Vertical pusher plate for a horizontally discharging semi-trailer

A vertical pusher plate machanism for operation in a horizontally discharging semi-trailer having an elongated body with a floor and a discharge opening in one end, comprising:

• a vertically oriented pusher plate slidably mounted in the trailer body for movement toward and away from the discharge opening;
• a pusher plate moving means mounted to one side of said pusher plate on the trailer body, extending through said pusher plate and connected thereto on the other side of said pusher plate near the center of said pusher plate, said pusher plate moving means being oriented and connected to said pusher plate to apply horizontally directed force to said pusher plate near the center of said pusher plate;
• a pusher plate supporting means which includes a first elongate portion connected at one end thereof to said pusher plate other side near the center of said pusher plate to extend horizontally and outwardly from said pusher plate and a second elongate portion connected at one end thereof to the other end of said first elongate portion, said second elongate portion extending downwardly from said first elongate portion and having the other end thereof slidably contacting the trailer body floor at a location between said pusher plate and the discharge opening so that forces acting on said pusher plate tending to tilt same as said plate moves toward the trailer discharge opening are transmitted to the trailer body via said pusher plate supporting means.