Combined dump truck and spreader apparatus

Abstract

A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus is disclosed for selectively dumping and spreading materials. The apparatus includes a truck chassis and a body for receiving and dispensing the materials. The body has a first and a second end and a first and second curved side wall. The body is secured to the chassis and a tailgate is secured to the first end of the body. An auger arrangement is disposed within the body and extends between the first and second ends thereof for transporting the materials along the body. The tailgate defines an opening which co-operates with the auger arrangement for permitting the flow therethrough of the materials. The arrangement is such that selective spreading and dumping of the materials from the opening is permitted.

1 . A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus for selectively dumping and spreading materials, said apparatus comprising: 
 a truck chassis;    a dump body for receiving and dispensing the materials, said body having a first and a second end and a first and a second side wall, said body being pivotally secured to said chassis about a pivotal axis;    hoist means extending between said body and said chassis for selectively pivoting said body about said pivotal axis;    a tailgate pivotally secured to said first end of said body about a further pivotal axis for selectively permitting dumping of the materials therethrough when said body is pivoted about said pivotal axis;    auger means disposed within said body and extending between    said first and second ends thereof for transporting the materials along said body;    said tailgate defining an opening which co-operates with said auger means for permitting the flow therethrough of the materials, the arrangement being such that selective spreading and dumping of the materials from said opening is permitted; and    said side walls curving downwardly and inwardly towards said auger means such that said dump body defines a substantially semi-circular cross sectional configuration for guiding and evenly deflecting all of the materials within said body towards said auger means along the entire length of said auger means.    
   
   
       2 . A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein 
 said tailgate has a top and a bottom edge, said tailgate further including:    deflector means secured to said bottom edge of said tailgate for deflecting the materials within said body towards said auger means;    said deflector means including:    a gate means for selectively controlling said flow of materials through said opening;    
   
   
       3 . A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said pivotal axis extends normal to said side walls.  
   
   
       4 . A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said further pivotal axis is disposed spaced and parallel to said pivotal axis such that when said tailgate is in a closed disposition thereof, the materials are contained within said body and when said tailgate is pivoted about said further pivotal axis to an open disposition thereof, dumping of the materials from said body past said tailgate is permitted.  
   
   
       5 . A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said tailgate extends from said first to said second side wall of said body, said further pivotal axis being disposed adjacent to said top edge of said tailgate.  
   
   
       6 . A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said tailgate includes: 
 locking means for releasably locking said tailgate in said closed disposition.    
   
   
       7 . A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus as set forth 
 in  claim 1  wherein said side walls of said body are disposed substantially parallel and spaced relative to each other.    
   
   
       8 . A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus as set forth 
 in  claim 1  wherein said auger means includes:    a first and second auger, said augers being disposed spaced and parallel relative to each other between said side walls of said body;    said first auger including:    a first elongate shaft;    a first spiral flight secured to said first elongate shaft such that when said first elongate shaft is rotated, said first spiral flight interacts with the materials for feeding the materials towards said first end of said body;    said second auger including:    a second elongate shaft;    a second spiral flight secured to said second elongate shaft such that when said second elongate shaft is rotated, said second spiral flight interacts with the materials for feeding the materials towards said second end of said body;    drive means operably connected to said auger means for driving said auger means.    
   
   
       9 . A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said drive means includes: 
 a drive motor associated with said first and second augers;    means operatively connected between said drive motor and associated auger, the arrangement being such that movement of said auger means for moving the materials in either or both direction between said ends of said body is permitted.    
   
   
       10 . A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said side walls guide the materials downwardly towards said auger means, the arrangement being such that when the materials are received within said body, said walls deflect the materials towards said auger means.  
   
   
       11 . A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  wherein 
 said second end of said body defines an aperture which co-operates with said auger means for permitting the flow therethrough of the materials, the arrangement being such that selective spreading of the materials through said aperture is permitted so that when the materials flow through the aperture, spreading of the materials from said second end of said body is permitted for increasing traction of said combined apparatus.    
   
   
       12 . A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus for selectively dumping and spreading materials, said apparatus comprising: 
 a truck chassis;    a dump body for receiving and dispensing the materials, said body having a first and a second end and a first and a second side wall, said second end of said body defining an aperture;    a tailgate secured to said first end of said body for selectively permitting dumping of the materials therethrough;    auger means disposed within said body and extending between said first and second ends thereof for transporting the materials along said body;    said tailgate defining an opening which co-operates with said auger means for permitting the flow therethrough of the materials, the arrangement being such that selective spreading and dumping of the materials through said opening is permitted and selective spreading of the materials through said aperture is permitted; and    said side walls curving downwardly and inwardly towards said auger means such that said dump body defines a substantially semi-circular cross sectional configuration for guiding and evenly deflecting all of the materials within said body towards said auger means along the entire length of said auger means.    
   
   
       13 . A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus for selectively dumping and spreading materials, said apparatus comprising: 
 a truck chassis;    a dump body for receiving and dispensing the materials, said body having a first and a second end and a first and a second side wall, said body being pivotally secured to said chassis about a pivotal axis;    hoist means extending between said body and said chassis for selectively pivoting said body about said pivotal axis;    a tailgate secured to said first end of said body for selectively permitting dumping of the materials therethrough when said body is pivoted about said pivotal axis;    drive means;    endless conveyor means trained over said drive means, said conveyor means being disposed at a bottom of said walls and within said body and extending between said first and second ends thereof for conveying the materials along said body;    spreader means cooperating with said conveyor means for spreading the materials;    said tailgate defining an opening which co-operates with said conveyor means for permitting the flow therethrough of the materials, the arrangement being such that selective spreading and dumping of the materials from said opening is permitted; and    said side walls curving downwardly and inwardly towards said conveyor means such that said dump body defines a substantially semi-elliptical cross sectional configuration for guiding and evenly deflecting all of the materials within said body towards said conveyor means along the entire length of said conveyor means.    
   
   
       14 . A combined dump truck and spreader apparatus for selectively dumping and spreading materials, said apparatus comprising: 
 a truck chassis;    a dump body for receiving and dispensing the materials, said body having a first and a second end and a first and a second side wall, said body being pivotally secured to said chassis about a pivotal axis;    hoist means extending between said body and said chassis for selectively pivoting said body about said pivotal axis;    a tailgate pivotally secured to said first end of said body about a further pivotal axis for selectively permitting dumping of the materials therethrough when said body is pivoted about said pivotal axis;    drive means;    auger means driven by said drive means, said auger means being    disposed at a bottom of said walls and within said body and extending between said first and second ends thereof for conveying the materials along said body;    spreader means cooperating with said auger means for spreading the materials;    said tailgate defining an opening which co-operates with said auger means for permitting the flow therethrough of the materials, the arrangement being such that selective spreading and dumping of the materials from said opening is permitted; and    said side walls curving downwardly and inwardly towards said auger means such that said dump body defines a substantially semi-elliptical cross sectional configuration for guiding and evenly deflecting all of the materials within said body towards said auger means along the entire length of said auger means.