Boomless automated side loader for refuse collection vehicle having lift arm with non-extendable upper end

An apparatus for mounting on the side of a vehicle for collecting refuse from containers positioned along a roadside, comprising:

• a lift arm having a curved upper portion;
• at least one support rail;
• a frame element configured to receive and guide the support rail for horizontal extension and retraction along a transverse direction;
• a first pivotal connection between an outer end of the support rail and the lift arm located between an upper end of the lift arm and a lower end of the lift arm;
• a power mechanism connected between the vehicle and the lift arm to extend and retract the lift arm;
• a second pivotal connection between the curved upper portion of the lift arm and the vehicle body adjacent a hopper section thereof so that the upper end of the lift arm does not move away from the vehicle body when the support rail is extended and the lower end of the lift arm is moved adjacent a refuse container positioned along a roadside;
• a container gripping mechanism;
• a carriage supporting the container gripping mechanism and capable of translational movement between the lower end of the lift arm and a dump position along the curved upper portion of the lift arm;
• and
• a motor drive mechanism that moves the carriage between the lower end of the lift arm and the dump position along the curved upper portion of the lift arm.

A method of emptying the contents of a refuse container positioned along a roadside, comprising the steps of:

• extending the lower end of a lift arm outwardly from the side of a refuse collection vehicle by sliding a horizontal support rail connected between the lift arm and the vehicle outwardly from the vehicle;
• maintaining a pivotal connection between a curved upper portion of the lift arm and a refuse collection body on the vehicle during the extension of a lower end of the lift arm away from the vehicle;
• engaging a refuse container with a gripping mechanism mounted to a carriage reciprocable along the length of the lift arm;
• and
• moving the carriage upwardly along the lift arm to the curved portion thereof in order to invert the refuse container and cause the contents thereof to be emptied into the refuse collection body;
• whereby the contents of the refuse container will be emptied at a substantially uniform dump position relative to the refuse collection body regardless of the amount of extension of the lower end of the lift arm away from the vehicle.