Endless Patents (Class 414/528)
  • Patent number: 5890867
    Abstract: A dump truck having a dump body which includes a rotatable feedgate for adjusting the size of a passageway through a rear opening at the rear of the dump body. The rotatable feedgate is rotatably mounted within the rear opening to provide for improved control of the flow of materials within the dump body which pass through the rear opening when the feedgate is positioned into an open position. A side guide is incorporated into the rotatable feedgate to provide additional control of the flow rate of materials through the rear opening especially at low feed rates. The rotatable feedgate design includes a rotatable feedgate position for open mode hauling whereby the feedgate is repositioned in the rear of the dump body. An opening plate is also provided to be used to provide an alternative arrangement for sealing the tailgate opening while the rotatable feedgate is attached or detached from the dump body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: The Louis Berkman Company
    Inventor: Roland L. Hagemeyer
  • Patent number: 5888044
    Abstract: A bulk seed cart includes a seed bin with sloping sides converging at a bottom mounted discharge hopper to which a conveyor is removably connected for unloading seed from the cart. The conveyor is supported by a telescoping boom mounted on the side of the cart and the boom, and attached conveyor, can be raised or lowered via an attached hydraulic lifting cylinder. The boom can be pivoted from side to side and the conveyor is attached to the boom via a swivel assembly, which, once the conveyor is detached from the seed cart, allows the conveyor to be swiveled 180 degrees and attached to a nearby source of seed, such as another seed cart, a stationary bin, a truck or railroad car, etc., with the conveyor being directed toward the seed bin in the seed cart. Seed can thus be unloaded from the source and loaded into the seed cart via the conveyor. The lifting cylinder, the telescoping boom and the conveyor motor are all controllable via a single remote control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: DewEze Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Eugene Baskerville
  • Patent number: 5863174
    Abstract: An automatic apparatus for picking up poultry in general from breeding pens and the like, including a pick-up assembly that is operatively associable with a transfer conveyor. The pick-up assembly comprises at least one conveyor with an inclined plane that is supported by a framework movable along the ground, a linking conveyor being also provided that operatively connects the inclined-plane conveyor to the transfer conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Inventor: Enrico Mola
  • Patent number: 5846022
    Abstract: In an apparatus (G) for laying road pavement layers composed of first and second pavement material grades, there are provided at least one road finisher (F', F1, F2) comprising a material hopper, and a feeder (B) arranged upstream thereof and including a bulk material hopper (2) for the first pavement material grade (A) as well as a longitudinal conveying means (3, 4), wherein in the apparatus (G) the sole road finisher (F') comprises a second material hopper (29) for the second pavement material grade (B1) or a second road finisher comprising a material hopper (29') for the second pavement material grade (B1) is provided behind a first road finisher (F1), and the feeder (B) comprises a superstructure (6) extending above the bulk material hopper (2) and the first longitudinal conveying device (3, 4) and including a second longitudinal conveying and intermediate storage device (7, 10, 14) which extends either up to and over the second material hopper (29) of the sole road finisher (F') or the material hopper (
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Joseph Vogele AG
    Inventor: Roland Grundl
  • Patent number: 5826947
    Abstract: A vehicle for transporting and dumping loads of particulate material comprising a vehicle frame having spaced, ground engaging wheels extending therefrom, and angularly upstanding spaced frame members projecting upward from the vehicle frame; a dump basket operative to contain the loads of particulate material therein, the dump basket situated between the spaced frame members and having spaced end walls, a first side wall, and a dump side wall, the spaced end walls, the first side wall and the dump side walls each having respective upper edges, the respective junctures of the upper edges forming spaced, upper corners, the dump basket having hinge connections to the frame members at the upper corners of the upper edges of the end walls and the dump side wall for upward rotation, tilting and dumping of the loads of particulate material of the dump basket; a drop chute extension swingably connected to the dump basket by hinges and extending along the upper edge of the dump side wall; and a top arm and a bottom a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: Crust Buster/Speed King, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald F. Hornung, Thomas A. Klenke
  • Patent number: 5823734
    Abstract: A dump truck having a dump body which includes an adjustable feedgate for adjusting the size of a passageway through a rear opening at the rear of the dump body. The feedgate is rotatably mounted within the rear opening to provide for improved control of the flow of materials within the dump body which pass through the rear opening when the feedgate is positioned into an open position. A side guide is incorporated into the feedgate to provide additional control of the flow rate of materials through the rear opening especially at low feed rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: The Louis Berkman Company
    Inventors: Roland L. Hagemeyer, Kenneth P. Manon
  • Patent number: 5803701
    Abstract: System (10) for automatically conveying photosensitive cargo containers (15) through a storage compartment (14) of a vehicle, preferably a trailer (12) and selective environmentally controlled enclosures (32,40,42) comprises a conveyor device (18) positioned in the storage compartment (14) that cooperates with interconnected conveying devices (34) in the enclosures (32,40,42). Devices are provided for aligning and positioning the rear exit end (16) of vehicle (12) snugly against the entrance port (30) of a proximally positioned enclosure (32). A system control device (100) connecting the conveying device (18) and conveying devices (34) enables the cargo containers (15) to be automatically conveyed from the vehicle (12), through the entrance port (30) and into the proximal enclosure (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Filiberti, Fredric Salsburg, William E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5795124
    Abstract: A self-loading vehicle for moving cotton modules or bulk materials such as compost or cotton burrs. The vehicle utilizes a chain conveyor system on a tiltable bed. Long conveyor bars or lugs are attached horizontally to the chains to aid in gripping the material being moved. The chains lie in valleys in the bed, and are separated by ridges. The ridges and valleys help to channel loose bulk material toward the moving chains. Vanes or scrapers on the bottom of the horizontal bars assist in scraping small portions of loose bulk material out of the vehicle. A multi-position spreader on the rear of the bed may be moved down into a position to disperse bulk material, such as fertilizer or compost being spread onto an agricultural field. The spreader is moved up and out of the way for loading bulk material. The vehicle with spreader removed or positioned in its uppermost position is also utilized as a vehicle for transportation of cotton modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Jerry J. Kitten
    Inventors: Jerry J. Kitten, Wayne Hurt
  • Patent number: 5784871
    Abstract: The invention herein provides an improved machine for mobile harvesting vegetables comprising a frame adapted to be connected to a tractor, and a collection bin mounted to the frame for collecting vegetables as they are harvested. The improvement comprises an automated control system for moving the vegetables relative to the frame in accordance with the position and amount of vegetables collected and for controlling the speed of such movement. Movement of the vegetables may be accomplished in a variety of ways, including moving a movably mounted collection bin or by moving an internal conveyor located in a collection bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: University of Delaware
    Inventors: James Glancey, Keith Carlilse, Michael Dukes
  • Patent number: 5772389
    Abstract: A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus is disclosed for selectively dumping and spreading materials. The apparatus includes a truck chassis and a body for receiving and dispensing the materials. The body has a first and a second end and a first and second curved side wall. The body is secured to the chassis and a tailgate is secured to the first end of the body. A conveyor is disposed within the body and extends between the first and second ends thereof for conveying the materials along the body. The tailgate defines an opening which co-operates with the conveyor for permitting the flow therethrough of the materials. The arrangement is such that selective spreading and dumping of the materials from the opening is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Monroe Truck Equipment Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Feller
  • Patent number: 5772384
    Abstract: A side loading refuse vehicle having a cab and storage tank divided into separate upper and lower storage regions suitable for simultaneous collection of recyclable refuse and other household waste using a multi-compartment bin. The vehicle is capable of "one man" operation by use of a retractable loading arm operated by the driver from within the vehicle's cab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventor: Idwall Charles Richards
  • Patent number: 5745947
    Abstract: A debris collection vehicle (1) having an offset cab (12) adjacent to a conveyor belt (61) which transports collected debris to a hopper (59). Rows of resilient fingers (51) are mounted on a collector drum (36), the conveyor (61) and on curb brushes (22, 24). The orientation of the collector (36) may be varied with respect to the lower drum (57) supporting the conveyor belt (61) in order to permit the reliable entrainment of various sized and shaped objects without fouling. The collector drum (36) is biased by a spring (192) to facilitate clearance of obstacles or oversized debris. A front deflection bar (229) is mounted adjacent to the collector drum (36) to direct debris toward the lower support (56) of the conveyor belt (61). A rear deflection bar (239) is mounted adjacent to the lower conveyor support (56) to direct debris toward the upper surface of the conveyor belt (61).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: The Toro Company
    Inventors: Kaibai Liu, Charles Carl Holley, Walter John Petersen
  • Patent number: 5727474
    Abstract: A freight car includes a carrier frame supportable on track-bound undercarriages for mobility on a track, a box formed by side walls and a bottom for storing bulk material, and a conveyor belt constituting the bottom of the box and extending in longitudinal direction for conveying bulk material in a conveying direction. Further mounted to the freight car are two off-track undercarriages which are spaced from each other in longitudinal direction and vertically adjustable independently from each other by own drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 5725346
    Abstract: A bale handling and transporting apparatus has a bale handler on a trailer or body which can be positioned to pick up bales located on either side of the body. The bale handler may have an upright boom, a boom arm, and a bale gripper. The boom is pivoted to move the boom arm and the bale gripper to either side of the body. The boom may be adjusted in length and lowered to place a bale within jaws of the bale gripper. A stabilizer supports the body during the bale lifting operation. The boom and boom arm are operated to lift the bale onto the trailer or body. A conveyor belt shifts bales along the length of the trailer in either direction. The belt is keyed to the trailer to prevent sideways shifting of the belt relative to the trailer body, such as when the trailer is on a hillside. The body may be articulated with first and second bed sections. When empty, one of the bed sections may be pivoted or otherwise positioned to overlie the other bed section to reduce the overall length of the trailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Sunny D Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn A. Davina
  • Patent number: 5718556
    Abstract: A bulk granular material transport system having multiple compartments with a detachable elevating conveyor to permit the conveyor to assist with unloading as well as loading of the transport device. Each compartment may be individually discharged onto a horizontal conveyor which delivers the seed to the elevating conveyor when the elevating conveyor is in its first position. The elevating conveyor is suspended from an adjustable crane which is pivotable on the frame of the transport system. The elevating conveyor may be released from its first position such that the discharge of the elevating conveyor may be positioned over a compartment of the transport device. All mechanisms are individually actuable through a remote control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Inventor: Daniel L. Forsyth
  • Patent number: 5685687
    Abstract: A truck is fitted with an unloading conveyor for carrying packages of material, e.g. roofing shingles, from a transfer station on the truck bed, preferably at its rear. This conveyor can swing in an arc about its mounting adjacent the transfer station, and its azimuth can be adjusted to reach a wide variety of delivery sites. The truck bed can carry multiple rows of stacked packages such as pallettized loads of roofing shingles, and is fitted with a bed conveyor system to move an entire row of loads to the transfer station. Upper flights of the bed conveyor move toward a lift platform designed to receive a few of the palletized loads as these are carried to the transfer station. An operator removes the packages from the loads and places them onto the discharge conveyor. As the loads are emptied, the lift platform can rise so the operator only shifts the packages onto the discharge conveyor with minimal lifting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: Florida High Reach Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Frye
  • Patent number: 5676513
    Abstract: A ground engaging wheeled trailer includes an elongated chassis having a horizontal deck overlying an upright rolled, hair pin shaped I-beam track including a horizontal section extending the length of the deck, an integral vertical section extending downwardly at the rear of the deck, and an integral, forwardly and upwardly inclined third section. A plurality of cars are mounted for movement on the track by car wheels engaging opposite side recesses within the I-beam track. Each car includes a hinged plate at a radially outboard position on the car. A U-shaped cam follower yoke is fixedly mounted to a spear adjacent the hinged plate and carries cam follower rolls to opposite sides thereof for engaging with respective camming bars to opposite sides of the track third sections. Cam slots formed by spaced camming rails forward of the track third section cause the hinged plates to pivot to a position such that the spears carried thereby are horizontal and generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: Harold L. Bingham
  • Patent number: 5653567
    Abstract: A mobile batch feeder for cubed feed consisting of a supply hopper with conveyor leading to a cumulative dispensing chute. Rotational input to drive the conveyor also functions to trip open the dispensing chute periodically thereby to dispense measured batches of cube feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Charley A. Taylor
    Inventor: Charley A. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5645390
    Abstract: System (10) for automatically conveying photosensitive cargo containers (15) through a storage compartment (14) of a vehicle, preferably a trailer (12) and selective environmentally controlled enclosures (32,40,42) comprises a conveyor device (18) positioned in the storage compartment (14) that cooperates with interconnected conveying device (34) in the enclosures (32,40,42). Devices are provided for aligning and positioning the rear exit end (16) of vehicle (12) snugly against the entrance port (30) of a proximally positioned enclosure (32). A system control device (100) connecting the conveying means (18) and conveying device (34) enables the cargo containers (15) to be automatically conveyed from the vehicle (12), through the entrance port (30) and into the proximal enclosure (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Filiberti, Fredric Salsburg, William E. Roberts
  • Patent number: 5642961
    Abstract: A method for desegregating and conveying aggregate includes reorienting aggregate from a side-by-side lateral orientation to a longitudinal orientation. The longitudinally oriented segregated aggregate may then be thoroughly desegregated in a second conveyor. Reorientation preferably occurs as the aggregate is conveyed along a drag slat conveyor which has a notch in the floor of its discharge end which causes larger aggregate at the lateral edges of the conveyor to drop out of the conveyor after smaller aggregate located between the lateral edges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Astec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Campbell
  • Patent number: 5615989
    Abstract: An apparatus for conveying granular material includes a first conveyor (such as an auger) feeding a second conveyor. In the improvement, the first conveyor feeds granular material into a cone-like converging member. Such converging member defines an area which generally decreases in the direction of material movement. Such converging member may have any of several shapes and a truncated cone shape is preferred for effectiveness, ease of fabrication and the like. In specific applications of the new apparatus on a grain combine, the volume of corn conveyed by the apparatus increased 15% or more when using the converging member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: Case Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Matousek, James W. Minnihan
  • Patent number: 5584640
    Abstract: A conveying system (43) is disclosed including a vertical auger (27) which receives material from a horizontal auger (25). The vertical auger is driven by a hydraulic motor (37) and the horizontal auger is driven by a hydraulic motor (35). A pressure response valve (89) responds to a pressure signal (93), representative of the load on the motor (37) driving the vertical auger to unload or bypass the motor (35) driving a horizontal auger. As the load on the vertical auger decreases, the valve (89) gradually communicates more flow to the motor (35) driving the horizontal auger, thus feeding more material (grain) to the vertical auger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Vernon A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5542809
    Abstract: A self-driven liftup conveyor comprises a channel including a bottom plate and two side plates; a roller tray accommodated in the channel and holding a multiplicity of rollers in a rotatable manner; a belt placed all over the length of the rollers; a drive mechanism for reciprocating the belt; and a lift mechanism interposed between the roller tray and the channel for moving the roller tray together with the belt on the rollers vertically with respect to a freight stacking face. A vehicular liftup conveyor is constructed by placing that self-driven liftup conveyor and ordinary liftup conveyors in parallel on the truck bed. A truck freight loader/unloader is constructed by placing the self-driven liftup conveyor and the ordinary liftup conveyors in parallel on a platform to be connected to the truck bed. A truck freight loading system is constructed by combining the truck freightloader/unloader and the truck bed having an ordinary liftup conveyor mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignees: Ashimori Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Nippon Light Metal Company, Limited
    Inventors: Katsuo Kita, Yasushi Nagamune, Yasuyuki Nakadegawa
  • Patent number: 5538391
    Abstract: An apparatus for mechanized loading and unloading, having an insertable pallet that may be tilted around its longitudinal axis and that can be moved horizontally and vertically. The pallet has a live conveyor for advancing a package along the pallet. Also a method for acquiring packages from a stack of packages with a mechanical loader having a pallet, including the steps of (a) vertically translating the pallet to the height of the package to be acquired, (b) tilting the pallet around the longitudinal axis so that the angle of the pallet roughly matches the angle of the bottom of the package to be acquired, (c) horizontally translating the pallet so that a front edge of the pallet is inserted into a seam between the package to be acquired and the other packages in the stack, and (d) advancing the package to be acquired along the pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Henri Bonnet
  • Patent number: 5524747
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for taking up articles wherein the apparatus includes a receiving table with conveyor belts, an auxiliary member located thereabove and a holding assembly located above the article, wherein, for taking up the article, a pressing member of the holding assembly is pressed onto a rearward part of the article from above, and the auxiliary member is pressed against its upper front face, whereupon the auxiliary member is moved upwardly while still pressing against the article, thereby tilting the article about an axis located close to its upper rear edge, thus displacing the receiving table into the gap opening below the article and loading same onto its conveyor belts. The method allows the take up of package-shaped rigid articles, without requiring additional room behind the article and is especially suited for successively handling a plurality of articles located behind each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Digitron AG
    Inventors: Andreas Wohlfahrt, Anders G. P. Ingelhag
  • Patent number: 5520403
    Abstract: A wheelchair having a set of features which facilitate transfering a patient to an alternative surface and raising the chair to an alternative seating height. The first of these features enables each of the handwheels to be independently pivoted rearward by raising its related arm rest. The motion of the wheel is over centering and its rearward position is determined by a brake pad which engages its respective handwheel. The rearward position of the handwheel is such as to clear the rear of the seat. The forward position is determined with the arm rest in the normal down position and latched to the frame. The second feature is a lifting mechanism for raising the patient to the level of an alternative surface such as a bed. The third feature has the seat surface fabricated from a moveable belt which laterally transports the patient to the alternative surface. The wheelchair also has an embodiment which allows folding for easy transport.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Inventors: Michele R. Bergstrom, Charles Bickoff
  • Patent number: 5505580
    Abstract: A refuse handling system having a towable multipurpose trailer and a refuse container which mates with the trailer. The refuse container is designed to receive and hold trash deposited at a remote waste collection site. The trailer has a receiving platform which tilts between a travel position and an inclined loading position. The trailer has a loading subassembly for loading and unloading the refuse container. A power unit is mounted on the trailer to drive the loading subassembly. Once loaded, the trailer transports the container to a central waste disposal site. The refuse container has a refuse discharger for emptying the container. A power transfer coupling is provided between the trailer and the container. This provides one power unit on the trailer hitch functions to both load the refuse container and discharge refuse from the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Inventors: John A. Alstad, Navarre A. Massey
  • Patent number: 5498120
    Abstract: A mud pan apparatus provided for use in combination with a well drilling device. The mud pan apparatus includes a housing having a bottom, opposed sidewalls and opposed end walls. Together, the bottom, sidewalls and end wall of the housing form a reservoir which is adapted to receive a slurry laden with earth deposits produced during the well drilling operation. A plurality of sprockets are rotatably mounted on opposite sidewalls of the housing and a chain that is provided around each set of sprockets. A plurality of space scrapers are secured to the chains so that the scrapers extend between the chains and thus across the bottom of the housing. A motor rotatably drives the pulleys which causes the scrapers to move along the bottom of the housing and up one side of the housing to thereby remove earth deposits from the housing and onto the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: Daniel B. Adams
  • Patent number: 5498119
    Abstract: A turret deck for a telescopic conveyor comprises a platform which is longitudinally and translationally movable relative to the chassis of a vehicle on which it is supported. The platform supports a base plate and a supporting yoke on which the telescopic conveyor is pivotally mounted about a horizontal shaft. The conveyor is tilted by means of two hydraulic cylinders, one of which is located between the base plate and a second supporting yoke for placing the conveyor in a transport position, while the other cylinder tilts the conveyor to allow unloading. An additional hydraulic cylinder on the conveyor retracts automatically during operation of the first hydraulic cylinder in order to prevent the conveyor from interfering with obstacles or power lines while it is being placed in the transport position. The telescopic conveyor comprises devices for storing the lower band of the endless belt conveyor during the retraction of the various sections of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Inventor: Jacques Faivre
  • Patent number: 5470175
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for efficient and precise placement of discrete quantities of materials adjacent to the apparatus. The apparatus and methods are particularly adapted for being coupled to a dump truck, receiving material contained in the bed of the dump truck into a hopper, metering the material in the hopper by a receiving conveyor and transferring the metered material from the receiving conveyor to the side of the apparatus by a cross conveyor positioned perpendicularly to the receiving conveyor. A telescoping boom conveyor having a material director transfers the metered material from an end of the cross conveyor and places the metered material adjacent to the apparatus. Attached at the other end of the cross conveyor is a material positioning attachment for positioning the precisely placed material into a level grade or a road curb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Spudnik Equipment Company
    Inventors: Darrell V. Jensen, Carl J. Hobbs, M. Andrew Blight
  • Patent number: 5466112
    Abstract: A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus is disclosed for selectively dumping and spreading materials. The apparatus includes a truck chassis and a body for receiving and dispensing the materials. The body has a first and a second end and a first and second side. The body is secured to the chassis and a tailgate is secured to the first end of the body. A first and second conveyor are disposed within the body and extend between the first and second ends thereof for conveying the materials along the body. The tailgate defines a first and a second opening which co-operate respectively with the first and the second conveyor for permitting the flow therethrough of the materials. The arrangement is such that selective spreading and dumping of the materials from at least one of the openings is permitted. A sloping guide extends between the conveyors for guiding the materials towards the conveyors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Inventor: Richard L. Feller
  • Patent number: 5452788
    Abstract: A device for transporting banana bunches includes two substantially horizontal slides supported by a platform. The slides are formed with first and second interconnected levels of moving tracks receiving a purality of pairs of rollers. Each pair of rollers is interconnected by a cross-bar, so that each pair of rollers moves laterally and passes from the first level to the second level and visa versa. A purality of shock absorber units are anchored to each cross-bar. Arrangements for hanging the banana bunches are situated between the shock absorber units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Fischbach SaRL
    Inventor: Gerard Fischbach
  • Patent number: 5447407
    Abstract: A modular storing and dispensing assembly (20) for a plurality of large containers (21) of substantial weight. The modular assembly (20) comprises a container support track mechanism (24) supporting the containers (21) for movement toward a dispensing station (26). An enclosure (27) substantially encloses the track mechanism (24) and all of the containers (21). The track mechanism (24) and the enclosure (27) are both coupled to a modular frame (32) for movement thereof as a unit. The modular frame (32) is mounted on a vehicle (23) and can be used as a free-standing storing and dispensing unit. In an embodiment, the track mechanism (24) includes a conveyor-type assembly (35) extending about a predetermined path (34) substantially along the full transverse dimension of the vehicle (23). The conveyor mechanism (35) includes a conveyor drive mechanism (105) and a flexible transport device (111) movably coupled to the drive mechanism (105).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: McKesson Corporation
    Inventors: Roger G. Weaver, Randolph K. Takata, Steven C. Finn
  • Patent number: 5443351
    Abstract: An improvement over a prior art mobile hydraulic conveyor apparatus which is mounted on the rear end of a truck for both vertical and lateral pivoting, as well as vertical storage for transport to different locations. The apparatus is moved vertically by a block and tackle arrangement under hydraulic control. Lateral pivoting is achieved by activation of a pair of hydraulic cylinders which act on the conveyor apparatus to shift the apparatus laterally about a pivot axis extending centrally through a turret connected to the conveyor apparatus and mounted on a turret holder which in turn is pivotally mounted on the rear end of the truck. The turret holder includes a c-ring which is mounted in a circumferential groove formed on the turret. The conveyor apparatus includes two pivotally connected trays which support a hydraulically driven belt which transports material dispersed from the truck to a selected location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Inventor: Michael J. Pettijohn
  • Patent number: 5437499
    Abstract: A dump truck having a dump body with a central longitudinally extending conveyor and elongated internal panels moveable between upright storage positions next to the opposed parallel side walls of the truck body and inclined hopper positions extending downwardly and laterally inwardly between the side walls and the bottom of the dump body and toward the central conveyor. An external, longitudinally extending handle bar on each side of the dump body, is connected to the respective panel by a bank of longitudinally spaced, laterally extending, connecting rods for moving the panel between its storage and hopper positions. With the panels in their storage positions, the handle bars and connecting rods are pivotal upwardly together to upright storage positions against the outside of the dump body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: Air-Flo Mfg. Co. Inc.
    Inventor: Tom W. Musso
  • Patent number: 5429436
    Abstract: A vertical forage mixer is of a unibody-type construction to provide an especially strong and durable unit. The major components of the vertical forage mixer are secured-together, typically by welding, so that the various components are combined and tied together into a structure in which there is no need to isolate one component from any of the other components. A detachable weigh bar and hub combination assembly can be provided. A discharge conveyor can be included which features an adjustable conveyor run for varying discharge locations. A comb assembly can be associated with the discharge conveyor in order to facilitate even outflow of mixed forage or removal of foreign materials. A scroll assembly is also provided which is of a cantilevered variety and which is especially durable and facilitates aggressive mixing, including cutting when desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Art's-Way Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Stone
  • Patent number: 5413451
    Abstract: Loading and unloading powered apparatus for trucks and the like comprising a support frame and a plurality of side by side slat conveyors driven by a central electrical motor and each of which comprises a pair of endless chains with respective transverse pins protruding laterally and a plurality of adjacent slats formed on the respective sides thereof with pairs of tubular bosses within which the projecting transverse pins of the two chains are fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Space S.r.l.
    Inventor: Luigi Pellegrino
  • Patent number: 5411147
    Abstract: A dynamic landfill recycling system has wheels attachable to a plurality of refuse processing sections in one or more semi-trailer or other vehicular units. A refuse receiving section has a dump bed or one or more vehicular refuse bins to accept new refuse from refuse trucks or optionally to accept old refuse from old refuse sites for processing, A primary conveyor belt is slanted upwardly towards a vibratory feeder. The primary conveyor is rotated rapidly to throw the refuse in an arc onto the vibratory feeder where the throwing action causes the refuse to spread out as it falls. The vibratory feeder is slanted downwardly at an angle which causes vibrated refuse to fall towards a bottom end and a bag cutter that is positioned above and intermediately between ends of the vibratory feeder to further expose and scatter the refuse on the vibratory feeder. A magnetic separator belt conveys the scattered refuse upwardly to a magnetic pulley wheel which separates ferrous from non-ferrous materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1995
    Inventor: David S. Bond
  • Patent number: 5400718
    Abstract: A loading wagon (1) for the transport, storage and discharge of bulk material has a wagon frame (2) supported on on-track undercarriages (3) and a wagon body (5) connected to the wagon frame, there being arranged in the base region of the wagon body a base conveyor belt (7) having a drive (11). Provided adjacent thereto is a transfer conveyor belt (8) which projects over the end of the wagon frame, has an elevated discharge end (9) with respect to the wagon frame (2), and which is provided with a drive (12), with a storing or transporting direction (31) running from the base conveyor belt (7) to the transfer conveyor belt (8). An outlet opening (14) for discharging the bulk material onto the track is provided beneath the base conveyor belt (7). The drive (11) for the base conveyor belt (7) or the transfer conveyor belt (8) is designed for selective operation in the first transporting direction or in a second transporting direction running in the opposite direction thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinin-Industriegesellschaft
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 5395204
    Abstract: A truck trailer includes a push plate extensible and retractable relative to a front wall of the trailer structure employing hydraulic ram structure to project the plate along the trailer floor, that in turn includes a row of rollers operative through a drive chain to simultaneously rotate the rollers to direct workpieces from the rollers employing the push plate to direct workpieces along the roller structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Inventor: Brent D. Balik
  • Patent number: 5387073
    Abstract: An elongated hopper for unloading a haulage vehicle for mined material has a length at least equal to the length of the haulage vehicle. The elongated hopper has a plurality of connected sections and each section has a horizontal conveyor pan with an L-shaped side member pivotally connected to each edge. A conveyor extends throughout the length of the hopper. The haulage vehicle is driven into the hopper through the inlet end prior to unloading and mined material is continuously discharged from the haulage vehicle onto the conveyor in the hopper as the haulage vehicle is driven out of the inlet end of the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Dosco Overseas Engineering Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael Etherington, Michael R. Walker
  • Patent number: 5380142
    Abstract: A drop chute extension for unloading a shuttle dumping transport vehicle for harvested cotton bolls extends the length of the conveyor dump side wall when unloading the transport vehicle. The extension of the conveyor dump side wall allows cotton to be dumped in the middle and far side of a module builder or trailer. The drop chute extension can be folded over and down into the basket of the dumping transport vehicle, reducing both the transport height and width of the vehicle. The drop chute extension includes two hydraulic extension arm cylinders which cause the door chute to extend or retract and are interconnected with the hydraulic system of the vehicle lift basket. Operation of the basket lift cylinders is precluded until the extension arm cylinders have fully extended the chute door. The drop chute extension is also joined to a second hydraulic system to operate an unloading conveyor which extends into the extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: CrustBuster/Speed King, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald F. Hornung, Thomas A. Klenke, Melvin L. Burge
  • Patent number: 5364221
    Abstract: A track-bound freight car comprises a longitudinally extending machine frame, an undercarriage at each machine frame end, a conveyor band extending obliquely with respect to the track plane and above the machine frame in the longitudinal direction of the machine frame, the conveyor band having a lower input end above one of the undercarriages and a higher output end above the other undercarriage. At least one of the conveyor band ends is displaceable transversely to the longitudinal direction with respect to the undercarriage at said one conveyor band end and a transverse displacement drive is connected to the one conveyor band end for effectuating the displacement. Parallel side walls extend in the longitudinal direction along the conveyor band, the conveyor band constituting the bottom of a storage space defined between the side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 5360097
    Abstract: A conveyor is rotatably mounted to a vehicle. The conveyor includes a plurality of frame members pivotally coupled to one another, such that they can be placed in overlapping relationship for transport with the vehicle or unfolded for use. An extension member is slidably coupled to one of the frame members such that the conveyor can be extended beneath a rail car for receiving material therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Granite Rock Company
    Inventor: J. C. Hibbs
  • Patent number: 5341746
    Abstract: A transport wagon (1) is provided with a wagon frame (4) supported on on-track undercarriages (2) and a conveyor belt (8) extending in the longitudinal direction of the wagon and arranged so as to be inclined relative to the track plane, forming a lower-lying receiving end (11) and an elevated discharge end (12), with which side walls (13) are associated, extending in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt, to delimit laterally and form a storage space (14). The wagon frame (4) is formed from a number of frame parts (5) disposed one behind another in the longitudinal direction of the wagon, joined together in an articulated manner in each case in the region of an on-track undercarriage (2), forming an articulation point (6), and having respective individual conveyor belts (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Franz Plasser Bahn Baumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.
    Inventors: Josef Theurer, Manfred Brunninger
  • Patent number: 5340260
    Abstract: Trolley for loading rolls in a device for feeding a packaging machine, which comprises a device for supporting a row of rolls arranged mutually side by side, a conveyor for transferring the row of rolls along a direction which is axial with respect to the rolls themselves, and centering and locking longitudinal rods which are suitable to be coupled, during loading, to complementarily shaped seats which are correspondingly rigidly coupled to the feeder device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: G.D. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Turra, Armando Neri
  • Patent number: 5338140
    Abstract: A boll buggy includes a basket upon a wheeled frame. The basket is translationally elevated to a height so that the bottom of the basket is higher than the top of a module maker. Seed cotton is transferred from the basket into the module maker by chains running along the bottom of the basket and extended panel. Cotton is loaded into the basket on the boll buggy by moving the boll buggy alongside a cotton harvester and extending a load door from the basket to receive cotton from the cotton harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Scott Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventors: Royce L. Ekdahl, C. Minuard Jordan
  • Patent number: 5336036
    Abstract: A system for film mulch disposal including a field-traveling compaction chamber adapted to gravity receive manually pregathered bundles of film loaded on a hopper-feeding conveyor. A reciprocating ram compacts the pregathered bundles within the compaction chamber and is manually controlled by an operator positioned for direct visual inspection of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventors: Keith S. Williamson, Terry A. Ochab
  • Patent number: 5335780
    Abstract: A conveying apparatus for moving articles such as pallets in a plurality of directions. The article is supported, at least partially, by a plurality of rollers mounted along parallel chains. The rollers are free to rotate, and are mounted to the chains with their axis of rotation approximately 45 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the chain. By selecting the chain to be driven, and its direction, the article can be moved longitudinally, laterally, or at approximately 45 degree angles to the longitudinal axis of the chains. The article can also be rotated clockwise or counter-clockwise in the area of the conveying system where sections of longitudinal chain terminate, and the next section of longitudinal chain starts, due to the perpendicular axis of rotation of rollers in adjacent chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Inventor: Thomas H. Watson
  • Patent number: 5322409
    Abstract: A harvest machine comprises a chassis (10) having wheels (15) attached to its sides. A vertical frame (11) is attached near the rear of the chassis. Slings (18) and a harness or body support (40) hang from the vertical frame to suspend workers (20) in prone positions over low plants (21). The slings allow the workers to easily move about to reach plants around them without bending, kneeling, or any posture that creates back strain. A packing box (19) placed adjacent the workers collect the produce. Alternatively, a conveyor belt (36) may be used to automatically carry produce from the workers into a large packing box (35). The distal end of an arm (14), which extends from the front of the chassis, is connected to the tow bar (23) of a towing vehicle. Alternatively, a motor (30) may be fitted to a nose wheel (33) at the front the chassis to provide self-propulsion. A "boat" (31) at the distal end of an arm (32) attached to the nose wheel rides in a furrow to guide the harvest machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Inventor: Michael McCluney