Refuse collection vehicle having multiple collection assemblies

• US 20050019140A1
• Filed: 07/03/2003
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Heil Company (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: The Heil Company (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Hund, Henry M. Jr., Keller, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,037,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/406
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/023 Gripper arms for embracing the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/048 Linkages B65F3/041 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/06 Arrangement and disposition of fluid actuators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 414/13 Handlers utilizing parallel links

Abstract

A refuse collection apparatus is adapted to grab and lift a refuse container, dump the contents thereof into a collection bin, and return the container to its original location. The apparatus includes a container grab assembly which includes a pair of opposed grabbing arms that are aligned in spaced relationship and operable by a fluid-operated actuating system to grab and release a container. The apparatus also includes an articulated, moveable arm assembly that is operable by a fluid-operated actuating system through an operating cycle that includes retracted, extended, lifting and dumping positions. The arm assembly includes a base link that is mounted adjacent to the collection bin and an upper link having a first end and a second end. The apparatus also includes a reach link also having a first end and a second end. The first end of the reach link is pivotally attached to the base and the second end of the reach link is pivotally attached to the upper link at an intermediate position between the first end and the second end. The apparatus also includes a lift arm having a first end and a second end. The first end of the lift arm is pivotally attached to the grab assembly and the second end of the lift arm is pivotally attached to the first end of the upper link. The arm assembly of the apparatus is designed to balance the mass of the apparatus during the operating cycle while balancing actuation of the actuators employed therein to allow for effective cushioning at the ends of the stroke of each actuator.

Claims

1-17. -17. (cancelled).

18. A refuse collection vehicle having a front and a rear and comprising:

(a) a frame;

(b) a collection bin mounted on the frame;

(c) an apparatus for acquiring, lifting and transferring a container so as to deposit the contents of the container in the collection bin;

(d) a collection compartment that is pivotally mounted on the rear of the vehicle;

(e) a storage compartment that is mounted on the frame between the collection bin and the collection compartment;

(f) a packer blade that is mounted within the collection compartment;

(g) means for moving the packer blade within the collection compartment so as to move refuse from the collection compartment into the storage compartment.

19. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 18 wherein the apparatus for acquiring, lifting and transferring a container so as to deposit its contents in the collection bin comprises:

(a) a container grab assembly which includes a pair of opposed grabbing arms that are aligned in spaced relationship and operable by a fluid-operated actuating system to grab and release a first container;

(b) an articulated, moveable arm assembly that is operable by a fluid-operated actuating system through an operating cycle that includes retracted, extended, lifting and dumping positions, which arm assembly includes;

(i) a base link that is mounted adjacent to the collection bin;

(ii) an upper link having a first end and a second end

(iii) a reach link having a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotally attached to the base link and said second end being pivotally attached to the upper link at a first intermediate position between the first end of the upper link and the second end;

(iv) a lift arm having a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotally attached to the grab assembly and said second end being pivotally attached to the first end of the upper link;

wherein the base link, upper link, reach link and lift arm are arranged and interconnected so that said upper link remains generally parallel to the base link throughout the operating cycle of the arm assembly.

20. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 18 wherein the apparatus for acquiring, lifting and transferring a container so as to deposit its contents in the collection bin is adapted to acquire, lift, transfer and deposit the contents of a container having a pair of sleeves to accommodate a pair of forks, said apparatus comprising a pair of lifting arms that are aligned in spaced relationship, one on each side of the frame, with each such lifting arm having:

(a) a first end that is pivotally attached to the frame;

(b) a second end, to which a fork is pivotally attached, said fork being adapted to engage the sleeves of the container to acquire the container;

(c) a first fluid-operated actuator that is adapted to pivot the fork about the second end of the lifting arm;

(d) a second fluid-operated actuator that is adapted to pivot the lifting arm at its first end with respect to the frame.

21. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 19 wherein the actuating system for the container grab assembly and the actuating system for the arm assembly comprise double-acting hydraulic cylinders.

22. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 19 wherein the grab assembly includes:

(a) a side support arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of which is attached to the lift arm;

(b) a gear box that is mounted on the second end of the side support arm, which gear box includes a left gear and a right gear that are meshed together;

(c) a right shaft on which the right gear is mounted;

(d) a left shaft on which the left gear is mounted;

(e) a drive link having a first end and a second end, with said first end being mounted on the right shaft;

(f) a left grabbing arm which is mounted on the left shaft;

(g) a right grabbing arm that is mounted on the right shaft;

(h) a grabber cylinder having a base end and a rod end, with one of such ends being pivotally attached to the first end of the side support arm and the other being pivotally attached to the second end of the drive link.

23. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 22 wherein the relative positions of the drive link, the left and right gears and the left and right grabbing arms are such that retraction of the rod of the grabber cylinder from an extended position to a retracted position will cause the grabbing arms to close from an open position to a grab position.

24. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 22 wherein:

(a) the gear box is enclosed and has a first side and a second side;

(b) the right shaft extends through both the first and second sides of the gear box;

(c) the left shaft extends through the second side of the gear box;

(c) the second end of the drive link is mounted on the right shaft on the first side of the gear box;

(d) the right grabbing arm is mounted on the right shaft on the second side of the gear box;

(e) the left grabbing arm is mounted on the left shaft on the second side of the gear box.

25. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 18 wherein the apparatus for acquiring, lifting and transferring a container so as to deposit the contents of the container in the collection bin comprises:

(a) a base link having a first end and a second end, which base link is mounted on the collection vehicle;

(b) a container grab assembly that is adapted to capture the container;

(b) an upper link having a first end and a second end;

(c) a reach link having a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotally attached to the first end of the base link and said second end being pivotally attached to the upper link at an intermediate position between the first end and the second end;

(d) a lift arm having a first end and a second end, said first end being pivotally attached to the grab assembly;

(e) a reach cylinder having a base end and a rod end, with one of such ends being pivotally attached to the second end of the base link and the other being pivotally attached to the second end of the upper link;

(f) a lift cylinder having a base end and a rod end, with one of such ends being pivotally attached to the base link at an intermediate position between the first end and the second end and the other being pivotally attached to the second end of the lift arm.

26. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 25 wherein the apparatus for acquiring, lifting and transferring a container so as to deposit the contents of the container in the collection bin includes:

(e) a reach cylinder having;

(i) a base end and a rod end, with one of such ends being pivotally attached to the second end of the base link and the other being pivotally attached to the second end of the upper link;

(ii) an extend port through which hydraulic fluid may be introduced to extend the rod end;

(iii) a retract port through which hydraulic fluid may be introduced to retract the rod end;

(f) a lift cylinder having;

(i) a base end and a rod end, with one of such ends being pivotally attached to the base link at an intermediate position between the first end and the second end and the other being pivotally attached to the second end of the lift arm;

(ii) an extend port through which hydraulic fluid may be introduced to extend the rod end;

(iii) a retract port through which hydraulic fluid may be introduced to retract the rod end;

(g) means for directing hydraulic fluid in parallel flow to the extend port of the reach cylinder and extend port of the lift cylinder to move the grab assembly from a first position adjacent to the base to a second position adjacent to the container;

(h) means for directing hydraulic fluid in parallel flow to the retract port of the reach cylinder and extend port of the lift cylinder to move the grab assembly from the second position adjacent to the container to a third position adjacent to the collection bin;

(i) means for directing hydraulic fluid in parallel flow to the extend port of the reach cylinder and retract port of the lift cylinder to move the grab assembly from the third position adjacent to the collection bin to the second position;

(j) means for directing hydraulic fluid in parallel flow to the retract port of the reach cylinder and retract port of the lift cylinder to move the grab assembly from the second position to the first position.

27. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 25 wherein the apparatus for acquiring, lifting and transferring a container so as to deposit the contents of the container in the collection bin includes:

(a) an upper link having a first end, a second end and a first and second intermediate positions between the first end and the second end, wherein said first intermediate position is nearer to the first end than the second end;

(b) a slave cylinder having a base end and a rod end, with one of such ends being pivotally attached to the reach link at an intermediate position between the first end and the second end, and the other being pivotally attached to the upper link at the first intermediate position;

and wherein the second end of the reach link is pivotally attached to the upper link at the second intermediate position.

28. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 25 wherein the grab assembly includes:

(a) a side support arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of which is attached to the lift arm;

(b) a gear box that is mounted on the second end of the side support arm and including a left gear and a right gear that are meshed together;

(c) a right shaft on which the right gear is mounted;

(d) a left shaft on which the left gear is mounted;

(e) a drive link having a first end and a second end, with said first end being mounted on the right shaft;

(f) a left grabbing arm which is mounted on the left shaft;

(g) a right grabbing arm that is mounted on the right shaft;

(h) a grabber cylinder having a base end and a rod end, with one of such ends being pivotally attached to the first end of the side support arm and the other being pivotally attached to the second end of the drive link.

29. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 28 wherein the relative positions of the drive link, the left and right gears and the left and right grabbing arms are such that retraction of the rod of the grabber cylinder from an extended position to a retracted position will cause the grabbing arms to close from an open position to a grab position.

30. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 28 wherein:

(a) the gear box is enclosed and has a first side and a second side;

(b) the right shaft extends through both the first and second sides of the gear box;

(c) the left shaft extends through the second side of the gear box;

(d) the second end of the drive link is mounted on the right shaft on the first side of the gear box;

(e) the right grabbing arm is mounted on the right shaft on the second side of the gear box;

(f) the left grabbing arm is mounted on the left shaft on the second side of the gear box.