US 5,890,865 A · Automated low profile refuse vehicle

Abstract

An automated device for lifting and loading materials employs a pick-up arm for engaging material at ground level and an associated, inverted U-shaped lift arm. The pick-up arm can be swung relative to the lift arm about a vertical axis to bring the pick-up arm into a close-in position in front of a cab and into an outreaching position. The pick-up arm is automatically moved into the outreaching position as the lift arm moves toward a ground-level load position and is automatically moved into the close-in position as the lift arm moves toward the off-load level above ground to facilitate off-loading operations above ground. When moved closer toward the off-load position, the pick-up arm is automatically vertically tipped to facilitate off-loading operations. During off-loading operations, the vertical height of the container and lift arm assembly is minimized through the use of a dump link and associated four-bar linkage. The lift arm can also be pivoted between positions adjacent the cab and positions angularly spaced to one side of the cab. The lift assembly and pick-up arm operations can be controlled by a single operator seated within an unmodified (full) cab using a single control lever.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A refuse collection vehicle for collecting refuse from one or more collection containers, comprising:

a cab and a storage container disposed rearwardly of the cab, the storage container having an inlet opening located at a front end of the storage container;
a lift arm assembly mounted at a first end portion located below a top portion of the cab and adapted to engage the collection container adjacent a second end portion;
a powered actuator for rotating the lift arm assembly about a first horizontal axis in a first rotational direction to move the lift arm assembly upwardly and rearwardly relative to the storage container between a load position at which the collection container is located near ground level, and an off-load position, in which the collection container is located adjacent the inlet opening;
wherein the lift arm assembly includes a low profile lift arm mechanism operatively associated with the lift arm assembly for rotating a portion of the lift arm assembly about at least a second horizontal axis, spaced from the first horizontal axis, in a rotational direction opposite that of the first rotational direction, and thereby adapted to reduce the effective length of the lift arm assembly as between the load and off-load positions.

1 more element

A method for employing a refuse collection vehicle having a cab and a storage container with an inlet opening positioned rearward of the cab, to engage a refuse collection container at a remote location laterally spaced from the vehicle, and for dumping the container contents and returning the collection container to its remote location, comprising the steps of:

a. providing a lift arm assembly having a first end pivotally mounted at a location below a top portion of the cab, and having a second end extending forward of the cab and having a mechanism associated with the second end of the lift arm assembly for engaging the collection container;
b. moving the lift arm assembly to permit engagement of the container at the remote location laterally spaced from the vehicle;
c. thereafter moving the lift arm assembly to transport the container to a location generally laterally in-line with the vehicle;
d. providing a powered actuator for rotating the lift arm assembly about a first horizontal axis in a first rotational direction to move the lift arm assembly upwardly and rearwardly relative to the storage container between a load position at which the collection container is located at the remote location, and an off-load position in which the collection container is located adjacent the inlet opening;
e. providing a low profile lift arm mechanism operatively associated with the lift arm assembly for rotating a portion of the lift arm assembly about at least a second horizontal axis, spaced from the first horizontal axis, in a rotational defection opposite that of the first rotational direction;
and
f. using the low profile lift arm mechanism to transport the collection container through a generally arcuate path of travel in which the collection container moves from the remote location to a position over the cab, and then to a position adjacent the inlet opening, with the effective length of the lift arm assembly decreasing as between the load and off-load positions.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automated low profile refuse vehicle

Life of this patent

Automated low profile refuse vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15