Abstract:
The typical swing doors that form the rear wall of a truck-drawn trailer are provided with simple freight-engaging panels that are selectively biased against the lading by inflatable envelopes disposed between the panels and the doors. The source of gas or compressed air is communicated to the inflatable bags by means of a pivotable connector that permits the modified doors to be used as normal doors while providing a reliable supply of pressurized gas to the inflatable envelopes.
Abstract:
A valve assembly for an exhaust system of a dump vehicle having a chassis supporting an operator''s cab and a pivoted materialhandling body. The valve assembly is carried by the chassis and adapted to direct exhaust gases upwardly into the hollow interior of the body when the latter is in a lowered load-retaining position and is adapted to direct exhaust gases toward the ground when the body is in a raised dumping position.
Abstract:
A LOAD CARRYING VEHICLE IS DISCLOSED WHICH HAS AN ENGINE, AN OPERATOR''S CAB, A DUMP BODY WHICH IS TILTABLE BETWEEN A LOAD CARRYING POSITION AND A DUMP POSITION AND AN ENGINE EXHAUST SYSTEM COMMUNICATING ENGINE EXHAUST TO THE DUMP BODY FOR HEATING THE DUMP BODY WHEN IN ITS LOAD CARRYING POSITION. A DIVERTER VALVE DIRECTS THE ENGINE EXHAUST GAS TO THE DUMP BODY WHEN THE BODY IS IN ITS LOAD CARRYING POSITION AND OPERATES TO DIRECT EXHAUST GAS TO ATMOSPHERE AWAY FROM THE OPERATOR''S CAB WHEN THE DUMP BODY IS IN ITS DUMPING POSITION. THE DIVERTER VALVE IS OPERATED BY AN ACTUATOR INCLUDING A PUSH ROD OPERATED BY MOVEMENT OF THE DUMP BODY TO ITS LOAD TRANSPORTING POSITION. THE ACTUATOR ALSO INCLUDES A SPRING WHICH YIELDS TO LIMIT THE FORCE APPLIED TO THE VALVE BY THE PUSH ROD SO THAT OVERTRAVELING OF THE ROD DOES NOT DAMAGE THE VALVE. WHEN THE DUMP BODY IS IN ITS DUMP POSITION, THE VALVE MEMBER IS BIASED TO ITS OTHER POSITION. IN ONE PREFERRED FORM OF THE INVENTION, A COUNTERWEIGHT IS INCLUDED IN THE VALVE ACTUATOR FOR BIASING A VALVE MEMBER. IN ANOTHER EMBODIMENT, THE SPRING BIASES THE VALVE MEMBER AGAINST THE PUSH ROD.