Sander body attachment which accommodates operation in conjunction with a towed trailer

摘要

In order to allow a truck with the ability to distribute sand to a roadway, while also having the ability to tow accessories, a uniquely configured sander body is provided. The sander body is uniquely adapted for attachment to the truck tailgate, and specifically sized so that it does not interfere with the towing mechanisms of the truck. Further, sander body is also uniquely configured to have a sand distribution chamber, with a removable rear wall, thus allowing easy access for cleaning and maintenance purposes.

主权项

1. A sander body providing a dump truck with the ability to simultaneously operate in a multi-function manner including sanding and towing functions when the sander body is coupled to a truck box and a swinging tailgate of the dump truck, the truck box being positionable between a horizontal position and an inclined position wherein material is gravitationally shiftable toward a rear end of the truck box, the dump truck having a tow hitch below the swinging tailgate, thereby allowing for the transfer of the material to a delivery location during sanding operations, the sander body comprising:
a housing having a main body and a pair of attachment sidewalls, the main body having a trough structure with a substantially open top portion, each of the attachment sidewalls having a first attachment mechanism and a second attachment mechanism for coupling the housing to the tailgate, the first attachment mechanism being attachable to a sidewall portion of the swinging tailgate, and the second attachment mechanism being attachable to a lock pin portion of the swinging tailgate; a set of lock pins extending from a lower portion of the housing configured to interact with a locking mechanism on the truck box; and an auger housed within the main body of the housing for moving material to the delivery location for subsequent distribution during sanding operations, wherein the main body is sized so that a bottom portion of the main body is positioned above a trailer hitch carried by the dump truck; wherein the substantially open top portion of the main body of the housing is positioned between the truck box and the tailgate during sanding operations and the tow hitch is adapted to receive a towing accessory along an insertion axis, the sander body avoiding interference with the insertion axis when the truck box is in the horizontal position, the inclined position or therebetween.