RETRACTABLE TARPAULIN COVER APPARATUS FOR OPEN-TOPPED CONTAINERS SUCH AS TRUCK BODIES

摘要

A retractable cover system for an open container such as a truck or truck trailer body (11) is disclosed. The system includes a cover (40), a plurality of bows (31) to which the cover is attached, an endless cable (53) to move and guide the bows, with the cable passing through and guiding each bow and the ends of the bows sliding along the tops (19) of the sides (14, 15) of the container; a winder pulley (52) for moving the cable (53) and thereby also moving the cover (40) across the open top of the container; and a plurality of support pulleys (44, 45, 46, 47, 48) to support the cable, such that by operation of the winder pulley (52) to operate the cable, the cover is deployed or retracted over the open top of the container. The system may also include a support (56) along which the winder pulley is slidably positioned to control cable tension. The cover may also be segmented, so that individual segments can be readily removed and replaced, or the cover can be lengthened or shortened as desired.