Abstract: A side loading refuse collection vehicle has a lift arm extendible and rotatable relative to the vehicle, the lift arm carrying grabber apparatus at an end for grasping a refuse container which may be lifted and dumped into the top of the body of the vehicle. The lift arm which is guided to move in a path so as to grasp the container, raise it, dump it and return it to its initial position, is driven toward and away from the vehicle by a first hydraulic drive cylinder and lifted and lowered by a second hydraulic drive cylinder. The first hydraulic drive cylinder has a drive rod on which a locking bolt is secured and may be captured in a receptacle of a keeper when the rod is in the fully retracted position to lock the arm against inadvertent and undesirable extension outwardly away from the vehicle. The keeper is pivotally mounted and moved by the output rod of a pneumatic cylinder to permit the bolt to be released from the receptacle when the hydraulic drive is activated.

Abstract: A side loading refuse collection vehicle having a carriage slidably mounted on a track and pivotally carrying a lift arm assembly including refuse container grabbing and dumping apparatus for grabbing a refuse container, lifting it and dumping it into the body of the vehicle includes a keeper plate secured to the carriage and a detent latch pivotally mounted on the frame for seizing and holding the keeper selectively. The carriage is slidably driven by a hydraulic cylinder assembly to extend and retract the carriage relative to the vehicle, and whenever the hydraulic cylinder assembly is actuated by an operator control switch the latch disengages from the keeper. When the hydraulic cylinder assembly is not actuated, the latch engages and holds the keeper and thereby prevents the lift arm from being flung outwardly in the event of a failure in the hydraulic cylinder assembly system.

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.