Importance

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Abstract

An automated hatch for a bulk transport vehicle includes a cover and a locking assembly. The vehicle includes a container and at least one upstanding annular flange defining a fill opening for the container. The cover is adapted to pivotally mount on the vehicle, with the cover moving between an open position and a closed position for extending over the annular flange and closing the fill opening. The locking assembly includes a driver assembly and a plurality of locking members. The driver assembly includes a plurality of pusher members, with each of the pusher members being pivotally mounted to a respective locking member. The locking members are mounted to the peripheral portion of the cover for engaging the annular flange of the vehicle for locking the cover in the closed position. The driver assembly further includes a driving member which rotates about a drive axis, with each of the pusher members being pivotally mounted to the driving member and being moved by the driving member between a retracted position and an extended position. The pusher members pivot the locking members to their unlocked positions when the pusher members are moved to their retracted positions and pivot the locking member to their locked positions when the pusher members are moved to their extended positions thereby locking the cover in its closed position over the fill opening.

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First Claim