SPIRAL-WELDED TARPING SPOOLS FOR AUTOMATIC TARPING MACHINE

Abstract

A rotating portion, mandrel, or spool for use with an automatic tarping equipment attachment is provided. The rotating portion, mandrel, or spool can including a central portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion. The central portion can be constructed to enhance cylindrical dimensional conformity to aid in prevention of bunching or uneven weight distribution during rolling or unrolling of a tarpaulin therefrom, and the first end portion and the second end portion can be used to reinforce end portions of the central portion.

Claims

1. A spool configured for use in a tarpaulin application attachment, the spool comprising: a first end, an opposite second end, a central portion extending between the first end and the second end, a first hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the first end, a second hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the second end, the central portion being substantially cylindrical, the first hollow portion including a first inner diameter, and the second hollow portion including a second inner diameter; a first end portion including a first insert portion and a first shoulder portion attached to the first insert portion, the first insert portion being cylindrical and including a first outer diameter sized smaller than the first inner diameter and to have a tight fit within the first hollow portion; a second end portion including a second insert portion and a second shoulder portion attached to the second insert portion, the second insert portion being cylindrical and including a second outer diameter sized smaller than the second inner diameter to a have a tight fit within the second hollow portion; wherein the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion, and after the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion, the first shoulder portion abuts the first end of the central portion; wherein the second insertion portion is received in the second hollow portion, and after the second insert portion is received in the second hollow portion, the second shoulder portion abuts the second end of the central portion; wherein the first insert portion is attached to the central portion via a first fillet weld between the first end of the central portion and the first shoulder portion, and a first plug weld between the first insert portion and the central portion; and wherein the second insert portion is attached to the central portion via a second fillet weld between the second end of the central portion and the second shoulder portion, and a second plug weld between the second insert portion and the central portion.

2. The spool according to claim 1, wherein the first insert portion is attached to the first shoulder portion via a third fillet weld therebetween around an exterior portion of the first insert portion, and the second insert portion is attached to the second shoulder portion via a fourth fillet weld therebetween around an exterior portion of the second insert portion.

3. The spool according to claim 2, wherein the first insert portion is hollow, and the first insert portion is further attached to the first shoulder portion via a fifth fillet weld therebetween around an interior portion of the first insert portion, and the second insert portion is hollow, and the second insert portion is further attached to the second shoulder portion via a sixth fillet weld therebetween around an interior portion of the second insert portion.

4. The spool according to claim 1, wherein the central portion is formed from a spiral wound cylindrical section of metallic tubing made of one of steel and aluminum.

5. The spool according to claim 1, wherein the central portion includes a first end portion reinforced by the first insert portion inserted in the first hollow portion, and a second end portion reinforced by the second insert portion inserted in the second hollow portion.

6. The spool according to claim 5, wherein reinforcement of the first end portion and the second end portion of the central portion is configured to accommodate weight of chains provided along first and second lateral sides of a tarpaulin wound around the central portion.

7. The spool according to claim 1 and in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment, the spool further comprising a first spindle portion attached to the first shoulder portion opposite from the first insert portion, and a second spindle portion attached to the second shoulder portion opposite from the second insert portion; and the tarpaulin application attachment comprising a first capture portion for receiving the first spindle portion and a second capture portion for receiving the second spindle portion; wherein the first spindle portion is rotatably attached to the first capture portion of the tarpaulin application attachment, and the second spindle portion is rotatably attached to the second capture portion of the tarpaulin application attachment.

8. The spool according to claim 7 and in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment, wherein the tarpaulin application attachment is configured to rotate the spool to facilitate unrolling and rolling a tarpaulin attached to the spool.

9. The spool according to claim 8 in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment, wherein rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion in a first rotational direction by the tarpaulin application attachment serves in unrolling the tarpaulin from the central portion, and rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion in a second rotational direction by the tarpaulin application attachment serves in rolling the tarpaulin onto the central portion.

10. A spool configured for use in a tarpaulin application attachment, the spool comprising: a first end, an opposite second end, a central portion extending between the first end and the second end, a first hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the first end, a second hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the second end, the central portion being substantially cylindrical, the first hollow portion including a first inner diameter, and the second hollow portion including a second inner diameter; a first end portion including a first insert portion and a first shoulder portion attached to the first insert portion, the first insert portion being cylindrical and including a first outer diameter sized smaller than the first inner diameter and to have a tight fit within the first hollow portion; a second end portion including a second insert portion and a second shoulder portion attached to the second insert portion, the second insert portion being cylindrical and including a second outer diameter sized smaller than second inner diameter and to a have a tight fit within the second hollow portion; wherein the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion; wherein the second insertion portion is received in the second hollow portion; wherein the first insert portion is attached to the central portion via a first fillet weld between the first end of the central portion and the first shoulder portion, and a first plug weld between the first insert portion and the central portion; wherein the second insert portion is attached to the central portion via a second fillet weld between the second end of the central portion and the second shoulder portion, and a second plug weld between the second insert portion and the central portion; and wherein the central portion includes a first end portion reinforced by the first insert portion inserted in the first hollow portion, and a second end portion reinforced by the second insert portion inserted in the second hollow portion.

11. The spool according to claim 10, wherein the first insert portion is attached to the first shoulder portion via a third fillet weld therebetween around an exterior portion of the first insert portion, and the second insert portion is attached to the second shoulder portion via a fourth fillet weld therebetween around an exterior portion of the second insert portion.

12. The spool according to claim 11, wherein the first insert portion is hollow, and the first insert portion is further attached to the first shoulder portion via a fifth fillet weld therebetween around an interior portion of the first insert portion, and the second insert portion is hollow, and the second insert portion is further attached to the second shoulder portion via a sixth fillet weld therebetween around an interior portion of the second insert portion.

13. The spool according to claim 10, wherein the central portion is formed from a spiral wound cylindrical section of metallic tubing made of one of steel and aluminum.

14. The spool according to claim 10, wherein reinforcement of the first end portion and the second end portion of the central portion is configured to accommodate weight of chains provided along first and second lateral sides of a tarpaulin wound around the central portion.

15. The spool according to claim 10 and in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment, the spool further comprising a first spindle portion attached to the first shoulder portion opposite from the first insert portion, and a second spindle portion attached to the second shoulder portion opposite from the second insert portion; and the tarpaulin application attachment comprising a first capture portion for receiving the first spindle portion and a second capture portion for receiving the second spindle portion; wherein the first spindle portion is rotatably attached to the first capture portion of the tarpaulin application attachment, and the second spindle portion is rotatably attached to the second capture portion of the tarpaulin application attachment.

16. The spool according to claim 15 in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment, wherein rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion by the tarpaulin in a first rotational direction by the tarpaulin application attachment serves in unrolling the tarpaulin from the central portion, and rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion by the tarpaulin in a second rotational direction by the tarpaulin application attachment serves in rolling the tarpaulin onto the central portion.

17. A spool configured for use in a tarpaulin application attachment, the spool comprising: a first end, an opposite second end, a central portion extending between the first end and the second end, a first hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the first end, a second hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the second end, the central portion being substantially cylindrical, the first hollow portion including a first inner diameter, and the second hollow portion including a second inner diameter; a first end portion including a first insert portion and a first shoulder portion attached to the first insert portion, the first insert portion being cylindrical and including a first outer diameter sized to have a tight fit and interface with the central portion within the first hollow portion; a second end portion including a second insert portion and a second shoulder portion attached to the second insert portion, the second insert portion being cylindrical and including a second outer diameter sized to a have a tight fit and interface with the central portion within the second hollow portion; wherein the central portion is formed from a spiral wound cylindrical section of metallic tubing made of one of steel and aluminum; wherein the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion, and after the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion, the first shoulder portion abuts the first end of the central portion; wherein the second insertion portion is received in the second hollow portion, and after the second insert portion is received in the second hollow portion, the second shoulder portion abuts the second end of the central portion; wherein, to reinforce a first end portion of the central portion, the first insert portion is attached to the central portion via a first fillet weld between the first end of the central portion and the first shoulder portion, and a first plug weld between the first insert portion and the central portion; and wherein, to reinforce a second end portion of the central portion, the second insert portion is attached to the central portion via a second fillet weld between the second end of the central portion and the second shoulder portion, and a second plug weld between the second insert portion and the central portion.

18. The spool according to claim 17 and in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment, the spool further comprising a first spindle portion attached to the first shoulder portion opposite from the first insert portion, and a second spindle portion attached to the second shoulder portion opposite from the second insert portion; and the tarpaulin application attachment comprising a first capture portion for receiving the first spindle portion and a second capture portion for receiving the second spindle portion; wherein the first spindle portion is rotatably attached to the first capture portion of the tarpaulin application attachment, and the second spindle portion is rotatably attached to a second capture portion of the tarpaulin application attachment.

19. The spool according to claim 18 and in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment, wherein the tarpaulin application attachment is configured to rotate the spool to facilitate unrolling and rolling a tarpaulin attached to the spool.

20. The spool according to claim 19 in combination with the tarpaulin application attachment, wherein rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion in a first rotational direction by the tarpaulin application attachment serves in unrolling the tarpaulin from the central portion, and rotation of the first spindle portion and the second spindle portion in a second rotational direction by the tarpaulin application attachment serves in rolling the tarpaulin onto the central portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a front, side, perspective view of an automatic tarping equipment attachment incorporating a tarping spool according to the present disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a top, plan view of the automatic tarping equipment attachment of FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a top, perspective view of the tarping spool of the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a top, perspective, exploded view of a first end of the tarping spool of FIG. 3;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a top, perspective, exploded view of second end of the tarping spool of FIG. 3;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a top, plan, exploded view of the first end of the tarping spool of FIG. 3; and

[0015] FIG. 7 is a top, plan, exploded view of the second end of the tarping spool of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of a rotating portion, mandrel, or spool (hereinafter spool) 16, as depicted in FIGS. 1-7, that can used as part of embodiments of an automatic tarping equipment attachment 10 (FIGS. 1 and 2) or as part of the tarping equipment attachment disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,014, which is incorporated by reference herein. As depicted in FIG. 1, the spool 16 can be rotated by the automatic tarping equipment attachment 10 or the tarping equipment attachment disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,014 to facilitate rolling or unrolling of a tarpaulin (tarp) 14. Portions of the spool 16, as discussed below, can be formed of spiral-welded metallic tubing that can have longer lengths with greater cylindrical dimensional conformity and less weight than previous conventional central portions such as, for example, that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,014. The spiral-welded metallic tubing, for example, can be made of steel, aluminum, or other metal or alloy that affords dimensional conformity.

[0017] The tarping equipment attachment 10 can be attached to or integrated with heavy equipment such as a bulldozer (not shown). For example, like the tarping equipment attachment disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,014, the tarping equipment attachment 10 can include attachment mechanisms 12 facilitating attachment thereof to a blade (not shown) of the bulldozer. The blade can be used to raise and lower the tarping equipment attachment 10, and the bulldozer itself can be used to position and reposition the tarping equipment attachment 10 relative to a particular area of ground.

[0018] The tarping equipment attachment 10 can be configured to roll or unroll the tarp 14 during movement of the bulldozer. To that end, the tarping equipment attachment 10 can include the spool 16 with various shackles (not shown) provided therealong. The shackles can be used to facilitate attachment of the tarp 14 to the spool 16, and the spool 16 can be rotated by the tarping equipment attachment 10 to facilitate rolling and unrolling of the tarp 14. Rotation of the spool 16 in a first rotational direction can be used to roll the tarp 14 onto the spool 16, and rotation of the spool 16 in a second rotational direction can be used to unroll the tarp 14 from the spool 16. Using movement of the bulldozer and rotation of the spool 16 of the tarping equipment attachment 10, the tarp 14 can be furled and unfurled relative to the particular area of ground. Such furling and unfurling of the tarp 14 can, for example, be used in covering (unfurling) and uncovering (furling) upper portions of an open portion of a landfill. The tarping equipment attachment 10 provides for efficient deployment and removal of the tarp 14 relative to the open portion of the landfill.

[0019] The spool 16 can be removable from the tarping equipment attachment 10, and the tarping equipment attachment 10 can include a capture/release assembly 20 that is lockable and unlockable to facilitate capturing and releasing the spool 16. The capture/release assembly 20 can include sets of locking jaws 22 at opposite ends of the tarping equipment attachment 10 (similar to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,014) that are engageable to capture the spool 16 and disengageable to release the spool 16. And the tarping equipment attachment 10 can include a spool-drive assembly 24 that can be actuated to rotate the spool 16. As depicted in FIG. 2, the spool-drive assembly 24 can include a motor/engine 26 and a transmission 28 for driving rotation of the spool 16, or such rotation of the spool can be driven directly by the bulldozer and a transmission (not shown). By providing a multitude of spools 16, the tarping equipment attachment 10 can be used to deploy and remove a multitude of the tarps 14 over the particular area of ground.

[0020] As depicted in FIGS. 2-7, the spool 16 includes a central portion 30, a first end portion 32, and a second end portion 34. The central portion 30 preferably can be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, include a hollow interior 36 extending through all or portions of the central portion 30, and can be formed from high-strength spiral-welded metallic tubing typically having a length ranging from preferably and approximately 12 to 53 ft., an outer diameter of approximately 14 in., and wall thicknesses of approximately 0.188 in. For example, the outer diameter of the central portion 30 can also range from 10-24 in., and the wall thicknesses of the central portion 30 can also range from 0.100 to 0.375 in. The use of spiral-welded metallic tubing affords use of the central portion 30 having longer lengths with greater cylindrical dimensional conformity and less weight than previous conventional central portions such as, for example, that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,014. The hollow interior 36 can be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, and all or portions of the hollow interior 36 of the central portion 30 ultimately can be filled with a matrix material (such as, for example, foam) to facilitate reinforcement and prevent deflection of the central portion 30. The cylindrical dimensional conformity provided by use of the spiral-welded metallic tubing for the spool 16 can serve in ameliorating the above-discussed rolling issues.

[0021] As discussed below, the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 are provided to facilitate reinforcement of a first end 40 and a second end 42, respectively, of the central portion 30, and each can include an inner sleeve (or insert) portion 50, a spool end (or shoulder) portion 52, and a spindle portion 54. The reinforcement of the first end 40 and the second end 42 using the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34, respectively, serves in maintaining the cylindrical dimensional conformity of the central portion 30 under loads of the tarp 14 wound therearound. Side portions 56 and 58 of tarp 14, as depicted in FIG. 1, typically include weights (such as chains) that serve to maintain positions of the tarp 14 after unrolling. And when the tarp 14 is wound therearound, the reinforcement provided by the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 serves to accommodate the extra loads of the weights adjacent the first end 40 and the second end 42 to prevent deformation of the central portion 30 under such loads.

[0022] The inner sleeve 50 of each of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 can be configured to be inserted into and received in portions of the hollow interior 36 of the central portion 30 at the first end 40 and the second end 42, respectively. The hollow interior 36 can include a first portion at and adjacent the first end 40 of the central portion 30 for receiving the inner sleeve 50 of the first end portion 32, and a second portion at and adjacent the second end 42 of the central portion 30 for receiving the inner sleeve 50 of the second end portion 34. Furthermore, the inner sleeves 50 of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 can each be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, include a hollow interior, and can be formed from spiral-welded steel tubing typically having a length ranging from approximately 1 to 3 ft., an outer diameter of approximately 13.438 in., and wall thicknesses of approximately 0.188 in. For example, the outer diameters of the inner sleeves 50 can also range from 10-24 in., and the wall thicknesses of the inner sleeves 50 can also range from 0.100 to 0.375 in. As depicted in FIGS. 3-7, the inner sleeves 50 are sized to be smaller than the inner diameter of the central portion 30 to facilitate receipt thereof in the first portion and the second portion of the hollow interior 36 at the first end 40 and the second end 42, respectively. As such, the inner sleeves 50 can be sized to have a tight fit and interface with the central portion 30 within the first portion and the second portion of the hollow interior 36 to facilitate attachment of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 with the central portion 30. The tight fit can be provided by a slight interference fit or sizing the inner sleeves 50 from 0.0 to approximately 0.125-0.250 inches smaller than the first portion and the second portion of the hollow interior 36. While the hollow interior 36 and the inner sleeves 50 can be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, the present disclosure is not so limited. The hollow interior 36 and the inner sleeves 50 can have other complimentary shapes that afford a tight fit and interface between the central portion 30 and the inner sleeves 50.

[0023] After receipt of the inners sleeves 50 in the hollow interior 36, the spool end portions 52 of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 can be configured to abut the first end 40 and the second end 42, respectively. As depicted in FIGS. 3-7, for example, the spool end portions 52 of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 can each be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, be formed of steel plating or bar stock, and have outer diameters larger than the outer diameter of the central portion 30 ranging from approximately 24 to 48 in. The spool end portions 52 can serve in preventing the tarp 14 from winding off the spool 16 during rolling and unrolling thereof. Each of the spool end portions 52 include an inner surface 60 and an outer surface 62, and the inner surfaces 60 can correspondingly abut and be attached to the first end 40 and the second end 42 of the central portion 30.

[0024] The spindle portions 54 of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 can be configured to attach to the corresponding spool end portions 52. As depicted in FIGS. 3-7, for example, the spindle portions 54 of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 can each be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, be formed of steel plating or bar stock, and have outer diameters smaller than the outer diameters of the spool end portions 52 ranging from approximately 6 to 12 in. The spindle portions 54 can be received in the capture/release assembly 20, and can serve as axles facilitating rotation of the spool 16 relative to the tarping equipment attachment 10. To illustrate, when the sets of locking jaws 22 are disengaged, the spindle portion 54 of the first end portion 32 can be received in the set of locking jaws 22 adjacent the first end 40, and the spindle portion 54 of the second end portion 34 can be received in the set of locking jaws 22 adjacent the second end 42. Thereafter, the sets of locking jaws 22 can be engaged to capture the spindle portions 54 of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34. Once the spindle portions 54 are captured, the spool-drive assembly 24 can be engaged to one or both of the spindle portions 54 of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34, and the spool-drive assembly 24 can be used to rotate the spool 16 via actuation of the motor/engine 26 and the transmission 28 thereof. In doing so, the spindle portions 54 can rotate as axles within the sets of locking jaws 22 to facilitate rolling and unrolling of the tarp 14.

[0025] To join the inner sleeve portions 50 and the spool end portions 52 of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34, a first end 64 of the inner sleeve portion 50 of each of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 can be fillet welded to the corresponding inner surface 60 of the spool end portion 52 of each of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 along the outer diameters of the inner sleeve portions 50. Additionally, in some embodiments, the first end 64 of the inner sleeve portion 50 of each of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 can be fillet welded to the corresponding inner surface 60 of the spool end portion 52 of each of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 along the inner diameters of the inner sleeve portions 50. And to join the spindle portions 54 to the spool end portions 52, a first end 66 of the spindle portion 54 of each of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 can be fillet welded to the corresponding outer surface 60 of the spool end portion 52 of each of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion along the outer diameters of the spindle portions 54.

[0026] To join the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 to the central portion 30, the inner sleeves 50 of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 can be received in the hollow interior 36 of the central portion 30 at the first end 40 and the second end 42, respectively. Thereafter, the first end 40 and the second end 42 the central portion 30 can be contacted with and fillet welded to the inner surfaces 60 of the spool end portions 42 of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34, respectively, along the outer diameter of the corresponding end of the central portion 30. Additionally, the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 can be plug welded to the central portion 30. To illustrate, after receipt of the inner sleeve portions 50 of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 in the hollow interior 36, a multitude of holes (not shown) can be drilled through the central portion 30 to expose the inner sleeve portions 50 of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34. These holes can be plug welded to fuse the central portion 30 to the inner sleeve 50 of the first end portion 32, and to fuse the central portion 30 to the inner sleeve 50 of the second end portion 34.

[0027] The plug welding of the inner sleeves 50 of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 to the central portion 30, and the fillet welding of the first end 40 and the second end 42 of the central portion 30 to the inner surfaces 60 of the spool end portions 42 of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34, respectively, serve to attach the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 to the central portion 30. Such attachment of the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34 to the central portion 30 serves in reinforcing the central portion 30 adjacent the first end 40 and the second end 42 thereof. As discussed above, the reinforcement of the first end 40 and the second end 42 using the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34, respectively, serves in maintaining the cylindrical dimensional conformity of the central portion 30 under the loads of the tarp 14 wound therearound and the weights in the side portions 56 and 58 of the tarp 14.

[0028] While fillet and plug welds are used to facilitate attachment of the various components as described above, the present disclosure is not so limited. In addition to or instead of such fillet and plug welding, other types of welding and fastening mechanisms can be used. For example, the fastening mechanisms can include structural adhesives and mechanical fasteners including rivets and threaded fasteners (screws, bolts, and nuts).

[0029] And, rather than having inner sleeves, modified end portions (similarly shaped to the first end portion 32 and the second end portion 34) could each have outer sleeves that can be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical having inner diameters larger that the outer diameter of the central portion 30. Each of the outer sleeves of the modified end portions can have internal cavities for receiving one of the first end 40 and the second end 42 of the central portion 30. As such, the first end 40 and the second end 42 can have diameters sized to fit within the internal cavities of the outer sleeves of the modified end portions. The modified end portions can each include a spool end portion similar to the spool end portion 52, and a spindle portion similar to the spindle portion 54, and these portions can be attached in similar fashion to the outer sleeves. Furthermore, after the first end 40 and the second end 42 are received in the internal cavities of the modified end portions, ends of the outer sleeves can be butt welded around the central portion 30, and other portions of the outer sleeves can be plug welded to the central portion 30.

[0030] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.