Refuse collection apparatus with personnel protection means
First Claim
1. A vehicle for collecting refuse having a storage body and a hopper into which personnel associated with the vehicle initially dump the refuse, the vehicle further comprising:
- displacement means for displacing the refuse from the hopper into the storage body, the displacement means being movable in a particular direction relative to the storage body to make a particular area in proximity to the vehicle dangerous to the personnel;
power means for moving the displacing means in the particular direction to displace the refuse from the hopper into the storage body;
transmission means disposed relative to the particular area for transmitting a signal across the particular area;
detection means disposed relative to the transmission means in a position to receive directly the transmitted signal, the detection means having characteristics for providing a particular electrical signal when the transmitted signal is not received by the detection means;
the power means being responsive to the particular electrical signal provided by the detection means to inhibit movement of the displacement means in the particular direction;
wherebythe presence of the personnel in the particular area blocks the transmitted signal so that the detection means provides the particular signal to inhibit movement of the displacement means by the power means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle having a particular area in proximity thereto which is dangerous to personnel when the vehicle is performing a particular function is combined with a personnel detection means mounted on the vehicle and having characteristics for providing an electrical output signal in response to the presence of a person in the particular area. Apparatus associated with the particular function is mounted on the vehicle and responsive to the output signal of the personnel detection means to inhibit the particular function and reduce the danger to the person in the particular area.
17 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A vehicle for collecting refuse having a storage body and a hopper into which personnel associated with the vehicle initially dump the refuse, the vehicle further comprising:
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displacement means for displacing the refuse from the hopper into the storage body, the displacement means being movable in a particular direction relative to the storage body to make a particular area in proximity to the vehicle dangerous to the personnel; power means for moving the displacing means in the particular direction to displace the refuse from the hopper into the storage body; transmission means disposed relative to the particular area for transmitting a signal across the particular area; detection means disposed relative to the transmission means in a position to receive directly the transmitted signal, the detection means having characteristics for providing a particular electrical signal when the transmitted signal is not received by the detection means; the power means being responsive to the particular electrical signal provided by the detection means to inhibit movement of the displacement means in the particular direction;
wherebythe presence of the personnel in the particular area blocks the transmitted signal so that the detection means provides the particular signal to inhibit movement of the displacement means by the power means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vehicle for collecting refuse, including:
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a storage body; a hopper positioned with respect to the storage body to initially receive the refuse to be collected; loading apparatus disposed relative to the storage body for displacing refuse from the hopper into the storage body, the loading apparatus being operable to move in a first direction relative to the storage body to render a particular area in proximity to the vehicle dangerous to personnel; means connected to the loading apparatus for controlling the movement of the loading apparatus relative to the storage body; means for detecting the presence of a person in the particular area at least during movement of the loading apparatus in the first direction and for providing a particular signal when a person is detected in the particular area; and the controlling means being responsive to the particular signal provided by the personnel detection means to inhibit movement of the loading means in the first direction when a person is present in the particular area. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification