Refuse vehicle dumping system

A method of dumping refuse from a vehicle of the type having a container body with a rear tailgate, lifting means for moving the tailgate between a closed position and an open position, a reciprocating compaction blade mounted within the container body, and a latch for latching and unlatching the tailgate, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) manually triggering control means to generate a commencement signal;
• (b) relaying the commencement signal from the control means to latch actuation means for actuating the latch from a latched position to an unlatched position;
• (c) relaying a lifting signal from the control means to the lifting means to actuate the lifting of the tailgate;
• (d) generating a tailgate open signal from a tailgate position sensor indicating a selected position of the tailgate, and relaying the tailgate open signal to the control means;
• and
• (e) actuating the compaction blade in response to the control means receiving the tailgate open signal.

A refuse vehicle comprising:

• a container body;
• a rear tailgate pivotally mounted to said body;
• a latch configured to releasably hold said tailgate against said body;
• tailgate actuation means for movement of said tailgate between a closed position and an open position;
• a compaction blade mounted within the container body;
• compaction blade actuation means for reciprocal movement of said compaction blade between a retracted position and an extended position;
• tailgate control means for controlling the actuation of said tailgate actuation means;
• a tailgate position sensor for sensing a selected position of said tailgate and generating a tailgate position signal;
• and
• central control means for controlling the actuation of said compaction blade actuation means in response to receiving a tailgate position signal from said tailgate position sensor.