Bulk Material Handling Device

Abstract

A bulk material handling device can comprise a base and a frame rotatably coupled about the base. The frame can have a first bin engagement feature. The bulk material handling device can also comprise a carriage slidably coupled to the frame. The carriage can have a second bin engagement feature. In addition, the bulk material handling device can comprise an actuator coupled to the base and the carriage. The actuator can be operable to cause the carriage to move relative to the frame to secure a bin with the first and second bin engagement features and to cause the frame to rotate relative to the base to dump material disposed in the bin.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bulk material handling device, comprising:
 a base;   a frame rotatably coupled about the base and having a first bin engagement feature;   a carriage slidably coupled to the frame and having a second bin engagement feature; and   an actuator coupled to the base and the carriage,   wherein the actuator is operable to cause the carriage to move relative to the frame to secure a bin with the first and second bin engagement features and to cause the frame to rotate relative to the base to dump material disposed in the bin.   
     
     
         2 . The bulk material handling device of  claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to receive and interface with forks of a forklift. 
     
     
         3 . The bulk material handling device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic ram having a hydraulic coupler which is coupleable to a hydraulic system of the forklift. 
     
     
         4 . The bulk material handling device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a linear actuator, a rotary actuator, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The bulk material handling device of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator is operable by hydraulics, pneumatics, electricity, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The bulk material handling device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second bin engagement features comprises a hook to interface with a protrusion of the bin. 
     
     
         7 . The bulk material handling device of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking mechanism to prevent unintended release of the bin when dumping the material. 
     
     
         8 . The bulk material handling device of  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to maintain a position of the second bin engagement feature relative to the first engagement feature when the frame is rotated beyond a predetermined angle relative to the base. 
     
     
         9 . The bulk material handling device of  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
 a gas-charged ram configured to develop gas pressure as the frame rotates relative to the base to dump material;   a secondary cylinder fluidly coupled to the gas-charged ram; and   a retaining mechanism coupled to the secondary cylinder and configured to maintain a position of the second bin engagement feature relative to the first engagement feature,   wherein the gas pressure developed by the gas-charged ram is operable to cause the secondary cylinder to actuate the retaining mechanism.   
     
     
         10 . The bulk material handling device of  claim 1 , wherein the frame has a rotational range of motion relative to the base of at least about 91 degrees and up to about 179 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The bulk material handling device of  claim 1 , wherein the carriage is slidably coupled to the frame via a wheel and a track. 
     
     
         12 . The bulk material handling device of  claim 11 , wherein the wheel is associated with the carriage and the track is associated with the frame. 
     
     
         13 . A bulk material handling system, comprising:
 a bulk material bin; and   a handling device operable with the bin, the handling device including
 a base, 
 a frame rotatably coupled about the base and having a first bin engagement feature, 
 a carriage slidably coupled to the frame and having a second bin engagement feature, and 
 an actuator coupled to the base and the carriage, 
   wherein the actuator is operable to cause the carriage to move relative to the frame to secure the bin with the first and second bin engagement features and to cause the frame to rotate relative to the base to dump material disposed in the bin.   
     
     
         14 . The bulk material handling system of  claim 13 , wherein the bin includes interface features to interface with the first and second engagement features. 
     
     
         15 . The bulk material handling system of  claim 14 , wherein the interface features of the bin comprise flanges extending from a bottom of the bin and the first and second interfaces comprise hooks to interface with the flanges. 
     
     
         16 . The bulk material handling system of  claim 13 , further comprising a forklift, wherein the base is configured to receive and interface with forks of the forklift. 
     
     
         17 . The bulk material handling system of  claim 16 , wherein the actuator comprises a hydraulic ram having a hydraulic coupler which is coupleable to a hydraulic system of the forklift. 
     
     
         18 . The bulk material handling system of  claim 13 , wherein the carriage includes a bin support structure configured to interface with and support the bin. 
     
     
         19 . The bulk material handling system of  claim 13 , wherein a width of the bin exceeds a width of the handling device. 
     
     
         20 . A method for facilitating handling of bulk material, comprising:
 providing a bulk material handling device including
 a base, 
 a frame rotatably coupled about the base, 
 a carriage slidably coupled to the frame, and 
 an actuator coupled to the base and the carriage; 
   facilitating engagement of a bin with a first engagement feature of the frame; and   facilitating engagement of the bin with a second engagement feature of the carriage,   wherein the actuator is operable to cause the carriage to move relative to the frame to secure the bin with the first and second bin engagement features and to cause the frame to rotate relative to the base to dump material disposed in the bin.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising facilitating interfacing of the base and forks of a forklift. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising facilitating operation of the actuator by a hydraulic system of the forklift.