US3831785A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-unloading structure for wagon boxes
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-09-21
•
Granted: 1974-08-27
•
Expires: 1993-09-21
Abstract
Abstract The disclosure is directed to a flat bed hauling trailer having side walls, and which is equipped with apparatus for automatically unloading material from the flat bed. The unloading apparatus comprises a plurality of elongated unloading slats or bars which are moved in spaced relation by a conveyor over the length of the bed and transverse thereto to carry the loaded material to a discharge point at the back of the trailer. To permit the trailer to be used without the unloading apparatus, the conveyor is constructed and arranged to drop the unloading slats after they have moved around the discharge point into a collecting container one at a time. The transversely movable unloading bed is reformed by placing the unloading slats into a magazine in vertical stacked relation, and releasing the slats one at a time to be picked up and moved by the conveyor in the predetermined spaced relation.
Inventors
- 👤 H Rezac
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:06
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P1/00; B60P1/36; B60P1/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
Automatic unloading apparatus for a flat bed vehicle of predetermined length, comprising: a. a plurality of individual elongated unloading members; b. conveyor means for engaging and moving said unloading members transversely over at least a part of the length of the flat bed in spaced relation to a predetermined discharge point; c. said conveyor means being further constructed and arranged to be disengaged from the unloading members and permitting them to drop one at a time to a collecting area beyond the discharge point; d. and means for storing said unloading members and for depositing said members one at a time relative to the conveyor means for engagement thereby and so they can be moved in said spaced relation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
Automatic unloading apparatus for a flat bed vehicle of predetermined length, comprising: a. a plurality of individual elongated unloading members; b. conveyor means for engaging and moving said unloading members transversely over at least a part of the length of the flat bed in spaced relation to a predetermined discharge point; c. said conveyor means being further constructed and arranged to be disengaged from the unloading members and permitting them to drop one at a time to a collecting area beyond the discharge point; d. and means for storing said unloading members and for depositing said members one at a time relative to the conveyor means for engagement thereby and so they can be moved in said spaced relation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The unloading apparatus defined by claim 1, wherein the conveyor means is endless, defining an upper flight movable over the top of the flat bed and a lower flight movable below the flat bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus defined by claim 2, wherein the conveyor means is constructed to move the unloading members rearwardly over the flat bed length, and the discharge point is disposed at the rearwardmost portion of the flat bed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus defined by claim 3, wherein the collecting area is disposed below the flat bed forwardly of the discharge point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus defined by claim 4, and further comprising means mounted on the underside of the flat bed for abuttably engaging and urging the unloading members into the collecting area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus defined by claim 2, wherein the conveyor means comprises first and second endless conveyors respectively disposed along each side of the flat bed and arranged to move said individual elongated members therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus defined by claim 6, and further comprising means defining a covered recess extending along each side of the flat bed top surface, the upper flights of the first and second endless conveyors being respectively disposed in the covered recesses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus defined by claim 6, wherein each of the endless conveyors further comprises a plurality of carrying members longitudinally disposed in said spaced relation, the carrying members of the first and second endless conveyors being together arranged in opposed pairs to receive and carry said unloading members.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus defined by claim 8, wherein: a. the carrying members comprise lugs secured to the endless conveyors and projecting laterally inward therefrom; b. and each unloading member is adapted to slide over the flat bed and is sized to fit between a pair of lugs to be abuttably engaged and moved thereby.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus defined by claim 4, wherein: a. the upper flight of the conveyor means is cOnstructed and arranged to abuttably engage and slide the unloading members over the top surface of the flat bed; b. and further comprising guide means associated with the lower flight between the discharge point and the collecting area to guide each unloading member and to prevent it from falling from the conveyor means before it reaches the collecting area.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus defined by claim 10, wherein the guide means comprises a plate spaced from the flat bed to receive the conveyor means therebetween, the plate having a curved portion extending around the discharge point and a flat portion terminating at the collecting area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus defined by claim 10, and further comprising an elongated container disposed at the collecting area for receiving the unloading members as they are dropped from the conveyor means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus defined by claim 1, wherein: a. the conveyor means is constructed and arranged to abuttably engage and slide the unloading members over the top surface of the flat bed; b. and the storing and depositing means comprises a magazine for holding the unloading members in vertical stacked relation with the bottom-most unloading member resting on the top surface of the flat bed in a position for abuttable engagement by the conveyor means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus defined by claim 13, in which the storing and depositing means further comprises means for elevating the bottom-most unloading member from the top surface of the flat bed to preclude its abuttable engagement by the conveyor means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus defined by claim 14, wherein the elevating means comprises plunger means mounted relative to the flat bed for selective movement between an extended position to elevate the bottom-most unloading member and a retracted position permitting abuttable engagement of the bottom-most unloading member by the conveyor means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus defined by claim 13, wherein the plunger means comprises: a. at least one reciprocally mounted plunger; b. a rotatable shaft; c. a linkage member rigidly secured to the shaft and pivotally connected to the plunger; d. and handle means for rotating the shaft to thereby effect relative positioning of the plunger.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus defined by claim 16, and further comprising handle retention means for releasably holding the handle means in a position corresponding to the extended plunger position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus defined by claim 13, wherein the magazine comprises first and second vertical channel members disposed in opposed relation, each channel member constructed to receive and guide one end of an unloading member.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus defined by claim 18, wherein: a. the conveyor means comprises first and second endless conveyors respectively disposed along each side of the flat bed and arranged to move the individual elongated member therebetween, each endless conveyor defining an upper flight movable over the top of the flat bed and a lower flight movable below the flat bed; b. and further comprising means for centering each unloading member between the first and second endless conveyors as it reaches the bottom-most position in the magazine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus defined by claim 19, wherein: a. each of said vertical channel members includes a guiding surface for the unloading member which includes downward and laterally inward toward the top surface of the flat bed; b. and each of said unloading members further comprises a centering member for each guiding surface, the centering members being respectively spaced inward from the ends of the unloading member for centering engagement by the inclined guiding surface as the unloading member drops to the bottom-most position in the magazine; c. said guiding surface and said centering members defining the centering means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1304026A
Cited
US2454101A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |