Land vehicles: dumping – Tilting – With cover or endgate control
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-25
2001-10-16
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: dumping
Tilting
With cover or endgate control
C298S0230MD, C298S0230MD
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302491
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a control system for controlling the position of the tailgate of a dump truck as material is dumped from the truck.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In conventional dump truck design, a truck operator usually upon reaching the dump site is first required to adjust the tailgate chains which limits the amount the tailgate opens during the dumping operation. The operator then returns to the cab and via the console unlatches the tailgate, elevates the truck box and begins the application of material from the truck box.
However, if the adjustment of the tailgate chains was incorrect, if the chains had become entangled, or if something in the material was restricting discharge of the material from the truck box, the operator would then be required to leave the cab to readjust or disentangle the chains, or clear the restriction impeding the flow of material from the truck box. Since the truck box is elevated, the material load within the truck box is now applying pressure to the tailgate chains, and it becomes almost impossible to adjust the chains without shifting the material within the truck box (lowering the truck box) away from the tailgate.
In the event the operator attempts to adjusts the chains without shifting the load (lowering the box), severe injury to the operator may result due to the forces involved. In order to readjust the chains, the operator must be standing at the rear end of the truck. When an operator attempts to readjusts the chains, the operator's focus is changed from operating an entire material handling system (dump truck) to making a point of application adjustment (adjusting the tailgate). When the operator is required to leave the cab, the operator is much more vulnerable to ground traffic. Further, when making such a readjustment of the tailgate chains, the operator may also give up a strategic vantage point thereby losing sight of the overall conditions developing around the operating environment.
The amount of man and equipment hours lost in adjusting the tailgates of conventional dump trucks is a major consideration. The hours lost in adjusting and readjusting the tailgate in these conventional dump trucks are impossible to recover.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide a novel control system for variably controlling and continuously monitoring the position of the tailgate of a conventional dump truck as material is discharged from the truck. The novel control system allows the material discharged from the truck box or body to be variably adjusted by an operator in the cab and thereby allows accurate metering of the material from the truck.
The amount of travel or degree of opening of the tailgate is controlled by an actuator unit which may be mounted on the tailgate, dump box or tailgate hinge shaft. Operation of the actuator unit is accomplished via a control unit in the truck cab. The output signals produced by a positional feedback unit located on or adjacent the tailgate are received by the control unit allow the operator to not only precisely control the position of the tailgate but to also continuously monitor the position of tailgate as it shifts between closed and open positions. This arrangement provides the operator with real time information with respect to the position of the tailgate from a location (truck cab) remote from the tailgate.
Further, this control system enhances operator safety and substantially reduces the time lost during adjustments required in the conventional dump truck operation.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3404918 (1968-10-01), Lackey
patent: 5092656 (1992-03-01), Eldridge
patent: 5890770 (1999-04-01), Palmberg, Jr.
patent: 6135565 (2000-10-01), Bachelor
Bains Herman H.
Gordon Stephen T.
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