Refuse receptacle lifter

• US 20020141855A1
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Perkins Manufacturing Company (Hovi Industries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Perkins Manufacturing Company (Hovi Industries, Inc.)
• Inventors: Arrez, Carlos, Arrez, Ramiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,988,864 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/408
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0246 Means for locking the front, e.g. via a handle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/041 Pivoted arms or pivoted carriers

Abstract

A refuse receptacle lifter is disclosed which is movable between a retracted and a dumping position for lifting and inverting refuse receptacles of the type including spaced apart upper and lower engagement surfaces. The lifter may include an actuator with a rotary output shaft, a lift arm attached to the rotary output shaft, an upper engagement member carried at least in part by the lift arm, a first actuator arm pivotally mounted to the lift arm and a second actuator arm pivotally mounted to the base. The actuator arms are attached to an extension assembly that carries a lower engagement member. Upon rotation of the output shaft, the upper engagement member is moved between a lower retracted position and a raised position and the lower engagement member is moved between a retracted position and an extended position, for lifting and inverting a refuse receptacle.

Claims

1. A refuse receptacle lifter movable between a retracted and a dumping position for lifting and inverting refuse receptacles of the type including spaced apart upper and lower engagement surfaces comprising a base;

an actuator carried by the base and having a rotary output shaft;

a lift arm including a first end attached to the rotary output shaft and a second end;

an upper engagement member carried at least in part by the lift arm;

a first actuator arm having first and second ends, the first end being pivotally mounted to the lift arm between the ends of the lift arm;

a second actuator arm having first and second ends, the first end being pivotally mounted to the base;

an extension assembly comprising first and second relatively movable members, the first member being attached to the second end of first actuator arm and the second member being attached to the second end of the second actuator arm;

a lower engagement member carried by a selected one of the first and second members of the extension assembly;

the first and second members of the extension assembly being relatively movable;

whereby upon rotation of the output shaft, the upper engagement member is moved between a lower retracted position and a raised position to lift an upper engagement surface of a refuse receptacle, and the lower engagement member is moved between a retracted position and an extended position for engagement with the lower engagement surface of a refuse receptacle when it is lifted and inverted.

2. The lifter of claim 1 in which the lift arm and actuator arms are disposed in generally overlapping relation when the lifter is in a retracted position.

3. The lifter of claim 1 in which the rotary output shaft has ends in opposed relation, a separate lift arm is attached to each end of the output shaft, the upper engagement member is carried on a cross bar that extends between the second ends of the lift arms.

4. The lifter of claim 1 in which the left arm is elongated and extends to a location whereby the upper engagement member is proximal to the lower engagement member when the lifter is in a retracted position.

5. The lifter of claim 1 in which the first actuator arm is pivotally mounted to the lift arm at a location proximal to the first end of the lift arm.

6. The lifter of claim 1 in which one of the first and second members comprises an inner telescoping member and the other comprises an outer telescoping members.

7. The lifter of claim 6 in which the telescoping members attached to the second actuator arms carry the lower receptacle engagement member.

8. The lifter of claim 1 in which the actuator is a rotary hydraulic actuator.