Wood chipper and a dump box that contains a unique dump door arrangement, as well as various dumping options, are integrated onto a utility type truck

Abstract

The present invention consists of a powered wood chipper mounted directly or indirectly to the frame of a utility type truck, thus eliminating the need for a separate trailer to carry said wood chipper to job sites. Said invention may also include a dump box, mounted directly or indirectly to the frame of the utility type truck, and whereby said dump box may be a sideways tilting assembly or may have a fixed position and incorporate a slanted or tilting floor assembly. Said dump box may also include a unique horizontal dump door arrangement with both an upper and lower doors. Presence of said lower dump door allows the dump box to discharge its load at a distance from the utility type vehicle. Said dump box may also feature slanted side or top surfaces, which may allow for greater visibility from the cab of the utility type vehicle and/or greater aerodynamics. These slanted side or top surfaces also allow the overall vehicle to have a narrower or lower profile and a lower center of gravity, leading to improved handling and safety for the work crew.

Claims

1. An improved assembly for a truck with an integrated wood chipper and a dump box comprising: a. a truck and a dump box comprising: i. a frame composed of frame members on which are mounted: 1. an engine compartment, and 2. a driver's cab, and 3. a plurality of wheel assemblies, and 4. a wood chipper device, and 5. a dump box with a front wall and a rear wall and a left-side wall and a right-side wall; b. said wood chipper device is mounted directly or indirectly to at least one of said frame members; c. said dump box is positioned between said driver's cab of said truck and said wood chipper device; d. said dump box is pivotally mounted to one of at least one of said frame members allowing said dump box to be tilted between an upright fill position and a sideways tilted dump position; e. said dump box composed of a front wall, a rear wall, and opposite side walls with a dump door opening in at least one of said opposite side walls of said dump box; f. said dump box having a solid or open top cover, g. said dump box having an inlet opening in its rear wall allowing said wood chipper device to exhaust chipped output into said dump box; h. said dump box having at least one piston assembly attached between said dump box and at least one of said frame members and is used for longitudinally pivoting said dump box between upright and tilted positions.

2. The truck of claim 1 whereby said dump box may include an access door type arrangement located in one or more side panels to provide entry to said dump box or for storage of equipment.

3. The truck of claim 1 wherein said truck has a longitudinal axis and said dump box can pivot about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said frame members.

4. The truck of claim 1 whereby said wood chipper mounted directly or indirectly to at least one frame member of said truck includes an inlet chute in said rear-wall or said left-side wall or said right-side wall of said dump box.

5. The truck of claim 1 whereby said wood chipper mounted to a frame member of said truck includes a forward-facing outlet chute for discharging chipped material into said dump box through an opening in said rear-wall of said dump box.

6. A dump box assembly, mounted to a frame of a truck or to a towable trailer assembly comprising: a) a side panel composed of a lower horizontal dumping door and an upper horizontal dumping door mounted directly or indirectly to a frame member of a truck or to a towable trailer assembly; b) an opposing side panel; c) a front wall panel and a rear wall panel; d) a bottom panel and a top panel; e) said bottom panel is tilted in a direction toward said lower horizontal dumping door and said upper horizontal dumping door to allow discharge of contents of said dump box assembly; f) said dump box assembly incorporates a mechanical assembly mounted between the lower horizontal dumping door and one or more of the front wall and the rear wall of said mechanical assembly controls a predetermined distance said lower horizontal dumping door opens.

7. The dump box assembly of claim 6 whereby said lower horizontal dumping door is hinged adjacent to the bottom of said dump box assembly and when opened to the predetermined distance controlled by the mechanical assembly, is relatively flat or level with the bottom of said dump box assembly.

8. The dump box assembly of claim 6 whereby the upper horizontal dumping door is hinged adjacent to the top of said dump box assembly, so as to pivot about a horizontal axis.

9. The dump box assembly of claim 6 whereby the lower horizontal dumping door is hinged adjacent to the bottom of said dump box assembly to pivot about a horizontal axis when said dump box assembly is tilted toward the side panel where the upper horizontal dumping door and the lower horizontal dumping door are located.

10. The dump box assembly of claim 6 whereby opening of the upper horizontal dumping door and the lower horizontal dumping door are both gravity controlled during a tilting operation.

11. The dump box assembly of claim 6 whereby opening of the lower horizontally dumping door may be controlled while said dump box assembly is being tilted by one or more piston assemblies attached to said lower horizontal dumping door and to the front wall and the rear wall of said dump box assembly for moving said lower horizontal dumping door between a predetermined open position and a closed position.

12. The dump box assembly of claim 6 whereby either the upper horizontal dumping door or lower horizontal dumping door in the side panel of the dump box assembly has an overlapping mechanical lip used to overlap the other horizontal door to hold said overlapped door in a closed position during transport.

13. The dump box assembly of claim 6 whereby either a front wall or a back wall of said dump box assembly is shorter than the opposite panel of said dump box assembly, thus producing a slanted top surface from the front wall to the back wall or from the back wall to the front wall and thus a shorter height dimension when measured at one end of said dump box assembly and a taller height dimension when measured at the opposite end of said dump box assembly.

14. The dump box assembly of claim 6 whereby a fixed floor surface panel of said dump box assembly is slanted and angled between 2 side panels of said dump box assembly such that said fixed floor surface panel mounted on a side panel without a dumping door is mounted at a greater height dimension and angling downward to a lower height dimension at an intersection of said fixed floor surface panel and said side panel containing one or more dumping doors.

15. A dump box assembly whereby a pivoting adjustable floor surface panel and at least one piston assembly mounted directly or indirectly between said pivoting adjustable floor surface panel and a frame member of a truck such that said piston assembly can raise one side of said pivoting adjustable floor surface panel on the opposite side of said side panel containing one or more dumping doors thereby positioning the pivoting adjustable floor surface panel at a downward slanted angle toward the side panel containing said one or more dumping doors and allowing discharge of contents of said dump box assembly outside of said one or more dumping door mounted in said side panel of said dump box assembly.

16. The dump box assembly of claim 15 whereby said dump box assembly with a pivoting adjustable floor surface panel may be mounted directly or indirectly to a frame member of either said truck or a towed trailer.

17. The dump box assembly of claim 15 whereby said piston assembly mounted between said frame member of said truck may be manually operated, or may be operated hydraulically or operated electronically.

18. The dump box assembly of claim 15 whereby the pivoting adjustable floor surface panel is hinged at an intersection of said pivoting adjustable floor surface panel and said side panel containing one or more dumping doors.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] FIG. 1 is a side view of the invention showing the truck with a chipper and dump box.

[0049] FIG. 2 is the back view of the invention showing the back of the truck with a chipper and dump box.

[0050] FIG. 3 is the side view of the dump doors on one side of the dump box.

[0051] FIG. 4A is a detail view of the latching configuration of the top and bottom dump doors where the latching mechanism is mounted on the inside bottom portion of the upper dump door.

[0052] FIG. 4B is a detail view of the latching configuration of the top and bottom dump doors where said latching mechanism is mounted on the outside top portion of the lower dump door.

[0053] FIG. 5 is a side view of the side of the box opposite the dump doors and showing an access door to the interior of the dump box.

[0054] FIG. 6 is a cutaway view of the back end of the dump box showing the movable floor panel allowing dumping without tilting the box to empty the contents.

[0055] FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of the back end of the dump box showing the movable floor as an incline with a hydraulic cylinder raising the movable floor, permitting dumping without tilting the dump box.

[0056] FIG. 8 is a back view of the invention on the back of a utility truck where the dump box is tilted by a hydraulic ram and the dump doors open.

[0057] FIG. 9 is a back view of the invention showing the back of the truck with a chipper and a tapered dump box.

[0058] FIG. 10A is a side view of the outside of the dump box showing hydraulic cylinders controlling a lower dump door.

[0059] FIG. 10B is a back view of the outside of the dump box showing hydraulic cylinder and the lower dump door in a closed position.

[0060] FIG. 10C is a back view of the outside of the dump box showing hydraulic cylinder and the lower dump door in an open position.

[0061] FIG. 11A is a cutaway view of the end of the dump box showing the floor as an incline allowing dumping without tilting the box to empty the contents.

[0062] FIG. 11B is a cutaway view of the dump of the end of the dump box showing the floor as an incline with a door giving access to the hollow portion under the floor providing tool storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] The following descriptions describe the various embodiments of the invention where like objects are numbered the same. [0064] Now referencing FIG. 1 where 10 depicts the invention mounted on a utility truck. In this depiction, utility truck 12 is shown with dump box 20 having an upper dump door 22 and a lower dump door 24. Chipper 14 is mounted at the aft end of dump box 20 with branch and leaf feeder horn 16 and discharge assembly 18 which blows chipped debris into dump box 20. [0065] Now referencing FIG. 2 where 11 depicts the back end view of the invention mounted on utility truck 12. In this depiction dump box 20 is shown having an upper dump door 22 and a lower dump door 24. Chipper 14 is mounted on the end of utility truck 14 with branch and leaf feeder horn 16 and discharge assembly 18 which blows chipped debris into dump box opening 19 of dump box 20. [0066] Now referencing FIG. 3 where 30 depicts a side view of upper dump door 22 and lower dump door 24. In this depiction, T1 32 and T2 34 show the relative vertical height of each dump door. The size of upper dump door 22 is shown as T1 32 and the size of lower dump door 24 is shown as T2 34. The relative size of the upper dump door 22 is, at a minimum, 51% of the overall height of the combined dump doors and the relative size of the lower dump door 24 is, at a minimum, 49% of the overall height of the combined dump doors. [0067] Now referencing FIG. 4A where 40 depicts an end view detail of upper dump door 22 and lower dump door 24 where latch 28 is attached to inside lower edge of upper dump door 22. When upper dump door 22 closed and lower dump door 24 is closed and locked into the closed position, latch 28, affixed to upper dump door 22, will prevent upper dump door 22 from opening. Latch 28 keeps upper dump door 22 locked into position without any other locking mechanism. [0068] Now referencing FIG. 4B where 40 depicts an end view detail of upper dump door 22 and lower dump door 24 where latch 52 is attached to the outside lower edge of lower dump door 24. When upper dump door 22 closed and lower dump door 24 is closed and locked into the closed position, latch 52, affixed to the outside upper edge of dump door 24, will prevent upper dump door 22 from opening. Latch 52 keeps upper dump door 22 locked into position without any other locking mechanism. [0069] Now referencing FIG. 5 where 60 depicts a side view of dump box 20. Dump box 20 side 26 is the side opposite upper dump door 22 and lower dump door 24. In this depiction, access door 62 provides an operator with access to the interior of dump box 20 without the operator having to climb over the side of dump box 20 to gain access. [0070] Now referencing FIG. 6 where 70 depicts a cut away view from the back of dump box 20. In this view upper dump door 22 and lower dump door are shown with upper dump door latch 28 affixed to upper dump door 22. A second floor portion 74 is shown in its retracted position flat against the bottom of dump box 20. Dump box 20 is shown setting on utility truck 12 chassis rails 13. In this depiction, hydraulic cylinder 76 is shown attached to the bottom of dump box 20 with its ram 78 retracted inside of hydraulic cylinder 76. [0071] Now referencing FIG. 7 where 80 depicts a cut away view from the back of dump box 20. In this view upper dump door 22 and lower dump door are shown with upper dump door latch 28. A second floor portion 74 is shown at an angle where second floor portion 74 slopes has been elevated by hydraulic cylinder 76 and ram 78. Lower dump door 24 is shown open to a position where it is in line with second floor portion 74 and held in place by mechanism 94 which is attached to either the inside or outside of the back panel of dump box 20. Mechanism 94 may be a chain, or a solid jointed arm, or a solid sliding arm, or a hydraulic cylinder (shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C), or any other such holding mechanism. The mechanisms depicted in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 allows the contents of dump box 20 to be emptied without tilting dump box 20. [0072] Now referencing FIG. 8 where 90 depicts dump box 20 in an unloading position. In this depiction, hydraulic ram 92 has tilted dump box 20 and lower dump door 24 has been released and held in position by mechanism 94 and is in position to deposit the debris contained in dump box 20 away from the undercarriage of utility truck 12. Mechanism 94 may be a chain, or a solid jointed arm, or a solid sliding arm, or a hydraulic cylinder (shown in FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C), or any other such holding mechanism. Upper dump door 22 is shown hanging down in a vertical manner from the force of gravity after lower dump door 24 is released and which latch 28 or latch 52 releases upper dump door latch 28 or lower dump door latch 52. Also shown is dump box opening 19. [0073] Now referencing FIG. 9 where 11 depicts the back end view of the invention mounted on utility truck 12 where dump box 120 is tapered from the top to the bottom to allow greater visibility for the driver of utility vehicle 12 and dump box 120 allowing the driver greater visibility of the side of dump box 120. In this depiction dump box 120 is shown having an upper dump door 122 and a lower dump door 124. Chipper 14 is mounted on the end of utility truck 14 with branch and leaf feeder horn 16 and discharge assembly 18 which blows chipped debris into dump box 120 through dump box opening 19. [0074] Now referencing FIG. 10A where 130 depicts a side view of upper dump door 22 and lower dump door 24. In this depiction, hinge assembly 134 shown at the top corners of upper dump door 22 and at the bottom corners of lower dump door 24. These hinge assemblies allow upper dump door 22 to swing outward when dump box 20 is tilted and allow lower dump door 24 to be pushed to an open position (FIG. 10C) when hydraulic cylinder 132 is activated and extended. In the present figure, hydraulic cylinder 132 is shown in a retracted position and lower dump door 24 is shown as closed. [0075] Now referencing FIG. 10B where 140 depicts a back view of dump box 20. In this depiction, upper dump door 22 and lower dump door 24 are shown in closed positions and hinge assemblies 134 are shown at the top corners of upper dump door 22 and at the bottom corners of lower dump door 24. These hinge assemblies allow upper dump door 22 to swing outward when dump box 20 (FIG. 8) is tilted and allow lower dump door 24 to be pushed to an open position (FIG. 10C) when hydraulic cylinder 132 is activated and extended. In the present figure, hydraulic cylinder 132 is shown in a retracted position and lower dump door 24 is shown as closed. [0076] Now referencing FIG. 10C where 150 depicts a back view of dump box 20. In this depiction, upper dump door 22 is shown in an open position prior to dump box 20 being tilted to empty debris from inside dump box 20. Lower dump door 24 is shown in an open position. In the present figure, hydraulic cylinder 132 is shown in an extended position and lower dump door 24 is shown as open and level with the flow of dump box 20. [0077] Now referencing FIG. 11A where 200 depicts a cut away view from the back of dump box 20. In this view upper dump door 22 and lower dump door 24 are shown with upper dump door latch 28 affixed to upper dump door 22. A second floor portion 202 is shown at an angle where the second floor portion 202 slopes down toward the bottom of lower dump door 24. This allows dump box 20 to be emptied without activating hydraulic ram 92 shown in FIG. 8. In this present depiction, once lower dump door 24 is opened, debris in dump box 20 will slide out of dump box 20 by the force of gravity. [0078] Now referencing FIG. 11B where 230 depicts a cut away view from the back of dump box 20. In this view upper dump door 22 and lower dump door 24 are shown with upper dump door latch 28. A second floor portion 202 is shown at an angle where second floor portion 202 slopes down toward the bottom of lower dump door 24. In this depiction, tool storage door 204 provides access to a tool area portion that resides between the bottom of dump box 20 and second floor portion 202. Tool storage door 204 may be secured through the use of a locking handle or through the use of a pad lock device.

[0079] Although only a few embodiments have been disclosed in detail above, other embodiments are possible and the inventors intend these to be encompassed within this specification. The specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way. This disclosure is intended to be exemplary, and the claims are intended to cover any modification or alternatives which might be predictable to a person having ordinary skill in the art. For example, other sizes and thicknesses can be used.

[0080] Those of skill in the art would further appreciate that the various illustrative components, assemblies, and methods described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented in multiple ways. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of components, assemblies, and methods, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the exemplary embodiments.

[0081] Also, the inventor(s) intend that only those claims which use the words “means for” are intended to be interpreted under 35 USC 112, sixth paragraph. Moreover, no limitations from the specification are intended to be read into any claims, unless those limitations are expressly included in the claims.

[0082] Where a specific numerical value is mentioned herein, it should be considered that the value may be increased or decreased by 20%, while still staying within the teachings of the present application, unless some different range is specifically mentioned. Where a specified logical sense is used, the opposite logical sense is also intended to be encompassed.

[0083] The previous description of the disclosed exemplary embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present invention. Various modifications to these exemplary embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.