Tilt Truck Frame With Removable Tub

Abstract

A wheeled tiltable structural frame for a tub having components removably interfitting grooves in the tub for supporting the tub within the frame, and cooperating latch means on the bottoms of the frame and tub members comprising a bolt on one member and a cooperating latch on the other member for locking the tub member within the frame member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Certain prior wheeled hand trucks have had sheet metal container bodies for transporting and dumping materials, and for the sake of reducing weight and increasing maneuverability the container bodies sometimes have been molded of plastic material and bolted to a rugged metal frame supported on wheels.

However, it is frequently necessary or desirable to remove the tub from the frame and replace it with another tub, because of wear or damage to the tub, or because it may be expedient to store a loaded tub temporarily while using another tub in the frame. Where the tub is bolted to the frame, it becomes a laborious operation to remove and replace it. It has been proposed to provide a tub which will fit or drop within the frame but the tub must be attached to the frame so that it can be tilted for dumping without coming loose from the frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved frame and tub construction for a tilt truck which permits quick and easy removal and replacement of the tub.

Another object is to provide an improved frame and tub construction in which the tub can be dropped into and lifted out of the frame.

A further object is to provide an improved frame and tub construction having novel cooperative latch means on the frame and tub for removably locking the tub in the frame to permit dumping the contents of the tub without removal from the frame.

Another object is to provide an improved frame and tub construction in which the frame is forwardly tiltable and the tub is dumped by tilting the frame.

A still further object is to provide an improved frame and tub construction in which the tub is locked in the frame by novel latch means comprising a latch on the tub and a locking bolt on the frame removably engaging said latch.

These and other objects are accomplished by the improvements comprising the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, and described in detail herein. Various modifications and changes in details of construction are comprehended within the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the improved truck, showing the tub supported within the frame.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section on line 3--3 of FIG. 2, showing the tub partly elevated out of the frame.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the frame with the tub removed, on line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged bottom plan view on line 5--5 of FIG. 1, showing the latch bolt in locked position.

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing the latch bolt in unlocked position.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view on line 7--7 of Fig. 5.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view on line 8--8 of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The improved tub indicated generally at 10 may be molded of a suitable plastic material such as high density polyethylene. The top of the tub is generally rectangular with rounded corners as shown in FIG. 2, and a continuous downturned lip flange extends around the rim and includes side portions 11, a rear portion 12 and a front portion 13. Side walls 14 depend from the side portions of the rim, and the lower parts 14' of the side walls are preferably undercut or inwardly offset below inclined shoulders 15. The rear end wall 16 depending from rim portion 12 may be slightly inclined inwardly downward, as shown, and the front wall 17 depending from rim portion 13 is sharply inclined inwardly downward, preferably at an angle of about 38.degree. to the vertical. The lower side walls 14' and the rear and front end walls 16 and 17 curve into a horizontal bottom wall 18.

Extending continuously through the front end wall, bottom wall and rear end wall are two exterior parallel longitudinal grooves 20 spaced laterally and equidistant from the center line. These grooves are preferably rectangular in cross section and form complementary ribs 20' on the inner surface. A similar longitudinal groove 21 extends exteriorly along the center line and forms a complementary inner rib 21', except that groove 21 and rib 21' are discontinued in the central part of the bottom wall 18, for a purpose to be described.

The structural frame for the tub is indicated generally at 24 and comprises a continuous upper tubular rim component which is substantially rectangular in overall configuration with rounded corners, as shown in FIG. 4. The tubular rim is designed to fit under the lip flange of the tub, as shown in FIG. 1, and may be circular in cross section. Thus the tubular rim has side portions 11A fitting under lip flange portions 11, a rear portion 12A fitting under lip flange rear portion 12, and a front portion 13A fitting under lip flange front portion 13.

The frame 24 has two continuous tubular components 20A, preferably square in cross section, for fitting within the grooves 20. The components 20A are connected, as by welding, at their upper rear ends to a transverse reinforcing angle 25, which is in turn welded to rear upper portion 12A of the frame. The components 20A are similarly connected, as by welding, at their upper front ends to a transverse reinforcing angle 26, which is in turn welded to front upper portion 13A of the frame.

A transverse handle 27, having its curved ends welded to the rear upper portions of frame components 20A, is provided for moving and tilting the frame. The front upper portions 28A of the frame components 20A are inclined to fit the grooves 20 in the inclined front wall 17 of the tub, and the front lower portions 29A are preferably vertical so as to extend away from the front wall of the tub and merge with the lower curved portions 30A which provide fulcrums about which to tilt the tub and frame forwardly for dumping when the curved portions 30A rest upon the supporting surface S.

A transverse axle bar 31, preferably a square tube, is welded to the undersides of the bottom portions 32A of frame components 20A, and wheels 33 are journaled on the ends of said axles, under the inwardly offset shoulders 15 of the tub side walls and adjacent to the curved fulcrum portions 30A of the frame. Rearwardly of the axle bar 31 are two spaced-apart transverse tubular bars 35 and 36 having their ends welded to the undersides of the bottom frame components 32A, and a caster mounting plate 37 is bolted to the undersides of said bars 35 medially of the components 32A, a caster 38 being swiveled on said plate.

The center groove and rib 21 21'21' are interrupted at a point adjacent to the forward transverse bar 35, and a latch plate 40 is bolted to the underside of bottom wall 18 between said bar 35 and the adjacent end of groove 21 by bolts 41 (FIGS. 5 and 6). The latch plate 40 has a sleeve 42 secured on its underside for slidably receiving the inner end of a latch bolt 43. The latch bolt is slidably mounted in two spaced tubular lugs 44 and 45 welded to and projecting forwardly from the bar 35. The outer end of the bolt 43 has an angularly bent handle portion 46.

A helical spring 48 surrounds the bolt 43 between the lugs 44 and 45 and normally urges the bolt into latching engagement with sleeve 42, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the spring being compressed between lug 45 and a washer 49 on the bar. To unlatch the bolt, it is pulled out of the sleeve by grasping handle 46 and compressing the spring. A lock bar 50 is provided on the bolt near the handle so that when the bolt is pulled out of the sleeve, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, by rotating the bolt 90.degree. the inner end of the bar 50 will be made to abut the lug 45 and hold or lock the bolt in unlatched or released position.

To remove the tub 10 from the frame it is necessary only to release the bolt 43 and rotate the handle 90.degree. to lock the bolt in unlatched position, whereupon the tub may be lifted upwardly out of the frame. When the tub is replaced the handle is rotated 90.degree. to unlock the bolt, which snaps into latched position by action of the spring.

It will be seen that an improved and inexpensive frame and tub construction for a tilt truck has been provided which permits quick and easily removal and replacement of the tub by merely manipulating the novel latch means and requires no tools or special skill.

Claims

I claim:

1. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported therein, said frame having an upper rim and at least one component extending downwardly from the front and rear of said rim and having a connecting bottom portion, said tub having a rim flange carried on the rim of said frame and having depending front, rear and bottom walls supported on said frame component, and cooperative latch means on the bottom portion of said frame component and said tub bottom wall for locking said tub in said frame.

2. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported in the frame as defined in claim 1, said tub having grooves formed in its outer surface and said frame having components removably interfitting said grooves.

3. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported in the frame as defined in claim 1, in which the latch means comprises a bolt on one member and a cooperative latch on the other member.

4. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported in the frame, as defined in claim 2, in which the latch means comprises a bolt on one member and a cooperative latch on the other member.

5. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported in the frame, as defined in claim 1, in which a latch is mounted on said tub and a latch bolt normally slidably engaging said latch is movably mounted on said frame, spring means urging said bolt into engagement with said latch, and a lock bar on said bolt adapted to abut said frame to hold the bolt in disengaged position.

6. In combination, a structural frame and a tub removably supported in the frame, as defined in claim 2, in which a latch is mounted on said tub and a latch bolt normally slidably engaging said latch is movably mounted on said frame, spring means urging said bolt into engagement with said latch, and a lock bar on said bolt adapted to abut said frame to hold the bolt in disengaged position.