Refuse packer assembly

A platen packer assembly comprising:

• a mounting shaft with a substantially vertical axis of rotation;
• a platen having a first end affixed to the shaft for rotation of the platen about the vertical axis, the platen having at least one refuse contacting major surface extending horizontally from the first end, the at least one refuse contacting major surface being slanted upwardly at an angle to the horizontal to provide an upward packing force component against refuse being packed;
• a first bearing is affixed to a first end of the mounting shaft and a second bearing is affixed to a second opposed end of the mounting shaft for rotation of the mounting shaft about the vertical axis of rotation;
• and
• wherein the second bearing is held in a removable bearing mount, the removable bearing mount being removable to allow the mounting shaft and platen to be disengaged as a unit.

A platen packer assembly mounted in a refuse collection truck comprising:

• a refuse collection truck having a semi-cylindrical hopper constructed to receive collected refuse and an enclosed body in communication with the hopper for receiving refuse from the hopper, the hopper and enclosed body sharing a flat floor, and the hopper having a vertical axis and a horizontal radius;
• a mounting shaft with a substantially vertical axis of rotation, the mounting shaft extending within the hopper approximately coaxial with the vertical axis of the hopper;
• and
• a platen having a first end affixed to the mounting shaft for rotation of the platen about the vertical axis of rotation of between ninety degrees and one hundred and ten degrees in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction, the platen having at least one refuse contacting major surface extending horizontally from the first end less than the radius of the hopper, the at least one refuse contacting major surface being slanted upwardly at an angle to the horizontal to provide an upward packing force component against refuse being packed;
• connecting links and hydraulic pistons are coupled to the platen for rotation in both the clockwise and the counterclockwise directions;
• and
• a portion of the floor of the hopper is removable, the mounting shaft extends through the removable portion of the floor, and the connecting links and hydraulic pistons are positioned below the removable floor portion.

A platen packer assembly mounted in a refuse collection truck comprising:

• a refuse collection truck having a semi-cylindrical hopper constructed to receive collected refuse and an enclosed body in communication with the hopper for receiving refuse from the hopper, the hopper and enclosed body sharing a flat floor, and the hopper having a vertical axis and a horizontal radius;
• a mounting shaft with a substantially vertical axis of rotation, the mounting shaft extending within the hopper approximately coaxial with the vertical axis of the hopper;
• a platen having a first end affixed to the mounting shaft for rotation of the platen about the vertical axis of rotation, the platen having at least one refuse contacting major surface extending horizontally from the first end less than the radius of the hopper, the at least one refuse contacting major surface being slanted upwardly at an angle to the horizontal to provide an upward packing force component against refuse being packed;
• the platen includes a wedge shaped vertical cross-section with two opposed refuse contacting major surfaces extending horizontally from the first end, each of the two opposed refuse contacting major surfaces being slanted upwardly at an angle to the horizontal to provide an upward packing force component.

A platen packer assembly mounted in a refuse collection truck comprising:

• a refuse collection truck having a semi-cylindrical hopper constructed to receive collected refuse and an enclosed body in communication with the hopper for receiving refuse from the hopper, the hopper and enclosed body sharing a flat floor, and the hopper having a vertical axis and a horizontal radius;
• a mounting shaft with a substantially vertical axis of rotation, the mounting shaft extending within the hopper approximately coaxial with the vertical axis of the hopper;
• a platen having a first end affixed to the mounting shaft for rotation of the platen about the vertical axis of rotation, the platen having at least one refuse contacting major surface extending horizontally from the first end less than the radius of the hopper, the at least one refuse contacting major surface being slanted upwardly at an angle to the horizontal to provide an upward packing force component against refuse being packed;
• a first bearing is affixed to a first end of the mounting shaft and a second bearing is affixed to a second opposed end of the mounting shaft for rotation of the mounting shaft about the vertical axis of rotation;
• and
• the second bearing is held in a removable bearing mount, the removable bearing mount being removable to allow the mounting shaft and platen to be disengaged as a unit.

A platen packer assembly mounted in a refuse collection truck comprising:

• a refuse collection truck having a semi-cylindrical hopper constructed to receive collected refuse and an enclosed body in communication with the hopper for receiving refuse from the hopper, the hopper and enclosed body sharing a flat floor, and the hopper having a vertical axis and a horizontal radius;
• a removable portion of the floor in the hopper;
• a mounting shaft with a substantially vertical axis of rotation, the mounting shaft extending within the hopper approximately coaxial with the vertical axis of the hopper and having a lower end below the removable portion of the floor;
• and
• a platen having a first end affixed to the mounting shaft for rotation of the platen about the vertical axis of rotation, the platen having at least one refuse contacting major surface extending horizontally from the first end less than the radius of the hopper;
• a first bearing affixed to the lower end of the mounting shaft and a second bearing affixed to an upper opposed end of the mounting shaft for rotation of the mounting shaft about the vertical axis of rotation;
• the lower end of the mounting shaft including a tapered portion and a locking wedge removably affixing the tapered portion to a rotateable portion of the first bearing affixed to the lower end of the mounting shaft, the second bearing being held in a removable bearing mount, and the removable bearing mount being removable to allow the mounting shaft and platen to be disengaged as a unit;
• and
• connecting links and hydraulic pistons coupled to the platen for rotation of the platen in both a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction, the connecting links being positioned below the removable portion of the floor in the hopper.