Hopper trailer opener

Abstract

According to one or more embodiments, a hand-held, portable opener for a hopper trailer and method of opening is described. The hopper trailer opener comprises a base tool assembly coupled with an extension shaft assembly and can be adapted for use with a variety of different trailer opening mechanisms.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hopper trailer opener comprising an extension shaft assembly removably coupled with a base tool assembly, wherein the base tool assembly comprises
 a motor contained within a motor housing and   a rotatable drive configured to be rotated by the motor, the rotatable drive having a drive head and a spindle attached to the rotatable drive and protruding from the drive head, and wherein the extension shaft assembly comprises   a drive shaft having an end comprising a base tool assembly connector configured to be removably coupled to the rotatable drive of the base tool assembly and an opposing end having a trailer coupler configured to couple to an opening mechanism of a hopper trailer.   
     
     
         2 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 1 , wherein the base tool assembly further comprises a trigger lever configured to adjust at least one of motor speed or motor direction. 
     
     
         3 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 1 , wherein the base tool assembly further comprises a torque reaction bracket fixedly attached to the base tool assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is a pneumatic motor, an electric motor, a battery-powered motor, or a hydraulic motor. 
     
     
         5 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 1 , wherein the base tool further comprises an end having a fitting connectable to a source of power. 
     
     
         6 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 5 , wherein the source of power is a pressurized source of air supplied by attachment to the fitting. 
     
     
         7 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 1 , wherein the motor is configured to provide 40 to 250 ft-lbs of torque to the opening mechanism of the hopper trailer. 
     
     
         8 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 1 , wherein the motor has a maximum speed of 20 to 140 rpm. 
     
     
         9 . The hopper trailer of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable drive further comprises at least one attachment stabilizer centrally positioned at a base of the spindle. 
     
     
         10 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 9 , wherein the spindle has a base and the attachment stabilizer is centrally positioned at the base of the spindle. 
     
     
         11 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 1 , wherein the drive head is an angled drive head. 
     
     
         12 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 10 , wherein the angled drive head has an angle of about 90 degrees. 
     
     
         13 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 1 , wherein the spindle comprises a square drive and a threaded stud configured to mate with an end of the extension shaft assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 1 , wherein the base tool assembly connector comprises a drive hub sized and shaped to fit over the spindle. 
     
     
         15 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 1 , wherein the trailer coupler comprises a socket assembly sized and shaped for a rotatable coupler of the opening mechanism of the hopper trailer. 
     
     
         16 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 15 , wherein the socket assembly is separable from the drive shaft by a quick-connect mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 15 , wherein the socket assembly comprises one or more socket extenders. 
     
     
         18 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 1  further comprising a locking mechanism configured to temporarily prevent the extension shaft assembly from rotating. 
     
     
         19 . The hopper trailer opener of  claim 18 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a brace fixedly attached to the base tool assembly and a lock fixedly attached to the extension shaft assembly, the lock movable to engage the brace. 
     
     
         20 . A method of opening a hopper trailer comprising:
 positioning a hand-held hopper trailer opener in contact with an opening mechanism of a hopper trailer, the hopper trailer opener comprising an extension shaft assembly coupled with a base tool assembly, wherein the base tool assembly comprises:
 a motor contained within a motor housing, and 
 a rotatable drive configured to be rotated by the motor, the rotatable drive having a drive head and a spindle attached to the rotatable drive and protruding from the drive head, 
   and wherein the extension shaft assembly comprises a drive shaft having an end comprising a base tool assembly connector configured to be coupled to the rotatable drive of the base tool assembly and an opposing end having a trailer coupler configured to couple to the opening mechanism of the hopper trailer, and   operating the hopper trailer opener to open a gate of the hopper trailer; and   decoupling the hopper trailer opener from the opening mechanism of the hopper trailer after opening the gate of the hopper trailer.