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 to 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: In a transfer set, a retention hook rigidly secured for rotation with the tailgate of the truck body for rotation therewith. Entry of the trailer body into the truck body automatically triggers pneumatic elements to lower the truck tailgate causing the retention hook attached thereto to capture a trailer body retention pin secured to the outside of the trailer body. A solenoid operated directional control valve prevents the inadvertent release of the trailer body when the truck body is lifted away from the truck frame to empty contents therefrom. A single pneumatic actuator releases the truck tailgate and, when the trailer body is retained in the truck body, also the trailer tailgate.

Abstract: A refuse container has a lid that is hinged thereto without the use of mechanical fasteners. The container has short shafts extending therefrom. The lid has arms that pivotally receive and are captured on the container shafts. The shafts are formed with sectors, and the lid arms have recesses that receive the sectors. The lid arms recesses define stepped surfaces located at predetermined locations relative to the container sectors so as to positively stop the lid at a desired open position. The lid arms may be formed with dual radius recesses connected by a flat surface. The container sectors and the recess surfaces are dimensioned to enable the lid to be freely pivoted to an intermediate open position approximately 90.degree. from a closed position and subsequently in a controlled manner to a third open position approximately 270.degree. from the first position. The mold for making the container and lid has a flat parting surface.

Abstract: There is disclosed a refuse container provided with a receiving pocket disposed near the upper edge of the container. The receiving pocket has an undercut portion and is formed by a section member located on and reinforcing the upper edge portions of the container and the undercut surface is complementary in shape to, and adapted to cooperate with, a holding of pick-up claw attached to the free end of a gripping arm of a tipping device of a motor-driven refuse collecting truck.

Abstract: There is disclosed a motor-driven garbage truck provided with a detachable garbage container equipped with releasable coupling elements, and also having permanently mounted thereon a pouring unit which includes a pouring chute, lifting and tipping apparatus for picking up a garbage can and discharging the contents thereof into the chute which leads to a receiving space, and a conveying and compacting apparatus including a compacting platen and which apparatus is driven by crossing hydraulic piston-cylinder units for transferring the garbage from the receiving space into the container through a receiving opening that is provided with a cover plate joined to the upper edge of the compacting platen and which is guided in tracks located above the driver's cab.

Abstract: A fluid pressure system comprises first and second members each movable in response to fluid pressure to individually exert a force. A linkage arrangement couples the first member with the second member for moving the second member in response to movement of the first member, and vice versa. Fluid pressure is conveyed to the first and second members at a pressure that varies according to the work load encountered by the first and second members in response to a control mechanism. The contro mechanism includes a first sensor that senses the variable fluid pressure and a first valve associated with the first sensor. The first valve is operative, when the sensed fluid pressure is less than a predetermined threshold value, for opening the conveyance of fluid pressure to the first member while closing the conveyance of fluid pressure to the second member so that, as the first and second members move together, only the first member exerts a force.

Abstract: The apparatus of this invention transfers refuse from a container into an opening at the rear end of a hopper in refuse equipment. The apparatus includes first arms pivotable to swing the lower end of the container upwardly. A member cooperates with the first arms to fixedly retain a pin on the container when the first arms have pivoted through a first particular angle. Second arms are then pivoted through a second particular angle to raise the bottom of the container above the lid of the container, while the pin on the container is held at a fixed vertical position, for providing for the transfer of the refuse from the container into the hopper. During such movement, members are moved to effectively raise the lip of the hopper upwardly and to dispose a surface for guiding the transfer of the refuse from the container into the hopper. Members are also provided for gripping the bottom of the container during the pivotal movement of the container upwardly by the second arms.

Abstract: A refuse truck body for attachment to a "low entry cab chassis". This truck body includes a container having an open forward end and an open rearward end. A tailgate or cap is provided for releasably closing the open rearward end. The container further includes an ejector assembly mounted for longitudinal movement within the container. The assembly is moved between a retracted position near the front of the truck and an ejection position near the rear of the truck by a linear actuator mounted generally horizontally above the ejector assembly. The ejector assembly has triangular side panels and an upwardly forwardly inclined ejection panel which reaches partially underneath the refuse, thus allowing the load of refuse to be carried forward of the container proper, to distribute more of the load onto the front wheels.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading materials from a hopper into a storage container includes a holding chamber formed in part by a movable first panel which forms the floor of the holding chamber. Communication between the holding chamber and the hopper is opened by withdrawing the first panel, thereby allowing materials in the holding chamber to empty into the hopper. As the first panel is subsequently moved to again close communication between the holding chamber and the hopper, materials in the hopper are expelled by a wall which advances in the hopper as the first panel moves. Preferably, the first panel is repeatedly oscillated or cycled opened and closed within a predetermined time period to efficiently move large volumes of materials from the holding chamber, into the hopper, and out into the associated storage container.

Abstract: A trailer has a trailer body, pairs of rear wheels at opposite sides of the trailer and hydraulics for tilting the forward end of the trailer body upwardly to dump the load in such body. The trailer dumps the load in a retracted position of the wheels. To increase the load which such body can carry while travelling, the rear wheels of the trailer are movable to extended positions. To provide for the extension and retraction of the rear wheels and facilitate the dumping of the load, a member is attached at a first end to leaf springs between the wheels and at a second end to the trailer. At an intermediate position, the member is attached to a rod extensible and retractible relative to a hydraulic cylinder to extend or retract the first end of the member and the wheels about the attachment at the second end as a fulcrum. The cylinder is attached to the trailer forwardly of the attachment of the member to the trailer at the second end.

Abstract: Equipment in an enclosure is shielded from affecting, or being affected by, external electromagnetic and magnetic fields. A flooring within the enclosure includes first and second portions. The first portion supports the enclosure walls and provides electromagnetic and magnetic shielding. The second portion is paramagnetic and is disposed inwardly of, and spaced from, the first portion. A third flooring portion disposed between the first and second portions and expansible with heat provides a compatible coupling with the first and second portions. A door in a wall aperture is movable between opened and closed positions. Resilient fingers on the door co-operate with the door jambs to provide an electromagnetic coupling between the door and the walls when the door is closed. A window in another wall aperture provides for a visual inspection of the enclosure and for electromagnetic coupling with the walls.

Abstract: Garbage can be collected and fowarded in an economical manner by garbage trucks on which containers are detachably mounted. The containers can be lifted and removed from the garbage trucks and transferred to forwarding trucks in a simple operation. This is accomplished by the provision of a conveyor for transversely conveying the containers the conveyor having a receiving end which is dispsoed approximately on the level of the load platforms of the garbage trucks and which is provided at that end with tine-like arms, which are adapted to be moved under the containers when they have been unlocked. The arms are adapted to be lifted and lowered and to be extended from and to be retracted into the receiving end of the conveyor.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in grabbing a refuse container such that the container can be emptied into a refuse collection truck. The grabbing apparatus includes a pair of opposed articulated grabbing arms which have the capability of securely grabbing containers of substantially different sizes without crushing or otherwise damaging those containers.

Abstract: A dumping mechanism including a support frame having a vertical leg and a horizontal leg extending from the upper end of the vertical leg. A container lift arm is supported from the horizontal leg of the frame by means of a link member. A container gripping means movable between a gripping position and a release position is mounted on one end of the lift arm. A guide track member is pivotally connected at its upper end to the horizontal leg of the frame and is engaged with a roller on the lift arm to guide the movement of the lift arm. A power lift cylinder is pivotally connected at its upper end to the horizontal leg of the frame and is pivotally connected at its lower end to the end of the lift arm opposite from that upon which the gripping means is mounted. The power cylinder when energized moves the lift arm between a position for gripping a container when in a standing position and a position wherein the container is inverted for dumping its contents into a refuse vehicle.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for use on a refuse truck and for gripping a container and for causing the container to be dumped into the refuse truck. A pair of grabber arms are supported on a pivotable lifting arm, the grabber arms being adapted to surround a container for gripping the container. One of the grabber arms is pivotally joined to the lifting arm such that it is pivotable about a first axis from a container clamping position wherein the arm extends generally horizontally from the lifting arm, to a position wherein the grabber arm releases the container, and to a position wherein the grabber arm is in a retracted generally vertical position. The second grabber arm is similarly pivotable about a single axis from a generally horizontal clamping position to a generally vertical retracted position. The grabber arms are pivotable about their respective axes between the container gripping positions and the generally vertical positions in continuous uninterrupted motions.

Abstract: A refuse compaction apparatus including a container for storing refuse under pressure, a tailgate rotatably mounted on the container for movement between an opened and a closed position. The tailgate in its opened position permits refuse to be discharged from the container and the tailgate in its closed position forms a closure with the storage container. In maintaining the tailgate in its closed position, a latch member is engageable with a keeper member with means to provide rotational movement of the latch member into a position to make contact with the keeper member. After rotational movement of the latch member, means are provided to cause translational movement of the latch member into contact with the keeper member to maintain the tailgate in a closed position.

Abstract: In successive cycles of movement of packing panel means in a hopper, refuse is stuffed at high pressures into a progressively narrowed throat in the hopper and is churned, fragmented and compacted during such stuffing operation. At positions beyond the throat, the refuse is directed at reduced pressures through the passage into a storage body. When the pressure of the refuse in the passage reaches a particular value, a servo obtains the movement of an ejection panel in a direction to relieve such pressure. A retainer panel is movable, in accordance with the cyclic movement of the packing panel means through the hopper, between a first position opening the passage and a second position closing the passage and is disposed in the first position to define an extension of the passage. A distance accommodating human fingers is provided between the edge of the packing panel means and a curved inner surface in the hopper at a point adjacent to a sill in the hopper.

Abstract: Refuse compaction apparatus includes a hopper with two opposite side walls and with two shafts, one in each side wall. A torque tube is disposed on the first shaft for rotation and is independent of the second shaft and is constructed to withstand high forces. A packer panel is constructed to transmit torque and to withstand twisting moments. The packer panel may be provided with an elliptical configuration in cross-section with the major axis of the ellipse extending toward the torque tube. Means couple the packer panel to the torque tube in a rigidified relationship to rotate the packer panel with the torque tube. Means also mount the packer panel on the second shaft in a stiffening relationship. A second packer panel may be disposed in the hopper for movement with the first packer panel and for independent movement relative to the first packer panel.

Abstract: The upper panel of a tailgate assembly is moved in a downward and rearward convexly curved path between an upward and forward position and a rearward and lowered position and the lower panel is rotated forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the upper panel. Linkages are included in the tailgate assembly to provide this movement. A lower surface of the fixed panel may have an upwardly curved lower surface which imparts a forward direction of movement to refuse which is packed against it. The upper panel may have a curved forward surface in close proximity to a rearward surface of the fixed panel. During movement of the upper panel, the rearward surface of the fixed panel removes refuse from the curved forward surface. The upper panel is tilted as it moves and during its upward movement the lower portion of the upper panel is tilted forwardly. This imparts a forward movement to refuse which is moved through the opening into the storage body.

Abstract: A refuse collection apparatus including a storage body and a tailgate positioned rearwardly of the storage body which defines a hopper that is positioned adjacent to an opening into the storage body. An upper and a lower panel within the tailgate are pivotally connected and movably positioned with respect to the hopper. The upper panel is moved in a downward and rearward convexly curved path between an upward and forward position and a rearward and lowered position and the lower panel is rotated forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the upper panel. A fixed panel positioned in the tailgate structure defines the upper extent of the opening into the storage body and during upward movement of the upper panel, refuse is packed against the fixed panel.The lower surface of the fixed panel may have an upwardly curved lower surface which imparts a forward direction of movement to refuse which is packed against it.