Abstract: A front loading refuse collection apparatus has a body with a rear area for storing refuse, and a front hopper section for receiving refuse. The storage area has a curved roof, a curved floor and curved sidewalls. The hooper has a top opening, a curve floor and curved sidewalls. The curved sidewalls of the hopper have a smaller radius of curvature than the curved sidewalls of the storage area. The curved sidewalls of the hopper also are not symmetrical about a horizontal axis. In this way, the sidewalls of the hopper do not interfere with the operation of the loading arms and do not unnecessarily restrict the opening at the top of the hopper. The curved roof, curved floor and curved sidewalls are made from an aluminum alloy making the front loading refuse collection apparatus lightweight.

Abstract: An apparatus for compacting refuse as in the body of a rear loader refuse truck having a movable panel which extends across the body as a barrier against which the refuse is compacted by a packer blade. The packer blade is movable through a loading hopper to move the refuse into the rear of the body and to compact it against the panel. The apparatus has an hydraulic system including a pump for supplying fluid at a controlled maximum system pressure, an hydraulic cylinder mechanism for powering the packer blade and a valve which is biased toward neutral and which is manually movable to a power position for supplying fluid to the hydraulic cylinder. The valve has pressure responsive means which hold it in power position and which are deactivated when the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder reaches a level below maximum system pressure.

Abstract: A wiener steamer housing has a bun compartment, and has a wiener compartment over a base containing a heating element. A juice catch tray with side walls is suspended in the wiener compartment, and inserted in it is a wiener holding grill. The tray bottom catches juices from the wieners, and its sides, with holes at their upper ends, provide steam passages conducting heat to the upper wieners stacked on the grill.

Abstract: A power actuated elevating tailgate mechanism. The mechanism includes parallel link-type lift arms pivoted to the rear of a vehicle frame, a platform pivotally connected at its front edge to the rear of the arms and a power cylinder for moving the arms back and forth between lower, horizontal ground position of the platform and upper, horizontal unloading position adjacent to and at the level of the vehicle bed. A safety lock comprising cooperating hook and catch automatically is engaged when the platform reaches upper position. The mechanism also includes an auxiliary pivot bar mounted at the rear of the vehicle bed and a striker mounted at the front edge of the platform which can be moved into extended position in order to engage the pivot bar when desired so that, as the lift arms move to upper position, the platform is swung upwardly relative to the lift arms from horizontal to reach vertical, tailgate position relative to the vehicle bed when the lift arms reach their upper position.

Abstract: A load compacting and ejecting mechanism for a refuse truck having an open rectangular body and an openable tailgate. An ejector plate extends across the body and is mounted for movement from front to back through the body. The ejector plate has a centrally located compaction plate which is mounted on the ejector plate structure for movement between a front position in which it constitutes a part of the rear face of the ejector plate and a second position rearwardly of the rear face of the ejector plate. A main hydraulic cylinder means extends between and is connected to the front of the body and to the compaction plate. A second hydraulic cylinder means is connected between the main structure of the ejector plate and the compaction plate. A first hydraulic circuit connects the opposite ends of the first cylinder means to a source of hydraulic fluid and includes a control valve for alternatively extending and retracting the main cylinder.

Abstract: A tailgate for a rear loading refuse vehicle. The tailgate has vertical side walls and a hopper-like bottom. There is an upwardly and forwardly inclined guide track in each of the side walls. A slide block is reciprocated in each guide track by one of a pair of packing cylinders which extend along and are spaced laterally from the guide tracks with the bases of the cylinders at the upper ends of the tracks and the ends of their rods connected to the slide blocks. A generally rectangular packer blade is pivotally supported along its upper edge by the guide blocks. A pair of sweep cylinders are pivotally connected at the upper rear corner of the tailgate and their rods are pivotally connected to the packer blade at a point intermediate its upper and lower edges.