A fully automated container handling system for a refuse vehicle is provided that utilizes a vehicle-includes an extending, pivoting arm with a base equipped with a converging grabber to seize and empty the container. The base that grabs the container includes a sonar transducer that functions with a hydraulic system that operates the arm and grabber using a programmable mounted video camera which feeds video to a cab-mounted monitor to inform a driver of the location of a container of interest enabling accurate alignment of the vehicle. The system is operated by a single button in the cab and logic controller (PLC) computer program to run the hydraulic controls.

A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body assembly coupled to the chassis where the body assembly defines a refuse compartment, and a lift assembly pivotably coupled to the body assembly. The lift assembly includes a first lift arm, a second lift arm, a pin having a first end coupled to the first lift arm and an opposing second end coupled to the second lift arm, a pair of forks pivotably coupled to the first lift arm and the second lift arm, an electric lift actuator coupled to the pin, and an electric fork actuator coupled to the pair of forks. The electric lift actuator is configured to rotate the pin to lift the first lift arm and the second lift arm. The electric fork actuator is configured to pivot the pair of forks relative to the first lift arm and the second lift arm.

An electric power take-off system includes a motor configured to convert electrical power received from a battery into hydraulic power, an inverter configured to provide electrical power to the motor from the battery, a heat dissipation device in thermal communication with the inverter, wherein the heat dissipation device includes a thermal fluid pump configured to pump cooling fluid through a plurality of conduits, a flow meter configured determine a flow rate through the plurality of conduits, and a controller configured to receive data from the flow meter and provide operating parameters to the heat dissipation device, wherein the controller is further configured to determine if the data from the flow meter is less than a critical operating condition and decrease the hydraulic power provided by the electric power take-off system in response to determining that the data from the flow meter is less than the critical operating condition.

A grabber assembly has a beam assembly with a bracket. A grabber gear assembly is coupled with the bracket. The grabber gear assembly has a pair of gear mechanisms coupled with the bracket. Each gear mechanism has a shaft and a pair of thrust bearings, one at each end of the shaft. A grabber arm mounting pad is coupled with each shaft. A gear section is coupled with each shaft. The gear sections of each shaft mesh with one another to drive the grabber arm mounting pads. An actuating driver is coupled with one of the shafts to drive the grabber gear assembly and move the arms between an open and grasping position.

An ejection blade for a compaction chamber with a hopper, the ejection blade including a blade body movable between a first position and a second position within the compaction chamber, and a lip attached to a lower portion of the blade body, the lip is movable to a raised position with respect to a floor of the compaction chamber when the blade body is moving to the first position and is in a lowered position with respect to the floor of the compaction chamber when the blade body is moving to the second position, wherein the first position is proximal to the hopper and the second position is distal to the hopper.

A detection system for a side loading waste collection vehicle with a side lifting arm for lifting and lowering a bin and a gripping assembly near the end of the lifting arm, including one or more sensors to detect the presence of an object or person, control means to receive and process sensor input to control the operation of the lifting arm, wherein the detection system defines two zones where a first zone covers the space through which the bin moves between a raised and a lowered position and a second zone is the space surrounding the first zone; in use the movement of the lifting arm is stopped when a person or object is detected within the first zone and when a person or object is detected moving within the second zone.

A fully automated container handling system for a refuse vehicle is provided that utilizes a vehicle-mounted video camera which feeds video to a cab-mounted monitor to inform a driver of the location of a container of interest enabling accurate alignment of the vehicle. The system is operated by a single button in the cab and includes an extending, pivoting arm with a base equipped with a converging grabber to seize and empty the container. The base that grabs the container includes a sonar transducer that functions with a hydraulic system that operates the arm and grabber using a programmable logic controller (PLC) computer program to run the hydraulic controls.

A refuse collection vehicle includes a grabber that is operable to engage a refuse container, a lift arm that is operable to lift a refuse container, at least one sensor that is arranged to collect data indicating an angular position of the grabber, at least one sensor that is arranged to collect data indicating a relative positioning of the lift arm, a first controller for adjusting the angular position of the grabber, and a second controller adjusting the relative positioning of the lift arm. The adjustment of the angular position of the grabber is coordinated with the adjustment of the relative positioning of the lift arm.

A refuse vehicle comprises a chassis, a body assembly, a power source, a tailgate, and a refuse interaction mechanism. The body assembly is coupled to the chassis and defines a refuse compartment configured to store refuse material. The refuse interaction mechanism comprises a refuse interaction element and an electric motor. The refuse interaction element is configured to selectively apply a force onto the refuse material within the refuse compartment. The refuse interaction element is moveable between a receiving position, in which the refuse compartment is configured to receive refuse material, and a force-exerting position, in which the refuse interaction element is configured to exert the force on the refuse material stored within the refuse compartment. The electric motor is powered by the power source and configured to selectively move the refuse interaction element between the receiving position and the force-exerting position.

A grabber assembly has a beam assembly with a bracket. A grabber gear assembly is coupled with the bracket. The grabber gear assembly has a pair of gear mechanisms coupled with the bracket. Each gear mechanism has a shaft and a pair of thrust bearings, one at each end of the shaft. A grabber arm mounting pad is coupled with each shaft. A gear section is coupled with each shaft. The gear sections of each shaft mesh with one another to drive the grabber arm mounting pads. An actuating driver is coupled with one of the shafts to drive the grabber gear assembly and move the arms between an open and grasping position.