A refuse vehicle comprises a chassis, a body assembly, a power source, and a side-loading lift assembly. The chassis is coupled to a plurality of wheels. The body assembly is coupled to the chassis and defines a refuse compartment configured to store refuse material. The side-loading lift assembly comprises a refuse container engagement mechanism and at least one electrically-driven actuation mechanism. The refuse container engagement mechanism is powered by the power source and is configured to selectively engage a refuse container. The at least one electrically-driven actuation mechanism is powered by the power source and is configured to selectively actuate the side-loading lift assembly between an extended position, a retracted position, and a refuse-dumping position.

A refuse vehicle comprises a chassis, a body assembly, a battery system, and a side-loading lift assembly. The body assembly is coupled to the chassis and defines a refuse compartment configured to store refuse material. The battery system is configured to be charged via at least one of an on-board electrical energy generator, an external power source, or a power regenerative braking system. The side-loading lift assembly comprises a refuse container engagement mechanism and at least one electrically-driven actuation mechanism. The refuse container engagement mechanism is configured to selectively engage a refuse container. The at least one electrically-driven actuation mechanism is powered by the battery system and is configured to selectively actuate the side-loading lift assembly between an extended position, a retracted position, and a refuse-dumping position.

A mechanical arm designed to provide automated garbage collection with smooth, constant movement (i.e. movement that has minimal jerk/shock) thereby resulting in limited shock stress on the components and leading to high durability. The mechanical arm including a horizontal displacement system having a plurality of sections rollingly engaged to one another and a motor mounted to an immobile section for drivingly extending section in a generally horizontal orientation, a vertical displacement system having a plurality of masts rollingly engaged to one another and a motor mounted to a first mast for drivingly extending a second mast in a generally vertical orientation, and/or a grabber system having a plurality of fingers mounted to a frame and operated by a single motor.

Operating a refuse collection vehicle to collect refuse from a refuse container includes positioning a refuse collection vehicle with respect to a refuse container to be emptied, and manually engaging a switch to initiate a dump cycle to be performed by the refuse collection vehicle on the refuse container. The dump cycle includes engaging the refuse container with a portion of the vehicle, lifting the engaged refuse container to a dump position, and moving the refuse container to release contents of the refuse container into a hopper of the refuse collection vehicle. The dump cycle continues to completion as long as the switch remains manually engaged.

A lifting arm assembly is movable between a grabbing position and tipping position and includes a static frame provided with a roller arrangement. A dynamic frame is mounted for vertical movement relative to the static frame. A grabber structure is provided with a pair of grabber arms configured for movement between a closed position and an open position. A linkage arrangement has a first end pivotally connected to the dynamic frame, and a second end pivotally attached to the grabber structure. The first end includes a set of teeth arranged in meshing engagement with the roller arrangement on the static frame. Movement of the dynamic frame relative to the static frame causes pivoting of the linkage arrangement resulting in lifting movement of the grabber structure along a curvilinear path between the grabbing position and the tipping position.

A side loading refuse collection truck has a collection bin storing refuse placed in the refuse collection truck. A tailgate is coupled to the collection bin. A collection hopper is coupled to the collection bin, wherein the collection hopper is recessed within a body of the refuse collection truck. A side loader coupled to the collection hopper, wherein a distal end of the side loader when the collection hopper is in a stowed positon lies within a body outline of a perimeter of a body of the refuse collection truck.

A refuse collection assembly for a refuse collection vehicle mounts to a intermediate container on the refuse collection vehicle. The refuse receptacle collection assembly can grasp a refuse receptacle at curbside, at street side, or forward of the intermediate container in any location over a one hundred eighty degree arc. The collection assembly grasps the receptacle and locates it above the intermediate container and tilts it sufficiently to empty the contents of the receptacle in the intermediate container. The collection assembly then returns the receptacle upright to its previous location or to any location to the right, left or forward of the refuse collection assembly. The refuse receptacle collection assembly includes a rail extending along a wall of the intermediate container, a carriage selectively movable along the rail, and a receptacle engaging assembly supported by the carriage for grasping the refuse receptacle.

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 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 collection vehicle includes a refuse grabber assembly, a lift arm coupled to the refuse grabber assembly, and a hopper configured to receive refuse from the refuse container. The lift arm is operable to position the refuse grabber assembly. The refuse grabber assembly includes a first grabber arm and a second grabber arm that are configured to cooperate to engage the refuse container. The first grabber arm includes a first gripper and a first support arm coupled to the first gripper. The first gripper includes a first deformable structure configured to contact a first surface of a refuse container. The second grabber arm includes a second gripper and a second support arm coupled to the second gripper. The second gripper includes a second deformable structure configured to contact a second surface of the refuse container.