Dust-proof end closure for contractible canopy
View Patent ↗A foldable canopy cover can be automatically extended over the open top of a container. The canopy is supported by a series of arcuate booms transversally spanning the top of the container. Each boom is secured at opposite ends to a pair of train members riding on rails running along the lateral upper edges of the container. At the end of the covering movement, as the leading edge of the canopy approaches the end of the container, it is brought down flush with the container rim by contact between a cam ramp associated with the container and a roller pin on a lever supporting the leading edge of the canopy, in order to tightly close the open top.
1. A contractible canopy assembly for covering the open top of a quadrangular container which comprises:
first and second rails parallelly formed along opposite sides of said open top;
a plurality of train members slidingly mounted on each of said rails and being translatable therealong, including a leading pair of said train members movable toward a distant edge of said container;
a plurality of booms spanning said top, each being secured at opposite ends to one of said train members;
a pair of levers, each having a fulcrum point in a first location thereof and being rotatively attached at said fulcrum point to one of said leading pair of said train members about an horizontal axis;
a leading one of said booms joining top first ends of said levers;
a tarpaulin attached at spaced-apart intervals to said booms;
means for pulling said leading pair of said train members back and forth along said rails; and
means for rotating said levers and leading boom as said leading pair of said train members approach an extremity of said rails;
wherein said means for rotating comprises a cam ramp proximal to said extremity; and
a roller pin at a second location of at least one of said levers, said cam ramp being sized and contoured to interact with said roller pin and to rotate said at least one of said levers.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said ramp is secured to a face of one of said rails.
3. The assembly of claim 2 , which further comprises a pair of axles, each projecting horizontally from one of said leading pair and engaging one of said levers at said fulcrum point.
4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein said means for rotating further comprise means for resiliently biasing said levers toward and upright position.
5. The assembly of claim 4 , which further comprises a pair of axles, each projecting horizontally from one of said leading pair and engaging one of said levers at said fulcrum point; and,
wherein said means for biasing comprises a spiral spring having an inner end fixedly attached on said axle and an outer end secured to said lever.
6. The assembly of claim 5 which further comprises means for adjusting the tension of said spring.
7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein said means for adjusting comprise a plurality of locations for securing said outer end of said spring to said lever.
8. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein said cam ramp comprises a median section obliquely oriented in relation to said rail and a distant section parallel to said rail.
9. The assembly of claim 8 which further comprises a mortise-forming member at said distant edge; and
a bolt associated with one of said leading pair of said train members and lever, and being positioned to engage said mortise-forming member when said roller pin reaches said distant section.