Front load fork assembly for side load or rear load containers

Apparatus to collect waste materials comprising

• a collection body having a load opening at a top thereof,
• the collection body including a pair of main lift arms pivotable thereon,
• each main lift arm including a free end,
• the free end of each main lift arm movable between a lowered position forward of the collection body and a raised position adjacent the load opening,
• a fork assembly removably mounted to the free ends of the main lift arms,
• the fork assembly comprising an elongate frame,
• the frame supporting a first fork,
• the first fork hinged at a hinge end thereof to the elongate frame,
• the first fork movable from an open position generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the frame to a folded position generally parallel to and adjacent the frame,
• the first fork including a pair of spaced apart refuse container engaging elements thereon,
• the refuse container engaging elements of the first fork comprising hook engaging members;
• a second fork supported on the frame and spaced on the frame apart from the first fork,
• the second fork hinged at a hinge end thereof to the elongate frame,
• each of the first fork and the second fork independently movable from an open position generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the frame to a folded position generally parallel to and adjacent the frame,
• the second fork including a pair of spaced apart trunnion receiving pockets thereon,
• wherein trunnion rods extending from a front wall of a real end load container may be received in the trunnion receiving pockets of the at least one of the first fork and the second fork;
• an elongate rail member is mounted to the frame, the elongate rail member generally parallel to the frame,
• a movable member selectively slidable along the rail member,
• the first fork is a curbside fork,
• the second fork is a street side fork,
• the street side fork hinged to the movable member.

Adapter apparatus for a front loading commodity collection body having a pair of lift arms movable from a lowered position forward of the collection body to a raised position adjacent a load opening at a top of the collection body, comprising

• an elongate frame extending between free ends of the lift arms,
• a first fork member supported on the frame,
• the first fork member pivotal on the frame between a position perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the frame to a folded position alongside the frame and substantially parallel thereto,
• the first fork member including refuse container engaging members thereon,
• the container engaging members of the first fork member spaced apart along the first fork member,
• a second fork member supported on the frame and spaced apart from the first fork member,
• the second fork member selectively pivotal from a first position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the frame and a second position alongside the frame and substantially parallel thereto;
• the second fork member includes refuse container engaging members thereon,
• the container engaging members of the second fork member spaced apart along the second fork member,
• the container engaging members of the second fork member adapted to engage a commercial refuse container having trunnion rods extending from opposing ends thereof,
• the container engaging members of the first fork member adapted to engage a commercial refuse container having hooks on a first wall thereof;
• the container engaging members of the second fork member are selectively movable along the second fork member.

In a commodity collection body having lift arms movable from a lowered position forward of the commodity collection body to a raised position above a load opening of the commodity collection body, each of the lift arms having a fork lift cylinder attached therealong, an improvement comprising

• a fork assembly mounted to the lift arms,
• an elongate main frame extending between the lift arms,
• the main frame supporting a first fork selectively pivotable about a first axle supported on the main frame,
• the first axle having a longitudinal axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the frame,
• the first fork including trunnion pockets on a street side thereof,
• the trunnion pockets adapted to selectively receive trunnion rods extending from a first side of a trunnion equipped refuse container,
• at least one lock down arm pivotable between an open position and a closed position,
• the at least one lock down arm touchingly engaging a top edge of the trunnion equipped refuse container,
• wherein the lift arms may selectively lift and upend the trunnion equipped refuse container over the load opening of the commodity collection body;
• an extendible member is mounted to the main frame,
• the extendible member substantially parallel to the main frame and selectively moveable therealong,
• the first fork supported on the extendible member,
• the first axle supported by the extendible member,
• a second fork is supported on the main frame and is pivotable thereon about a second axle,
• the second fork spaced apart from the first fork,
• the second axle having a longitudinal axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the extendible member.

In a commodity collection body having lift arms movable from a lowered position forward of the commodity collection body to a raised position above a load opening of the commodity collection body, each of the lift arms having a fork lift cylinder attached therealong, an improvement comprising

• a fork assembly mounted to the lift arms,
• an elongate main frame extending between the lift arms,
• the main frame supporting a first fork selectively pivotable about a first axle supported on the main frame,
• the first axle having a longitudinal axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the frame,
• the first fork including trunnion pockets on a street side thereof,
• the trunnion pockets adapted to selectively receive trunnion rods extending from a first side of a trunnion equipped refuse container,
• at least one lock down arm pivotable between an open position and a closed position,
• the at least one lock down arm touchingly engaging a top edge of the trunnion equipped refuse container,
• wherein the lift arms may selectively lift and upend the trunnion equipped refuse container over the load opening of the commodity collection body;
• a second fork is supported on the main frame and is pivotable about a second axle,
• the second fork spaced apart from the first fork,
• the second axle having a longitudinal axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of the frame;
• an elongate rail is mounted to the main frame,
• the elongate rail substantially parallel to the main frame,
• a sleeve selectively slidable along the elongate rail in a generally horizontal direction,
• the first fork supported on the sleeve,
• the first axle supported on the sleeve.