Aero Industries, Inc.

Other

Richard J Gothier

Steven A Henning

James R Tuerk

Robert E Templin

Oliver L Allen, Ii

Richard B Cohrs

Kerry W Stadtfeld

An electrical connection assembly provides an electrical connection for an electrical component mounted on a movable bed of a vehicle. The electrical connection assembly includes a sub-assembly supported on the movable bed, and another sub-assembly supported on the frame of the vehicle so that the two sub-assemblies make electrical contact when the bed is in one position. The electrical contact can be broken when the bed moves relative to the vehicle frame. In one embodiment, both sub-assemblies are biased toward each other to maintain a solid electrically conductive path between conductive contacts on each sub-assembly. One sub-assembly can include a number of conductive plates, while the other can include a-like number of conductive plungers. The conductive components are supported on insulator plates. One of the plates defines a plunger bore to receive a plunger therein such that the plunger can reciprocate and pivot angularly relative to the plate. A spring can be disposed within the bore to bias the plunger outwardly from the bore. The plunger can include an enlarged head having a chamfer to accommodate angular orientations of the plunger relative to the insulator plate.

Wireless electrical connection for components mounted on a movable truck bed

A hold-down system for a cover of an open-topped container, such as a dump truck body, includes a hold-down member operatively coupled to a biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism is disposed within the container, and preferably below the hold-down member. The hold-down member is adapted to exert tension against the cover via the biasing mechanism. The biasing mechanism may include biased reels having respective biasing cordage such as cables.

Hold-down system for a flexible cover of an open-topped container

An endless cable tarp extension/retraction system spooled around front and rear pulleys includes drive components that are self-contained and encapsulated within an elongated housing that can be removably mounted to the container body using multiple clamp assemblies or mounting bolts disposed within a T-slot in the housing. A front idler pulley is provided that is sized and oriented relative to the drive pulley to maintain the upper and lower runs of the cable to travel essentially parallel along the length of the container. A self-tensioning rear idler pulley is provided that utilizes a spring to exert an adjustable force against the rear idler pulley. In another aspect of the invention, an anti-sail bracket extends downward from the bow ends of the tarp system and includes an inwardly projecting pin that is restrained from upward movement by a rail mounted to the side of the container.

Retractable tarp cover system for containers

An adapter arrangement is provided for connecting the inlet opening of a cold air distribution chute with the cold air discharge opening of a refrigeration unit that is mounted in a opening contained in the front wall of the body of a refrigeration vehicle, characterized in that the forward portion of the chute is collapsed upwardly upon the application of a vertical force thereto, thereby to prevent tearing or damage of the chute. The bottom edge of the chute inlet opening is connected with a weighted horizontal rod or bar that is guided for vertical sliding movement on vertical guide rods that are mounted by brackets on opposite sides of the cold air discharge opening of the refrigeration unit. Each end of the horizontal rod is connected with the associated guide rod by a connecting member that is telescopically slidably connected with the rod.

Air chute adapter for refrigeration vehicles

A storage rack assembly is adapted to be clamped between the two horizontally-spaced longitudinally-extending I-beams of a flat bed trailer, comprising a pair of tray-like end sections each including a pair of parallel horizontally-spaced side walls, a plurality of transverse members that are connected between the side walls to define a lower first storage chamber, and an upper rack device defining a second storage device connected between the upper edges of the side walls at a first end of the end section, the end sections being collinearly arranged with their other ends adjacent each other and connected together on opposite sides of a transverse divider wall. The storage rack assembly is arranged transversely beneath the trailer flat bed with the upper storage chambers adjacent the sides of the flat bed, respectively, upper clamping members being provided that straddle the upper flange surfaces of the I-beams and are clamped to lower clamping members that are secured to the upper edges of the side walls of the storage rack assembly and that extend beneath the I-beams. The dimensions of the upper and lower storage chambers are such as to receive the stake and plywood panel components, respectively, of a conventional side kit associated with the flat bed trailer. A transverse vertical door member is pivotally connected at each end of the storage rack assembly for opening and closing the associated upper and lower storage chambers.

Clamped-on storage rack means for flat bed trailers

An air return baffle for refrigeration trailers is characterized by a unitary panel molded from synthetic plastic material and containing integral baffles for improving air movement to the refrigeration unit of the trailer. The panel is adapted for mounting in sealed relation adjacent the front wall of the trailer and at least partially covers the refrigeration unit. The lower portion of the panel contains a plurality of openings for drawing air into the cavity defined behind the panel. Air is directed by the baffles toward the refrigeration unit, and the air movement eliminates hot and cold spots within the trailer. Vents in the panel are operable should the openings become clogged and a strap is provided to removably connect the panel with the trailer wall. Wings on the upper wall of the panel direct air from the cavity to openings in the side portions of the refrigeration unit.

Air return bulkhead for refrigeration trailers

An air return baffle for refrigeration trailers is characterized by a unitary panel molded from synthetic plastic material and containing integral baffles for air movement to the refrigeration unit of the trailer. The panel is adapted for mounting in sealed relation adjacent the front wall of the trailer and at least partially covers the refrigeration unit. The lower portion of the panel contains a plurality of openings for drawing air into the cavity defined behind the panel. Air is directed by the baffles toward the refrigeration unit, and the air movement eliminates hot and cold spots within the trailer.

A tarp cover system including a pawl (44) and ratchet (26) mechanism for locking a tarp cover (6) in a rolled-up truck-body-uncovered condition, and a brake operating lever that is initially pivoted in one direction with one hand by the operator to release the pawl from the ratchet to unlock the rolled up cover, and is subsequently pivoted in the same direction by the same hand to brake the unwinding of the cover as it is spring-biased toward the truck-body-covered condition. To re-cover the truck body, a crank shaft (24) is rotated to rotate the roll in the cover-winding direction against the biasing force of the cover spring, the ratchet mechanism preventing uncontrolled unwinding of the cover.

Lever-operated locking and brake means for a tarp cover system

A tarp cover system includes a pawl (44) and ratchet (26) mechanism for locking a tarp cover (6) in a rolled-up truck-body-uncovered condition, and a lever arrangement (32,38) that is initially squeezed with one hand by the operator to release the pawl from the rachet to unlock the rolled up cover, and is subsequently pivoted by the same hand to brake (28,34) the unwinding of the cover as it is spring-biased toward the truck-body-covered condition. To re-cover the truck body, a crank shaft (24) is rotated to rotate the roll in the cover-winding direction against the biasing force of the spring, the ratchet mechanism preventing uncontrolled unwinding of the cover.

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Mesa, AZ, United States of America

Richard J Gothier