Shield for three compartment rear load packer

A refuse truck body having a main compartment and at least one side compartment, with each compartment having an elongated rear opening extending obliquely from a roof edge to a floor edge at a rear of the truck body, and with a congruent elongated shield for the opening of each side compartment, wherein each shield comprises:

• a rigid upper segment having a top end and an opposite bottom end, wherein the top end is hinged at the edge of the roof with a first pivot joint whereby the upper segment can angulate, about a central axis of the first pivot joint, toward and away from the opening, and wherein the central axis of the first pivot joint is fixed relative to the edge of the roof when the upper segment angulates toward and away from the opening;
• a rigid lower segment that is hinged to the upper segment, having a top end confronting the bottom end of the upper segment as a second pivot joint, and extending to a bottom end at the edge of the floor;
• a source of power for selectively pivoting the second joint between at least two positions including:
• a first position having a first angle of articulation corresponding to a first mode of operation whereby the upper segment covers an upper region of the side compartment opening and the lower segment covers a lower region of the side compartment opening such that the shield covers the entire opening of the side compartment;
• and
• a second position having a second angle of articulation corresponding to a second mode of operation whereby the upper segment covers the upper region of the side compartment opening and the bottom end of the lower segment is positioned above the edge of the floor, such that refuse can be swept over the edge of the floor into the compartment through the lower region of the side compartment opening, beneath the lower segment;
• wherein a sweep blade of the refuse truck is proximate the rigid lower segment, wherein the sweep blade comprises a section corresponding to the side compartment, wherein the sweep blade is configured to rotate towards the opening of the side compartment, and wherein the section of the sweep blade is configured to move through a collection sump associated with the side compartment.