Spiral-Welded Tarping Spools for Automatic Tarping Machine

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/655,810, filed Jun. 4, 2024; claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/666,920, filed Jul. 2, 2024; claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/673,512, filed Jul. 19, 2024; all of which are incorporated by reference herein.

The present disclosure relates to a rotating portion, mandrel, or spool for use with an automatic tarping equipment attachment constructed to enhance cylindrical dimensional conformity to aid in prevention of bunching or uneven weight distribution during rolling or unrolling of a tarpaulin therefrom.

Automatic tarping equipment attachments, such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,014, have been used to facilitate rolling and unrolling of a tarpaulin therefrom. The automatic tarping equipment attachments can be supported by a bulldozer, and using movement of the bulldozer and rotation of a rotating portion, mandrel, or spool (around which the tarpaulin) is provided, the tarpaulin can be furled and unfurled relative to a particular area of ground. Previous conventional central portions are constructed of extruded steel portions, which, given the length requirements of the central portions, typically required welds joining two lengths of the extruded steel portions. Such welded joining can make fabricating the previous conventional portions with cylindrical dimensional conformity challenging. Without such cylindrical dimensional conformity, the previous conventional portions can potentially cause the tarpaulins to roll up more quickly on one end and roll up more slowly on the other end thereof during rolling, which can lead to bunching and corresponding uneven weight distribution of the tarpaulins on the previous conventional portions.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved rotating portion, mandrel, or spool with greater cylindrical dimensional conformity. As discussed below, such an improved rotating portion, mandrel, or spool can employ a spiral-welded metallic tube to provide increased cylindrical dimensional conformity to ameliorate such rolling issues.

A rotating portion, mandrel, or spool for use with an automatic tarping equipment attachment is provided in the present disclosure, and can be constructed to enhance cylindrical dimensional conformity to aid in prevention of bunching or uneven weight distribution during rolling or unrolling of a tarpaulin therefrom.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a spool configured for use in a tarpaulin application attachment, the spool including a first end, an opposite second end, a central portion extending between the first end and the second end, a first hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the first end, a second hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the second end, the central portion being substantially cylindrical, the first hollow portion including a first inner diameter, and the second hollow portion including a second inner diameter; a first end portion including a first insert portion and a first shoulder portion attached to the first insert portion, the first insert portion being cylindrical and including a first outer diameter sized smaller than the first inner diameter and to have a tight fit within the first hollow portion; a second end portion including a second insert portion and a second shoulder portion attached to the second insert portion, the second insert portion being cylindrical and including a second outer diameter sized smaller than the second inner diameter to a have a tight fit within the second hollow portion; where the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion, and after the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion, the first shoulder portion abuts the first end of the central portion; where the second insertion portion is received in the second hollow portion, and after the second insert portion is received in the second hollow portion, the second shoulder portion abuts the second end of the central portion; where the first insert portion is attached to the central portion via a first fillet weld between the first end of the central portion and the first shoulder portion, and a first plug weld between the first insert portion and the central portion; and where the second insert portion is attached to the central portion via a second fillet weld between the second end of the central portion and the second shoulder portion, and a second plug weld between the second insert portion and the central portion.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a spool configured for use in a tarpaulin application attachment, the spool including a first end, an opposite second end, a central portion extending between the first end and the second end, a first hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the first end, a second hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the second end, the central portion being substantially cylindrical, the first hollow portion including a first inner diameter, and the second hollow portion including a second inner diameter; a first end portion including a first insert portion and a first shoulder portion attached to the first insert portion, the first insert portion being cylindrical and including a first outer diameter sized smaller than the first inner diameter and to have a tight fit within the first hollow portion; a second end portion including a second insert portion and a second shoulder portion attached to the second insert portion, the second insert portion being cylindrical and including a second outer diameter sized smaller than second inner diameter and to a have a tight fit within the second hollow portion; where the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion; where the second insertion portion is received in the second hollow portion; where the first insert portion is attached to the central portion via a first fillet weld between the first end of the central portion and the first shoulder portion, and a first plug weld between the first insert portion and the central portion; where the second insert portion is attached to the central portion via a second fillet weld between the second end of the central portion and the second shoulder portion, and a second plug weld between the second insert portion and the central portion; and where the central portion includes a first end portion reinforced by the first insert portion inserted in the first hollow portion, and a second end portion reinforced by the second insert portion inserted in the second hollow portion.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides a spool configured for use in a tarpaulin application attachment, the spool including a first end, an opposite second end, a central portion extending between the first end and the second end, a first hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the first end, a second hollow portion in the central portion at and adjacent the second end, the central portion being substantially cylindrical, the first hollow portion including a first inner diameter, and the second hollow portion including a second inner diameter; a first end portion including a first insert portion and a first shoulder portion attached to the first insert portion, the first insert portion being cylindrical and including a first outer diameter sized to have a tight fit and interface with the central portion within the first hollow portion; a second end portion including a second insert portion and a second shoulder portion attached to the second insert portion, the second insert portion being cylindrical and including a second outer diameter sized to a have a tight fit and interface with the central portion within the second hollow portion; where the central portion is formed from a spiral wound cylindrical section of metallic tubing made of one of steel and aluminum; where the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion, and after the first insert portion is received in the first hollow portion, the first shoulder portion abuts the first end of the central portion; where the second insertion portion is received in the second hollow portion, and after the second insert portion is received in the second hollow portion, the second shoulder portion abuts the second end of the central portion; where, to reinforce a first end portion of the central portion, the first insert portion is attached to the central portion via a first fillet weld between the first end of the central portion and the first shoulder portion, and a first plug weld between the first insert portion and the central portion; and where, to reinforce a second end portion of the central portion, the second insert portion is attached to the central portion via a second fillet weld between the second end of the central portion and the second shoulder portion, and a second plug weld between the second insert portion and the central portion.

The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of a rotating portion, mandrel, or spool (hereinafter “spool”), as depicted in, that can used as part of embodiments of an automatic tarping equipment attachment() or as part of the tarping equipment attachment disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,014, which is incorporated by reference herein. As depicted in, the spoolcan be rotated by the automatic tarping equipment attachmentor the tarping equipment attachment disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,014 to facilitate rolling or unrolling of a tarpaulin (“tarp”). Portions of the spool, as discussed below, can be formed of spiral-welded metallic tubing that can have longer lengths with greater cylindrical dimensional conformity and less weight than previous conventional central portions such as, for example, that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,014. The spiral-welded metallic tubing, for example, can be made of steel, aluminum, or other metal or alloy that affords dimensional conformity.

The tarping equipment attachmentcan be attached to or integrated with heavy equipment such as a bulldozer (not shown). For example, like the tarping equipment attachment disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,014, the tarping equipment attachmentcan include attachment mechanismsfacilitating attachment thereof to a blade (not shown) of the bulldozer. The blade can be used to raise and lower the tarping equipment attachment, and the bulldozer itself can be used to position and reposition the tarping equipment attachmentrelative to a particular area of ground.

The tarping equipment attachmentcan be configured to roll or unroll the tarpduring movement of the bulldozer. To that end, the tarping equipment attachmentcan include the spoolwith various shackles (not shown) provided therealong. The shackles can be used to facilitate attachment of the tarpto the spool, and the spoolcan be rotated by the tarping equipment attachmentto facilitate rolling and unrolling of the tarp. Rotation of the spoolin a first rotational direction can be used to roll the tarponto the spool, and rotation of the spoolin a second rotational direction can be used to unroll the tarpfrom the spool. Using movement of the bulldozer and rotation of the spoolof the tarping equipment attachment, the tarpcan be furled and unfurled relative to the particular area of ground. Such furling and unfurling of the tarpcan, for example, be used in covering (unfurling) and uncovering (furling) upper portions of an open portion of a landfill. The tarping equipment attachmentprovides for efficient deployment and removal of the tarprelative to the open portion of the landfill.

The spoolcan be removable from the tarping equipment attachment, and the tarping equipment attachmentcan include a capture/release assemblythat is lockable and unlockable to facilitate capturing and releasing the spool. The capture/release assemblycan include sets of locking jawsat opposite ends of the tarping equipment attachment(similar to those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,014) that are engageable to capture the spooland disengageable to release the spool. And the tarping equipment attachmentcan include a spool-drive assemblythat can be actuated to rotate the spool. As depicted in, the spool-drive assemblycan include a motor/engineand a transmissionfor driving rotation of the spool, or such rotation of the spool can be driven directly by the bulldozer and a transmission (not shown). By providing a multitude of spools, the tarping equipment attachmentcan be used to deploy and remove a multitude of the tarpsover the particular area of ground.

As depicted in, the spoolincludes a central portion, a first end portion, and a second end portion. The central portionpreferably can be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, include a hollow interiorextending through all or portions of the central portion, and can be formed from high-strength spiral-welded metallic tubing typically having a length ranging from preferably and approximately 12 to 53 ft., an outer diameter of approximately 14 in., and wall thicknesses of approximately 0.188 in. For example, the outer diameter of the central portioncan also range from 10-24 in., and the wall thicknesses of the central portioncan also range from 0.100 to 0.375 in. The use of spiral-welded metallic tubing affords use of the central portionhaving longer lengths with greater cylindrical dimensional conformity and less weight than previous conventional central portions such as, for example, that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,014. The hollow interiorcan be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, and all or portions of the hollow interiorof the central portionultimately can be filled with a matrix material (such as, for example, foam) to facilitate reinforcement and prevent deflection of the central portion. The cylindrical dimensional conformity provided by use of the spiral-welded metallic tubing for the spoolcan serve in ameliorating the above-discussed rolling issues.

As discussed below, the first end portionand the second end portionare provided to facilitate reinforcement of a first endand a second end, respectively, of the central portion, and each can include an inner sleeve (or insert) portion, a spool end (or shoulder) portion, and a spindle portion. The reinforcement of the first endand the second endusing the first end portionand the second end portion, respectively, serves in maintaining the cylindrical dimensional conformity of the central portionunder loads of the tarpwound therearound. Side portionsandof tarp, as depicted in, typically include weights (such as chains) that serve to maintain positions of the tarpafter unrolling. And when the tarpis wound therearound, the reinforcement provided by the first end portionand the second end portionserves to accommodate the extra loads of the weights adjacent the first endand the second endto prevent deformation of the central portionunder such loads.

The inner sleeveof each of the first end portionand the second end portioncan be configured to be inserted into and received in portions of the hollow interiorof the central portionat the first endand the second end, respectively. The hollow interiorcan include a first portion at and adjacent the first endof the central portionfor receiving the inner sleeveof the first end portion, and a second portion at and adjacent the second endof the central portionfor receiving the inner sleeveof the second end portion. Furthermore, the inner sleevesof the first end portionand the second end portioncan each be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, include a hollow interior, and can be formed from spiral-welded steel tubing typically having a length ranging from approximately 1 to 3 ft., an outer diameter of approximately 13.438 in., and wall thicknesses of approximately 0.188 in. For example, the outer diameters of the inner sleevescan also range from 10-24 in., and the wall thicknesses of the inner sleevescan also range from 0.100 to 0.375 in. As depicted in, the inner sleevesare sized to be smaller than the inner diameter of the central portionto facilitate receipt thereof in the first portion and the second portion of the hollow interiorat the first endand the second end, respectively. As such, the inner sleevescan be sized to have a tight fit and interface with the central portionwithin the first portion and the second portion of the hollow interiorto facilitate attachment of the first end portionand the second end portionwith the central portion. The tight fit can be provided by a slight interference fit or sizing the inner sleevesfrom 0.0 to approximately 0.125-0.250 inches smaller than the first portion and the second portion of the hollow interior. While the hollow interiorand the inner sleevescan be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, the present disclosure is not so limited. The hollow interiorand the inner sleevescan have other complimentary shapes that afford a tight fit and interface between the central portionand the inner sleeves.

After receipt of the inners sleevesin the hollow interior, the spool end portionsof the first end portionand the second end portioncan be configured to abut the first endand the second end, respectively. As depicted in, for example, the spool end portionsof the first end portionand the second end portioncan each be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, be formed of steel plating or bar stock, and have outer diameters larger than the outer diameter of the central portionranging from approximately 24 to 48 in. The spool end portionscan serve in preventing the tarpfrom winding off the spoolduring rolling and unrolling thereof. Each of the spool end portionsinclude an inner surfaceand an outer surface, and the inner surfacescan correspondingly abut and be attached to the first endand the second endof the central portion.

The spindle portionsof the first end portionand the second end portioncan be configured to attach to the corresponding spool end portions. As depicted in, for example, the spindle portionsof the first end portionand the second end portioncan each be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical, be formed of steel plating or bar stock, and have outer diameters smaller than the outer diameters of the spool end portionsranging from approximately 6 to 12 in. The spindle portionscan be received in the capture/release assembly, and can serve as axles facilitating rotation of the spoolrelative to the tarping equipment attachment. To illustrate, when the sets of locking jawsare disengaged, the spindle portionof the first end portioncan be received in the set of locking jawsadjacent the first end, and the spindle portionof the second end portioncan be received in the set of locking jawsadjacent the second end. Thereafter, the sets of locking jawscan be engaged to capture the spindle portionsof the first end portionand the second end portion. Once the spindle portionsare captured, the spool-drive assemblycan be engaged to one or both of the spindle portionsof the first end portionand the second end portion, and the spool-drive assemblycan be used to rotate the spoolvia actuation of the motor/engineand the transmissionthereof. In doing so, the spindle portionscan rotate as axles within the sets of locking jawsto facilitate rolling and unrolling of the tarp.

To join the inner sleeve portionsand the spool end portionsof the first end portionand the second end portion, a first endof the inner sleeve portionof each of the first end portionand the second end portioncan be fillet welded to the corresponding inner surfaceof the spool end portionof each of the first end portionand the second end portionalong the outer diameters of the inner sleeve portions. Additionally, in some embodiments, the first endof the inner sleeve portionof each of the first end portionand the second end portioncan be fillet welded to the corresponding inner surfaceof the spool end portionof each of the first end portionand the second end portionalong the inner diameters of the inner sleeve portions. And to join the spindle portionsto the spool end portions, a first endof the spindle portionof each of the first end portionand the second end portioncan be fillet welded to the corresponding outer surfaceof the spool end portionof each of the first end portionand the second end portion along the outer diameters of the spindle portions.

To join the first end portionand the second end portionto the central portion, the inner sleevesof the first end portionand the second end portioncan be received in the hollow interiorof the central portionat the first endand the second end, respectively. Thereafter, the first endand the second endthe central portioncan be contacted with and fillet welded to the inner surfacesof the spool end portionsof the first end portionand the second end portion, respectively, along the outer diameter of the corresponding end of the central portion. Additionally, the first end portionand the second end portioncan be plug welded to the central portion. To illustrate, after receipt of the inner sleeve portionsof the first end portionand the second end portionin the hollow interior, a multitude of holes (not shown) can be drilled through the central portionto expose the inner sleeve portionsof the first end portionand the second end portion. These holes can be plug welded to fuse the central portionto the inner sleeveof the first end portion, and to fuse the central portionto the inner sleeveof the second end portion.

The plug welding of the inner sleevesof the first end portionand the second end portionto the central portion, and the fillet welding of the first endand the second endof the central portionto the inner surfacesof the spool end portionsof the first end portionand the second end portion, respectively, serve to attach the first end portionand the second end portionto the central portion. Such attachment of the first end portionand the second end portionto the central portionserves in reinforcing the central portionadjacent the first endand the second endthereof. As discussed above, the reinforcement of the first endand the second endusing the first end portionand the second end portion, respectively, serves in maintaining the cylindrical dimensional conformity of the central portionunder the loads of the tarpwound therearound and the weights in the side portionsandof the tarp.

While fillet and plug welds are used to facilitate attachment of the various components as described above, the present disclosure is not so limited. In addition to or instead of such fillet and plug welding, other types of welding and fastening mechanisms can be used. For example, the fastening mechanisms can include structural adhesives and mechanical fasteners including rivets and threaded fasteners (screws, bolts, and nuts).

And, rather than having inner sleeves, modified end portions (similarly shaped to the first end portionand the second end portion) could each have outer sleeves that can be cylindrical or substantially cylindrical having inner diameters larger that the outer diameter of the central portion. Each of the outer sleeves of the modified end portions can have internal cavities for receiving one of the first endand the second endof the central portion. As such, the first endand the second endcan have diameters sized to fit within the internal cavities of the outer sleeves of the modified end portions. The modified end portions can each include a spool end portion similar to the spool end portion, and a spindle portion similar to the spindle portion, and these portions can be attached in similar fashion to the outer sleeves. Furthermore, after the first endand the second endare received in the internal cavities of the modified end portions, ends of the outer sleeves can be butt welded around the central portion, and other portions of the outer sleeves can be plug welded to the central portion.

Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.