U.S. patent number 3,572,529 [Application Number 04/796,053] was granted by the patent office on 1971-03-30 for front-end loading refuse vehicle.
Invention is credited to Orin M. Anderson.
United States Patent |
3,572,529 |
Anderson |
March 30, 1971 |
FRONT-END LOADING REFUSE VEHICLE
Abstract
A refuse vehicle having a body with a top opening and provided
with a lift arm at each side whose rear ends are pivotally
connected to the vehicle and whose forward ends extend beyond the
front end of the vehicle when the arms are in lowered position. The
lift arms carry vertically swingable tilt arms which extend
forwardly from the front ends of the lift arms for engagement with
a container which is to be lifted and emptied into the top opening
of the body. The top opening has a hinged door which opens to allow
dumping of the container through the top opening. An
electropneumatic-hyraulic system is provided for operating the
loading mechanism automatically to lift the container, level the
container during the lifting of the same, open the top door and
invert the container through the top opening. The system may
further operate automatically to redeposit the container on the
ground and close the top door. The electropneumatic-hydraulic
system includes a valve bank having hydraulic valves, operated by
pressure cylinders which are supplied with air under pressure from
a source of such air under the control of valves which are
electrically operated. The vehicle is provided with rests for the
front ends of the lift arms to prevent damage to the equipment due
to bouncing or vertical oscillation of the lift arms when the
vehicle is moving over rough grounds or bumps and means is also
provided for holding the front ends of the lift arms in somewhat
elevated positions when a container is positioned thereon to hold
the container clear of the ground when the vehicle is to be used
for collecting refuse by moving the vehicle along the street while
loading the container manually. The vehicle may have a cab at the
front end which is provided with a forwardly tiltable body to allow
access to an engine beneath the cab and the cab body is provided
with a rub-rail at the front to protect the same against damage by
accidental engagement with a container being lifted. The rub-rail
is hinged or articulated to allow the cab body to be tilted to open
position without disconnecting the rub-rail. The operating system
is designed to permit manual control of the movements of the
loading mechanism at any stage of operation.
Inventors: |
Anderson; Orin M. (San Antonio,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
25167146 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/796,053 |
Filed: |
February 3, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
414/408 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65F
3/00 (20130101); B65F 3/28 (20130101); B65F
3/201 (20130101); B60P 1/162 (20130101); B65F
2003/0279 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60P
1/04 (20060101); B60P 1/16 (20060101); B65F
3/20 (20060101); B65F 3/28 (20060101); B65F
3/00 (20060101); B65F 3/02 (20060101); B65f
003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;214/301,302,303,78 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Makay; Albert J.
Claims
I claim:
1. In a front-end loader mechanism the combination with a motor
vehicle of the type having a body with a refuse receiving opening
in the top, of:
a pair of lift arms pivotally mounted on the vehicle for vertical
swinging movement between a lower position in which the free ends
of the lift arms extend to the front end of the vehicle and an
upper position in which said free ends extend above the top of the
body;
a pair of fork arms pivotally mounted on the lift arms for vertical
swinging movement from a position extending forwardly from the free
ends of the lift arms for engagement with a separable container in
an upright position to connect the container to the lift arms to be
lifted thereby upon upward movement of the lift arms to a position
extending rearwardly from said free ends when the lift arms are in
said upper position to dump the container into the body through
said opening;
power means for imparting vertical swinging movement to said lift
arms;
power means positioned for coaction with said fork arms and said
lift arms to swing said fork arms vertically; and
means for actuating said power means to cause said lift arms to
move upwardly from said lower position with said fork arms in said
forwardly extending position and to arrest such upward movement
when the lift arms reach a predetermined position between said
upper and lower positions, said actuating means being responsive to
such arrest of said upward movement to cause said power means to
move said fork arms to move said container to a substantially level
position and being responsive to such leveling movement of said
fork arms to cause said power means to resume the upward movement
of said lift arms.
2. The front-end loader mechanism as claimed in claim 1
including:
closure means movably mounted on said body for movement into and
out of closing relation to said opening; and
power means for opening and closing said closure means, and wherein
said actuating means includes means responsive to said leveling
movement of said fork arms to actuate said power means to open said
closure means and means responsive to the opening of said closure
means to cause said power means to resume the upward movement of
said lift arms.
3. The front-end loader mechanism as claimed in claim 2
including:
latching means positioned for coaction with said body and closure
means to releasably hold the closure means in closed position;
and
means responsive to said leveling movement of said fork arms to
release said latching means when said container reaches said level
position.
4. In a front-end loader mechanism the combination with a motor
vehicle of the type having a body with a refuse receiving opening
in the top, of:
a pair of lift arms pivotally mounted on the vehicle for vertical
swinging movement between a lower position in which the free ends
of the lift arms extend to the front end of the vehicle and an
upper position in which said free ends extend above the top of the
body;
a pair of fork arms pivotally mounted on the lift arms for vertical
swinging movement from a position extending forwardly from the free
ends of the lift arms for engagement with a separable container in
an upright position to connect the container to the lift arms to be
lifted thereby upon upward movement of the lift arms to a position
extending rearwardly from said free ends when the lift arms are in
said upper position to dump the container into the body through
said opening;
power means for imparting vertical swinging movement to said lift
arms;
power means positioned for coaction with said fork arms and said
lift arms to swing said fork arms vertically;
means for actuating said power means to cause said lift arms to
move upwardly from said lower position with said fork arms in said
forwardly extending position and to arrest such upward movement
when the lift arms reach a predetermined position between said
upper and lower positions said actuating means being responsive to
such arrest of said upward movement to cause said power means to
move said fork arms to move said container to a substantially level
position
closure means movably mounted on said body for movement into and
out of closing relation to said opening;
closure operating means responsive to arrest of said upward
movement to open said closure means when said container reaches
said level position; and
means responsive to the opening of said closure means for causing
said power means to resume the upward movement of said lift arms
when said closure means is open.
5. The front-end loader mechanism as claimed in claim 4 including
means positioned for coaction with said latching means and said
power means for opening said closure means to release said latching
means prior to opening movement of said closure means.
6. In a front-end loader mechanism the combination with a motor
vehicle of the type having a body with a refuse receiving opening
in the top, of:
a pair of lift arms pivotally mounted on the vehicle for vertical
swinging movement between a lower position in which the free ends
of the lift arms extend to the front end of the vehicle and an
upper position in which said free ends extend above the top of the
body;
a pair of fork arms pivotally mounted on the lift arms for vertical
swinging movement from a position extending forwardly from the free
ends of the lift arms for engagement with a separable container in
an upright position to connect the container to the lift arms to be
lifted thereby upon upward movement of the lift arms to a position
extending rearwardly from said free ends when the lift arms are in
said upper position to dump the container into the body through
said opening; and
means movably mounted on the vehicle for movement into and out of a
position for coaction with said lift arms to hold the lift arms in
a position to support said container in an upright position at an
elevation for movement with the vehicle.
7. The front-end loader mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein
said means for actuating said power means includes electrical means
for controlling such actuation.
8. The front-end loader mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein
said electrical means includes:
switch means positioned on said vehicle; and
means positioned for coaction with said lift arms to actuate said
switch means in response to upward movement of said lift arms.
9. The front-end loader mechanism as defined in claim 8
including:
switch means on said lift arms; and
means positioned for coaction with said fork arms to actuate said
switch means on said lift arms in response to movement of said fork
arms away from said forwardly extending position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Refuse vehicles of the front-loader type, as heretofore commonly
constructed are provided with lift arms, one at each side of the
body of the vehicle, which is sometimes open at the top or provided
with a top opening having a door. The lift arms are pivoted at
their rear ends to the vehicle rearwardly of its front end and the
front ends of the lift arms extend forwardly of the front of the
vehicle when the lift arms are in their lowered positions. The lift
arms are operated by pressure cylinders mounted on the vehicle
rearwardly of the lift arms and the lift arm mechanism includes
laterally spaced-apart tilt arms or fork arms at the front ends of
the lift arms and which are engageable with a container on the
ground and tiltable to allow the container to be lifted by the lift
arms and raised to a position to be inverted to dump the container
into the top of the vehicle body.
In vehicles of this type the tilting of the tilt arms, elevating
and lowering of the lift arms and opening of the top door are
usually accomplished by pressure cylinders to and from which the
flow of pressure fluid is controlled manually through valves. The
pressure fluid control valves are also sometimes controlled
electrically by the use of solenoids and due to the pressure and
volume of fluid required for the operation of the equipment the
solenoids by which the valves are operated must be relatively large
and powerful, thus greatly increasing the size and cost of the
fluid pressure system.
Moreover, because of the accuracy with which the equipment must be
operated to avoid damaging the mechanism, spilling the refuse, or
damaging the vehicle or containers, vehicles of this kind have
heretofore been commonly provided with an operating system by which
the loading operation could be carried out automatically.
Front-end loading refuse vehicles are also customarily provided
with a cab at the front and the cab usually is of a type having a
forwardly tiltable cab body, which may be tilted to an open
position to allow access to an engine and other equipment which may
be locate on or beneath the cab. Due to the tiltable arrangement of
the tilt arms of the lifting equipment on vehicles of this kind
there is danger of damage to the cab body by accidental tilting of
a container during lifting or lowering of the same.
Refuse vehicles of the front-loading type as heretofore commonly
constructed do not lend themselves well to the collection of refuse
by the carrying of a container on the left arm mechanism while the
vehicle is moved along a street to be filled manually by persons on
the ground.
The present invention has for an important object the provision of
a front-loading refuse vehicle having an electropneumatic-hydraulic
operating system which is designed for automatic operation of lift
a refuse container, level the container during the lifting of the
same, open the top door, invert the container to empty the same
into the vehicle body and return the container to the ground while
closing the top door.
Another object of the invention is to provide means in a refuse
vehicle of the kind mentioned whereby the loading operation may be
carried out automatically as described above and in which the
operation of the mechanism manually may be taken over by the
operator at any stage of the operation.
A further object of the invention is the provision of an
electropneumatically operated valve arrangement in an
electropneumatic-hydraulic system for the operation of a refuse
vehicle of the type referred to.
Another object of the invention is to provide in a front-loading
refuse vehicle, having lift arm mechanism of the kind mentioned,
means for supporting the front ends of the lift arms when in their
lowered positions to prevent vertical oscillation or bouncing of
the arms during movement of the vehicle over rough ground or bumps
and to provide rest means for holding the lift arms in a somewhat
elevated position with a container supported thereon to hold the
container clear of the ground while the vehicle is moved along a
street for filling the container manually in the collection of
refuse.
A further object of the invention is to provide top door latching
mechanism for a refuse vehicle of the front-loader type, which
mechanism is operable to unlatch the top door for the opening of
the same before the container reaches its dumping position and
which operates automatically to relatch the door when the door
reaches closed position.
A still further object of the invention is the provision in a
refuse vehicle of the front-loader type having a cab at the front
provided with a tiltable cab body, of means for protecting the body
against accidental engagement with a container during the loading
operation and which is designed to allow the cab body to be tilted
to its open position without disconnecting the protecting
means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises a vehicle having a body provided with a top
opening at the front thereof which is closed by a hinged door
operated by a pressure cylinder to open and close the same and
which has latching mechanism operable by operation of the cylinder
to unlatch the door immediately before the opening movement of the
door and which functions to relatch the door when the same reaches
its closed position.
The vehicle is provided with a lift arm assembly having a lift arm
at each side of the body whose rear end is pivotally connected to
the vehicle and whose forward end extends beyond the front of the
vehicle when the lift arms are in their lowered position The lift
arms are operated by pressure cylinder assemblies, one at each side
of the vehicle whose cylinders are pivotally mounted mediate their
ends on the vehicle for vertical swinging movement and whose piston
rods are connected to the arms in spaced relation to the pivotal
connection of the arms to raise the arms upon actuation of the
cylinders.
The lift arms may be of generally inverted U-shape to extend over
or above the side doors of a cab at the front end of the vehicle,
and at their forward ends the lift arms are connected to a
rotatable shaft from which a pair of tilt arms or fork arms extend
forwardly for engagement with a container to be lifted which will
be positioned between the tilt arms. The tilt arms are adapted to
swing vertically to tilt the container to a level position during
the lifting of the same by the left arms and to invert the
container to empty the same through the top opening when the
container has been lifted to its unloading position. The tilt arms
are operated by pressure cylinders connected to the lift arms and
connected by levers to the rotatable shaft upon which the tilt arms
are mounted.
The pressure cylinders of the lift arms, tilt arms and top door are
connected into a pressure fluid system which is controlled by
electropneumatically operated valves, whereby the lift arms are
raised to a location mediate the length of upward travel of the
lift arms, after which the tilt arms operate to level the container
to prevent spilling of the contents and the top door opens fully,
whereupon the upward movement of the lift arms resumes. As soon as
the container reaches its dumping position, the tilt arms operate
to dump the container by inverting the same into the top opening to
discharge the refuse into the vehicle body. After emptying of the
container the tilt arms and lift arms are again operated by same
single switch in reverse position to turn the container upright and
lower the container to a location mediate the length of the
lowering movement of the lift arms. The top door automatically
closes and locks during initial lowering of the lift arms,
whereupon the further lowering and final leveling of the container
to the ground may be carried out by manual operation of the same
unitized control.
Switches for the automatic operation of the system are mounted on
the vehicle at positions to be operated by cams mounted on a shaft
or torque tube upon which the lift arms are mounted at their rear
ends for rotation in response to the swinging movement of the lift
arms. Additional switch means is carried on the lift arms in
position for actuation in response to tilting movement of the tilt
arms, to stop the upward movement of the lift arms when a
predetermined point in the upward movement of the container is
reached and to cause leveling of the container and opening of the
top door at that point and resumption of the upward movement of the
lift arms when the container is leveled and the top door is open
fully.
Switches are provided for the top door by which operation of the
lift cylinders is resumed when the door reaches open position, and
a yellow indicator light inside the cab is turned on to indicate to
the operator when the top door is not closed and locked.
The positioning of the switches and their operating means is
arranged so that upon initial starting of the container-lifting
operation the lift arms are raised to a predetermined point,
whereupon the lifting is stopped and the tilting of the tilt arms
is initiated to level the container to prevent spilling. At the
same time that the container starts tilting, the top door unlocks
and starts opening and when the container is again level and the
top door is fully open the lifting is resumed. When the raising of
the lift arms is discontinued to allow the container to be brought
to a level condition the lift arms will not resume their upward
movement until the top door is fully open.
At the front of the vehicle, means in the form of support brackets
is provided upon which the lift arms may rest with the tilt arms in
upwardly tilted position while the vehicle is moving along a
highway, so that the lift arms will be prevented from bouncing or
oscillating vertically about their pivoted ends to prevent damage
to the equipment while traveling over rough ground or bumps.
Additional support members are carried on the support brackets,
which may be moved to an active position for engagement with the
lift arm assembly to support the front ends of the lift arms at at
a somewhat elevated location to hold a container carried on the
tilt arms clear of the ground to permit the vehicle to move along a
street while the container is filled manually in the collection of
refuse. These additional support members may be moved aside to
inactive positions when not in use.
The pressure cylinders of the pressure fluid system are controlled
by valves which are operated by pneumatic cylinders under the
control of valves which are operated by electric solenoids, whereby
the valves are readily adapted for assembly into a compact
arrangement or bank which may be centrally located, and in which
the control valves of the pneumatic cylinders are easily operated
whereby the size and power of the solenoids may be greatly
reduced.
At its front end the vehicle has a cab provided with a tilting cab
body which may be tilted forwardly to an open position for access
to an engine or other equipment within or beneath the cab, and
means, such as a rub rail is provided on the cab body, positioned
to protect the same against accidental engagement therewith of a
container being lifted. The rub rail is articulated or hinged at
locations to allow the cab body to be tilted to open position
without disconnection of the rub rail.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a front-end loading refuse
vehicle illustrating the invention and showing the container
lifting and dumping mechanism in its lowered position in engagement
with a refuse container preparatory to lifting the same;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the refuse vehicle of the invention as
illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, showing the container
lifting mechanism in an intermediate stage of the loading operation
with the container in an elevated position;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, showing the container
lifting mechanism in its elevated position and the manner in which
the container is inverted to empty its content into the
vehicle;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, front elevational view, on an enlarged
scale, of a portion of the container lift assembly of the
invention, showing details of construction and the arrangement of
parts of the control mechanism, including electrical switches and
their operating means by which the loading operation is carried out
automatically;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 6-6 of FIG.
5, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, taken along the line 7-7 of FIG.
5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary end elevational view showing a portion of
the container lift arm and tilt arm assembly and the electrical
switch means and operating mechanism therefor by which leveling of
the container during elevation of the same and further elevation of
the container after such leveling is accomplished;
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view, of an enlarged scale, of the
top door operating and latching mechanism of the invention with the
door in its closed position and the latching mechanism in latched
condition; FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the door operating
and latching mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary end view of a portion of the door latching
mechanism as viewed from the left end of FIG. 9 as indicated by the
line 11-11 of FIG. 9, showing the door latch in latching
position;
FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 9 showing the door
operating and latching mechanism with the latching mechanism in
released position;
FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the door operating and
latching mechanism illustrated in FIG. 12;
FIG. 14 is a view similar to that of FIG. 11, looking at the left
end of the door latching mechanism of FIG. 12 showing the door
latch in released position;
FIG. 15 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale showing one of the
means by which the lift arms are supported at the front end of the
vehicle when in a lowered position during the travel of the vehicle
from one location to another;
FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the lift arm rest means as
illustrated in FIG. 15;
FIG. 17 is a top plan view, similar to that of FIG. 15, showing the
means by which the lift arms are supported at their front ends in a
position to carry a container in an upright position at the front
end of the vehicle, when the container is to be used for the manual
collection of refuse and then to be emptied into the vehicle;
FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the lift arm front end
support means as illustrated in FIG. 17;
FIG. 19 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly
in cross section, showing the body of the vehicle
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 20-20 of
FIG. 19, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;
FIG. 21 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the hydraulic system of
the invention;
FIG. 22 is a detail view, showing somewhat diagrammatically a unit
of the electrical and pneumatic control mechanism of the hydraulic
system of the invention; and
FIG. 23 is an electric circuit diagram of the electrical control
system of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PARTICULAR EMBODIMENT OF THE
INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings in greater detail the invention as
illustrated herein comprises a refuse vehicle of the type having a
body, generally designated 10, of generally rectangular
configuration, provided with a discharge door 12 at its rear end,
operated by one or more pressure cylinders, such as that shown at
15, and a top-loading opening adjacent its front end which is
closed by a hinged door 14. The vehicle has a cab 16 of
conventional type at its front end, mounted on a chassis 18 of
usual design.
The loading of the vehicle takes place at the front end through the
top door opening and the body is provided with a longitudinally
movable packer blade 11, mounted therein and operable by a pressure
cylinder assembly, generally shown at 13, by which the refuse may
be compacted against the rear door 12 when the same is closed, and
unloaded from the rear end of the body when the door 14 is opened.
The loading mechanism includes a pair of lift arms 20,20 one at
each side of the vehicle, which are pivotally connected at their
rear ends to the vehicle at a location between the cab and body and
which extend forwardly with their forward ends disposed in front of
the vehicle when the arms are in their lowered position. The lift
arms 20,20 are of generally inverted U-shape, to extend above the
roof of the cab with one arm extending downwardly forwardly of the
cab and the other end extending downwardly rearwardly thereof, so
that the arms do not interfere with access to the cab when the arms
are lowered.
The crossbar 28 also has connected thereto at each end an actuating
lever 34 by which the bar may be rotated, by a pressure cylinder 36
pivotally connected to each lift arm and whose piston rod 38 is
pivotally connected to the outer end of the lever. By this
arrangement the tilt arms 26 may be rotated to positions extending
forwardly of the forward ends of the lift arms, as shown in FIG. 1,
so that the tilt arms may be moved into side pockets or brackets 40
on each side of a refuse container C, whereby the container may be
lifted by the lift arms when the same are swung upwardly, as shown
in FIGS. 3 and 4 and the tilt arms may also be rotated to tilt the
container to a more or less level position as the same is raised
and to invert the container to empty the same into the body through
the top-door opening.
The lift arms are actuated by pressure cylinders 42 which are
preferably pivotally mounted mediate their ends on the vehicle, and
whose piston rods are pivotally connected at their outer ends to
lugs 46 attached to the lift arms at locations spaced above the
torque tube 22.
The loading opening 48 in the top of the body 10 is of rectangular
shape and has an upwardly extending shield extending about three
sides of the opening formed with a downwardly and rearwardly
sloping front wall 50 and opposite sidewall portions 52,52 which
extend straight upwardly. The door 14 is shaped to close the
opening and is formed along its forward edge with a beveled end
face 54 which seats against the sloping end wall of the opening
when the door is closed. The door is of reinforced sheet metal
construction hinged at its rear edge to the adjacent edge portion
of the top wall 56 of the body, as indicated at 58.
The door 14 is opened and closed by a pressure cylinder 60,
pivotally connected to the top wall of the body, as by means of the
pin 62 extending through perforated upright brackets 64, as seen in
FIG. 12 and whose piston rod 66 is pivotally connected at its outer
end to spaced-apart upright brackets 68 attached to the door
adjacent its hinged ends and extending upwardly therefrom, as by
means of a pin 70 extending through perforations in the
brackets.
The door is releasably latched in its closed position by latching
mechanism illustrated in detail in FIGS. 9 to 14, which mechanism
includes a pair of pivotally mounted latch elements 72, one at each
side of the door adjacent its front end, mounted on upwardly
extending lugs, such as that shown at 74 in FIGS. 11 and 14
attached to the door structure. The sidewalls 52 of the shield of
the door opening are provided with openings 76 into which the latch
elements 72 are extended to hold the door closed. The latching
mechanism includes latch operating shafts 78 pivotally connected at
their outer ends to the elements 72 and whose inner ends are
connected to bellcranks 80 which are also pivotally connected to
the forward end of an actuating rod 82, as by means of pins 84
extending through longitudinally elongated slots 86 in the rod and
slidable therein. The bellcranks are pivotally mounted on the front
marginal portion of the door as by means of pins 88. The actuating
rod 66 is also pivotally connected at its rear end to the pin 70
which has limited longitudinal movement in elongated slots 90 in
the brackets 68.
The bellcranks are yieldingly urged in directions of rotation to
move the latching elements 72 toward latching elements 72 toward
latching positions by a coil spring 92 located between the pivotal
connections of the latch operating shafts 78 to the bellcranks, as
shown in FIGS. 9 and 12.
By this arrangement and construction of the door latching and
operating mechanism, when the pressure cylinder 60 is operated to
open the door the piston rod 66 first pulls the pin 70 rearwardly
in slots 90 to exert a pull on the rod 82 which rocks the
bellcranks 80 in directions to release latch elements 72 against
the resistance of the spring 92, and when the pin 70 reaches the
limit of its rearward movement in the slots 90 with the latching
mechanism thus released, further pull on the piston rod 66 then
results in swinging the door upwardly to open position. During
closing movement of the door, the pin 70 will move forwardly in
slots 90, thus moving the slots 86 forwardly with the rod 82 to
position the pins for forward movement in the slots as the
bellcranks are rotated in latching directions by the spring 92 when
the latches 72 reach the latch openings 76. By this operation of
the latching mechanism the latches are released prior to opening
movement of the door and are held in released condition until the
door again reaches closed position, whereupon the door is
automatically relatched.
The various pressure cylinders of the vehicle are operated by
hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic system such as that illustrated in
FIG. 21. The lift arm operating cylinders 42 are connected at one
end into the hydraulic system by a common pressure fluid line 94
and at the other end by a common line 96, through which the flow of
fluid is controlled by a valve 130, and the compaction or packer
blade operating cylinder assembly 13 is similarly connected by
lines 98 and 100. The door operating cylinder is furnished with
pressure fluid for the opening and closing of the loading opening
door 14 through lines 102 and 104, and the tilt arm operating
cylinders are connected into the system by lines 106 and 108 by
which pressure fluid is supplied to the opposite ends of the
cylinders, while the rear door operating cylinders 15 are supplied
with pressure fluid through a single common line 110. The flow of
pressure fluid through the various pressure lines of the system is
controlled by valves suitably arranged in a valve bank generally
designated 118. The fluid in the hydraulic system is maintained
under pressure by a pump 112, of conventional type, whose inlet is
connected to a reservoir 114 by a pipe 116 and whose outlet is
connected to the inlet connection of the multiple valve bank 118,
by a pipe 120, while a return line 122 connects the outlet from the
valve bank 118 to the reservoir 114. In the operation of the system
the pump maintains a constant flow of pressure fluid from the
reservoir 14 to the valve bank while fluid is returned to the
reservoir through pipe 122, and the flow of fluid to and from the
various pressure cylinders is controlled by the operation of the
individual valves in the valve bank.
Each of the valves of the valve bank 118 may conveniently be of the
spool valve type, such as that illustrated in FIG. 22, wherein one
valve unit of the valve bank, together with the mechanism by which
it is operated is shown. The valve of FIG. 22 has a valve housing
134 provided with the usual inlet and outlet ports and within which
a valve member or spool is slidably disposed for movement to one
position or another to establish communication between some of the
ports while shutting off such communication between others of the
ports. The movable valve member of spool has a connecting rod 136,
or the like, slidably extending from one end of the valve housing
and which is connected at its outer end to the piston rod 138 of a
pressure cylinder 140 by which the valve is actuated. The pressure
cylinder 140 is supplied with compressed air at either end thereof
through lines 142 and 144 from a common pressure line 146, under
the control of valves 148 and 150 which are operated by electrical
solenoids 152 and 154 respectively, suitably connected to an
electrical current supply system in the usual manner, as by means
of conductors 156 and 158 under the control of suitable switch
means to be more fully disclosed hereinafter.
The electrically actuated valves 152 and 154 are of a well-known
type in which exhaust ports are provided through which pressure may
escape from the cylinder 140 through the lines 142 and 144 when the
valves are closed, so that when either valve is open to allow the
supply of air from the supply line 146 to one end of the cylinder
140 fluid may flow out of the other end thereof.
The operation of the various valves of the hydraulic system is
controlled by electrical switches suitably mounted on the vehicle,
some of which switches are actuated by means functionally
associated with the moving parts of the loading mechanism whereby
the loading operation may be carried out by automatic stages.
As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, a number of switches 160, 162, 164
and 166 are suitably mounted on the vehicle at a convenient
location, preferably above the torque tube 22 of the lift arms 20.
The switches 160, 162 and 164 are of a type having a lever arm 170
which carries a roller 172 at its outer end, and the lever arms of
the switches are positioned to hold the rollers thereof at
locations to be engaged by cams 174, 176 and 178 on the torque tube
22, to rock the levers of the respective switches 160, 162 and 164
to actuate the switches.
The switch 166 is of a type having a plunger 180 positioned for
engagement with a cam on the torque tube to actuate the switch. Cam
182 is carried by the torque tube at a suitable location to engage
the plungers 180 of the switch 166 to actuate the same as the lift
arms 20 reach the uppermost position of their arc.
Thus, the switches will be actuated in a suitable sequence in
response to rotational movement of the torque tube 22 in either
direction whereby the loading operation may be carried out in
predetermined states.
Additional electrical switches 189 and 190 are suitably mounted on
one of the lift arms 20, as shown in FIG, 8, of which the switch
190 has a lever arm 200 which carries a roller 202 positioned for
engagement with a cam 204 on the lever 34, while the switch 189 is
identical to and located directly behind switch 190 and has a lever
arm which carries a roller positioned for engagement with a cam
located on lever 34. Both switches 189 and 190 will be actuated
when the tilt arms are in a predetermined position between the
limits of the stroke of tilt cylinders 36.
The top door mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 13 is also provided
with switch means, including switches 206 and 208, suitably mounted
at spaced-apart locations on the body, of which the switch 206 has
a roller 210 carried on a lever 212 in position for engagement with
the door when the door reaches its open position, while the switch
208 has a roller 214 carried on a lever 216 positioned for
engagement with an arcuate actuator member 218 attached to the door
to hold the switch in one position during opening and closing
movement of the door and to release the same when the door is fully
closed.
The electrical circuitry by which the operation of the apparatus is
controlled is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 23.
Means is provided at the front of the cab 16, for supporting the
lift arms 20 at their front ends while the vehicle is moving about,
and also for supporting the lift arms with their front ends at an
elevation above the ground with the container C on the tilt arms
26, to hold the container in a position clear of the ground when
the vehicle is to be used for the collection of refuse by moving
the vehicle along the street and filling the container
manually.
The lift arm supporting means as illustrated in FIGS. 15, 16, 17
and 18 includes a pair of brackets or support plates 206 each
having at its rear end a portion 208 of angle shape adapted to fit
over and against the front member 210 of the frame of the vehicle
or on the front bumper of the same and attached thereto in any
convenient manner, as by means of bolts 212, in a forwardly
extending position. At its forward end, each of the brackets 206 is
formed with a step portion 214 upon which the cross-shaft 28 may
rest when the lift arms are lowered to engage the cross-shaft with
the brackets. When the vehicle is to be moved about, the tilt arms
26 may be tilted upwardly and the cross-shaft 28 engaged with the
brackets 206, as seen in FIG. 16 to support the lift arms on the
brackets and prevent upward and downward oscillation of the lift
arms, which would otherwise be caused when the vehicle runs over
rough roads or bumps.
As seen in FIGS. 17 and 18 the brackets 206 may each be provided
with an upwardly extending support plate 216 upon whose forward
extremity a wing plate 218 is hingedly mounted for substantially
horizontal swinging movement to a forwardly extending position or
to a side position clear of the step portion 214 of the bracket, as
shown in dotted lines in FIG. 17.
The wing plate 218 carries at its outer end an angle-shaped seat
forming element 220 positioned for engagement with the cross-shaft
28, as shown in FIG. 17, to support the front ends of the lift arms
at an elevation to hold the container C clear of the ground. The
wing plate may be releasably held in its forwardly extending
position by a sliding bolt 222 which is slidably inserted through
tubular retainers 224 and 226 on the wing plate and bracket, and
which may be withdrawn to permit the wing place to be swung aside
to its inactive position.
The body 19 of the cab 16 of the vehicle is preferably of a type
which is hingedly attached at the front to the vehicle for forward
swinging movement to a position to uncover the engine and other
accessory parts enclosed in the cab, and the cab body is provided
with a guard or rub rail 228, extending forwardly and upwardly from
the body 19 in spaced relation thereto and supported on the body 19
by suitable braces 230 and 232. At its lower end the rub rail 228
is connected to the frame of the vehicle below the body 19 by a
hinge link 234, and the rub rail is formed in sections hingedly
connected together as seen at 236, whereby the cab body may be
swung forwardly, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4 to permit
access to the engine without disconnecting the rub rail. The rub
rail is positioned to protect the cab body from damage due to
contact with a container which is being lifted by the lift arms
which will be held away from the cab body by the rub rail in the
event of accidental tilting of the container during lifting of the
same.
The operation of the equipment is started and controlled by an
operator in the cab of the vehicle by operation of manually
operable switches 191, 193, 197, 199, 201, 203, 207, 209 and 211,
which are conveniently located for this purpose and which may be
arranged or grouped to enable the various functions of the
equipment to be readily distinguished, as seen in dotted lines in
FIG. 24, at 213, 215, 217, 219, 221 and 223.
In the operation of the equipment, the lift arms will initially be
in their lowered position with the tilt arms adjusted to extend
substantially horizontally forwardly from the lift arms. With the
tilt arms thus adjusted, the vehicle is moved up to a container C
to be lifted to insert the tilt arms through the brackets 40 of the
container, as shown in FIG. 1. The tilt arms may, of course, be
adjusted to any desired angle and the lift arms may be raised to
any extent to position the tilt arms to enter the brackets 40
should the container be at an elevated location, such as on a
loading platform or dock.
With the tilt arms thus in engagement with the container the
automatic operation of the loading mechanism is initiated by
manually closing the switch 195, whereupon valve 130 will be opened
to supply fluid under pressure to the cylinders 42 to raise the
lift arms and the container therewith. This switch is held closed
manually by the operator and opens when released.
As soon as the lift arms reach a predetermined position of their
upward movement, such as when the arms have moved to a position at
an angle of about 45.degree. to the horizontal, switch 162 will be
closed to operate valve 30, and valve 132 will be opened to furnish
pressure fluid to the tilt arm cylinders 36 to move the tilt arms
to substantially horizontal positions, thus leveling the container
to prevent spilling of its contents. Fluid pressure is also
furnished to valve 124 at the same time by operation of the switch
164 to unlock and open top door. The opening of the top door
results in the operation of switch 206 to operate valve 124 to
furnish cylinder 42 with further fluid to continue the upward
movement of the lift arms.
After the lift arms have reached the position of their upward
movement at which leveling of the container takes place the further
operation of the equipment to elevate and dump the container
continues automatically.
When the container C reaches a position to be dumped into the body
10 switch 168 will be actuated to cause the valve 130 to be moved
to a position to shut off the flow of pressure fluid to cylinder 14
to arrest the movement of the lift arms and valve 132 will be
opened to supply pressure fluid to the tilt arm cylinders to
actuate the same to invert the container into the top opening. When
the container is fully tilted into the body 10 the operator
releases the switch.
To return the container to its original position on the ground from
its inverted position in the body 10, the operator actuates switch
197. Valve 132 will then be opened to tilt the container out of the
hopper to a predetermined position at which valve 132 will be
closed and valve 130 will be opened by actuation of switch 190 to
lower the lifting arms to the ground. The operator releases switch
197 as the container comes to rest on the ground. If the container
does not approach the ground squarely, it may be necessary to
release switch 197 to stop the lowering of lift arms with the
container a few inches off the ground and actuate either switch 199
or switch 201, depending upon whether up or down-tilting movement
is required to level the container. Thereafter, the leveled
container may be lowered to the ground by actuating switch 197.
The switches 162 and 160 may, of course, be of suitable type, such
as double-pole switches or in each case they may consist of two
separate switches as shown in the diagram of FIG. 24, suitably
arranged for actuation by the same of the lift arm torque tube.
The invention is disclosed herein in connection with a particular
embodiment of the equipment, which is intended by way of
illustration only, it being evident that various changes can be
made in the arrangement and construction of the parts, within the
spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *