LINEARLY EXTENDABLE COLLECTION MECHANISM FOR REFUSE HAULING VEHICLES

• US 20120230803A1
• Filed: 03/07/2012
• Published: 09/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kann Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kann Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: GOEDKEN, Kenneth D., ROWLAND, Jared L., JOHNSON, Marlin L., TAAKE, Roger, DREWELOW, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 9,221,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/408
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/024 Means for locking the rim
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0246 Means for locking the front, e.g. via a handle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0269 capable of moving along the side of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/001 for segregated refuse collecting, e.g. vehicles with several compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/043 with additional means for keeping the receptacle substantially vertical during raising
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/046 with additional means for assisting the tipping of the receptacle after or during raising

Abstract

An improved recyclables collection vehicle includes a lift mechanism for selective loading into any one of multiple hoppers on the vehicle. The lift mechanism includes a track which extends past the rear of the vehicle such that a moveable carriage may move along the track to collect a refuse bin located to the rear of the vehicle or on an elevated dock behind or alongside the vehicle. The carriage can be aligned with any one of the hoppers such that the lift mechanism will elevate the refuse bin and invert it over the hopper container. The movement of the carriage along the track and the raising of the lift mechanism are operated with a wireless remote control.

Claims

1. A collection mechanism for a side loaded commodity collection body having at least one collection chamber attached thereto, the collection mechanism comprising:

a track extending longitudinally along a side of the collection body and being moveable between a raised position above the collection chamber and a lowered position;

a carriage engaged with the track for linear movement on the track between a position alongside the collection chamber to a rearward position with respect to the collection body; and

at least one container engagement assembly combined to the carriage and positioned in an outward facing position with respect to the side of the collection body to receive a container and selectively engage the container for movement of the container along the track, the container movable with the track between the raised and lowered positions thereof.

2. The collection mechanism of claim 1 wherein

the track is supported on a plurality of support arms,

the support arms supported on a chassis of a commodity collection vehicle supporting the commodity collection body,

a linkage arm joined to the track, the linkage arm rotating the track around a hinge on the support arms when the track is moved to the raised position.

3. The collection mechanism of claim 1 wherein

the carriage is moveable along the length of the track upon rollers receivable on upper and lower members of the track.

4. The collection mechanism of claim 1 wherein

the container engagement assembly includes a plurality of upstanding tines to be received by pockets on the container,

the container engagement assembly further including a mechanism to clamp the pockets on the tines.

5. In a commodity collection vehicle having a chassis supported on wheels and further having at least one commodity storage hopper supported thereon, the invention comprising:

a refuse container unloading assembly comprising a track supported on pivot arms supported on the chassis,

the track extending along the chassis at least a length of the at least one storage hopper,

the track including a carriage selectively moveable therealong, the carriage including a refuse bin mounting member thereon,

the carriage moveable selectively along the track to any location therealong,

the carriage moveable to a position rearward of the chassis,

the carriage selectively moveable to a position alongside the at least one storage hopper,

the track moveable by action of the pivot arms from a lowered position to a fully raised position,

whereby a refuse container retained to the refuse binmounting member will be upended over the load opening of the at least one storage hopper when the track is moved to the fully raised position.

6. The commodity collection vehicle of claim 5 wherein

the commodity collection vehicle comprises at least a forward commodity storage hopper and a rearward commodity storage hopper supported on the chassis thereof,

the track extending along at least a length of the storage hoppers,

the carriage selectively moveable to a position alongside a selected one of the at least a forward commodity storage hopper and a rearward commodity storage hopper,

the refuse container being upended over the load opening of the selected one of the at least a forward commodity storage hopper and a rearward commodity storage hopper.

7. The commodity collection vehicle of claim 5 wherein

the carriage moveable on rollers engaged with the track,

the carriage selectively moved along the track by a cable drawn along the track by a hydraulic motor.

8. The commodity collection vehicle of claim 5 wherein

the carriage is moveable along the track by operation of a wireless remote control used by an operator.

9. The commodity collection vehicle of claim 5 wherein

the track including a length extending behind the rear end of the commodity collection vehicle,

means to move the carriage along the track,

means to raise the track from the lower position to any height up to the raised position,

control means to remotely move the carriage along the track and to raise and lower the track over the at least one storage hopper.

10. The commodity collection vehicle of claim 5 wherein

the track includes a length thereof extending behind the rear end of the commodity collection vehicle.

11. The commodity collection vehicle of claim 5 wherein

the carriage includes a support leg depending therefrom,

a wheel carried on a lower end of the support leg,

the wheel rolling along a surface on which a refuse container is resting to support the carriage thereon.

12. The commodity collection vehicle of claim 5 wherein

the track is supported on a plurality of support arms,

the support arms supported on a chassis of a commodity collection vehicle supporting the commodity collection body,

a linkage arm joined to the track,

the linkage arm including a hydraulic cylinder,

the hydraulic cylinder of the linkage arm selectively rotating the track around a hinge on the support arms when the track is moved to the raised position to upend the container over a load opening of the at least one collection chamber.

13. The commodity collection vehicle of claim 5 wherein

the track including a length thereof extending behind the rear end of the commodity collection vehicle,

the commodity collection vehicle comprising at least a forward commodity storage hopper and a rearward commodity storage hopper supported on the chassis thereof,

the track extending along at least a length of the storage hoppers,

the carriage moveable on rollers engaged with the track,

the carriage selectively moved along the track by a cable drawn along the track by a hydraulic motor,

the carriage selectively moveable to a position alongside a selected one of the at least a forward commodity storage hopper and a rearward commodity storage hopper,

the track supported on a plurality of support arms,

the support arms supported on the chassis of the commodity collection vehicle,

a linkage arm joined to the track, the linkage arm rotating the track around a hinge on the support arms when the track is moved to the raised position,

the refuse container being upended over the load opening of the selected one of the at least a forward commodity storage hopper and a rearward commodity storage hopper,

the carriage moveable along the track by operation of a wireless remote control used by an operator.

14. A low profile side loading commodity collection body for carriage on a truck chassis, the body comprising:

at least one hopper loadable from a side thereof,

the at least one hopper including substantially parallel front and rear walls,

the at least one hopper including a first sidewall at the first side thereof and a second sidewall opposing the first sidewall,

each of the front and rear walls including an extension region extending above a top of each of the sidewalls,

the at least one hopper having a floor joining the end walls and the second sidewall,

the first sidewall hinged at the top edge thereof to the front and rear walls below the extension regions thereof,

the first sidewall selectively retained to the floor,

the second sidewall including a lower inclined panel joined to an upper substantially vertical panel,

the at least one hopper further comprising a top wall overlying a part of an interior of the at least one hopper,

the top wall secured to the upper vertical panel of the first sidewall and to each of the front and rear walls of the at least one hopper,

the top wall having a free edge defining a first end of a loading opening,

the loading opening further defined by the front and rear walls and the top edge of the second sidewall,

the extension regions of the front and rear walls extending upward from the loading opening,

a loading apparatus supported on the chassis and moveable thereon from a lowered position to an unloading position,

the loading apparatus comprising a pivoting arm disposed at each of the front and rear ends of the collection body.

15. The body of claim 14 wherein

each pivot arm is pivotable about a longitudinal axis generally centered on the collection body,

the longitudinal axis disposed at or below the floor of the at least one hopper,

each pivot arm including a free end supporting a elongate track,

the elongate track extending at least between the free ends of the pivot arms,

the elongate track of the loading apparatus disposed alongside the second sidewall of the hopper when the loading apparatus is in the lowered position,

the elongate track of the loading apparatus disposed above the top wall of the at least one hopper in the unloading position of the loading apparatus,

the elongate track including a refuse container engaging member thereon for removable attachment of a refuse container thereto,

the refuse container engaging plate rotating about an axis defined by the free ends of the pivot arms as the loading apparatus approaches the unloading position.

16. The body of claim 15 wherein

a cover member selectively overlies the loading opening and selectively rests upon the extension regions of the front and rear sidewalk,

the cover member coupled to a driving member which raises the cover about a pivot hinge disposed slightly above and inboard of the top of the second sidewall,

the cover member pivots upward to expose the loading opening when the loading apparatus approaches the unloading position.

17. The body of claim 16 wherein

the height of a bottom of the refuse container being emptied into the at least one hopper carried on the chassis does not exceed twelve feet six inches.