Automated low profile refuse vehicle

• US 5,890,865 A
• Filed: 11/24/1995
• Issued: 04/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Mcclain E-Z Pack
• Inventors: Johnson, William, Smith, Fred P., Smith, Fred T., Horning, Larry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bucci, David A.
• Application Number:
  US08/562,394
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 414/406-408, 414/303, 414/786, 414/486
• US Class Current: 414/408
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/023 Gripper arms for embracing the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0256 Means for vibrating or shaking the containers for facilitating emptying
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0259 Means for automatically varying the speed of operation
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0273 capable of rotating around a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0279 the discharging means mounted at the front of the vehicle
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/06 Arrangement and disposition of fluid actuators
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/201 the charging pistons, plates or the like moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/28 by a lengthwise movement of a wall, e.g. a plate, a piston, or the like for charging B65F3/20

Abstract

An automated device for lifting and loading materials employs a pick-up arm for engaging material at ground level and an associated, inverted U-shaped lift arm. The pick-up arm can be swung relative to the lift arm about a vertical axis to bring the pick-up arm into a close-in position in front of a cab and into an outreaching position. The pick-up arm is automatically moved into the outreaching position as the lift arm moves toward a ground-level load position and is automatically moved into the close-in position as the lift arm moves toward the off-load level above ground to facilitate off-loading operations above ground. When moved closer toward the off-load position, the pick-up arm is automatically vertically tipped to facilitate off-loading operations. During off-loading operations, the vertical height of the container and lift arm assembly is minimized through the use of a dump link and associated four-bar linkage. The lift arm can also be pivoted between positions adjacent the cab and positions angularly spaced to one side of the cab. The lift assembly and pick-up arm operations can be controlled by a single operator seated within an unmodified (full) cab using a single control lever.

Claims

1. A refuse collection vehicle for collecting refuse from one or more collection containers, comprising:

a cab and a storage container disposed rearwardly of the cab, the storage container having an inlet opening located at a front end of the storage container;

a lift arm assembly mounted at a first end portion located below a top portion of the cab and adapted to engage the collection container adjacent a second end portion;

a powered actuator for rotating the lift arm assembly about a first horizontal axis in a first rotational direction to move the lift arm assembly upwardly and rearwardly relative to the storage container between a load position at which the collection container is located near ground level, and an off-load position, in which the collection container is located adjacent the inlet opening;

wherein the lift arm assembly includes a low profile lift arm mechanism operatively associated with the lift arm assembly for rotating a portion of the lift arm assembly about at least a second horizontal axis, spaced from the first horizontal axis, in a rotational direction opposite that of the first rotational direction, and thereby adapted to reduce the effective length of the lift arm assembly as between the load and off-load positions.

2. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a second powered actuator for pivoting the lift arm assembly about a vertical axis to permit the second end portion of the lift arm assembly to engage the collection container at a position laterally remote from the storage container and the cab.

3. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a pick-up arm for engaging a refuse collection container, and a front link assembly rotatably associated with a front portion of the lift arm assembly and linking the lift arm assembly with the pick-up arm, the front link assembly operating to decrease the effective lift arm assembly length during tilting and dumping of the collection container, the front link assembly further comprising a front link arm pivotally connecting a first front portion of the lift arm assembly to a dump link, and a stabilizer arm pivotally connecting a second front portion of the lift arm assembly to the dump link, whereby the front link and stabilizer arms form a four-bar linkage which permits the collection container to be rotated relative to the lift arm assembly and facilitates the tilting and dumping of the collection container.

4. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a pick-up arm connected to the second end portion of the lift arm assembly for engaging the collection container, an engaging mechanism operably disposed on the pick-up arm for holding the collection container, and a second powered actuator for moving the engaging mechanism with respect to the pick-up arm to a position for engaging the collection container.

5. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a pick-up arm connected to the second end portion of the lift assembly for engaging the collection container and capable of pivoting about a generally vertical axis, wherein pivoting of the pick-up arm about the vertical axis occurs simultaneously and in synchronistic relationship with the upward and rearward movement of the lift arm assembly.

6. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1, further comprising:

a pick-up arm connected to the second end portion of the lift arm assembly for engaging the collection container, the pick-up arm being capable of rotating about a generally vertical axis, and

a disabling mechanism for selectively disabling the rotational movement of the pick-up arm about the generally vertical axis.

7. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1, wherein the lift arm assembly is constructed and located so as to provide an operator located in the cab with a nonobstructed forward view from the cab to the collection container at the load position.

8. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1, wherein the low profile lift arm mechanism ensures that neither the lift arm assembly nor the top of the container significantly protrudes above the top portion of the storage container during movement of the lift arm assembly between load and off-load positions.

9. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1, wherein the lift arm assembly is a generally U-shaped assembly which includes an intermediate section joining the first and second portions, the intermediate section being positioned in part at an elevation above the cab, so that the lift arm assembly provides an operator located inside the cab with a generally nonobstructed view from the cab to the container.

10. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a pick-up arm connected to the second end portion of the lift arm assembly for engaging a refuse collection container, wherein the pick-up arm rotates about a generally vertical axis simultaneous with the pivoting of the lift arm assembly about the first horizontal axis.

11. A refuse collection vehicle for collecting refuse from one or more collection containers, comprising:

a cab and a storage container disposed rearwardly of the cab, the storage container having an inlet opening located at a front end of the storage container;

a lift arm assembly mounted at a first end portion rearward of the cab and adapted to engage the collection container adjacent a second end portion;

a powered actuator for rotating the lift arm assembly about a first horizontal axis in a first rotational direction to move the lift arm assembly upwardly and rearwardly relative to the storage container between a load position at which the collection container is located near ground level, and an off-load position, in which the collection container is located adjacent the inlet opening;

wherein the lift arm assembly includes a low profile lift arm mechanism operatively associated with the lift arm assembly for rotating a portion of the lift arm assembly about at least a second horizontal axis, spaced from the first horizontal axis, in a rotational direction opposite that of the first rotational direction, and thereby adapted to reduce the effective length of the lift arm assembly as between the load a off-load positions.

12. A refuse collection vehicle for collecting refuse from one or more collection containers, comprising:

a cab and a storage container disposed rearwardly of the cab, the cab and the storage container each having a substantially equal and coextensive width;

the storage container having front and rear ends and an inlet opening located at its front end;

a lift arm assembly mounted at a first end portion rearward of the cab and adapted to engage the collection container adjacent a second end portion;

a powered actuator for rotating the lift arm assembly about a first horizontal axis in a first rotational direction to move the lift arm assembly upwardly and rearwardly relative to the storage container between a load position at which the collection container is located near ground level, and an off-load position, in which the collection container is located adjacent the inlet opening;

wherein the lift arm assembly includes a low profile lift arm mechanism operatively associated with the lift arm assembly for rotating a portion of the lift arm assembly about at least a second horizontal axis, spaced from the first horizontal axis, in a rotational direction opposite that of the first rotational direction, and thereby adapted to reduce the effective length of the lift arm assembly as between the load and off-load positions.

13. A method for employing a refuse collection vehicle having a cab and a storage container with an inlet opening positioned rearward of the cab, to engage a refuse collection container at a remote location laterally spaced from the vehicle, and for dumping the container contents and returning the collection container to its remote location, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a lift arm assembly having a first end pivotally mounted at a location below a top portion of the cab, and having a second end extending forward of the cab and having a mechanism associated with the second end of the lift arm assembly for engaging the collection container;

b. moving the lift arm assembly to permit engagement of the container at the remote location laterally spaced from the vehicle;

c. thereafter moving the lift arm assembly to transport the container to a location generally laterally in-line with the vehicle;

d. providing a powered actuator for rotating the lift arm assembly about a first horizontal axis in a first rotational direction to move the lift arm assembly upwardly and rearwardly relative to the storage container between a load position at which the collection container is located at the remote location, and an off-load position in which the collection container is located adjacent the inlet opening;

e. providing a low profile lift arm mechanism operatively associated with the lift arm assembly for rotating a portion of the lift arm assembly about at least a second horizontal axis, spaced from the first horizontal axis, in a rotational defection opposite that of the first rotational direction; and

f. using the low profile lift arm mechanism to transport the collection container through a generally arcuate path of travel in which the collection container moves from the remote location to a position over the cab, and then to a position adjacent the inlet opening, with the effective length of the lift arm assembly decreasing as between the load and off-load positions.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein operation of the low profile lift arm mechanism automatically orients the collection container for dumping when the collection container is positioned adjacent the inlet opening.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein steps c. and f. are performed substantially simultaneously.