A refuse collection vehicle includes a body having a storage compartment and a packer system. The storage compartment includes a floor. The packer system includes an ejector, two or more helical band actuators, and a driver. The helical band actuators each include a drive cylinder base, a helical band drive cylinder, and a drive cylinder receptacle coupled between the helical band drive cylinder and the ejector. The driver is commonly coupled to the helical band actuators and operable to extend and retract the helical band drive cylinders. The helical band actuators are operable to advance the ejector such that refuse is compacted in the storage compartment or ejected from the storage compartment.

A solid waste displacement system, more specifically a system affixed to a mobile structure (such as, for instance, a truck bed, a trailer, and the like), provided. Such a system includes a drive shaft coupled to a movable wall assembly that provides sufficient force to push solid waste from the mobile structure along the drive shaft when operated. The drive shaft may be a chain driven device or any other like mechanism that accords movement and force to the movable wall assembly for such a solid waste displacement purpose. The device as well as the method of utilizing such a device on and/or within a mobile structure are encompassed herein.

A refuse vehicle includes a chassis and a body supported by the chassis. The body defines a collection chamber that is configured to store refuse therein. The body includes a bottom wall and a sub-frame assembly. The sub-frame assembly includes a pair of frame rails and a plurality of cross-members. The pair of frame rails is coupled to the bottom wall and extending in a longitudinal direction along the bottom wall. The plurality of cross-members is engaged with the bottom wall and extend in a lateral direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. Each of the plurality of cross-members extends through the pair of frame rails. The plurality of cross-members each has a uniform cross-sectional shape along their entire length.

A organic waste collection vehicle includes a chassis, a rear container for containing waste material, the rear container being mounted on the chassis, a hopper connected to the rear container and spaced above the chassis, the hopper being furthermore sloped to flow liquid toward the rear container, an automatic bin-tipping mechanism for dumping organic waste from a waste bin into the hopper, and a packer for compacting the organic waste material.

A solid waste displacement system, more specifically a system affixed to a mobile structure (such as, for instance, a truck bed, a trailer, and the like), provided. Such a system includes a drive shaft coupled to a movable wall assembly that provides sufficient force to push solid waste from the mobile structure along the drive shaft when operated. The drive shaft may be a chain driven device or any other like mechanism that accords movement and force to the movable wall assembly for such a solid waste displacement purpose. The device as well as the method of utilizing such a device on and/or within a mobile structure are encompassed herein.

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 refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body, a power source, and a tailgate. 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 tailgate comprises a refuse receiving portion, a tailgate compaction assembly, and an electrically-driven actuation mechanism. The refuse receiving portion is configured to receive refuse material. The tailgate compaction assembly is selectively actuatable to compact the refuse material received by the refuse receiving portion into the refuse compartment. The electrically-driven actuation mechanism is powered by the power source and is configured to selectively actuate the tailgate compaction assembly.

The present invention is directed toward a new and improved compactor or packer. The compactor, which may be used to compact refuse, includes a container, a track disposed within the container, and a ball screw rotatably disposed within the track. The compactor further includes a ball nut operatively coupled around the ball screw, where rotation of the ball screw causes the ball nut to move along or traverse the ball screw. A packer blade is coupled to the ball nut via a floating interface. Movement of the ball nut long the ball screw due to rotation of the ball screw forces the packer blade to move within the container. The floating interface allows the packer blade to float within the container with respect to the ball nut to reduce the likelihood of binding of the ball nut on the ball screw as the packer blade traverses within the container.

A method and system for compacting waste materials in a collection container. The container can be a freestanding waste container, a self-contained compaction container, or a container on a waste collection vehicle. A hydraulically operated compactor blade is positioned in the upper portion of the container with its bottom edge a distance above the floor. A door member can be provided in the rear wall of the collection container. The compactor blade can be in its rest position relative to the top opening. The container member can be positioned or located on a trailer or truck-type vehicle and adapted to be tilted for evacuation of materials collected therein.

A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body assembly, and a tailgate. The body assembly is coupled to the chassis and defines a refuse compartment configured to store refuse material. The tailgate comprises a refuse receiving portion, a thresher assembly, and an electrically driven actuation mechanism. The refuse receiving portion is configured to receive refuse material. The thresher assembly includes a compaction thresher including a plurality of tines and a plurality of tine springs configured to bias the plurality of tines in a direction of compaction. The plurality of tine springs are each disposed around a corresponding tine of the plurality of tines. The electrically driven actuation mechanism is configured to selectively actuate the thresher assembly.