Combination dump and spreader apparatus

Abstract

A vehicle including a combination body for selectively dumping and spreading materials. The vehicle includes, at least, a chassis and a body pivotably secured to the chassis at a hinge. The body is comprised of front and rear ends having upper and lower edges and first and second side walls having lower edges. A hoist is provided which extends between the body and the chassis for pivoting the body about the hinge. A conveyor assembly is also included, the assembly comprising an endless conveyor disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the lower edges of the side walls and extending beyond the rear end of the body; a tailgate pivotably connected to the rear end of the body and having an opening therein to permit material to be transported therethrough by the endless conveyor, the tailgate being selectively pivotable with respect to the body about a lower axis disposed adjacent the lower edge of the tailgate or about an upper axis disposed adjacent the top edge of the tailgate; a cover assembly extending rearwardly from the tailgate which is pivotably attached to the tailgate at a pivot axis, wherein the cover assembly rotates about the pivot axis upon contact with the conveyor assembly when the tailgate pivots about the lower axis; and a spreader cooperating with the conveyor assembly for spreading the material.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vehicle including a combination body for selectively dumping and spreading materials, the vehicle comprising: 
 a chassis;    a body pivotably secured to the chassis at a hinge, the body comprised of front and rear ends having upper and lower edges and first and second side walls having lower edges;    a hoist extending between the body and the chassis for pivoting the body about the hinge;    a conveyor assembly comprising an endless conveyor disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the lower edges of the side walls and extending beyond the rear end of the body;    a tailgate pivotably connected to the rear end of the body and having an opening therein to permit material to be transported therethrough by the endless conveyor, the tailgate being selectively pivotable with respect to the body about a lower axis disposed adjacent the lower edge of the tailgate or about an upper axis disposed adjacent the top edge of the tailgate; and    a cover assembly extending rearwardly from the tailgate which is pivotably attached to the tailgate at a pivot axis, wherein the cover assembly rotates about the pivot axis upon contact with the conveyor assembly when the tailgate pivots about the lower axis.    
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of    claim 1   , wherein the pivot axis of the cover assembly is located above the tailgate opening.  
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of    claim 2   , the tailgate further comprising a latch which is configured to maintain the cover in a fixed position after the cover is moved to a position above the pivot axis.  
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of    claim 1   , wherein at least one side wall comprises upper and lower surfaces, wherein the upper surface is planar and oriented in a substantially vertical position and the lower portion is planar and extends upwardly from the bottom edge of the side wall toward the upper surface at an angle of from about 10 degrees to about 50 degrees from horizontal.  
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of    claim 4   , wherein the lower surface of the at least one side wall extends upwardly from the bottom edge of the side wall at an angle of from about 15 degrees to about 30 degrees from horizontal, the side wall further comprising a curved portion intermediate to and joining the upper and lower portions of the side wall.  
     
     
         6 . A vehicle for selectively dumping and spreading materials, the vehicle comprising: 
 a chassis;    a body pivotably secured to the chassis at a hinge, the body having front and rear ends and first and second side walls having bottom edges;    a hoist extending between the body and the chassis for pivoting the body about the hinge;    a conveyor assembly comprising a cross-conveyor located adjacent the front end of the body having an upper outer surface that extends along a cross-axis and an endless conveyor having an upper surface disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the bottom edges of the side walls, the upper surface of the endless conveyor being located at substantially the same level as or lower than the upper outer surface of the cross-conveyor.    
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of    claim 6   , wherein the cross-conveyor comprises an auger.  
     
     
         8 . A vehicle for selectively dumping and spreading materials, the vehicle comprising: 
 a chassis;    a body pivotably secured to the chassis at a hinge, the body having front and rear ends and first and second side walls having a bottom edge;    a hoist extending between the body and the chassis for pivoting the body about the hinge; and    a conveyor assembly comprising an endless conveyor disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the bottom edges of the side walls, the endless conveyor comprising an endless carrier entrained around front and rear sprockets, at least three motor mounts, wherein at least two of the at least three motor mounts are located either adjacent the front or adjacent the rear of the body.    
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of    claim 8   , further comprising at least four motor mounts, wherein at least two of the at least four motor mounts are located adjacent the front of the body and at least two of the at least four motor mounts are located adjacent the rear of the body.  
     
     
         10 . A vehicle including a combination body for selectively dumping and spreading materials, the vehicle comprising: 
 a chassis;    a body pivotably secured to the chassis at a hinge, the body comprised of front and rear ends having upper and lower edges and first and second side walls having lower edges;    a hoist extending between the body and the chassis for pivoting the body about the hinge;    a conveyor assembly comprising an endless conveyor disposed adjacent to at least a portion of the lower edges of the side walls and extending beyond the rear end of the body, the endless conveyor having two sides; and    a substantially horizontal surface extending rearwardly from the rear end of the body and laterally from at least one side of the portion of the endless conveyor that extends beyond the rear end of the body.    
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of    claim 10   , wherein the substantially horizontal surface extends laterally from both sides of the endless conveyor and provides support for that portion of the endless conveyor that extends beyond the rear end of the body.  
     
     
         12 . The vehicle of    claim 12    further comprising at least one motor, wherein the at least one motor is supported by the substantially horizontal surface and is drivingly connected to the endless conveyor.