REFUSE VEHICLE WITH A SEMI-AUTOMATED REFUSE CONTAINER PICK-UP AND UNLOADING DEVICE

• US 3,841,508 A
• Filed: 09/27/1972
• Issued: 10/15/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: EMCO Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ernest C. Ebeling, Franklin D. Ebeling
• Inventors: Ebeling, Franklin D., Ebeling, Ernest C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Spar, Robert J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oresky, Lawrence J.
• Application Number:
  US05/292,794
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 214/83.3,1BC,77R,151,132,133,147G,302,303,312,313,314
• US Class Current: 414/406
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/023 Gripper arms for embracing the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0276 capable of moving towards or away from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/041 Pivoted arms or pivoted carriers
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/06 Arrangement and disposition of fluid actuators

Abstract

This invention relates to a garbage and refuse vehicle which has a continuous compacting system, which compacting system is supplied with garbage or refuse by a semi-automated pick-up device which picks up the container, unloads the contents thereof into a hopper of the compacting system, and moves the refuse container back to the same position it originally occupied, without manual manupulation of the refuse container while it is being picked up, unloaded and positioned on a rack, on the terrain, or the like. Provision is made for handling either round or polygonal containers, the handling of which container may be controlled, by one operator, from the cab of the vehicle. The device may be made as an attachment to a existing garbage or refuse vehicle, or it may be made of unitary construction therewith. The container may be dumped by cam action, or by action of a motor.

Claims

1. A semi-automated refuse vehicle, having a refuse receptacle, which vehicle comprises;

a. a wheeled frame, b. a substantially closed refuse body mounted on said wheeled frame, c. a source of fluid under pressure, d. a boom pivotally mounted on a side of said wheeled frame and being adapted to extend along a side of said frame, when in one position, which boom is mounted to move about a transverse axis, which axis is angularly inclined less than 90 degrees relative to the horizontal, so as said boom moves outwardly, the outer end thereof will be moved downwardly to engage a refuse container and, as the outer end of the boom moves inwardly, the outer end thereof will be moved upwardly to enable refuse to be discharged from the refuse container into a refuse receiving receptacle at a higher elevation, 1. a first fluid actuated cylinder-plunger assembly connected to said boom and to said frame to move said boom relative thereto, 2. conduit means leading from said source of fluid under pressure to the cylinder of said first fluid actuated cylinder-plunger assembly, 3. valve means within said conduit to seLectively direct fluid under pressure to one end of said first fluid actuated cylinder, when said valve is in one position, to move the plunger thereof in one direction and to direct fluid to the opposite end of said cylinder to move the plunger thereof in the opposite direction, when said valve is in another position, so as to move said boom selectively outwardly and inwardly, e. a pair of refuse container engaging arms on said boom near the outer end thereof, f. a second fluid actuated cylinder-plunger assembly mounted near the outer end of said boom and having one end thereof connected to said boom, the other end of said second fluid actuated cylinder-plunger assembly being connected to at least one of said arms to cause relative movement therebetween to grip the refuse container, 4. valve means, which, when in one position, directs fluid into one end of said second fluid actuated cylinder and directs fluid outward from the opposite end thereof to move at least one of said arms relative to said boom to engage the refuse container and said valve means, when moved to another position, directs fluid into the opposite end of said second fluid actuated cylinder, and out through the other end thereof to disengage said arms from the refuse container, g. tipping means associated with said boom to move said arms about the longitudinal axis of said boom to invert the refuse container, when said boom is in the inner-most position.

2. spaced apart abutments on two opposite sides of said refuse container, which abutments form a V-shaped groove,

3. the inner face of each said arm being complementary to one said V-shaped groove so when said arms are clamped therein said refuse container will be lifted from a position on the terrain and directed to a position above the refuse receptacle,

4. conduits leading from said source of fluid under pressure to said motor, and k. valve means within said conduits to selectively direct fluid to said motor to rotate said motor in a selected direction.

5. A semi-automated refuse vehicle as defined in claim 3;

wherein a. a guide bar is mounted on the side of the vehicle and is secured thereto and extends outwardly therefrom, and b. a pair of guide rollers mounted on said boom in position to engage said guide bar as said boom is moved inward to discharge the contents of the refuse container.

6. A semi-automated refuse vehicle as defined in claim 1;

wherein a. said boom is a non-rotatable, tubular member, b. a motor mounted on the end of said tubular member and has the shaft thereof extending thereinto, c. a further shaft extending through said tubular member,

7. A semi-automated refuse vehicle as defined in claim 6;

wherein a. said motor is a fluid motor, b. a control valve for rotating said motor in either direction to enable the refuse container to be picked up in upright position and to be discharged into the refuse receptacle.

8. A semi-automated refuse vehicle as defined in claim 1;

wherein a. said boom is a non-rotatable, tubular member, b. a motor mounted on the end of said tubular member and has the shaft thereof extending thereinto, c. a further shaft extending through said tubular member, d. a lever fixedly secured to the outer end of said further shaft and extending outwardly therefrom, e. said pair of refuse container engaging arms pivotally mounted on said lever near the outer end thereof and adapted to occupy a substantially horizontal position, when the boom is in one position, f. a sleeve is mounted on said rotatable shaft near the outer end thereof, g. said lever being fixedly secured to said sleeve and extending downwardly therefrom, h. fastening means to detachably secure said sleeve to said rotatable shaft, i. a plate mounted on the lower end of said sleeve at an angle with respect thereto, j. a second plate interconnecting with the first plate and being a spaced distance therebelow, k. said arms being pivotally secured between said plates so the refuse container gripped between said arms will be upright when in one position and will be inverted when in another position.

9. A semi-automated refuse vehicle as defined in claim 1;

wherein a. said boom is a non-rotatable, tubular member, b. a motor mounted on the end of said tubular member and has the shaft thereof extending thereinto, c. a further shaft extending through said tubular member d. a lever fixedly secured to the outer end of said further shaft and extending outwardly therefrom, e. said pair of refuse container engaging arms pivotally mounted on said lever near the outer end thereof and adapted to occupy a substantially horizontal position, when the boom is in one position, f. said outwardly extending lever on said shaft has a plate secured thereto, g. a further plate secured to said first plate therebelow, h. a pair of arms pivotally mounted between said plates, i. a double acting hydraulic cylinder connected to said arms near the inner ends thereof and extending between said arms, j. the refuse container being polygonal in shape,

10. A semi-automated refuse vehicle as defined in claim 9;

wherein a. each said arm has a plate secured to the end thereof which arms extend inward over said refuse container, when said arms aRe in engaged position.

11. A semi-automated refuse vehicle as defined in claim 1;

wherein a. said arms are of a configuration to grip a polygonal container, b. a refuse container,

12. A semi-automated refuse vehicle as defined in claim 11;

wherein a. said refuse container is rectangular in cross section, b. said arms adapted to tightly embrace said container which is rectangular in cross section to remove said container from the terrain and to discharge the contents thereof into said refuse receptacle on said refuse vehicle.

13. A semi-automated refuse vehicle as defined in claim 1;

wherein a. an elastomer element is secured to each said arm to frictionally engage the refuse container.