Abstract: A foldable canopy cover (13) can be automatically extended over the open top (11) of a container (12). The canopy is supported by a series of arcuate booms (14) transversally spanning the top of the container. Each boom is secured at opposite ends to a pair of train members riding on rails (16,17) running along the lateral upper edges of the container. At the end of the covering movement, as the leading edge (27) of the canopy approaches the end (32) of the container, it is brought down flush with the container rim by contact between a cam ramp (37) associated with the container and a roller pin (35) on a lever (30) supporting the leading edge of the canopy, in order to tightly close the open top.

Abstract: A canopy deployment and retraction mechanism particularly suited to cover the cargo compartment of an elongated vehicle such as a railroad car. Each of a series of tarpaulin-supporting, parallel bows has sliders at each end sliding in a pair of funnel-shaped channels having their flat bases vertically secured to the upper inside lateral wall sections of the compartment. The spacing between the bases of the channels is less than the total length of a bow and its sliders and provides a degree of play in order to accommodate slight variations in the width of said compartment, and allows for self-centering of the cover. The shape of the channels allows for the placement of the cover retraction mechanisms such as cables and sliders within the outer periphery of the container, reducing bulk. The downward slope of the channel lower side further improves the evacuation of debris under the wiping action of the traveling sliders.

Abstract: In a hauling vehicle having a cargo compartment that can be covered by a pliable sheet canopy deployable from a reel mounted at one end of the compartment, a mechanism located at the opposite end of the compartment automatically grabs and locks a rod commonly found at the leading edge of the canopy. The locking mechanism is automatically released upon actuation of the very switch that triggers the retracting of the canopy. Pincer prongs automatically swing around opposite end sections of the rod and are immobilized by spring-biased pins. The pins are pulled back by solenoids energized upon actuation of the switch.

Abstract: A canopy deployment and retraction mechanism particularly suited to cover the cargo compartment of an elongated vehicle such as a railroad car. Each of a series of tarpaulin-supporting, parallel bows has sliders at each end riding into a pair of funnel-shaped channels having their flat bases vertically secured to the upper inside lateral wall sections of the compartment. The spacing between the bases of the channels is lesser than the total length of a bow and its sliders and provides a degree of play in order to accommodate slight variations in the width of said compartment, and allow for self-centering of the cover. The shape of the channels allows for the placement of the cover retraction mechanisms such as cables and sliders within the outer periphery of the container, reducing bulk. The downward slope of the channel lower side further improves the evacuation of debris under the wiping action of the traveling sliders.

Abstract: A foldable canopy cover (13) can be automatically extended over the open top (11) of a container (12). The canopy is supported by a series of arcuate booms (14) transversally spanning the top of the container. Each boom is secured at opposite ends to a pair of train members riding on rails (16,17) running along the lateral upper edges of the container. At the end of the covering movement, as the leading edge (27) of the canopy approaches the end (32) of the container, it is brought down flush with the container rim by contact between a cam ramp (37) associated with the container and a roller pin (35) on a lever (30) supporting the leading edge of the canopy, in order to tightly close the open top.

Abstract: A tarp cover for a cargo compartment is wound up on a rotating drum translatably spanning the compartment. The tarp is unfurled from the drum by a motor-driven cable and spool assembly pulling the leading edge of the tarp. The tarp retracting mechanism comprises a coil spring coaxially mounted on an axle held within the drum. A single cable running through a series of pulleys and through the scroll's leading edge pull-rod automatically equalizes tension on both ends of the pull-rod. A central vaulted region of the tarp engages the drum allowing free edges to closely bear against lateral edges of the compartment. Tarp tautness is enhance by an over-the-edge lever action imparted by the oblong pull-rod sliders. Each pull-rod pulley has two degrees of rotation freedom.

Abstract: A foldable canopy cover can be automatically extended over the open top of a container. The canopy is supported by a series of arcuate booms transversally spanning the top of the container. Each boom is secured at opposite ends to a pair of train members riding on rails running along the lateral upper edges of the container. At the end of the covering movement, as the leading edge of the canopy approaches the end of the container, it is brought down flush with the container rim by contact between a cam ramp associated with the container and a roller pin on a lever supporting the leading edge of the canopy, in order to tightly close the open top.

Abstract: A foldable canopy cover can be automatically extended over the open top of a container. The canopy is supported by a series of arcuate booms transversally spanning the top of the container. Each boom is secured at opposite ends to a pair of train members riding on rails running along the lateral upper edges of the container. At the end of the covering movement, as the leading edge of the canopy approaches the end of the container, it is brought down flush with the container rim by contact between a cam ramp associated with the container and a roller pin on a lever supporting the leading edge of the canopy, in order to tightly close the open top.

Abstract: In a dump truck where a monitoring system prevents the raising of the cargo bed when the level of lateral tilt exceeds a safe limit, a keyed switch allows for presetting the maximum safe degree of tilt by simple left or right manipulation of the switch, and to switch the display from current level of left or right tilt to the value of the preset limit.

Abstract: A cover deployable over the cargo compartment of a truck comprises a tarpaulin sheet wound about a motor-driven reel mounted close to the front or rear edge of the compartment. The outer free edge of the sheet is secured to a crossbar spanning the width of the compartment. The opposite ends of the crossbar are rotatively attached to the upper extremities of a pair of bows pivotingly traveling in planes parallel to the sides of the compartment. The bows' lower extremities are anchored into a pivot assembly resiliently biased to unroll the sheet from the reel and spread it over the compartment. A multi-position coupler between each bow and pivot assembly is used to adjust the tension applied to the sheet that must be overcome by the reel motor by varying in discrete minute amounts the angular position of the bow in relation to the pivot assembly.

Abstract: In a truck bed covering system wherein a tarpaulin sheet is retracted from a deployed position to a folded position by contracting a series of attachment bars regularly spaced apart along the length of the sheet in order to form a supporting frame spanning the top of the truck bed perpendicularly to the direction of retraction, flexible strips are interposed between the ends of the bars and biased to form vaulting guides that orderly force the sheet into parallel corrugations, and prevent any pinching of the covering material by the retracting mechanism. The attachment points for the flexible strips are provided by the engagement of the sheet, through eyelets, by a pair of wire running along the sides of the truck bed, by the securing of the strips to the bows, or by a combination of both.

Abstract: In a dump truck where a monitoring system prevents the raising of the cargo bed when the level of lateral tilt exceeds a safe limit, a keyed switch allows for presetting the maximum safe degree of tilt by simple left or right manipulation of the switch, and to switch the display from current level of left or right tilt to the value of the preset limit.

Abstract: A cover apparatus for an open-topped container such as a trailer or truck bed has a cover for extending over the open top of the container, a plurality of spaced, parallel bows extending between opposite sides of the cover, each bow having a guide at each end, an endless cable running through the guides at each end of each bow, a front one of the bows being secured to the cable and the guides on the remaining bows engaging slidably on the cable. A plurality of support pulleys support the cable to extend in a predetermined path along the opposite sides of,the container, and a pair of meshing gear drive pulleys control movement of the cable to extend and retract the cover. A reversible drive motor is linked to one of the gear drive pulleys.

Abstract: A cover system for covering an open topped compartment, such as a truck trailer, that may contain a quantity of particulate material extending in a heap above the sides of the compartment. A sheet of flexible material is rolled at one compartment end for pulling across and covering the compartment. A transverse tube is secured to the cover leading edge. A roller assembly is mounted by brackets to the tube so that as the cover is moved over the heap of material the roller will engage the heap and rotate so that the brackets raise the leading edge above the roller, which rides along the heap. The cover is then fastened in the covering position. When the cover is retracted to uncover the compartment, the roller trails behind the leading edge, permitting the cover to be rolled up easily.

Abstract: A cover system for covering open topped containers such as truck trailers carrying particulate material such as dirt, gravel, grain and the like. The cover is a flexible sheet material sized to cover the open top and can extend over the end and down the sides of the container, if desired. A roller is provided at one end of the open top for rolling up the cover to store the cover with the top open. A transverse rod runs through a hem at the opposite end of the cover. Edge guides on the rod maintain the cover in alignment with the container top when the cover is unrolled over the top. At least one freely rotatable roller or slide is provided on the rod near the rod center. A rope, strap or the like is secured to the rod to pull the rod and cover over the open top.

Abstract: A system for deploying a cover over an open-topped container, such as a truck trailer, and for removing and storing the cover requires only a single operator who need not leave the ground. The fabric cover is rolled on a storage roller at one end of the opening which includes a drive mechanism tending to roll up the cover. A pull rod is secured to the cover free end, extending across the opening and including guide disks riding along the outer edge of the opening. The pull rod and cover are pulled across the opening with a pull rope attached to the pull rod, which locks in place at the second end of the opening. A plurality of tie-down straps are provided along the cover edges. A tie-down rope is threaded through loops at the ends of the straps and corresponding hooks along the side of the container to hold the sides in place. Side flaps extending down from the cover can be provided to seal the edges. The flaps are foldable up over the cover.

Abstract: A cover system for covering open topped containers such as truck trailers carrying particulate material such as dirt, gravel, grain and the like. The cover is a flexible sheet material sized to cover the open top and can extend over the end and down the sides of the container, if desired. A roller is provided at one end of the open top for rolling up the cover to store the cover with the top open. A transverse rod runs through a hem at the opposite end of the cover. Edge guides on the rod maintain the cover in alignment with the container top when the cover is unrolled over the top. At least one freely rotatable roller or slide is provided on the rod near the rod center. A rope, strap or the like is secured to the rod to pull the rod and cover over the open top.

Abstract: A cover system for preventing loss of loose material such as sand, gravel or plant clippings from open topped compartments such as dump truck bodies or trailers, storage bins or the like. The cover system includes a roller system for moving a cover sheet from a first, stowed, position away from the open compartment top to a second, deployed, position in which material in the compartment is closely confined by the cover sheet.