U.S. patent application number 11/047076 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-17 for clean out apparatus for reciprocating slat conveyor.
Invention is credited to Raymond Keith Foster.
Application Number | 20060182576 11/047076 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36168796 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060182576 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Foster; Raymond Keith |
August 17, 2006 |
Clean out apparatus for reciprocating slat conveyor
Abstract
A plow (P) sits down on movable slats (10) of a reciprocating
slat conveyor formed of the movable slats (10) and fixed slats (12)
which are between the movable slats (10). The movable slats (10)
and fixed slats (12) define valley regions between the movable
slats (10). The plow (P) has fingers (92, 106) which extend into
the valley regions. During the unloading operations, the plow (P)
is moved rearwardly by the moveable slats (10), together with the
load (L) that is on the conveyor. When the plow (P) reaches the
rear end of the conveyor, it tips rearwardly and discharges the
remaining portions of the load (L) off from the conveyor. Then, a
teather (T) is wound onto a winch and used for pulling the plow (P)
forwardly back into a forward parked position (FIG. 15).
Inventors: |
Foster; Raymond Keith;
(Madras, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Delbert J. Barnard
P. O. Box 58888
Seattle
WA
98138
US
|
Family ID: |
36168796 |
Appl. No.: |
11/047076 |
Filed: |
January 31, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
414/525.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 25/065
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
414/525.1 |
International
Class: |
B65F 3/00 20060101
B65F003/00 |
Claims
1. A cleaning plow for a reciprocating slat conveyor that includes
movable slats having longitudinal valley regions between adjacent
slats, said plow comprising: a rigid body adapted to extend across
the conveyor and set down on the slats, said body having front and
rear ends; and fingers adapted to extend from the body into the
valley regions between the slats.
2. The cleaning plow of claim 1, wherein the rear end of the plow
includes fingers adapted to extend downwardly from the plow body
into the valley regions between the slats.
3. The cleaning plow of claim 2, wherein the plow includes fingers
that slope downwardly and rearwardly from the plow body and have
side and bottom edges that are adapted to be contiguous side and
bottom surfaces of the valley regions when the plow is on the
conveyor.
4. The cleaning plow of claim 1, wherein the front end of the plow
includes fingers that are adapted to extend downwardly into the
valley regions.
5. The cleaning plow of claim 4, wherein the fingers have side and
bottom edges that are adapted to be contiguous side and bottom
surfaces of the valley regions when the plow is on the
conveyor.
6. The cleaning plow of claim 2, wherein the rear end of the plow
includes fingers that are adapted to extend downwardly into the
valley regions.
7. The cleaning plow of claim 6, wherein the fingers at the rear
end of the plow slope downwardly and rearwardly from the plow body
and have side and bottom edges that are adapted to be contiguous
side and bottom surfaces of the valley regions when the plow is on
the conveyor.
8. The cleaning plow of claim 1, wherein the rigid body has a
substantially horizontal central portion between the front end
fingers and the rear end fingers.
9. The cleaning plow of claim 8, wherein the front end of the plow
includes a substantially vertical wall and the fingers at the front
end of the plow are formed on a lower portion of the vertical wall,
below the central portion of the plow.
10. The cleaning plow of claim 8, wherein the fingers at the rear
end of the plow slope downwardly and rearwardly from the plow body
and have side and rear edges that are adapted to be contiguous side
and bottom surfaces of the valley regions when the plow is on the
conveyor.
11. A reciprocating slat conveyor, comprising: a plurality of
laterally spaced apart movable conveyor slats separated by valley
regions; each said movable conveyor slat having side portions that
slope outwardly and downwardly from peaks; and a cleaning plow
comprising a rigid body extending across the conveyor and supported
by the movable conveyor slats; said body having front and rear
ends; fingers adapted to extend downwardly from the body into the
valley regions between the slats; and wherein movement of the
movable conveyor slats in a conveying direction will move the
cleaning plow in the conveying direction; wherein at least one of
said ends includes fingers adapted to extend downwardly from the
body into the valley regions between the slats.
12. The conveyor of claim 11, wherein the rear end of the plow
includes fingers adapted to extend downwardly from the plow body
into the valley regions between the slats.
13. The conveyor of claim 12, wherein the plow includes fingers
that slope downwardly and rearwardly from the plow body and have
side and bottom edges that are adapted to be contiguous side and
bottom surfaces of the valley regions when the plow is on the
conveyor.
14. The conveyor of claim 11, wherein the front end of the plow
includes fingers that are adapted to extend downwardly into the
valley regions.
15. The conveyor of claim 14, wherein the fingers have side and
bottom edges that are adapted to be contiguous side and bottom
surfaces of the valley regions the plow is on the conveyor.
16. The conveyor of claim 12, wherein the rear end of the plow
includes fingers that are adapted to extend downwardly into the
valley regions.
17. The conveyor of claim 16, wherein the fingers at the rear end
of the plow slope downwardly and rearwardly from the plow body and
have side and bottom edges that are adapted to be contiguous side
and bottom surfaces of the valley regions when the plow is on the
conveyor.
18. The conveyor of claim 11, wherein the rigid body has a
substantially horizontal central portion between the front end
fingers and the rear end fingers.
19. The conveyor claim 18, wherein the front end of the plow
includes a substantially vertical wall and the fingers at the front
end of the plow are formed on a lower portion of the vertical wall,
below the central portion of the plow.
20. The conveyor of claim 18, wherein the fingers at the rear end
of the plow slope downwardly and rearwardly from the plow body and
have side and rear edges that are adapted to be contiguous side and
bottom surfaces of the channels when the plow is on the
conveyor.
21. The conveyor of claim 11, wherein the reciprocating slat
conveyor has a rear end portion and at least one stop adjacent the
rear end portion; and wherein the cleaning plow has a front end
portion positioned to contact the stop when the cleaning plow is at
the rear of the conveyor; and wherein when the front end portion of
the cleaning plow is in contact with the stop, the cleaning plow
has a portion that extends rearwardly form the rear end of the
conveyor and slopes outwardly and downwardly form the rear end of
the conveyor.
22. The conveyor of claim 21, wherein the cleaning plow has a front
end wall including a rear surface and it is this surface that
contacts the stop.
23. The conveyor of claim 21, wherein the rear end of the plow
includes fingers adapted to extend downwardly from the plow body
into the valley regions between the slats.
24. The conveyor of claim 23, wherein the plow includes fingers
that slope downwardly and rearwardly from the plow body and have
side and bottom edges that are adapted to be contiguous side and
bottom surfaces of the valley regions when the plow is on the
conveyor.
25. The conveyor of claim 21, wherein the front end of the plow
includes fingers that are adapted to extend downwardly into the
valley regions.
26. The conveyor of claim 25, wherein the fingers have side and
bottom edges that are adapted to be contiguous side and bottom
surfaces of the valley regions the plow is on the conveyor.
27. The conveyor of claim 23, wherein the rear end of the plow
includes fingers that are adapted to extend downwardly into the
valley regions.
28. The conveyor of claim 27, wherein the fingers at the rear end
of the plow slope downwardly and rearwardly from the plow body and
have side and bottom edges that are adapted to be contiguous side
and bottom surfaces of the valley regions when the plow is on the
conveyor.
29. The conveyor of claim 21, wherein the rigid body has a
substantially horizontal central portion between the front end
fingers and the rear end fingers.
30. The conveyor of claim 29, wherein the front end of the plow
includes a substantially vertical wall and the fingers at the front
end of the plow are formed on a lower portion of the vertical wall,
below the central portion of the plow.
31. The conveyor of claim 29, wherein the fingers at the rear end
of the plow slope downwardly and rearwardly from the plow body and
have side and rear edges that are adapted to be contiguous side and
bottom surfaces of the channels when the plow is on the
conveyor.
32. The conveyor of claim 21, wherein the reciprocating slat
conveyor has a rear end portion and at least one stop adjacent the
rear end portion; and wherein the cleaning plow has a front end
portion positioned to contact the stop when the cleaning plow is at
the rear of the conveyor; and wherein when the front end portion of
the cleaning plow is in contact with the stop, the cleaning plow
has a potion that extends rearwardly from the rear end of the
conveyor and slopes downwardly form the rear end of the
conveyor.
33. The conveyor of claim 32, wherein the cleaning plow has a front
end wall including a rear surface and it is this surface that
contacts the stop.
34. The reciprocating slat conveyor, comprising: a front wall
including a downwardly and rearwardly sloping baffle; a plurality
of laterally spaced apart movable conveyor slats separated by
valley regions; said baffle having a rear edge spaced above the
conveyor slats; each said movable conveyor slat having side
portions that slope outwardly and downwardly from peaks; and a
cleaning plow comprising a rigid body extending across the conveyor
and supported by the movable conveyor slats; said body having front
and rear ends; fingers adapted to extend from the body into the
valley regions between the slats; and wherein movement of the
movable conveyor slats in a conveying direction will move the
cleaning plow in the conveying direction; wherein at least one of
said ends includes fingers adapted to extend downwardly from the
body into the valley regions between the slats; and wherein the
plow is fittable under the rear edge of the baffle with a rear
portion of the baffle projecting rearwardly from the rear edge of
the baffle.
35. The conveyor of claim 34, wherein the rear end of the plow
includes fingers adapted to extend downwardly form the plow body
into the valley regions between the slats.
36. The conveyor of claim 35, wherein the plow includes fingers
that slope downwardly and rearwardly form the plow body and have
side and bottom edges that are adapted to be contiguous side and
bottom surfaces of the valley regions when the plow is on the
conveyor.
37. The conveyor of claim 34, wherein the front end of the plow
includes fingers that are adapted to extend downwardly into the
valley regions.
38. The conveyor of claim 37, wherein the fingers have side and
bottom edges that are adapted to be contiguous side and bottom
surfaces of the valley regions the plow is on the conveyor.
39. The conveyor of claim 35, wherein the rear end of the plow
includes fingers that are adapted to extend downwardly into the
valley regions.
40. The conveyor of claim 39, wherein the fingers at the rear end
of the plow slope downwardly and rearwardly from the plow body and
have side and bottom edges that are adapted to be contiguous side
and bottom surfaces of the valley regions when the plow is on the
conveyor.
41. The conveyor of claim 34, wherein the rigid body has a
substantially horizontal central portion between the front end
fingers and the rear end fingers.
42. The conveyor of claim 41, wherein the front end of the plow
includes a substantially vertical wall and the fingers at the front
end of the plow are formed on a lower portion of the vertical wall,
below the central portion of the plow.
43. The conveyor of claim 41, wherein the fingers at the rear end
of the plow slope downwardly and rearwardly from the plow body and
have side and rear edges that are adapted to be contiguous side and
bottom surfaces of the channels when the plow is on the
conveyor.
44. The conveyor of claim 34, wherein the reciprocating slat
conveyor has a rear end portion and at least one stop adjacent the
rear end portion; and wherein the cleaning plow has a front end
portion positioned to contact the stop when the cleaning plow is at
the rear of the conveyor; and wherein when the front end portion of
the cleaning plow is in contact with the stop, the cleaning plow
has a portion that extends rearwardly form the rear end of the
conveyor and slopes outwardly and downwardly form the rear end of
the conveyor.
45. The conveyor of claim 44, wherein the cleaning plow has a front
end wall including a rear surface and it is this surface that
contacts the stop.
46. The conveyor of claim 44, wherein the rear end of the plow
includes fingers adapted to extend downwardly form the plow body
into the valley regions between the slats.
47. The conveyor of claim 46, wherein the plow includes fingers
that slope downwardly and rearwardly from the plow body and have
side and bottom edges that are adapted to be contiguous side and
bottom surfaces of the valley regions when the plow is on the
conveyor.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a reciprocating slat conveyor of
the type disclosed in my pending U.S. application Ser. No.
10/759,399, filed Jan. 14, 2004, and entitled Reciprocating Slat
Conveyor With Fixed And Movable Slats. More particularly, it
relates to an apparatus for sweeping the conveyor during conveyor
use for conveying bulk material, for minimizing the amount of
residual bulk material remaining on the conveyor after use.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] My U.S. Pat. No. Re.33196, granted Apr. 10, 1990, my U.S.
Pat. No. 4,923,356, granted May 8, 1990, and my aforementioned
pending application Ser. No. 10/759,399, disclose reciprocating
slat conveyors that are adapted to handle heavy bulk loads,
including garbage, scrap metal, and other materials. These
conveyors are characterized by laterally spaced apart movable
conveyor slats and laterally spaced apart valley regions between
the movable slat conveyors. These conveyors are adapted to
withstand heavy bulk material being dropped onto them.
[0003] There is a need for cleaning these conveyors as they are
being operated to remove material. U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,179, granted
Mar. 7, 2000, to William S. Abbott, discloses a clean out mechanism
that is usable with reciprocating slat conveyors that are composed
of contiguous slats having coplanar upper surfaces. This mechanism
of this patent is not suitable for cleaning out a reciprocating
slat conveyor that is composed of laterally spaced apart movable
slats with valley regions between the movable slats, such as
disclosed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 10/759,399. A
principal object of the present invention is to provide a clean out
apparatus that is usable for sweeping clean the movable slats and
fixed valley regions between the slats which make up the conveyor
disclosed by my application Ser. No. 10/7559,399, and/or in similar
conveyors.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The sweeping apparatus of the present invention is herein
sometimes referred to as a "cleaning plow." It is usable to sweep
clean a reciprocating slat conveyor that includes movable slats
having longitudinal valley regions between adjacent slats. The
cleaning plow of the present invention is basically characterized
by a rigid body that is adapted to extend across the conveyor and
sit down on the slats. The body includes fingers adapted to extend
downwardly from the body into the valley regions between the slats.
When the conveyor is operated to move a load in a discharging
direction, the cleaning plow is moved with the slats and the
fingers move material that is in the valley regions longitudinally
of the valley regions and eventually all from the discharge end of
the conveyor. The plow fingers have side and bottom edges that are
adapted to be contiguous side and bottom surfaces of the valley
regions when the plow is on the conveyor.
[0005] In preferred form, the rear end of the plow includes fingers
that slope downwardly and rearwardly from the plow.
[0006] In preferred form, the fingers are spring loaded into
contact with valley regions so that as the plow moves in the
unloading direction the fingers push the material that is in the
valley regions ahead of them along the valley regions and
eventually off from the conveyor.
[0007] In preferred form, the cleaning plow includes a rigid body
having a substantially horizontal central portion that is between
front end fingers and rear end fingers, each of which extend
downwardly into valley regions between the conveyor slats.
[0008] Preferably, the conveyor has a rear end portion and at least
one stop adjacent the rear end portion. The cleaning plow has a
front end portion positioned to contact the stop when the cleaning
plow is at the rear of the conveyor. When the front end portion of
the cleaning plow is in contact with the stop, the cleaning plow is
adapted to extend rearwardly from the rear end of the conveyor and
slope outwardly and downwardly from the rear end of the conveyor.
This allows material on the cleaning plow to slide down the
cleaning plow and outwardly from the conveyor.
[0009] According to another aspect of the invention, the conveyor
has a front end wall and a downwardly and rearwardly sloping baffle
on the front wall. When the cleaning plow is at a forward position
in the conveyor, a forward portion of it is under the baffle and a
rearward portion extends rearwardly from the baffle. When material
is deposited on to the conveyor, the baffle will guide the material
downwardly onto the rear portion of the cleaning plow and onto the
conveyor slats rearwardly of the cleaning plow. When the conveyor
is operated to move the load rearwardly, the cleaning plow is moved
rearwardly by the movable slats, behind the load, with its fingers
down in the valley regions between the slats. A tether may be
attached to the plow and extend from it to a winch at the front end
of the conveyor. Once the cleaning plow has performed the clean out
function, and is at the rear end of the conveyor, the tether can be
wound onto the winch and used for moving the cleaning plow
forwardly in the conveyor back into a position partially below the
front end baffle.
[0010] The various features and aspects of the invention can be
used together or separately. Also, other objects, advantages and
features will become apparent from the description of the best mode
set forth below, from the drawings, and from the claims and
principals that are embodied in this specific structures that are
illustrated and described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] In the drawing, like reference numerals designate like parts
throughout the several views, and:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a fragmentary pictorial view taken from above
looking down towards the top, the passenger side and the rear end
of a trailer which includes a cleaning plow embodiment of the
invention, such view showing the cleaning plow parked in a forward
position below a baffle that slopes downwardly and rearwardly from
the front wall of the trailer;
[0013] FIG. 2 is an enlarged scale fragmentary view of the front
end portion of the trailer, also showing the cleaning plow in a
parked forward position;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an enlarged scale, fragmentary, longitudinal
sectional view taken at the front end of the trailer, showing the
cleaning plow in its parked position;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a pictorial view looking down from above towards
the top, the rear end and the driver's side of a preferred
embodiment of the cleaning plow;
[0016] FIG. 5 is a pictorial view taken from below and looking up
towards the bottom, the rear end and the passenger side of the
cleaning plow of FIG. 4;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line
6-6 of FIG. 3;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 1 but showing the sweeping plow
in an intermediate position between the front and rear ends of the
conveyor;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a view like FIG. 2 but showing the sweeping plow
in the position shown by FIG. 7;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a rear end elevational view of the trailer and
conveyor shown by FIGS. 1 and 7;
[0021] FIG. 10 is a pictorial view like FIGS. 1 and 7, but showing
the cleaning plow at the rear end of the trailer, in a downwardly
and rearwardly sloping during position;
[0022] FIG. 11 is an enlarged scale view of the rear portion of
FIG. 10;
[0023] FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through the
conveyor, showing movable slats in the form of box beams and fixed
slats between the movable slats also in the form of box beams;
[0024] FIG. 13 is a smaller scale view like FIG. 12 but extending
the full width of the trailer and conveyor;
[0025] FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view looking upwardly towards the
frame work that forms the bottom portion of the conveyor, showing
an embodiment of a drive assembly for moving the movable slats of
the conveyor;
[0026] FIG. 15 is a side elevational view in schematic form of an
embodiment of the invention, showing a cleaning plow in a forward
position and a load of bulk material on the conveyor slats and the
rearward portion of the cleaning plow;
[0027] FIG. 16 is a view like FIG. 15, showing the load and the
cleaning plow being moved rearwardly by operation of the conveyor,
such view also including the broken line showing of a tether that
is connected to the front end of the cleaning plow and extends
forwardly through an opening in the front wall of the trailer, to a
wench that is not shown;
[0028] FIG. 17 is a view like FIGS. 15 and 16, but showing the
cleaning plow moved further to the rear of the conveyor;
[0029] FIG. 18 is a view like FIGS. 15-17, showing the cleaning
plow substantially at the rear end of the conveyor;
[0030] FIG. 19 is a view like FIGS. 15-18, showing the cleaning
plow in the process of tipping downwardly at its rear so that the
remainder of the load that is on it will slide off of the cleaning
plow;
[0031] FIG. 20 is a view like FIGS. 15-19, showing the cleaning
plow in a fully tipped position;
[0032] FIG. 21 is a pictorial view of a modified form of the
cleaning plow, such view been taken from above and looking down
towards the top, rear edge and passenger side of the plow;
[0033] FIG. 22 is a view like FIG. 21, but showing a rearward
portion of the cleaning plow swung downwardly from the position
that it is in FIG. 21, about a transverse hinge;
[0034] FIG. 23 is a schematic view looking towards the passenger
side of the cleaning plow of FIGS. 21 and 22, when it is in a part
position;
[0035] FIG. 24 is a view like FIG. 23, but showing the cleaning
plow moved rearwardly to the rear end of the conveyor, and showing
the rear portion of the cleaning plow swung downwardly for dumping
from it the last portion of the load; and
[0036] FIG. 25 is a pictorial view similar to FIG. 4, showing
another embodiment of the sweeping plow in which the rear portion
of the sweeping plow is formed with peaks and valleys that
substantially conform to the peaks and valleys of the conveyor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT
[0037] My aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/759,399 discloses a reciprocating slat conveyor within a
container that receives bulk material. The conveyor extends
substantially the full length of the container. An embodiment of
this conveyor is disclosed herein. It includes movable conveyor
slats 10 that are laterally spaced apart and fixed conveyor slats
12 that are laterally spaced apart and are between the movable
slats 10. In the embodiment illustrated herein, the movable slats
10 are V-shaped in cross section and are composed of side portions
14, 16 that slope outwardly and downwardly from an apex 18 and
together form a top wall 14, 16. See FIG. 12.
[0038] Fixed slats 12 may be top walls of laterally spaced apart
beams 20. having upper side portions 22, 24 that provide support
for bearings 26, 28. Beams 20 may be continuous members extending
substantially the full length of the conveyor. Or, they can be a
plurality of shorter members arranged end-to-end, with or without
spaces between the members. Bearings 26, 28 are continuous members
or are shorter members that are positioned end-to-end so that
together they extend substantially the full length of the
conveyor.
[0039] Each pair of adjacent beams 20 define a space between them
in which a central portion of a movable conveyor slat 10 is
received. This movable central portion may comprise a U-shaped
reinforcement member 32 that has sidewalls and a bottom wall. The
tops of the sidewalls are connected to the floor member 14, 16,
such as by welding. Preferably member 32 extends the full length of
the slat 10. Each movable slat 10 also includes retainer members 34
having opposite side portions that are in effect leaf springs. The
members may be relatively short in length and be longitudinally
spaced apart along the slats 10. Nut and bolt assemblies are used
to secure the bottom members 34 to the bottom wall of the
reinforcement member 32. This is disclosed in detail in my
copending application Ser. No. 10/759,399, the contents of which
are incorporated herein, by this specific reference to such
application.
[0040] Bearings 26, 28 include upper surfaces that are contacted by
the side portions of the slat wall 14, 16. Bearings 26, 28 also
include lower bearing surfaces. The side parts of the retainer
members 34 have upper surfaces that confront the lower bearing
surfaces. Preferably, the side portions of the bottom members are
spring loaded against the bottom bearing surfaces, as disclosed in
Ser. No. 10/759,399. As best shown by FIG. 12, the fixed slats 12
extend laterally between adjacent bearings 26, 28. In the
illustrated embodiment, the fixed slats 12 have a shallow V-shaped
cross section with a central valley portion. According to an aspect
of the invention, every third movable conveyor slat 10, laterally
across the width of the conveyor, is connected to one of three
transverse support beams 55, 56, 57. In FIGS. 1 and 2, one of the
support beams is designated 56. One of the movable conveyor slats
10 is shown connected to a transverse drive beam 56 by a clamp
structure that is like one of the clamp structures disclosed in the
aforementioned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/759,399.
[0041] As is well known in the art, a separate linear hydraulic
motor is connected to each transverse drive beam. FIG. 14, for
example, shows a Running Floor II.RTM. drive assembly connected to
the moveable slats. This assembly is described in detail in my U.S.
Pat. No. 4,748,893, the contents of which are incorporated herein
by this specific reference to that patent. In a conveyor that
includes three transverse drive beam, there are three linear
hydraulic motors. The movable components of the linear hydraulic
motors are connected to the transverse drive beams. The stationary
components are connected to a portion of the frame structure in
which the conveyor is supported. Alternatively, the movable
components of the linear hydraulic motors may be connected to
portions of three different movable conveyor slats, one from each
of the three sets of movable conveyor slats. Then, the conveyor
slats for each set can be connected together by a transverse drive
beam that is spaced axially from the linear hydraulic motors. In
this embodiment, the transverse drive beam serves to connect the
driven slat (the slat that is connected to the linear hydraulic
drive motor) to the remaining slats of the set.
[0042] FIG. 9 is an in view looking into the rear end of a trailer
box 70 which includes an embodiment of the present invention. The
trailer box 70 has a driver-side wall 72, a passenger-side wall 74
and a base structure 76 for the conveyor slats 10, 12. A baffle 78
is provided at the front end of the trailer box rearwardly of the
front wall 80. FIGS. 1, 7 and 10 show the trailer box 70 with the
passenger-side wall removed. In these figures and in FIGS. 2 and 3,
the baffle 78 is shown to include a front edge 82 that is contact
with the front wall 80 of the trailer box. Baffle 78 then slopes
downwardly and rearwardly to a rear edge 84. As best shown by FIG.
3 the lower edge 84 is spaced above the conveyor slats 10 a
distance d. The baffle 78 overhangs the rear portion of a cleanout
plow P. As best shown by FIGS. 4 and 5, the plow has a main body 90
formed from sheet metal. The rear edge of body 90 is cut to form a
plurality, of fingers 92. Preferably, the fingers 92 slope
rearwardly and downwardly into the valley regions between the
conveyor slats 10. Fingers 92 have edge portions that are
contiguous the side walls of the valley regions. Preferably the
fingers 92 are in the form of cantilever beams that are spring
biased into contact with the valley regions forms by the slats 10,
12. Preferably, the downward slope of the fingers 92 is such that
the rear ends of the fingers 92 will contact the fixed slats 12
before the body 90 makes contact with the peaks of the slats 10.
Then, when material M (FIGS. 15-19) is placed on the body 90, the
material will bend the fingers so that the body 90 will be moved
downwardly into contact with the peaks of the slats 10. At the same
time the edge portions of the fingers 90 will be biased against the
contiguous surfaces of the valley regions formed between the slats
10.
[0043] Preferably, the plow P includes short side walls 96, 98 and
a forward wall 100. Wall 100 may include a plurality of vertical
slots 102. A rake 104 (FIG. 3) is attached to the wall 100 by bolts
or other suitable fasteners that extend through the slats 102 and
into the rake 104. The slots 102 and fasteners mount the rake 104
for vertical up and down movement. Rake 104 includes fingers 106 at
its lower edge which extend downwardly into the valley regions
formed by the conveyor slats 10. The fingers 106 have edges that
are contiguous the surfaces of the moveable slats 10 and the fixed
slats 12 which define the valley regions.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 5, the plow P may include slide bearing
members 108, 110, 112 that set down on the peaks of the movable
slats 10. Bearings 108, 110, 112 the body 90 of plow up from the
moveable slats 10 and minimize the area of contact between the plow
and the surfaces of the slats 10. As best shown by FIG. 3, the top
portion of 114 of wall 104 is bent rearwardly and forms a hook
region 116. A latch bar 118 is connected to and extends forwardly
from the plow P. Bar 118 includes a slot 120 for receiving the hook
portion 122 of a locking latch 124. As best shown by FIG. 3, the
locking latch 124 is mounted for rotation about an axis 126. As
shown by FIG. 6, the latch 124 may be connected to one end of rod
128. In FIG. 6, rod 128 is shown to be supported for rotation by a
pair of laterally spaced apart bearings 130, 132 that are connected
to the front wall 80 of the trailer. The latch 124 is at the inner
end of rod 128 whereas a handle 134 is at the outer end of rod 128.
FIG. 3 shows the latch 124 rotated into a position in which the
hook 122 extends into the slot 120. In this position, the latch 124
holds the plow P in the position shown in FIG. 3. This is its
forward "park" position. As can be seen and understood from FIG. 3,
a rotation of the rod 128 in the counterclockwise direction will
move the latch hook 122 up out of the slot 120, freeing in the plow
P for movement rearwardly along the conveyor during operation of
the conveyor.
[0045] In operation, all of the movable slats 10 are moved together
in the rearward direction for moving with them any load L that is
on the conveyor. When the cleaning plow P is unlocked, i.e. the
latch 122 is moved up out of the slot 120, plow P will be moved by
the slats 10 as they move rearwardly. As is well known, the
moveable slats 10 are moved rearwardly in unison for a
predetermined distance, e.g. one foot. Then, they are stopped. Next
they are in sequence, moved forwardly to a start position 1/3 of
the slats 10 at a time. As a set of the slats 10 is moving
forwardly, the other two slats 10 are stationary. The load L is
held by the area of the nonmoving slats 10 and the area of the
fixed slats 12. This procedure is repeated with the second set of
slat 10 and then again with the third set of slats 10. Then all of
the slats are again moved rearwardly in unison for conveying the
load an additional amount.
[0046] As best shown by FIG. 3, the baffle 78 diverts material that
is dropped into the conveyor down onto the rear portion of the plow
P, and onto the conveyor slats rearwardly of the plow P. FIG. 15
shows the plow P in a forward, "parked" position. It also shows the
load L sitting down on the conveyor slats 10, 12 and the portion of
the plow P that is rearwardly of the baffle 78. FIG. 16 shows the
load L and the plow P moved rearwardly from the position shown by
FIG. 15. FIG. 17 shows the load L and the plow P moved further
rearwardly. Of course, as the load L moves rearwardly, its rear
portion will drop off from the rear end of the conveyor.
Eventually, the plow P will reach the rear end of the conveyor and
will start to tip, as shown by FIG. 19. As the plow P moves further
rearwardly, after it has started to tip, the hook portion 116 of
the rear wall will contact a pair of stops S, one located at each
side of the plow P. Stops S may be members that project laterally
inwardly from the sidewalls 72, 74 of the trailer. See FIG. 9.
Eventually, the plow P will move into the position shown by FIG. 20
and will be restrained from any further rearward movement by
engagement by the hook region 116 and the stops S.
[0047] Preferably, a teather T extends forwardly from the plow P to
an opening in wall 80, and through the opening to a winch (not
shown) that may be mounted on or adjacent the front of the wall 80.
The winch is adapted to allow the teather T to pay-off from it as
the plow P moves rearwardly. Then, when the unloading operation is
completed and it is desired to move the plow P back into its parked
position, the winch is operated to pull on the teather T so that
the teather T will in turn pull on the plow P and move it from the
position shown by FIG. 20 back into the position shown by FIG. 15.
By that time, the latch hook 122 will drop back into the slot 120
for locking the plow P in its parked position (FIG. 3).
[0048] FIGS. 21-24 show a second embodiment of the invention
characterized by the cleaning plow P' being separated into forward
and rearward parts 150, 152 by a transverse hinge line 154 of any
suitable construction. In this embodiment, the rearward portion of
the cleaning plow P' includes fingers 156 which fit into the valley
regions of the conveyor, between the movable slats 10. As best
shown by FIG. 23, the forward portion 150 of the sweeping plow P'
has a real wall 158 that slopes downwardly and rearwardly from its
front end to its rear end where it intersects the hinge line 154.
The baffle 78' on the front wall 80 of the trailer overhangs the
forward portion of the wall 158 (FIG. 23). When material is dropped
into the trailer box, some of it will contact the baffle 78' and
slide down it onto the wall 158. Some of it will directly contact
the wall 158 and slide downwardly from it onto the rear portion 152
of the cleaning plow P'. Also, some of the material will drop
directly onto the rear portion 152 of the cleaning plow P'. The
bottom 160 of the forward portion 150 rests on the tops of the
conveyor slats 10. Also, the bottom of the rearward portion 152 of
the sweeping plow P' rests on the tops of the conveyor slats 10.
However, when the sweeping plow P' is moved to the rear end of the
conveyor, the rear portion 152 of the conveyor plow P' will pivot
in position around the hinge line 154, so that any material still
on the rear portion 152 will be dumped by it off from the end of
the conveyor.
[0049] FIG. 25 shows another modification in the form of a sweeping
plow P'' that is corrugated. It comprises peaks and valleys that
closely conform to the peaks and valleys of the conveyor. The lower
surface of a corrugated member may include bearings which contact
the conveyor slats and reduce the amount of friction between the
member and the conveyor slats. This embodiment preferably has
fingers at its rear end such as the fingers showed in the
embodiment that is described above in connection with FIGS. 1-20.
This embodiment may have a side and front end construction such as
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the main difference being that the member
90 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is corrugated.
[0050] The portions of the sweeping plows P'' that are contacted by
the material that is dropped into the trailer box is preferably
constructed from steel plate or a strong and tough aluminum alloy.
However, any suitable material may be used so long as it can take a
force of the material being dropped onto it.
[0051] The illustrated embodiments are only examples of the present
invention and, therefore, are non-limitive. It is be understood
that many changes in the particular structure, material and feature
of the invention made be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. Therefore, it is my intention that my
patent rights not be limited by the particular embodiments that are
illustrated and described herein, but rather are to be determined
by the following claims, interpreted according to accepted
doctrines of patent claim interpretation, including use doctrine of
equivalents and reversal of parts.
* * * * *