Refuse container lifter

• US 20030099529A1
• Filed: 01/02/2003
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carlos Arrez, Ramiro Arrez
• Original Assignee: Carlos Arrez, Ramiro Arrez
• Inventors: Arrez, Carlos, Arrez, Ramiro
• Granted Patent: US 6,929,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/408
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0243 Means for locking the side, e.g. via spigots or trunnion pins
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0246 Means for locking the front, e.g. via a handle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/046 with additional means for assisting the tipping of the receptacle after or during raising

Abstract

A lifter including a motor which is secured to a base, the motor having a shaft rotatable about a first axis. At least one lift arm is secured to the rotatable shaft, with at least one actuator arm pivotally mounted to the base for rotation about a second axis displaced from the axis of the rotatable shaft. A carriage is provided that has two hooks for selectively engaging the spaced-apart bars that are on the container that is to be lifted, the hooks being selectively engageable with the bars so as to secure the container to the carriage during the dumping action. The first and second hooks are connected to each other by a telescoping member, one end of the telescoping member being rigidly connected to the lift arm and the other end of the telescoping member being pivotally connected to the actuator arm.

Claims

1. A lifting device for moving a container between a first and a second position relative to a base, the container having a body with first and second bars secured thereto in spaced parallel relationship, the device comprising:

(a) a motor secured to the base, the motor having a shaft rotatable about a first axis;

(b) at least one lift arm having first and second ends, the first end being secured to the shaft;

(c) at least one actuator arm having first and second ends, the first end being pivotally mounted to the base for rotation about a second axis displaced from the first axis;

(d) a carriage having a first hook for selectively engaging the first bar on the container and the second hook for engaging the second bar on the container so as to secure the container to the carriage as the container is moved between the first and second positions, the first hook and second hook being connected to each other by a telescoping member having first and second ends, the first end of the telescoping member being rigidly connected to the second end of the lift arm and the second end of the telescoping member being pivotally connected to the second end of the actuator arm so that the first end of the telescoping member moves away from the second end of the telescoping member as the container is moved from the first to the second position and the first end of the telescoping member moves toward the second end of the telescoping member as the container is moved from the second position to the first position.

3. The lifting device of claim 1 wherein the telescoping member comprises an inner member secured to the lift arm and an outer member secured to the actuator arm, the outer member including a longitudinal slot sized so that at least a portion of the actuator arm retracts into the slot when the lifting device is in the first position.

5. The lifting device of claim 1 wherein each hook member has a roller associated therewith for engaging the container as it is lifted between the first and second positions.

2. A lifting device for moving a container between a first and a second position relative to a base, the container having a body with first and second bars secured thereto in spaced parallel relationship, the device comprising:

(a) a motor secured to the base, the motor having a shaft rotatable about a first axis;

(b) at least one lift arm having first and second ends, the first end being secured to the shaft;

(c) at least one actuator arm having first and second ends, the first end being pivotally mounted to the base for rotation about a second axis displaced from the first axis;

(d) a carriage comprising a first cross piece rigidly mounted to the lift arm and including a first hook for selectively engaging the first bar on the container, a connecting member rigidly secured to the lift arm and pivotally secured to the actuator arm, and a second cross piece rigidly connected to the connecting member and including a second hook for selectively engaging the second bar on the container.

4. The lifting device of claim 2 wherein the connecting member comprises an inner member secured to the lift arm and an outer member secured to the actuator arm, the outer member including an elongated slot sized so that at least a portion of the actuator arm retracts into the slot when the lifting device is in the first position.

6. The lifting device of claim 2 wherein each hook member has a roller associated therewith for engaging the container as it is lifted between the first and second positions.