Combination Vehicle and Apparatus for Loading and Covering Material Located on a Vehicle Bed, Apparatus for Loading Material, and/or Method for Lifting Material

摘要

A method of loading, loading apparatus, and/or combination vehicle and apparatus for loading and covering material located on a vehicle bed. The combination vehicle and apparatus for loading and covering material can include a plurality of receptacles which can follow a path when raised and lowered in which each receptacle may be rotated about and axis and lowered such that the receptacles may be filled with material at a height less than the height of the vehicle bed from the ground, and wherein the receptacles may then be raised and rotated along the same path to cause the material to be deposited in the vehicle bed and a portion of the vehicle bed to be covered by the receptacles.

主权项

1. A combination a vehicle and an apparatus for loading and covering material located on a vehicle bed, comprising:
the vehicle bed being configured to hold the material thereon; the apparatus comprising a plurality of receptacles each attached moveably and rotatably to the vehicle and each being displaceable along a path between a first transport position, in which the plurality of receptacles combine with the vehicle bed to form a container adapted to transport and/or hold the material on the vehicle bed, and a second loading position, in which the plurality of containers are positioned alongside the vehicle bed at a predetermined receptacle height which is lower than a vehicle bed height relative to a lowest vehicle level, wherein while moving along the path between the first transport position and the second loading position each of the plurality of receptacles goes through a rotational displacement and a vertical displacement and during at least a portion of the vertical displacement the receptacle is not rotating, the vehicle bed forming a bottom side of the container and, when in the first transport position, the plurality of receptacles forming a top side of the container configured to extend above at least a portion of the bottom side; and wherein each of the plurality of receptacles has a receptacle base defining a receptacle surface, while in the second loading position the receptacle surface faces generally upwardly and is configured to receive the material thereon, while in the first transport position the receptacle surface faces generally downwardly to form part of the container.