Abstract: A tailgate locking apparatus for a refuse container comprises first and second locking cylinders for locking the tailgate in the closed position. The first and second locking cylinders are movable between a tailgate locked position and a tailgate unlocked position. Each of the first and second locking cylinders comprises a piston assembly disposed within its interior volume. The piston assembly comprises a piston and a piston rod extending from the piston through a central opening in an upper portion of the cylinder. The piston divides the interior volume into a lower chamber and an upper chamber. The upper chamber of the first locking cylinder is fluidly connected to the lower chamber of the second locking cylinder.

Abstract: A refuse collection and storage body is carried by the frame of a truck chassis having a cab at the forward end thereof. A hopper having a rotatably reciprocal platen therein resides at the forward end of the body. Refuse within the body is discharged through an openable tailgate assembly at the rear of the body. A fixed length arm is pivotly connected at one end thereof to a carriage which is reciprocally movable along a transverse support beam. The arm, having refuse container gripping arms at the free end thereof, is rotatably elevatable for dumping the contents of the container into the hopper. The several movable components are responsive to a control apparatus located within the cab.

Abstract: A hoist mechanism including a hoist subframe, a body subframe, a dump linkage pivotally coupling the body subframe to the hoist subframe such that the body subframe pivots about an instant center which moves continuously as the body subframe pivots and an actuator for moving the body subframe between a lowered position and a raised position. The instant center is positioned at a point below the hoist subframe with the body subframe in the lowered position, and progresses to a point above the hoist subframe as the body subframe is lifted to the raised position.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A tailgate assembly for a refuse collection vehicle includes a swing-link compaction mechanism and accommodates rear-mounted lifting mechanisms for refuse containers. Upper and lower torsion members extend between the tailgate side walls. The upper torsion member is spaced horizontally from the rearmost edge of the tailgate side wall, and the lower torsion member is spaced horizontally from the rearmost edge of the tailgate side wall at least to the same extent as the upper torsion member. Because of the horizontal spacing of the upper and lower torsion members from the rearmost edge of the tailgate side wall, a large, unobstructed upper opening is provided to accommodate the hoisting and inverting of refuse containers.

Abstract: A lightweight, stable, maneuverable tractor trailer having a frame with a front end, a rear end and two side rails. The rear end of the frame is about twice the width of the front end and the side rails each lie in a vertical plane that is disposed at an acute angle relative to the central longitudinal axis of the frame. Single tire mount wheel and axle subassemblies are mounted to the frame. These subassemblies reduce the tare weight of the tractor trailer and additionally permit the wider frame to be utilized.

Abstract: A container handling apparatus having a mounting platform a lifting arm extending from the mounting platform and terminating in a gripper mechanism, mounted on top of a body of a refuse collection vehicle and configured to include three four-bar linkages which interact to produce a reach cycle and a hoist cycle.

Abstract: A tailgate locking mechanism is provided for locking the tailgate in a closed position against the rear end of the body of a rear loading refuse collection vehicle. The locking mechanism includes at least two fluid operated piston and cylinder locking assemblies, at least one of which is visible to the vehicle operator. Actuation of the piston and cylinder assemblies is sequenced so that the visible piston and cylinder assembly is extended only after the remote, or non-visible piston and cylinder assembly is extended, and is retracted only after the non-visible piston and cylinder assembly is retracted.

Abstract: A flow cone aerator for assisting discharge of material from containers. The aerator includes an inverted cone shaped hollow support adapted to be affixed to a wall of the container with the small diameter end of the support adjacent the interior surface of the container and the large diameter end extending into the interior of the container. An air inlet is positioned adjacent the small diameter end and is adapted to be selectively connected to a pressurized source of air exteriorly of the container. At least one air outlet port radially extends through the wall of the support. A flexible cone shaped flap, corresponding in shape to the support, is mounted to the small diameter end of the support with the large diameter end of the flap free of attachment to the support.

Abstract: A radio frequency transmitter is adapted to be worn by a worker in a confined space. The transmitter includes a manual switch and a mercury switch which, when tilted by reason of the worker getting out of his normal work position, closes to cause the transmitter to emit a signal which is received by a receiver positioned outside of the confined space. The receiver closes a switch to put the coil of a relay across a power supply. The relay closes two switches, one being an alarm switch which causes energization of a strobe light and a siren; the other establishes a holding circuit by-passing the receiver actuated switch. The holding circuit includes an interrupt switch to turn off the alarm. There is a time delay in the relay circuit to avoid false alarms. Once the alarm is sounded, termination of the radio frequency signal alone will not stop the alarm; the switch in the holding circuit must also be opened.

Abstract: A lift mechanism for a dump truck operative to pivot the dump body rearwardly about a pivot axis at the rear of the hoist frame and operative to pivot the dump body about a pivot axis at the front of the hoist frame. The mechanism includes a lift arm assembly pivotally mounted in the hoist frame and operatively connected to the body. A power cylinder is pivotally connected at one end to the hoist frame and at the other end to the lift arm assembly. First and second pivot supports are located at the rear and front of the hoist frame respectively. A latch means is operative to selectively latch the body to the first and second pivot supports. The second pivot support at the front of the hoist frame includes a support shaft which is adapted for horizontal sliding movement on the hoist frame by means of a pair of horizontal guide rods to which the opposite ends of the support shaft are slidably attached.

Abstract: A hydraulic cylinder assembly including an outer barrel having one or more internal sleeves and a center rod telescopically mounted therein. The outer barrel and internal sleeves each have a bottom end tube welded to one end thereof and a packing gland tube welded to the other end thereof. The center rod has a bottom end tube welded to one end thereof. The bottom end tubes on said barrel and sleeves have end caps removably mounted therein. Stop shoulders are formed integrally with the end tubes of the internal sleeves and center rod. Mating stop shoulders are formed integrally with the packing gland tubes of the outer barrel and internal sleeves. Said stop shoulders are adapted to move into engagement with each other when the hydraulic cylinder assembly is energized.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and test apparatus for use in determining and certifying hoist compliance with one of several minimum body and payload torque requirement curves, which curves establish torque classifications for hydraulic hoists suitable for use in dump body applications. The apparatus is made up of a base frame which simulates a truck chassis, and an upper frame pivotally connected to the base frame and which simulates the under-structure portion of a dump body. The test hoist is mounted to the base and upper frames so that the hoist can be rendered operative to pivot the upper frame through a predetermined range of dump angles. Longitudinally adjustable tension link or estraining arm assemblies are connected to the base and upper frames and are used for successively restraining the pivotal movement of the upper frame to predetermined incremental dump angles within the predetermined range of dump angles.