Abstract: A leveling system for vehicles including a frame connected to wheels, and a dump body. The dump body is pivotally connected to the frame about a first axis placed at the rear end of the vehicle, and a mechanism for moving the dump body in relation to the frame is provided to enable the dump body to rotate around the first axis for purposes of unloading material inside the dump body. The leveling system includes an inclination detector for detecting the inclination of the first axis relative to horizontal. An adjustment system is provided for adjusting the inclination of the dump body to the horizontal. The adjustment system, itself, includes at least one bracket positioned between the frame and the dump body, wherein the bracket is centrally pivoted on a substantially horizontal pin perpendicular to the first axis. The pin defines a second axis and joins the frame to the dump body.

Abstract: An automatic dump trailer leveler provides for the lateral leveling of the dump box of a semi trailer dump body vehicle during dumping operations. The present leveling system may also be adapted for other vehicles having tilting bodies or body components, for precluding their lateral tipping when dumping operations are undertaken on laterally sloping terrain. The present system includes low and high pressure hydraulic pumps, with the low pressure pump providing hydraulic fluid for taking up slack in the leveling struts or jacks and the high pressure pump providing pressure for leveling the dump box of the trailer or dump vehicle. The present system is operable simultaneously with operation of the dump box lift strut, and may include delay switches for precluding secondary extension of struts immediately after they have extended to adjust for settling to one side.

Abstract: A cotton basket is pivotally connected to a harvester frame for rocking about a fore-and-aft extending axis located a substantial distance above the basket floor on the side of the basket opposite the dump side. Simple single beam mast structures at the front and rear ends of the basket replace more conventional and massive multi-element mast structures typical in previously available harvesters. Cylinders connected near the center of gravity at the basket ends rock the basket upwardly and outwardly about the axis to a position above the wagon or module builder. The pivot angle through which the basket is rocked is substantially less than 30 degrees for minimal shifting of the center of gravity during dumping. Dump height is controlled by cylinder extension. The main conveyor floor has front and rear conveyors which move cotton to an independently controlled conveyor built into a fold-down door. The door conveyor can be emptied independently of the main conveyor operation for a partial dump.

Abstract: A large truck with compliant longitudinal frame members is disclosed. The truck has a pair of rear wheel hubs which are independently mounted on the frame members so that the hubs and their tires will rotate about the longitudinal axis of the frame members to accommodate uneven terrain and minimize the forces applied to the individual tires. This also minimizes bending loads on the main frame, rear axles and rear wheel support systems.

Abstract: A dump vehicle, such as for agricultural use, includes a movable support member and a slide structure for supporting and guiding the support member, a container pivotally mounted to the support member, a hydraulic actuator mechanism actuable to lift the container from an original lowered position to a predetermined raised position and to tilt the container at the support member when in the predetermined raised position to a preselected tilted position to permit discharge of the contents of the container. The dump vehicle further includes a hydraulic lock mechanism actuable in response to tilting of the container towards the tilted position to lock the support member in the predetermined raised position to prevent over centering and downward movement of the container from the predetermined raised position during tilting and discharging of the container.

Abstract: Stabilizing apparatus for a dump vehicle including a dump box pivotally movable about a frame between lowered and elevated conditions utilizes two leg members each having two end sections which are movable relative to one another in a telescoping fashion and hydraulic cylinders for telescopically moving the end sections of each leg members relative to one another. One end of each leg member is connectable to the dump box adjacent a corresponding side thereof for pivotal movement relative thereto between a first condition at which the leg member is positioned generally alongside the box for storage and a second condition at which the leg member extends angularly downwardly from the box for engagement of the other end section of the leg member with the ground.

Abstract: Apparatus for stabilizing a material handling vehicle during implement manipulation is provided. Dual hydraulic cylinders are provided on each side of the vehicle intermediate the vehicle's frame and a spring-biased solid axle. A lockout valve having a pneumatically actuated check valve in fluid communication with one-way check valves and flow restriction valves corresponding to each of the upper and lower ports of the respective hydraulic cylinders is mounted on the vehicle's frame and is in fluid communication with a reservoir of hydraulic fluid. When the vehicle is not caused to travel, the pneumatically actuated check valve is closed allowing no hydraulic fluid flow between the ports of the hydraulic cylinders and thereby locking the then-present fluid in each of the chambers of the hydraulic cylinders which prevents the movement of the pistons thereof and, hence, any displacement of the front axle relative to the vehicle frame.

Abstract: A scissor frame lift apparatus is employed in combination with a dump truck and the like, the hoist including upper and lower pivotally interconnected leg members which in turn are pivotally connected at opposite ends to the underside of the dump body and the chassis of the truck, respectively, and lift cylinders extend along opposite sides of the leg members between the dump body and chassis to elevate and tilt the dump body. The upper limit of advancement of the dump body is controlled by a frame stop member which defines an angular extension of one of the leg members and moves into engagement with the other of the leg members before the cylinders reach their full limit of extension and thereby absorb the force of the dump body when it is lifted to the full limit of its extension about the hinge.

Abstract: A hydraulic stabilizing mechanism for connection with a main hydraulic hoist system for automatically actuating at least a pair of stabilizing cylinders to extend the same into statilizing position whenever the main hoist system is extended and positively prevent the stabilizing cylinders from retracting until the main hoist system is in fully retracted position, and more specifically, a hydraulic stabilizing mechanism for farm wagon dump boxes which provides hydraulically actuated stabilizing strut elements between the wagon bolster and the front axle which are maintained in extended stabilizing position whenever the hydraulic box dumping mechanism is extended.

Abstract: A stabilizer system for automatically leveling the dump body of a rear dumping vehicle. The system is adapted to be employed with a tractor-trailer rig including an elongated pivot dumping body associated with a trailer. First and second hydraulic rams coupled to the front of the dump body are employed to tilt and simultaneously level the trailer dump body during unloading. The lower ends of the hydraulic rams terminate in pressure plate apparatus adapted to contact the driven, rear wheeled axles of the tractor unit. The pressure plates include a plurality of rollers rotatably secured to the pressure plate which support the weight transmitted by the rams while permitting rotation of the tractor tires. An electrical-hydraulic system controlled by a pivoted pendulum appropriately actuates the rams for leveling the apparatus. Thus the entire unit may be manuevered by the tractor while unloading and tilting the dump body, simultaneously with the automatic leveling function.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system augmenter includes one or more selectively actuatable hydraulic jacks positioned to elevate the frame of a vehicle with respect to its suspension system on at least one side in order to achieve a leveling function of the frame when the vehicle is on uneven terrain. The system contemplates appropriate brackets and mounting devices to enable the system to be applied during the original construction of the vehicle, or as an after-market item, and further contemplates employing fluid pressure systems already embodied in the vehicle or as auxiliary items. The fluid pressure system may be activated by the operator from the driver station and when in a non-use configuration, the hydraulic jacks are totally disconnected from at least one of the frame or suspension elements, whichever is appropriate.

Abstract: A pivotal support for a fluid ram extending a stabilizer arm from a vehicle frame. The pivotal support has a pivot axis which is offset from the longitudinal axis of the fluid ram. The position of the pivot axis of the fluid ram relative to the vehicle frame is shifted from a position inboard of the pivot axis of the stabilizer arm to a position outboard of the pivot axis of the stabilizer arm when the stabilizer arm is moved from the transport position to the ground engaging position. An integral U-shaped casting at one end of the fluid ram is joined to the journal portion of a journal bearing. The rotational axis of the journal bearing is offset from the longitudinal axis of the fluid ram so as to eccentricly and pivotally join the fluid ram to the vehicle frame. This mounting arrangement increases the moment arm of the stabilizer arm when rotated to a ground engaging position and brings the stabilizer arm closer to the vehicle frame when rotated to the transport position.

Abstract: Linkages connected to the axles of a single or twin axle dump vehicle open a control valve mounted on the vehicle frame to divert hydraulic fluid from the lift cylinder to the hydraulic reservoir when the frame tilts laterally a preset amount relative to the axles.

Abstract: A stabilizer system for a rear dumping vehicle, which system includes an independently operable stabilizing member mounted on each side of the vehicle chassis. Each stabilizing member is urged downward by the ram of a hydraulic cylinder against the tires of the dump body. Hydraulic control is applied to each hydraulic cylinder through a hydraulic conduit which interconnects the respective cylinders with a source of hydraulic pressure. The hydraulic pressure is applied by opening an electrically actuated valve in each conduit. The valves are preferably controlled by limit switches which are actuated by pendulum means oriented to swing transversely of the vehicle chassis. In one arrangement, a manually operated switch operates the hydraulic valves in the conduits to actuate the rams of both cylinders, thereby substantially fixing the position of the chassis with respect to the wheeled rear axle.

Abstract: A means of stabilizing a cotton harvester during the basket dump operation by providing a hydraulic cylinder between the support for the rear steering wheels and the frame of the harvester and providing a valve that is actuated when the basket raises for dumping so as to trap fluid in the cylinder thereby rigidifying the connection between the frame and the support for the steerable wheels.

Abstract: A truck has a rear wheel-carrying chassis frame, on which is mounted a sub frame provided at its rear with a tipping member to which the rear end of the truck body is pivoted for vertical tilting movements. The tipping member can pivot about an axis longitudinally of the chassis frame and the mechanism for that purpose is located between the chassis frame and the tipping member.

Abstract: In a dump truck having a dump bucket pivotally mounted along one of its upper side edges to a bed, and a power device for tilting said bucket to dump its contents, said bed being supported by two axles carrying ground-engaging wheels, being pivotally mounted on one of said axles on a fore-and-aft axis, a stabilizer for locking the bed against tilting on its fore-and-aft axis during the dumping operation, the stabilizer consisting of cooperating ratchets and pawls carried respectively by the bed and pivoted axle and normally engaged to prevent tilting of the bed, the dump bucket being operable by movement thereof to its normal upright position to disengage the pawls and ratchets.