Patents Assigned to Heil
  • Patent number: 12378067
    Abstract: A method and device for positively identifying that a dump event of a refuse container has occurred into a refuse hopper of a refuse vehicle are provided. When used with route software, alerts may be generated if a specific refuse container is missed or if an unexpected dump event occurs during the route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Ricardo Castano Salinas, Brian Huston Ham, Henry Michael Hund, Jr., John Forrest Smith
  • Patent number: 12378068
    Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle includes a packer system with an auger screw, one or more refuse support panels, one or more sensing devices, and a refuse support panel actuator system. The refuse support panel(s) support refuse while characteristics of the refuse are sensed. The refuse support panel actuator system moves the refuse support panels such that refuse is released from the refuse support panels in to the packer system. A driver of the packer system rotates the auger screw such the refuse is packed into a storage compartment of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: David C. Gentry, Eric Evans, Bryan Stewart, Anthony B. Giles, Michael Shane Peek
  • Patent number: 12365534
    Abstract: An automatic control system for a refuse vehicle includes a mode select switch disposed within the vehicle that generates a mode select signal based on input from an operator of the vehicle, a control mechanism disposed within the vehicle that operates in response to the mode select signal, and a plurality of sensors adapted to sense a plurality of characteristics of the vehicle and adapted to communicate the plurality of sensed characteristics. The system further includes a control module that receives control instructions from the control mechanism and selectively controls at least one component of a plurality of components of the vehicle based on the mode select signal, at least one of the plurality of sensed characteristics, and the control instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2025
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Ralph Waldo Whitfield, Jr., Brian Huston Ham, John M. Curotto, Andrew Blaine Cooper, Brian T. Parker
  • Patent number: 12359952
    Abstract: Techniques are described for determining an amount of fuel that is consumed by the body components of a vehicle, based at least partly on sensor data describing the operations of the body components and/or the location of the vehicle. A vehicle is equipped with a body that has any suitable number of body components that perform operations not directly associated with the translational movement of the vehicle from one location to another. Fuel is consumed to provide power (e.g., through power take off) to operate the body components. The vehicle includes sensor device(s) configured to sense the operations of the body components and generate sensor data that describes the operations of the body components. The sensor data is analyzed to determine an amount of fuel that is consumed to power the operations of the body components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Richard Buteau, Thomas Leon Wilding, Albert Xiaoxia Jiang, John Forrest Smith, Michael Dean Geary, Brian Huston Ham
  • Patent number: 12351109
    Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle includes a grabber that is operable to engage a refuse container, a lift arm coupled to the grabber and operable to raise and lower the grabber, a camera that is arranged to generate video data of a scene external to the refuse collection vehicle, and a semi-transparent display device configured to display the video data generated by the camera, wherein the semi-transparent display is positioned within a forward line of sight of an operator of the refuse collection vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventor: John Forrest Smith
  • Patent number: 12327446
    Abstract: Techniques are described for correlating entity identification information with refuse containers being serviced by a refuse collection vehicle (RCV). Location data can be collected by location sensor(s) on the RCV at a time when a triggering condition is present, such as a time when a lift arm is operating to empty a refuse container into the hopper of the RCV. The location data can be provided as input to an algorithm that estimates a container location through a vector offset to account for the distance and direction of the RCV lift arm relative to the location sensor in the RCV. The container location can be correlated with parcel data to determine the parcel that the container was on or near to when it was serviced, and the customer or other entity associated with the parcel can be correlated to the particular container based on the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Anthony Romano, Michael Dean Geary
  • Patent number: 12319497
    Abstract: The mechanical arm system can include a garbage container holder and at least one mast. The holder can have guiding wheels engaged with adjacent tracks of the mast, the two adjacent tracks both having a lower portion extending upwardly along the mast, the lower portion of the first track being located forwardly of the lower portion of the second track, the lower portion of both tracks leading into corresponding upper portions which are curved rearwardly. The system can have a primary mast and a secondary mast slidably mounted to the primary mast, with the garbage container slidable mounted to the secondary mast. A driving link can simultaneously connect the primary mast to the secondary mast, and the secondary mast to the holder in a manner that when the driving link is moved, both sliding movements are performed in the same direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Claude Boivin, Eric Boivin, Hugo Marsan
  • Patent number: 12291395
    Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle includes a fork assembly that is operable to engage one or more fork pockets of a refuse container, a lift arm that is operable to lift a refuse container, and at least one sensor that is configured to collect data indicating a position of the one or more fork pockets of the refuse container. A position of at least one of the fork assembly or the lift arm is adjusted in response to the data collected by the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Robert B. Williams, Stanley L. Maroney
  • Patent number: 12254773
    Abstract: A method of transmitting data across a J1939 network comprises communicating at least one sensor, if not a plurality of sensors or operator interface devices, related to a utility service body data mounted on a chassis across the J1939 network on unassigned PGN/SPN combinations for various uses. Furthermore, at least one controller can evaluate other J1939 data, such as transmission gear and/or engine RPM before permitting operation of at least one function of the utility service body or upfit body with at least some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Ricardo Castano Salinas, John Forrest Smith, Brian Huston Ham, Ralph Waldo Whitfield, Jr.
  • Patent number: 12246916
    Abstract: An automatic control system for a refuse vehicle includes a mode select switch disposed within the vehicle that generates a mode select signal based on input from an operator of the vehicle, a control mechanism disposed within the vehicle that operates in response to the mode select signal, and a plurality of sensors adapted to sense a plurality of characteristics of the vehicle and adapted to communicate the plurality of sensed characteristics. The system further includes a control module that receives control instructions from the control mechanism and selectively controls at least one component of a plurality of components of the vehicle based on the mode select signal, at least one of the plurality of sensed characteristics, and the control instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Company
    Inventors: Ralph Waldo Whitfield, Jr., Brian Huston Ham, John M. Curotto, Andrew Blaine Cooper, Brian T. Parker
  • Patent number: 12240692
    Abstract: Operating a refuse collection vehicle to collect refuse from a refuse container includes positioning a refuse collection vehicle with respect to a refuse container to be emptied, and manually engaging a switch to initiate a dump cycle to be performed by the refuse collection vehicle on the refuse container. The dump cycle includes engaging the refuse container with a portion of the vehicle, lifting the engaged refuse container to a dump position, and moving the refuse container to release contents of the refuse container into a hopper of the refuse collection vehicle. The dump cycle continues to completion as long as the switch remains manually engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Stanley L. Maroney, David G. Lewis, Robert B. Williams
  • Patent number: 12231560
    Abstract: A scrambling method of data on a J1939 communication system of a vehicle involves at least moving data from one of a PGN and a PGN/SPN location to another PGN or PGN/SPN location at a first controller on the vehicle before transmitting data and then re-ordering the data at a second controller. Some embodiments further comprise encrypting data either before or after shifting, but before transmitting so as to further complicate efforts to interpret meaningful data from the transmission. The second controller may be on the vehicle or may be remotely located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Ricardo Castano Salinas, John Forrest Smith
  • Patent number: 12214958
    Abstract: A cradle and guide system for a refuse vehicle has at least one track member mounted on a bumper of a refuse vehicle. The at least one track member is able to deflect horizontally to compensate for misalignment. At least one guide member is mounted to a front loading fork of the refuse vehicle. The at least one guide member contacts the at least one track member to limit horizontal movement of the front loading fork with respect to the refuse vehicle during misalignment. The at least one track member returns to its original position to align the front loading forks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventor: Richard Ford
  • Patent number: 12209601
    Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle has various hydraulic actuators including at least one cylinder with an internal seal. A sensor is responsive to movement of the piston and sends a signal to a controller to indicate piston movement information during an associated vehicle body component movement. The controller is configured to determine a motion characteristic of the piston during a predetermined body component movement, compare the determined motion characteristic to a stored reference motion characteristic, and in response to determining that a difference between the determined motion characteristic and the reference motion characteristic is greater than a predetermined value, trigger an indication that the refuse collection vehicle is in need of service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: John Forrest Smith, Alejandro de Leon, Garrett Eckerl, Albert Xiaoxia Jiang, Thomas Leon Wilding
  • Patent number: 12168569
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle has a Commercial and a Residential Mode whereby when in Commercial Mode, stops or fins, utilized in Residential Mode to assist in securing a residential container laterally at the front of the vehicle, are adjustable to prevent contact or interference with the cab protector or other portions of the vehicle when in Commercial Mode. The fins may be located and/or rotated, such as at least 30 degrees (from position to position) or above a horizontal or otherwise intermediate the residential and commercial configurations. The fins may preferably be located above a bottom of the crossbar when moving through the dumping cycle so as not to contact the cab protector in Commercial Mode. Preferably, the fins may also be housed on the residential refuse container rather than along the crossbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Eric Evans, Tracy Mason, Bryan Stewart
  • Patent number: 12134516
    Abstract: Operating a refuse collection vehicle to collect refuse from a refuse container includes positioning a refuse collection vehicle with respect to a refuse container to be emptied, and manually engaging a switch to initiate a dump cycle to be performed by the refuse collection vehicle on the refuse container. The dump cycle includes engaging the refuse container with a portion of the vehicle, lifting the engaged refuse container to a dump position, and moving the refuse container to release contents of the refuse container into a hopper of the refuse collection vehicle. The dump cycle continues to completion as long as the switch remains manually engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Stanley L. Maroney, David G. Lewis, Robert B. Williams
  • Patent number: 12078567
    Abstract: A refuse vehicle includes a telescopic arm, a sensor, and a processor. The telescopic arm includes an outer boom defining a bore, an inner boom received in the bore of the outer boom, and a bearing pad received in the bore and located between an exterior surface of the inner boom and an interior surface of the outer boom. The sensor is configured to output data indicating a position of a load-bearing limb of the telescopic arm. The processor is configured to receive data output from the sensor and determine a wear-state of the bearing pad based on the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: John Forrest Smith, Garrett J. Eckerl
  • Patent number: 12080040
    Abstract: Among other things, the techniques described herein include a method for receiving a plurality of images of one or more containers while the one or more containers are being emptied, the plurality of images comprising a training set of images and a validation set of images; labeling each image of the plurality of images as including either an overfilled container or a not-overfilled container; processing each image of the plurality of images to reduce bias of a machine learning model; training, and based on the labeling, the machine learning model using the plurality of images; and optimizing the machine learning model by performing learning against the validation set, the optimized machine learning model being used to generate a prediction for a new image of a container, the prediction indicating whether the container in the new image was overfilled prior to the new container being emptied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Prem Swaroop, Atish P. Kamble, Bodhayan Dev
  • Patent number: 12071300
    Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle includes a body having a storage compartment and a packer system. The storage compartment includes a floor. The packer system includes an ejector, two or more helical band actuators, and a driver. The helical band actuators each include a drive cylinder base, a helical band drive cylinder, and a drive cylinder receptacle coupled between the helical band drive cylinder and the ejector. The driver is commonly coupled to the helical band actuators and operable to extend and retract the helical band drive cylinders. The helical band actuators are operable to advance the ejector such that refuse is compacted in the storage compartment or ejected from the storage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: John Forrest Smith, Thomas Leon Wilding, Rodel Caguete Magsombol
  • Patent number: 12073669
    Abstract: Techniques are described for correlating entity identification information with refuse containers being serviced by a refuse collection vehicle (RCV). Location data can be collected by location sensor(s) on the RCV at a time when a triggering condition is present, such as a time when a lift arm is operating to empty a refuse container into the hopper of the RCV. The location data can be provided as input to an algorithm that estimates a container location through a vector offset to account for the distance and direction of the RCV lift arm relative to the location sensor in the RCV. The container location can be correlated with parcel data to determine the parcel that the container was on or near to when it was serviced, and the customer or other entity associated with the parcel can be correlated to the particular container based on the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: The Heil Co.
    Inventors: Anthony Romano, Michael Dean Geary