Heap climbing container cover system

A cover system for covering a heaped load in an open top container comprising:

• a roller disposed at one end of the open-topped container;
• a cover member, windable around the roller in a stowed position, and sized to cover the open top of the container when unwound from the roller to a deployed position, the cover member having a leading edge;
• a pulling member associated with the leading edge of said cover and manipulable to pull the leading edge across the open top of the container;
• and
• an elongated arm, pivotably mounted at a first end to the container and including a yoke at an opposite second end forming a notch for receiving said leading edge of said cover member therein, said arm having a length between said first and second ends sized so that said second end is pivotable to a position above a heaped load within the container.

A cover system for covering a heaped load in an open top container having opposite end walls and opposite said walls, comprising:

• a roller disposed at one end of the open-topped container;
• a cover member, windable around the roller in a stowed position, and sized to cover the top of the container when unwound from the roller to a deployed position, the cover member having a leading edge;
• a pulling member associated with the leading edge of said cover and manipulable to pull the leading edge across the open top of the container;
• and
• an elongated arm, pivotably mounted at a first end to a sidewalls of the container and including an element at an opposite second end configured to engage said cover member at said leading edge, said arm having a length between said first and second ends sized so that said second end is pivotable to a position above a heaped load within the container, wherein said length of said elongated arm is less than one-half the length of the open top of the container.

A cover system for covering a heaped load in an open top container having opposite end walls and opposite side walls, comprising:

• a roller disposed at one end of the open-topped container;
• a cover member, windable around the roller in a stowed position, and sized to cover the open top of the container when unwound from the roller to a deployed position, the cover member having a leading edge and a length in its deployed position that extends from said roller at the one end of the container to the opposite end of the container;
• a pulling member associated with the leading edge of said cover and manipulable to pull the leading edge across the open top of the container and
• an elongated arm, pivotably mounted at a first end to a side wall of the container and including an element at an opposite second end configured to engage said cover member at said leading edge, said arm having a length between said first and second ends sized so that said second end is pivotable to a position above a heaped load within the container, wherein said length of said elongated arm is less than one-half the length of said cover member.

A method for conveying a retractable tarp from a tarp housing at one end of a container, across the open top of the container, to an opposite end of the container, comprising the steps of:

• conveying the leading edge of the retractable tarp partially across the open top of the container;
• engaging the leading edge of the tarp to one end of a pivoting arm mounted to a side wall of the container;
• conveying the leading edge of the tarp in an arc defined by the travel arc of the one end of the pivoting arm as it pivots relative to the container;
• and
• disengaging the leading edge of the tarp from the one end of the pivoting arm.

A cover system for covering a heaped load in an open top container, comprising:

• a roller disposed at one end of the open-topped container;
• a cover member, windable around the roller in a stowed position, and sized to cover the open top of the container when unwound from the roller to a deployed position, the cover member having a leading edge;
• a pulling member associated with the leading edge of said cover and manipulable to pull the leading edge across the open top of the container;
• an elongated arm, pivotably mounted at a first end to an upper rail of the container and including an element at an opposite second end configured to releasably engage said cover member at said leading edge, said arm having a length between said first and second ends sized so that said second end is pivotable to a position above a heaped load within the container.