Automated garbage receptacle conveyance system

• US 8,146,695 B1
• Filed: 04/28/2009
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ernie Lance Ramshur
• Original Assignee: Ernie Lance Ramshur
• Inventors: Ramshur, Ernie Lance
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): FOLLMAN, BRODIE J
• Application Number:
  US12/387,011
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.1, 180/168, 180/167, 180/169, 180/180, 180/181, 180/182, 180/313, 180/908, 318/580, 318/587, 600/424
• US Class Current: 180/168
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/283 for unmanned vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 1/1468 Means for facilitating the transport of the receptacle, e.g. wheels, rolls hand-operated refuse vehicles B65F3/005
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/168 Sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/172 Solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0227 using mechanical sensing means, e.g. for sensing treated area
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0242 using non-visible light signals, e.g. IR or UV signals
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0255 using acoustic signals, e.g. ultra-sonic singals sonar systems designed for anti-collision purposes G01S15/93
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0265 using buried wires

Abstract

A sled travels back and forth along a path established by a ground laid wire, the sled using a wire sensor to detect the presence of the wire in order to keep the sled on track. Steering of the sled is controlled by having a pair of motors, each operatively connected to a wheel on opposing sides of the sled, with the motors changing relative speed with one another for turn control. A ramp is located atop the sled to allow a garbage receptacle to be able to be rolled on and off the sled. Operation of sled travel is programmable or controlled by a remote control or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A conveyance system for movement along the ground, the conveyance system comprising:

a sled having a floor, a pair of opposing front wheels, and a pair of opposing back wheels;

a source of locomotion power for moving the sled capable of reversing direction of travel;

a programmable control circuit located on the sled;

a wire sensor located on the sled and in communication with the control circuit;

a wire, placed on the ground in a desired path wherein the wire has a first stop located proximate a first end of the wire and a second stop located proximate an opposing second end of the wire; and

wherein a first day of week and a first time are each programmed into the control circuit and a second day of week and a second time are each programmed into the control circuit and upon the occurrence of the first day of week and the first time the sled travels under the power of the source of locomotion power front the first stop of the wire until the wire sensor detects the second stop at which time the source of locomotion power is deactivated thereby stopping the sled, the sled remaining stopped until the occurrence of the second day of week and the second time wherein the source of locomotion power activates in reverse direction so that the sled travels back along the wire until the wire sensor detects the first stop at which time the source of locomotion power is deactivated thereby stopping the sled such that the wire sensor maintains continuous sensory contact with the wire in order to guide the sled along the wire under the control of the control circuit whenever the sled travels.

2. The conveyance system as in claim 1 wherein the source of locomotion power comprises:

a first motor operatively connected to one of the rear wheels;

a second motor operatively connected to the other of the rear wheels; and

wherein the first motor and the second motor are each communicatively connected to control circuit for being controlled thereby and each motor is operatively independent of the other and such that the first motor and the second motor, via their respective locomotive power, are the sole source of steering for the sled.

3. The conveyance system as in claim 2 wherein the first motor is operatively connected to one of the front wheels and the second motor is operatively connected to the other of the front wheels.

4. The conveyance system as in claim 1 further comprising a proximity sensor located on the sled such that when the proximity sensor detects an object in the path of the sled, a signal is sent to the control circuit which deactivates the the source of locomotion power.

5. The conveyance system as in claim 1 wherein the control circuit is controlled by a remote control.

6. The conveyance system as in claim 1 wherein the floor has an upwardly extending outer sidewall with a gate such that when the gate is in an open position, the gate serves as a ramp between the floor and the ground.

7. A conveyance system for movement along the ground, the conveyance system comprising:

a sled having a floor, a pair of opposing front wheels, and a pair of opposing back wheels;

a first motor operatively connected to one of the rear wheels;

a second motor operatively connected to the other of the rear wheels;

a programmable control circuit located on the sled and communicative with the first motor and the second motor;

a wire sensor located on the sled and in communication with the control circuit;

a wire having a first stop located proximate a first end and a second stop located proximate an opposing second end, the wire placed on the ground in a desired path; and

wherein a first day of week and a first time are each programmed into the control circuit and a second day of week and a second time are each programmed into the control circuit and upon the occurrence of the first day of week and the first time the sled travels under the power of the first motor and the second motor power from the first stop of the wire until the sled reaches a point that is between the first stop and the second stop whereat the first motor and the second motor deactivate and upon the control circuit receiving a signal, the first motor and the second motor reactivate and the sled continues travel along the wire until the wire sensor detects the second stop at which time the first motor and the second motor deactivate thereby stopping the sled, the sled remaining stopped until the occurrence of the second day of week and the second time wherein the first motor and the second motor activate in reverse direction so that the sled travels back along the wire until the wire sensor detects the first stop at which time the source of locomotion power is deactivated thereby stopping the sled such that the wire sensor maintains continuous sensory contact with the wire in order to guide the sled along the wire under the control of the control circuit with the steering of the sled being accomplished by changing the relative speed of the first motor with respect to the speed of the second motor.

8. The conveyance system as in claim 7 wherein the first motor is operatively connected to one of the front wheels and the second motor is operatively connected to the other of the front wheels.

9. The conveyance system as in claim 7 further comprising a proximity sensor located on the sled such that when the proximity sensor detects an object in the path of the sled, a signal is sent to the control circuit which deactivates the first motor and the second motor.

10. The conveyance system as in claim 7 wherein the control circuit is controlled by a remote control.

11. The conveyance system as in claim 7 wherein the floor has an upwardly extending outer sidewall with a gate such that when the gate is in an open position, the gate serves as a ramp between the floor and the ground.