U.S. patent number 3,786,949 [Application Number 05/297,687] was granted by the patent office on 1974-01-22 for apparatus for side pick up refuse collection.
Invention is credited to William H. Sutton.
United States Patent |
3,786,949 |
Sutton |
January 22, 1974 |
APPARATUS FOR SIDE PICK UP REFUSE COLLECTION
Abstract
Apparatus for collecting refuse and loading the refuse onto a
side-loading, refuse collection vehicle having a bed and a loading
compartment with a top opening aperture therein, characterized by:
a trash container that includes a sloping front wall for dumping
the trash from the container when it is inverted, doors, loading
hooks, and a pair of arcuate track engaging means for maintaining
the container in place when it is inverted onto the bed of the
vehicle and preventing escape of trash; a pair of arcuate tracks
mounted on the vehicle; a base connected to the front of the bed of
the vehicle so as to accommodate lateral motion of a pick up arm;
and an extensible and retractable L-shaped cantilever pick up arm
for being moved outwardly to pick up, invert, and lower the trash
container by its hooks responsive to operation of the controls by
only a driver of the vehicle, without requiring rolling of the
container into position by a helper. Also disclosed are preferred
structural embodiments, including safety catches and the like.
Inventors: |
Sutton; William H. (Fort Worth,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
23147330 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/297,687 |
Filed: |
October 16, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
414/406;
414/424 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65F
1/122 (20130101); B65F 3/041 (20130101); B65F
2003/0266 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65F
3/02 (20060101); B65F 1/12 (20060101); B65F
3/04 (20060101); B65f 003/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;214/301,302,303,313,315,317,318,77R ;294/69 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Forlenza; Gerald M.
Assistant Examiner: Oresky; Lawrence J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wofford, Felsman & Fails
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. Apparatus for collecting and loading refuse onto a side-loading
refuse collection vehicle having a refuse collection bed and a
loading compartment with a top-opening aperture therein
comprising:
a. a trash container that includes:
i. a bottom;
ii. rear wall and side walls having adjacent ends connected
together and connected with said bottom and extending upwardly
therefrom to define a body;
iii. a top connected with said rear wall and said side walls;
iv. a front wall connected with said bottom and said side walls so
as to form an obtuse angle with said bottom such that refuse will
be dumped from said container when it is lifted and inverted
through an angle .alpha. of greater than 90.degree. and less than
180.degree.;
v. upper front door hingedly connected with said top; said upper
front door adapted to hang in a normal closed position by gravity
and adapted to be swung inwardly manually for deposition of said
refuse and to be swung outwardly by the force of gravity when said
container is lifted and inverted through said angle .alpha.;
vi. lower front door hingedly connected with said front wall and
adapted to be swung outwardly open by the force of gravity when
said container is lifted and inverted through said angle .alpha.
and to be swung closed by said bed and gravity when said container
is uprighted from its inverted and dump position; said lower front
door being normally inclined inwardly from its bottom edge to its
top in its closed position so as to prevent influx of rainwater
into said container when left outdoors;
vii. a pair of loading hooks mounted on the top of said container;
said loading hooks being disposed and spaced apart a sufficient
distance that the front to rear vertical plane of the center of
gravity of said container is located therebetween; said loading
hooks having an opening readily accessible from the front to
facilitate attachment of a lifting arm; and
viii. a pair of arcuate track engaging means for engaging a pair of
tracks on said vehicle during said lifting and inverting of said
container; said track engaging means being disposed one on each
side of said front door such that said container is properly
inverted and emptied regardless of whether the operation is carried
out on level terrain or not;
b. a pair of arcuate tracks mounted on said bed of said vehicle so
as to traverse along the front and rear sides of said aperture;
said arcuate tracks serving to guide and invert said trash
container into its proper dump position;
c. a base carried by said vehicle so as to accommodate laterally
pivotal motion of a pick up arm;
d. an extensible and retractable L-shaped cantilever pick up arm;
said pick up arm having a cantilever support portion, a
longitudinal shaft having a normally horizontal cantilever lifting
arm extending perpendicularly of said longitudinal shaft near its
end, and an extending means for extending and retracting said
longitudinal shaft; said longitudinal shaft having an external
first cross sectional shape that mates with an internal cross
sectional shape of said cantilever support portion so as to sustain
a torque load sufficient to maintain said cantilever lifting arm in
its substantially horizontal position; said cantilever lifting arm
having a pair of guides to facilitate engaging said lifting hooks
of said trash container and prevent inadvertent sliding of said
trash container along said cantilever lifting arm; said cantilever
pick up arm being pivotally mounted on said base by way of its
cantilever support portion so as to accommodate movement laterally
of said bed; and
e. lifting means connected with said vehicle and with said
cantilever support portion so as to pivot said cantilever support
portion and said cantilever pick up arm about said base.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the degree of arcuateness of
said track engaging means is the same as the degree of arcuateness
of said tracks at least at the top inserted and dump position of
said trash container for unloading such that a conforming fit is
obtained and scatter of refuse is prevented during dumping.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a limit stop is provided to
limit maximum movement of said lifting means; and said loading
hooks are disposed on said trash container a distance D.sub.1 from
the front edge of said top and said base is disposed a distance
D.sub.2 from the central longitudinal plane of said vehicle bed and
said cantilever pick up arm is proportioned such that said
cantilever pick up arm may be moved to its fully extended position
and automatically effects proper position of said trash container
in its top inverted position for unloading without binding of any
part of said apparatus or scattering of refuse when said lifting
means lifts said trash container via said cantilever pick up arm to
its limit stop.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said loading hooks on said
trash container each have a respective safety catch for preventing
said trash container from becomming disengaged from said cantilever
lifting arm when said trash container is inverted into its dump
position.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lifting means is a
hydraulic ram and said extending means comprises a hydraulic ram;
said rams being connected with a high pressure source of fluid on
said vehicle via respective conduits and control valves.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to trash and similar refuse
collection and disposal. More particularly, this invention relates
to apparatus for refuse collection in which the containers are left
at the points of collection to be filled with the refuse that is,
thereafter, loaded from the side onto a vehicle as it makes its
rounds, by lifting and inverting of the trash container. The trash
container is normally dumped at the forward loading compartment of
a refuse collecting truck bed that has means for compacting the
refuse in another part of the bed, and is replaced on the ground
for future use after it is unloaded.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Disposition of refuse has long been a problem but has grown
particularly acute in modern times with larger urban concentrations
of population. Modern conventional systems of refuse collection and
disposal are well known; for example, one is delineated in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,001,655. Briefly, refuse containers that may or may not
be mounted on casters for mobility are customarily stationed at
various points for deposit of refuse therein. Periodically, a
vehicle having a refuse collection bed is driven by; and an
appropriate elevating and dumping mechanism dumps the loaded trash
container into the vehicle refuse collection bed. These beds
usually have an opening in the top through which the container
contents are deposited and are equipped with a packer blade and
operating mechanism therefore. After the contents of a plurality of
containers have been deposited into a loading compartment, the
packer blade is mechanically activated to push the accumulated mass
of material into what is termed a storage compartment of the bed,
as distinguished from the loading compartment.
This invention is not concerned with the packer blade and its
operating mechanism, since they are well known and do not, per se,
form a part of this invention.
One urgent need in modern refuse collection has been a good side
pick up collection system for picking up trash in the narrow
confines of alleys and the like. Side pick up collection containers
and vehicles employing the containers have been used. These
containers have required casters; and, therefore, required
something equivalent to a concrete slab so they could be moved
freely to be hitched to the truck mounted hoisting apparatus, such
as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,001,655; 3,269,572; and 3,452,891,
to name a few of the many patents in this field. These side loading
systems have required a helper or the driver to get out of the
truck and attach the collection container to the hoisting apparatus
and then get back into the truck to manipulate the power controls
to do the hoisting and dumping. Additionally, the helper or driver
has to lower the collection container, disengage it and roll it out
of the way. All of this is time consuming and usually requires
extra labor in order to meet the collection schedule with a given
refuse collection vehicle.
Insofar as I am aware, the prior art has not provided apparatus for
side pick up refuse collection that has the following advantageous
features: (1) no worker has to get out of the vehicle to hitch the
side loading apparatus of the vehicle onto the trash container, to
hoist the trash container, to empty the trash container or to
return and re-position the trash container; (2) the trash container
is self-emptying and self-sealing at its juncture with the vehicle
bed when being emptied in its inverted position; (3) the trash
container may be economically formed without requiring casters or
other roll around devices and the requisite reinforcing on its
bottom; (4) the trash container does not require a concrete slab or
equivalent on which to be rolled around manually; (5) the trash
container can be employed in alleys or close quarters easily with
only a vehicle driver required; (6) the apparatus does not require
complicated and expensive over-the-cab or rear-end hoisting and
mounting apparatus with a multiplicity of lifting arms; (7)
apparatus that has simple controls that eliminate human error in
positioning the vehicle, thereby eliminating intolerable and
excessive forces that result in damage; (8) the hoisting apparatus
can be easily adapted onto existing and conventional vehicle bodies
to convert them to the advantageous apparatus of this invention;
and (9) the vehicle does not require large, cumbersome, multi-armed
pick up means that blocks view and increases the likelihood of an
accident.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide apparatus
for side pick up refuse collection that obviates the disadvantages
of the prior art and provides one or more of the following
advantageous features delineated hereinbefore.
Specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide
apparatus for side pick up refuse collection that provides all of
the advantageous features delineated hereinbefore.
These and other objects will become apparent from the following
descriptive matter, particularly when taken in conjunction with the
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
FIG. 1 is an oblique isometric view of a complete apparatus for
side pick up refuse collection in accordance with one embodiment of
this invention.
FIG. 2 is a partial side elevational view showing the upper and
lower doors and the track engaging means of the trash container of
FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view of the track engaging
means taken along the lines III--III of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view, partly schematic,
showing the safety catch on the loading hook of the trash container
of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view, partly in section, showing the
extensible and retractable pick up arm of the embodiment of FIG.
1.
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines VI--VI of
the pick up arm of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a rear view, partly schematic, of the apparatus of FIG.
1, showing in dashed lines a variety of positions of the trash
container and the pick up arm during the dumping operation.
FIG. 8 is a partial schematic view showing the hydraulic
interconnection between the lifting means, the extending means and
a high pressure source of fluid on the vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates the apparatus 11 for collecting and loading
refuse onto a refuse collection vehicle 13 having a refuse
collection bed 15 and a loading compartment 17 having a top opening
aperture 19 therein. The apparatus 11 comprises the major elements
or subassemblies of trash container 21, arcuate tracks 23 and 25 on
the bed 15, base 27 for accommodating lateral motion of a pick up
arm, an extensible and retractable L-shaped cantilever pick up arm
29, and lifting means 31 for lifting the pick up arm 29 and the
trash container 21 for dumping.
The trash container 21, per se, represents a new and useful
improvement. It has a bottom 33, FIG. 7, rear wall 35, side walls
37, FIG. 1, and top 39. The rear wall 35 and side walls 37 have
their adjacent edges connected together and connected with the
bottom 33 and top 39 to define thereby regular body. The respective
edges may be connected together, as by welding, or the entire body
or any portion thereof may be stamped with large dies from suitable
sheet material, such as steel. Any other acceptable economical
method of construction may be employed in forming the body of the
trash container.
A front wall 41 is connected with the bottom 33 and the side walls
37 so as to form an obtuse angle with the bottom 33 such that
refuse will be dumped from the container when it is lifted and
inverted. Ordinarily, the trash container 21 is inverted through an
angle .alpha. greater than 90.degree. and less than 180.degree., as
illustrated in FIG. 7. The front wall 41 does not extend as high as
does rear wall 35 in order to allow for doors.
The trash container 21 has an upper front door 43 that is hingedly
connected with the top 39, as by hinge 45. The upper front door 43
is adapted to hang in a normally closed position by gravity. It is
adapted to be swung inwardly manually for deposition of refuse and
to be swung outwardly by the force of gravity when the container is
lifted and inverted through the angle .alpha.. The upper door
preferably has its lower edge meshing with the upper edge of a
lower front door 47. The lower front door 47 is hingedly connected,
as by hinge 49 with the top edge of the front wall 41. The lower
front door 47 is adapted to be swung outwardly open by the force of
gravity when the container 21 is lifted and inverted through the
angle .alpha.; and to be swung closed by the bed when the container
21 is lowered and uprighted from its inverted position. The lower
front door 47 is normallly inclined inwardly from its bottom edge
to its top in its closed position so a to prevent influx of
rainwater into the container when the container 21 is left
outdoors. FIG. 2 shows the meshing engagement of the upper front
door 43 with the lower front door 47 and shows, in dashed lines 61,
the pushing of the door inwardly for deposition of refuse and, in
dashed lines 63, the swinging open of the upper front door by
gravity when the container 21 is inverted for dumping. FIG. 2 also
shows the internal stop 65 for holding the upper end of the lower
front door 47 in place, as well as showing, in dashed lines 67, the
movement of the lower front door 47 into its open position by
gravity during the dumping.
The trash container 21 carries a pair of loading hooks 51 and 53 on
its top 39. The loading hooks are disposed, one each near each side
wall 37 and are spaced apart a sufficient distance that the front
to rear plane of the center of gravity of the container, even when
loaded, is located therebetween. Each of the loading hooks has an
opening 55 that is readily accessible from the front to facilitate
attachment of a lifting arm for lifting the container 21. As
illustrated, the loading hooks 51 and 53 are formed generally in
the shape of inverted J's with the opening 55 between the short
side of the J and the top 39. The loading hooks may be welded to
the top 39 or fixed by any other suitable equivalent means, such as
having a base plate that is bolted onto the top 39.
To ensure that the loading hooks 51 and 53 do not become disengaged
from their lifting arm, a safety catch 71, FIG. 4, is provided on
each loading hook. FIG. 4 illustrates the inverted J shape of the
loading hook 53 as well as the opening 55. FIG. 4 is schematic in
the sense that dashed lines are employed to illustrate action of
the safety catch 71. Specifically, as the trash container 21 is
inverted such that its top 39 assumes the position indicated in
dashed lines in FIG. 4, the eccentrically mounted safety catch is
moved by gravity to the position illustrated in dashed lines 73 to
maintain engagement with the generally horizontal lifting arm 75.
Any attempt for the trash container 21 to slide downwardly
thereafter, illustrated as the upward arrow 77, FIG. 4, then wedges
the angled safety catch more tightly against the lifting arm 75 and
ensures that there is no slipping of the trash container 21, even
when inverted or when it is being lowered following its inverted
position, as illustrated in FIG. 7.
The trash container 21 has a pair of arcuate track engaging means
57 and 59 for encountering and engaging a pair of tracks on the
vehicle 13 during the lifting and inverting of the container. The
respective track engaging means 57 and 59 are disposed one on each
side of the front doors 43 and 47 such that the container
encounters the tracks 23 and 25 on the vehicle to be properly
inverted and emptied regardless of whether the operation is carried
out on level terrain or not. A cross sectional view of one of the
track engaging means 57 is illustrated in FIG. 3. As can be seen,
the track engaging means 57 has a generally arcuate cross sectional
shape, too, with its respective side walls and bottom for engaging
the tracks 23 and 25. Once engaged therewith, the bottom 69 of the
track engaging means slides by friction along the respective track
such as track 23.
The degree of arcuateness longitudinally of the track engaging
means 57 and 59 is the same as the degree of arcuateness
longitudinally of the tracks 23 and 25, at least at the top
inverted position of the trash container 21 for unloading such that
a conforming fit is obtained and scatter of refuse is prevented
during dumping. Preferably, the track engaging means 57 and 59 have
a circular shape, as viewed from the side of the trash container 21
in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7.
The pair of arcuate tracks 23 and 25 are mounted on the bed 15 of
the vehicle 13 so as to traverse along the front and rear sides, or
edges, of the top-opening aperture 19. Preferably, the tracks 23
and 25 are adapted to support the weight of a filled trash
container 21 by way of engagement with its track engaging means 57
and 59. As indicated hereinbefore, the tracks 23 and 25 have a
degree of arcuateness that is preferably the same as that of the
track engaging means 57 and 59; and is preferably circular. As
illustrated, the tracks 23 and 25 comprise circular rails disposed
about the circular bed 15. The tracks 23 and 25 have appreciable
thickness so as to tolerate wear by the frictional and sliding
engagement with the track engaging means 57 and 59. The tracks may
be formed integrally with the bed 15 or they may be attached by any
suitable means, as by welding, riveting, or bolting to the bed 15.
A great deal will depend upon whether the tracks 23 and 25 are
formed with the bed or are added in converting a given vehicle 13
to the improved apparatus and trash collection system of this
invention.
The base 27 is connected to the front end of the bed 15 and is
adapted to support and to accommodate lateral motion of the pick up
arm 29. The base 27 is affixed by any suitable means; such as,
welding, bolting or riveting to the front end 79 of the bed 15. As
illustrated in FIG. 5, the base 27 has a pair of plates 81 and 83
that are riveted to the front end 79 by rivets 85. The base 27
includes a shaft 87 that extends generally parallel with the
longitudinal axis of the vehicle 13 so as to accommodate pivotal
motion of the pick up arm 29 laterally of the vehicle 13.
The pick up arm 29 is an extensible and retractable, L-shaped
cantilever arm. The pick up arm 29 has a cantilever support portion
89, a longitudinal shaft 91 having a cantilever lifting arm 75
extending laterally thereof, and an extending means 93 for
extending and retracting the longitudinal shaft 91 with respect to
the cantilever support portion 89. The cantilever support portion
89 is mounted for pivotal movement, as by bearings 111, on shaft 87
of the base 27. The bearings are retained in place by a
conventional bearing retainer means disposed on the shaft 87, as by
large nut 113, FIG. 5. The longitudinal shaft has an external first
cross sectional shape that mates with an internal cross sectional
shape of the cantilever support portion 89 so as to sustain a
torque load sufficient to maintain the cantilever lifting arm 75 in
its substantially horizontal position, even with the weight of the
trash container 21 thereon. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the
cantilever support portion 89 is built in the form of a square
tubular member. The longitudinal shaft 91 is disposed interiorly
thereof. The respective cross sectional shapes, in conjunction with
suitable tracks 95 disposed intermediate the interior of the
cantilever support portion 89 and the longitudinal shaft 91, coact
to provide the necessary torque support for the laterally extending
lifting arm 75, FIG. 5. If desired, suitable bearings, such as ball
or roller bearings, may be employed to lessen friction as the
longitudinal shaft 91 is extended outwardly or withdrawn inwardly
telescopingly interiorly of the cantilever support portion 89.
Ordinarily, however, greased tracks 95 and longitudinal shaft 91
provides a low enough friction to accommodate the requisite
extending and retracting motion without unduly burdening the
extending means 93.
As illustrated, the extending means 93 comprises a hydraulic ram
having its cylinder end 97 connected via pin shaft 99 with the
cantilever support portion 89. The hydraulic ram serving as a
portion of the extending means has its piston rod 101 connected
with the longitudinal shaft 91 by way of pin shaft 103. The
requisite conduits are illustrated as abbreviated hoses 105 and 107
and are provided for connection with a high pressure source of
fluid, such as a hydraulic pump on the vehicle 13 by way of
suitable control valves, such as control valve 117, FIG. 8. The
control valve 117 comprises a conventional control valve and need
not be described in detail herein. It is sufficient to note that
the ordinary hydraulic control valves comprise a four-way valve in
which high pressure fluid is vented to the cylinder end to extend
the longitudinal shaft 91, the low pressure fluid being returned to
a reservoir 123, when the control lever 118 is moved into one
position. When the control lever 118 is moved into the neutral
position, a given position is retained with a liquid lock on the
hydraulic ram. Conversely, when the control lever is moved into its
other position, the high pressure fluid is vented to the piston rod
end of the cylinder, as by conduit 105, to effect retraction of the
longitudinal shaft 91, the low pressure fluid being again returned
to the reservoir 123.
The cantilever lifting arm 75 extends laterally of longitudinal
shaft 91 at substantially 90.degree. to prevent irregular motion of
the trash container 21 as it is lifted and inverted into its dump
position by the upwardly and laterally moving pick up arm 29. As
illustrated, the cantilever lifting arm 75 is welded to the
longitudinal shaft 91. Any other means of affixing the two may be
employed. For example, the longitudinal shaft 91 and the cantilever
lifting arm 75 may be integrally formed together, if desired. On
the other hand, the horizontal lifting arm 75 may be affixed to the
longitudinal shaft 91 by way of a strong stud that may be bolted
thereto or screwed into a threaded aperture therein. In any event,
the laterally extending lifting arm 75 has sufficient structural
strength, as does the longitudinal shaft, to effect a lifting and
inverting of the trash container 21. The horizontal lifting arm 75
has a pair of guides 109 that are flared at their outward end and
have a generally arcuate shape to facilitate engaging the loading
hooks 51 and 53 with the lifting arm 75 in response to manipulation
of the controls by the driver of the vehicle 13, without requiring
a helper to get out and move the trash container 21. The guides 109
also serve to prevent inadvertent sliding of the trash container as
it is raised into its inverted position for dumping; for example,
sliding of the trash container along the cantilever lifting arm 75
because of an uneven loading terrain.
Thus, the lifting arm 75 may be raised and lowered, and moved
inwardly or outwardly to engage the loading hooks 51 and 53 on the
trash container 21 responsive to the extending means 93. The
cantilever pick up arm 29, with or without the trash container 21
on the horizontal lifting arm 75, may be moved laterally of the
vehicle by pivotal motion around the base 27 responsive to the
desired force via the lifting means 31.
The lifting means 31 is connected with the vehicle 13 and with the
cantilever support portion 89 so as to pivot the cantilever support
portion 89 and, hence, the pick up arm 29 about the base 27 for
moving the trash container 21 into its dump position. As
illustrated, the lifting means 31 comprises a hydraulic ram that is
connected by conduit, such as the illustrated hose 115, with a high
pressure source of fluid. The other hose for the hydraulic ram is
not illustrated in FIG. 1 in the interest of simplicity. As
described hereinbefore with respect to the hydraulic ram employed
with the extending means and as illustrated schematically in FIG.
8, however, there is another conduit 125 that is connected with the
piston rod end of the hydraulic ram serving as the lifting means
31. The pair of hoses serve as conduits to connect the hydraulic
ram into a high pressure source of fluid, such as a hydraulic pump
121, by way of suitable control valve 119 located in the cab of the
vehicle 13. The control valve is the conventional hydraulic valve,
such as described hereinbefore with respect to the hydraulic ram
employed as the extending means 93.
FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a satisfactory interconnection of
the respective hydraulic control valves 117 and 119. Therein, the
respective hydraulic rams serving as the lifting means 31 and the
extending means 93 are connected with the high pressure source of
fluid, such as hydraulic pump 121. Each of the hydraulic valves 117
and 119 are also connected with the hydraulic reservoir 123.
Specifically, the hydraulic control valve 117 is connected with the
extending means 93 by way of conduits 105 and 107 for operation as
described hereinbefore. Similarly, the hydraulic control valve 119
is connected with the lifting means 31 by way of conduits 115 and
125 for operation as described hereinbefore with respect to the
hydraulic control valve 117.
A limit stop 127 is provided to limit maximum movement of the
lifting means 31 to prevent binding or creating of inordinately
high stresses as the lifting means 31 moves the pick up arm 29 to
its maximum limit, or dump position, for dumping of the trash
container 21.
As can be seen in FIG. 7, the loading hooks 51 are disposed a
distance D.sub.1 from the front edge of the top of the trash
container 21 and the base 27 is disposed a distance D.sub.2 from
the central longitudinal plane 129 of the vehicle 13 such that the
pick up arm 29 may be moved to its fully extended position and
automatically effect proper position of the trash container in its
top inverted position for unloading, without binding of any part of
the apparatus or scattering of refuse when the lifting means 31
lifts the trash container 21 by way of the pick up arm 29 to its
limit stop 127.
In operation, the trash container is deposited at a chosen
location; as in an alley, apartment complex, or commercial
installation; for deposition of refuse therewithin. As indicated
hereinbefore, the refuse may be deposited simply by manually
inserting it through the upper front door 43. Periodically, a
vehicle 13 makes the rounds of a plurality of the so deposited
trash containers 21 and empties them into its bed 15. The driver
may drive his vehicle 13 with the pick up arm 29 normally stowed at
rest against the stop 127 and the longitudinal shaft 91 retracted.
This is one of the advantages of this invention; namely, that there
is no unsightly and view blocking protrusions of a large,
cumbersome pick up means that increases the likelihood of an
accident.
The driver drives his vehicle to near the trash container 21,
lowers the pick up arm 29 and extends the longitudinal shaft 91 to
engage the lifting arm 75 with the loading hooks 51 and 53. The
respective guides 109 facilitate engaging the loading hooks 51 or
53. If he is off slightly, he may advance or back up the vehicle 13
to engage the lifting arm 75 with the loading hooks 51 and 53. In
any event, the loading hooks 51 and 53 will securely attach the
trash container 21 to the lifting arm 75, as illustrated in FIG. 7.
The driver then supplies high pressure hydraulic fluid to the
lifting means 31, hoisting the collection container to a slightly
elevated position, illustrated by the first set of dashed lines 131
in FIG. 7. With the proper distances D.sub.1 and D.sub.2, the
driver then advances the control lever 117 for the extending means
93 to fully extend the longitudinal shaft 91 and ensure that there
is no further manipulation of this control lever required and that
the trash container 21 can be lifted and inverted into its dump
position without creating undue stress or the likelihood of any
damage to either the lifting mechanism, the trash container 21, or
the vehicle 13.
As the lifting arm 75 engages the trash container 21, the trash
container 21 is free to rotate by gravity to align its center of
gravity as it chooses. It is maintained parallel to the
longitudinal centerline of the truck body by the horizontal lifting
arm 75, however. Consequently, the trash container 21 does not
change its position to the front or rear of the vehicle 13 during
the lifting operation. As the trash container 21 is lifted, it is
moved in an arc that causes the track engaging means 57 and 59 on
the trash container 21 to engage the respective tracks 23 and 25 on
the bed 15 of the vehicle 13. Specifically, the two arcuate track
engaging means 57 and 59 engage the tracks 23 and 25 in a
straddling manner as the trash container 21 is further hoisted, as
shown in dashed lines 133. The forward edge of the track engaging
means illustrated as 59 engages the tracks illustrated as 23, FIG.
7, and the container 21 begins to be tilted. As it is further
raised, the forward edge of the track engaging means 59 drag along
the track 23, to begin to invert the trash container 21, without
creating any high stress, since the moment arm effecting the
inversion is almost as long as the dimension of the trash container
21. This is in contrast to the prior art structures for inverting
the trash container which frequently had very short moment arms and
created extremely high stresses. Expressed otherwise, the
frictional drag of the lower front end of the track engaging means
59 causes the freely rotatable trash container 21 suspended by its
loading hooks 51 and 53, to begin to rotate into its dump position
with its track engaging means 57 and 59 fully and conformably
engaging the respective tracks on the vehicle 13. As illustrated,
the track engaging means 57 and 59, and the tracks 23 and 25 have
the same curvature and radii so that a fit is obtained to prevent
scattering of the trash. Expressed otherwise, in the dump position
the arcuate track engaging means and track are matched so no trash
escapes as the respective upper and lower doors 43 and 47 of the
trash container are swung open by gravity to dump the contents of
the trash container 21 into the bed 15. The swinging doors serve to
further prevent the scatter of trash through the aperture 19 in the
top of the bed 15. The fact that the fully extended cantilever arm
effects this exact engagement without creating any undue stress
eliminates much of the element of human error by the driver, or
operator. If desired, the driver may move the control lever for the
lifting means 31 to vibrate the trash container 21 in its dump
position, as by moving the pick up arm 29 against the stop 127 to
tap the trash container 21.
After the trash container 21 has been dumped, it may be lowered to
the ground by the driver's merely reversing the control valve 119;
such as, by moving the control lever to the retract position. As
the trash container 21 begins to move downwardly the edge of the
aperture 19 and then the bed 15 forces the lower front door 47
toward its closed position so that it can finally be closed by
gravity. Gravity alone closes the upper front door 43. As the trash
container 21 nears the ground, it can be positioned inwardly with
respect to the truck by the retractibility of the longitudinal
shaft 91. Expressed otherwise, the driver may stop the lowering of
the trash container 21 by moving the lever on the control valve 119
to the neutral position and effect the desired retraction of the
longitudinal shaft 91 by movement of the control lever on the
control valve 117. After the desired position is obtained, the
control valve 119 is operated to the lowering position and the
trash container 21 deposited on its plot of ground, or support.
Thereafter, the lifting arm 75 may be moved to disengage from the
loading hooks 51 and 53, be moved inwardly, and be returned to its
stowed position; or the vehicle may be driven forwardly without
stowing for engaging the lifting arm 75 with the next successive
trash container 21 if close.
It is noteworthy that the trash container 21 has a shape that lends
itself to being easily filled as the upper door swings inwardly. If
desired, other openings can be made in the top and rear sections to
facilitate insertion of refuse.
As the trash container is lifted into its dumping position, it is
rotated through an angle .alpha. of about 100.degree. in the
embodiment that I have fabricated. By pivotally mounted and
eccentrically weighted safety catches 71, gravity rotation thereof
is effected to ensure that the lifting hooks 51 and 53 remain
engaged with the lifting arm 75. Any other means or safety catches
may be employed, if desired, as by a latch operated responsive to
movement of the longitudinal shaft 91 or an additional hydraulic
cylinder thereon.
Once the man skilled in this art has seen the specific illustrated
embodiments, many engineering improvements and mechanical
equivalents will be brought to mind. These equivalents may be
employed and still be within the scope of this invention. For
example, conventional rack and pinions may be employed instead of
the hydraulic rams for the extending means and the lifting means if
desired. The pinions may be powered by suitable electric motors in
response to suitable control switches located in the cab of the
vehicle 13. As is recognized, the reversible motors rotate the
pinion in one direction to effect extension and in the other
direction, responsive to another switch, to effect retraction.
It is noteworthy in this regard that the lifting means 31 is
mounted for pivotal movement on the front end of the bed 15 and
displaced with respect to the stop 127 and the point of location of
the base 27 to effect a maximum extension without introducing
intolerable stresses thereinto. Moreover, the shaft 137 by which
the lifting means 31 is connected to the front end of the bed 15 is
disposed beneath the base 27 so as to effect a moment arm for
initial lifting of the trash container 21.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of
particularity, it is understood that this disclosure has been made
only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of
construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be
resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of this
invention.
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