US 6,092,974 AGranted

Trailer for bulk material containers

OwnerJason B. Rothinventor

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Abstract

A low profile trailer adapted for use with bulk material containers having either a central discharge port, or a side discharge port. The trailer includes a trailer bed having a pair of container decks each adapted to receive and support a bulk container. Each of the container decks has both a central discharge opening and a side discharge opening disposed to register with the central and side discharge ports of various bulk containers. A retainer lip extends up from and around three sides of each container deck so that a rigid bulk container may be loaded on the container deck with a fork lift and be conveniently positioned and secured on the deck. All discharge openings communicate with a hopper located under the trailer bed, and a hydraulically powered auger is used to discharge material, such as seed, from the hopper to the seed boxes of a planter.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A trailer adapted for use with a bulk material container having either a central discharge port or a side discharge port, the trailer comprising:

a frame;
ground wheels attached to and supporting the frame;
a hitch attached to the frame and adapted for connection to a towing vehicle;
a trailer bed attached to and supported by the frame, the trailer bed comprising:
a container deck adapted to receive and support the bulk material container;
a central discharge opening formed in the deck and positioned to register with the central discharge port of a container;
and
a side discharge opening formed in the deck and positioned to register with the side discharge port of a container;
a hopper attached to the deck and disposed beneath both the central discharge opening and the side discharge opening;
and
a discharge conveyor operably attached to the hopper, whereby bulk material is discharged from the container by gravity into the hopper and conveyed from the hopper to another location.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.