Abstract: A wheel-supported, fluid-tight, top filling, rear discharge cargo box having a door pivotally supported in suspension for closing the rear discharge opening, a hydraulically actuated latching mechanism for controlling the operation of the door and a drag chain totally confined within the cargo box characterized by a pair of horizontally spaced, endless chain members disposed in horizontally spaced vertical planes and a discontinuous series of drag bars extended between the lower runs of the chain members for the drag chain defining a load receiving opening between the opposite ends of the series for facilitating a top-loading of the cargo box.

Abstract: In combination with a pair of pivotal closure panels provided for opening and closing the opening of an open-top cargo box, an actuator including a boss affixed to and projected from each panel of the pair, a pair of actuator arms, each being characterized by an elongated body supported at one end for pivotal displacement along a path intercepted by a boss projected from an associated panel; a shaft supporting each arm of the pair, and a chain-driven sprocket mounted on the shaft for imparting angular displacement to the shaft, whereby the arm is caused to engage the boss intercepting the path thereof and force the associated panel in pivotal displacement.

Abstract: An improved suspension system for tandem axle vehicles characterized by a horizontally oriented frame, a pair of live axles, and a pair of walking beam assemblies disposed beneath the frame of the vehicles interconnecting the axles, and a pair of air springs mounted on at least one of the axles and connected to the frame for damping highway-induced motion imparted to the walking beams, and a manually operable pneumatic circuit for selectively pressurizing the air springs for dissipating harmonic motion.

Abstract: A supplemental air spring assembly for use in the front end suspension system of a truck or similar vehicle, characterized by a load dissipating arm adapted to be pivotally connected near its midportion to a trailing end portion for a leaf spring assembly for the truck, an air bag seated on the arm, near one end thereof, disposed in load supporting relation with the frame of the truck, and an articulated linkage connecting the opposite end portion of the arm to the frame for oscillatory motion about a horizontal axis.

Abstract: An improved air-ride suspension system including cradle supporting air bags adapted to be extended transversely beneath the frame of a wheeled vehicle and supported in suspension by a pair of laterally spaced leaf spring assemblies, and centering means including a link interconnecting the leaf spring assemblies and the frame of the vehicle, whereby conversion of conventional spring suspension systems to air-ride suspension systems may be facilitated with minimal loss of time and expense.

Abstract: An improved cargo box particularly suited for use in transporting compacted cargo, such as refuse. The cargo box is characterized by a pair of vertically oriented side walls disposed in a pair of forwardly converging planes, a floor of a planar configuration inclined rearwardly, a conveyor traversing the floor including a plurality of endless chains, each being characterized by a plurality of mutually spaced T-bars rigidly affixed thereto, a discharge opening disposed in a transverse plane at the rear end of the box, above the conveyor, a drive unit mounted at the rear of the box, beyond the confines thereof, and a pivotal door, for closing the discharge opening, supported in suspension by a cantilevered pivot in a manner such that the door normally gravitates to an open position.

Abstract: An improved air spring unit adapted to be employed in modifying suspension systems for a wheeled vehicle having a cantilevered leaf spring assembly. The air spring unit is characterized by a pressurizable air bag disposed in substantial vertical alignment with a live axle, a force dissipating rocker arm having one end portion supported by the air bags, and a second end portion disposed in a supported relationship with a projected end portion of the leaf spring assembly, and a clevis connecting the midportion of the arm to a longitudinal frame member provided for the vehicle, whereby the air bag is employed in juxtaposition with the well of an adjacent wheel, so that increased radial expansion of the bag is facilitated.

Abstract: An air-ride suspension assembly particularly adapted to be installed as an integrated unit on the frame of a wheeled vehicle. The assembly includes a cradle adapted to be extended transversely beneath the frame of a selected vehicle and supported in suspension at the adjacent ends thereof by a pair of laterally spaced leaf springs shackled thereto and mounted on the axle of the vehicle, a pair of laterally spaced vertically oriented air bags seated on the cradle and a transverse pillow plate seated on said pair of air bags and adapted to be united in supporting relation with the adjacent end portions of the frame of the vehicle whereby a conventional spring suspension system can readily be converted to an air-ride suspension system with minimal loss of time and attendant expense.

Abstract: An improved metering gate for metering fluid materials discharged from a hopper of the type including a vertically oriented discharge opening. The metering gate is characterized by a pair of closure panels arranged in coplanar relation, a drive mechanism including a plurality of rams connected with said closure panels for displacing the closure panels in opposite directions along a pair of aligned linear paths traversing the opening, and a motion balancing mechanism interconnecting the panels for equalizing the distances through which the panels are displaced by said drive mechanism, and a lag-elimination mechanism for eliminating lag in the displacement imparted to the opposite ends of each panel of said pair, whereby each portion of each panel of said pair of closure panels is displaced through a distance equal to the distance through which any other portion of either panel of said pair of closure panels is displaced by said drive mechanism.

Abstract: An improved suspension system characterized by an axle, a leaf-spring assembly having a spring member extended transversely of the axle and mounted thereon, and an air-bag assembly interposed between the frame of a vehicle and one end of the leaf-spring assembly. The air-bag assembly includes a bracket disposed above the leaf-spring assembly and affixed to the frame, a pivotal arm having one end connected to the bracket in coplanar relation with the leaf-spring assembly, an expansible air bag formed of an elastomeric material interposed between the distal end of the pivotal arm and the frame of the vehicle, and a roller seated on the leaf-spring assembly and pinned to said armin fixed spatial relationship with the opposite ends thereof.

Abstract: An improved suspension unit for an overland vehicle of the type including a body-supporting frame and a wheel-supporting axle. The unit is characterized by a bracket adapted to be rigidly affixed to the frame of a selected vehicle, a rigid arm of a substantially angulated configuration, including a base segment and a distal segment, a knuckle joint for pivotally connecting the base segment of the arm to the bracket, a relief defined in the arm for receiving the axle of the vehicle in a captured relationship, and a pressurized air bag of a substantially constant height interposed between the bracket and the distal segment of the arm for continuously supporting the vehicle in a continuous air-ride configuration.