Automated refuse vehicle

• US 6,123,497 A
• Filed: 04/27/1998
• Issued: 09/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Truck Intellectual Property Co. LLC (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Galion Solid Waste Equipment Company
• Inventors: Duell, Charles A., Pfeifer, Thomas E., Horning, Larry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bratlie, Steven A.
• Application Number:
  US09/067,303
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 414/406, 414/408
• US Class Current: 414/406
• 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 refuse vehicle that provides a fast-return cycle for an engaged container, and a series of "lock-out" zones to minimize the possibility of damaging the vehicle during automated use. Methods for using an automated compacting system and for operating the refuse vehicle also form part of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refuse vehicle for receiving refuse disposed within a container, comprising:

a storage body having a loading opening for receiving refuse from the container;

at least one packing mechanism located within the storage body and adapted to compact refuse deposited within the body;

at least one arm pivotally connected to the vehicle;

a container engaging device connected to the at least one arm, the at least one arm and container engaging device being adapted to engage the container and to move the container between an initial load position and a dump position in which the container is located adjacent the loading opening; and

a programmable feedback control system for continuously monitoring and controlling the movement of each of the at least one packing mechanism, arm and container engaging device, so that the control system is continuously provided with information indicative of each position of each of the at least one packing mechanism, arm and container engaging device.

2. The refuse vehicle of claim 1, further comprising at least one arm pivotally connected to the vehicle and one or more actuator cylinders associated with each of the at least one packing mechanism, arm and container engaging device, and wherein the control system includes rotary potentiometers also associated with each of the at least one packing mechanism, arm and the container engaging device.

3. A refuse vehicle for receiving refuse located within a container, comprising:

a storage body having a loading opening for receiving refuse from the container;

at least one container engaging device connected to the vehicle, the container engaging device being adapted to engage the container and capable of moving the container between an initial load position and a dump position in which the container is located adjacent the loading opening; and

a programmable feedback and control system for continuously monitoring the movement of the container engaging device during dump and return cycles, and for confining the movement of the container engaging device so that control of the container engaging device in either an automatic mode or in a manual mode prevents;

a. the container engaging device and the container from contacting the cab or the ground when the container is positioned forward of or adjacent the cab; and

b. the container from contacting the storage body when the container is positioned adjacent the loading opening.

4. The refuse vehicle of claim 3, further comprising at least one packing mechanism, and wherein the feedback and control system continuously monitors the movement of the at least one packing mechanism and automatically confines the movement of the packing mechanism so that, regardless of whether movement of the packing mechanism is controlled in the automatic mode or in the manual mode, the packing mechanism and the container will not contact each other.

5. A refuse vehicle controlled by an operator for receiving refuse located within a container, the vehicle including a chassis supporting a storage body with a loading opening for receiving refuse from the container, comprising:

at least one arm connected to a portion of the vehicle chassis or the storage body and adapted to engage the container, the at least one arm being capable of moving the container successively through a dump path from an initial load position in which the container is located at a ground level and a dump position in which the container is located adjacent the loading opening, and then through a return path in which the container moves from the dump position back to the load position, wherein the container is maintained in a substantially level position as it moves along the dump path in front of the cab and prior to positioning over the loading opening; and

a programmable feedback and control system for automatically controlling movement of the at least one arm so that, when movement of the at least one arm is controlled in an automatic mode without the need for operator intervention, the dump path differs from the return path;

wherein the time period necessary for the container to move through the return path is less than the time period required for the container to move through the dump path.

6. The refuse vehicle of claim 5, wherein the control system is automatically actuable to move the container through the dump and return paths using a single operator-controlled switch.

7. The refuse vehicle of claim 5, wherein the at least one arm is capable of pivoting about a generally horizontal axis to move the container over the cab, and about a generally vertical axis to move the container transverse to the length of the storage body.

8. The refuse vehicle of claim 5, wherein the feedback and control system includes rotary potentiometers.

9. The refuse vehicle of claim 5, further comprising at least one packing mechanism, and wherein the feedback and control system continuously monitors the movement of the at least one packing mechanism, and automatically confines the movement of the packing mechanism so that, regardless of whether movement of the packing mechanism is controlled in the automatic mode or in a manual mode with operator intervention occurring during the movement, the packing mechanism and the container will not contact each other.

10. A method for collecting refuse employing a refuse vehicle with a storage body having a loading opening to receive refuse from a container, comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least one arm connected to the vehicle and adapted to engage the container;

b. providing a programmable feedback and control system for automatically and continuously monitoring and controlling the movement of the at least one arm;

c. moving the container, using the control system and the at least one arm, in an automatic mode in which movement of the at least one arm is controlled automatically without the need for operator intervention during the movement, through a dump path between an initial load position in which the container is located at ground level, and a dump position in which the container is located adjacent the loading opening, wherein the container is maintained in a substantially level position as it moves along the dump path in front of the cab and prior to positioning over the loading opening;

d. depositing refuse from the container through the loading opening and into the storage body;

e. again moving the container, using the control system and the at least one arm, in the automatic mode through a return path from the dump position to the load position, the dump path being different from the return path, such that the return path requires less time to traverse than the dump path.

11. The method for collecting refuse of claim 10, further comprising at least one fork connected to the at least one arm, the at least one fork being adapted to engage the container.

12. A refuse vehicle for receiving refuse located within a container, comprising:

a storage body having a loading opening for receiving refuse from the container;

at least one packing mechanism located within the storage body and adapted to compact refuse deposited within the body;

a container engaging device connected to the vehicle, the container engaging device being adapted to engage the container and capable of moving the container between an initial load position and a dump position in which the container is located adjacent the loading opening; and

a feedback and control system for continuously monitoring and controlling the movement of each of the at least one packing mechanism and the container engaging device, so that the feedback and control system is continuously provided with information indicative of each position of the at least one packing mechanism and the container engaging device.

13. A refuse vehicle for receiving refuse located within a container, comprising:

a cab;

a storage body positioned rearward of the cab, the storage body having a loading opening for receiving refuse from the container;

at least one container engaging device pivotally connected to the vehicle and capable of automatically transporting the container from a resting, initial load position forward of the cab to a dump position in which the container is located adjacent the loading opening; and

a feedback and control system including a programmable computer for controlling and limiting the movement of the at least one container engaging device to certain predetermined non-contact zones, to ensure that the at least one container engaging device and the container do not contact either the cab or the ground during transportation of the container, and that the at least one container engaging device and the container are not permitted to contact any portion of the storage body during dumping, each of these non-contact zones being provided regardless of whether movement of the container engaging device is controlled in an automatic mode without operator intervention during the movement, or in a manual mode with operator intervention occurring during the movement.

14. The refuse vehicle of claim 13, wherein the control system enables the at least one container engaging device to maintain the container in a substantially level orientation as the container moves over the cab.

15. The refuse vehicle of claim 13, wherein the at least one container engaging device includes a pair of U-shaped arms and a corresponding pair of forks.

16. The refuse vehicle of claim 13, wherein the container path as the container is transported from the initial loading to the dump position differs from the container path as the container is transported from the dump position back to the initial loading position.

17. A refuse vehicle for receiving refuse located within a container, comprising:

a cab;

a storage body positioned rearward of the cab, the storage body having a loading opening for receiving refuse from the container;

at least one container engaging device pivotally connected to the vehicle and capable of automatically transporting the container from a resting, initial load position to a dump position in which the container is located adjacent the loading opening;

at least one packing mechanism located within the storage body and adapted to compact refuse deposited within the body; and

a feedback and control system including a programmable computer for controlling and limiting the movement of the at least one container engaging device and the at least one packing mechanism, and for providing non-contact zones in which the at least one container engaging device and the container, during both dump and return cycles, do not contact either the ground or the cab or the storage body, and in which the at least one packing mechanism does not contact the container, each of these non-contact zones occurring regardless of whether movement of the at least one container engaging device and the at least one packing mechanism is controlled in an automatic mode without operator intervention during the movement, or in a manual mode with operator intervention occurring during the movement.

18. The refuse vehicle of claim 17, wherein if the dump cycle is occurring and the at least one packing mechanism is extending and packing, the feedback and control system is programmed to retract the at least one packing mechanism.

19. The refuse vehicle of claim 17, wherein the feedback and control system may be placed in a manual override mode by an operator, in which the non-contact zones are rendered inactive.

20. The refuse vehicle of claim 19, wherein the speed of the at least one container engaging device when in the manual override mode is decreased from the speed when in the manual mode.

21. The refuse vehicle of claim 17, wherein the speed of the at least one container engaging device when in the automatic mode is greater than the speed of the container engaging device when in the manual mode.

22. The refuse vehicle of claim 17, wherein the feedback and control system continuously monitors the movement of the at least one packing mechanism and automatically confines its movement so that, regardless of whether movement of the packing mechanism is controlled in the automatic mode or in the manual mode, the packing mechanism and the container will not contact each other.

23. A method for collecting refuse employing a refuse vehicle with a storage body having a loading opening to receive refuse from a container, comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least container engaging device connected to the vehicle and adapted to engage the container, and at least one packing mechanism for compacting the refuse within the storage body;

b. providing a programmable feedback and control system for automatically and continuously monitoring and controlling the movement of the at least one container engaging device and the at least one packing mechanism;

c. moving the container, using the feedback and control system and the at least one container engaging device, through a dump path between an initial load position in which the container is located at about ground level, and a dump position in which the container is located adjacent the loading opening;

d. depositing refuse from the container through the loading opening and into the storage body;

e. moving the container, using the feedback and control system and the at least one container engaging device, through a return path between the dump position and the initial load position; and

f. repeating steps c. through e., wherein the feedback and control system confines the movement of the container engaging device and the packing mechanism, regardless of whether movement of the container engaging device and the packing mechanism is controlled in an automatic mode without operator intervention during the movement, or in a manual mode with operator intervention occurring during the movement, so that during refuse collection;

(i) when the container is positioned forward of the cab, neither the container engaging device nor the container are permitted to contact the cab or the ground; and

(ii) when the container is positioned adjacent the loading opening, the container is not permitted to contact any portion of the storage body; and

(iii) the packing mechanism and the container will not contact each other.