Damage-resistant refuse receptacle lifter

• US 6,921,239 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Issued: 07/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Perkins Manufacturing Company (Hovi Industries, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Perkins Manufacturing Company (Hovi Industries, Inc.)
• Inventors: Arrez, Carols, Arrez, Ramiro
• Primary Examiner(s): HESS, DOUGLAS A
• Application Number:
  US10/102,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20020141854A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 414/408, 414/421, 414/406
• US Class Current: 414/408
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/483 using pivoted arms shifting the load-transporting element in a fore or aft direction
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2003/0246 Means for locking the front, e.g. via a handle
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/046 with additional means for assisting the tipping of the receptacle after or during raising

Abstract

A lifting device for lifting and tilting a refuse container includes a base, a drive unit mounted to the base and having a rotatable output shaft, a carriage for engaging and lifting the refuse container, at least one lift arm having a first end carried by the output shaft and a second end associated with the carriage, and at least one actuator arm having a first end pivotably carried by the base and a second end pivotably associated with the carriage. One of the lift arm or the actuator arm is pivotable at a location along the length thereof to allow movement of the carriage relative to the base and independent of rotation of the output shaft allowing movement of the carriage in response to obstacles or road debris so as to prevent damage to the lifter. In another embodiment, the carriage may include an upper portion carrying an upper hook and a lower portion carrying a lower hook where the lower portion is pivotable relative to said upper portion to allow movement of said lower hook relative to said upper hook independent of rotation of said output shaft.

Claims

1. A lifting device for lifting and tilting a refuse container, said lifting device comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a drive unit mounted to said base and having a rotatable output shaft;

(c) a carriage for engaging and lifting the refuse container;

(d) at least one lift arm having a first end carried by said output shaft and a second end associated with said carriage; and

(e) at least one actuator arm having a first end pivotably carried by said base and a second end pivotably associated with said carriage,

selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm being pivotable at a location along the length thereof to allow movement of said carriage relative to said base independent of rotation of said output shaft.

2. The lifting device of claim 1 wherein said output shaft has two opposed ends defining a first axis about which said output shaft is rotatable.

3. The lifting device of claim 2 wherein said first end of said lift arm is carried by one end of said output shaft and rotates about said first axis in response to rotation of said output shaft.

4. The lifting device of claim 2 wherein at least two lift arms are secured to said output shaft, one lift arm being secured to each end of said output shaft.

5. The lifting device of claim 2 wherein said first end of said actuator arm is pivotably associated with said base for rotation about a second axis displaced from said first axis.

6. The lifting device of claim 2 wherein selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm includes at least one hinge interposed between the respective ends thereof, said pivotal movement of selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm occurring along a pivoting axis.

7. The lifting device of claim 6 wherein said pivoting axis is axially offset from said first axis.

8. The lifting device of claim 1 wherein at least two actuator arms are pivotably mounted to said base for rotation about a second axis displaced from said first axis.

9. The lifting device of claim 1 wherein said carriage includes an upper hook and a lower hook.

10. The lifting device of claim 9 wherein said upper hook is carried by said lift arm and said lower hook is movable by said actuator arm when said carriage is raised so that said first hook and said second hook selectively engage the refuse container.

11. The lifting device of claim 9 wherein said carriage includes a telescoping member extending between said first and said second hooks to move said hooks relative to one another as said carriage is raised and lowered.

12. The lifting device of claim 11 wherein said telescoping member comprises an inner member and an outer member, said inner member of said telescoping member being carried by said second end of said lift arm and said outer member of said telescoping member being pivotably associated with said actuator arm.

13. The lifting device of claim 11 wherein said first end of said telescoping member is carried by said second end of said lift arm.

14. The lifting device of claim 1 wherein selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm defines a hinge at said location between the respective ends thereof to allow said movement of said carriage.

15. The lifting device of claim 14 wherein said selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm comprises two arm portions pivotably joined at said location to define said hinge.

16. The lifting device of claim 1 wherein selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm includes a stopping element to limit the range of pivotable movement.

17. A lifting device for lifting and tilting a refuse container, said lifting device comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a drive unit mounted to said base and having a rotatable output shaft;

(c) a carriage for engaging and lifting the refuse container; and

(d) at least one lift arm having a first end carried by said output shaft and a second end associated with said carriage, said lift arm being pivotable at a location along the length thereof to allow movement of said carriage relative to said base independent of rotation of said output shaft.

18. The lifting device of claim 17 wherein said output shaft has two opposed ends defining a first axis about which said output shaft is rotatable.

19. The lifting device of claim 18 wherein said first end of said lift arm is secured to one end of said output shaft and rotates about said first axis in response to rotation of said output shaft.

20. The lifting device of claim 18 wherein at least two lift arms are secured to said output shaft, one lift arm being secured to each end of said output shaft.

21. The lifting device of claim 18 further comprising wherein at least one actuator arm pivotably associated with said base for rotation about a second axis displaced from said first axis.

22. The lifting device of claim 17 wherein said carriage includes an upper hook and a lower hook for selectively engaging the refuse container.

23. The lifting device of claim 22 wherein said carriage includes a telescoping member extending between said first and second hooks to move said hooks relative to one another as said carriage is raised and lowered.

24. The lifting device of claim 17 wherein said lift arm includes a hinge along the length thereof to allow movement of said carriage relative to said base independent of rotation of said output shaft.

25. The lifting device of claim 24 wherein said hinge defines a pivoting axis which is axially offset from said first axis.

26. The lifting device of claim 17 wherein said lift arm includes a stopping member to limit the range of pivotable movement of said lift arm.

27. The lifting device of claim 17 wherein said carriage includes an upper portion and a lower portion, said upper portion carrying an upper hook and said lower portion carrying a lower hook.

28. The lifting device of claim 27 wherein said lower portion is pivotably movable in relation to said upper portion.

29. A lifting device for lifting and tilting a refuse container, said lifting device comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a drive unit mounted to said base and having a rotatable output shaft;

(c) a carriage for engaging and lifting the refuse container, said carriage including an upper portion carrying an upper hook and a lower portion carrying a lower hook;

(d) at least one lift arm having a first end carried by said output shaft and a second end associated with said carriage;

said lower portion being pivotable relative to said upper portion to allow movement of said lower hook relative to said upper hook independent of rotation of said output shaft.

30. The lifting device of claim 29 wherein said upper portion is carried by said second end of said lift arm and said lower portion is pivotably associated with said lift arm.

31. The lifting device of claim 29 wherein said lower portion and said upper portion are connected by a telescoping connection.

32. The lifting device of claim 31 wherein said upper portion includes an inner member of a telescoping member and said lower portion includes an outer member of said telescoping member.

33. The lifting device of claim 29 wherein said lower portion is pivotably carried by selected one of said upper portion and said lift arm.

34. The lifting device of claim 29 wherein selected one of said lift arm and said lower portion defines a hinge.

35. The lifting device of claim 34 wherein said lift arm comprises two arm portions pivotably joined to define said hinge.

36. The lifting device of claim 34 wherein said hinge pivots to allow upward movement of said lower hook.

37. The lifting device of claim 29 further comprising a stopping element to limit pivotable movement of said lower hook relative to said upper hook.

38. The lifting device of claim 29 wherein said pivotable movement of said lower hook occurs along a pivoting axis.

39. A lifting device for lifting and tilting a refuse container, said lifting device comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a drive unit mounted to said base and having a rotatable output shaft;

(c) a carriage for engaging and lifting the refuse container, said carriage including an upper portion carrying an upper hook and a lower portion carrying a lower hook;

(d) at least one lift arm having a first end carried by said output shaft and a second end associated with said carriage; and

(e) at least one actuator arm having a first end pivotably carried by said base and a second end pivotably associated with said carriage,

said lower portion being pivotable relative to said upper portion to allow movement of said lower hook relative to said upper hook independent of rotation of said output shaft.

40. The lifting device of claim 39 wherein said upper portion is carried by selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm.

41. The lifting device of claim 39 wherein said lower portion is pivotably carried by selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm.

42. The lifting device of claim 39 wherein said upper portion is carried by selected one of said lift arm and said actuator arm and said lower portion is carried by selected other of said lift arm and said actuator arm.

43. The lifting device of claim 39 wherein said lower portion is pivotably carried by selected one of said lift arm and said upper portion.

44. The lifting device of claim 39 wherein said actuator arm is pivotably associated with said lower portion.

45. The lifting device of claim 39 wherein said upper portion is secured to said second end of said lift arm and said lower portion is pivotably attached to said lift arm.

46. A lifting device for lifting and tilting a refuse container, said lifting device comprising:

(a) a base;

(b) a drive unit mounted to said base and having a rotatable output shaft, said output shaft having two opposed ends defining a first axis about which said output shaft is rotatable;

(c) a carriage for engaging and lifting the refuse container, said carriage including an upper portion carrying an upper hook and a lower portion carrying a lower hook, said carriage includes a telescoping member extending between said upper portion and said lower portion, said telescoping member including an inner member and an outer member to move said upper and lower hooks relative to one another as said carriage is raised or lowered;

(d) at least one lift arm having a first end carried by said output shaft, a second end associated with said carriage, and a hinge at an intermediate location between said first and second ends, said hinge dividing said lift arm into first and second arm portions which are pivotably joined at said hinge, said first arm portion of said lift arm carrying said upper portion of said carriage and said second arm portion of said lift arm pivotably carrying said lower portion of said carriage, said hinge permitting pivotable movement of said lower portion to allow pivotable movement of said lower hook relative to said upper hook independent of rotation of said output shaft; and

(e) at least one actuator arm having a first end pivotably carried by said base and a second end being associated with said outer member of said telescoping member.