Refuse collection system

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6390758
  • Patent Number
    6,390,758
  • Date Filed
    Monday, November 20, 2000
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 21, 2002
    21 years ago
Abstract
Side-loading refuse vehicles are disclosed including an offset or recessed hopper section having at least one recessed side which accommodates a loading bin or bucket which is moveable between a lowered position and a raised dumping position. Followers attached to the bucket on each end are engaged in candy cane shaped guide channels situated at the front and rear of the hopper. The guide channels are angled away from the base of the hopper and curved into the top of the hopper to guide the bucket in an angled and arcuate path over the sidewall of the hopper which is built to accommodate the bucket. In some embodiments, a bin handler is built in to the bucket or an automated arm is provided for dumping refuse cans or containers directly into the hopper. The refuse vehicles may have side-loading buckets on one or both sides of the vehicle and the vehicles may be single or multiple compartment vehicles. In another aspect of the invention, the vehicles include a removable body which is separable from the hopper section.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




I. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates generally to vehicles for collecting, packing, hauling, and unloading refuse materials which may include recyclable materials.. More particularly, the invention is directed to refuse collection systems which incorporate integral side-loading lift and dump bucket systems which cooperate with corresponding offset or recessed receiving hoppers having packing devices to load refuse materials into truck bodies. The truck body and loading system including the hopper may be divided into a plurality of separate dedicated compartments to segregate materials during loading and maintain separation after compaction. The side-loading system includes one or more single or multi-compartment manually-loaded buckets and may also be provided with an automated extensible arm system for addressing and tipping other curbside containers.




II. Related Art




The business of collecting, hauling, and disposing of waste materials is rapidly becoming increasingly complex. The materials of collection, in addition to normal refuse disposable at landfills, may further contain a variety of types of materials destined for recycle. It is preferable that materials collected for recycle be at least separated from other refuse if not further broken down into individual recycle species at the point of collection. Of course, generally the complete breakdown into separate species is not practical, but it is desirable that at least highly compactable materials (for example, aluminum, plastic, and paper) be separated from glass at this juncture.




Furthermore, the types of containers in which materials are placed at the points of collection are many and varied. This, of course, has led to the development of a variety of dedicated accessing, lifting and dumping devices to be carried by collection vehicles.




It is known to provide a dedicated rail or track or similar guide or mounting system on the side of a refuse vehicle in combination with a dedicated container which can be filled in a lowered position and thereafter lifted and dumped using a dedicated lift and dump mechanism and operating along the guide system. Side-loading mechanisms of this type are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,910,434 and 4,090,626 to Ebeling et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,333 to Ebeling; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,710 to Kovats. A vertical rail assembly having a bin-gripping carriage apparatus for engaging, lifting and dumping a refuse container is the subject of U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,786 to Bingman.




Multi-compartment systems which include dedicated multi-compartment collection receptacles which operate using guided mechanized lift and dump systems to lift and empty them into corresponding multi-compartment hoppers and haulers have also been described. One such system that includes a vertically moving external lifting and dumping trough having a series of compartments which correspond to internal truck body divisions is shown in Dinneen (U.S. Pat. No. 4,840,531). The internal compartments are discharged by tilting the truck body relative to the chaise. In Seader (U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,271), a pair of pivoting buckets on each side empty into larger containers mounted on the chassis of the truck forward of a rear-loading refuse body. Mezey (U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,563) discloses multi-compartment container/hopper systems for front and side-loading trucks.




A further side-loading multi-compartment system is depicted by Ratledge, Jr., et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,496. Other divided side bucket-loaded multi-compartment refuse truck bodies are illustrated and described by Horning et al. in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,288,196 and 5,316,430 and by Glomski in U.S. Pat. No. 5,122,025. Buckets may be provided on both sides of these devices and may be recessed. Howells et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,425,070) discloses a single sided divided bucket which loads compartments forward of a rear-loading refuse body mounted on an elongated frame.




While each of these systems has certain desirable attributes, all of these devices have shortcomings or limitations overcome by one or more aspects of the embodiments of the present invention, which contemplates an improved lift and dump guide systems for side bucket loaders in combination with offset or recessed hoppers in singular multi-compartment versions. Additionally, boom-mounted container emptying devices may be combined with the bucket system. The truck bodies may be permanently mounted or removable/detachable units. These ends are achieved with a general simplification of the prior mechanical complexity of such systems and introduce improvements which facilitate efficient operation.




Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved side-loading refuse vehicle.




Another object of the invention is to provide an improved multi-compartment side-loading refuse vehicle.




Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved bucket lifting and dumping mechanism for a single or multi-compartment side-loading refuse vehicle.




Still another object of the invention is to provide improved side-loading refuse vehicles having bucket lifting and dumping mechanisms which reduce spillage commonly associated with bucket lift and dump mechanisms.




Yet still another object of the invention is to provide an improved side-loading refuse vehicle having single or multi-compartment mechanized lift and dump buckets on both sides of a receiving hopper.




A further object of the invention is provide an improved side-loading refuse vehicle which has a refuse hopper recessed to correspond with the longitudinal chassis support beams of the vehicle.




A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved side-loading refuse vehicle in which an extensible boom container lift and dump mechanism is combined with one or more side-loading bucket lift and dump systems in a single or multi-compartment system.




A yet still further object of the invention is to provide a multi-compartment refuse hopper which avoids the build-up of refuse materials behind associated compartmentalized compaction devices.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides improved side-loading refuse collecting vehicles of the class having a generally vertically operating, manually loaded bucket system in conjunction with a complimentary compensating offset receiving and charging hopper. The charging hopper is associated with a truck body having forward and aft ends and mounted on a truck frame extending longitudinally along the truck body, the truck body enclosing a material receiving volume. The truck support frame or chassis typically is constructed using a pair of spaced cross based main longitudinal channels or stringer members and the offset receiving hopper of the invention may be recessed as far as the adjacent chassis channel member to accommodate a wider charging bucket.




The bucket system includes an improved lift and dump mechanism and an elongate guide channel system which includes the pair of initially outward extending and finally arcuate guide paths which accommodate with offset follower members attached to each side of the bucket which cooperate to maintain an upright bucket posture in the loading position and provide additional inversion angle in the arc when the bucket is fully raised in the discharge position. The guides are preferably recessed channels and in the general shape of candy canes. The buckets are designed for manual loading. In conjunction with the outward directed channel guide systems, the hopper is preferably flared at the top to reduce the possibility of material spillage or loss in dumping. In addition, the buckets of the system may themselves be provided with can handling devices. In addition, each of the several embodiments of the refuse truck of the invention may be used in combination with a removable material receiving truck body. These, of course, may take any of several forms.




The refuse collection system may further include an automated extensible boom arm with an associated container lift and dump mechanism which may include an operable grabber system in addition to the bucket system. The extensible arm may include a system that adjusts the position of the grabber mechanism along the arm to allow dumping at diverse fore and aft locations in the charging hopper. Adjustable grabbers are typically associated with multi-compartment systems.




The refuse collection vehicles may take the form of any of a number of embodiments. These include one having a single side bucket of one compartment associated with a truck body having a single material receiving volume in which a single material receiving volume and packer are provided in the receiving hopper. A single divided bucket may be located on one side of the vehicle and used to charge a front to rear split compartment receiving hopper which, in turn, charges a truck body having a split material receiving volume using dual packing devices which may operate together. Of course, a system employing either a single bin or split bin bucket loading system may also be combined with an automated extensible boom arm lift and dump mechanism for automated dumping of refuse cans. The split is typically fore and aft with the forward bucket and hopper compartment associated with a lower truck body material receiving volume and the aft or rear bucket and hopper compartment associated with the upper truck body material receiving volume. In this regard, the grabber positioning mechanism is used in conjunction with the extensible boom arm lift and dump mechanism to allow cans to be loaded into either forward or aft compartments of the charging hopper.




A plurality of both single and multiple compartmented manually loaded buckets can be used alone or in conjunction with an automated fixed or adjustable position extensible boom arm and grabber systems. Single or multi-compartment buckets may be symmetrically or asymmetrically placed on both sides of the charging hopper with commensurate recesses being provided in the hopper to accommodate each bucket.




In addition, means are provided to prevent accumulation of refuse material trapped behind packing devices. In this regard, a hinged door may be provided in the front wall associated with the upper compartment behind the compactor which allows the material accumulated behind the packer to escape into the lower compartment upon retraction of the packer.




Thus, the present invention represents a variety of improvements in a class of side-loading refuse vehicles which can take the form in any of a great variety of embodiments. The detailed embodiments are taken as representative or exemplary of those in which the improvements of the invention may be incorporated and are not presented as being limiting in any manner.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a side elevational view of a single compartment side-loading refuse vehicle in accordance with the invention;





FIG. 2

is a sectional view taken substantially along line


2





2


of

FIG. 1

depicting the bucket in the lowered or loading position;





FIG. 3

is similar to

FIG. 2

illustrating the bucket in the fully raised or discharging position;





FIG. 4

is a top view of the truck body and charging hopper of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 5

is a plan view of the packing mechanism of

FIG. 1

depicting the packer in both forward and aft locations;





FIG. 6

is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the hopper and packing mechanism of

FIG. 1

with the packing mechanism shown in a fore and aft position;





FIGS. 7 and 8

are greatly enlarged fragmentary side views showing the operation of a can handler attached to the bucket;





FIG. 9

is a side elevational view of a multicompartment embodiment of the side-loading refuse vehicle of the invention;





FIG. 10

is a sectional view taken substantially along


10





10


of

FIG. 9

;





FIG. 11

is a view similar to

FIG. 10

illustrating the bucket in the raised or discharging position;





FIG. 12

is a top view of the truck body and charging hopper of

FIG. 9

;





FIG. 13

is a slightly enlarged side elevational view, partially in section, of the truck body and charging hopper of

FIG. 9

showing additional details;





FIG. 14

is a side view of a single compartment embodiment similar to that of

FIG. 1

, but including an automated boom arm and grabber system;





FIG. 15

is a sectional view taken substantially along line


15





15


of

FIG. 14

depicting both the bucket and boom arm and grabber system lowered and stowed positions;





FIG. 16

is a view similar to

FIG. 15

with the boom arm and grabber system in the raised, container dumping position;





FIG. 17

is a slightly enlarged top view of the truck body and hopper of

FIG. 14

;





FIG. 18

is an enlarged detail front view of the boom arm and grabber system in the lowered and stowed position;





FIG. 19

is a greatly enlarged detail side view of the grabber mechanism of

FIG. 18

;





FIG. 20

is a side elevated view of a multiple compartment side-loading refuse vehicle including an automated boom arm and grabber system for dumping refuse into either the forward or aft charging hopper;





FIG. 21

is an enlarged detailed side view of an adjustable grabber mechanism in the open and forward position;





FIG. 22

is an enlarged detailed side view of the adjustable grabber mechanism in the open and rearward position;





FIG. 23

is a slightly enlarged top view of the truck body and charging hopper of

FIG. 20

;





FIG. 24

is a top schematic view of a single compartment side-loading refuse vehicle including a bucket on each side of the vehicle;





FIG. 25

is a top schematic view of a single compartment side-loading refuse vehicle including a loading bucket on each side of the charging hopper and an automated arm on one side of the vehicle;





FIG. 26

is a top schematic view of a multiple compartment side-loading refuse vehicle including a split loading bucket on each side of the charging hopper;





FIG. 27

is a top view schematic of a multiple compartment side-loading refuse vehicle including a multiple compartment loading bucket on each side of the vehicle and an automated arm with an adjustable grabber mechanism;





FIG. 28

is a side elevational view of a single compartment side-loading refuse vehicle including a removable body in the dump position;





FIG. 29

is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the refuse vehicle showing positioning of the body on the mechanized subframe and the chassis frame;





FIGS. 30 and 31

are plan views, partially in section, depicting a locking system for holding a removable body on the subframe shown in the locked and unlocked positions, respectively;





FIGS. 32-34

depict greatly enlarged, partial side views illustrating the mechanical operation of a mechanized subframe and chassis frame assembly associated with a removable body; and





FIG. 35

is a side view of a multiple compartment side-loading refuse vehicle including a detachable or removable body in a tilted posture.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION




The offset side-loading hopper system of the present invention is generally applicable to single and multiple compartmented collection vehicles and is characterized by an offset hopper which is recessed on at least one side to accommodate a so called “candy cane” guide channel bucket lift and dump loading system wherein the loading bucket or bin is raised along the guide channel or rail to be dumped into the hopper. The candy cane channel is angled in at the bottom to return the loading bucket close to the hopper in the lowered or loading position such that the bucket does not protrude substantially beyond the width of the storage body of the collection vehicle. The hopper is recessed or offset inwardly and may be offset to correspond with the chassis frame of the collection vehicle. The hopper is offset on at least one side to accommodate a single bucket and may be offset on both sides to accommodate loading a bucket on each side of the collection vehicle. The number and location of material compartments in the loading bucket and hopper are variable and are generally commensurate with the number of compartments in the storage body of the collection vehicle. In another aspect of the invention, the collection vehicle includes means for lifting and dumping a refuse can into the hopper using the candy cane-shaped guide channel and bucket system together with an extensible boom arm and grabber.




In connection with the drawings of the present invention, several representative embodiments will now be described in detail.

FIGS. 1-8

depict a single compartment side-loading refuse collection vehicle


50


including a single compartment refuse hopper


52


attached to a single compartment storage body


54


. The refuse hopper


52


is offset to one side of the refuse vehicle


50


(

FIGS. 2 and 3

) and a loading bin or bucket


56


is designed to be carried next to the refuse hopper


52


on the indented side of the refuse vehicle


50


. As described below, the loading bin


56


is raised and dumped into the refuse hopper


52


. The refuse packer


58


is slidably engaged and operated on packer rails one of which is shown at


60


situated in the refuse hopper


52


and extending into the storage body


54


. The packer


58


is operated to move refuse from the refuse hopper


52


and pack it into the storage volume of storage body


54


.




The collection vehicle


50


includes the conventional cab


62


and wheels


64


connected to and supporting a chassis or frame


66


which carries the storage body


54


and refuse hopper


52


. A cab protector or deflector


68


is attached to the hopper section


52


at the front of the vehicle


50


and a tailgate


70


is pivotally attached to the top of the storage body


54


by vertically displaceable hinges at


72


at the rear of the vehicle


50


. Tailgate lift cylinders, one of which is shown at


82


, are pivotally attached to the tailgate


70


at


84


and to the storage body


54


at


86


. The storage body


54


is pivotally attached to the frame


66


at


74


and a pair of side lift cylinders as at


75


are pivotally attached to the storage body


54


as at


76


and to frame extension


78


at


80


. To unload the vehicle


50


, the tailgate lift cylinders


82


are extended to vertically displace and pivot or swing the tailgate


70


to an open position, and lift cylinders


75


are extended to lift and pivot the storage body


54


and hopper


52


about the pivot


74


, in a well-known manner.




As shown in

FIGS. 1-4

, the bucket is carried in a lowered position next to refuse hopper side wall


90


for loading and raised to a dump position above the refuse hopper side wall


90


(

FIG. 3

) for discharging. The refuse hopper


52


is offset to one side of the chassis frame


66


or recessed such that refuse hopper wall


90


is essentially aligned with a first chassis longitudinal frame member


92


and the opposing refuse hopper wall


94


is essentially full width beyond the second chassis frame member


96


. Thus, the hopper floor


98


extends essentially from first chassis frame member


92


over the second chassis frame member


96


and beyond to one side of the refuse collection vehicle


50


. The storage body


54


is separated from the refuse hopper


52


by front wall


100


which includes an opening


102


(

FIGS. 2 and 3

) through which refuse is forced by packer


58


.




The lifting bucket


56


is slidably engaged on each end to candy cane shaped guide channels


104


and


106


which are attached to the front wall


100


of the storage body


54


and an extension of the front wall


108


(

FIG. 4

) of the hopper


52


, respectively. Rollers or followers


110


and


112


, which may be nylon rollers, are rotatably attached to the sides of the bucket


56


and slidably inserted in the candy cane channels


104


and


106


on each side of the loading bin


56


. Lift rods


114


and


116


are pivotally attached at each end of the loading bucket


56


at


118


and


120


and are pivotally attached to lift arms


122


and


124


which in turn are securely attached to the refuse hopper lid or top door


126


. Actuators


128


and


130


(hydraulic cylinders), are pivotally attached to the refuse hopper sidewall


90


and the refuse hopper lid


126


which in turn is pivotally attached to the refuse hopper structure at


132


and hinged along


134


. A heavy screen


136


is attached to the hopper door


126


between the lifting arms


122


and


124


and extends from the top door


126


to the hopper sidewall


90


in the lowered position.




In operation, container


56


is raised to the dump position (

FIG. 3

) by extending cylinders


128


and


130


to raise the hopper door


126


and attached lift arms


122


and


124


to an open position. Lift rods


114


and


116


raise bucket


56


to the dump position (FIG.


3


). Rollers


110


and


112


follow in the candy cane channels


104


and


106


to guide bucket


56


in an angled and arcuate path to the dump position. The candy cane rails


104


and


106


are initially angled outward from the bottom away from the refuse hopper sidewall


90


. Toward the top, the candy canes


104


and


106


angle in toward the hopper


52


and are curved at the top in an arcuate path to tip the loading bin


56


into the dump position. The rollers or followers


110


and


112


are rotatably attached to the front and rear side of the loading bin


56


. The lower roller


110


is positioned slightly closer to the back wall of the loading bin


56


as compared to the upper roller


112


so that, in the lowered position (FIG.


2


), the loading bin


56


is postured in essentially a vertical position and when the rollers


110


and


112


reach the vertical portion of the candy canes


104


and


106


the bucket


56


tips slightly toward the refuse hopper


52


. This helps maintain refuse in the loading bin


56


as it is raised to the dump position. The rollers


110


and


112


are spaced apart such that they traverse the arcuate path of the candy canes


104


and


106


at the top. With the lower roller


110


closer to the back wall, the bucket


56


is tilted to a greater degree for dumping refuse into the hopper


52


as compared to if the rollers


110


and


112


were evenly spaced from the back wall of the loading bin


56


. In the lowered position, the inwardly angled portion of the candy canes


104


and


106


guides the bucket


56


snugly close to the refuse hopper sidewall


90


such that the front wall


138


of the loading bin


56


is essentially in line with the storage body


54


.




The reciprocating packer


58


is slidably engaged on guide rails or channels


60


and


60


A which are positioned along hopper sidewall


90


and hopper sidewall


94


(FIGS.


2


and


3


), respectively. As shown, guide rail


60


A is spaced from sidewall


94


and a curved extension


140


is attached between the hopper sidewall


94


and guide rail


60


A to shield the edge of the hopper


52


. As shown in

FIG. 5

, the packer


58


includes a packer extension


142


which sweeps beyond packer rail


60


A. Guide channel slide or wear bars


144


and


146


are securely attached to the packer


58


in indented or recessed portions of the packer


58


such that slide bar


144


is slidably engaged in guide rail or channel


60


and slide bar


146


is slidably engaged in guide rail or channel


60


A. Packer extension


142


is curved on its lower portion and straight on its upper portion to fit along the curved sidewall extension


140


and the hopper sidewall


94


. Thus, this offset packer assembly


58


including the packer extension


142


fits between and closely follows hopper sidewalls


90


and


94


.




As shown in

FIGS. 5 and 6

, the packer


58


is moved between a forward position and a packing position by two vertically stacked fluid operated actuators or hydraulic cylinders


148


and


150


which are pivotally attached to the hopper front wall


108


at


152


and


154


and the inside of the packer


58


at


156


and


158


. The packer


58


is slid through the hopper


52


and possibly partially past the storage body front wall


100


and into the storage body


54


to move refuse from the hopper


52


and pack it into the storage body


54


by extending hydraulic cylinders


148


and


150


. The guide rails


60


and


60


A may extend into the storage body


54


and the hydraulic cylinders


148


and


150


are extended to move the packer


58


such that the slide bars


144


and


146


remain slidably engaged in the guide rails


60


and


60


A. The packer


58


is provided with a linked follower panel


160


which is pivotally connected to the packer


58


at hinge


162


. The follower panel


160


is made up of a plurality of possibly three links which are hinged to one another and which extend from hopper sidewall


90


to hopper sidewall


94


. The follower panel


160


is slidably connected by pins or rollers attached to the follower panel


160


and engaged in follower panel guide rails or channels


164


which are attached to hopper sidewalls


90


and


94


. As the packer


58


is moved from the forward position to the packing position, the follower panel


160


slides along the guide channels


164


to protect the hopper floor


98


behind the packer


58


. This prevents material from falling behind the packer


58


.




Optionally, the bucket


56


may itself be equipped to unload refuse cans. For example, refuse can handlers


170


and


172


may be attached to and built-in to the container


56


(FIG.


1


). The refuse can handlers


170


and


172


are operated simultaneously by a pivoting cam arrangement on one side of the bucket


56


. The refuse can handlers


170


and


172


are mechanically similar to one another. As shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

, the refuse can handler


170


includes a stationary top hook member


174


securely attached to the bucket


56


and a bottom hook member


176


pivotally attached to the bucket


56


at


178


. The top hook member


174


is directed upward to hold the top handle or rim of the refuse can of interest. The lower hook member


176


is recessed in the lowered position of bucket


56


and pivoted to an extended holding position as the bucket


56


is raised to the dump position. In the extended position, the lower hook member


176


engages a lower handle or lip on the refuse can of interest.




The cam arrangement includes a cam roller or follower


180


rotatably attached to a cam lever arm


182


which is pivotally attached to the container


56


at


184


. A lever arm push rod


186


is pivotally attached to the cam lever arm


182


at


188


and to hook lever arm


190


which operates hook


176


at


192


. In the lowered or loading position,

FIG. 7

, a cam extension


194


which is attached to the guide channel


104


operates the cam roller


180


and arm


182


to pivot the lower hook member


176


about


178


to the recessed position. As the bucket


56


is raised by lifting forces applied to lift rod


114


which is pivotally attached to the loading bin


56


at


118


, the loading bin guide rollers


110


and


112


slide or roll in the guide channel


104


and the cam roller


180


is disengaged from the cam extension


194


. A spring


196


is attached to the cam lever arm


182


and the bin


56


to apply bias and pivot the lever arm


182


about


184


. This pushes on the rod


186


and lever arm


190


to pivot the hook member


176


about


178


to the extended position and securely hold a refuse can of interest for dumping into hopper


52


as the loading bin


56


is raised to the dump position.




In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in

FIGS. 9-13

, a multiple compartment refuse vehicle generally


200


includes an upper storage compartment


202


and a lower storage compartment


204


divided by a horizontal dividing panel member


206


. The refuse vehicle


200


includes a hopper portion, indicated generally by


208


, which may be attached to the upper and lower storage compartments


202


and


204


and which includes upper refuse hopper


210


and lower refuse hopper


212


. The upper refuse hopper


210


is defined or separated by an L-shaped system including horizontal dividing member


206


which extends into the hopper portion


208


and a vertical hopper dividing wall


214


which is attached to the dividing member


206


and extends to the top door


216


. The L-shaped system divides access to the hopper portion


208


. Refuse which is deposited behind the hopper dividing wall


214


is dumped into the top hopper


210


and refuse which is dumped forward of the dividing wall


214


falls into the lower hopper


212


. The collection vehicle


200


includes a divided loading bin or bucket


218


having a first loading bin compartment


220


and a second loading bin compartment


222


. The bucket


218


is raised from a lowered position,

FIGS. 9 and 10

, to a discharge position,

FIG. 11

, wherein refuse contained in loading bin compartment


220


is dumped into the top hopper


210


and refuse contained in the loading bin compartment


222


is dumped into the lower hopper


212


. A dividing wall


224


aligned with the hopper dividing wall member


214


separates the two bucket compartments


220


and


222


.




The multiple compartment refuse vehicle


200


is conventional with a cab


226


and wheels


230


connected to a chassis frame


228


which carries the upper and lower storage compartments


202


and


204


and the hopper portion


208


. Tailgates


232


and


234


are pivotally attached to the top storage body compartment


202


with vertically displaceable pivots


236


and


238


, respectively. The lower tailgate


234


is attached to an elongated hinge member


240


which is pivotally connected to the vertically displaceable pivot joint


238


. Hydraulic cylinders


242


and


244


operate to vertically displace and swing open the tailgates


232


and


234


for dumping refuse contained in the respective storage compartments


202


and


204


. The tailgates


232


and


234


are held in place by hook latches


246


and


248


in a well-known manner. The truck body with upper and lower or top and bottom storage compartments


202


and


204


is pivotally attached to the chassis frame


228


at pivot


250


. Hydraulic cylinder


252


which is pivotally attached to the body at


254


and to frame extension


256


at


258


is operated to lift the truck body


200


with attached hopper portion


208


to dump refuse from the storage compartments


202


and


204


. Refuse is moved into the top storage compartment


202


by operating a top or upper packer


260


situated in the top hopper


210


between a forward position and a packing position. Similarly, refuse is moved and packed into the lower storage compartment


204


by a lower packer


262


situated in the lower hopper portion


212


and operated between a forward and a packing position. As described below, the upper and lower packers


260


and


262


are preferably connected together and packing forces are simultaneously applied to each.




As shown in

FIGS. 9-12

, the split or divided loading bin or bucket


218


is raised from the lowered resting position,

FIGS. 9

,


10


, and


12


, to the dump position FIG.


11


. The lifting bin


218


is connected on each end to ride in candy cane shaped guide channels


264


and


266


which are attached to the storage compartment front wall


268


and the hopper front wall


270


, respectively. The split loading bin


218


is pivotally attached at each end to lift rods


272


and


274


at


276


and


278


. The lift rods


272


and


274


are pivotally attached to lift arms


280


and


282


which are attached to the hopper top door


216


which, in turn, is pivotally attached at


284


to a stationary hopper top


286


. Hydraulic cylinders


288


and


290


are pivotally attached to the stationary hopper portion top


286


and the door


216


.




The split loading bucket


218


is connected to ride in the candy cane shaped guide channels


264


and


266


by rollers


292


and


294


rotatably attached to the loading bin


218


. The rollers


292


and


294


, such as nylon rollers, are slidably and rotatably engaged in the candy cane shaped channels


264


and


266


.




The guide channels


264


and


266


are straight-legged candy cane shaped channels which guide the split compartment loading bin


218


from the lowered position, as in

FIG. 10

, to the dump position, FIG.


11


. As in the previous embodiment, the channels


264


and


266


are angled away from the hopper portion


208


from the lower end to the upper end and curved at the upper end to guide the loading bin


218


in an arcuate path. Roller


292


is closer to the back wall


296


of the loading bin


218


compared to the upper roller


294


so that in the lowered position, the loading bin


218


is essentially plumb and positioned close adjacent sidewall


298


and chassis frame support member


228


. In the dump position, the position of the rollers


292


and


294


wherein the lower roller


292


is closer to the back wall


296


of the loading bin


218


tips the loading bin


218


more advantageously for dumping.




In this embodiment, the hopper


208


includes a flared sidewall


300


which is attached to and extending away from the lower hopper sidewall


298


. The flared sidewall


300


is angled away from the lower hopper sidewall


298


to enlarge the available opening for both the upper hopper


210


and lower hopper


212


. The flared sidewall


300


and the angled candy cane shaped guide channels


264


and


266


provide room for dumping split loading bin


218


. The loading bucket


218


may be as wide as the distance from the chassis frame


228


to the outside of the storage body compartments


202


and


204


and in some cases even wider if bin


218


may extend beyond the storage compartments


202


and


204


on one side of the refuse vehicle


200


.




Hopper divider


214


is attached to the flared sidewall


300


and the opposing sidewall


302


and may be provided with a self-cleaning feature. A swinging door segment


304


is provided in member


214


behind the packer blade


260


pivotally attached, such as with a hinge, along the line


306


. The bottom of the swinging door


304


is aligned with the dividing member


206


and in a resting position the swinging door


304


hangs straight down from the dividing member


214


.




As shown in

FIGS. 9-11

and


13


, the upper compaction panel or top packer


260


rides in upper guide tracks or rails


310


and


310


A and the lower compaction panel or lower packer


262


rides on corresponding lower guide tracks or rails


312


and


312


A. The upper and lower compaction panels or packers


260


and


262


are provided with wearshoes including slide bars that slidably engage the corresponding guide tracks or rails


310


,


310


A,


312


, and


312


A. The wearshoes and slide bars slide in the guide tracks in a well-known manner. A representative compliant linkage system is illustrated that links the operation of the upper compaction panel or packer


260


to that of the lower compaction panel or packer


262


. The compliant linkage system limits the force applied to the upper compaction panel so glass or other non-compressible materials may be moved without breakage. Initial packing forces are applied to the lower compaction panel or packer


262


in a manner similar to that shown in

FIG. 5

for the single compartment vehicle. The compliant linkage system includes a pair of identical spring piston systems, one of which is indicated at


314


, each of which is situated within an upper panel guide rail


310


and


310


A. The spring-piston system


314


includes an inner telescoping linkage tube


316


that floats inside of an outer telescoping linkage tube


318


. The inner telescopic linkage tube


316


is pivotally connected at


322


to a lower linkage lever


320


which is secured to the lower compaction panel or packer


262


. A compliant spring (not shown) is attached to the outer telescoping linkage tube


318


near the upper compaction panel or packer


260


at one end and to the inner telescoping tube


316


at the other end.




In operation, the lower compaction panel packer


262


is moved from the forward position through the lower hopper


212


by vertically stacked hydraulic cylinders, such as those shown in

FIG. 5

for the single compartment vehicle. The lower compaction panel


262


moves through the lower hopper


212


to the packing position and the lower linkage lever


320


pushes on the inner telescoping tube


316


which applies pressure to the internal spring and the outer telescoping linkage tube


318


which is secured to the upper compaction panel or packer


260


. This applies a bias to the upper compaction panel from the forward position, toward the packing position. If the upper compaction panel


260


meets sufficient resistance to be prevented from moving rearward, the lower compaction panel


262


may continue to move rearward as the spring in the spring-piston system


314


compresses. This is one compliant linkage system which may be used with the present invention to pack material in a multiple compartment vehicle, such as


200


. Further, the details of this mechanism and others which may be used with the present invention may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/389,097, abandoned, filed Feb. 15, 1995, by Ronald E. Christenson, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for any necessary purposes.




As depicted in

FIG. 13

, the upper compaction panel


260


includes a solid back wall


324


which pushes any material or refuse which falls behind the upper compaction panel


260


through the swinging door


304


as the upper compaction panel


260


is pulled back to the forward position by the lower compaction panel


262


and the interconnecting telescoping linkage tubes


316


and


318


. This aspect provides a self-cleaning mechanism for the upper hopper portion


210


of the refuse vehicle


200


. A follower panel


326


is pivotally attached to the lower compaction panel


262


at


328


and extends between the sidewall


298


and an opposing sidewall


330


to prevent material or refuse from falling behind the lower compaction panel


262


. The follower panel


326


rides up into a follower panel compartment


332


in a conventional manner as the lower compaction panel


262


is returned from the packing position to the forward position.




In another embodiment, as shown in

FIGS. 14-19

, a single compartment collection vehicle


340


includes an automated arm, indicated generally at


342


, for lifting and dumping a refuse container of interest into a single compartment hopper


344


. The collection vehicle


340


is similar to that of FIG.


1


and includes a storage body


346


pivotally attached to a chassis frame


348


at


350


. The collection vehicle


340


further includes a cab


352


, wheels


354


and a tailgate


356


connected to the storage body


346


as previously described. The automated arm


342


is securely attached to the frame


348


. Lift and dump cylinder


358


is attached in a well-known manner and extended to lift the storage body


346


and hopper


344


to a dumping or unloading position. The automated arm


342


remains attached to the frame


348


and is not lifted with the hopper


344


.




The refuse vehicle


340


includes a single compartment loading bucket


360


and the lift and dump mechanism may be the same as that described for the embodiment shown in

FIGS. 1-8

and the description need not be repeated here. The loading bin


360


may include a refuse can handler


362


(previously described) and has a recessed lower recessed portion


364


in which a portion of the automated arm


342


fits in a lowered stowed position. The refuse can handler


362


operates the same as the refuse can handler


170


shown in

FIGS. 1

,


7


and


8


. The hopper


344


and packer or compaction panel (not shown) also may be the same as that used in the embodiment shown in FIG.


1


.




The automated arm


342


includes an extensible boom


366


and a grabber system or lifting and holding mechanism


368


pivotally attached to the extensible boom


366


at


370


. The extensible boom


366


includes an inner boom arm


372


inserted in an outer boom arm


374


. The inner boom arm


372


includes rollers


376


at one end and the outer boom arm


374


includes rollers


378


for sliding the inner boom arm


372


in and out of the outer boom arm


374


. The inner boom arm


372


is secured to a boom mount


380


which is pivotally attached to frame extension


382


at


384


. Boom lift cylinder


386


is pivotally attached to a second frame extension


388


at


390


and to the inner boom arm


372


at


392


. The outer boom arm


374


includes a slot


394


through which the boom lift cylinder


386


is attached to the inner boom arm


372


. A boom extension cylinder


396


is attached at the butt end to boom arm support member


380


and at the rod end to the outer boom arm


374


. In operation, the boom extension cylinder


396


is extended to move the outer boom arm


374


away from the vehicle


34


. The pivotal connection


392


between the boom lift cylinder


386


and the inner boom arm


372


slides in the slot


394


to avoid interference with movement of the outer boom arm


374


.




In the lowered position of

FIG. 15

, the boom extension cylinder


396


may be extended to position the lift and hold mechanism


368


against a refuse container or can of interest. The lift and hold mechanism is operated as described below to grasp and hold a container of interest. The boom lift cylinder


386


is then extended, as shown in

FIG. 16

, to pivot the extensible boom


366


about pivot


384


and raise the container. A dump hydraulic cylinder


398


is pivotally attached to the upper boom arm


374


at


400


and to the mechanism


368


at


402


. To dump a held container, the dump cylinder


398


is retracted to pivot the mechanism


368


about pivot


370


. A second door


404


is provided pivotally attached at


406


, such as with a hinge, to the hopper top door


408


. The small door


404


is pivoted to an open position by hydraulic cylinder


410


as the automated arm


342


is moved to the dump position (FIG.


16


).




In the stowed position, as best seen in

FIGS. 18 and 19

, the inner boom arm


372


of the extensible boom is fully inserted in the outer boom arm


374


. A small plate


412


is secured at the back end of the inner boom arm


372


and secured to the extensible boom arm support member


380


. The slot


394


in the outer boom arm


374


provides clearance for the pivotal connection


392


between the inner boom arm


372


and the boom lift cylinder


386


. The boom extension cylinder


396


is situated below outer arm


374


and is attached to the support member


380


at


381


. The dump cylinder


398


is pivotally attached to the outer boom arm


374


at


400


on top of the outer boom arm


374


and to the lift and hold mechanism


368


at


402


.




The lift and hold mechanism


368


includes a lift arm


414


which is pivotally attached to the outer boom arm


374


at


370


and which forms a right angle over the end of the outer boom arm


374


. As best seen in the enlarged detail of

FIG. 19

, a refuse can holding apparatus or grabber


416


is provided that includes a grabber frame


418


attached to lift arm


414


. A single appendage or digit


420


is pivotally attached to the grabber frame


418


at


422


and a double appendage or double digit segment


424


is pivotally attached to the grabber


418


at


426


. The single appendage or digit


420


is operated between an open position and a grasping position by hydraulic cylinder


428


which is pivotally attached to the single appendage


420


and the grabber frame


418


. Similarly, the double appendage


424


is operated between an open and a grasping position by hydraulic cylinder


430


which is pivotally attached to the grabber frame


418


and the double appendage


424


.




In operation, the extensible boom


366


is extended by operating boom extension cylinder


396


to move the outer arm


374


over the inner arm


372


. The holding apparatus


416


is positioned next to a container of interest and hydraulic cylinders


428


and


430


are operated to pivot the single appendage


420


and the double appendage


424


to the grasping position. The extensible boom


366


is then retracted or extended by operating boom extension cylinder


396


and the boom


366


is raised to the dump position (FIG.


16


), by operating lift cylinder


386


. Door


404


is opened by operating cylinder


410


and the lift arm


414


is pivoted about pivot


370


to dump the container of interest into the hopper


344


. The automated arm


342


is returned to the lowered or stowed position by extending dump cylinder


398


and retracting the lift cylinder


386


and the boom extension cylinder


396


. In the stowed position, the grabbing apparatus


416


fits into the recess


364


in the loading bin


360


.





FIG. 20

depicts the multiple compartment refuse vehicle


200


of

FIG. 9

with the loading bin or bucket


218


replaced by a recessed loading bin or bucket


440


. An automated arm


441


is also provided. The recessed bucket


440


includes a recessed portion


442


which may extend the length of the bucket


440


and which accommodates the holding or grabber apparatus, indicated generally by the numeral


444


. The automated arm


441


includes the extensible boom


366


(

FIGS. 21 and 22

) and the lift arm


414


pivotally attached to the extensible boom at


370


. The extensible boom


366


and lift arm


414


have been shown and described in more detail in connection with

FIGS. 15

,


16


,


18


, and


19


. The recessed bucket


440


is divided into a front bucket compartment


446


and a rear bucket compartment


448


which are raised and dumped into the lower charging hopper


212


and the upper charging hopper


210


. The loading apparatus


444


is attached to the lift arm


414


in a manner such that it is slidable between a forward position (solid lines) and a rearward position (dashed lines). In the forward position, the automated arm dumps refuse into the lower charging hopper


210


and in the rearward position the automated arm dumps refuse into the upper charging hopper


212


.




The sliding construction is best illustrated in detailed

FIGS. 21 and 22

. The loading apparatus


444


includes an inner boom arm


450


attached to the lift arm


414


and an outer boom arm


452


slidably engaged over the inner boom arm


450


. An hydraulic cylinder


454


is pivotally attached to the inner boom arm


450


at


456


and to the outer boom arm


452


at


458


. The hydraulic cylinder


454


extends and retracts to move the holding apparatus


444


between the forward and rearward positions. A single digit appendage


460


is pivotally attached to the outer boom arm


452


at


462


and a double digit appendage


464


is pivotally attached to the outer boom arm


452


at


466


. The first grasping hydraulic cylinder


468


is pivotally attached to the single digit appendage


460


and the outer boom


452


and a second grasping hydraulic cylinder


470


is pivotally attached to the double digit appendage


464


and the outer boom arm


452


. The first and second grasping cylinders


468


and


470


are operated to grasp a refuse container or can of interest.




In operation, the refuse vehicle


200


is positioned to address a refuse container or can of interest and the extensible boom


366


is operated to position the holding apparatus


444


near the container of interest. The holding apparatus shift hydraulic cylinder


454


is operated to position the holding apparatus


444


for grasping the container of interest and the grasping hydraulic cylinders


468


and


470


are operated to cause the opposed digit appendages to close and grasp and hold the container of interest. Cylinder


454


is then operated to position the container of interest in line with the desired charging hopper


212


or


210


in which the container of interest is dumped.




The containers or cans of interest manipulated by the boom and grabber system are emptied through auxiliary doors in the hopper top covers. As best shown in

FIG. 23

, small doors or refuse can doors


472


and


474


are provided which are pivotally hinged to a hopper top cover


476


at


478


and


480


. Doors


472


and


474


are operated between a closed position and an open position by hydraulic cylinders


482


and


484


which are pivotally attached between doors


472


and


474


and the hopper top door


476


. The loading apparatus


444


can be positioned to dump refuse into either the open refuse can door


472


or


474


without the need to open the hopper top cover


476


. The hopper cover


476


opens as the recessed bucket


440


is raised and dumped as previously described in connection with bucket


218


and hopper top door


216


shown in

FIGS. 9-13

.





FIG. 24

shows schematically that the refuse vehicle


50


of

FIG. 1

may be modified to accommodate a second loading bin or bucket


56


A on the other side of the vehicle


50


. The loading bins


56


and


56


A and the lifting mechanisms for raising the loading bins from the lowered position to the discharging or dump position, including the candy cane shaped guide channels, may be constructed as mirror images of one another on each side of the refuse vehicle


50


. The refuse hopper


52


is recessed with respect to both buckets to become a smaller double recessed refuse hopper


52


A which accommodates the loading bins or buckets


56


and


56


A on both sides of the refuse vehicle


50


. In this embodiment, the refuse hopper


52


A may be provided with any of several types of covers. These include, for example, a double hinged door which opens when either lifting bin


56


or


56


A is raised to the dump position, a pair of converging doors or a sliding door which slides forward or rearward during dumping operations. Of course, a door for operative use during dumping operations is not required so that a removable lid may be used.




Other dual bucket or double recessed embodiments are shown in

FIGS. 25-27

schematically. In

FIG. 25

, refuse vehicle


340


such as shown in

FIGS. 14-19

has been modified to accommodate a second loading bin or bucket


360


A on the other side of the refuse vehicle


340


. The second loading bin or bucket


360


A does not include a recess for accommodating an automated arm but in all other respects. bucket


360


A and the lift mechanism, including the candy cane shaped guide channels may be the same as those used for the loading bin or bucket


360


. The refuse hopper


344


has been recessed on each side to become smaller and double recessed hopper


344


A wherein either loading bin or bucket


360


or


360


A is raised from a lowered position to a dumping position above the hopper


344


A. The automated arm


342


is operated in the manner previously described to hold and lift and dump refuse containers or cans directly into the refuse hopper


344


A. The refuse hopper


344


A may be provided with a top cover as described above in connection with FIG.


24


.




It will be appreciated, as shown in

FIGS. 26 and 27

, that the present invention may be extended to a multiple compartment dual side bucket vehicle including multi-compartment loading bins or buckets on each side of the refuse vehicle wherein the refuse hopper has been recessed on each side to accommodate the loading bins or buckets. Thus, in

FIG. 26

, the refuse vehicle


200


of

FIG. 9

has been modified to accommodate a split compartment loading bin or bucket


218


A having a forward compartment


222


A and a rearward compartment


220


A on the other side of the vehicle


200


. The loading bin


218


A and the lifting mechanism for the loading bin


218


A, including the cane shaped guide channels, may be mirror images of the loading bin


218


and guide channels


264


and


266


shown in

FIGS. 9-13

. The upper and lower refuse hoppers


210


and


212


have been recessed to accommodate the bucket


218


A and lifting mechanism. The smaller double recessed upper and lower refuse charging hoppers


210


A and


212


A include packers which operate in the same manner as the packers shown in

FIGS. 9-13

. Also, the dividing wall


214


A between the upper hopper


210


A and lower hopper


212


A includes a swinging door wherein the upper packer pushes refuse through the swinging door to keep the area behind the upper packer clean. The refuse hopper portion


208


A is either left open or provided with a pivoting or slidable door or doors which are operated during loading operations to open the top of the hoppers


210


A and


212


A for receiving refuse.




In

FIG. 27

, the refuse vehicle


200


of

FIG. 20

has been modified to include a loading bin or bucket


440


A having a forward compartment


446


A and a rearward compartment


448


A on the other side of the vehicle


200


. The bucket


440


A is not shown as including a recess to accommodate a loading apparatus


444


A, however, in another contemplated embodiment it could. The lifting and dumping mechanism or apparatus for dumping the bucket


440


A into the upper and lower hoppers


210


A and


212


A, including the cane shaped guide channels and the flared sidewall portion of the hoppers


210


A and


212


A, is a mirror image of the lift and dump mechanism or apparatus as shown for the vehicle of FIG.


20


. The upper and lower hoppers


210


A and


212


A may be left open or provided with a slidable or pivoting door which is operated during dumping operation.




The side-loading refuse vehicles of the present invention have been illustrated generally in

FIGS. 1-27

to include hoppers which are attached to the storage body and lifted with the storage body as the refuse is dumped from the vehicle. However, each of the side-loading vehicles are also readily built using a removable storage body which is separable from the hopper to be tilted or removed for unloading. In these embodiments, as shown in

FIGS. 28-35

, the collection vehicle, which may be any type of vehicle previously described and contemplated has a removable body. As shown in

FIGS. 28-34

, a single compartment collection vehicle


500


includes a hopper section


502


which is securely fastened or attached to a chassis frame


504


. A storage body


506


is releasably attached to a subframe


508


(FIGS.


29


-


34


), which is, in turn, pivotally attached to the chassis frame


504


, in a manner described below. The hopper section


502


is situated slightly higher on the chassis frame


504


, as compared to the previous embodiments, and is provided with hopper walls


510


and floor


520


which extend beyond the back wall of the hopper


512


to interface with a hole in the storage body front wall


514


. In a lowered and latched position (not shown), the storage body


506


is fastened to the subframe


508


and pegs


516


, which are attached to the storage body


506


, are slidably engaged in rearward facing hooks


518


secured to the chassis frame


504


. The hopper walls


510


and floor


520


extend through the storage body front wall


514


and into the storage body


506


such that refuse is moved from the hopper


502


and pushed along the hopper floor


520


between the hopper sidewalls


510


into the storage body


506


. The hopper floor


520


is situated above the chassis frame


504


and, in the lowered and latched position, above the floor of the storage body


506


. The storage body front wall


514


is provided with a lip above the storage body floor which prevents fluids from flowing out of the storage body


506


.




As seen in

FIGS. 29-31

, the removable storage body


506


is attached to longitudinal frame members or support members


522


which are releasably latched to the subframe


508


by a locking system, indicated generally by the numeral


524


. The longitudinal frame members


522


are built to accommodate large latch pins


526


and


528


which ride in guide tubes


530


and


532


, respectively, which, in turn, are carried by the subframe


508


. Parallel transverse members


534


and


536


are attached to the subframe


508


on each side for support. The transverse structural member


534


carries and supports a double acting, fluid-operated cylinder


538


which, in turn, with rod


540


, operates a pair of centrally-connected, pivotally mounted connecting links


542


and


544


which cooperate in a scissor linkage in conjunction with a pair of guide rods


546


and


548


to extend and withdraw the latch pins


526


and


528


along guide tubes


530


and


532


. In the fully unlocked position, the projections of the connecting links


542


and


544


are nested between the guide rods


546


and


548


and the piston rod


540


of the cylinder


538


is fully extended.




When the body locking mechanism is actuated to lock a body or container on the subframe, the cylinder


538


is actuated to withdraw the piston rod


540


. The projections on the connecting links act to center the latch pin systems so that both latch pins withdraw the same distance. As the rod


540


is withdrawn, the pivot point


550


is advanced toward the cylinder


538


. As shown in

FIG. 30

, when the locking pins


526


and


528


are in the fully extended position, extending through the openings


527


and


529


and fully locking the subframe


508


and body


506


together, the pivot point


550


has been withdrawn to a point beyond the centerline between the pivotal connections


552


and


554


between the locking pins


526


and


528


and the connecting links


542


and


544


so that the pivot point


550


itself is in an over-center lock position such that thereafter inward forces acting on the locking pins


526


and


528


cannot cause the cylinder


538


to extend to an unlocked position. The subframe


508


includes two locking systems


524


attached thereto in spaced relation for holding the body


506


on the subframe


508


.




As shown in

FIGS. 32-34

, the subframe


508


is slidably and pivotally attached to the chassis frame


504


such that the subframe


508


and body


506


are first moved rearward to unlatch pins


516


from hooks


518


before tilting or removing the removable body


506


from the subframe


508


. A cam plate


560


having an arcuate slot


562


is fixed to the chassis frame


504


at the rear of the vehicle


500


. A cam roller or follower


564


is rotatably attached to a side frame link


566


and disposed to ride in the arcuate slot


562


. The subframe link


566


, which is basically triangular in shape, is commonly pivotally attached at a second corner with a base link


568


on pivot pin


570


. The base link


568


is also pivotally attached to the chassis frame


504


at pivot


572


. Fluid (hydraulic) cylinder


574


is pivotally attached to the chassis frame


504


at


576


and to the third corner of the subframe


566


at


578


through a connecting link


580


. The subframe link


566


is pivotally attached to the subframe


508


at the third corner pivotal connection


578


. Toward the front of the vehicle


500


, a gusset member


582


is attached to chassis frame


504


and a hydraulic cylinder


584


is pivotally connected to the gusset member


582


at


586


and to the subframe


508


at


588


.




In operation, the body


506


and pins


516


are unlatched from the hooks


518


by extending hydraulic cylinders


574


and


584


in unison to maintain the storage body


506


at a level position. Extending hydraulic cylinder


574


pushes the subframe


508


rearward and moves the roller


564


rearward in the arcuate slot


562


of the cam


560


. This unlatches the pins


516


from the hooks


518


. Extending the hydraulic cylinder


574


in unison with the hydraulic cylinder


584


causes the roller


564


to follow the arcuate path of the slot


562


such that the subframe


508


is raised (FIG.


33


). Extending hydraulic cylinders


574


and


584


further, pushes the roller


564


to the top of the arcuate slot


562


and pivots the subframe


508


about subframe pivot joint


578


to a raised or unloading position (FIG.


34


). The pivot joints


578


and


570


include cross members which are connected to a corresponding subframe link and base link on the other side of the vehicle


500


. This adds stability to the subframe


508


and chassis frame


504


unlatching and tilting assembly.




In the position as shown in

FIG. 33

, the storage body


506


and pins


516


are unlatched from the hooks


518


. Storage body


506


is also raised above the chassis frame


504


such that supports may be put under the storage body


506


and the locking system


524


operated to unlatch the body


506


from the subframe


508


. The subframe


508


is then lowered away from the body


506


to the chassis frame


504


and the refuse vehicle


500


may be driven away from the detached or removed storage body


506


. In this manner, storage bodies, such as


506


, may be removed and replaced at will. In

FIG. 35

, the removable body concept is used for a multiple compartment truck body on a vehicle


600


. The upper or top charging hopper


602


includes hopper wall


604


and a hopper floor


606


which extends through the rear hopper wall


608


. Similarly, the lower charging hopper


610


includes lower hopper wall


611


and a floor


612


which extends through the rear hopper wall


608


. The storage body


614


is moveable between a latched position and an unlatched position, such as that shown in FIG.


35


. In the latched position, pins


16


which are attached to the storage body


614


interconnect or latch with hook


618


secured to the chassis frame


620


. In this position, the storage body


614


is moved forward and the storage body front wall


622


fits closely to the hopper rear wall


608


. The upper and lower hopper walls


604


and


611


and the upper and lower hopper floors


606


and


612


extend through the storage body front wall


622


and into the storage body


614


through holes in the storage body front wall


622


. The hopper floors


606


and


612


are raised above the floors of the storage body


614


such that a lip is formed by the storage body front wall


622


to prevent liquids from flowing out of the storage body


614


. In all other respects, the removable body and subframe assembly, including the locking system for locking the body on the subframe and the unlatching and tilting system for the subframe and chassis frame are the same as those described for the vehicle


500


of FIG.


28


. Further details and other removable body systems usable with the invention are described and shown in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/377,146, filed Jan. 24, 1995, by Garwin B. McNeilus and Ronald E. Christenson, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/398,954, filed Mar. 2, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,390, issued Oct. 8, 1996, by Ronald E. Christenson, which is a continuation-in-part of the Ser. No. 08/377,146 application, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for any necessary purposes.




It will be appreciated, for example, that other combinations and permutations of the embodiments shown may be combined to form vehicles having multiple automated arms wherein one automated arm is on each side of the refuse vehicle and any number of compartments in a multiple compartment vehicle may be provided.




This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use embodiments of the invention as required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different devices and that various modifications can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.



Claims
  • 1. An apparatus for collecting refuse comprising:(a) a truck body having a forward end and an aft end mountable to a truck frame and extending longitudinally therealong and enclosing a material receiving volume; (b) a charging hopper having sides and being mountable to the truck frame forward of said truck body and adapted to receive material and charge material into said material receiving volume; (c) a bucket vertically moveable along a path having an outward extending lower segment along one side of said charging hopper between a lowered loading position and a raised, at least partially inverted, discharge position, the bucket describing a loading compartment for receiving refuse material; and (d) wherein a side of said charging hopper is recessed to accommodate said bucket in the lowered position and said outward extending lower segment providing clearance when said bucket is moved vertically; and (e) an automated refuse loader arm, said refuse loader arm having an extensible boom mechanism and refuse bin grabbing mechanism mounted on said boom mechanism for reaching and grabbing a refuse bin from a standing position and lifting and inverting the refuse bin to discharge the contents thereof into said hopper.
  • 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said charging hopper comprises forward and aft receiving accesses corresponding to separate charging compartments and said grabbing mechanism is moveable along said boom to access either said forward or aft receiving access.
  • 3. An apparatus for collecting refuse comprising:(a) a truck body having a forward and an aft end mountable to a truck frame and extending longitudinally therealong and enclosing a plurality of material receiving volumes including upper and lower material receiving volumes; (b) a charging hopper mountable to the truck frame forward of said truck body and separated into a plurality of material receiving volumes including upper and lower hopper receiving volumes adapted to receive material and charge material into corresponding material receiving volumes of said truck body: (c) a bucket device vertically moveable along a path having an outward extending lower segment along at least one side of said charging hopper and said bucket device being operable between a lowered loading position and a raised, at least partially inverted, discharge position, the bucket describing a bin structure having forward and aft compartments for receiving refuse material; (d) wherein each side of said charging hopper associated with a bucket is recessed to accommodate said bucket in the lowered position and said outward extending lower segment providing clearance when said bucket is moved vertically; (e) packing means associated with each material receiving volume of said hopper; and (f) wherein forward and aft accesses to said charging hopper correspond to said forward and aft compartments of said bucket and to said upper and lower receiving volumes of said charging hopper; and (g) an automated extensible boom arm and grabber system mounted to said truck frame.
  • 4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a pair of buckets, one located on each side of said charging hopper and wherein both sides of said charging hopper are recessed to accommodate buckets.
  • 5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said charging hopper comprises forward and aft receiving accesses corresponding to separate charging compartments and said grabbing mechanism is moveable along said boom to access either said forward or aft receiving access.
  • 6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said path along which said bucket moves includes a pair of recesses each adapted to receive a pair of upper and lower offset follower members generally vertically spaced with respect to said bucket and being attached to a corresponding forward or aft wall of said bucket, said follower members being slightly offset, the upper follower member being located further from the charging hopper than the lower follower member.
  • 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said path includes an arcuate upper dumping portion and a linear lower portion, said offset follower members cooperating to increase the degree of inversion of said bucket at a fully up or discharging position.
  • 8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the upper portion of a sidewall of said hopper facing said bucket is flared.
  • 9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the recess in the side of the charging hopper extends to correspond with a main longitudinal truck frame member.
  • 10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the location of said grabber means is adjustable relative to said arm.
  • 11. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said packing means includes reciprocating packing blades and further including anti-buildup means for preventing material buildup behind said packing blades.
  • 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said anti-buildup means includes a hinged swinging relief door in the front wall of the upper hopper receiving volume.
  • 13. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said charging hopper further comprises two compartments and further comprising at least one primary compacting means associated with a first one of said two compartments for compacting non-recyclable or compactable recyclable materials.
  • 14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising at least one auxiliary compacting means associated with a second of said two compartments mechanically linked to said primary compacting means for compacting materials in said second compartment.
  • 15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising at least one compaction force limiting means associated with said at least one auxiliary compacting means for limiting the compaction force exerted by said auxiliary compacting means.
Parent Case Info

This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 08/876,869, filed Jun. 17, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,210,094 B1 issued Apr. 3, 2001. Which, in turn, is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/508,384, filed Jul. 31, 1995, now abandoned.

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Entry
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Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 08/508384 Jul 1995 US
Child 08/876869 US