Abstract: An inverter apparatus of the type which may be used on a truck or other vehicle for inverting containers such as refuse containers for dumping their contents into a chamber within the vehicle. The apparatus uses a pair of cylinders having retractable rods which act through torque members to sequentially rotate a pair of pin carrier arms and inverter bars to invert a container having a pair of laterally extending pins. During rotation of the inverter bars the pins are always locked between the pin carrier arms and guide brackets attached to the truck body. The present invention provides a unique container and inverting apparatus interlock feature which is in effect at all times that the container is more than a few inches above the ground, thus rendering it virtually impossible during the inverting process to inadvertently drop or swing the container.

Abstract: A container adapted to receive refuse materials is pivotally mounted at the lower front end thereof to a truck body. The rear end of the refuse container is made adjustable in vertical height by means of a pair of hydraulic cylinders for pivoting the container about its front pivotal axis. A hydraulically controlled platen blade or ram is disposed within the refuse container for compacting materials disposed within the container, or alternatively pushing materials within the container out of the rear end of the container, when the rear end of the container is open. A door is slideably disposed upon the rear end of the container and this door is also controlled hydraulically by a pair of hydraulic cylinders. The door is vertically adjustable to any degree of opening and may be controlled simultaneously with the control of the platen blade so as to be able to meter the flow of materials out of the rear of the container when unloading.