Sandbag filling device

Abstract

A sand bag filling device comprises a trailer having a foldable post with a distribution head at a top of the vertical post. This distribution head is attached to a plurality of filling spouts which extend downwardly and outwardly from the head to positions surrounding the head. A rotatable chute is positioned at the top of the head for receiving sand from a conveyor and for supplying that sand to each in turn of the filling spouts. The post is formed in three portions each pivotally movable relative to the next, with an intermediate post portion pivotally hinged to a top and a bottom post portion at diametrically opposite sides of the post. The filling spouts are attached via readily releasable couplings to funnels communicating the rotatable chute in appropriate position therewith. There may be up to 18 to 24 spouts.

1 . Apparatus for filling sand bags comprising:
 a support structure;   a distribution head mounted on the support structure;   a plurality of discharge spouts each mounted on the support structure and each defining a separate duct extending from the distribution head to a discharge mouth of the discharge spout;   the distribution head being mounted at an elevated position from the ground for receiving sand for filling into bags from a conveyor;   each spout being arranged to cause flow of sand therethrough from the distribution head to the discharge mouth;   each discharge mouth being spaced from the ground by a distance to receive a sandbag thereunder;   the support structure including a post carrying the distribution head at its top that is arranged to stand upwardly from a base of the support structure;   the post being formed by a top post portion at or proximate a first end of the post supporting the distribution head, a bottom post portion at or proximate a second end of the post carried on the base of the support structure, and an intermediate post portion operatively coupled between the top and the bottom post portion such that each of the top, the bottom, and the intermediate post portion is pivotally movable to the next;   the intermediate post portion being sized to form a shorter length of the upstanding post than the top post portion;   the intermediate post portion being pivotally hinged to each of the top post portion and the bottom post portion on a diametrically opposite side of the post such that upon pivoting the top post portion from an upstanding orientation towards a substantially horizontal orientation the intermediate post portion is pivotally displaced in an outwardly opposite direction from the top portion thereby bringing a bottom of the top post portion over a top of the bottom post portion in a folded condition of the post.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the intermediate post portion comprises first and second portions operatively coupled so as to collectively form the length of the intermediate post portion, the first and second portions being pivotally hinged to one another on a common side to a hinge location whereat the intermediate post portion is pivotally hinged to the top post portion so that in the folded condition of the post the first and second portions vertically stack out of vertical alignment with the bottom post portion and said hinge location is located below a topmost end of the intermediate post portion in the folded condition of the post. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the first and second portions are sized to form substantially equal portions of the length of the intermediate post portion. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein the first and second portions each are sized substantially the same to one another in height along the length of the intermediate post portion and in width. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  further including an actuator operatively coupled between the top post portion and the bottom post portion on that side of the post where the top and intermediate post portions are pivotally hinged for displacing the post portions in folding movement of the post. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the discharge spouts are connected to the distribution head by readily releasable couplings. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the readily releasable couplings comprise cooperating hooks and loops. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein there are provided a prescribed number of discharge spouts which lies in a range from  18  to  24 . 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the prescribed number of discharge spouts is 18. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the prescribed number of discharge spouts is 24. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the support structure comprises a trailer including a frame and a hitch for attaching to a towing vehicle, the hitch being pivotally coupled to the frame so as to be pivotally movable about a transverse axis of the trailer from a towing position in which the hitch extends from the frame along a longitudinal direction of the trailer for towing to a stowed position in which the hitch extends from the frame substantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of the trailer. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus for filling sand bags comprising:
 a support structure;   a distribution head mounted on the support structure;   a plurality of discharge spouts each mounted on the support structure and each defining a separate duct extending from the distribution head to a discharge mouth of the discharge spout;   the distribution head being mounted at an elevated position from the ground for receiving sand for filling into bags from a conveyor;   each spout being arranged to cause flow of sand therethrough from the distribution head to the discharge mouth;   each discharge mouth being spaced from the ground by a distance to receive a sandbag thereunder;   wherein the discharge spouts are connected to the distribution head by readily releasable couplings.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the readily releasable couplings comprise cooperating hooks and loops. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12  wherein the support structure comprises a trailer including a frame and a hitch for attaching to a towing vehicle, the hitch being pivotally coupled to the frame so as to be pivotally movable about a transverse axis of the trailer from a towing position in which the hitch extends from the frame along a longitudinal direction of the trailer for towing to a stowed position in which the hitch extends from the frame substantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of the trailer. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus for filling sand bags comprising:
 a support structure;   a distribution head mounted on the support structure;   a plurality of discharge spouts each mounted on the support structure and each defining a separate duct extending from the distribution head to a discharge mouth of the discharge spout;   the distribution head being mounted at an elevated position from the ground for receiving sand for filling into bags from a conveyor;   each spout being arranged to cause flow of sand therethrough from the distribution head to the discharge mouth;   each discharge mouth being spaced from the ground by a distance to receive a sandbag thereunder;   wherein there are provided a prescribed number of discharge spouts which lies in a range from 18 to 24.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the prescribed number of discharge spouts is 18. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein the prescribed number of discharge spouts is 24. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17  wherein the support structure comprises a trailer including a frame and a hitch for attaching to a towing vehicle, the hitch being pivotally coupled to the frame so as to be pivotally movable about a transverse axis of the trailer from a towing position in which the hitch extends from the frame along a longitudinal direction of the trailer for towing to a stowed position in which the hitch extends from the frame substantially transversely of the longitudinal direction of the trailer.