Multi-compartmentalized dumping body with segmented bulkhead

• US 5,716,103 A
• Filed: 05/28/1996
• Issued: 02/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Waste Management Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Kann Manufacturing Corporation, Waste Management Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, Richard T., Collins, Virgil L., Kann, Dirk C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Merritt, Karen B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hess, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US08/655,430
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 298/1 B, 298/8 R, 298/8 H, 298/9, 298/23 R, 298/24, 298/25, 298/29, 298/30, 298/31, 298/36, 298/22 R, 414/408, 414/409, 414/469, 414/471, 414/486, 414/487, 296/24.1, 296/683, 105/370, 410/132, 410/135
• US Class Current: 298/25
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/004 the receptacles being divided in compartments by partitions
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0279 the discharging means mounted at the front of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/001 for segregated refuse collecting, e.g. vehicles with several compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/201 the charging pistons, plates or the like moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/24 with devices for unloading the tank of a refuse vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/26 by tipping the tank

Abstract

A multiple compartment storage body for a refuse collection vehicle includes a floor, a roof, a plurality of walls extending between the floor and the roof, a partition and a bulkhead latch. The partition has a first opposing end portion pivotally coupled intermediate the floor and the roof between the walls to allow a second opposing end portion to pivot between the floor and the roof. The partition is supported at a plurality of distances between the floor and the roof. The bulkhead latch is pivotally supported adjacent the roof and extends from the roof proximate the second opposing end portion. The bulkhead latch includes a plurality of sections removably coupled to one another. Sections above the lower most section may be removed to adjust a vertical length of the bulkhead.

Claims

1. A multiple compartment storage body for a refuse collection vehicle, the body comprising:

a floor;

a roof;

a plurality of walls extending between the floor and the roof, the plurality of walls including a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls between the front wall and the rear wall, wherein the roof floor and walls define an interior storage space and wherein the walls define a discharge opening;

a vertically movable partition intermediate the floor and the roof and between the side walls;

means for supporting the vertically movable partition at a plurality of distances between the floor and the roof; and

a bulkhead having a plurality of interconnected sections removably coupled to one another, wherein at least one of the sections is separable from the bulkhead for adjusting the vertical length of the bulkhead.

2. The storage body of claim 1 wherein the vertically movable partition has first and second opposing end portions and wherein the first opposing end portion is pivotally supported intermediate the floor and the roof between the side walls to allow the second opposing end portion to pivot between the floor and the roof.

3. The storage body of claim 1 wherein the means for supporting includes a support member for engaging and supporting the partition, wherein the support member is coupled to the bulkhead so as to be repositionable along the vertical length of the bulkhead.

4. The storage body of claim 1 wherein the bulkhead is pivotally supported adjacent the roof and extends from the roof into the interior storage space, wherein the bulkhead is movable between a first engaged position and a second disengaged position, wherein the bulkhead engages the partition to support the partition between the floor and the roof in the first engaged position and wherein the bulkhead is disengaged from the partition to permit the partition to be moved to the floor in the second disengaged position.

5. The storage body of claim 1 wherein the means for supporting includes:

a support member configured for being removably coupled to a lower most section of the bulkhead for engaging and supporting the partition between the floor and the roof.

6. The storage body of claim 1 wherein the bulkhead includes at least one wedge member extending downward from the support member for pivoting the bulkhead when in engagement with the partition.

7. The storage body of claim 1 wherein the bulkhead is pivotally supported proximate the partition and wherein the body includes:

a latch retainer for selectively preventing rotation of the bulkhead.

8. The storage body of claim 7 wherein the latch retainer includes at least one hook movable between a first engaged position and a second disengaged position, wherein the hook engages the bulkhead in the first engaged position to prevent rotation of the bulkhead and wherein the hook is disengaged from the bulkhead in the second disengaged position to permit rotation of the bulkhead.

9. The storage body of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sections include a base section and at least one extension, wherein the base section has a length less than or equal to a minimum distance at which the means for supporting supports the vertically movable partition.

10. A multiple compartment storage body for a refuse collection vehicle, the body comprising:

a floor;

a roof;

a plurality of walls extending between the floor and the roof, the plurality of walls including a front wall, a rear wall and side walls between the front wall and the rear wall, wherein the roof, floor and walls define an interior storage space and wherein the walls define a discharge opening;

a partition having first and second opposing end portions, wherein the first opposing end portion is pivotally supported intermediate the floor and the roof between the side walls to allow the second opposing end portion to pivot between the floor and the roof; and

a bulkhead latch pivotally supported adjacent the roof and extending from the roof into the interior storage space proximate the second opposing end portion, the bulkhead latch including a plurality of sections removably coupled to one another, a lower most section of the plurality of sections including a support member for engaging and supporting the second opposing end portion of the partition between the floor and the roof, wherein sections above the lower most section may be removed to adjust a height of the bulkhead and to adjust a distance at which the second opposing end portion of the partition is supported above the floor.

11. The storage body of claim 10 including:

at least one hook movable between a first engaged position and a second disengaged position, wherein the hook engages the bulkhead latch in the first engaged position to prevent rotation of the bulkhead latch and wherein the hook is disengaged from the bulkhead latch in the second disengaged position to permit rotation of the bulkhead latch.

12. The storage body of claim 10 wherein the bulkhead latch includes at least one wedge member extending downward from the support member for pivoting the bulkhead latch when in engagement with the second opposing end portion of the partition.

13. A method for modifying the volume of a lower compartment and an upper compartment within a refuse collection storage body, the upper and lower compartments being separated by a vertically movable partition having a first opposing end pivotally coupled to the body to enable a second opposing end to pivot between a roof and a floor of the storage body, the method comprising:

supporting the second opposing end portion of the partition at a first height between the floor and the roof;

positioning a bulkhead having a plurality of interconnected sections removably coupled to one another and extending adjacent the second opposing end portion of the partition to segregate the upper and lower compartments;

pivoting the second opposing end portion of the partition to a second height between the floor and the roof;

removing at least one of the plurality of sections to adjust the vertical length of the bulkhead; and

supporting the second opposing end portion of the partition at a second height between the floor and the roof.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of supporting the second opposing end portion of the partition includes:

supporting the second opposing end portion of the partition with the bulkhead.

15. The method of claim 14 including:

reconnecting remaining sections to adjust the vertical length of the bulkhead.