| 摘要 |
A retractable trailer enclosure system for use in covering at least part of the bed of a truck trailer having removable U-shaped bows vertically mounted thereon. The trailer enclosure system includes a flexible cover which may be retracted to permit access to the trailer bed surface, or extended to cover the trailer bed and any goods positioned thereon. An elongated spindle is provided which is mounted to the trailer by means of a spindle mount assembly. The spindle is used to wind the cover, coiling or uncoiling it thereabout in its retraction or extension. The spindle is movably supported in an orientation with its spindle axis generally parallel to the upper surface of the trailer bed by a spindle mount, with the spindle mount used to secure the spindle so that it may be moved along a generally arcuate extending path or corridor. The spindle mount consists of a pair of spaced pivot rods elongated so as to extend from a first end portion to a second distalmost end portion. The first end portion of each of the pivot rods is secured to an associated pivot aligned with a pivot axis oriented parallel to the spindle axis. The pivot rods are mounted such that the second end of each rod may be movable from a generally lateral orientation along the arcuate path or corridor about the pivot axis. Each pivot rod is provided as a telescoping rod with the distalmost end being movable radially outwardly from the pivot axis. A tensioner is provided to resiliently bias the distalmost end to the retracted position. A manual electric or other power drive is used to selectively rotate the spindle to thereby extend or retract the tarp over the bows. When the tarp is in an initial extended position covering the trailer bed and bows, the initial rotation of the spindle about its spindle axis results in the winding of the cover about the spindle. As the cover is coiled about the spindle, the spindle is drawn by advancing along the tarp in movement over the arcuate path. In a similar manner by reversing the direction of rotation of the spindle, the tarp is unwound to recover the trailer bed and bows.
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