Heated Dump Truck Body P4
by Howard Roberts
Title
Heated Dump Truck Body P4
Artist
Howard Roberts
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
INVENTOR STEVE COMISAC Oct. 14, 1969
His invention solves the problems existent in the prior part by providing a dump truck body heated by circulating engine exhaust in which the exhaust is passed through hollow passages formed mainly by tubular structural members extending along the top and bottom of side walls, upwardly of the side walls and across beneath the bed bottom. The hollow passages establish a path of fluid communication for the exhaust to circulate through additional tubular members in the tailgate. The engine exhaust passes out through openings in the top of the side rails and the end of the tailgate. A rollable metal cover is provided to close the top of the heated body to keep the heat within the body and help make the dump truck body suitable for hauling hot bituminous materials. The body and tubular members are all of aluminum making a lightweight body that in effect increases a given trucks capacity by about 10%. The body may be constructed in sections for knocked-down assembly. When used with hot bituminous materials, the materials are commonly dumped into a paving machine and the tailgate of the truck has an intermediate horizontal pivot to prevent the truck from jamming the tailgate on dumping the bituminous materials. The tailgate is latched by lever operated free falling side latch hooks easily operable from the front of the truck. Exhaust is passed into the truck body from rigid exhaust pipes on the truck bed cooperating with tapered female fittings on the bottom of the truck body, thus eliminating the need for troublesome flexible connections.
With the arrangements of exhaust passages, the truck body is self-cleaning, which is especially important with bituminous materials. Furthermore, the hot mix can be maintained within about 4 F. of plant temperatures. The heat is uniform and there are no hot spots and no cold spots and the temperature may be maintained at an even heat between 350 and 500 F.
When hauling hot bituminous mix in cold weather, it is not necessary to line the truck with plywood, thus saving extensive time and effort, and preventing trouble with highway inspectors since the bituminous hot mix is retained at plant temperature because with the metal cover in place the net heat loss is negligible. Even though there is no substantial heat loss, there is also no cooking of the material, that is, the existing heat of the hot bituminous mix is sustained. Delivering hot mix saves having a torch man at a paving site in chilly weather since the mix is delivered warm.
The metal cover is much improved over the prior art canvas, since it can always cover the load, has an extensive life, and has made covering and uncovering the load a simple one-step manual operation, rather than a wrestling match with a grimy canvas.
Uploaded
June 29th, 2016
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