Abstract: Apparatus for transferring refuse involve a container having a closure and an ejector head. A loading station includes a movable loading carriage, a packer assembly having a reciprocable packer head, and a plurality of power actuators. By positioning a container upon the loading carriage, the container becomes aligned with the packer assembly. The power actuators are actuated from a main control panel to move the loading carriage toward and away from the packer assembly, open the closure, and reciprocate the packer head for inserting refuse into the container. Subsequently, the closure is closed and the loading carriage is backed away from the packer assembly. The container is then transported to the unloading station. The unloading station includes a movable unloading carriage for receiving the refuse carrying container, and a plurality of power actuators. By positioning the container upon the unloading carriage the container becomes aligned with the discharge zone.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a refuse loading station comprising a refuse packer assembly, a refuse container and a loading dock disposed in front of the packer assembly. The container includes a vertically slidable closure. The clearing member includes a cutter edge for severing refuse, and an inclined refuse deflecting surface located under a bottom edge of the closure when the container is in a refuse loading position. The refuse clearing member includes a mechanism for partially raising the closure in response to movement of the container to a refuse loading position so as to locate the bottom edge of the closure above the deflecting surface. Power actuable mechanism is provided for raising and lowering the clearing member. When the clearing member is raised it contacts and raises the closure, and when the clearing member is lowered it contacts and lowers the closure.

Abstract: A method for loading refuse involving a refuse loading station and a refuse container. The refuse container is placed on the loading station and the loading station moves the container into a position adjacent a refuse discharge opening of a refuse hopper. Refuse is introduced into the hopper through a refuse inlet opening, which is spaced from the discharge opening. A packer head is reciprocated within the hopper to displace the refuse through the discharge opening and into the container. A clearing member is positioned for vertical reciprocation across the discharge opening for clearing refuse which may become situated between the container and the hopper.

Abstract: Automated control apparatus for an intermittently extended hydraulic cylinder is disclosed which governs cylinder elongation such that the rate of elongation is essentially constant with respect to time. The control apparatus includes a preset continuously variable timer that regulates the timer interval between sequential length increments of the cylinder. The control apparatus also includes a second timer which is responsive to the timer interval interposed by the first timer and which operates a valve controlling communication of hydraulic fluid between a hydraulic cylinder and a pump. The second timer may be discretely variable so that one of a plurality of predetermined length increments can be selected. Alternatively, the second timer may adjust the time period during which the valve is opened such that successive stages of a telescopic hydraulic cylinder have equal length increments.

Abstract: A refuse loading station comprising a refuse packer assembly, a refuse container and a loading dock disposed in front of the packer assembly. The loading dock includes a track arrangement on which is mounted a loading carriage for limited movement toward and away from the packer assembly. The carriage is structured for removably supporting the refuse container. A refuse clearing member is provided for clearing refuse situated between the packer assembly and the container subsequent to said container being loaded. A power actuable mechanism is provided on the loading dock for reciprocating the carriage to shift the container toward the packer assembly to a refuse loading position, and to shift the container away from the packer assembly to a container removal position. The carriage is movably mounted on a weighing mechanism which provides an indication of the weight of the container when the container is in a refuse loading position.

Abstract: The present disclosure involves a refuse loading station comprising a refuse packer assembly, a refuse container and a loading dock disposed in front of the packer assembly. The loading dock includes a track arrangement on which is mounted a loading carriage. The carriage is structured for removably supporting the refuse container. A refuse clearing member is provided for clearing refuse situated between the packer assembly and the container subsequent to said container being loaded. The carriage is movably mounted on a weighing mechanism which provides an indication of the weight of the container when the container is in a refuse loading position. The weighing mechanism is operably coupled to the packer assembly for controlling the loading of the container in accordance with a preselected container weight. The container includes a vertically slidable closure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for transferring refuse involve a container having a closure and an ejector head. A loading station includes a movable loading carriage, a packer assembly having a reciprocable packer head, and a plurality of power actuators. By positioning a container upon the loading carriage, the container becomes aligned with the packer assembly. The power actuators are actuated from a main control panel to move the loading carriage toward and away from the packer assembly, open the closure, and reciprocate the packer head for inserting refuse into the container. Subsequently, the closure is closed and the loading carriage is backed away from the packer assembly. The container is then transported to the unloading station. The unloading station includes a movable unloading carriage for receiving the refuse carrying container, and a plurality of power actuators. By positioning the container upon the unloading carriage the container becomes aligned with the discharge zone.

Abstract: Apparatus for automatically leveling the forks of vertically moveable hoist arms. In a typical embodiment, the arms are used on refuse collection vehicles for lifting and dumping detachable containers into the body of the vehicle. The arms are pivotally mounted at one end on the vehicle and the opposite ends of the arms has fork devices for engaging brackets on opposite end walls of the detachable containers. Swinging movement of the arms and of the forks is accomplished by means of hydraulic cylinders or rams. A hydraulic pump supplies fluid under pressure to the arm cylinders for raising the arms. A portion of the fluid is conducted to the fork cylinder by means of a gear or vane type flow divider, so that the rate of extension of the piston in each fork cylinder is at a predetermined ration of the displacement of the arm piston.