Method and apparatus for covering an open-top trailer
AssigneeMCO Transport
InventorDavid R. McIntyre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for covering open-top truck trailers used to haul wood chips and the like. A flexible cover is pulled over the open top of a trailer via a shaft rotatable between a first and second position; a projection extending from the shaft and configured to engage the flexible cover when the shaft is in a first position and to disengage the flexible cover when the shaft is in a second position; and a counterweight extending from said shaft and configured to rotate the shaft from a second position to a first position.
Claims15
A bulk product transport system comprising:
- a trailer having a floor and a respective pair of opposing side walls and opposing front and rear walls extending therefrom to define an open-top container;
- guide means extending along an upper edge portion of each of said side walls generally from the front wall to the rear wall of said container;
- a flexible cover movable along said guide means between an open position disposed adjacent said front wall and permitting said container to be loaded via said open top, and a closed position wherein said open top is covered, said flexible cover having a front end portion secured to said container adjacent said front wall;
- rigging connected to a rear end portion of said flexible cover and configured such that, when pulled, said cover is pulled along said guide means from said open position to said closed position;
- pulling means mounted to a supporting frame at an elevation permitting said trailer to pass thereunder, and being configured to engage and pull said rigging such that said flexible cover is pulled from said open position to said closed position when said container is moved relative to said pulling means, and to automatically release said rigging when said flexible cover attains the closed position.
An apparatus for pulling a flexible cover over an open-top container, wherein said flexible cover is movable between an open position permitting access to said container via said open top, and a closed position wherein said container open top is covered, said flexible cover having a front end secured to said container, and an opposite free end, said apparatus comprising:
- a shaft mounted for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis and between first and second rotational positions, said shaft supported at an elevation sufficient to permit said container to pass underneath;
- a projection extending radially outwardly from a medial portion of said shaft, said projection configured to extend upwardly and engage said flexible cover when said shaft is in said first rotational position and to disengage said flexible cover when said shaft is in said second rotational position;
- and
- biasing means configured to bias said shaft from said second rotational position to said first rotational position.
An apparatus for pulling a flexible cover over an open-top container, wherein said flexible cover is movable between an open position permitting access to said container via said open top, and a closed position wherein said container open top is covered, said flexible cover having a front end secured to said container, and an opposite free end, said apparatus comprising:
- a shaft mounted for rotation between first and second rotational positions, said shaft supported at an elevation sufficient to permit said container to pass underneath;
- a projection extending radially outwardly from said shaft, said projection configured to engage said flexible cover when said shaft is in said first rotational position and to disengage said flexible cover when said shaft is in said second rotational position;
- and
- biasing means configured to bias said shaft from said second rotational position to said first rotational position.
A flexible cover for covering open-top containers including:
- a rear end portion comprising a plurality of equidistantly spaced apart apertures;
- an opposing front end portion;
- an elongate primary cable having a first end secured adjacent said cover front end portion, an intermediate portion threaded through a plurality of equidistantly spaced apart apertures in said cover medial portion between said front and rear end portions, and an opposite free end;
- and
- a plurality of secondary cables each having a first end secured to a respective aperture in said cover rear end portion, and an opposing second end connected to said primary cable adjacent said free end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.