A pair of elongate, segmented gripping members are carried by the lifting member of a refuse collection vehicle. Each of the gripping members includes an inner arm movably carried by the lifting member and an outer arm movably extending from the inner arm. The gripping members are movable between a retracted position in which the inner arms extend in generally opposite directions, fore and aft along the side of the vehicle, and an extended position in which the inner arms extend in generally the same direction laterally outward from the vehicle. Each outer arm is inwardly movable relative the respective inner arm to draw a container into the embrace of the gripping members. A pair of elongate flexible members engage the container to supplement the grip of the gripping members.

Gripping apparatus for omnifarious containers

Vehicle mounted container handling devices including a rotating swivel mount and an articulated arm connected to the swivel mount are disclosed. The swivel mount includes a housing operable to rotate about a shaft in a first plane. The articulated arm is attached at one end to the housing and disposed to pivot in a second plane which intersects the first plane. A grasping device is pivotally connected to the free end of the articulated arm for pivoting in the second plane. In operation, with the grasping device opened, the articulated arm is extended to reach out toward a container of interest. The swivel mount is operated to pivot the articulated arm as required for the grasping device to engage the container. The articulated arm is operated further to lift and dump the container in the vehicle above the swivel mount. The grasping device includes arms pivotally connected to a support member and moved by actuators pivotally connected between the arms and the support member.

Swivel mounted container holding device

A loading device mounted to a collection vehicle is disclosed. The loading device may comprise several embodiments for scooping a soft-sided object through either a horizontal or vertical plane. The loading device is attached to a mechanized arm for compound angular displacement and operable between a stowed, extended, lift, and dump positions. A swivel mount interconnects the mechanized arm to the collection vehicle and further compounds the angular displacement and operating positions of the loading device.

Clamshell basket loader

A method and apparatus are described for fabricating an exposed differential pressure sensor ( 30 ) which protects interior electrical components ( 37 ) formed on a topside surface of a differential pressure sensor transducer die ( 31 ) from corrosive particles using a molding compound ( 39 ), but which vents both sides of a piezoresistive transducer sensor diaphragm ( 33 ) through a first vent hole ( 42 ) formed in an exposed die flag ( 36 ) and a second vent hole ( 38 ) formed in an exposed cap structure ( 33 ), enabling the sensor diaphragm ( 33 ) to sense differential pressure variations directly or indirectly through a protective gel.

Molded Differential PRT Pressure Sensor

A multi-compartment refuse and/or collection vehicle having an automated container handling mechanism that may automatically lift and dump a container into a preselected corresponding charging hopper of the vehicle. A microprocessor controls the extension, lift and lateral position of the container handling mechanism and analyzes the output voltage of potentiometers coupled to the container handling mechanism to thereby coordinate actuation of the container handling mechanism and smoothly pick up the container from the curbside, dump the container into the preselected corresponding charging hopper, and return the container to the same position on the curbside but above the ground a predetermined distance.

Auto cycle swivel mounted container handling system

The bin grabbing nipper (22) of a refuse loader arm is held at a constant angle to limb (15) by a parallelogram linkage having pivots (26, 17, 19, 25). Thus, pivotting of limb (15) leads directly to inversion of the raised bin and no separate operation of a special bin tilting ram is required to bring a bin to dumping position. The nipper consists of two opposed, jointed fingers which are separately pivotted to a wrist member (21). All finger joints and wrist joints of the nipper are pivotted by separate hydraulic cylinders supplied by a common source. By sensing back-pressure in each cylinder they can be made to exert equal force. Pivotting at limb joints (17) and (19) is by opposed hydraulic cylinders acting on a rack meshing with a gear wheel. Both these joints may be controlled by a single joystick.

Refuse loader arm

A loader arm assembly (10) adapted for connection to a mobile container (14), the loader arm assembly (10) comprising a reach mechanism (11, 20, 23) operably connected to a lift mechanism (27, 31) and further adapted to accept a container retaining mechanism (32) whereby a refuse container (33) can be held by the container retaining mechanism (32), lifted by the lift mechanism, retracted towards the mobile container (14) by the reach mechanism and then the contents thereof dumped into the mobile refuse container by further operation of the lift mechanism. The assembly (10) includes systems for maintaining the level and orientation of the refuse container during rearch and lift operations.

Loader arm assembly

A bin unloader (10) for receiving and unloading a bin (12) has an enclosure (11) closed by a door (13). The bin (12) is positioned within the enclosure (11) and engaged by a dump mechanism (14) which includes a lifting member (15), a pivotable arm (16) and an actuator (17). Actuation of the actuator (17) causes the bin (12) to be lifted and rotated whereupon the lid (21) is opened so that the contents of the bin can fall under their own weight into storage container (22).

Bin unloader and bin dump mechanism

A refuse packer includes a paddle (14) which oscillates horizontally about axis (19) through about 200° to sweep refuse into a storage chamber of a vehicle (not shown). The paddle has an actuating assembly (26) supported by a single housing (27) secured to a vehicle chassis. The actuating assembly has a drive shaft with a hexagonal end clamped in a hexagonal opening (21) of the paddle. The drive shaft also has a pinion engaged by a pair of opposed toothed racks each end of each which slides in hydraulic cylinders (35, 36, 37, 38) which act to oscillate the shaft and paddle. A pair of hydraulic resistance cylinders (40 is shown) oppose side loads set up by the engagement of the racks with the pinion. In former arrangements the paddle was coupled to a crank plate moved by hydraulic rams which swung as they reciprocated. This led to uneven torque on the paddle and a tendency to stall midstroke, whereas the present drive provides even torque, throughout the oscillations.

Refuse packer assembly

An actuator (10) for rotating a shaft (11) includes a housing (12) having a first port (27), a second port (28) and a drive track (26). A first drive means (29) is coupled to the first port (27) and a second drive means (30) is coupled to the second port (28). An array of balls (33) which is spaced apart by spacers (34) define a drive train extending from one drive means (29) to the second drive means (30) via the drive track (26). A drive pin (14) which extends outwardly from the shaft (11) is connected to the drive train and the first and second drive means (29 and 30) are driven so that the drive train will rotate the drive pin (14) and hence the shaft (11).

Stephen Wayne Holtom

Papers

Refuse loader arm

Loader arm assembly

Bin unloader and bin dump mechanism

Refuse packer assembly

Semi-rotary hydraulic actuator