Container safety latch
AssigneeG & H Manufacturing, Ltd.
InventorHarold W. O'Daniel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for securing a refuse container to a tilt frame of a refuse hauling truck. The device comprising a latch assembly including at least two latch bars, pivotally mounted on the tilt frame for releasably engaging the container. The latch bars being pivotable between a container engaging position and a disengaged position. An actuator switch is used to activate an associated pneumatic system which pivots the latching bars to engage the container and prevent further movement of the container.
Claims12
A transport vehicle equipped to load, transport, and unload a refuse container having underside spaced-apart parallel rail members and perpendicularly arranged channel members, the vehicle comprising:
- a main vehicle chassis;
- a tilt frame pivotally mounted on the main vehicle chassis;
- pivot means operatively connected between the main vehicle chassis and the tilt frame for pivoting the tilt frame and its associated container about a pivot point located on the main vehicle chassis;
- a latch assembly pivotally mounted on the chassis for releasably engaging the container, the latch assembly being pivotable between a container engaging position and a disengaged position;
- a pneumatic system located on the vehicle in fluid communication with the latch assembly for pivoting the latch assembly between the engaged and disengaged positions;
- and
- wherein at least a first and second latch bar are included in the latch assembly, the latch bars being orientated such that if the first latch bar is obstructed by a channel member during movement of the latch bar between the container disengaging position and the container engaged position, the second latch bar is unobstructed and can can engage the container and prevent further movement of the container.
A method for securing a refuse container to a container transport vehicle equipped to load, transport, and unload refuse containers where the containers have underside spaced-apart parallel rail members and perpendicularly arranged channel members, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a main vehicle chassis with a tilt frame pivotally mounted on the main vehicle chassis;
- operatively connecting pivot means between the main vehicle chassis and the tilt frame for pivoting the tilt frame and its associated container about a pivot point located on the main vehicle chassis;
- pivotally mounting a latch assembly including at least two latch bars on the chassis for releasably engaging the container, the latch bars being pivotable between a container engaging position and a disengaged position;
- and
- wherein the latch bars are orientated such that if one latch bar is obstructed by a channel member during movement of the latch bar between the container disengaging position and a container engaged position, a remaining, unobstructed latch bar can engage the container and prevent further movement of the container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.