Refuse collection system

• US 6,390,758 B1
• Filed: 11/20/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing Inc. (Oshkosh Corporation)
• Original Assignee: McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing Inc. (Oshkosh Corporation)
• Inventors: Harris, Wilbur R., Christenson, Ronald E., McNeilus, Garwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Keenan, James W.
• Application Number:
  US09/716,531
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 414/406, 414/408, 414/409, 414/512, 414/517, 414/525.2, 414/525.6
• US Class Current: 414/408
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/023 Gripper arms for embracing the receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/001 for segregated refuse collecting, e.g. vehicles with several compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/046 with additional means for assisting the tipping of the receptacle after or during raising
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/08 Platform elevators or hoists with guides or runways for raising or tipping receptacles pivotable guides or runways B65F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/201 the charging pistons, plates or the like moving rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/26 by tipping the tank

Abstract

Side-loading refuse vehicles are disclosed including an offset or recessed hopper section having at least one recessed side which accommodates a loading bin or bucket which is moveable between a lowered position and a raised dumping position. Followers attached to the bucket on each end are engaged in candy cane shaped guide channels situated at the front and rear of the hopper. The guide channels are angled away from the base of the hopper and curved into the top of the hopper to guide the bucket in an angled and arcuate path over the sidewall of the hopper which is built to accommodate the bucket. In some embodiments, a bin handler is built in to the bucket or an automated arm is provided for dumping refuse cans or containers directly into the hopper. The refuse vehicles may have side-loading buckets on one or both sides of the vehicle and the vehicles may be single or multiple compartment vehicles. In another aspect of the invention, the vehicles include a removable body which is separable from the hopper section.

Claims

1. An apparatus for collecting refuse comprising:

(a) a truck body having a forward end and an aft end mountable to a truck frame and extending longitudinally therealong and enclosing a material receiving volume;

(b) a charging hopper having sides and being mountable to the truck frame forward of said truck body and adapted to receive material and charge material into said material receiving volume;

(c) a bucket vertically moveable along a path having an outward extending lower segment along one side of said charging hopper between a lowered loading position and a raised, at least partially inverted, discharge position, the bucket describing a loading compartment for receiving refuse material; and

(d) wherein a side of said charging hopper is recessed to accommodate said bucket in the lowered position and said outward extending lower segment providing clearance when said bucket is moved vertically; and

(e) an automated refuse loader arm, said refuse loader arm having an extensible boom mechanism and refuse bin grabbing mechanism mounted on said boom mechanism for reaching and grabbing a refuse bin from a standing position and lifting and inverting the refuse bin to discharge the contents thereof into said hopper.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said charging hopper comprises forward and aft receiving accesses corresponding to separate charging compartments and said grabbing mechanism is moveable along said boom to access either said forward or aft receiving access.

3. An apparatus for collecting refuse comprising:

(a) a truck body having a forward and an aft end mountable to a truck frame and extending longitudinally therealong and enclosing a plurality of material receiving volumes including upper and lower material receiving volumes;

(b) a charging hopper mountable to the truck frame forward of said truck body and separated into a plurality of material receiving volumes including upper and lower hopper receiving volumes adapted to receive material and charge material into corresponding material receiving volumes of said truck body;

(c) a bucket device vertically moveable along a path having an outward extending lower segment along at least one side of said charging hopper and said bucket device being operable between a lowered loading position and a raised, at least partially inverted, discharge position, the bucket describing a bin structure having forward and aft compartments for receiving refuse material;

(d) wherein each side of said charging hopper associated with a bucket is recessed to accommodate said bucket in the lowered position and said outward extending lower segment providing clearance when said bucket is moved vertically;

(e) packing means associated with each material receiving volume of said hopper; and

(f) wherein forward and aft accesses to said charging hopper correspond to said forward and aft compartments of said bucket and to said upper and lower receiving volumes of said charging hopper; and

(g) an automated extensible boom arm and grabber system mounted to said truck frame.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a pair of buckets, one located on each side of said charging hopper and wherein both sides of said charging hopper are recessed to accommodate buckets.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said charging hopper comprises forward and aft receiving accesses corresponding to separate charging compartments and said grabbing mechanism is moveable along said boom to access either said forward or aft receiving access.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said path along which said bucket moves includes a pair of recesses each adapted to receive a pair of upper and lower offset follower members generally vertically spaced with respect to said bucket and being attached to a corresponding forward or aft wall of said bucket, said follower members being slightly offset, the upper follower member being located further from the charging hopper than the lower follower member.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said path includes an arcuate upper dumping portion and a linear lower portion, said offset follower members cooperating to increase the degree of inversion of said bucket at a fully up or discharging position.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the upper portion of a sidewall of said hopper facing said bucket is flared.

9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the recess in the side of the charging hopper extends to correspond with a main longitudinal truck frame member.

10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the location of said grabber means is adjustable relative to said arm.

11. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said packing means includes reciprocating packing blades and further including anti-buildup means for preventing material buildup behind said packing blades.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said anti-buildup means includes a hinged swinging relief door in the front wall of the upper hopper receiving volume.

13. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said charging hopper further comprises two compartments and further comprising at least one primary compacting means associated with a first one of said two compartments for compacting non-recyclable or compactable recyclable materials.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising at least one auxiliary compacting means associated with a second of said two compartments mechanically linked to said primary compacting means for compacting materials in said second compartment.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising at least one compaction force limiting means associated with said at least one auxiliary compacting means for limiting the compaction force exerted by said auxiliary compacting means.