BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well-known to provide heating systems for the payload area of trunk-type vehicles. For example, heating the payload-bearing area of a dump truck also known as the dump truck body.

Typical systems merely divert the truck's exhaust into the dump truck body or underneath it to heat the body itself. The exhaust gas is not usually hot enough and loses too much heat before getting to the dump truck body to effectively heat thepayload area. Uneven heating and freezing of the payload are usually the result. In addition, new motor vehicle emission laws are making it more difficult to use the prior art exhaust systems. U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,711 to Vogelzang et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,988,935 to Dillingmah. Neither patent, however, discloses an independent, distinct and separate heating system for the payload area of a vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A dump body heater according to an embodiment of the present invention blows hot air into the dump body, heating the body and preventing material from freezing to the body in cold weather. Prior art systems typically use the exhaust system ofthe truck by diverting the exhaust heat into the dump body.

In further detail, the present invention provides an independent dump truck body heating system comprising a burner, an independent fuel line operably connected to the burner, and a heat transfer box. The burner is constructed and arranged tofeed heat into the heat transfer box and the heat transfer box is constructed and arranged to feed heat to a dump truck body.

In accordance with further aspects of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the burner is an oil-fired burner; the system may further comprise a battery operably connected to the burner and a switch operably connected between thebattery and the burner; or a duct connected between the heat transfer box and the dump truck body.