Abstract: A multicombination vehicle and method are provided for transporting a payload, such as a mined metal ore, over the roadways existing in an underground mine. The multicombination vehicle includes a powered towing unit, which may comprise a rigid body truck, and at least one towed unit mechanically coupled to the rigid body truck. The vehicle may also include a plurality of the towed units, with a forward most one of the units coupled to the rigid body truck and each adjacent pair of the towed units being coupled to one another. Each of the units includes a chassis, a plurality of wheeled axles connected to the chassis for supporting the respective unit as the vehicle travels over the roadways of the mine, and a draw frame attached to and extending rearwardly from the corresponding chassis, with a coupling attached to a rear end of the draw frame.

Abstract: An open top vessel containing bulk or liquid material comprising an inclined front wall, an inclined rear wall, and inclined opposite side walls. The walls of the vessel extend downwardly and inwardly from the upper ends thereof towards the lower ends thereof towards a discharge opening formed at the lower end of the vessel. A support frame is provided for supporting the vessel and includes at least a pair of horizontally spaced-apart, horizontally disposed support frame members which receive inverted U-shaped supports on the upper end of the vessel. The vessel is ideally suited for use as a hopper bottom in a hopper bottom trailer. The vessel is comprised of a fiber reinforced plastic material.

Abstract: A hopper trailer includes a mobile support frame and at least one gravity-flow hopper having an open-top upper box portion and a lower tapered portion. The support frame includes a pair of longitudinal channels laterally spaced from one another and a pair of front and rear channels extending transversely between and rigidly connected to the longitudinal channels at the opposite front and rear ends thereof. The longitudinal channels have respective planar structural portions directly engaged with opposites sides of the lower tapered portion of the hopper. The planar structural portions of the channels are disposed in respective planes which converge downwardly toward one another so as to thereby support the hopper in a cradled relationship therebetween. The support frame also includes a gooseneck towing tongue connected to the front end of the longitudinal channels of the support frame and a ground-supported wheel unit connected to and underlying and supporting the laterally-spaced longitudinal channels.

Abstract: In a transfer set, a retention hook rigidly secured for rotation with the tailgate of the truck body for rotation therewith. Entry of the trailer body into the truck body automatically triggers pneumatic elements to lower the truck tailgate causing the retention hook attached thereto to capture a trailer body retention pin secured to the outside of the trailer body. A solenoid operated directional control valve prevents the inadvertent release of the trailer body when the truck body is lifted away from the truck frame to empty contents therefrom. A single pneumatic actuator releases the truck tailgate and, when the trailer body is retained in the truck body, also the trailer tailgate.

Abstract: Load-hauling tandem combination formed of a motor driven truck releasably hitched to a wheel-mounted trailer which is self-propelled and self-steerable when unhitched from the truck. A lifting mechanism is provided on the trailer for mounting and removing a container or the like load box on and from its chassis.

Abstract: A bulk material hauling tractor and trailer unit comprises a truck tractor having a bottom dump hopper mounted on its chassis. The tractor tows a double axle pup trailer by an elongated tongue having a span of at least twice the trailer wheelbase. The trailer has nonsteerable axle assemblies and supports a bottom dump material transport hopper. The tractor and trailer hoppers are fabricated of conventional steel plate and structural sections and are formed with a reentrant top wall portion to provide a reduced top opening and increased hopper rigidity. The hoppers present relatively low frontal area and aerodynamic drag characteristics and low center for gravity for exceptional stability for over-the-highway as well as off road hauling.

Abstract: There is disclosed a forwardly dumpable trailer including an intermediate frame mounted on a transverse axle and carrying a forwardly and rearwardly shiftable trailer frame. A trailer box is mounted on the intermediate frame and is shiftable from a rearward position on the trailer frame to a forward position adjacent a truck box to which the trailer is hitched. Hydraulic cylinders are interconnected between the dump box and intermediate frame for raising the rearward end of the trailer box to dump the trailer load forwardly into the truck box.

Abstract: A grain hauler trailer comprising an under belly compartment in open communication with an upper compartment for receiving large quantities of grain therein and maintaining a low center of gravity for the trailer to facilitate movement of the heavy load along the highway, the trailer being pivotally mounted on a wheel truck assembly for facilitating fabrication of the trailer and unloading of the grain from the storage compartments. The upper compartment is closed by a plate member which may be utilized for supporting additional materials during transportation of the grain, and an access port is provided in the plate member for loading of the grain into the compartments. A discharge port is provided in the rear portion of the storage compartments for discharge of the grain therefrom as the trailer is pivoted to a substantially vertical position during the unloading operation.

Abstract: A hand operated vehicle for the transportation of materials at construction job sites which is capable of receiving and containing increased material loads. The vehicle may be transported from a supply point to a disbursing point in a unitary configuration, whereupon it may be separated into component parts. The components may be manuevered to separate utilization points by a single man, the weight of each component not exceeding the weight which supporting scaffolding can safely sustain.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel trailer tongue assembly and a method of mounting a tongue frame on a trailer vehicle. A generally V-shaped tongue frame is pivotally coupled with the trailer vehicle at a point located below the trailer main frame and substantially co-planar with the supporting wheel and axle assembly. An elongated strut member is rigidly coupled with the tongue frame and extends toward the trailer vehicle along a vertical plane bisecting the two legs of the tongue frame. A leaf spring is coupled with the strut member and in turn is coupled with the trailer vehicle. The leaf spring is disposed so that its major plane of flexure will be perpendicular to the plane of the tongue frame.