Abstract: A body for a refuse collection vehicle includes a frame on which are mounted a hopper compartment and an adjacent storage compartment. The hopper compartment has a pair of opposing sidewalls, a closed forward end, an open rear end and a hopper compartment floor at a first level. The storage compartment also has a forward end that opens into the hopper compartment, a rear end having a tailgate mounted thereon, and a storage compartment floor at a second level. The second level is raised above, or at an elevation higher than, the first level. The refuse collection vehicle body also includes a transition floor between the hopper compartment floor at the first level and the storage compartment floor at the second level, and a crusher panel that is adapted to apply a downwardly directed compressive force to refuse material in the hopper compartment and to sweep said refuse material from the hopper compartment into the storage compartment.

Abstract: A refuse collection apparatus is adapted to grab and lift a refuse container, dump the contents thereof into a collection bin, and return the container to its original location. The apparatus includes a container grab assembly which includes a pair of opposed grabbing arms that are aligned in spaced relationship and operable by a fluid-operated actuating system to grab and release a container. The apparatus also includes an articulated, moveable arm assembly that is operable by a fluid-operated actuating system through an operating cycle that includes retracted, extended, lifting and dumping positions. The arm assembly includes a base link that is mounted adjacent to the collection bin and an upper link having a first end and a second end. The apparatus also includes a reach link also having a first end and a second end.

Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle (10) has a body (14) into which refuse may be loaded having an exit passage (34) from which loaded refuse may be emptied. The vehicle also has arms (56) and a fork (58) for lifting a container into a dumping position over the body. A control circuit coordinates simultaneous operation of the arms and forks by monitoring the position of the arms and forks through rotary potentiometers (200, 201).