Closure fasteners – Bolts – Swinging
Reexamination Certificate
1997-05-05
2001-02-13
Dayoan, B. (Department: 3627)
Closure fasteners
Bolts
Swinging
C296S035300, C296S184100, C292SDIG002
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186563
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of transportable containers, and more specifically, to an apparatus and method for remotely locking and unlocking a container adapted for transport upon one or more vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Containers for bulk materials and other products come in numerous sizes and load capacities. Such containers are typically transported from one site to another by a motor vehicle or by railroad. In some cases, however, it is desirable to transport the container a part of the overall distance by railroad and part of the way by motor vehicle. Some of the containers adapted for transport in this manner are configured to carry bulk materials such as coal, stone and the like, and they will be equipped with a rear dump door. When the driver of the vehicle carrying the container arrives at the dumping destination, it is desirable for the driver to be able to both unlock the dump door and pivot the tilt frame of the vehicle, all from a remote location, i.e. the truck cab. This requires an interface between the dumping container and the truck cab enabling activation of a mechanism within the cab to unlock a mechanism at container dump door. Such interface must not inhibit or complicate the transport of the container on the railroad car or on the motor vehicle, nor should such interface inhibit or complicate the container dumping process. The mechanism should resist accidental unlocking and should enable the dump door to be remotely locked, as well. It is also desirable for the vehicle and railroad car to be able to hold the transportable container firmly in position during transport without interfering with the remote locking and container dumping functions.
What is needed is a container and vehicle assembly which provides for remote locking and unlocking of a dump door of a transportable container without inhibiting or complicating the transport or dumping processes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A mechanism is provided for use with transport vehicles and a container that may be transported and/or dumped by a number of different vehicles whereby a door of the container may be locked and unlocked remotely.
Generally speaking there is provided an apparatus for remotely locking and unlocking a door on a transportable container, the container sized and configured to ride atop a vehicle. The apparatus includes a latch means mountable to the container for locking shut and unlocking the container door relative the container, linkage means mountable to the container, connected with the latch means and being for actuating the latch means, and drive means mountable to the vehicle and being for driving the linkage means, the drive means being operable remotely by a driver of the vehicle.
It is an object of the present invention is to provide an improved mechanism for locking and unlocking a door on a transportable container.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved mechanism for locking and unlocking a door on a transportable container that permits the container to be freely moved from one vehicle to another for transport and/or dumping.
Another object of the present invention is provide an improved mechanism for locking and unlocking a door on a transportable container which has a mechanism urging the door to stay in the locked condition once placed in the locked condition.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment.
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Bailey, Sr. Dann L.
Kruzick Kent
Steinman Christopher P.
Dayoan B.
Estremsky Gary
Galbreath, Inc.
Woodard Emhardt Naughton Moriarty & McNett
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