N/A
The disclosure relates in general to tarping, and more particularly, to a tarping apparatus which is configured to assist with the application of a tarp over an outside structure, such as a flatbed of a semitrailer or the like. The use of the tarping apparatus is not limited to the covering of a flatbed of a semitrailer, and such is shown for illustrative purposes only.
It is known to apply a tarp to outside structures. For example, once a flatbed of a trailer is loaded with materials, it is often desirable and/or necessary to apply a tarp over these materials. Typically, one or more users grasp a tarp and position it on top of the load. Next, they generally climb on the flatbed trailer and handle the tarp. In particular, they unravel the tarp and manipulate it so as to cover the materials. Once the tarp covers the materials, the tarp can be attached to the flatbed trailer along the outside perimeter thereof.
Problematically, it is often necessary to climb on the load which may be elevated off the ground, and off the flatbed surface. In addition, the load may be uneven and difficult to stand on and traverse. Thus, the surface may be dangerous for a user to be climbing and traversing. As a result, many individuals are injured each year climbing and traversing across a load on a flatbed so as to unroll and install a tarp thereover.
The disclosure is directed to a tarping apparatus comprising a base frame, a tarp support boom assembly and a drum member. The base frame includes an inner side and an outer side opposite the inner side. The tarp support boom assembly includes a boom member having a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is coupled to the base frame and the distal end extends outwardly therefrom beyond the inner side of the base frame. The drum member extends around the boom member and is rotatable about an axis defined by the boom member. The drum member includes a first end corresponding to the proximal end of the boom member and a second end corresponding to the distal end of the boom member. A tarp positioned over the drum member can be rolled up on the drum member through rotation of the drum member relative to the boom member.
In some configurations, the base frame further defines at least two fork pockets each configured to receive a fork of a forklift, to in turn, facilitate the lifting thereof.
In some configurations, the at least two fork pockets are defined by a pair of at least one of lateral beams that are substantially parallel to each other and in a spaced apart configuration, and cross beams that are substantially parallel to each other and in a spaced apart configuration.
In some configurations, the cross beams and the lateral beams are substantially perpendicular to each other.
In some configurations, the boom member extends outwardly and upwardly relative to the base frame so that the proximal end is positioned lower than the distal end of the boom member.
In some configurations, the base frame has a top surface defining a plane, with the boom member angled relative to the plane defined by the top surface of the base frame at an angle of between approximately 1° and approximately 45°.
In some configurations, the tarp support boom assembly further includes a boom coupling member coupled to each of the boom member and the base frame. The boom member extends outwardly therefrom. The boom coupling member includes a deflecting surface extending proximate the inner side of the base frame. The deflecting surface is configured to direct a tarp onto the drum member, and away from the base frame.
In some configurations, the deflecting surface includes a front face from which the boom member extends, a first wing face extending to one side of the front face, and oblique thereto, and a second wing face extending to the other side of the front face, and oblique thereto.
In some configurations, the drum member includes a first end that corresponds to the proximal end of the boom member, and a second end that extends beyond the distal end of the boom member.
In some configurations, the tarp support boom assembly includes an outer support bearing surface positioned at the distal end of the boom member. The outer support bearing surface facilitates the rotation of the drum member relative to the boom member.
In some configurations, the tarping apparatus further includes a handle structure coupled to the second end of the drum member. The handle structure includes a moment arm a component of which extends substantially perpendicular to the drum member, and has an outer end. A handle is coupled to the outer end of the moment arm. Rotation of the handle member about the axis defined by the boom member rotates the drum member around the boom member.
In some configurations, the moment arm comprises a disk coupled to the second end of the drum member. The disk includes an inner surface and an outer surface, with an outer perimeter corresponding to the outer end. The handle is coupled to the outer perimeter of the moment arm.
In some configurations, the boom member has a substantially cylindrical configuration, with a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration.
In some configurations, the drum member has a substantially cylindrical configuration, with a substantially circular cross-sectional configuration.
In another aspect of the disclosure, the disclosure is directed to a method of tarping an outside structure such as a flatbed comprising the steps of: providing a tarping apparatus of the type set forth herein; providing a tarp having a proximal end and a distal end; positioning the proximal end of the tarp on the drum member; rotating the drum member so as to roll the tarp thereon until the distal end at least approaches the drum member; positioning the tarping apparatus relative to the outside structure, so that the drum member overlies the outside structure; retaining the distal end of the tarp proximate an end of the outside structure; directing the tarping assembly along the outside structure, with the drum member traversing the outside structure; and rotating the drum member to, in turn, unroll the tarp onto the outside structure.
In some configurations, the drum member is positioned so as to be substantially perpendicular to a direction of travel of the tarping apparatus.
In some configurations, the method of tarping further includes the steps of: providing a forklift; and coupling the base frame to a forklift.
In some configurations, the step of positioning the tarping apparatus relative to the outside structure further comprises the step of: moving the forklift to a location proximate the outside structure.
In some configurations, the step of directing the tarping assembly along the outside structure further comprises the step of: moving the forklift relative to the outside structure.
The disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:
While this disclosure is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and described herein in detail a specific embodiment(s) with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification and is not intended to be limited to the embodiment(s) illustrated.
It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components, referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings by like reference characters. In addition, it will be understood that the drawings are merely schematic representations of the invention, and some of the components may have been distorted from actual scale for purposes of pictorial clarity.
Referring now to the drawings and in particular to
In the configuration shown, and with continued reference to
The tarp support boom assembly 14 is shown in
The inner support 52 is spaced apart from the outer support 50 and from the inner side 24. The inner and outer supports are generally substantially perpendicular to the top surface of the base frame, and generally parallel to each other.
Each of the inner and outer supports of the boom coupling member include a region that is configured to receive and retain the boom member. In the configuration shown, each member includes an opening through which the boom member is directed, whereupon properly being positioned, the boom member is welded to the inner and outer supports. In other configurations, the inner and outer supports may include clamps which can couple the boom member thereto. In still other configurations, the boom member may include flanges with openings that correspond to openings on the boom coupling member (and/or on the base frame), and, fasteners can be utilized to join the two together.
The inner and outer supports are, in the configuration, welded to the top surface of the base frame, however, it is contemplated that such supports are otherwise fastened to the boom member and the base frame in any number of different manners. It is further contemplated that the inner and outer supports may be integrally formed with either one of the boom member and the base frame. In still further configurations, it is contemplated that a structure quite different and distinct from the inner and outer supports can be utilized to essentially join the base frame to the boom member. For example, the boom member may be directly welded to the base frame.
With continued reference to
The drum support member 44 comprises outer support bearing surface 59. The bearing support surface provides a surface upon which the tarp drum assembly 16 can be positioned and about which it can rotate. In the configuration shown, the outer support bearing surface 59 comprises a member that can rotate relative to the boom member. In other configurations, the drum support member may include one or more bearings that are disposed along the length of the boom member. In other configurations, the boom member is allowed to rest on and rotate relative to the boom coupling member. Essentially, the boom member forms an axle for the tarp drum assembly, and it will be understood that a number of different drum support assemblies can be configured to engage therebetween.
The tarp drum assembly 16, as shown in
The handle structure 70 is shown in
The operation of the tarping apparatus will be shown with reference to
Also as shown in
As shown in
The forklift can continue to move away from the flatbed trailer and can return and can grasp and retain another tarp for application to another flatbed trailer. It will be understood that depending on the load that is on the flatbed trailer, the forklift can vary the height that the tarping apparatus is raised off the ground to insure that the tarp drum assembly is raised over the flatbed trailer. It will be understood that the boom member is angled in an upward direction so that when the forklift lifts the tarping apparatus, and a tarp is rolled onto the drum member, even with the additional weight and movement, the boom member remains one of angled upwardly, or at least substantially horizontal. Preferably, it is not leaning in a downward direction.
It will be understood that variations in the operation are contemplated. In some embodiments, the tarping apparatus may be fixedly coupled to a vehicle, such as a truck or the like. In such a configuration, the truck itself may form the base frame, or a base frame may be permanently coupled thereto. In other configurations, the tarping apparatus may be fixed, with the flatbed trailer configured to move relative to the tarping apparatus. It will be understood that other variations are contemplated in the manner in which the tarping apparatus is moved relative to the flatbed trailer. It will further be understood that the tarping apparatus can be used to apply a tarp to a structure other than a flatbed trailer. For example, the tarping apparatus can be used to cover a stationary structure, or a structure on a different type of vehicle.
The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the disclosure and the disclosure is not limited thereto except insofar as the appended claims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications without departing from the scope of the disclosure.