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US 2019/0375598 A1Published application
Material unloader apparatus, systems and methods
AssigneeSuperior Industries, Inc.
InventorColum Igoe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Truck unloader apparatus, systems and methods are disclosed for unloading and/or conveying aggregate material. In some embodiments, a load-bearing truss of the truck unloader includes a ramp in a road transport configuration.
Claims15
A material unloader for receiving and conveying material from a vehicle, the material unloader having an operational configuration and a transport configuration, the material unloader comprising:
- a conveyor extending in a generally longitudinal direction;
- a ground frame, the ground frame having at least one opening therethrough, said opening being disposed at least partially above said conveyor;
- a first ramp pivotally coupled to said ground frame and extending in a first lateral direction away from said ground frame in the operational configuration;
- a first actuator configured to pivot the first ramp;
- a second ramp pivotally coupled to said ground frame and extending in a second lateral direction away from said ground frame in the operational configuration, wherein said opening is disposed at least partially laterally between said first and second ramp;
- a second actuator configured to pivot the second ramp;
- a wheel assembly at least partially supporting the ground frame in the transport configuration;
- and
- a truss supported on said ground frame and disposed at least partially above said ground frame, said truss configured to bear a compressive load in the transport configuration, wherein said first and second ramps are raised in the transport configuration, wherein at least a portion of said first and second ramps form a part of said truss in the transport configuration such that said first and second ramps bear at least a portion of said compressive load in the transport configuration.
6 more elements
A method of transporting a material unloader, comprising:
- supporting a first vehicle on a ramp in a lowered position;
- folding said ramp upwards to a raised position;
- forming a truss comprising a portion of said ramp;
- supporting a rearward portion of the material unloader on a second vehicle;
- supporting a forward portion of the material unloader on a wheel assembly;
- bearing a compressive load on said portion of said ramp.
3 more elements
A method of reconfiguring a material unloader from an operational configuration to a transport configuration, comprising:
- moving a first ramp generally upwards to a raised position relative to a ground frame;
- moving a second ramp generally upwards to a raised position relative to said ground frame;
- joining said first and second ramps to a truss;
- supporting said ground frame at least partially on a vehicle such that a compressive load is imposed on said truss;
- and
- bearing at least part of said compressive load on a portion of said first ramp and a portion of said second ramp.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.