Clamshell basket loader

• US 5,934,858 A
• Filed: 04/21/1998
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing Inc. (Oshkosh Corporation)
• Original Assignee: McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing Inc. (Oshkosh Corporation)
• Inventors: Christenson, Ronald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Keenan, James W.
• Application Number:
  US09/063,761
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 414/397, 414/406-409, 414/487, 414/547, 414/549, 414/550, 414/555, 414/624, 414/695.5, 414/732, 414/739, 294/68.23, 294/68.26
• US Class Current: 414/408
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/023 Gripper arms for embracing the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0273 capable of rotating around a vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/046 with additional means for assisting the tipping of the receptacle after or during raising
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/048 Linkages B65F3/041 takes precedence

Abstract

A loading device mounted to a collection vehicle is disclosed. The loading device may comprise several embodiments for scooping a soft-sided object through either a horizontal or vertical plane. The loading device is attached to a mechanized arm for compound angular displacement and operable between a stowed, extended, lift, and dump positions. A swivel mount interconnects the mechanized arm to the collection vehicle and further compounds the angular displacement and operating positions of the loading device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for grabbing, lifting, inverting and unloading an object of interest into a selected material receiving compartment of a collection vehicle, the apparatus comprising:

(a) a mechanized swivel mount fixed with reference to a material receiving location, and adapted for angular displacement in a first plane;

(b) an articulated, mechanized arm attached at one end to said swivel mount for angular displacement in said first plane and including a plurality of segments disposed to pivot in a second plane which intersects said first plane, said articulated arm being operable between stowed, extended, retracted, lift and inverting positions;

(c) said articulated arm further including an inner arm segment and an outer arm segment wherein said inner arm segment has a fixed end and a free end, said fixed end being mounted to said swivel mount mechanism and includes a mounting pivot joint for pivoting said fixed end, said inner arm segment including a coordinating linkage means and a linking pivot joint linking the free end of said inner arm segment to one end of said outer arm segment, said outer arm segment having a free end;

(d) a grabber support member for carrying a converging object grabbing device pivotally connected by a pivot joint to the free end of said outer arm segment;

(e) a converging object grabbing device comprising a clamshell system having a pair of opposed, mechanized, cooperating scoops that have open faces and inner portions that are pivotally connected to said support member for angular displacement, said scoops being aligned in spaced relation, and disposed to converge and diverge to enclose and release objects of interest;

(f) a plurality of linear actuating means for operating said articulated arm including a reach actuator for operating said inner arm segment for extending and stowing said articulated arm, and a lift and tip actuator for operating said outer arm segment for raising said arm and rotating said grabbing device to tip an object of interest held by said grabbing device;

(g) wherein said coordinating linkage means includes link means connected between said inner arm segment and said outer arm segment and offset auxiliary follower rod means connected between said inner arm segment at said link means and said grabber support member at a point offset from the pivot joint thereof to operate said follower rod means as said outer arm segment pivots in relation to said inner arm segment to tip said grabbing device; and

(h) a deflector shield attached to a free end of said mechanized arm, said deflector shield being disposed to deflect an object of interest, released when the articulated arm is in the inverted position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for actuating said pair of scoops to scoop and release the object of interest.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for actuating said pair of scoops comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinders attached to the grabber support member at one end and to each respective scoop at the other end.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pair of scoops are cup shaped.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said pair of scoops pivot in a generally horizontal plane.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each scoop has an open front and top such that the clamshell system, when closed, forms a bucket having an open top.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the swivel mount is adapted to be fixed to the chassis of a refuse vehicle.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said scoops are fashioned from a polymer material.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said scoops are fashioned from a polymer material.