Belly dump trailer with conveyors for moving material
OwnerShiloh Williamsinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for transporting and dumping material. A hopper for receiving materials may include a bottom surface with a front portion, a central portion, and a rear portion. The central portion may be lower than the front portion and the rear portion. A bottom gate may be disposed in the central portion for discharging the materials from the hopper. Conveyors may be provided for moving material from the front portion and the rear portion towards the bottom gate. The conveyors may include a front conveyor coupled to the front portion and a rear conveyor coupled to the rear portion.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a hopper for receiving materials, a bottom surface of the hopper comprising a front portion, a central portion, and a rear portion, with the central portion lower than the front portion and the rear portion;
- a bottom gate disposed in the central portion for discharging the materials from the hopper;
- pusher blades for moving material from the front portion and the rear portion towards the bottom gate, the pusher blades comprising a front pusher blade coupled to the front portion and a rear pusher blade coupled to the rear portion, wherein a drive mechanism is actuated for moving the front pusher blade and the rear pusher blade simultaneously towards one another to move material in the hopper towards the bottom gate.
A system comprising:
- a trailer;
- a hopper mounted to the trailer for receiving materials, a bottom surface of the hopper comprising a front portion, a central portion, and a rear portion, with the front portion and the rear portion higher than the central portion to accommodate wheels of one or more of the trailer and a tractor;
- a bottom gate disposed in the central portion for discharging the materials from the hopper;
- and
- pusher blades for moving material from the front portion and the rear portion towards the bottom gate, the pusher blades comprising a front pusher blade coupled to the front portion and a rear pusher blade coupled to the rear portion, wherein a drive mechanism is actuated for moving the front pusher blade and the rear pusher blade simultaneously towards one another to move material in the hopper towards the bottom gate.
A method comprising:
- using a hopper to receive and transport materials to a location, a bottom surface of the hopper comprising a front portion, a central portion, and a rear portion, with the central portion lower than the front portion and the rear portion;
- opening a bottom gate disposed in the central portion to discharge the materials from the hopper;
- and
- while the bottom gate is open, actuating pusher blades to move material from the front portion and the rear portion towards the bottom gate, the pusher blades comprising a front pusher blade coupled to the front portion and a rear pusher blade coupled to the rear portion, wherein a drive mechanism is actuated for moving the front pusher blade and the rear pusher blade simultaneously towards one another to move material in the hopper towards the bottom gate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.