Abstract: A vehicle with a rotary tailgate latch operating system in accordance with one embodiment in the present invention includes a longitudinally extending vehicle frame having a pair of opposing longitudinal ends, a vehicle body having a tailgate opening, a tailgate having an upper end and a lower end, at least one latching mechanism connected to the body adjacent to the lower end of the tailgate, a lift cylinder for raising and lowering the vehicle body, a rotary actuator, and a fluid operating control system. The vehicle body is pivotally mounted to the vehicle frame adjacent one of the longitudinal ends. The upper end of the tailgate is pivotally connected to the vehicle body in the tailgate opening. The latching mechanism has a first position which secures the lower end of the tailgate adjacent to the body and a second position which releases the lower end of the tailgate.

Abstract: A dump vehicle with a positively controlled opening gate is disclosed. The vehicle includes a frame, a dump bed mounted on the frame and having a floor, front and side walls and a rear opening through which material can be discharged from the bed, and a gate having a pair of lateral edges and a lower edge. The gate is pivotally mounted adjacent the rear opening and has a closed position in which the gate blocks the rear opening to prevent discharge from the bed through the rear opening. The vehicle further includes a gate control mechanism connected to the gate. The gate control mechanism is adapted to selectively raise the gate from the closed position to allow metered discharge of material or to release the gate from the closed position so that the gate may pivot away from the rear opening to allow unmetered discharge of material.

Abstract: A pivot lip dump gate for the dump body of a dump truck, trailer or the like comprises a split gate including a large upper hinged gate portion and a hinged lower gate or lip which serves the double function of guiding contents rearwardly from the dump body in its lowered dumping position and for closing the rearward end of the dump body in its raised transport position while also serving to lock the swinging upper gate in its closed transport position.

Abstract: A front loading refuse collection vehicle 10 is provided having a body 12 which includes a hopper 16, a storage container 17, and a tailgate 20. A pair of hydraulic cylinders 23 are mounted to the tailgate for pivotal movement thereof. A compaction blade 24 is mounted within storage container 17 for movement by a hydraulic cylinder 25. The vehicle also has a dumping system 45 for automated actuation of the compaction blade hydraulic cylinder 25 and the tailgate hydraulic cylinders 23. The dumping system includes a central multi-processor 46 coupled to receive electronic signals from an auto-eject actuation button 47, a tailgate enable switch 48, a latch sensor 50, a tailgate open sensor 51 and a compaction blade sensor 52. The central multiprocessor is coupled to output electronic signals to a hydraulic control valve 57 for the tailgate hydraulic cylinders and a hydraulic control valve 58 for the compaction blade hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A tailgate locking apparatus for a refuse container comprises first and second locking cylinders for locking the tailgate in the closed position. The first and second locking cylinders are movable between a tailgate locked position and a tailgate unlocked position. Each of the first and second locking cylinders comprises a piston assembly disposed within its interior volume. The piston assembly comprises a piston and a piston rod extending from the piston through a central opening in an upper portion of the cylinder. The piston divides the interior volume into a lower chamber and an upper chamber. The upper chamber of the first locking cylinder is fluidly connected to the lower chamber of the second locking cylinder.

Abstract: A tailgate locking mechanism is provided for locking the tailgate in a closed position against the rear end of the body of a rear loading refuse collection vehicle. The locking mechanism includes at least two fluid operated piston and cylinder locking assemblies, at least one of which is visible to the vehicle operator. Actuation of the piston and cylinder assemblies is sequenced so that the visible piston and cylinder assembly is extended only after the remote, or non-visible piston and cylinder assembly is extended, and is retracted only after the non-visible piston and cylinder assembly is retracted.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus which includes a vehicle and a container supported on the bed of the vehicle for use in hauling and dumping material. The bed of the vehicle is tiltable and the container has a gate for closing an open end of the container, when the bed is flat, and permitting the gate to move to open position when the container is tilted with bed. The gate is latched in closed position in response to an actuator on the vehicle.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved self-aligning automatic or remotely operated system for latching and unlatching the tailgate mechanism of a rear-loading refuse compacting truck which uses the tailgate lifting hydraulic cylinders in conjunction with an hydraulic cylinder-operated latch pin pulling and re-engaging mechanism which includes a self-centering, self-locking pin which cooperates to provide a simple yet very reliable automated latching and unlatching mechanism for the tailgate of a rear-loading refuse vehicle. The mechanism is designed to be retrofitted or be interchangeable with a manual system in a manner which facilitates easy conversion from one to the other involving the changing of a minimum of parts.

Abstract: A multiple compartment body comprises a housing having walls defining an interior storage area. An interior wall extends within the interior storage area for defining at least two compartments within the interior storage area. The interior wall is attached for movement between a position opening communication between the compartments and a position closing communication between the compartments. The interior wall is also movable within the interior storage area to selectively alter the respective sizes of the compartments. Movement of the interior wall is accomplished in response to fluid pressure from a location outside the housing.

Abstract: A refuse vehicle body of the type having a tailgate which may be raised to eject the contents, and a forward opening in the main body through which refuse may be dumped, and a ram moveable from the forward opening to the tailgate, and having a moveable bridge member extending from side to side of the main body; a compacting cylinder coupled to the bridge, and connected with the ram member for compacting refuse, and an ejection cylinder connected to the main body and to the bridge for moving the bridge rearwardly for ejecting contents from the main body.

Abstract: A vehicle body having a frame, a pair of side dumpable compartments, and a rear dumpable compartment. Each of the side dumpable compartments is rotatably mounted to the frame such that the axis of rotation is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body. Each of the side dumpable compartments has a well on the side of the compartment opposite the axis of rotation. A hydraulic actuator is disposed between the side dumpable compartment and the frame so as to cause the rotation and unloading of the side compartment. The rear dumpable compartment is rotatably connected to the frame such that the axis of rotation is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle body. This rear dumpable compartment has a tailgate that is selectably openable for permitting the dumping of material from the interior of this rear compartment. A hydraulic arm extends between the rear dumpable compartment and the frame so as to cause the rear dumpable compartment to rotate about its axis and to dump the materials.

Abstract: A controllable tailgate compatible with conventional rearward tilting dump trucks is attached at its uppermost corners to the upper end of two rear corner truck bed posts and pivots from a closed position to an open position enabling the discharge of material through an opening between the bottom of the tailgate and outer edge of the truck bed. The dump truck can be manufactured to accommodate the controllable tailgate or the truck bed can be modified by adding both a truck bed floor and two truck bed side-extension panels to match the truck bed to the tailgate. One or more movable gates are connected to the lower exterior of the tailgate across its width and are controllable from within the cab of the dump truck. The gates are moved to close the opening between the tailgate and truck bed when the dump truck is tilted rearward and the tailgate is in an open, unloading configuration. The gates serve to control the discharge of material from the dump truck.

Abstract: A refuse compacting system having an elongated hopper of rectangular cross-section with an ejection opening at one end, a tailgate movable for opening and closing the ejection opening, a refuse entry opening in the top of the hopper, a compactor within the hopper, located at one end, and pairs of dual parallel connected cylinders for moving the compactor towards the ejection opening and back again.

Abstract: There is disclosed a mobile cargo container for transporting fluid-like materials such as cannery waste. The cargo container includes a floor conveyor extending rearward of and beyond the container bottom for discharging materials from the container through a rear discharge outlet. A trailer door is connected to the container to pivot between an open position wherein the door is above the discharge outlet, and a closed position wherein the door seals the container in a fluid tight fit. The discharge outlet is defined by side walls of the trailer which are angled downwardly in a rearward direction from the top of the container to a point wherein the side walls project downwardly in a forward direction to meet with a bottom portion of the container.

Abstract: A self-propelled wheeled vehicle has a load receiving tank with the driving wheeled suspension system and the driven steering control system directly attached to the load receiving tank. The prime mover and power transmission system is also attached to the tank and interconnected with the driving wheels. An operators cab is attached to the forward end of the load receiving tank. A front loader mechanism is integrated with a top front load receiving opening in the tank and the closure therefor such that movement of the closure simultaneously lifts an interconnected load container, raises same and dumps the load into the load receiving tank and vice-versa. The chassiless vehicle is applicable to rear loader and side loader use.

Abstract: A lawn debris collection box is mounted, by a slide member, for movement along upwardly and rearwardly inclined guide rods. The box is also mounted so as to pivot upwardly and rearwardly about a connection with the slide member. Also mounted to the slide member for upward and rearward pivotal motion is a pair of drive arms which each have a lost motion connection with the box. A latch arm operative for releasably retaining a hinged lid of the box in a closed position is pivotally connected to the drive arms along with a pair of lift actuators which drive and latch arms to first release the lid, to raise the box until the slide members engage stops at the upper ends of the guide rods and to thus pivot the box to a dump position.

Abstract: A dump body for handling bulk material in which the tail gate is located inside the body walls sufficiently forward of the rear end to provide a delivery chute. The body is adapted to be mounted with the tail gate essentially over the rear wheels and the discharge chute extending back therefrom. Body configuration may be elliptical or rectangular and the sidewalls continuously diverge from bottom to top. The gate is hinged by overhead relatively close-tolerance bearings and trunnions by which the gate is hung and a space is provided between the gate edge and body wall even when fully closed, the space being filled with a flexible seal mounted on the gate perimeter. Specially shaped stops are located on the inner sidewall against which the gate butts on closing. A remotely actuated latch mounted on the body extends through the body wall extension to engage and lock the gate.

Abstract: In combination, a tail gate for a dump-type vehicle, such as a truck, wagon, semi-trailer or the like, of the type having an open box mounted for pivotal tilting movement relative to the vehicle frame and including a bed and upright side walls, and power and linkage means mounting the tail gate for movement relative to the box between a closed position wherein it embraces the bed and side walls in a box closing mode and a plurality of positions wherein it is raised rearwardly and upwardly relative to the box, and an extended bed position and a ramp position.

Abstract: A gate latch control system for dump body vehicles includes a hoist control member positionable between lower, hold and raise positions, a hoist lock member, a latch position sensor and a gate latch member positionable between latch and unlatch positions. The hoist lock member is connected to maintain the hoist control member against movement to the raise position when the sensor senses the gate latch member in the latch position and to permit movement of the hoist control member to the raise position when the latch position sensor senses the gate latch member in the unlatch position.

Abstract: A vehicle-carried cargo box has a normally upright gate hinged along its lower margin so as to swing outwardly. An operator system includes a cable track sector mounted at one end of the gate to rotate about an axis as the gate is swung. One end of that sector is coupled to the gate above its lower margin. A motive drive system is mounted on the underside of the cargo box, and a cable is coupled between the track sector and that drive system. The cable is routed between the track sector and the drive system, operation of the drive system working the track sector by means of the cable to effect the opening and closing movement of the gate.

Abstract: The invention is a lift for the gate of a truck, and especially a gate at the side of the truck. An L-shaped lift arm has base bars pivotally connected to an actuator mechanism beneath the bed of a truck. These arms swing to the side of the truck when extended and a lift bar on the base bars extends therefrom to engage the outside of a truck gate and the lift bar is angled from the base bars to push the gate upwardly to its closed position when the base bars are rotated to their extended position. The actuator mechanism includes two chain connected sprockets: a smaller sprocket at the base bar pivot and a larger sprocket connecting with the piston of a cylinder. The sprocket pitch diameter ratios are such that rotation of approximately 90.degree. by the larger sprocket will effect an 180.degree. rotation of the smaller sprocket, permitting the lift arm to swing from a fully retracted position underneath the body of the truck to a fully extended position where the lift bar closes the gate.

Abstract: An improved cargo box particularly suited for use in transporting compacted cargo, such as refuse. The cargo box is characterized by a pair of vertically oriented side walls disposed in a pair of forwardly converging planes, a floor of a planar configuration inclined rearwardly, a conveyor traversing the floor including a plurality of endless chains, each being characterized by a plurality of mutually spaced T-bars rigidly affixed thereto, a discharge opening disposed in a transverse plane at the rear end of the box, above the conveyor, a drive unit mounted at the rear of the box, beyond the confines thereof, and a pivotal door, for closing the discharge opening, supported in suspension by a cantilevered pivot in a manner such that the door normally gravitates to an open position.

Abstract: A four-way spool valve controls a double acting fluid motor for locking or unlocking a part such as a tailgate. The valve is spring-urged to a locking position and hand-operable to its unlocking position. A position at the end of the valve is pressurized when in the unlocking position to counteract the spring. This piston monitors supply pressure so that the valve will be automatically shifted to its locking position when pressure drops. This will insure a locked position of the part when pressure is reapplied.

Abstract: A device for controlling the positions of a suspended tailgate on the rear end of the dump body of a truck vehicle, including an abutment member on the tailgate and a pivotal control arm on the dump body engaging the abutment member within a critical range of open positions of the tailgate, and power means for moving the control arm.