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US 4,541,517 AGranted
Selectively extensible chute assembly
OwnerHugh T. O'Reillyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A selectively extendable chute assembly includes a fabric chute covering member having a plurality of extender tubes secured thereto. A coil spring is secured inside each extender tube to continuously urge the extender tube into a retracted position. Pressurized fluid is selectively provided to the extender tubes to urge them into an extended position whereby the chute becomes usable for unloading a vehicle or another type of storage facility.
Claims13
An article unloading device comprising:
- a chute having an upper end and a lower end, said chute including a plurality of inflatable longitudinal tubes extending between said upper and lower ends, said tubes being arranged in side by side relation to form a chute surface, said chute further including means for attaching said upper end to a vehicle body whereby when said chute is deployed said lower end rests on the ground and the contents of the body may be conveniently unloaded by gravity;
- retracting means for continuously urging said tubes to retract toward one of said chute ends;
- actuator means for selectively supplying fluid from a source of fluid under pressure to inflate said tubes and thereby deploying said chute and for selectively venting said tubes so as to urge the tubes toward said one end for storage of the chute assembly;
- and
- an inflatable positioning tube adjacent said chute upper end, said positioning tube extending transversely of said longitudinal tubes, said positioning tube aligning the chute assembly at a proper height with respect to a vehicle body.
2 more elements
A selectively extendable chute assembly for unloading cargo from a vehicle, comprising:
- a plurality of elongated flexible extender tubes, said tubes being inflatable and including means joining said tubes together to form a chute surface when said tubes are inflated;
- a plurality of coil springs extending along said extender tubes, said springs continuously urging said tubes into a coiled, retracted position;
- attachment means for attaching said tubes to said vehicle at the upper end of said chute surface;
- pneumatic means for inflating the extender tubes thereby overcoming the coiling action of said springs and extending the chute surface for unloading the vehicle;
- and
- an inflatable positioning tube and means for mounting said positioning tube on said vehicle transversely of said extender tubes adjacent said upper end, and means for inflating said positioning tube with said extender tubes.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.