U.S. patent number 3,869,168 [Application Number 05/366,781] was granted by the patent office on 1975-03-04 for power gate and lift means.
Invention is credited to Donald L. Matheson.
United States Patent |
3,869,168 |
Matheson |
March 4, 1975 |
POWER GATE AND LIFT MEANS
Abstract
This invention relates to a power gate and lift means which is
mountable on a conventional truck bed and operable to provide (1) a
power gate means which is movable under hydraulic pressure from the
closed to opened condition in order to readily empty grain and the
like therefrom; and (2) a lift means mounted on the tail gate area
of the truck bed operable under hydraulic pressure to raise and
lower a lift member for loading and unloading various articles
thereon. More particularly, this invention relates to a power gate
means movable in an efficient manner from the locked to the
unlocked and elevated condition for speed in unloading and a power
lift means operable with various lift means in order to load drums,
cattle, sheep, and the like on the truck bed in a most efficient
and effective manner.
Inventors: |
Matheson; Donald L. (Alton,
KS) |
Family
ID: |
23444467 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/366,781 |
Filed: |
June 4, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
296/56;
414/545 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P
1/4421 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60P
1/44 (20060101); A01b 001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;214/75R,75T
;296/50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57R,57A,106 ;160/207 ;49/197,339,381,371
;298/23R,23M,23MD,23S,23A,23B,23C,23D,23F |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Spar; Robert J.
Assistant Examiner: Oresky; Lawrence J.
Claims
I claim:
1. A power gate and lift means mountable on a truck bed,
comprising:
a. a support means secured to said truck bed,
b. gate means pivotally connected to said support means to enclose
a rear area of said truck bed and movable from opened to closed
positions,
c. power means connected to said support means and said gate means
to raise and lower said gate means,
d. said gate means having a tail gate assembly pivotally connected
to actuator arms,
e. said actuator arms pivotally connected to said support means and
said power means,
f. said tail gate assembly having anchor pin members engagable with
said truck bed when in the closed position to prevent lateral
movement of said tail gate assembly, and
g. said actuator arms of a J-shape having a long leg extended in a
horizontal plane in the closed condition and a short leg extended
downwardly from said long leg whereby the connection of said short
leg to said tail gate assembly is located between the top and
bottom portions of said tail gate assembly, thereby preventing
rearward movement of said tail gate assembly in the closed
condition.
2. A power gate and lift means as described in claim 1,
wherein:
a. a lower section of said tail gate assembly is pivotal upwardly
relative to said connection to said short leg in the raised
condition to permit flow of material therethrough under gravity;
and
b. an upper portion of said tail gate assembly first contacts top
rearward portions of said truck bed on movement to the closed
condition to immediately pivot said tail gate assembly to the
closed condition.
3. A power gate and lift means as described in claim 1,
wherein:
a. said tail gate assembly having a main body with opposed, upright
inwardly extended edge sections to enclose the rear area of said
truck bed and prevent loss of material therefrom as serving a
sealing function with said truck bed.
4. A power gate and lift means as described in claim 3,
wherein:
a. said tail gate assembly having opposed roller members secured to
said edge sections; and
b. said roller members mounted in upright guide rails of said truck
bed for controlled vertical movement by said power means.
5. A power gate and lift means mountable on a truck bed,
comprising:
a. a support means secured to said truck bed,
b. gate means pivotally connected to said support means to enclose
a rear area of said truck bed and movable from opened to closed
positions,
c. power means connected to said support means and said gate means
to raise and lower and gate means,
d. said gate means having a tail gate assembly pivotally connected
to actuator arms,
e. said actuator arms pivotally connected to said support means and
said power means,
f. said tail gate assembly having anchor pin members engagable with
said truck bed when in closed position to prevent lateral movement
of said tail gate assembly,
g. said actuator arms of a J-shape having a long leg extended in a
horizontal plane in the closed condition and a short leg extended
downwardly from said long leg whereby the connection of said short
leg to said tail gate assembly prevents lateral movement of said
tail gate assembly in the closed condition,
h. said power means having a piston and cylinder assembly connected
to said support means and to said tail gate assembly,
i. a lower section of said tail gate assembly pivotal upwardly
relative to said connection to short leg in the raised condition to
permit flow of material therethrough under gravity, and
j. an upper portion of said tail gate assembly to first contact top
rearward portions of said truck bed on movement to the closed
condition to immediately pivot said tail gate assembly to the
closed condition.
Description
Numerous structures are known in the prior art but are not operable
in an efficient and effective manner to raise and lower under
hydraulic power means a gate structure for unloading grains with
the minimum amount of time and labor while the operator remains in
the cab area not requiring substantial physical labor in order to
release the tail gate structure. Additionally, the prior art
structures fail to teach the combination of a power gate means and
a lift means operable to raise under fluid power the gate portion
and additionally utilizing the same fluid power to raise and lower
a lift assembly for loading and unloading various items thereon
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a power gate and
lift means combination is operable to be mounted on a truck bed
assembly. The power gate and lift means includes a power gate means
and a lift means. The power gate means includes a main support
means; a gate means mounted on the support means; and a power means
operably connected to the gate means for operation thereof. The
lift means includes the support means operably connected to the
power means and a lift support means mounted on the main support
means. The main support means includes a conventional truck bed
assembly having a bed or support platform enclosed by an endwall,
upright sidewalls connected to the endwall and truck bed, and an
open tail gate area. The truck bed assembly is operably connected
to a piston and cylinder means for tilting to unload materials such
as grain and the like therefrom. The gate means is mounted across
the tail gate area of the truck bed assembly and includes a tail
gate assembly connected by a pair of actuator arms to the support
means. The tail gate assembly includes a plurality of upright
panels interconnected by angle iron supports having downwardly,
extended anchor lock pins movable within slots in the truck bed
holding against lateral movement when in the closed condition. Each
actuator arm includes a main body section integral with an arcuate
section. One end of the main body section is connected by a first
bearing member to an upper portion of an end support angle iron of
the truck bed assembly. The outer end of the arcuate section is
pivotally connected to an upper portion of the tail gate assembly
by a bearing member. The actuator arms are jointly pivotal about
the first bearing members to raise and lower the tail gate
assembly. The power means includes a piston and cylinder assembly;
a fluid supply means connected to the piston and cylinder assembly;
and a control member operable to selectively supply pressure fluid
to the piston and cylinder assembly. The piston and cylinder
assembly includes a main cylinder pivotally connected at one end to
a support plate and having a piston assembly mounted therein. The
piston assembly includes a main piston member having integral
therewith a piston rod having its outer end pivotally connected by
a yoke member to the actuator arms for movement thereof. The fluid
supply means includes a pair of fluid conduit lines connected to
opposite ends of the main cylinder so as to receive and discharge
fluid therethrough for the reciprocal movement of the piston rod
for raising and lowering the tail gate assembly. In another
embodiment of the power gate means, a tail gate assembly includes a
main body having upright, inwardly extending edges and roller
members at the lower edge mountable in channel members for raising
and lowering. The lift means includes four embodiments being (1) a
scoop lift assembly; (2) a pen lift assembly; (3) a lift gate
assembly; and (4) a storage lift assembly. The scoop lift assembly
includes a main support platform connected to the support means and
the power means so as to be raised and lowered with material
thereon for subsequent movement on and off the truck bed. The pen
lift assembly includes a main box-like pen structure having a
bottom wall, endwalls, and side gate structures. The pen lift
assembly is operably connected to the support means and can be
raised or lowered whereupon cattle can be placed thereon for moving
upwardly and subsequently loading on and off the truck bed. The
lift gate assembly provides a foldable lift gate which is connected
to the support means and the power means to receive material
thereupon for raising and lowering thereof. When in the raised
condition, the lift gate assembly can move to a folded condition to
also form a tail gate portion to maintain material, livestock
therein. The storage lift assembly includes a storage bin, support
assembly connected to the storage bin and connector means secured
to the support assembly. The storage bin has an open top and a
funnel shaped, discharge section to discharge material therein
through a gate member. The support assembly includes a base
assembly to elevate the storage bin. The connector means includes a
pair of opposed gusset plates, each having a roller member
engagable with the channel members for raising and lowering above
the truck bed assembly. The lift support means includes a pair of
support arms of generally square shape in transverse cross section
interconnected by a cross support member. The support arms are
slidably mounted within support angle irons of the truck bed to
achieve vertical support and are movable outwardly and rearwardly
of the truck bed assembly to provide necessary support for the pen
lift assembly or the others during transport. Additionally, lock
pin structures are mounted on the truck bed assembly so as to be
engagable with the various ones of the lift means for anchoring in
the raised or lowered conditions as desired.
One object of this invention is to provide a power gate means
operably connected to a truck bed assembly as a tail gate assembly
including a gate means to enclose the tail gate area; and a power
means to raise and lower the gate means without any physical effort
from a remote location.
Another object of this invention is to provide a power gate means
having a tail gate assembly connected by actuator arms to a truck
bed assembly and operably connected to a power means, such power
means operably, under one condition, to automatically raise the
tail gate assembly and, in a second condition, to automatically
close and lock the tail gate against lateral movement.
One other object of this invention is to provide a lift means which
is readily attachable to the rear gate portion of a truck bed
assembly and operably connected to a power means so as to be raised
and lowered from contact of a support surface to the elevated
condition for loading material on and off the truck bed
assembly.
One further object of this invention is to provide a lift means
having a pen lift assembly operably connected to the rear portion
of a truck bed assembly having a means thereon to receive livestock
and hold the same in an enclosed condition while raising and
lowering and operable to load and unload the livestock on the truck
structure not requiring ramp structures or other such features.
One other object of this invention is to provide a storage lift
assembly to receive granular material therein for storage and
having means for connection to the rear portion of a truck bed
assembly for elevating and subsequent unloading of the material
into the truck bed assembly.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a power lift
means which is operably connected to a truck bed assembly to
provide a lift gate assembly which can be raised and lowered for
loading livestock, materials and the like on the truck bed
structure and movable to a folded condition to provide a tail gate
closure to maintain the items therein thereby selectively acting as
(1) a lift structure; and (2) a gate structure.
Still, one further object of this invention is to provide a power
gate and lift means which is (1) readily installed on existing
truck bed assemblies; (2) connectable to fluid power sources found
on most truck or tractor structures; (3) simple to operate; (4) a
time and labor saving convenience; and (5) substantially
maintenance free.
Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention
will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following
discussion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a support truck
having a power gate means of this invention attached thereto;
FIG. 2 is an end elevational view of the support truck member with
the power gate means as shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 having the power gate and lift
structure of this invention attached thereto;
FIGS. 4 and 5 are fragmentary side elevational views illustrating
the operation of the power gate means of this invention moving from
the closed to the opened condition;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a pen lift assembly of a lift means
of this invention;
FIGS. 7 and 8 are fragmentary side elevational views of a lift gate
assembly of the lift means of this invention;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a second
embodiment of the power gate means of this invention;
FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the second embodiment of the
power gate means of this invention;
FIG. 11 is an enlarged view similar to FIG. 9 showing the operation
of the second embodiment of the power gate means of this
invention;
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a storage lift assembly of the
lift means of this invention; and
FIG. 13 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the support truck
member with the storage lift assembly of this invention.
The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific
embodiments of the new power gate and lift means of this invention,
such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same
reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts
and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and
description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, a power gate and
lift means, indicated generally at 12, is mounted on the rear
portion of a semi-trailer type truck vehicle 14. The truck vehicle
14 can be of a conventional nature including a cab area (not shown)
with an open bed to retain grain, cattle, or the like. This
invention pertains to the power gate and lift means 12 which can be
mounted on a rear portion 15 to provide a new and novel power gate
structure and power lift structure for loading and unloading
materials therefrom.
More particularly, the power gate and lift means 12 includes a
power gate means 16 and a lift means 18 which can be used
separately or in combination.
The power gate means 16 of FIG. 1 includes a first support means 20
mounted on the rear portion 15; a gate means 22 operably connected
to the support means 20 operable to open and close the rear portion
15 thereof; a power means 24 connected to the gate means 22 for
operation thereof. The lift means 18 may be attached to the power
means 24 and support means 20 for loading and unloading materials
thereon and includes a lift support means 26 connected to the truck
bed for supporting the lift means 18.
The support means 20 includes a truck bed assembly 28 having truck
bed or platform 30 connected to vertical sidewalls 32 and a forward
endwall 34. The rear portion 15 of the truck bed assembly 28 is to
be covered by the power gate means 16 of this invention. In the cab
area (not shown) is a control means whereupon the entire truck bed
or platform 30 can be elevated and titled so as to remove under
gravity materials contained therein such as grain and the like.
The gate means 22 includes a tail gate assembly 35 interconnected
by actuator arms 37 and 38 to the support means 20. The tail gate
assembly 35 includes a plurality of namely three panel members 39
interconnected about its peripheral and strengthened centrally by
anchor irom members 41 and having a plurality of outwardly extended
anchor lock pin members 43. It is seen that the main panel members
39 provide the rearward gate structure to retain materials within
the truck bed assembly 28. The spaced lock pin members 43 are
operable to be placed within anchor slots 45 in the truck bed or
platform 30 when moved to the closed condition to prevent lateral
movement.
The pair of actuator arms 37 and 38 are substantially identical,
each having a main body section 46 integral with an outer arcuate
section 48. The actuator arms 37, 38 are of a generally J-shape
having the main body section 46 in a horizontal position in the
closed condition requiring a minimum of vertical movement from the
closed to the opened condition. The inner end of the main body
sections 46 are connected to opposed support channels 49 by first
bearing members 51 and having the outer respective ends of the
arcuate sections 48 pivotally connected by second bearing members
53 to the tail gate assembly 35.
The power means 24 includes a piston and cylinder assembly 54
provided with power through a fluid supply means 56 having the
remote control means for operation thereof. The piston and cylinder
assembly 54 includes a main cylinder member 57 pivotally connected
at one end to support plates 59 secured to opposite upright support
channels 49 of the truck bed assembly 28. The piston and cylinder
assembly 54 further includes a piston member mounted within the
cylinder member 57 having a piston rod 61 connected to a yoke
member 63 which is operably connected to the arcuate sections 48 of
the actuator arms 37, 38 for movement about the pivot point of the
first bearing member 51. The fluid supply means 56 is a
conventional hydraulic motor or power take off fluid supply from
the truck bed assembly 28 operable through conduit lines 64 and 66
in a generally conventional manner to extend and retract the piston
rod 61.
In another embodiment of the power gate means 16 as shown in FIGS.
9, 10, and 11, a tail gate assembly 65 is interconnected by
actuator arms 37 and 38 to the support means 20. The tail gate
assembly 65 includes a main body 69 having integral, inwardly
extended upright edges 71 which, in turn, support connector plates
73 and roller members 75. The main body 69 is provided with pen
members 43 mountable within the anchor slots 45 in the truck bed
30. The connector plates 73 are mounted on opposite sides and
connectable to the actuator arms 37 and 38. The roller members 75
are secured to the lower portion of the upright edges 71 and
extended inwardly therefrom mountable in upright channel members 77
of the truck bed assembly 28 for vertical movement.
In the use and operation of the power gate means 16, as shown in
FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the gate means 22 is in a normally closed
condition as such that the anchor lock pin members 43 are mounted
within the bed or connector slots 45 to hold the same against
rearward, lateral movement. On energization of the power means 24,
it is obvious that fluid pressure in the conduit line 64 extends
the piston rod 61 so as to move the gate means 22 through the
connection to the actuator arms 37, 38 in an arcuate path as shown
by the arrow 67 in FIG. 5. This operates to automatically unlock
the anchor lock pin members 43 from the connector slots 45 to move
the gate means 22 to the elevated position of FIG. 1 as shown in
dotted lines. The outer ends of the arcuate sections 48 of the
actuator arms 37, 38 are pivotally connected so that the tail gate
assembly 35 is pivotal in an outward direction so as to allow for
the rapid movement of grain and the like therefrom during unloading
operations.
On moving the power gate means 16 to the closed condition, it is
obvious that the fluid supply means 56 is actuated operable to
retract the piston rod 61 within the cylinder member 57 to move to
the closed condition as shown in solid lines in FIG. 1. As shown in
FIG. 5, on movement to the closed condition as shown by an arrow
67A, the tail gate assembly 35 first contacts corners 74 to pivot
same about the bearing members 53 to immediately and forcefully
close the tail gate assembly 35. The anchor lock pin members 43
move into the connector slots 45 to prevent lateral movement of the
gate means 22 which is held rigid by the anchor pin members 43 and
the positioning of the actuator arms 37, 38.
In the use and operation of the power gate means 16 with the tail
gate assembly 65 of FIGS. 9, 10, and 11, the roller members 75 are
mounted in the channel members 77 and the upright edges 71 form a
seal for maintaining grain and the like therein. The power means 24
is operable as above to raise and lower the tail gate assembly 65
as shown in FIG. 11.
In respective FIGS. 3, 6, 7, and 12 are shown the lift means 18 of
this invention including four embodiments thereof being (1) a scoop
lift assembly 68; (2) a pen lift assembly 70; (3) a lift gate
assembly 72; and (4) a storage lift assembly 73. The scoop lift
assembly 68 is shown as having upright, parallel spaced support
channels 74 having bearing members 76 thereon and secured at a
power portion to a support platform 78. The bearing members 76 are
adapted to be placed within U-shaped outer support channels or
guide rails 80 on the truck bed assembly 28 for movement in a
vertical direction. The support platform 78 includes a bottom wall
81 having outer ends enclosed by triangular sidewalls 83 to provide
the necessary support. An upper portion of the support channels 74
are provided with a laterally extended detent section 85 which can
be connected through a chain or bar member 86 to the actuator arms
37, 38 of the gate means 22 for raising and lowering through the
power means 24. The support platform 78 could be provided with a
back wall if desired or left open so that barrels could be readily
loaded thereon and moved on and off the truck bed assembly 28. When
in the raised condition without the back wall, the scoop lift
assembly 68 and the power gate means 16 can be used in combination
as will be explained.
As shown in FIG. 6, the pen lift assembly 70 is provided with the
upright support channels 74 having the bearing members 76 thereon
and secured to a support pen assembly 87. The bearing members 76
are mountable within the guide rails 80 on the truck bed assembly
28. The support pen assembly 87 is provided with a bottom wall 89
integral with upright endwalls 91 and having sidewall gate
assemblies 92 and 93 connected thereto. The sidewall gate
assemblies 92 and 93 are substantially identical, each having a
pair of gate members 95 pivotally connected on adjacent ends to
respective endwalls 91 and a latch assembly 97 connecting adjacent
gate members 95. The latch assembly 97 is provided with an anchor
housing 98 having a latch bar 99 movable horizontally from the
latched to the unlatched condition for anchoring purposes.
The lift gate assembly 72, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, is similar to
the scoop lift assembly 68 including upright support channels 74
with the bearing members 76 and having a foldable support scoop 101
on the lower portion thereof. The bearing members 76 are similarly
mountable within the guide rails 80 of the truck bed assembly 28
for vertical movement. The Support scoop 101 is provided with a
rectangular bottom floor 103 pivotally connected on one side to the
lower ends of the support channels 74. The opposite sides of the
support scoop 101 are connected to linkage members 105 which, in
turn, are connected to upper portions of the support channels 74.
The linkage members 105 include first and second pivotally
connected arm members 108 and 109 which are pivotally connected to
outer respective ends to the support channels 74 and the bottom
floor 103. As shown in FIG. 8, the lift gate assembly 72 would be
moved to the upper raised condition and, with the lower support
scoop 101 folded upwardly, it operates as a gate structure and a
latch pin 110 may be used to secure in the raised condition.
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the storage lift assembly 73 includes
a storage bin 115; a support assembly 117 connected to the storage
bin 115; and connector means 118 secured to the support assembly
117. The storage bin 115 includes four upright interconnected
sidewalls 120 integral with a funnel shaped discharge section 122.
The upright corners and upper edges of the sidewalls 120 are
secured to angle iron members 123 for rigidity. The upper edges of
the sidewalls 120 define an entrance opening 125 to receive
material therein.
The discharge section 122 has a front wall 126; inclined sidewall
members 128; and an inclined back wall 130 leading to a discharge
gate 132. An opening (not shown) is provided in the front wall 126
which is opened or closed by the discharge gate 132.
The support assembly 117 includes upright support legs or posts 134
interconnected by support members 136 at upper and lower ends
thereof. The upper ends of the support legs 134 are secured to the
lower ends of the corner angle iron members 123 to maintain the
storage bin 115 in an elevated condition for reasons to be
explained.
The connector means 118 includes on opposed forward ones of the
support legs 134 a respective gusset plate 139 having a roller
member 141 connected thereto. The gusset plates 139 maybe pivotally
connected to the respective support leg 134 for movement about an
upright axis in a direction shown by arrow 143. A lock pin may be
used to secure the connector means 118 in the position of FIG. 12
when mounted in the guide rails 80 on the truck bed assembly
28.
The lift support means 26 can be utilized in three embodiments of
the lift means 18 and includes a pair of channel support arms 112
interconnected by cross supports 114. The lift support means 26 can
be moved from the retracted position of FIG. 1 under the truck bed
assembly 28 to the extended position as shown in FIG. 8. The
support arms 112 are movable under the various ones of the lift
means 18 when in the conveyance condition so as to support any
weight thereon.
In the use of the lift means 18 of this invention, the scoop lift
assembly 68 is readily attached to the U-shaped channels 80 of the
truck bed assembly 28 and interconnected by the chain or bar member
86 at the detent portion 85 to the actuator arms 37, 38. It is
obvious that, in the lowered condition as shown in solid lines in
FIG. 3, barrels or other heavy materials could be placed thereon to
be moved by the power means 24 to the raised condition for transfer
to the truck bed assembly 28. Also, it is obvious that the scoop
lift assembly 68 can be conveyed as shown in solid lines in FIG. 3
for transporting purposes and the power gate means 16 placed in the
closed condition.
The pen lift assembly 70, as shown in FIG. 6, can be attached by
the bearing members 76 to the guide rails 80 of the truck bed
assembly 28. The pen lift assembly 70 is operable to receive
livestock therewithin through the sidewall gate assemblies 92, 93.
On raising to the upper condition, the inner sidewall gate assembly
93 can be opened to transfer the livestock to the truck bed
assembly 28. Additionally, it is noted that the pen lift assembly
70 can be anchored by the lock pins 110 in the upper condition and
the lift support means 26 can be moved outwardly to provide the
necessary support. In this condition, sick animals that must be
separated from healthy ones can be carried in the pen lift assembly
70 without mixing thereof. It is seen that the pen lift assembly 70
is readily usable in the field whereupon an animal can be raised
and lowered into the truck bed assembly 28 not requiring specially
designed loading ramps and the like.
The lift gate assembly 72 is shown in the loading condition in FIG.
7 and the raised condition in FIG. 8. The lower support scoop 101
can be folded to serve as a tail gate structure. It is obvious that
the platform or support scoop 101 can be substantially longer than
that shown in FIG. 7 to serve as a gate structure in the folded
condition of FIG. 8 to keep animals therewithin. Of course, on
locking of the lift gate assembly 72 as shown in FIG. 8, the
actuator arms 37, 38 can be disconnected and moved to the lowered
position until further need thereof.
As shown in FIG. 13, the storage lift assembly 73 is connected by
the roller members 141 to the guide rails 80 on the truck bed
assembly 28. The power means 24 is operable to elevate the storage
lift assembly 73 and discharge grain thereupon on opening of the
discharge gate 132 into the truck bed assembly 28.
It is noted that the pen lift gate of FIG. 6 can be completely
enclosed for the purpose of loading grain.
It is seen that the power gate and lift means of this invention
provides a new and novel gate means which can be attached to
conventional truck bed structures and operable through hydraulic
power means to raise and lower the gate means from a remote
location not requiring manual labor to lock and unlock the same. It
is seen that the power gate means in combination with tilting of
the bed structure provides rapid unloading thereof.
It is seen that the four embodiments of the lift means of this
invention provides a structure that can be readily attached to the
support means of this invention, being the truck bed assembly, and
utilizing the power means of the power gate means to raise and
lower support platforms for loading animals, barrels, feed, and
other items with a minmum amount of physical effort being
required.
The storage lift assembly provides an extra storage facility in the
fields to store grain cut by a combine to increase efficiency of
the cutting and transporting operations. The storage lift assembly
is readily operable to transfer grain therein to a truck bed for
conveyance to the storage elevators.
It is seen that the power gate and lift means of this invention
provides a structure that is economical to manufacture
substantially maintenance free, easy to utilize as a gate and/or
lift structure, and safe in operation.
While the invention has been described in conjunction with
preferred specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that
this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the
scope of the invention, which is defined by the following
claims.
* * * * *