Systems and methods for providing an undercarriage material handling system

Abstract

The described systems can include any suitable component that allows them to move material (e.g., gravel and/or another bulk material), under at least a portion of a frame or other portion of a vehicle, and from one portion of the vehicle to another portion. In some cases, the systems include a chip spreader that includes a motorized vehicle and a material transfer device that is configured to move the material from a first end of the motorized vehicle to a second end of the motorized vehicle. In some cases, the material transfer device is disposed below an axle, frame, drivetrain, radiator, and/or other component of an undercarriage of the motorized vehicle. In some cases, the material transfer device includes one or more conveyors, augers, vibrators, gravity slides, and/or pneumatic systems that are configured to move the material. Other implementations are described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An undercarriage material handling system comprising:
 a material transfer device that is configured to move bulk material from a first portion of a vehicle to a second portion of the vehicle,   wherein the material transfer device is configured to be coupled to the vehicle such that the material transfer device is configured to carry the bulk material above a surface on which the vehicle is disposed and below an undercarriage of the vehicle.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the undercarriage comprises at least one component selected from a portion of: (i) an axle, (ii) an axle beam, (iii) a frame, (iv) a frame cross member, (v) a chassis, (vi) a drivetrain, (vii) a drive shaft, (viii) a transmission, (ix) a carriage, (x) an engine, (xi) a differential, and (xii) a gas tank of the vehicle. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the vehicle is carried above the surface on which the vehicle is disposed by at least a first wheel on a first side of the vehicle and a second wheel on a second side of the vehicle, and wherein the material transfer device is configured to carry the bulk material below the undercarriage of the vehicle and through a space located between the first wheel and the second wheel. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the material transfer device is configured to couple to the vehicle such that a portion of the material transfer device is disposed below, and is configured to move the bulk material below, a portion of both a front axle and a rear axle of the vehicle. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the material transfer device is configured to couple to, and to selectively decouple from, the vehicle such that when the material transfer device is coupled to the vehicle, the material transfer device is configured to carry the bulk material below the undercarriage of the vehicle. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the material transfer device comprises a longitudinal axis that runs at an angle that is greater than 2 degrees and less than 45 degrees of being parallel with a flat surface when the material transfer device is coupled to the vehicle and when the vehicle is disposed on the flat surface. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the material transfer device comprises a device selected from a conveyor and an auger. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a first hopper that is configured to direct the bulk material to a first portion of the material transfer device and a second hopper that is configured to receive the bulk material from the material transfer device. 
     
     
         29 . A chip spreader comprising:
 a motorized vehicle comprising an undercarriage; and   a material transfer device that is coupled to the motorized vehicle and that is configured to move bulk material from a first portion to a second portion of the motorized vehicle,   wherein a portion of the material transfer device is disposed below a portion of the undercarriage such that as the bulk material is moved from the first portion to the second portion of the motorized vehicle, the bulk material passes below the portion of the undercarriage.   
     
     
         30 . The chip spreader of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 a first hopper that is disposed adjacent to the first portion of the vehicle, the first hopper being configured to receive the bulk material and to dispense the bulk material to the material transfer device; and   a second hopper that is disposed adjacent to the second portion of the motorized vehicle, the second hopper being configured to receive the bulk material from the material transfer device and to release the bulk material onto a surface that is below the motorized vehicle,   wherein the first hopper is configured to drop the bulk material down to the material transfer device, and   wherein the material transfer device is configured to drop the bulk material down to the second hopper.   
     
     
         31 . The chip spreader of  claim 29 , wherein an angle of a longitudinal axis of the material transfer device is configured to be selectively adjusted. 
     
     
         32 . A chip spreader comprising:
 a motorized vehicle comprising an undercarriage comprising an object selected from a portion of: (i) an axle, (ii) an axle beam, (iii) a frame, (iv) a frame cross member, (v) a chassis, (vi) a drivetrain, (vii) a drive shaft, (viii) a transmission, (ix) a carriage, (x) an engine, (xi) a differential, and (xii) a gas tank of the motorized vehicle;   a material transfer device that is coupled to the motorized vehicle such that a portion of the material transfer device is disposed below the undercarriage so that as a bulk material is moved from a first end to a second end of the material transfer device, the bulk material passes below the undercarriage and above a surface on which the motorized vehicle is disposed, wherein the material transfer device comprises a first transfer mechanism selected from a first conveyor and a first auger; and   a first hopper at a first end of the motorized vehicle with the first hopper being configured to receive the bulk material and provide the bulk material to the material transfer device.   
     
     
         33 . The chip spreader of  claim 32 , further comprising a second hopper at a second end of the motorized vehicle, with the second hopper being configured to receive the bulk material from the material transfer device and to release the bulk material onto the surface on which the motorized vehicle is disposed. 
     
     
         34 . The chip spreader of  claim 32 , wherein the motorized vehicle comprises a first set of tires at a first side of the motorized vehicle and a second set of tires at a second side of the vehicle, and wherein portion of the material transfer device that carries the bulk material is disposed between the first and second set of tires. 
     
     
         35 . The chip spreader of  claim 33 , further comprising a third hopper that is disposed at the second end of the motorized vehicle. 
     
     
         36 . The chip spreader of  claim 33 , wherein the material transfer device further comprises a second transfer mechanism, wherein the second transfer mechanism is selected from a second conveyor and a second auger, wherein the chip spreader further comprises a third hopper that is disposed at the second end of the motorized vehicle, wherein the second transfer mechanism is configured to deliver the bulk material to the third hopper, wherein the material transfer device is configured to selectively decouple from the motorized vehicle, and wherein an angle of a longitudinal axis of the first transfer mechanism is configured to be selectively adjusted. 
     
     
         37 . The chip spreader of  claim 32 , wherein at least a portion of the material transfer device is powered by a power take-off of the motorized vehicle. 
     
     
         38 . The chip spreader of  claim 32 , further comprising a live bottom hopper that is configured to feed the bulk material into the first hopper. 
     
     
         39 . The chip spreader of  claim 32 , wherein a portion of the material transfer device passes under a portion of an axle of the motorized vehicle, and wherein the motorized vehicle comprises a first set of tires at a first side of the motorized vehicle and a second set of tires at a second side of the vehicle, and wherein the material transfer device is disposed between the first and second set of tires. 
     
     
         40 . The chip spreader of  claim 35 , wherein a portion of the material transfer device passes under a portion of a front axle a portion of a back axle of the motorized vehicle, wherein the motorized vehicle comprises a first set of tires at a first side of the motorized vehicle and a second set of tires at a second side of the vehicle, and wherein the material transfer device is disposed between the first and second set of tires.