Patent Application
20210221609
Systems and methods for cleaning refuse collection containers are known in which spray nozzles are combined with a cart lifter. The cart lifter inverts the collection container to a position where the spray nozzles are aimed at the inside of the cart. After the inside of the container is washed out, the cart lifter returns the collection cart to its original, upright position. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,008, EP 0 137 416, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,291,144, which are incorporated herein by reference.
By way of the present application, a container lifter for a refuse collection cart washer is provided that can be used for washing both large, commercial refuse collection containers and residential refuse collection carts.
The present application has several aspects. In a first aspect, a refuse container lifter is provided that comprises a base having first and second upright members, a cross member supported between the upright members, and first and second side plates respectively associated with the first and second upright members; first and second masts, each having a first end and a second end, pivotally connected on its first end to the first and second side plates, respectively, of the base; a first piston/cylinder actuator having first and second ends associated with each of the first and second masts, the first piston/cylinder actuator being pivotally connected on the first end to the side plate at a position spaced from the pivot connection of the mast to the side plate and pivotally connected on the second end to the second end of the mast for moving the masts between first and second positions; a cross bar rotatably mounted between the first and second masts at the second end of each mast and having a crank arm associated with each end; a second piston/cylinder actuator having first and second ends associated with each of the first and second masts, the second piston/cylinder actuator being pivotally connected on its first end to the first end of its respective mast and on its second end to the crank arm associated with the cross bar for rotating the cross bar; first and second spaced-apart forks rigidly mounted to the cross bar and configured to be received in fork pockets of commercial refuse collection containers; and a residential refuse cart lifter secured to the cross member of the base at a position intermediate the first and second forks; the residential refuse cart lifter comprising a bracket mounted to the cross member, and actuator mounted to the bracket, first and second lift arms each having first and second ends, with the first end of each lift arm mounted to the actuator, first and second follower arms each having first and second ends, the first end of each follower arm pivotally mounted to the bracket, and a cart grabber assembly pivotally secured to the second ends of both the lift arms and follower arms, the lift arms moveable by the actuator between a first upright position and a second inverted position; wherein the lift arms and follower arms are configured so that when the masts are in the first position and the lift arms are in the first upright position, the cart grabber is spaced rearwardly from and below the cross bar, and when the masts are in the second inverted position, and the lift arms are moved to the second inverted position, the cart grabber is spaced rearwardly from and above the cross bar.
In a second aspect, the lift arms and the follower arms each have a generally J-shaped configuration, with an elongated first portion that is connected to the actuator for the lift arms and to the base member for the follower arms, and a second, shorter portion disposed and an angle from the first portion that is pivotally secured to the cart grabber mechanism.
In a third aspect, the first portion of each of the lift and idler arms has a length so that, when the masts are in the first position and the lift arms are in the first upright position, the cart grabber is spaced rearwardly from and below the cross bar, and when the masts are in the second position, and the lift arms are moved to the second inverted position, the cart grabber is spaced rearwardly from and above the cross bar, with the cross bar member being positioned roughly at a center point of a bend between the first and second portions of the lift arms and the follower arms.
In a fourth aspect, the refuse container lifter further comprises a spacer block associated with the cross bar for maintaining a space between the cross bar and a commercial refuse collection container carried on the forks.
In a fifth aspect, a spacer block is associated with each fork.
In a sixth aspect, each crank arm is secured to a respective fork.
In accordance with the present disclosure, a cart lifter is provided that is mountable to the rear of a trailer or truck and is suited for use with both commercial-sized refuse collection containers (typically 1-8 cubic yards in size), designed to be used with lifters having lift forks, and residential refuse collection carts (typically 35-96 gallons in size) that are not liftable by lifters having forks. Specifically, the lifter combines a cart lifter configured for lifting a commercial refuse collection container with residential refuse cart lifter, thus permitting the lifter to be used in servicing both commercial and residential refuse collection routes.
In general, the cart lifter, generally designated 10, comprises a stationary frame or base 12 to which are pivotally attached a pair of masts 14. A rigid cross bar 16 interconnects the free ends of the masts 14. A pair of forks 18 are rigidly secured to the cross bar 16 and are spaced apart a distance sufficient to be inserted into the fork sleeves of a commercial refuse collection container. Preferably, each fork 18 has an associated spacer block 18a for spacing a commercial refuse collection container from the cross bar 16 when carried on the forks 18. A first pair of hydraulic piston/cylinders 20 is provided for raising and lowering the masts, while a second pair of piston/cylinders 22 is provided for rotating the cross bar 16 to tilt the forks 18 relative to the masts 14. One or more residential cart lifters 24 are mounted to the frame/base 12.
More specifically, the base 12 of the cart washer lifter 10 comprises an assembly having first and second upright members 26. A cross member 28 is supported between the upright members 26, and first and second side plates 30 are respectively associated with the first and second upright members 26.
The first and second masts 14 each have a first end 14a and a second end 14b. Each mast 14 is pivotally connected on its first end 14a to its respective side plate 30 of the base 12. As illustrated, the masts 14 have a “dog bone” configuration, with enlarged ends 14a, 14b and a narrower mid portion. As will be seen, the enlarged ends 14a, 14b permit spaced-apart pivot connections to be located on each end of the masts 14, with end 14a having spaced-apart pivot connections 32a, 32b and end 14b having spaced-apart pivot connections 34a, 34b.
The first piston/cylinder actuator 20 is associated with each mast 14 for moving the masts 14 between a first, lower position (as seen in
The cross bar 16 is rotatably mounted between the first and second masts 14 at the second end 14b of each mast 14, with a crank arm 36 being secured to each end of the cross bar 16. The second piston/cylinder actuator 22 for rotating the cross bar 16 is associated with each of the first and second masts 14. Each second piston/cylinder actuator 22 has first end 22a and a second end 22b, and each is pivotally connected on its first end 22a to the first end 14a of its respective mast 14 and on its second end 22b to the crank arm 36 associated with the cross bar 16. As noted above, the first and second spaced-apart forks 18, which are configured to be received in fork pockets of commercial refuse collection containers, are rigidly mounted to the cross bar 16.
The residential refuse cart lifter 24 comprises a bracket 38 by which the cart lifter 24 is secured to the cross member 28 of the base 12 at a position intermediate the first and second forks 18. The general structure and operation of residential cart lifters is well known, as seen in e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,390,159, and US 2005/0095097, each of which is assigned to the assignee of the present application and is incorporated herein by reference.
The residential refuse cart lifter further comprises a cart grabber assembly, generally designated 40, for holding and releasing a residential refuse collection container (such as cart 42, seen in
As can be appreciated, the cart washer lifter 10 must be configured so that the operations of the commercial container lifter and residential cart lifter 24 do not interfere with one another. In order to achieve this, the pivot point geometry and length of the masts 14 are selected to permit the combination of a commercial lifter and residential lifter 24. The cylinder pivot points are placed strategically to allow for them to act as both actuator and stabilizer for when the other cylinder is functioning. Thus, when the cross bar 14 supporting the forks 18 is down, the residential lifter 24 is positioned behind it. When the forks 18 are up, the residential lifter 24 inverts the container 42 over the cross bar 16.
With reference to the drawings, the lift/drive arms 46 and idler/follower arms 52 of the residential cart lifter 24 are sized so that the grabber assembly 40 clears the cross bar 16 when it is in the second inverted position. Thus, with the forks 18 stowed upwards, folded down low, as shown in
In one embodiment, the lift/drive arms 46 and idler/follower arms 52 of the residential refuse cart lifter each have a dog-leg or J-shaped configuration (best seen in
A cart washer lifter according to the present disclosure has several advantages over previously-available cart washer lifters. For example, the left-hand and right-hand forks are physically linked together so they cannot get out of sync with each other; the forks are able to tilt down when in a storage position, so they are less likely to hit low-hanging obstacles as the operator drives the vehicle; the pickup range between the lowest and highest point is sufficiently large to permit use with a wide range of styles of commercial refuse collection containers; the cart lifter is relatively light in weight, simple in design, and economical in manufacture; there are no sliding members, resulting in less maintenance; because the forks rotate, and not slide, the forks can achieve different angles that a sliding system cannot, which can help engage bins that might be on a slope or uneven surface relative to the service vehicle; the ability to angle the forks also helps with washing, by being able to position different shaped bins at the angle most suitable for that shape; and the residential lifter is capable of dumping over the fork bar while the unit is in the elevated position, saving time when servicing a residential refuse collection container because the forks can stay in the stowed position.
Thus, a refuse collection cart lifter for a cart washer has been provided that may be used for washing both large, commercial refuse collection containers and residential refuse collection carts. While the cart lifter has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, the invention should not be limited to the same, but also include changes that would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art, within the scope of the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62963382 | Jan 2020 | US |
