Controlling discharge system and method for multi-hopper vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle contains multiple cargo hoppers. A system opens the first hopper, which discharges its cargo into a chute. After discharge completes, a driver moves the vehicle forward, and the system opens the second hopper, which discharges into the chute. After the discharge is completed, the driver moves the vehicle forward, and the system opens the third hopper, which discharges into the chute, and so on. The process and system repeat for as many hoppers need to be unloaded.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for use in a vehicle containing multiple hoppers, each having a discharge gate comprising:
 a) a plurality of actuators, each for opening a respective discharge gate; and   b) a control system which induces the actuators to open the gates in sequence.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the control system opens each gate after its preceding gate has fully discharged its hopper. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , in which each gate is opened at a predetermined time after its preceding gate has opened. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which timing of the sequence of gate openings is adjustable by a human. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , in which the timing is adjusted by a human to suit said vehicle. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which a human initiates operation of the control system, which operates without human intervention after initiation. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle comprises
 a) hopper H 1  having a leading gate G 1 ,   b) hopper H 2 , having a gate G 2  which is adjacent gate G 1 ,   c) hopper H 3  having a gate G 3  which is adjacent gate G 2 ,   d) hopper H 4 , having a gate G 4  which is adjacent gate G 3 ,   
       wherein the control system
 e) opens gate G 1  at time T 1  in response to a start signal issued by a human, 
 f) opens gate G 2  after a time delay following opening of gate G 1 , 
 g) opens gate G 3  after a time delay following opening of gate G 2 , 
 h) opens gate G 4  after a time delay following opening of gate G 3 . 
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , in which the time delays are programmable by said human. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the sequence begins with a leading gate. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the vehicle contains a source of compressed air, and
 a) the vehicle contains an input for receiving a start signal;   b) the control system, in response to the start signal, delivers compressed air which (i) opens a first discharge gate and then (ii) opens a second discharge gate.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , in which, during operation, the control system opens a gate only when the gate is engaged with a discharge chute. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , in which, during operation, the control system opens a gate only when the gate is positioned above a grate which leads to a collection pit at a grain elevator. 
     
     
         13 . A method of operating a vehicle containing multiple cargo hoppers, each having a gate, comprising:
 a) initiating a control which opens the gates, one-at-a-time, at predetermined intervals, and   b) moving the vehicle so that every gate discharges its cargo into a stationary chute located below the vehicle.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13  in which the vehicle does not change direction during said intervals. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , in which the vehicle changes direction during said intervals. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which each hopper has a respective gate, the hoppers being numbered  1  through N, in which:
 a) the actuators comprise
 i) a plurality of pneumatic valves, numbered  1  through N, 
 ii) a plurality of pneumatic pistons, numbered  1  through N, each
 1) actuated by a respective valve, and 
 2) connected to a respective gate; 
 
 
 b) the control system comprises a group of time-delay relays, numbered  1  through N, each associated with a respective valve, wherein
 i) relay  1  closes in response to a signal from a human, and actuates valve  1 , to thereby actuate piston  1 , to thereby open the gate of hopper  1 ; 
 ii) in response to the closure of relay  1 , a time delay occurs, after which relay  2  closes and actuates valve  2  to thereby actuate piston  2 , to thereby open the gate of hopper  2 ; and 
 iii) in response to the closure of relay  2 , a time delay occurs, after which relay  3  closes and actuates valve  3  to thereby actuate piston  3 , to thereby open the gate of hopper  3 . 
 
 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which
 a) the plurality of actuators comprising
 i) a first pneumatic piston which opens a first gate; 
 ii) a second pneumatic piston which opens a second gate; 
   b) the control system induces
 i) a first actuator to actuate the first piston after it receives a start signal; and 
 ii) a second actuator to actuate the second piston at a predetermined time after the start signal. 
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 17 , and further comprising:
 d) a third pneumatic piston, which opens a third gate;   e) a third actuator which actuates the third piston at a predetermined time after actuation of the second piston.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the vehicle empties the hoppers into a stationary chute, and
 a) the discharge gates are manually operable by a person, and   b) the control system responds to a start signal issued by a person by
 (i) opening a first discharge chute when it is engaged with a stationary chute, and 
 (ii) opening a second discharge chute when it is engaged with the stationary chute. 
   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 19 , in which each gate is held open for a sufficient time to allow discharge of the contents of its hopper. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , in which the controller is of the Programmable Digital Logic type, PDL. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a) a start switch; and   b) the control system comprises a Programmable Digital Controller, PDL, which responds to the start switch by opening gates in sequence.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 22 , in which the PDL receives no input signals other than the start signal and possibly a termination signal. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , in which the PDL
 (i) opens a first discharge gate when it is engaged with a stationary chute, and   (ii) opens a second discharge gate when it is engaged with the stationary chute.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , in which
 c) the vehicle occupies a first position when the first discharge gate is engaged with the stationary chute,   d) the vehicle occupies a second position when the second discharge gate is engaged with the stationary chute, and   e) the PDL imposes a time delay between opening of the first discharge gate and opening of the second discharge gate, and that delay is selectable by a human operator.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , in which a transit time occurs while the vehicle moves from the first position to the second position, and the time delay is greater than the transit time. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 26 , in which
 f) the vehicle spends a first dwell time D 1  at the first position,   g) the PDL holds the first discharge gate open for at least a first open time T 1 , and   h) the first dwell time D 1  is greater than first open time T 1 .   
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 27 , in which
 f) the vehicle spends a second dwell time D 2  at the second position,   g) the PDL holds the second discharge gate open for at least a second open time T 2 , and   h) the second dwell time D 2  is greater than second open time T 2 .   
     
     
         29 . A control system for opening gates of hoppers in a vehicle, which:
 a) applies a first voltage to a first solenoid which opens a first valve which delivers air pressure to a first piston which opens a first gate; and   b) detects the first voltage and, in response, pauses for a delay and then applies a second voltage to a second solenoid which opens a second valve which delivers air pressure to a second piston which opens a second gate.   
     
     
         30 . A kit for modifying a vehicle which contains a number N hoppers, each having a gate, comprising:
 a) N pneumatic actuators;   b) N brackets, each for connecting an actuator to a respective gate, to allow an actuator to open its gate; and   c) a control which actuates a first actuator, and then actuates the remaining actuators, one-at-a-time, at predetermined intervals.   
     
     
         31 . An apparatus for controlling discharge doors of hoppers in a vehicle, comprising:
 a) a first pneumatic piston, which opens a first door of a first hopper;   b) a second pneumatic piston, which opens a second door of a second hopper;   c) a programmable logic controller, which contains program code, which receives a start signal and, in response,
 i) actuates the first piston to open the first door, in accordance with the program code, and 
 ii) actuates the second piston to open the second door, after the first hopper has discharged fully, in accordance with the program code.