Dual track assembly for refuse collection equipment

A dual track handling assembly for refuse collection equipment having a hopper for receiving refuse, said hopper being defined in part by a first sidewall and an oppositely disposed second sidewall, said assembly comprising:

• (a) a first lower track and a second lower track, with each lower track having a first end, a second end and a longitudinal axis, said first lower track being mounted on the first sidewall of the hopper and said second lower track being mounted on the second sidewall of the hopper so that the longitudinal axis of the first lower track is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second lower track;
• (b) a first upper track and a second upper track, with each upper track having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis, said first upper track being mounted on the first sidewall of the hopper and said second upper track being mounted on the second sidewall of the hopper so that the longitudinal axis of the first upper track is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second upper track;
• wherein the longitudinal axes of the first and second lower tracks define a plane that is substantially parallel to a plane defined by the longitudinal axes of the first and second upper tracks;
• (c) a first lower track shoe which is adapted to be received in the first lower track and to move between the first end and the second end of the first lower track, and a second lower track shoe which is adapted to be received in the second lower track and to move between the first end and the second end of the second lower track;
• (d) a first upper track shoe which is adapted to be received in the first upper track and to move between the first end and the second end of the first upper track, and a second upper track shoe which is adapted to be received in the second upper track and to move between the first end and the second end of the second upper track;
• (e) a first carrier having a lower track end that is attached to the first lower track shoe, an upper track end that is attached to the first upper track shoe, and a lower side that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first lower track, said carrier being adapted to maintain a fixed spaced relationship between the first upper track shoe and the first lower track shoe as the shoes move in their respective tracks;
• (f) a second carrier having a lower track end that is attached to the second lower track shoe, an upper track end that is attached to the second upper track shoe, and a lower side that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the second lower track, said carrier being adapted to maintain a fixed spaced relationship between the second upper track shoe and the second lower track shoe as the shoes move in their respective tracks;
• (g) a blade that is pivotally connected to the carriers and adapted to pivot between an open position and a closed position;
• (h) a packer actuator that is adapted to move the upper track shoes between the first and second ends of their respective upper tracks;
• (i) a blade actuator that is connected to the blade and adapted to pivot the blade between the open position and the closed position;
• (j) a deflector that is mounted between the sidewalls of the hopper so as to be substantially parallel to the plane defined by the longitudinal axes of the first and second lower tracks;
• wherein the lower side of each carrier is adapted to substantially bear against at least a portion of the deflector when the lower track shoe that is attached to the lower track end moves from the first end of the lower track within which said lower track shoe is received to the second end of said lower track.