Cargo unloader for a vehicle

A tension-loaded drive mechanism for a cargo unloader, the tension-loaded drive mechanism comprising:

• a compressor for increasing the pressure of a fluid;
• a plurality of bladders fluidly connected to the compressor and configured to receive a fluid from the compressor, with each of the bladders configured to expand in a rearward direction along a longitudinal axis of a cargo bed in response to the associated bladder receiving the fluid from the compressor;
• and
• a strap system including:
• a plurality of straps attached to each of the bladders;
• and
• a plurality of spools configured to apply a compression counter force via the straps to the associated bladders in a forward direction opposite to the rearward direction, such that the compression counter force increases the pressure of the fluid in the associated bladders to a predetermined drive pressure threshold, and the spools are further configured to dispense an associated one of the straps at a predetermined stepped payout rate such that the associated bladders expand in the rearward direction to transmit a drive force associated with the predetermined drive pressure threshold, with a plow transmitting the drive force from the bladders to a cargo positioned in a cargo bed, such that the plow moves the cargo in the rearward direction in response to the bladders expanding in the rearward direction.

A method of operating a tension-loaded drive mechanism for a cargo unloader, the method comprising:

• receiving, using a plurality of bladders fluidly connected to a compressor, a fluid from the compressor;
• transmitting, using a plurality of spools and a plurality of straps attached to each of the bladders, a compression counter force via the straps to the associated bladders in a forward direction;
• increasing, using the compression counter force, the pressure of the fluid in the associated bladders to a predetermined drive pressure threshold;
• dispensing, using the spools, an associated one of the straps at a predetermined stepped payout rate;
• and
• expanding the associated bladders in a rearward direction along a longitudinal axis of a cargo bed and opposite to the forward direction to transmit a drive force that is associated with the predetermined drive pressure threshold;
• and
• transmitting, using a plow attached to the plurality of bladders, the drive force from the bladders to a cargo positioned in the cargo bed, such that the plow moves the cargo in the rearward direction in response to the bladders expanding in the rearward direction.