AU2014101583A4 - Bulk material handling - Google Patents

Abstract

A module 1 mountable to a vehicle. The vehicle has mounting points with which mounting points of a conventional shipping container are co-operable to mount the container to the vehicle. The module includes mounting structure 20, a bin 10 and a 5 tipping mechanism 30. The mounting structure includes mounting points 24 co operable with the mounting points of the vehicle to mount the module. The bin is for carrying bulk material. The tipping mechanism is for tipping the bin to unload the bulk material. When the module is mounted to the vehicle the tipping mechanism is capable of tipping to either side of the vehicle such that a user may select to which 10 side of the vehicle bulk material carried in the bin is unloaded.

Description

BULK MATERIAL HANDLING

FIELD

The invention relates to handling bulk material. “Bulk material” takes in loose particulate matter such as ores, coal, cereals, wood chips, sand and gravel, etc.

BACKGROUND A “side tipper” is a vehicle for handling bulk material. Existing side tippers take the form of a trailer including an elongate bin for carrying the bulk material. The bin is upwardly open (in its transport position) and mounted to pivot about a lengthwise axis to tip the bulk material to one side of the vehicle.

The present inventor has recognised deficiencies in existing side tippers. Sometimes a turning maneuver is required to align the one side of the side tipper with the desired unloading point. This may lead to kilometres of additional driving to reach a point at which the vehicle may be safely turned. Existing side tippers are sometimes not fully utilised. The present inventor has recognised that it would be desirable to enable another vehicle to operate as a side tipper when required.

It is not admitted that any of the information in this patent specification is common general knowledge, or that the person skilled in the art could be reasonably expected to ascertain or understand it, regard it as relevant or combine it in any way at the priority date.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the invention provides a module mountable to a vehicle; the vehicle having mounting points with which mounting points of a conventional shipping container are co-operable to mount the container to the vehicle; the module including mounting structure including mounting points co-operable with the mounting points of the vehicle to mount the module; a bin for carrying bulk material; and a tipping mechanism for tipping the bin to unload the bulk material; wherein when the module is mounted to the vehicle the tipping mechanism is capable of tipping to either side of the vehicle such that a user may select to which side of the vehicle bulk material carried in the bin is unloaded.

Preferably the tipping mechanism includes a respective at least one restraint associated with each side of the bin; the restraints are each releasably engageable to, when engaged, downwardly restrain a portion of the bin; and the selecting the side of the vehicle includes engaging the restraint(s) on only one side of the vehicle.

Each of the restraints may include a portion, of the mounting structure, movable to overlie a respective portion of the bin.

In preferred forms of the module, each of the respective portions of the bin is a horizontal projection; and each portion movable to overlie is a portion of loop dimensioned to encircle its respective one of the horizontal projections.

The restraints may include extendable actuators actuatable to engage the restraints.

The actuators may be fluid operated rams. By way of example, the rams may be pneumatic, in which case preferably the vehicle includes at least one of a pressure source for driving one or more pneumatic actuators; and a vacuum source for driving one or more pneumatic actuators; and the module includes plumbing for connecting the rams to, to be driven by, at least one of the at least one of the pressure source and the vacuum source.

The mounting structure preferably includes separate mounting structural portions at or adjacent each end of the bin, in which case it is preferred that at least some of the restraints are arranged to, when engaged, connect the mounting structural portions at or adjacent each end of the bin to the bin to be lifted with the bin when the bin is removed from the vehicle.

Optionally the module may include at least one further separate mounting structural portion between the separate mounting structural portions at or adjacent each end of the bin.

The tipping mechanism preferably includes feature(s) of the bin and feature(s) of the mounting structure co-operable to define a respective pivot axis along each side of the vehicle and about which the bin pivots when tipping.

Advantageously the feature(s) co-operable of one of the bin and the mounting structure may be vertically open to release the feature(s) co-operable of the other of the bin and the mounting structure. Preferably the mounting structure includes the vertically open feature(s).

The tipping mechanism preferably includes at least one extendable actuator arranged to apply force to the bin at a respective point in substance equidistant from each side of the bin, to lift the bin. Preferably at least one of the extendable actuator(s) arranged to apply force to the bin is at an end of the bin, in which case it is preferred that the bin has side edges over which the which the bulk material is tipped; and the respective points, at which the at least one of the extendable actuator(s) apply force to the bin, are in substance not lower than the side edges.

Optionally the extendable actuator(s) arranged to apply force to the bin are arranged to apply force to the mounting structure.

Preferably the extendable actuator(s) arranged to apply force to the bin are fluid operated rams, e.g. hydraulic rams.

The module may include one or more further mounting features, e.g. clamps, for engaging the vehicle.

The module preferably includes a covering arrangement openable for loading and unloading the bin and closeable to cover the bin. A preferred form of the covering arrangement is, when open, retracted beyond at least one end wall of the bin to avoid interfering with the bulk material falling from the bin during unloading.

Preferably the cover includes at least one length-adjustable portion expandable, from a short configuration to a long configuration in which the at least one length-adjustable portion covers the bin, to close the covering arrangement.

Optionally the vehicle is a trailer.

Another aspect of the invention provides the module and the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a module;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a corner of the module;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of another corner of the module;

Figure 4 is a schematic rear view of the module in its tipped position;

Figure 5 is a close up perspective view of a corner casting in situ;

Figure 6 is a side view of a vehicle; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the rear of the vehicle of Figure 6.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The figures illustrate an exemplary module 1. Of course, other examples of the invention are contemplated.

Module 1 includes a bin 10, mounting structure 20, a tipping mechanism 30 and a restraint system 40.

The bin 10 is predominantly formed of plate steel and takes the form of an elongate, upwardly open trough. The bin includes a symmetric pair of planar side walls 11 a upwardly diverging from a planar horizontal base 11 b. The bin is capped at its ends by vertical planar end walls 11c, 11 d. The upper extent of each side wall 11 a defines a long horizontal side edge 11 e.

The mounting structure 20 is formed in three parts, 21, 22, 23. The parts 21, 22, 23 are separate, as in not rigidly connected to each other. In this example of the module 1, the parts 21, 22, 23 take the form of steel weldments.

Each part 21, 22, 23 includes mounting points, in the form of corner castings 24, cooperate with mounting points, of a vehicle, in the form of twist locks arrayed to receive a conventional shipping container. “Conventional shipping container” as used herein refers to a container conforming to a recognised standard defining its mounting points. Such containers are sometimes referred to as intermodal freight containers. Accordingly, the corner castings 24 allow the module 1 to be fitted to a range of conventional vehicles configured to carry conventional shipping containers. By way of example, the module 1 may be fitted to a skeleton trailer.

Each of parts 21, 23 is mounted at a respective end of the bin 10 and carries a pair of the corner castings 24. One corner casting 24 of each pair lies at each corner of the module 1. The part 22 is equispaced from the ends of the bin and is between the parts 21, 23. Part 22 includes a square array of four corner castings 24. Figure 5 is a close up view of one of the corner castings 24 and also shows a further mounting feature, in the form of clamp 26, and a portion of an underlying skeleton trailer.

As illustrated a handle by which the twist lock of the trailer is operable is carried within a cavity and the clamp 26 is configured to clamp on to a web of material defining the ceiling of the cavity. The clamp 26 is welded on to a vertical face of the chassis part 21 and includes a horizontal floor the lower face of which is in coplanar alignment with the lower face of the corner casting 24. The floor is supported by a pair of vertical triangular reinforcing webs. The clamp 26 further includes a tongue 26b in the form of a horizontal plate shaped to project into the cavity so as to underlie the cavity’s ceiling. A pair of vertical nut and bolt assemblies 26c are spaced across and vertically skewer the parts 26a, 26b such that by tightening the nut and bolt assemblies 26c the ceiling of the cavity is clamped between parts 26a, 26b.

In this example of the clamp 26, the tongue 26b has a stop, of equivalent thickness to the ceiling, positioned outside the cavity. The stop abuts the bracket 26a when the nut and bolt assembles 26c are tightened to suitably space and align the parts 26a, 26b. In this example the major plate of the part 26b stays parallel to the floor of the bracket 26a.

The clamps 26 serve to prevent the mounting structure 20 moving relative to the underlying vehicle. The present inventor has recognized that conventional twist locks, whilst very effective at retaining a container, do have some vertical free play. When carrying a conventional container this free play is of little consequence since the container simply sits motionless under its own weight. The incorporation of a tipping mechanism leads to the possibility of the module 1 rocking within the motion permitted by the free play of the twist locks. The clamps address this problem.

The tipping mechanism 30 includes a hydraulic ram 31 and co-operable features 32, 33. Co-operable feature 32 takes the form of a short cylindrical pin 32. The pins 32 are part of the bin 10. Each pin 32 runs between, and is connected to one of the walls 11a by, a respective pair of spaced vertical plates.

In this example there are six pins 32, three of which are spaced along each side of the bin 1 so as to respectively overlie the parts 21,22, 23. The pins 32 on each side of the bin 1 are coaxially aligned to define a respective pivot axis A on each side of the bin. In this example, the pivot axes A are horizontal and parallel to the length of the bin.

Co-operable features 33 take the form of upwardly open half-cylindrical cradles, complementary to the pins 32, and are parts of the mounting structure 20. Each part 21, 22, 23 defines a respective pair of the cradles 33.

The restraint mechanism 40 includes a respective pair of restraints 41 carried by each of the end mounting parts 21, 23. Each restraint 41 includes a pneumatic cylinder 42 (i.e. ram) arranged to horizontally drive a slider 43 in a direction parallel to the length of the module 1. The cylinder 42 is an example of an extendable actuator. Its plunger portion extends and retracts to act on the slider 43. Other forms of extendable actuator, such as a rack and pinion, are contemplated.

Each slider 3 includes a prismic body section 43a, which in this example takes the form of square-profiled rectangular hollow section, received within a complementary guide 44 of the mounting structure 20. The guide 44 serves to constrain the sliding movement of the slider 43 and in this example takes the form of a square-profiled rectangular hollow section dimensioned to internally receive the body 43a. A suitable lubricant allows the slider 43 to slide within the guide 44.

The slider 43 further includes a vertical plate 43b carried at one end of the body 43a.

The plate 43b has a circular aperture dimensioned to receive a short cylindrical extension 45 of the pin 32. The plate 43b thus defines a loop. By actuating the cylinder 42, the slider 43 is selectively movable to selectively engage the extension 45 such that a portion of its loop overlies the extension 45 so as to downwardly restrain the extension 45 (and the bin 10 to which it is attached).

The restraints 41 thus serve to, when engaged, retain the pins 32 in their respective cradles 33.

In this example the restraints 41 each further include a respective hand release 46. This exemplary hand release takes the form of a lever 46a. Lever 46a is an elongate body of horizontal plate material including a hand-manipulable portion 46b at one end and an operative portion 46c at its other end. The ends 46b, 46c are separated by a vertical nut and bolt assembly 46d skewering the lever 46a and pivotally connecting it to the mounting structure 20.

The operative portion 46c is connected to, to operate, the slider 43. In this example, this operative connection is formed by a hook-like extension 43c of the slider 43 received within an arcuate slot of the operative portion 46c.

The hand release 46 allows a user to release the restraints 41 by manipulating the portions 46b if the pneumatic system (including the cylinders 42) fails.

The ram 31 is a hydraulic cylinder acting between the mounting structure 20 and the bin 10. In this example the ram 31 is pivotally connected to the mounting structure 20 at its lower end and to the bin 10 at its upper end.

Figures 1 to 3 show the module in its transport configuration in which the bin 10 is upwardly open to carry bulk material. In this configuration the ram 31 is vertical and centrally mounted between the two sides of the module 1.

Figure 4 schematically illustrates the module 1 in its tipped configuration.

The module 1 is configured to allow its user to select to which side the load should be tipped. Figure 4 illustrates an example in which the left-hand side has been selected. To make the selection, whilst the module 1 is in its transport configuration, a user engages the restraints 41 on the left-hand side to downwardly restrain that side of the bin 10. Meanwhile the restraints on the right-hand side of the module 1 are disengaged so that on the right-hand side the pins 32 may be lifted from the cradles 33. The cradles 33, being upwardly open, are configured to release the pins 32. Of course it is also possible that, instead of features 32, 33, the bin 10 might carry downwardly-open features for overlying features of the mounting structure 20.

Once the unloading side has been selected, the ram 31 is actuated by supplying it with pressurised hydraulic fluid such that it extends to lift the bin 10. The co-operable features 32, 33, and restraints 41, on the left-hand side of the module 1 co-operate to ensure the bin 10 pivots about the left-hand pivot axis A. Movement from the transport configuration to the tipped configuration causes the carried bulk material to fall from the bin 1. As the material leaves the bin 1, it passes over a side edge 11 e of the bin.

The bin 10 includes an upward extension 11 f of the end wall 11 d. The ram 31 is connected to this extension 11f at a connection point 11 g at a location above the side edges 11 e. This extends the space available for the ram 31 when the module is in its transport configuration and so reduces the constraints on the strength and stroke length requirements of the ram 31.

The restraints 41 serve the secondary purpose of coupling the mounting parts 21, 23 to the bin 10 to move therewith when the module 1 is lifted from the vehicle to which it is mounted. Preferably the central mounting part 22 is provided with a further restraint mechanism so that it may be coupled to the bin.

To demount the module 1 from the vehicle, the restraints and the further restraints are engaged and the twist locks disengaged. Then with the aid of a crane the module 1 may be lifted as a single unit from the vehicle, stored as a single unit, and remounted as a single unit when required.

The module 1 may include pressure (and/or vacuum sources) for driving the actuators 31, 42 although most preferably the cylinders 42 are configured to be driven by the vacuum supply of the vehicle and the module 1 includes plumbing (e.g. conduit and control valves, etc) for this purpose. A chain 25 runs along the side of the three part chassis 20 and depends from its parts 21, 22, 23. One end of the chain is tensioned by a suitable tensioning spring arrangement 25a. The chain is a form of mechanical support for the plumbing. In particular hydraulic hoses running along the module 1 are tied off at intervals to the chain 25 so that they are safely held free and clear of the underlying vehicle to remain with the module 1 when it is lifted from the vehicle.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate a vehicle carrying a variant of the module 1. The module 1 is fitted with, to include, a covering arrangement 50. The arrangement 50 includes fabric 51, ribs 52, guides 53 and a drive system 54 and serves to prevent the bulk material (and/or dust therefrom) blowing away in transit.

The fabric 51 is a sheet of suitably pliable material, canvas in this example, dimensioned to fully overlie the bin 10 and to closely fit with its side and end walls.

The ribs 52 sit under and are attached to the fabric 51. The ribs are rigid members extending across the trailer and are spaced along the length of the trailer. The ribs 52 are shaped such that their central portions are higher than their end points to accommodate mounding of the carried bulk material above the side edges of the bin 10.

Each end of each rib 52 carries a respective guide 53 excepting the forwardmost rib which carries guides 53a. The guides 53, 53a are mounted to slide along the side edges of the bin 10 such that the ribs 52, and the fabric 51 carried thereby, can be slid along the length of the bin 10 to adjust the length of the covering arrangement 50.

The drive system 54 includes a respective loop of cable 54a running along each side of the bin 10. Each loop of cable 54a runs about an idler wheel 54b at the front of the bin 10 and a drive wheel 54c at the rear of the bin 10 to define an upper run, and a lower run, of cable. The upper and lower runs are horizontal and closely vertically spaced from each other. The upper and lower runs of each loop of cable 54a slide through suitable apertures formed in the guides 53 with the exception of the forwardmost guide 53a on each side of the trailer. The guides 53a are fixed to the upper horizontal runs of the loops of cable 54a.

At the rear of the module 1, the drive 54 further includes an electric motor 54d. The motor 54d drives a gearbox which in turn drives a chain to rotate an axle skewering both of the drive wheels 54c whereby the motor 54d is actuatable to cause the cable 54a to rotate about the wheels 54b, 54c. By so rotating the cables 54a, the upper horizontal runs of cable and in turn the fixed guides 53a may be rearwardly driven to retract the cover to the rear of the trailer. Then by reversing the motor 54d the cover can be expanded to its deployed, covering configuration.

During retraction the cover is contracted to a fraction of its length in its deployed configuration.

As is most evident in Figure 7, the bin 11 includes a short rearward extension 11 h that extends rearwardly beyond its rearward wall 11 d. In its open configuration, the cover 50 is retracted and contracted rearwardly beyond the wall 11d so as to overlie the extension 11 h. Accordingly the cover fully clears the bin so as not to interfere with or be damaged by the loading and unloading of material.

In the described variant, the fabric 51 and ribs 52 together constitute a single contractable portion, which portion is retracted to the rearward end of the trailer to open the bin. Of course, other variants are possible. By way of example, a symmetric pair of similar contractable portions may be arranged to simultaneously retract beyond the forward wall and the rearward wall.

The module preferably has an associated control system for controlling the actuators 31, 42 and drive 54. The associated control system preferably includes an electronic interface mounted within the vehicle and by which a user may control the covering/uncovering tipping operations from the vehicle. The control system may take various forms and may include various components distributed between the vehicle (or a prime mover couplable to the vehicle) and the module. By way of example, a user interface carried within a cabin of a prime mover might wirelessly communicate with a control valve of a trailer to supply vacuum to a cylinder 42 of a module 1 carried by the trailer. For the avoidance of doubt, a trailer is a vehicle, and a trailer and a prime mover to which the trailer is coupled are together another form of vehicle as these terms are used herein. In the module 1 the control arrangements preferably include hydraulic spool valve(s) located on the module.

Of course, many other implementations of the invention are possible. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims.

Claims (27)

1. A module mountable to a vehicle; the vehicle having mounting points with which mounting points of a conventional shipping container are co-operable to mount the container to the vehicle; the module including mounting structure including mounting points co-operable with the mounting points of the vehicle to mount the module; a bin for carrying bulk material; and a tipping mechanism for tipping the bin to unload the bulk material; wherein when the module is mounted to the vehicle the tipping mechanism is capable of tipping to either side of the vehicle such that a user may select to which side of the vehicle bulk material carried in the bin is unloaded.

2. The module of claim 1 wherein the tipping mechanism includes a respective at least one restraint associated with each side of the bin; the restraints are each releasably engageable to, when engaged, downwardly restrain a portion of the bin; and the selecting the side of the vehicle includes engaging the restraint(s) on only one side of the vehicle.

3. The module of claim 2 wherein each of the restraints include a portion, of the mounting structure, movable to overlie a respective portion of the bin.

4. The module of claim 3 wherein each of the respective portions of the bin is a horizontal projection; and each portion movable to overlie is a portion of loop dimensioned to encircle its respective one of the horizontal projections.

5. The module of claim 3 or 4 wherein the restraints include extendable actuators actuatable to engage the restraints.

6. The module of claim 5 wherein the actuators are fluid operated rams.

7. The module of claim 6 wherein the rams are pneumatic.

8. The module of claim 7 wherein the vehicle includes at least one of a pressure source for driving one or more pneumatic actuators; and a vacuum source for driving one or more pneumatic actuators; and the module includes plumbing for connecting the rams to, to be driven by, at least one of the at least one of the pressure source and the vacuum source.

9. The module of any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein the mounting structure includes separate mounting structural portions at or adjacent each end of the bin; and at least some of the restraints are arranged to, when engaged, connect the mounting structural portions at or adjacent each end of the bin to the bin to be lifted with the bin when the bin is removed from the vehicle.

10. The module of any one of claims 2 to 8 wherein the mounting structure includes separate mounting structural portions at or adjacent each end of the bin.

11. The module of claim 9 or 10 including at least one further separate mounting structural portion between the separate mounting structural portions at or adjacent each end of the bin.

12. The module of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the tipping mechanism includes feature(s) of the bin and feature(s) of the mounting structure co-operable to define a respective pivot axis along each side of the vehicle and about which the bin pivots when tipping.

13. The module of claim 12 wherein the feature(s) co-operable of one of the bin and the mounting structure are vertically open to release the feature(s) co-operable of the other of the bin and the mounting structure.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the mounting structure includes the vertically open feature(s).

15. The module of claims 1 to 14 wherein the tipping mechanism includes at least one extendable actuator arranged to apply force to the bin at a respective point in substance equidistant from each side of the bin, to lift the bin.

16. The module of claim 15 wherein at least one of the extendable actuator(s) arranged to apply force to the bin is at an end of the bin.

17. The module of claim 16 wherein the bin has side edges over which the which the bulk material is tipped; and the respective points, at which the at least one of the extendable actuator(s) apply force to the bin, are in substance not lower than the side edges.

18. The module of any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein the extendable actuator(s) arranged to apply force to the bin are arranged to apply force to the mounting structure.

19. The module of any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein the extendable actuator(s) arranged to apply force to the bin are fluid operated rams.

20. The module of claim 19 wherein the extendable actuator(s) arranged to apply force to the bin are hydraulic.

21. The module of any one of claims 1 to 20 including one or more further mounting features for engaging the vehicle.

22. The module of claim 21 wherein the further mounting feature(s) are clamp(s).

23. The module of any one of claims 1 to 22 including a covering arrangement openable for loading and unloading the bin; and closeable to cover the bin.

24. The module of claim 23 wherein the covering arrangement is, when open, retracted beyond at least one end wall of the bin to avoid interfering with the bulk material falling from the bin during unloading.

25. The module of claim 23 or 24 wherein the cover includes at least one length-adjustable portion expandable, from a short configuration to a long configuration in which the at least one length-adjustable portion covers the bin, to close the covering arrangement.

26. The module of any one of claims 1 to 25 wherein the vehicle is a trailer.

27. The module of any one of claims 1 to 26 and the vehicle.