Refuse collection vehicle having slide and sweep mechanism with bolt-in bushings
AssigneeCon-Tech Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsGrant McNeilus, Brian Meldahl
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Throughout several portions of a refuse collection system, coupling between hydraulic cylinders to related mechanical components are achieved using bolt-in bushings. The bolt-in bushings allow for improved efficiency in the manufacturing process and allow for repairs to be easily carried out by having a cylindrical opening configured to receive an attachment pin and a main body that is configured to be inserted into openings within portions of related mechanical components. The main body has a flange that will support connection holes, thereby allowing for attachment to the operating components of the refuse collection vehicle.
Claims11
A packing system for use in a refuse truck, comprising:
- a framework forming an enclosed refuse containing compartment having a receiving opening;
- a collection mechanism hingeably coupled to the framework and positioned adjacent the receiving opening, the collection mechanism further having a collection hopper and a slide and sweep system movable along a predetermined path so as to move refuse from the collection hopper into the containing compartment;
- a plurality of hydraulic actuators configured to cause movement of the slide and sweep mechanism along the predetermined path;
- a plurality of removable bushings coupled to the packing element at predetermined locations, wherein each removable bushing comprises a main body defining a cylindrical opening extending along a central axis from a first end surface to a second end surface, the cylindrical opening configured to receive a coupling pin, wherein the main body of each bushing further has a flange at the first end configured so that the main body has width at the first end which is larger than the width at the second end, with the flange further having a facing surface on an inner side thereof which is substantially perpendicular to the central axis and facing the second end, the flange further supporting a plurality of attachment holes;
- and
- a plurality of connectors coupled to the plurality of removable bushings, thereby coupling the bushings to the packing element;
- wherein portions of the collection mechanism have a plurality of recesses sized and configured to receive the plurality of bushings and wherein the coupling connectors are inserted into the attachment holes to achieve coupling and wherein the plurality of bushings are used to achieve coupling between the hydraulic actuators and the collection mechanism.
An actuator system for generating movement of a first component with respect to a second component, the actuator system comprising:
- a hydraulic cylinder having a main body coupled to the first component via a first coupling system and a movable piston coupled to the second component via a second coupling system, wherein the first coupling system and the second coupling system comprise:
- a coupling pin;
- a coupling ring configured to receive the coupling pin;
- a plurality of bolt-in bushings also configured to receive the coupling pin, with each bolt-in bushing comprising a main body defining a cylindrical opening extending along a central axis from a first end surface to a second end surface, the cylindrical opening configured to receive the coupling pin, wherein the main body of each bushing further has a flange at the first end configured so that the main body has width at the first end which is larger than the width at the second end, with the flange further having a facing surface on an inner side thereof which is substantially perpendicular to the central axis and facing the second end, the flange further supporting a plurality of attachment holes;
- and
- a plurality of connectors configured to interact with the attachment holes in the plurality of bolt-in bushing so as to provide connections to the first component and the second component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.