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claims 33 and 34 characterised in that the formation is automatically moved from the first to the second position if the tension on the cable, to which the formation is connected, is released.

36. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claims 28 to 35 characterised in that the third safety feature is integrated with the last frame.

37. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claims 28 to 36 characterised in that the third safety feature comprises a spring mounted shaft with at least one protruding member located at the end thereof to engage a toothed section located on the frame.

38. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles according to claim 37 characterised in that the shaft is connected to the end of the cable and is adapted to rotate to facilitate engagement with the toothed section if the tension in the cable is released.

39. A tipping apparatus mountable in the load bin of delivery vehicles substantially as claimed with reference to the accompanying drawings.