Bow-type tarp covering and tensioning means

Claim 1

A tarp system for covering an open-topped rectangular container having an opposed pair of side walls, and front and rear end walls, comprising: (a) a flexible generally rectangular tarp cover member having longitudinal and transverse dimensions slightly greater than the corresponding dimensions of the container, respectively, said cover member being adapted for horizontal arrangement to overlie the upper edges of the side and end walls of the container and thereby enclose the chamber defined therein; (b) means for fastening the forward end portion of said cover member with the upper end of the container front wall; (c) means for displacing the rear end portion of said cover member between a container-covered rear position adjacent the container rear end wall, and a container-uncovered forward position adjacent the container front end wall, said displacing means including: (1) a pair of endless flexible drive members mounted in opposed relation externally of said container side walls, respectively, each of said drive members having horizontal vertically-spaced upper and lower runs, said upper runs being spaced slightly below the upper edges of said side walls, respectively; (2) a pair of carrier plates connected in opposed relation with said drive member upper runs, respectively; (3) an inverted generally U-shaped bow member having a transverse portion extending transversely across the container, and a pair of leg portions pivotally connected at their free ends with said carrier plates, respectively, the rear end of said cover member being connected with said bow member transverse portion; (4) spring means normally biasing said bow member toward a vertical position relative to said carrier plates and said endless drive members; and (5) reversibly operable drive means for simultaneously driving said endless drive members to displace said plates and said bow member alternately forwardly or rearwardly toward said forward and rear positions relative to said container; and (d) bow pivoting means operable when said plates and said bow member are in said rear position to pivot said bow member rearwardly toward a cover-tensioning position in which the cover member is longitudinally tensioned across the upper end of the container, said bow pivoting means being operable when said plates and said bow member are in said forward position for pivoting said bow member forwardly toward an unobstructing position in which said transverse portion is forwardly of the container front wall, thereby to permit filling of the container without obstruction by said bow member.