Patent classifications
B65F2003/025
ARTICULATED FRONT LOADER ARM MECHANISM FOR USE WITH A CONVENTIONAL REFUSE COLLECTION EXTENDED CAB CHASSIS
An articulated front loader arm structure is provided for use with a conventional refuse collection vehicle having a conventional cab chassis. The articulated arm structure is controlled by a programmed logic controller (PLC) which for monitors and controls the movement of the front loader articulated arm structure. The PLC communicates with various cylinders and sensors to control the extension/retraction of the various cylinders associated with the various arm sections of the front loader arm structure during movement through both its container dump cycle and its container return cycle. The articulated arm structure allows the present front loader arm mechanism to both extend over a conventional cab chassis as well as to be stored on top of the refuse vehicle under the current legal height restriction of 13 feet, 6 inches.
ELECTRIC GRASPING APPARATUS FOR REFUSE VEHICLE
A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, multiple tractive elements, a reach assembly, and a lift assembly. The multiple tractive elements are coupled with the chassis and configured to support the refuse vehicle. The reach assembly is coupled with the refuse vehicle. The lift assembly is coupled with the reach assembly. The lift assembly includes a track and a fully-electric grabber assembly. The track includes a straight portion and a curved portion. The fully-electric grabber assembly can ascend or descend the track and includes a carriage, a first grabber arm, a second grabber arm, and an electric motor. The carriage is configured to movably couple with the track. The first grabber arm and the second grabber arm are pivotally coupled with the carriage at opposite ends of the carriage. The electric motor is configured to drive the first grabber arm and the second grabber arm to rotate relative to the carriage.
Refuse vehicle with electric reach apparatus
A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, tractive elements, a lift apparatus, and a reach assembly. The tractive elements couple with the chassis and support the refuse vehicle. The lift apparatus includes a track and a grabber assembly. The track includes a straight portion and a curved portion. The grabber assembly releasably grasps a refuse container and ascends or descends the track to lift and empty refuse into a body of the refuse vehicle. The reach assembly includes an outer member, a first extendable member, and a second extendable member. The first extendable member is received within an inner volume of the outer member and translates relative to the outer member. The second extendable member is received within an inner volume of the first extendable member and translates relative to the first extendable member. The lift apparatus is fixedly coupled at an outer end of the second extendable member.
Front lift assembly for electric refuse vehicle
A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body assembly coupled to the chassis and defining a refuse compartment, an electric energy system, and a lift assembly. The lift assembly includes a pair of lift arms pivotally coupled to the body assembly, a pair of forks pivotally coupled to the pair of lift arms, a lift arm actuator positioned to facilitate pivoting the pair of lift arms relative to the body assembly, and a fork actuator extending between the pair of lift arms and the pair of forks. The fork actuator is positioned to facilitate pivoting the pair of forks relative to the pair of lift arms. The lift arm actuator and the fork actuator are powered by the electric energy system.
Externally Controlled Switch Mechanism
A control mechanism for a refuse vehicle includes a first control valve that operates a first hydraulically controlled mechanism and a second control valve that operates a second hydraulically controlled mechanism. The control mechanism also includes a plurality of switches and a pneumatic control mechanism. The plurality of switches generates a valve select signal and a mode signal. The pneumatic control mechanism selectively controls the first control valve and the second control valve based on the valve select signal and the mode signal. An operator of the refuse vehicle actuates the plurality of switches while the operator is operating the pneumatic control mechanism.
Refuse vehicle body assembly
A vehicle includes a chassis, a cab coupled to the chassis, a body coupled to the chassis rearward of the cab, a bracket, and a valve assembly. The body defines a compartment. The body includes a bottom wall defining a horizontal plane and a front wall defining a vertical plane. The bracket has an arm that is coupled to and extends rearward from the front wall into the compartment at an angle such that the arm is neither parallel with the horizontal plane nor parallel with the vertical plane. The valve assembly is coupled to the bracket such that at least a portion of the valve assembly is disposed within the compartment.
AUTOMATED ALIGNMENT AND DUMPING OF REFUSE CANS
refuse collection vehicle and configured to detect objects on one or more sides of the refuse vehicle, an actuator assembly configured to actuate to engage the refuse can, and a controller configured to detect, using a single-stage object detector, the presence of the refuse can based on first data received from the at least one sensor, determine, based on the first data, a position of the refuse can with respect to the refuse collection vehicle, generate a first trajectory from the refuse collection vehicle to the position of the refuse can, generate a second trajectory for the actuator assembly, and initiate a control action to move at least one of the refuse collection vehicle along the first trajectory or the actuator assembly along the second trajectory to engage the refuse can.
CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A REFUSE VEHICLE
- Jeffrey Koga ,
- Emily Davis ,
- Jerrod Kappers ,
- Vince Schad ,
- Robert S. Messina ,
- Christopher K. Yakes ,
- Vincent Hoover ,
- Clinton T. Weckwerth ,
- Zachary L. Klein ,
- John Beck ,
- Brendan Chan ,
- Skylar A. Wachter ,
- Nader Nasr ,
- Chad K. Smith ,
- Logan Gary ,
- Derek A. Wente ,
- Shawn Naglik ,
- Mike J. Bolton ,
- Jacob Wallin ,
- Quincy Wittman ,
- Christopher J. Rukas ,
- Dylan Hess ,
- Jason Rice ,
- Zhenyi Wei ,
- Bashar Amin ,
- Catherine Linsmeier ,
- Joshua D. Rocholl ,
- Dale Matsumoto
A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, an energy storage device, a body, a first electric power take-off system, and a second electric power take-off system. The energy storage device is supported by the chassis and is configured to provide electrical power to a prime mover. Activation of the prime mover selectively drives the refuse vehicle. The body is supported by the chassis. The first electric power take-off system is coupled to at least one of the body and the chassis, and includes a first motor that is configured to drive a first hydraulic pump to convert electrical power received from the energy storage device into hydraulic power. The second electric power take-off system is coupled to at least one of the body and the chassis, and includes a second motor that is configured to drive a second hydraulic pump to convert electrical power received from the energy storage device into hydraulic power.
FRONT LIFT ASSEMBLY FOR ELECTRIC REFUSE VEHICLE
A lift assembly for a refuse vehicle includes a lift arm pivotally coupled to a body of the refuse vehicle and a pair of forks pivotally coupled to the lift arm, the pair of forks is configured to engage with a refuse container. The lift assembly further includes an electric lift arm actuator comprising an output shaft. The electric lift arm actuator may be communicably coupled to an electric energy system. The lift assembly further includes a pin coupled to the lift arm assembly and the electric lift arm actuator. The pin is configured to rotate about a pin axis. Rotation of the output shaft causes the lift arm assembly to rotate relative to the body via the pin.
Extendable lift arm assembly for a front end loading refuse vehicle
A vehicle includes a chassis, a body coupled to the chassis, and a lift assembly coupled to at least one of the chassis or the body. The lift assembly includes a first lift arm and a second lift arm. The first lift arm includes a first arm portion, a second arm portion interfacing with the first arm portion, a first actuator positioned to facilitate repositioning the second arm portion relative to the first arm portion, and a second actuator positioned to pivot the first arm portion. The second lift arm includes a third arm portion, a fourth arm portion interfacing with the third arm portion, a third actuator positioned to facilitate repositioning the fourth arm portion relative to the third arm portion, and a fourth actuator positioned to pivot the second arm portion.