Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PORTABLE DRIVE-OVER CONVEYOR SYSTEM USABLE FOR
UNLOADING BELLY DUMP TRUCKS WITH MULTIPLE DISCHARGES
AND FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY UNLOADING MORE THAN ONE TRUCK
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable drive-over conveyor for
unloading trucks.
BACKGROUND
A number of portable drive-over conveyors are presently provided by
various manufacturers which can be used to unload a dump truck of its
particulate
material contents, for example aggregate.
These portable drive-over conveyors are particularly suited for use in a
manner accommodating only dump trucks with a single discharge whether it be of
the
end dump or belly dump/bottom dump style, and thus only such use may have been
contemplated therefor. As such, dump trucks having multiple discharges
(typically of
the belly dump style) require more time to unload their contents using the
forgoing drive-
over conveyors as this unloading process is likely to include one of (i)
positioning each
discharge one at a time over the portable drive-over conveyor, or (ii)
discharging all
contents through a single discharge.
Furthermore, such presently available portable drive-over conveyors are
particularly suited for use in a manner accommodating only one dump truck at a
time
for unloading, so a series of dump trucks collectively transporting
particulate material
are required to be unloaded sequentially of one another thereby significantly
increasing
the duration of the unloading operation.
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It thus may be desirable to have a system for unloading trucks which have
multiple discharges, and that may also be suitable for unloading two or more
trucks
simultaneously.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a method for
unloading particulate material from trucks having a plurality of discharges at
longitudinally spaced positions therealong comprising:
providing at least two portable drive-over conveyors respectively
comprising:
a trailer including a center frame structure with forward and
rearward ends and first and second sides;
the trailer including a hitch coupling arranged at the forward end of
the center frame structure for coupling to a towing vehicle;
the trailer including a wheel and axle assembly arranged at the
rearward end such that the trailer is towable across a support surface by the
towing
vehicle;
a first ramp assembly mounted on the first side for pivotal
movement about an axis longitudinal of the first side such that the first ramp
assembly
is positionable in a manner extending outwardly from the first side to define
a ramp
allowing a truck wheel to move onto the center frame structure from another
surface;
a second ramp assembly mounted on the second side for pivotal
movement about an axis longitudinal of the second side such that the second
ramp
assembly is positionable in a manner extending outwardly from the second side
to
define a ramp allowing a truck wheel to move onto the center frame structure
from
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another surface;
a conveyor arranged along the center frame structure and
arranged to transport the particulate material longitudinally along the
trailer to a
discharge at one end of the center frame structure;
the ramp assemblies and the center frame structure providing
upper surfaces for supporting the truck as it passes from the first ramp
assembly over
the center frame structure and onto the second ramp assembly;
the upper surface of the center frame structure having an inlet for
passage of the particulate material discharged thereon through the upper
surface to the
conveyor;
arranging said at least two portable drive-over conveyors such that one
of the sides of a first one of the portable drive-over conveyors is facing one
of the sides
of a second one of the portable drive-over conveyors;
positioning one of the ramp assemblies of each of the portable drive-over
conveyors in an overlapping configuration with one ramp assembly disposed on
top of
the other so as to form a bridge allowing a truck wheel to cross from the
center frame
structure of one portable drive-over conveyor to the other;
arranging a truck to pass over said at least two portable drive-over
conveyors such that respective discharges of the truck are arranged over the
inlet of
each portable drive-over conveyor for discharging the particulate material to
the
conveyors;
and transporting the particulate material along the conveyors to another
location beyond the portable drive-over conveyors.
This system thus provides at least two trailers each with two sets of ramp
assemblies for moving to and from a respective unload point of the respective
portable
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drive-over conveyor.
The portable drive-over conveyors may thus be operated in parallel to
simultaneously unload a truck at each one of its multiple discharges.
Typically the portable drive-over conveyors are arranged spaced apart so
that a distance between their inlets is in the order of spacing between the
discharges
of the truck.
Another important independent optional feature is that the inlet of at least
one of the portable drive-over conveyors includes a funnel structure and a
neck
extending downwardly from a bottom of the funnel structure such that the
funnel
structure is arranged for raising above the upper surface of the center frame
structure
towards the respective discharge of the truck located thereover.
The raising funnel structure may thus be positioned closer to the
respective discharge of the truck so as to capture as close to all of the
particulate
material discharged therefrom.
In one arrangement the conveyor of at least one of the portable drive-over
conveyor includes a first portion extending longitudinally of the trailer from
the inlet to
an intermediary location spaced rearwardly of the inlet and a second portion
extending
from the intermediary location to the discharge of the conveyor that is
located beyond
the trailer.
Another important independent optional feature is that the second portion
is arranged for swiveling movement about an upstanding axis such that the
discharge
of the conveyor is positionable to either side of a central axis longitudinal
of the trailer.
Another important independent optional feature is that the second portion
is positionable from a working position locating the discharge of the conveyor
beyond
the trailer to a transport position where the second portion lies within a
perimeter of the
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trailer.
In one arrangement the conveyors feed the particulate material directly to
a common location.
Another important independent optional feature is that there is provided a
5 plurality of the inlets on the portable drive-over conveyors so that a
plurality of trucks
are unloadable in parallel.
The truck may be a belly dump truck.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a portable
drive-over conveyor for unloading particulate material from trucks comprising:
a trailer having a frame structure with front and rear ends opposite one
another on a trailer axis and first and second sides spanning between the
forward and
rear ends longitudinally of said trailer axis where the front end, rear end,
left side, and
right side collectively define a periphery of the frame;
the trailer including a hitch coupling supported at the front end of the frame
structure for coupling to a towing vehicle;
the trailer including a plurality of wheels rotatably coupled at the rear end
of the frame structure such that the trailer is towable across a support
surface by the
towing vehicle;
a conveyor carried by the frame structure and extending longitudinally of
the trailer axis from one end to another end of the trailer;
the conveyor being arranged to transport particulate material to a
discharge at one end of the trailer;
a first ramp assembly mounted on the first side for pivotal movement
about an axis longitudinal of the first side such that the first ramp assembly
is
positionable in a manner extending outwardly from the first side to define a
ramp
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allowing a truck wheel to move onto the frame structure from another surface;
a second ramp assembly mounted on the second side for pivotal
movement about an axis longitudinal of the second side such that the second
ramp
assembly is positionable in a manner extending outwardly from the second side
to
define a ramp allowing a truck wheel to move onto the frame structure from
another
surface;
the ramp assemblies and the frame structure providing upper surfaces for
supporting the truck as it passes from the first ramp assembly over the frame
structure
and onto the second ramp assembly;
the upper surface of the frame structure including a plurality of inlets at
longitudinally spaced positions for passage of the particulate material
discharged
thereon through the upper surface to the conveyor.
A single such portable drive-over conveyor may by itself be used to
unload two or more trucks side by side.
Another important independent optional feature is that the ramp
assemblies each include a pair of ramp members arranged in spaced
configuration in
front of and to the rear of each inlet, and the ramp members immediately
adjacent to
one another but belonging to different pairs are unitary.
Another important independent optional feature is that the conveyor
includes a first conveyor portion which is fed by the plurality of inlets and
which extends
rearwardly of a rearmost one of the inlets to an intermediary location, and a
second
conveyor portion extending from the intermediary location to the discharge of
the
conveyor.
As such, the second conveyor portion is typically fed by the first conveyor
portion which at the intermediary location has a discharge positionable over
an inlet of
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the second conveyor portion.
Another important independent optional feature is that the second
conveyor portion is swivably attached to the frame structure so as to be
swivably
movable about an upstanding axis such that the discharge of the conveyor is
locatable
to either side of the trailer axis.
Another important independent optional feature is that the second
conveyor portion is positionable in a working position where the discharge of
the
conveyor is located beyond the periphery of the trailer and in a transport
position where
the second conveyor portion lies within the periphery of the trailer.
In one arrangement, in the transport position the second conveyor portion
is disposed above the first conveyor portion where the second conveyor portion
is
inoperable for receiving the particulate material transferred by the first
conveyor portion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction
with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a portable drive-over conveyor according
to the present invention that shows the portable drive-over conveyor in a
transport
position with some components omitted for clarity of illustration.
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the portable drive-over conveyor of Figure
1.
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 3-3 in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a rear elevational view of the portable drive-over conveyor of
Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a part only of the vertical central cross sectional view of Figure
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4 on an enlarged scale showing the front platform.
Figure 6 is part only of the vertical central cross sectional view of Figure
4 on an enlarged scale showing rear frame and ground wheels.
Figure 7 is transverse cross sectional view of the embodiment of Figure
1.
Figure 8 is part only of the cross sectional view of Figure 5 on an enlarged
scale showing the conveyor.
Figure 9 is an isometric view from underneath of the rear section only of
the portion of Figure 3.
Figure 10 is a plan view of a part only of the rear section of Figure 9.
Figure 11 is a side view of a part only of the rear section of Figure 9.
Figure 12 is an isometric view of a pair of the portable drive-over
conveyors according to the present invention that shows a cooperative
operating
position of the pair.
Figure 13 is a front elevational view of the pair of the portable drive-over
conveyors of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is a rear elevational view of the pair of the portable drive-over
conveyors of Figure 12.
Figure 15 is a side elevational view from one side of the pair of the
portable drive-over conveyors of Figure 12.
Figure 16 is a top plan view of the pair of the portable drive-over
conveyors of Figure 12.
Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view along line 17-17 in Figure 16.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in the different figures.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The figures show a novel portable drive-over conveyor 1 which is suited
for transferring particulate material, such as aggregate, salt, grain, and
fertilizer, that is
unloaded from a dump truck (not shown) and moved from the truck to another
location
in proximity to the portable drive-over conveyor. For example, this other
location may
comprise an open area adjacent the portable drive-over conveyor such that the
particulate material is simply unloaded into an uncontained stockpile, or this
other
location may comprise for example a hopper H of another conveyor further
transferring
the particulate material to a barge, ship, rail car, another trailer, bin,
silo, or indoor bulk
storage facility. As will be better appreciated shortly hereinafter, the
portable-drive over
conveyor 1 is designed particularly for simultaneously unloading a plurality
of trucks
side by side.
The portable drive-over conveyor 1 may be operated in a system S (see
for example Figure 12) formed by a plurality of such drive-over conveyors,
where a pair
of the drive-over conveyors is shown in the illustrated arrangement. This
system is
operable to perform unloading of one or more trucks each with multiple
discharges.
Specifically, in the illustrated arrangement a truck having two discharges may
be
unloaded at each one of its multiple discharges, that is unload points of the
truck.
Turning now to the constituent drive-over conveyors of the system S, the
portable drive-over conveyor 1 comprises a trailer 4 forming a base of the
portable
drive-over conveyor. The trailer has an overall frame structure 6 with a front
end 8A,
rear end 8B, and left and right sides 8C and 8D spanning between the front and
rear
ends. The trailer thus comprises a trailer axis T with the front and rear ends
8A, 8B
being longitudinally spaced apart along the trailer axis T and the left and
right sides 8C,
8D of the trailer extending longitudinally of the trailer axis T.
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The front end, rear end, and left and right sides 8A-8D collectively define
a periphery of a frame of the trailer which is more clearly shown in top plan
view in
Figure 2. It will be appreciated that an overall width of the trailer 4 is non-
uniform along
its length from front 8A to rear 8B, such that the periphery may not be a
regularly shaped
5
polygon, as for example a rectangle, but instead may be irregularly shaped so
as
register with those features of the portable drive-over conveyor which extend
transversely from the central trailer axis T at different distances therefrom.
Furthermore,
the periphery of the trailer may be considered to vary in shape from one
position of
ramp assemblies 12, 13 to the next as will become apparent shortly.
10 The
arrangement shown herein includes a center frame structure 11, a
first ramp assembly 12 on one side, and a second ramp assembly 13 on the
second
side so that the truck to be unloaded can drive over the portable drive-over
conveyor
entering from one ramp, halting with a discharge of the truck at the center
section and
then departing over the second ramp.
The center frame structure 11 has a forward end 15, a rearward end 16
and first and second sides 17, 18. The center frame structure includes a pair
of
longitudinal beams 19, 20 forming the main structural components, an upper
support
surface 21 and a bottom cover panel 22. The panel 22 sits on the ground during
operation and the beams support the top surface 21 on a transverse wall 23 and
upstanding walls 24, 25 (Figure 8). The top support surface 21 extends along
the full
length of the center section.
The first and second ramp assemblies 12, 13 are symmetrically mounted
on the respective side 18 for pivotal movement about an axis 181 longitudinal
of the
first side 18 (or second side 17) from a raised positon standing vertically
upwardly
above the first side 18 for transport of the portable drive-over conveyor from
place to
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place. When delivered to a required location, the ram assemblies are lowered
to an
operating position extending outwardly from the respective side as shown in
the Figures
to define a ramp allowing a truck wheel to move from the ground onto the
center frame
structure for the delivery process.
Each ramp assembly comprises a plurality of side by side parallel ramp
members 131 and 132 which can be raised and lowered by cylinders 133 (shown
schematically) at sides of the ramps.
Each ramp includes an inclined upper surface 135 attached at its edges
to two triangular sides 137 which attach also to a bottom wall 136 which sits
on the
ground and transfers loads from the vehicle to the ground from the upper
surface 135.
The upper surface and the bottom surface converge to an edge 138 at the outer
end of
the ramp which is sufficiently sharp to allow the vehicle wheel to enter onto
the ramp
without the necessity for an earthen ramp beyond the edge 138. The ramps and
the
center frame structure thus provide upper surfaces for supporting the truck as
it passes
from the first ramp over the center frame structure and onto the second ramp.
The
ramps 131, 132 are spaced along the side edges of the center section by a
space 139
so that any material from the vehicle which does not enter onto the center
section for
conveying falls to the ground rather than is collected on the ramps.
A first conveyor 26 is arranged to extend along the center frame structure
11 and arranged to transport the particulate material longitudinally along the
center
frame structure 11 up an inclined section 111 of the first conveyor to a
discharge chute
112 at one end of the center frame structure which is at a rear frame 28 at
the rear end
16. The center frame structure 11 and rear frame 28 collectively define part
of the
overall frame structure 6 of the trailer.
The upper surface 21 of the center frame structure 11 has a plurality of
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central rectangular openings 211 defining inlets of the first conveyor for
passage of the
particulate material discharged over the respective inlet opening through the
upper
surface to the conveyor 26. Each inlet is spaced from the side edges of the
upper
surface and from the ramps and forms a relatively localized area within the
upper
surface. Thus, the first conveyor's inlet is located between the left and
right sides 8C,
8D of the overall frame structure.
Each inlet opening is substantially equal in width to the space 139
between the pair of the ramp members arranged to straddle that inlet opening
in front
thereof and to the rear thereof so that lifting of the ramps to the raised
position does not
cause any material to fall from the ramps into the inlet opening.
In the illustrated arrangement the ramp members which are immediately
adjacent to one another but belonging to different pairs are formed into a
unitary ramp.
That is, the adjacent ramp members of different pairs are arranged to share a
common
edge portion 135A to one side of traction protrusions 135B which provide grip
to truck
wheels traversing the ramp. Thus, these adjacent ramp members move together
from
the raised position to the operating position thereby reducing the number of
drive
members for example cylinder 133 that are required to actuate this movement of
the
ramp assemblies.
Furthermore, each inlet 211 of the first conveyor comprises a funnel
structure 2111 which is independent of the upper surface 21 such that the
funnel
structure is movable relative thereto. That is, with an open top of the funnel
structure
2111 defining the inlet opening 211 and a neck 2113 extending downwardly from
a
bottom opening of the funnel structure so as to guide the particulate material
discharged
from the trucks onto the first conveyor 26, the funnel structure is arranged
for raising
above the upper surface of the center frame structure using a hydraulic
actuating
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arrangement, for example hydraulic cylinders. As such, the funnel structure
may be
raised upwardly towards the respective discharge of the truck so as to the
position the
inlet 211 closer to the truck discharge for capturing as close to all of the
particulate
material discharged therefrom.
The center structure 11 has at the front edge 15 a frame component 29
attached to the center frame structure at the forward end so as to extend
forwardly
therefrom and includes a planar platform 292 generally parallel to the center
frame
structure at a height raised from the center frame structure. The platform 292
is
attached to the center structure by a frame connection which is designed to
transfer
loads during transport from the center section to the platform so that the
platform is
cantilevered forwardly from the center frame structure 11. The free end of the
platform,
opposite to that end which is attached to the center frame structure, thus
defines the
front end 8A of the trailer's overall frame structure. Furthermore, the
platform carries
drive components including a motor arrangement M together with hydraulic drive
systems and control units 295, 296 for conveyors of the portable drive-over
conveyor
1.
Underneath the platform is provided a king pin 291 depending from an
underside of the frame for engaging a towing platform of a highway tractor
(not shown).
As such, the king pin together with the platform define a hitch coupling of
the trailer 4.
As more clearly shown in Figure 5, the frame platform at the frame 293
connecting to the center section carries conventional jacking legs used on
semi-trailers
to jack to the ground. The legs which can be moved from a raised position in
which the
center frame structure rests on the ground to a lowered position in which feet
of the
legs sit on the ground and lift the center frame structure to be raised from
the ground
and the towing platform of a highway tractor, defining a towing vehicle, can
move
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underneath the king pin.
The rear frame structure 28 extends rearwardly from the center frame
structure at a position thereon raised from a bottom of the center frame
structure and
carries the upwardly and rearwardly extending portion 111 of the conveyor 11.
The
rear frame includes a pair of parallel beams 281, 282 connected at a forward
end to a
frame coupling to the center section to transfer loads therebetween. An inner
frame
defined by parallel beams 284, 285 located inside the beams 281, 282 is
pivotal relative
to the outer frame on a transverse pivot pin. The inner frame is pivotal by a
drive
cylinder 286 and can be locked in a lowered positon for transport by a locking
pin 297
which drives a pin across aligned holes of the beams. The inner frame carries
a plurality
of wheel and axle assemblies 288 for movement relative to the center frame
structure
and the outer rear frame from a lowered road position to a raised position
allowing the
center frame structure 11 to rest on the ground. The wheel and axle assembly
includes
highway tires and a gas bag suspension of the relative to the inner frame
which is
arranged for highway travel. As such, wheels 289 are rotatably coupled to the
overall
frame structure 6 such that the trailer is towable across a support surface or
roadway
by the towing vehicle, such as the highway tractor.
Each of the ramp assemblies tapers to the outer ramp edge 138 and a
length between the outer ramp edge 138 of the first pair of ramps and the
other ramps
is at least 25 feet and preferably of the order of 28 feet which combined with
a height
of the center structure from the ground to the upper surface which is of the
order of or
less than 12 inches allows conventional belly discharge highway semi-trailers
to pass
over without grounding out and without requirement for any earthen ramp beyond
the
edges 138.
As shown in Figure 7, the center frame structure 11 includes for each
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ramp assembly 12, 13 an outwardly extending shoulder 182 on which the inner
edge
183 of the respective ramp assembly sits. This acts to transfer loads form the
ramp as
the truck passes over from the ramp to the center structure and to reduce
loading on
the pivot at the axis 181.
5 As
shown in Figure 8, the conveyor 26 includes a belt 261 which has an
upper run underneath the inlet opening 211 which sits on a downwardly concave
support surface 263 carried by the center frame structure at the transverse
sheet 23 of
the beams 19, 20. The support surface 263 carries a plurality of stationary
strips 264
of a plastics bearing material on which the upper run of the belt slides. This
allows the
10 belt
to slide effectively and avoids the increase in height that would in incurred
if rollers
were used. The concave shape of the belt and support provides space for the
sand to
enter and be carried on the belt while again avoiding an increase in height of
the center
section. The return run 262 of the belt slides on a bottom support surface
defined by
the sheet 23 on which is provided a plurality of stationary strips 265 of the
plastics
15
bearing material. The support sheet 263 is carried on upstanding side sheets
266, 267
carried on the sheet 23.
Thus, in summary of a first portion of the portable drive-over conveyor 1,
the portable drive-over conveyor includes the trailer 4 to be towed as a
highway semi-
trailer. The portable drive-over conveyor 1 includes the center frame
structure 11
containing a conveyor belt, defined by the first conveyor 26, with two pivotal
ramps on
each side to be moved to a raised positon standing upwardly and a lowered
position
extending outwardly. The ramps have sufficient length and the center structure
has a
low height to allow a highway semi-trailer to pass over an inlet opening in
the center
structure. A platform is attached at the forward end with a king pin on the
underside for
engaging a towing platform of a highway tractor. Wheel and axle assemblies
including
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suspension of the axles for highway travel is mounted on a sub-frame pivotal
relative
to main rear frame for movement relative to the center frame structure from a
lowered
road position to a raised position allowing the center frame structure to rest
on the
ground.
There is provided a second conveyor 30 additionally to the first conveyor
26 that is swivably attachable to the frame 6 of the trailer 4 so as to be
swivably movable
about an upstanding axis U at the rear 8B of the trailer for discharging the
particulate
material from the portable drive-over conveyor to a preselected location
beyond the
conveyor 1 on either side of the trailer axis T.
The second conveyor thus comprises a separate length of conveyor belt
301 and its own inlet 303 and discharge 304 that are separate of the first
conveyor.
However, the first and second conveyors are cooperated such that the first
conveyor
26 transfers particulate material from the plurality of inlets 211 to its
discharge 112
located at an intermediary location IL spaced rearwardly of a rearmost one of
the inlets,
where an inlet 303 of the second conveyor is positionable beneath the first
conveyor
discharge 112 and the second conveyor may be fed so as to transfer the
particulate
material to its discharge 304 positionable beyond the periphery of the
trailer.
It will thus be appreciated that the first conveyor 26 and the second
conveyor 30 may be regarded as collectively defining a single conveyor having
a first
conveyor portion defined by the first conveyor and a second conveyor portion
defined
by the second conveyor. The first conveyor portion extends from a rearmost one
of the
inlets at the rearward end 16 of the center frame structure to the
intermediary location
with respect to the collective single conveyor, and the second conveyor
portion thus
extends from the intermediary location IL which is forward of the rear end 8B
of the
trailer to the discharge 304 of the collective single conveyor.
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In the illustrated arrangement the second conveyor comprises a
conventional type conveyor belt 301 supported on conventional rollers 307, 308
carried
at inlet and discharge ends of the second conveyor. One of these rollers may
be a drive
roller and the other may be an idler. There are also provided a number of belt
guide
members for guiding the conveyor belt along an appropriate bath between the
end
rollers.
An outer body of the second conveyor may have an opening in the top of
the outer body at the inlet end so as to form the inlet 303 of the second
conveyor. The
discharge 112 of the first conveyor thus positioned over top of the second
conveyor's
inlet 303 may then readily feed the second conveyor.
The swiveling movement of the second conveyor is afforded by for
example a rotatable base 310 carried at the intermediary location with
upstanding
coupling ears at diametrically opposite locations on the rotatable base for
removably
connecting to the second conveyor. The rotatable base may also include ports
311
(shown schematically) which supply to the intermediary location IL for use by
the
second conveyor the power from the motor arrangement M. Additionally, the
second
conveyor is also inclined so as to extend upwardly and there also may be
provided an
upright hydraulic arm 312 (shown schematically) pivotally mounted to the
rotatable base
at a fixed location thereon and to a bottom of the second conveyor for raising
and
lowering the second conveyor relative to the horizontal or the trailer axis T.
By this swiveling movement the second conveyor may be used to locate
angularly of the trailer 4 a discharge location of the particulate material.
That is, the
particulate material is dischargeable by the second conveyor at different
locations
angularly of the trailer axis T in a horizontal plane containing the trailer
axis.
As the second conveyor may extend considerably beyond the periphery
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of the trailer in a working position where the second conveyor is arranged to
discharge
the particulate material in a manner completing the unloading operation, the
second
conveyor 30 is movable into a transport position where the second conveyor
portion
lies within the periphery of the trailer so as to be better suited for
transportation.
In the transport position, the second conveyor 30 is supported in
horizontal orientation above the inclined section 111 of the first conveyor on
a
framework 32 which thus forms a rack. The framework comprises upstanding
members
322 supported on the rear frame 28 and horizontally extending cross-members
324,
325 for bracing the rack. Furthermore, the rack and outer body of the second
conveyor
include cooperative fasteners for securing the second conveyor to the rack
framework
in the transport position of the second conveyor. The rack may also be
removable so
as to not interfere with the swiveling movement of the second conveyor during
operation
in the working position.
The second conveyor may be movable between the transport position
and the working position by hydraulic arms pivotal about a horizontal folding
axis F
which is transverse to the trailer axis T. Hydraulic arms 328 effecting this
pivotal
movement between the transport and working position may be provided on the
rack
framework 32, for example pivotally attached to one of an upstanding member
322 and
a cross-member 324, to move the second conveyor from its horizontal
orientation in the
transport position to its inclined orientation extending from the rotatable
base 310. Once
the second conveyor is secured in the rotatable base, the hydraulic arms 328
may be
detached and removed from the trailer together with the framework so as to not
impede
the swiveling movement of the second conveyor. In the figures where shown the
hydraulic arms 328 are illustrated in a ready position but detached from the
second
conveyor.
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As such, the portable drive-over conveyor 1 may by itself be operated so
as to unload two or more trucks side by side. The second conveyor may be
swiveled
about the upstanding axis U so as to control a location where the particulate
material is
discharged by the drive-over conveyor.
The portable drive-over conveyor 1 may also be operated in conjunction
with another such drive-over conveyor to operate in parallel to unload one or
more
trucks having multiple discharges.
In this parallel operation, the pair of portable drive-over conveyors are
arranged side by side in spaced parallel relation such that one of the sides
17 (or 18)
of a first one of the portable drive-over conveyors is facing one of the sides
of a second
one of the portable drive-over conveyors. Typically, the drive-over conveyor
are spaced
apart so that a distance between their inlets 211 is in the order of spacing
between the
discharges of the truck.
One of the ramp assemblies 12 (or 13) of each portable drive-over
conveyor is then positioned in an overlapping configuration with one ramp
assembly
disposed on top of the other so as to form a bridge B allowing a truck wheel
to cross
from the center frame structure 11 of one portable drive-over conveyor to the
other.
Thus, a truck may move from a surface such as the ground or a roadway
onto one of the ramp assemblies of the first drive-over conveyor and pass over
its
center frame structure 11 across the bridge B and over the center frame
structure of
the second drive-over conveyor and down onto the ramp assembly on the other
side of
the second drive-over conveyor thereby positioning two unload points of the
truck over
one inlet of each portable drive-over conveyor for discharging the particulate
material
to the conveyors.
Depending on the distance between the two drive-over conveyors, the
CA 02927188 2016-04-15
overlapping ramp assemblies may define a bridge which is rectangular in cross-
section
where the bottom wall 136 of the upper ramp member 131U lies flush against the
upper
surface 135 of the lower ramp member 131L. The truck wheel thus only engages
one
of the ramp members as the truck crosses the bridge B. However, it will be
appreciated
5 that in the overlapping configuration the ramp members may define in
cross-section of
the bridge another polygon where the upper surface 135 of the ramp member of
each
drive-over conveyor defines an upper crossing surface of the bridge B between
the
center frame structures 11.
Thus, in the illustrated arrangement the upper ramp member 131U is
10 rested on the lower ramp member 131L which is resting on the ground.
This may reduce
stress on the pivotal axis 181 about which the ramp assemblies move from the
raised
position to the operating position when the truck crosses the bridge.
Furthermore, depending on a steepness of the ramp members the lower
ramp member in the overlapping configuration may extend to a position beneath
the
15 center frame structure 11 of the other drive-over conveyor. A bottom 22
of the center
frame structure which is facing the ground may be shaped for example with a
cut-out
221 so as to accommodate this ramp member in this position.
To further complement the parallel use, the second conveyors of the pair
of drive-over conveyors may be positioned so as to discharge their particulate
material
20 to a common location, such as the illustrated hopper bin H, from which
the particulate
material may be conveyed to another location further downstream of the direct
unloading operation performed by the drive-over conveyors. Thus, the second
conveyors may be angled from their respective trailer axes T towards one
another so
as to discharge to the common location. This is afforded by the swiveling
movement of
the second conveyors about their upstanding axes U.
CA 02927188 2016-04-15
21
The second conveyors may also be arranged by positioning in the
appropriate angular orientation for discharging the contents of a single truck
to different
locations.
Additionally, it will be appreciated that in other arrangement there may be
a different number of wheel and axle assemblies, for example three. The
particular
number of wheel and axle assemblies used from one arrangement to another may
vary
depending on a net dry weight of the portable drive-over conveyor.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above
described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it
is
intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted
as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
