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US 12,729,057 B2Granted
Bi-stable band actuator
AssigneeThe Heil Co.
InventorsMark Fraas, Phillip Kendrick
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A front-loading refuse vehicle includes: a chassis; a cab coupled to a portion of the chassis, a hopper coupled to the chassis of the cab, and an arm assembly configured to move a refuse container from a location on one side of the refuse collection vehicle. The arm assembly includes a refuse container holder and a boom configured to move the refuse container holder relative to the chassis between an extended position and a retracted position. The boom includes a band including a bistable material reversibly configurable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration.
Claims20
A refuse collection vehicle comprising:
- a chassis;
- a cab coupled to a first portion of the chassis;
- a hopper coupled to a second portion of the chassis;
- and
- an arm assembly configured to move a refuse container from a location on one side of the refuse collection vehicle, the arm assembly comprising a refuse container holder and a boom configured to move the refuse container holder relative to the chassis between an extended position and a retracted position, the boom comprising:
- a band comprising a bistable material reversibly configurable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein at least a portion of the band is in the deployed configuration when the refuse container holder is moved to the extended position by the boom;
- and
- one or more drive rollers configured to extend and retract the band relative to the refuse collection vehicle, thereby causing the band to change from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration;
- wherein the arm assembly comprises a motor operatively coupled to the one or more drive rollers, the motor configured to drive the one or more drive rollers, wherein the motor is an electric motor or a hydraulic motor;
- and
- wherein the motor is operatively coupled and configured to drive a drive box rotatably mounted within the arm assembly, the drive box configured to windably receive the band.
8 more elements
An arm assembly for a refuse collection vehicle, the arm assembly comprising:
- a refuse container holder;
- a boom configured to move the refuse container holder relative to the refuse collection vehicle between an extended position and a retracted position, the boom comprising:
- a band comprising a bistable material reversibly configurable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein at least a portion of the band is in the deployed configuration when the refuse container holder is moved to the extended position by the boom;
- and
- one or more drive rollers configured to extend and retract the band relative to the refuse collection vehicle, thereby causing the band to change from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration;
- and
- a motor operatively coupled to the one or more drive rollers, the motor configured to drive the one or more drive rollers, wherein the motor is an electric motor or a hydraulic motor;
- wherein the motor is operatively coupled and configured to drive a drive box rotatably mounted within the arm assembly, the drive box configured to windably receive the band.
5 more elements
An arm assembly for a refuse collection vehicle, the arm assembly comprising:
- a refuse container holder;
- a boom configured to move the refuse container holder relative to the refuse collection vehicle between an extended position and a retracted position, the boom comprising:
- a band comprising a bistable material reversibly configurable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein at least a portion of the band is in the deployed configuration when the refuse container holder is moved to the extended position by the boom;
- and
- one or more drive rollers configured to linearly extend and retract the band relative to the refuse collection vehicle, thereby causing the band to change from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration;
- and
- a motor operatively coupled to the one or more drive rollers, the motor configured to drive the one or more drive rollers, wherein the motor is an electric motor or a hydraulic motor;
- wherein the motor is operatively coupled and configured to drive a drive box rotatably mounted within the arm assembly, the drive box configured to windably receive the band.
5 more elements
An arm assembly for a refuse collection vehicle, the arm assembly comprising:
- a refuse container holder;
- a boom configured to move the refuse container holder relative to the refuse collection vehicle between an extended position and a retracted position, the boom comprising:
- a band comprising a bistable material reversibly configurable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration, wherein at least a portion of the band is in the deployed configuration when the refuse container holder is moved to the extended position by the boom;
- one or more guide rollers configured to contact and maintain the band in the deployed configuration;
- and
- one or more drive rollers configured to extend and retract the band relative to the refuse collection vehicle, thereby causing the band to change from the stowed configuration to the deployed configuration;
- and
- a motor operatively coupled to the one or more drive rollers, the motor configured to drive the one or more drive rollers, wherein the motor is an electric motor or a hydraulic motor;
- wherein the motor is operatively coupled and configured to drive a drive box rotatably mounted within the arm assembly, the drive box configured to windably receive the band.
6 more elements
A band actuator, comprising:
- a band comprising a bistable material reversibly configurable between a coiled configuration and an uncoiled configuration, the band having a length and a width, wherein the band,
- while in the coiled configuration, is in a flattened form along the width, and
- while in the uncoiled configuration, is in a curved form along the width;
- a drive box rotatably mounted within the band actuator, the drive box configured to windably receive the band;
- one or more drive rollers configured to linearly extend and retract the band relative to the drive box, thereby causing the band to change from the coiled configuration to the uncoiled configuration;
- and
- one or more guide rollers configured to contact and maintain the band in the curved form along the width while in the uncoiled configuration;
- a motor operatively coupled to the one or more drive rollers, the motor configured to drive the one or more drive rollers, wherein the motor is an electric motor or a hydraulic motor;
- wherein the motor is operatively coupled and configured to drive the drive box rotatably mounted within the band actuator.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.