SAFETY APPARATUS FOR GARBAGE TRUCKS

• US 3,729,106 A
• Filed: 04/29/1971
• Issued: 04/24/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank Barbieri
• Original Assignee: Frank Barbieri
• Inventors: Barbieri, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Makay, Albert J.
• Application Number:
  US05/138,637
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 214/83.3,82,503 123/198D
• US Class Current: 414/525.2
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 3/20 with charging pistons, plates, or the like for discharging B65F3/28

Abstract

Safety apparatus for controlling refuse packing cycles in a garbage truck, said garbage truck having a transmission and a refuse packing assembly in operative association with one another, said transmission having a plurality of operative positions. The safety apparatus comprises a first system operatively associated with the transmission for initiating a refuse packing cycle, a second system operatively associated with the transmission when the latter is in one of the operative positions for permitting the refuse packing cycle to continue to normal completion, and a third system operatively associated with the transmission when the latter remains in another of the operative positions for immediately terminating the refuse packing cycle prior to completion of the latter.

Claims

1. Safety apparatus for controlling refuse packing cycles in a garbage truck;

said garbage truck having a transmission and a refuse packing assembly in operative association with one another;

said transmission having a plurality of operative positions including a neutral position and a drive position;

said safety apparatus comprising first means operatively associated with said transmission for initiating a refuse packing cycle;

second means operatively associated with said transmission when said transmission is in said neutral position for permitting said refuse packing cycle to continue to normal completion;

third means operatively associated with said transmission when said transmission remains in said drive position for terminating said refuse packing cycle prior to completion of said refuse packing cycle; and

timing means operatively associated with said transmission and said first, second and third means for determining a maximum time interval between which said transmission must be properly shifted from said Drive position to said neutral position after said first means has initiated said packing cycle such that said second means permits said refuse packing cycle to continue to completion upon proper shifting of said transmission within said maximum time interval, and said third means terminates said refuse packing cycle upon failure of said transmission to be properly shifted within said maximum time interval.

2. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said timing means includes a displaceable plunger and a plurality of electric terminals operatively associated with said plunger for being selectively opened and closed respectively by the latter, alternately over a period defined by said maximum time interval.

3. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first means includes a pneumatic circuit, and including a plurality of switches operatively associated with said timing means, two of said switches being commonly associated with said transmission and operated when the latter is shifted between said neutral and drive positions, another switch being operatively associated with said pneumatic circuit through the intermediary of said transmission, and still another switch being constituted as an air switch and operatively associated directly with said pneumatic circuit.

4. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said pneumatic circuit includes a pressurized gas supply, a treadle valve in communication with said gas supply, a packing cycle control valve in communication with said treadle valve, a packing cycle control gear assembly operatively associated with said transmission and operatively communicating with said packing cycle control valve, and said air switch in communication with said packing cycle control valve.

5. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the garbage truck is provided with air-responsive brakes, said pneumatic circuit further including a double-check valve interposed between and in communication with said threadle valve and packing cycle control valve, said air-responsive brakes being in communication with said double-check valve.

6. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including means for connecting said refuse packing assembly to said garbage truck, indicator means for signalling loosening of said refuse packing assembly from said garbage truck, and safety means for rendering said refuse packing assembly inoperative upon loosening of the latter from said garbage truck.

7. Safety apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said garbage truck is provided with an engine and a depressible accelerator for racing said engine, and including means for stalling said engine when said accelerator is depressed while said transmission is in neutral position.