Abstract:
A multi-compartment collection vehicle having a packing apparatus and a multi-compartment storage body wherein the packing apparatus includes a charging hopper divided into upper and lower portions each having corresponding dual linear packers. The upper charging hopper and upper compartment of the multi-compartment storage body are connected by a ramped floor. The dividing floor of the multi-compartment storage body is ramped from a relatively lower level aligned with the upper charging portion to a higher level defining the major longitudinal portion of the dividing floor. The ramped floor arrangement increases the holding capacity of the upper portion of the charging hopper, without significantly decreasing the holding capacity of the lower storage compartment.
Abstract:
A front loading refuse collection vehicle 10 is provided having a body 12 which includes a hopper 16, a storage container 17, and a tailgate 20. A pair of hydraulic cylinders 23 are mounted to the tailgate for pivotal movement thereof. A compaction blade 24 is mounted within storage container 17 for movement by a hydraulic cylinder 25. The vehicle also has a dumping system 45 for automated actuation of the compaction blade hydraulic cylinder 25 and the tailgate hydraulic cylinders 23. The dumping system includes a central multi-processor 46 coupled to receive electronic signals from an auto-eject actuation button 47, a tailgate enable switch 48, a latch sensor 50, a tailgate open sensor 51 and a compaction blade sensor 52. The central multiprocessor is coupled to output electronic signals to a hydraulic control valve 57 for the tailgate hydraulic cylinders and a hydraulic control valve 58 for the compaction blade hydraulic cylinder. The dumping system coordinates the movement of the tailgate hydraulic cylinder and compaction blade cylinders in response to the tailgate open sensor and compaction blade sensor.
Abstract:
Side-loading refuse vehicles are disclosed including an offset or recessed hopper section having at least one recessed side which accommodates a loading bin or bucket which is moveable between a lowered position and a raised dumping position. Followers attached to the bucket on each end are engaged in candy cane shaped guide channels situated at the front and rear of the hopper. The guide channels are angled away from the base of the hopper and curved into the top of the hopper to guide the bucket in an angled and arcuate path over the sidewall of the hopper which is built to accommodate the bucket. In some embodiments, a bin handler is built into the bucket or an automated arm is provided for dumping refuse cans or containers directly into the hopper. The refuse vehicles may have side-loading buckets on one or both sides of the vehicle and the vehicles may be single or multiple compartment vehicles. In another aspect of the invention, the vehicles include a removable body which is separable from the hopper section.
Abstract:
A device for lifting and loading materials employs a pick-up arm for engaging material at ground level and an associated lift arm assembly. The pick-up arm can be swung relative to the lift arm about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the ground to bring the pick-up arm into a close-in position in front of a cab and into an outreaching position. The pick-up arm is automatically moved into the outreaching position as the lift arm moves toward a ground level load position and is automatically moved into the close-in position as the lift arm moves toward the off-load level above ground to facilitate off-loading operations above ground. The pick-up arm is also automatically maintained in a desired vertical relationship, parallel to the ground, as the lift arm moves between the load level and a predetermined level above ground level. When moved closer toward the off-load position, the pick-up arm is automatically vertically tipped to facilitate off-loading operations. The lift assembly can be controlled by a single operator using a single control lever. The lift arm can also be pivoted between a position next to the cab and a second position angularly spaced to one side of the cab. This can also be controlled by the single operator using the single control lever.
Abstract:
A vehicle for picking up and transporting refuse includes a vehicle chassis; a driver's cab connected to the chassis; a movable collecting container positioned behind the driver's cab and having a fill opening at an end thereof disposed near the driver's cab; and a support connected to the vehicle chassis behind the driver's cab and being separate from the movable collecting container. The vehicle further includes a dumping mechanism for picking up at least one refuse container in front of a front end of the vehicle and moving the refuse container over the driver's cab for emptying the refuse container in the fill opening behind the driver's cab thereby defining a pickup position, a dumping trajectory, and an emptying position of the refuse container. The dumping mechanism includes a pivot bearing for a pair of pivot arms; a pair of pivot arms having first ends and second ends and pivotally connected to the pivot bearing at the first ends thereof; and a pick up and dumping device connected to the pivot arms. The pivot bearing for the pair of pivot arms is fastened to the support in an upper front region of the driver's cab.
Abstract:
A truck, trailer or other vehicle and a method of collecting recyclable materials are disclosed in which such materials are kept segregated in a container, box or otherwise near a home or an apartment, then the materials not originally placed in a container are so placed and then the container is lifted and moved to a position at which it is inverted and emptied of its materials, while still segregated, into respective compartments on the vehicle. The vehicle has a bed, a pair of outer side walls, and inner walls for defining a plurality of compartments extending longitudinally of the vehicle. Each compartment is adapted for receiving a specific recyclable material. Each compartment has a ram for forcing the materials out of the compartment through an access opening. The container is provided with front access openings to permit recyclable materials to be put into respective compartments of the container. A swingable top on the container opens by gravity when the container has been lifted and inverted and the compartments of the container are automatically aligned with the respective compartments in the vehicle.
Abstract:
A motor truck for use in collecting and processing solid waste material such as scrap tires. The truck includes a chassis including a cab; a body structure positioned on the chassis behind the cab and defining a storage chamber; a shredder mounted on top of the body structure forwardly of the storage chamber; a compactor positioned within the body structure beneath the shredder and forwardly of the storage chamber; and a conveyor system for conveying tires from a curbside location upwardly for discharge downwardly into the open upper end of the shredder. The shredded tires are discharged downwardly into the body structure rearwardly of the compactor, whereafter the compactor is actuated to stroke rearwardly and compress the tire shreds into the storage chamber. After the truck has visited a series of retail tire outlets and the storage chamber is full of tire shreds, the truck returns to a recycling center where a door at the rear of the storage chamber is opened and the compactor is utilized as an ejector to eject the tire shreds from the storage chamber. At the recycling center the tire shreds are processed to form a rubber crumb material and the rubber crumb material is combined with scrap plastic to form a rubber/plastic resin compound in pellet form.
Abstract:
An apparatus for collecting and transporting recyclable waste material which includes a body for receiving material mountable to a vehicle. The body has separate upper and lower material-receiving compartments. Two longitudinally-spaced loaded openings are at the top of the body. One opening is in continuous communication with only the lower compartment, and the second opening, positioned rearward of the first opening, is in continuous communication with only the upper compartment. Separate doors close the rear of each compartment; the second door, when closed, overlies and is spaced from the first door. A bucket, associated with the front of the body, can be raised, lowered and tipped, and has separate bins for receiving material. The bins are aligned with the loaded openings when the bucket is in the tipped, discharge position so that each bin can dump material into a corresponding compartment. Extendable and rectractable compactors are also employed for compacting and moving material within each of the two compartments.
Abstract:
A truck, trailer or other vehicle and a method of collecting recyclable materials are disclosed in which such materials are kept segregated in a container, box or otherwise near a home or an apartment, then the materials not originally placed in a container are so placed and then the container is lifted and moved to a position at which it is inverted and emptied of its materials, while still segregated, into respective compartments on the vehicle. The vehicle has a bed, a pair of outer side walls, and inner walls for defining a plurality of compartments extending longitudinally of the vehicle. Each compartment is adapted for receiving a specific recyclable material. Each compartment has a ram for forcing the materials out of the compartment through an access opening. The container is provided with front access openings to permit recyclable materials to be put into respective compartments of the container. A swingable top on the container opens by gravity when the container has been lifted and inverted and the compartments of the container are automatically aligned with the respective compartments in the vehicle.
Abstract:
There is disclosed a refuse container provided with a receiving pocket disposed near the upper edge of the container. The receiving pocket has an undercut portion and is formed by a section member located on and reinforcing the upper edge portions of the container and the undercut surface is complementary in shape to, and adapted to cooperate with, a holding of pick-up claw attached to the free end of a gripping arm of a tipping device of a motor-driven refuse collecting truck.