Tow truck conveyor system

Claim 2

In a tow truck conveyor system, the combination comprising at least two trucks adapted to be moved along a slot, a conveyor adjacent said slot, each said truck comprising a truck body adapted to be moved along by the conveyor, means on said truck body movable into and out of engagement with means on the conveyor, a front bumper movably mounted on said truck body and operatively connected with said conveyor engaging means such that when the front bumper is moved rearwardly by contact with an obstacle, said conveyor engaging means is moved out of engagement with said means on the conveyor, a rear bumper movably mounted on said truck body, means interconnecting said front bumper and said rear bumper whereby when said front bumper engages an obstacle, said rear bumper is moved into position for engagement with the front bumper of the successive truck, yielding means urging said front and rear bumpers forwardly, and interengaging means on the front of at least each succeeding truck operable when the rear bumper of a leading truck is moved rearwardly by an engagement of tHe front bumper of a leading truck with an obstacle and the front bumper of a successive truck engages the rear bumper of said leading truck to prevent the forward movement of the front bumper of said succeeding truck when the obstacle is removed and before the leading truck is moved away from the succeeding truck by engagement of the means on the conveyor with the conveyor engaging means on the leading truck, said interengaging means comprising a control lever pivoted on at least each said succeeding truck and having a portion thereof projecting forwardly for engaging a portion of a leading truck, a latch lever pivoted to said control lever and having a portion thereof adapted to move into position for limiting the forward motion of the front bumper when the projecting portion of the control lever is engaged to thereby move the latch lever into limiting position.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said control lever is generally U-shaped and is pivoted about one arm, said latch lever being biased so that one end thereof is adapted to be moved into position for engagement with a portion of said front bumper when the control lever engages a portion of a leading truck.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1 including a shock absorbing bumper mounted on the front of said truck and a fixed bumper mounted on the rear of said truck, said control lever being pivoted to said shock absorbing bumper, the projecting portion of said control lever being adapted to engage said fixed rear bumper of a leading truck.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein said fixed bumper projects rearwardly beyond the end of said movable rear bumper when said rear bumper is moved to its forwardmost position under the action of said yielding means.

Claim 6

In a tow truck conveyor system, the combination comprising at least two trucks adapted to be moved along a slot, a conveyor adjacent said slot, each said truck comprising a truck body adapted to be moved along by the conveyor, means on the truck body movable into and out of engagement with means on the conveyor, a front bumper movably mounted on the truck body and operatively connected with said conveyor engaging means such that when the front bumper is moved rearwardly by contact with an obstacle, said conveyor engaging means is moved out of engagement with said means on the conveyor, a rear bumper movably mounted on said truck body, means interconnecting said front bumper and said rear bumper whereby when said front bumper engages an obstacle, said rear bumper is moved into position for engagement with the front bumper of the successive truck, yielding means urging the front and rear bumpers forwardly, and interengaging means on the front of at least each succeeding truck operable when the rear bumper of a leading truck is moved rearwardly by an engagement of the front bumper of a leading truck with an obstacle and the front bumper of a successive truck engages the rear bumper of said leading truck to prevent the forward movement of the front bumper of said succeeding truck when the obstacle is removed and before the leading truck is moved away from the succeeding truck by engagement of the means on the conveyor with the engaging means on the leading truck, each said truck having a shock absorbing bumper on the front thereof and a fixed bumper on the rear thereof, each said shock absorbing bumper having an opening therethrough, said last mentioned means comprising a control lever pivoted on the shock absorbing bumper of each said truck and having a portion thereof projecting forwardly through said opening in said shock absorbing bumper for engaging the fixed rear bumper of a leading truck, a latch lever pivoted to said control lever and having a portion thereof adapted to move into position for limiting the forward motion of the front bumper when the projecting portion of the control lever is engaged to thereby move the latch leVer into limiting position.

Claim 7

In a tow truck conveyor system, the combination comprising at least two trucks adapted to be moved along a slot, a conveyor adjacent said slot, each said truck comprising a truck body adapted to be moved along by the conveyor, means on the truck body movable into and out of engagement with means on the conveyor, a front bumper movably mounted on the truck body and operatively connected with said conveyor engaging means such that when the front bumper is moved rearwardly by contact with an obstacle, said conveyor engaging means is moved out of engagement with said means on the conveyor, a rear bumper movably mounted on said truck body, means interconnecting said front bumper and said rear bumper whereby when said front bumper engages an obstacle, said rear bumper is moved into position for engagement with the front bumper of the successive truck, yielding means urging the front and rear bumpers forwardly, and interengaging means on the front of at least each succeeding truck operable when the rear bumper of a leading truck is moved rearwardly by an engagement of the front bumper of a leading truck with an obstacle and the front bumper of a successive truck engages the rear bumper of said leading truck to prevent the forward movement of the front bumper of said succeeding truck when the obstacle is removed and before the leading truck is moved away from the succeeding truck by engagement of the means on the conveyor with the engaging means on the leading truck, each said truck having a shock absorbing bumper on the front thereof and a fixed bumper on the rear thereof, each said shock absorbing bumper having an opening therethrough, said last mentioned means comprising a control lever pivoted on the shock absorbing bumper of each said truck and having a portion thereof projecting forwardly through said opening in said shock absorbing bumper for engaging the fixed rear bumper of a leading truck, a latch lever pivoted to said control lever and having a portion thereof adapted to move into position for limiting the forward motion of the front bumper when the projecting portion of the control lever is engaged to thereby move the latch leVer into limiting position.

Claim 8

In a tow truck conveyor system, the combination comprising at least two trucks adapted to be moved along a slot, a conveyor adjacent said slot, each said truck comprising a truck body adapted to be moved along by the conveyor, means on said truck body movable into and out of engagement with means on the conveyor, a front bumper movably mounted on said truck body and operatively connected with said conveyor engaging means such that when the front bumper is moved rearwardly by contact with an obstacle, said conveyor engaging means is moved out of engagement with said means on the conveyor, a rear bumper movably mounted on said truck body, means interconnecting said front bumper and said rear bumper whereby when said front bumper engages an obstacle, said rear bumper is moved into position for engagement with the front bumper of the successive truck, yielding means urging said front and rear bumpers forwardly, and interengaging means on the front of at least each succeeding truck operable when the rear bumper of a leading truck is moved rearwardly by an engagement of the front bumper of a leading truck with an obstacle and the front bumper of a successive truck engages the rear bumper of said leading truck to prevent the forward movement of the front bumper of said succeeding truck when the obstacle is removed and before the leading truck is moved away from the succeeding truck by engagement of the means on the conveyor with the conveyor engaging means on the leading truck, said last-mentioned means comprising lever means pivoted on the front end of at least each said succeeding truck and adapted to engage a portion of the leading truck, said lever means when so engaged providing means limiting the forward movement of said front bumper of the truck on which it is mounted under the action of said yielding means.

Claim 9

In a tow truck conveyor system, the combination comprising at least two trucks adapted to be moved along a slot, a conveyor adjacent said slot, each said truck comprising a truck body adapted to be moved along by the conveyor, means on said truck body movable into and out of engagement with means on the conveyor, a front bumper movably mounted on said truck body and operatively connected with said conveyor engaging means such that when the front bumper is moved rearwardly by contact with an obstacle, said conveyor engaging means is moved out of engagement with said means on the conveyor, a rear bumper movably mounted on said truck body, means interconnecting said front bumper and said rear bumper whereby when said front bumper engages an obstacle, said rear bumper is moved into position for engagement with the front bumper of the successive truck, yielding means urging said front and rear bumpers forwardly, and interengaging means on the front of at least each succeeding truck operable when the rear bumper of a leading truck is moved rearwardly by an engagement of the front bumper of a leading truck with an obstacle and the front bumper of a successive truck engages the rear bumper of said leading truck to prevent the forward movement of the front bumper of said succeeding truck when the obstacle is removed and before the leading truck is moved away from the succeeding truck by engagement of the means on the conveyor with the conveyor engaging means on the leading truck, said last-mentioned means comprising lever means pivoted on the front end of at least each said succeeding truck and adapted to engage a portion of the leading truck, said lever means when so engaged providing means limiting the forward movement of said front bumper of the truck on which it is mounted under the action of said yielding means.

Claim 10

In a tow truck conveyor system, the combination comprising at least two trucks adapted to be moved along a slot, a conveyor adjacent said slot, each said truck comprising a truck body adapted to be moved along by the conveyor, means on said truck body movable into and out of engagement with means on the conveyor, a front bumper movably mounted on said truck body and operatively connected with said conveyor engaging means such that when the front bumper is moved rearwardly by contact with an obstacle, said conveyor engaging means is moved out of engagement with said means on the conveyor, a rear bumper movably mounted on said truck body, means interconnecting said front bumper and said rear bumper whereby when said front bumper engages an obstacle, said rear bumper is moved into position for engagement with the front bumper of the successive truck, yielding means urging said front and rear bumpers forwardly, and interengaging means on the front of at least each succeeding truck operable when the rear bumper of a leading truck is moved rearwardly by an engagement of the front bumper of a leading truck with an obstacle and the front bumper of a successive truck engages the rear bumper of said leading truck to prevent the forward movement of the front bumper of said succeeding truck when the obstacle is removed and before the leading truck is moved away from the succeeding truck by engagement of the means on the conveyor with the conveyor engaging means on the leading truck, said last-mentioned means comprising lever means pivoted on the front end of at least each said succeeding truck and adapted to engage a portion of the leading truck, said lever means when so engaged providing means limiting the forward movement of said front bumper of the truck on which it is mounted under the action of said yielding means, said lever means comprising a control lever pivoted on the front of said truck and having a portion thereof projecting forwardly for engaging a portion of a leading truck, a latch Lever pivoted to said control lever and having a portion thereof adapted to move into position for limiting the forward motion of the front bumper when the projecting portion of the control lever is engaged.

Claim 11

In a tow truck conveyor system, the combination comprising at least two trucks adapted to be moved along a slot, a conveyor adjacent said slot, each said truck comprising a truck body adapted to be moved along by the conveyor, means on said truck body movable into and out of engagement with means on the conveyor, a front bumper movably mounted on said truck body and operatively connected with said conveyor engaging means such that when the front bumper is moved rearwardly by contact with an obstacle, said conveyor engaging means is moved out of engagement with said means on the conveyor, a rear bumper movably mounted on said truck body, means interconnecting said front bumper and said rear bumper whereby when said front bumper engages an obstacle, said rear bumper is moved into position for engagement with the front bumper of the successive truck, yielding means urging said front and rear bumpers forwardly, and interengaging means on the front of at least each succeeding truck operable when the rear bumper of a leading truck is moved rearwardly by an engagement of the front bumper of a leading truck with an obstacle and the front bumper of a successive truck engages the rear bumper of said leading truck to prevent the forward movement of the front bumper of said succeeding truck when the obstacle is removed and before the leading truck is moved away from the succeeding truck by engagement of the means on the conveyor with the conveyor engaging means on the leading truck, said last-mentioned means comprising lever means pivoted on the front end of at least each said succeeding truck and adapted to engage a portion of the leading truck, said lever means when so engaged providing means limiting the forward movement of said front bumper of the truck on which it is mounted under the action of said yielding means, said lever means comprising a control lever pivoted on the front of said truck and having a portion thereof projecting forwardly for engaging a portion of a leading truck, a latch Lever pivoted to said control lever and having a portion thereof adapted to move into position for limiting the forward motion of the front bumper when the projecting portion of the control lever is engaged.

Claim 12

In a truck for use with a conveyor, the combination comprising a truck body adapted to be moved along by a conveyor, means on the truck body movable into and out of engagement with means on the conveyor, a front bumper movably mounted on the truck body and operatively connected with said conveyor engaging means such that when the front bumper is moved rearwardly by contact with an obstacle, said conveyor engaging means is moved out of engagement with said means on the conveyor, a rear bumper movably mounted on said truck body, means interconnecting said front bumper and said rear bumper whereby when said front bumper engages an obstacle, said rear bumper is moved into position for engagement with the front bumper of a successive truck, yielding means urging said front and rear bumpers forwardly, and means on said truck operable by engagement of said truck with another truck in advance thereof which has encountered an obstacle to engage the front bumper of said truck and prevent forward movement of the front bumper when the rear bumper of a truck in advance of said truck moves forwardly due to the removal of the obstacle in the path of the front bumper of the truck in advance of said truck, said last-mentioned means being mounted on a forward portion of the truck body.

Claim 13

In a truck for use with a conveyor, the combination comprising a truck body adapted to be moved along by a conveyor, means on the truck body movable into and out of engagement with means on the conveyor, a front bumper movably mounted on the truck body and operatively connected with said conveyor engaging means such that when the front bumper is moved rearwardly by contact with an obstacle, said conveyor engaging means is moved out of engagement with said means on the conveyor, a rear bumper movably mounted on said truck body, means interconnecting said front bumper and said rear bumper whereby when said front bumper engages an obstacle, said rear bumper is moved into position for engagement with the front bumper of a successive truck, yielding means urging said front and rear bumpers forwardly, and means on said truck operable by engagement of said truck with another truck in advance thereof which has encountered an obstacle to engage the front bumper of said truck and prevent forward movement of the front bumper when the rear bumper of a truck in advance of said truck moves forwardly due to the removal of the obstacle in the path of the front bumper of the truck in advance of said truck, said last-mentioned means being mounted on a forward portion of the truck body.

Claim 14

The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein said last-mentioned means comprises lever means pivoted on the front end of said truck and adapted to engage a portion of a leading truck, said lever means when so engaged providing means for limiting the forward movement of the front bumper of said truck under the action of said yielding means.

Claim 15

The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said lever means comprises a control lever pivoted on the front of said truck and having a portion thereof projecting forwardly for engaging a portion of a leading truck, a latch lever pivoted to said control lever and having a portion thereof adapted to move into position for limiting the forward motion of the front bumper when the projecting portion of the control lever is engaged.

Claim 16

The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said control lever is generally U-shaped and is pivoted about one arm, said latch lever being biased so that one end thereof is adapted to be moved into position for engagement with a portion of said front bumper when the control lever engages a portion of a leading truck.

Claim 17

The combination set forth in claim 9 including a shock absorbing bumper mounted on the front of said truck and a fixed bumper mounted on the rear of said truck, said control lever being pivoted to said shock absorbing bumper, the projecting portion of said control lever being adapted to engage said fixed rear bumper of a leading truck.