Apparatus for dumping open-topped trash containers

Apparatus for dumping an open-topped container having outwardly extending co-axial trunnions at its front upper corner, said apparatus comprising, in combination

• a. a pair of vertical, horizontally spaced, support elements that are stationary relative to the container being dumped,
• b. a pair of operating mechanisms, one of said mechanisms being mounted on and supported on each of said support elements, said mechanisms being identical except for their being right and left hand, respectively, each of said mechanisms comprising,
• 1. a generally vertically extending main lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on the associated one of said support elements for backward and upward angular movement of its lower end,
• 2. an upper trunnion jaw fixedly mounted on said main lever,
• 3. a lower, co-operating trunnion jaw mounted on said main lever for vertical sliding movement relative thereto,
• 4. hydraulic cylinder means pivotally connected at its upper end to the associated one of said support elements,
• 5. a vertically extending slot in said main lever, the center line of said slot being spaced backwardly from the pivot line for said main lever, and
• 6. a horizontal connecting pin mounted on the lower end of said hydraulic cylinder means and extending through said slot and into said lower trunnion jaw, and
• c. a cross member connected to the lower ends of said main lever for engaging the front wall of a container along a line spaced below the container trunnion and below the pivot line for said main levers.

In a rear loader refuse truck having a loading hopper with side wall structures defining an opening into said hopper, an apparatus for dumping refuse from open-topped containers having outwardly-extending, co-axial trunnions at their upper front corners, said apparatus consisting of

• a. a left side mechanism mounted on the rear of the left side one of said structures,
• b. a right side mechanism mounted on the rear of the right side one of said structures, said mechanism otherwise being identical and each comprising,
• 1. a main lever pivotally mounted on said structure for swinging movement rearwardly and upwardly between a generally vertical rest position with the lower end thereof below the pivot point line and an upper position,
• 2. an upper trunnion jaw fixedly mounted on said main lever at a level above the level of container trunnions,
• 3. a lower trunnion jaw mounted on said main lever for vertical sliding movement relative thereto between a rest position at a level below the level of container trunnions and a upper position co-acting with said upper jaw for grasping a container trunnion between said jaws,
• 4. a slot in said main lever, at least the upper end thereof being spaced rearwardly from the pivot line for said lever when said lever is at rest position, the length of said slot in a vertical direction being equal to the extent of vertical movement of said lower jaw relative to said main lever,
• 5. an hydraulic cylinder pivotally mounted at its upper end on said structure,
• 6. a cylinder rod extending downwardly from said cylinder,
• 7. a pin on the lower end of said rod, said pin extending through the slot in said main lever and into said lower jaw, and
• c. a cross bar connected to and between the lower ends of said main levers.