Patents Assigned to Air-Flo Manufacturing Co., Inc.
  • Patent number: 11518612
    Abstract: A multi-compartment refuse collecting truck body includes segmented shields to close a rear opening of the compartments. The segmented shields are positioned to close a rear opening of the refuse compartments when a packing unit is raised to discharge refuse from one of the compartments. The segmented shields include a lower segment that can be placed in a packing position to allow refuse to be packing into the compartments by a packing unit, and moved to a closed position before the packing unit is raised to prevent unintended discharge of refuse from the compartments. A control system operates actuators in the packing unit and truck body in a pre-determined sequence to ensure that refuse is not mixed during unloading of the truck body and that actuators are not operated in a manner that will damage other systems of the truck body or packing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Air-Flo Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Tom W. Musso, Charles S. Musso, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11173682
    Abstract: A refuse truck body having a main compartment and at least one side compartment includes shields to close a rear opening of the compartments. A respective pushing device is provided for discharging refuse from each compartment. In a closed position, the shield is latched to the truck body by a locking device that selectively locks and unlocks each shield against its opening. A sequencing system is operatively connected between a lock for the packing unit and the actuator for closing and latching the shields, which prevents unlocking and raising the packing unit before the shields are closed and latched to the truck body. A sequencing system is operatively connected between the pushing device for a compartment and the actuator for closing and latching the shields, which prevents operation of the pushing device to discharge refuse from the compartment unless the shield for that compartment is unlatched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: Air-Flo Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Tom W. Musso, Charles S. Musso, Jr., Thomas Lee Price, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10752439
    Abstract: A shield for a compartment opening of a refuse truck body, comprising an upper segment hinged to the truck body and a lower segment hinged to the upper segment. A source of power selectively pivots the lower segment relative to the upper segment. This enables a first angle of articulation whereby the upper segment covers an upper region of the compartment opening and the lower segment covers a lower region of the compartment opening whereby the shield covers the entire opening of the compartment; a second angle whereby the upper segment covers the upper region of the opening and the lower segment is positioned such that refuse can be swept beneath the lower segment into the lower region of the opening; and a third angle whereby the upper and lower segments fully uncover the compartment opening, whereby refuse can be freely dumped out of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Air-Flo Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Tom W. Musso, Charles S. Musso, Jr., Thomas Lee Price, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10633182
    Abstract: A multi-compartment, sweeper-type rear loading refuse packer, in which a single pack blade is pivotally connected to a multi-section sweep blade. Only a single pack blade is needed to move all the sections of the sweep blade toward the compartments. As the type of refuse in each compartment is different and must be offloaded separately, especially in a three-compartment system, two anti-spill plates are provided for selective blocking of the lower portion of the outer two compartments. Seal plates can also be provided for selective blocking of the upper portion of the outer two compartments, whereby an anti-spill plate and paired seal plate confront and close the opening of the associated refuse compartment when the compaction unit is pivoted to the ejection position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Air-Flo Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Tom W. Musso, Charles S. Musso, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190177085
    Abstract: A multi-compartment, sweeper-type rear loading refuse packer, with a compaction unit pivotally connected to the body. In the loading position of the compaction unit, the collection sumps at the back of the body are situated for receiving a respective load of segregated refuse deposited over a rear loading ledge at the back of each sump. At least one divider wall extends between respective two adjacent sumps from the rear loading ledge to the ceilings of the respective two adjacent compartments at the compartment openings, thereby defining respective loading channels from the sumps to the compartments. Each divider wall has a back portion with a top edge extending forward along adjacent sumps and a front portion with a top edge that rises obliquely from the top edge of the back portion to the ceilings of the respective two adjacent compartments at the compartment openings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: Air-Flo Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Tom W. Musso, Charles S. Musso, JR.
  • Publication number: 20180155125
    Abstract: A multi-compartment, sweeper-type rear loading refuse packer, in which a single pack blade is pivotally connected to a multi-section sweep blade. Only a single pack blade is needed to move all the sections of the sweep blade toward the compartments. As the type of refuse in each compartment is different and must be offloaded separately, especially in a three-compartment system, two anti-spill plates are provided for selective blocking of the lower portion of the outer two compartments. Seal plates can also be provided for selective blocking of the upper portion of the outer two compartments, whereby an anti-spill plate and paired seal plate confront and close the opening of the associated refuse compartment when the compaction unit is pivoted to the ejection position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Applicant: Air-Flo Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Tom W. Musso, Charles S. Musso, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7748652
    Abstract: A material spreading drive system for a hopper spreader having a conveyor and a spreader separately driven by two electric motors that are powered directly from the electrical system of the vehicle. The conveyor drive system includes a speed reducing gearbox that can very efficiently transmit power received from the conveyor motor to the conveyor, thus reducing the demand on the electrical system. As a result, the electrical system is capable of also powering a second electric motor that drives the spreader. Due to the improved efficiency of the conveyor belt system, increased conveying and spreading speed are possible as well as independent control over the operating speeds of the conveyor and spreader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Air-Flo Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Charles S. Musso, Tom Musso
  • Patent number: 7066413
    Abstract: A material spreading drive system for a hopper spreader having a conveyor and a spreader separately driven by two electric motors that are powered directly from the electrical system of the vehicle. The conveyor drive system includes a gearbox that transmits 90 to 95 percent of power received from the conveyor motor to the conveyor, thus reducing the demand on the electrical system. As a result, the electrical system is capable of also powering a second electric motor that drives the spreader. Due to the improved efficiency of the conveyor belt system, increased conveying and spreading speed are possible as well as independent control over the operating speeds of the conveyor and spreader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Air-Flo Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Charles S. Musso, Tom Musso
  • Patent number: 4266731
    Abstract: A dump spreader achieves both slow speed spreading and high speed dumping of material from truck body 10 having a bottom conveyor 11 and hopper-shaped side walls. A fixed rear wall 12 secured to the side walls closes the rear end of the body above the conveyor, and the rear wall has a bottom opening 13 approximately the width of the conveyor and extending from the conveyor upward to one-half to three-quarters of the height of the rear wall. A vertically movable door 20 supported on the rear wall opens and closes the opening; and a hydraulic system raises and lowers the door to set the door at a desired low level above the conveyor for spreading, to raise the door fully so the conveyor can move a substantial depth of material rapidly through the opening for dumping, and to close the door through a depth of material on the conveyor after a partial dump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Assignee: Air-Flo Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Charles S. Musso, Jr.