Abstract: First hydraulic drives (e.g. cylinders, pistons) and lift arms attached to dump truck side panels, preferably reinforced, move a trailing tag axle, and wheels supported by the tag axle, between operative and storage positions without bending the truck frame. A linkage assembly and second hydraulic drives (e.g. cylinders, pistons) coupled to the lift arms and the first hydraulic drives move the tag axle and the wheels between raised and lowered positions. In the operative positions of the lift arms and the tag axle, the wheels contact the ground and, because of the first hydraulic drive construction, move smoothly over road bumps and into road dips. In their storage position, the lift arms are disposed above and to the rear of the dump truck with the trailing tag axle and the wheels above the body but lowered to minimize their height above the truck.

Abstract: This invention is a rigid tarpping system installed on roll-off container trucks to cover and contain materials in transit. This tarpping system utilizes the raising and lowering operations of the truck's hoist to operate without requiring auxiliary electrical, hydraulic and/or pneumatic input or it can be fitted with optional equipment to operate independently of the truck's hoist system.

Abstract: A load-carrying body for a truck is provided that includes a tailgate assembly positionable between in-service and out-of-service positions for hauling materials of different densities while maintaining a controlled distribution of the weight of the load on a chassis of the truck. Preferably, the body and the tailgate assembly are designed so that the centers of gravity or centers of mass of normal loads for both low and high density materials are located to achieve a desired weight distribution for both materials. Physical parameters of the body and tailgate are adjusted in accordance with the invention in order to place the fore-aft locations of the centers of mass for normal loads of both the low and high density materials at locations that result in the desired weight distribution on the truck chassis.

Abstract: A vehicle discharge system for a vehicle (1) provided with a rearwardly tippable bed (2) which includes a tailgate (3) is constituted by a housing (5) mounted at the rear of the bed (2) adjacent to the tailgate (3), a discharge auger (4) rotatably supported within the housing (5) and arranged to receive material which passes the tailgate (3) when the bed is tipped, an auger drive (9) to drive the auger and discharge material carried within the vehicle bed (2) to the side of the vehicle (1) as the bed is tipped and flow control structure (1) capable of differentially exposing material held within the vehicle bed (2) to the discharge auger (4). The flow control structure is constituted by a flow control gate (1) which is capable of being moved in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base of the vehicle bed (2) and tilted to form a tapered and adjustable opening which exposes material within the vehicle bed to the auger as the bed is tipped.

Abstract: A truck for separately storing and discharging recyclable materials includes a chassis, a cab, and a frame pivotably mounted on the chassis rearwardly of the cab and supporting a housing with a platform extending along one side to the cab. Partition walls in the housing divide the interior space into a multiplicity of compartments along the length of the housing and a side wall has openings providing access to the several compartments. The partition walls have gates which are held in closed position by locks which are remotely releasable. An upper compartment is provided on the housing and a chute extends upwardly from an opening in the side wall, and a deflectable closure for the opening permits insertion of recyclable materials thereinto. A diagonally extending door is provided on the rear end of the cab adjacent the platform and is slidable between a closed position closing the cab and an open position extending along the adjacent side wall to permit passage between the cab and the platform.

Abstract: First hydraulic drives (e.g. cylinders, pistons) and lift arms attached to dump truck side panels, preferably reinforced, move a trailing tag axle, and wheels supported by the tag axle, between operative and storage positions without bending the truck frame. A linkage assembly and second hydraulic drives (e.g. cylinders, pistons) coupled to the lift arms and the first hydraulic drives move the tag axle and the wheels between raised and lowered positions. In the operative positions of the lift arms and the tag axle, the wheels contact the ground and, because of the first hydraulic drive construction, move smoothly over road bumps and into road dips. In their storage position, the lift arms are disposed above and to the rear of the dump truck with the trailing tag axle and the wheels above the body but lowered to minimize their height above the truck.

Abstract: A multiple compartment storage body for a refuse collection vehicle includes a floor, a roof, a plurality of walls extending between the floor and the roof, a partition and a bulkhead latch. The partition has a first opposing end portion pivotally coupled intermediate the floor and the roof between the walls to allow a second opposing end portion to pivot between the floor and the roof. The bulkhead latch is pivotally supported adjacent the roof and extends from the roof proximate the second opposing end portion. A lower most section of the plurality of sections includes a support member for engaging and supporting the second opposing end portion of the partition between the floor and the roof. The vertical distance the bulkhead vertically extends below the roof is adjustable to adjust a distance at which the second opposing end portion of the partition is supported above the floor.

Abstract: A multiple compartment storage body for a refuse collection vehicle includes a floor, a roof, a plurality of walls and a partition. The plurality of walls extend between the floor and the roof and include a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls between the front wall and the rear wall. The roof, floor and walls define an interior storage space. The walls define a discharge opening. The partition extends from the front wall towards the rear wall and is positioned between the floor and the roof to divide the interior storage space into an upper compartment having a volume and a lower compartment having a volume. The partition is vertically movable so as to increase the volume of one of the upper and lower compartments in communication with the discharge opening.

Abstract: A dump truck spreads material to form a layer of material to form a structure such as a road by tilting a dump body pivoted on the truck and allowing a tailgate to open a gap through which the material flows as the dump truck moves forward. Typically, a pair of chains determine the width of the gap. In order to release the chains and allow the tailgate to swing freely if the material becomes jammed and does not freely flow through the gap, a pair of toggle-type chain releases are provided. The toggle-type chain releases comprise chain-retaining plates with slots therein for receiving one link of the chains. The retaining plates are rotatable from a chain-retaining position to a chain-releasing position. The toggles which operate the chain retaining plates include levers which are unitary with one link of the toggles and serve as operating handles which when pulled releases the chains.

Abstract: A tail gate opening and closing device for a vehicle. In order to prevent earth and sand from being attached on the inner wall surface of the tail gate after discharging a load, a rotary plate is provided such that when the tail gate is closed it has a free end portion in contact with the inner wall surface of the tail gate. When the tail gate is accommodated below the floor surface in an open position, the free end portion of the rotary plate is supported at the upper end edge of the tail gate and is pivotally affixed to the rear end portion of the floor surface of the bed.

Abstract: A tag axle latching mechanism is disclosed that includes opposed matching engaging components wherein a first is attached to a tag axle system and a second is attached to a truck frame. The components cooperate to direct supporting forces associated with the tag axle system through the truck frame. The tag axle system is mounted on a tailgate such that the engaging components are aligned as the tailgate is operated between a closed and an open position. The tag axle system is connected to the tailgate such that it is covered by the tailgate but forces associated with support provided by the tag axle system are not transferred to the tailgate.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly is provided which rotates between in-service and out-of-service positions on a truck body of an off-road, heavy duty truck. A first tailgate rotation actuation assembly rotates the tailgate assembly between a closed, in-service position and an open in-service position wherein the load is dumped from the truck body. In one embodiment, the first tailgate actuation assembly comprises a chain connected to the tailgate assembly at a first end and operatively connected to the truck frame at a second end to rotate the tailgate assembly in response to the rotation of the truck body between the lowered and raised positions. A second tailgate rotation actuation assembly rotates the tailgate assembly between the in-service open position and the out-of-service position in which the tailgate assembly rests on the canopy of the body.

Abstract: A mobile basket for accumulating and transporting hay bales includes a container mounted on wheels. The container has a pair of side walls which are spaced from each other and the spacing is greater at the rear of the container than at the front thereof. A rear wall of the container is hinged at its top and opens by gravity to discharge the bales from the container. A chute is also provided at the front of the container to receive hay bales directly from a hay baler and discharge them to the container. The rear wall may be opened and shut remotely, and a plurality of the containers may be readily nested with relation to each other for shipment.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus which includes a vehicle and a container supported on the bed of the vehicle for use in hauling and dumping material. The bed of the vehicle is tiltable and the container has a gate for closing an open end of the container, when the bed is flat, and permitting the gate to move to open position when the container is tilted with bed. The gate is latched in closed position in response to an actuator on the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention entails a hydraulically actuated tarp retraction and extension system for a truck wherein the system provides for the automatic extension or retraction of a tarp about the load bed of the truck. A tarp reel assembly is provided and includes a a tarp which is biased by the reel assembly itself to assume a wound or retracted position. A pair of swing arms are connected to a leading edge of the tarp and are in turn connected to a hydraulic control system which is operative to extend the tarp to a covered position over the load bed and wherein the tarp reel assembly is operative to wind the tarp in response to the arms being moved towards the tarp reel assembly. In one mode of operation, the hydraulic control system automatically provides for the retraction of the tarp in response to the load bed of the vehicle being raised from a horizontal position to a generally vertical dumping position.

Abstract: A truck body has at least one vertical, longitudinal divider forming two compartments. Separate chutes are located on the top of the body, one communicating with each compartment so that one particular type of refuse (e.g., paper, aluminum cans and glass) may be dumped into a specific chute to fall by gravity into a compartment. The body may be tilted to shift all refuse to the rear. Each type refuse is discharged through a separate door at the rear. Bins are lifted vertically by hydraulic means to the top of the body and then tilted to dump into chutes. The bins are tucked under the body during transportation to reduce overall width. Further, the bins fan outward to facilitate loading. Wheeled carts filled with refuse may be hooked to the upper edges of the bins so that the carts and bins may be tilted at the upper end of their travel to dump into the chutes.

Abstract: In a tailgate assembly for a dump box of the type comprising a front inner section and a rear outer section adapted for telescopic movement one with respect to the other with the inner section slidably engaging an interior surface of the outer section. The relative position of the inner and outer sections between an expanded and a collapsed position thereof is controlled by hydraulic cylinders. The tailgate assembly comprises a tailgate hingedly mounted to the rear of the outer section. A push rod has a front end thereof fixedly mounted at a front side of the inner section of the dump box. The push rod extends rearwards from its front end through a guide mounted on a sidewall of the outer section and towards the tailgate. A chain assembly connects a lower free end of the tailgate with a rear end of the push rod. The chain assembly is adapted to be in a substantially extended position thereof when the dump box is in its expanded position.

Abstract: Apparatus which enhances the load carrying capacity of a dump truck without interfering with dumping of the dump bed. A rigid frame which is added to the back end of the truck includes a beam carrying an axle and a pair of wheels. A hydraulic cylinder pivots the beam between a load bearings position in which the wheels travel on the roadway to bear part of the dump bed load and a raised position in which the beam extends vertically between a pair of side by side tail gates. A hinged door operates in the space between the two tail gates to prevent spillage of the load through the space while accommodating extension of the beam through the space when the dump bed is raised to dump its load. A diverter in the dump bed deflects material away from the space and toward the tail gate openings.

Abstract: A cargo box door swing limit apparatus includes a flexible elongate member and attachment points at intervals along the member so that the apparatus can be used with most of the various trailer latch arrangements.

Abstract: Discharge of fluid and debris onto a roadway from between the closure member and the rear of a truck body is eliminated by the use of a collection trough mounted beneath the rear of the truck body and a pivotally mounted slide member which can be selectively positioned to cover the trough while functioning as an asphalt slide or to act as a retaining wall to deflect and retain water and debris within the trough.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a loading platform construction, primarily intended for light trucks, with a loading platform consisting of a combination of a thin sheet (24) and corrugated sheet (23) arranged on a support frame and equipped with collapsible side flaps (9) which can be fully inserted under the side edges of the loading platform, the side edges entirely lacking support beams outside the support frame.

Abstract: A sloped floor trailer which incorporates drain ports which are opened during trailer loading and which are sealed during trailer transportation, in order to retain the liquid. In addition to the foregoing features, I provide apparatus for heating the trailer side walls with the truck tractor exhaust to prevent freezing during inclement weather.

Abstract: A storage box for the clippings of a lawnmower consisting of a normally covered box adapted to be mounted on the mower vehicle and to receive grass cuttings and the like of the mower until it is full, and a power mechanism operable when actuated to first raise the box until its pouring lip is higher than the receiving box of a disposal vehicle, such as the bed of a pick-up truck, and transport it horizontally until its pouring lip is over the truck bed, and then to uncover the box and tilt it to pour its contents over its lip into the truck bed.

Abstract: A tail gate opening/closing device for a dump truck in which bracket means are affixed at the upper rear ends of both side walls in the rear part of the carrier section. One end part of a bracket arm is pivotally arranged at each of the ends of the bracket means and each of the other ends is pivotally fastened to the end of a tail gate arm. When material transported such as sand, soil, gravel, etc. is dumped, the carrier section is raised to an angle with the ground causing the material transported to exert pressure on the tail gate so as to open the tail gate in a rearward direction and, at the same time both the bracket arm and the tail gate arm are rotated upwards and the fulcrum of the tail gate arm is also moved upwards. In this way, the tail gate is opened smoothly and the discharge port is opened to the widest extent possible.

Abstract: A refuse compaction apparatus including a container for storing refuse under pressure, a tailgate rotatably mounted on the container for movement between an opened and a closed position. The tailgate in its opened position permits refuse to be discharged from the container and the tailgate in its closed position forms a closure with the storage container. In maintaining the tailgate in its closed position, a latch member is engageable with a keeper member with means to provide rotational movement of the latch member into a position to make contact with the keeper member. After rotational movement of the latch member, means are provided to cause translational movement of the latch member into contact with the keeper member to maintain the tailgate in a closed position.

Abstract: An improvement in a heavy-duty refuse compactor which includes a large capacity container having an initially open rear end normally closed by a top-hinged, releasably-locked door adapted to be swung upward to an open position for discharge of refuse from the container; the improvement comprising a counterbalance mechanism, connected between the container and the door, arranged to assist in the manual opening and closing of the door by the operator, and to permit such opening and closing from a convenient position. The counterbalance mechanism includes a novel link and lever array wherein the lever carries a heavy counterweight.

Abstract: A surface maintenance machine that includes a powered vehicle having a rotary tool in a tool enclosure to direct debris from the surface through an enclosure outlet, a debris hopper having a debris inlet locatable adjacent the enclosure outlet, and a discharge opening remote from the hopper inlet, a hingedly mounted door for closing the discharge opening, lift arms mounted on the vehicle for mounting the hopper for pivotable movement relative thereto, supporting the hopper in a debris collecting position, and selectively elevating the hopper from a street level position to a high dump position, control arms and piston cylinder combinations to control the pivoting of the hopper as it is moved between its street level and high dump positions, the piston cylinder combinations being operated from a retracted condition to an extended condition for pivoting the hopper to a dumping position in either the street level position or the high dump position, latches mounted on the hopper that are operated through the hopp

Abstract: A lock assembly for locking or unlocking the door of a truck or trailer body from a handle located inside the cab of the tractor. The tractor cab is fitted with a pivotable handle lever mounted on about fixed rachet gear engaged by a pivotable tooth on the handle lever, with the handle lever linked by a lock rod that extends under the floor of an attached truck or trailer body to a latch fixed on the door of the truck or trailer body. The lock rod may be fitted with coupling means for separation into a tractor section and a trailer section for use when the trailer section is detached from the tractor. The door latch is in the form of a bolt slidable axially through an eye member fixed to the truck door or alternately the bolt is bent at an angle to rotate about a fixed bracket on the door, with the bolt coupled to the lock rod by helical-slotted collar that translates reciprocal axial motion of the lock rod into rotary motion of the bolt.

Abstract: A load transfer device for transferring a portion of the load normally carried by the rear wheel sets of a dump truck to the front wheel sets of the dump truck. The device is in the form of a tag frame which is pivotably mounted on the tailgate of a dump truck so as to be movable between an elevated position in which the tag frame is disposed closely adjacent the tailgate and a lowered position in which the wheel set of the tag frame is in the current engaging position.

Abstract: The specification describes a tailgate assembly for a tiltable body of a truck or the like, the assembly being movable between opened and closed positions in response to the angular displacement of the dump body and including first and second gate members releasably secured to a rear wall of the vehicle and resilient means biasing the gate members to the opened position in such a manner that upon release of the gate members the assembly will move to the opened position.