Multi-Use Garbage Truck

Abstract

A multi-use garbage truck has an ability to not only to front load containers of garbage into a hopper in a refuse collection body, but also an ability to swap out the forks, if not arm connection assemblies, or even entire frame arms, to be replaced with one of a plurality of attachments which connect to at least one, if not both frame arms with attachments for various uses such as snow plow, leaf blower, street sweeper, bucket, grapple, etc. Furthermore, an ability to independently operate the left frame arm relative to the right frame arm can now be provided so that the left frame arm can utilize and perform one function and the right frame arm provide another or at least be independently operable from one another.

Claims

1.-20. (canceled)

21. A front-loading refuse collection vehicle, comprising: a chassis; a cab coupled to a front portion of the chassis; a hopper coupled to the chassis rearward of the cab; left and right frame arms pivotably coupled to opposing sides of the hopper along a pivot axis; a support extending between the left and right frame arms, the support configured to alternatively and releasably couple with: (i) left and right refuse-collection forks, and (ii) an attachment other than forks; and a retainer coupled to the support and configured to alternatively engage the forks or the attachment as the forks or the attachment rest on the support.

22. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 21, wherein the attachment comprises a road maintenance apparatus.

23. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 21, wherein the left and right refuse-collection forks define first and second openings configured to be received by the support.

24. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 23, wherein the first and second openings comprise first and second grooves.

25. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 21, wherein the pivot axis is disposed towards a front and bottom portion of the hopper and rearward of the cab.

26. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 21, wherein the support is coupled to the left and right frame arms at distal end portions of the frame arms, wherein the frame arms are releasably attached to opposing sides of the hopper.

27. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 26, further comprising left and right driver arms coupled to (i) the frame arms; and (ii) the support, the driver arms configured to drive rotation of the support relative to the frame arms.

28. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 27, wherein the driver arms are configured to move rotationally while rotating the support.

29. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 26, wherein the support comprises an aperture aligned with the retainer.

30. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 22, wherein the road maintenance apparatus comprises at least one of: a snow plow attachment, a blower attachment, a sweeper attachment, a bucket attachment, a vacuum attachment, a grapple attachment, a grasper arm, a salt spreader attachment, or a grabbing assembly.

31. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 21, further comprising one or more hydraulic cylinders coupled to (i) the frame arms above the pivot axis; and (ii) the chassis.

32. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 31, wherein each of the one or more hydraulic cylinders comprise extension and retraction of pistons, and wherein actuation of the pistons drives rotation of the frame arms about the pivot axis.

33. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 21, wherein, the refuse collection vehicle is configured to selectively operate in a refuse collection mode or a non-refuse collection mode, wherein, in the refuse collection mode, the refuse-collection forks are coupled to the frame arms and the support, and wherein, in the non-refuse collection mode, the attachment is coupled to the frame arms and the support.

34. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 22, further comprising an arm extension configured to couple at least one of the frame arms to the road maintenance apparatus.

35. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 34, wherein the road maintenance apparatus comprises a sleeve configured to receive a portion of the arm extension.

36. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 21, further comprising one or more quick-connect couplings configured to connect the attachment to at least one of an electrical or hydraulic connection of the front-loading refuse collection vehicle.

37. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 21, wherein at least one of the left or right refuse-collection forks defines an aperture aligned with the retainer.

38. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 37, wherein the retainer extends through a bore, the retainer reversibly anchoring the at least one left or right refuse-collection fork to the support.

39. The front-loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 38, wherein the bore extends through the support, and wherein the bore is aligned with the aperture.

40. An attachment system for a refuse collection vehicle, the attachment system comprising: a support extending between left and right frame arms pivotably coupled to opposing sides of the refuse collection vehicle, the support configured to alternatively and releasably couple with: (i) left and right refuse-collection forks, and (ii) an attachment other than forks; and a retainer coupled to the support configured to alternatively engage the forks or the attachment as the forks or the attachment rest on the support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0023] FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of a prior art refuse body;

[0024] FIG. 1B is a side view of the prior art refuse body connected to a chassis:

[0025] FIG. 2A is a right side perspective view of a prior art semi-automated can connected to forks;

[0026] FIG. 2B is a left side perspective view of the prior art semi-automated can connected to forks;

[0027] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of a presently preferred embodiment of a first attachment;

[0028] FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing the construction of the arms of FIG. 3;

[0029] FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the second attachment connected to the frame arms;

[0030] FIG. 6 is a side plan view of a third attachment attached to one of the frame arms;

[0031] FIG. 7 is a front plan view of a vehicle with a refuse body with the left and right frame arms independently rotatable relative to one another for independent movement showing one can dumping and the other holding a second attachment in the form of a container in the first configuration;

[0032] FIG. 8 is a fourth alternative attachment;

[0033] FIG. 9 is a fifth alternative attachment connected to the frame arms of the preferred embodiment;

[0034] FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment with removable forks connected to a crossbar; and

[0035] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the cross bar and fork connection of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0036] FIG. 1A showed a prior art construction with standard forks of a garbage truck body 1 having right and left forks 2,3 for holding a garbage receptacle such as a 3 yard, 6 yard, 9 yard, etc., container and then dumping into the receiver 9 as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. This body 1 is mounted to a chassis 16 having a cab 17 as are provided by various manufacturers as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Although standard commercial containers can be dumped using this construction, a number of years ago one of the applicant's divisions developed the structure of FIGS. 2A and 2B where a container was semi-permanently connected to the forks 2,3 which used a grasper 5 to grab residential cans and dump them into the container 4 and then after filling to a sufficient degree, dump the container 4 into the receiver 9. This device was an excellent innovation and is widely used across America today. However, other than selecting the use of the container 4 or picking up other commercial receptacle containers as are well known in the art, there are typically no other uses for the garbage truck body 1. With increasing pressures on municipalities and other departments, it would be desirable to have an ability to replace the forks 2,3 with other attachments in order to provide other functions other than just the filling of containers such as container 4 and/or dumping containers 4 into the receiver 9.

[0037] For instance, FIG. 3 shows a first attachment 20 in the form of a snow plow and/or other blade 22 which may be disposed along an axis 24 which may be parallel to a cross bar 26 extending between frame arms 28,30 or not. In fact, the axis 24 may be angled relative to the cross bar 26 for some applications to assist in deflecting snow to one side or the other of an attached vehicle such as vehicle 100 as seen in FIG. 7 and as could be connected to the body 1 of FIG. 1 as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

[0038] The snow plow attachment 20 could be attached in a number of ways to the frame arms 12 and 13 of the container body 1. The one preferred way of attaching them is shown in FIG. 4. Specifically, at a lower end of the frame arms 12,13, a modification of frame arms 28,30 is made relative to prior art constructions. Specifically, the frame arms 28,30 connect to arm connectors shown as sleeves 32,34. Specifically, extension 36 is shown being received within sleeve 32 with one or more connectors such as connectors 38,40,42 being directed through the sleeve 32 and the extension 36 and out the opposite side of the sleeve 32 possibly retained with nuts 44,46,48 as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. This way an operator with at least one, if not two wrenches could simply disconnect the connectors 38,40,42 from the at least the extension 36 and another sleeve 34 so another attachment could then be connected to the extensions 36 on frame arms 28,30.

[0039] Prior to doing this, it may be desirable to disconnect the first electrical connection 50 and/or second electrical connection 52 and/or first hydraulic connection 54 and/or second hydraulic connection 56 and/or others as may be present for various constructions. The hydraulic connections could be directed to such components as first cylinders and second cylinders 58,60 etc. and/or others as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Electrical connections such as first and second electrical connections 50,52 may provide power for the grasper 5 of the can dumper and dumping device shown in FIG. 2 and/or other devices. Connections 50-56 may be quick connect connections and not all attachments necessarily need to be provided with connections 50-56. These connectors 50-56 could be relatively rapidly connected and disconnected by an operator so that with them disconnected the mechanical connections of holding the sleeve 32 relative to the extension 36 could then be disconnected/connected as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art to relatively rapidly connect and/or disconnect a particular attachment such as the snow plow attachment 20 to frame arms 28,30 of a typical front loading garbage truck body 1.

[0040] While the connection 65,67 for the illustrated embodiment occurs above the upper connections 61,63 for the cylinders 58,60, in other embodiments it may occur below this connection 65,67 and/or other locations. In a preferred embodiment the entire frame arms 12,13 are not replaced, however, in other embodiments it may be possible to replace the entire frame arms 12,13 in a relatively efficient manner for this new type of versatility for a garbage truck body 1.

[0041] Another option for at least some embodiments may be to use the standard frame arms 12,13 such as shown in FIG. 1 and have the forks 62,64 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 be constructed to be removably connected to cross bar 66 in one of the various ways as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art such as providing first and second grooves 68,70 which can fit over the cross bar 66 and possibly utilize connectors such as bolts and/or pins 72,74 to then anchor the forks 62,64 without a need to replace the cross bar 66. Pins 72,74 may extend into the cross bar 66 and be screwed such as in threaded bore 71 or otherwise secured thereto. With this construction, the cross bar 66 may be maintained in place for at least some embodiments. Yet, other embodiments of cross bar 66 could be removed which may facilitate a need to provide a different construction. With the cross bar 66 in place, there may be no need to change the hydraulic controls as the first and second pistons 58,60 will most likely remain in position so that the cross bar 66 can be rotated as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. However, by having removable forks, 62,64 which are not typically removable from a cross bar 66 in the past, the ability then to connect such as at those locations or others with similar or different connectors 76 (the other being opposite and being obscured by snow plow attachment 20) could then be utilized to connect the snow plow attachment 20 to the cross bar 66 without a need to replace, connect and/or reconnect electrical and/or hydraulic connections in a similar or dissimilar manners as the forks 62,64. This style construction could be utilized with the frame arms 28,30 and arm connectors shown as extensions 34,36 as well for at least some embodiments.

[0042] Accordingly, as can be seen by comparison of FIG. 10 with FIG. 3, the ability to swap out the forks 62,64 with the snow plow attachment 20 is believed to be novel over prior art construction for use with a garbage truck body 1 as can be provided on a vehicle 100 as is shown in FIG. 7 and others. While the snow plow attachment 20 may be useful in some applications, other attachments such as a salt spreader attachment 80 shown in FIG. 5 may be desirable which could connect with electrical and/or hydraulic connections such as connections 50-56 provided on the arms 12,13 (28,30) and/or on the cross bar 66 may be useful to operate portions of the salt spreader such as to be able to selectively dispense salt or other particulate from the spreader 80. Furthermore, it may be that the connections that are made or other device may receive an electric signal from the particular attachment such as attachment 20,80 so as to potentially limit and/or facilitate movement of the frame arms 28,30 and/or cross bar 66 for instance to prevent rotating the salt spreader 80 to contact the front of the chassis or other portion of the vehicle. RFID technology or other wireless technology could be utilized to assist in recognizing which attachment such as forks 62,64 snow plow attachment 20, salt spreader 80 and/or other attachments are connected at any point in time to assist in providing additional safety measures for an operator such as to automatically limit the motion of different attachments which are likely and/or preferably different than for the forks 62,64. A processor 202 and/or a controller 201 can be used to switch configurations for various embodiments either automatically and/or manually by an operator.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows the left frame arm 30 connected to a residential can grasper attachment 90 which could be similar or dissimilar to other residential can grasping arms as typically have a first arm 92 which moves relative to a second arm 94 such as about a pivot 96 to grab a residential trash can 98 which could be a 95 gallon or other sized can. In this method, a single arm 12 could then be utilized to dump a single can which is shown with reference to FIG. 7 in the receiver 9. The operation of the left arm 12 is shown independent of the operation of the right arm 13 in this operational configuration which is different from the typical garbage collection configuration (both arms 28,30 move together). This way, while one arm is collecting residential cans, the other arm could support a container 102 such that the operators around the truck could be filling for the subsequent dumping of the receptacle 9 which may even be divided for some embodiments such as the ability to collect brush in the container 102 while dumping trash from the containers 98 on the other half. Other dual purpose arrangements could include collection of recyclables and general trash or different kinds of recyclables or other rationales to support a reason to split collection efforts. Furthermore, it may just be that additional trash above and beyond what has been in the cans 98 may be collected by the operators in the container 102. Of course, it may also be possible to split the operations other than just for receiving trash, it could be that two graspers are provided at the front with the ability to grasp two different residential cans and/or provide other features. Switching back to a garbage collection configuration to simultaneously raise and lower arms 28,30 could then be completed when switching to forks 62,64 or other attachment which prefers simultaneous movement. Other attachments may have other limitations associated there with which differ from limitations associated with the garbage collection configuration.

[0044] FIG. 9 shows a grapple attachment 110 or at least a portion thereof having an upper row of fingers 112 which cooperate with a lower row 114 and while the lower row 114 can be driven by cross bar 66 the same rotation may depending on the location of pivot axis 116 such as could be connected by a shaft 118 or not could be made to be able to operate the clasping nature of the fingers 112,114. Other methodology could be employed relative to the rotation and/or movement of the cross bar 66 relative to pivot 118 as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. Logs or other material could be picked up and/or other material picked up with the grapple attachment 110. Once again, the connections could be done as described above to swap out the attachment 110 with any of the other attachments and/or forks.

[0045] In addition to a dedicated residential automated collection container such as is shown in FIG. 2, a commercial fork system such as is shown in FIG. 10, other connections such as a snow plow shown in FIG. 3, a rear end loader container collection system could be employed, fork lift arms (not shown), a curb sweeping attachment (not shown), a curb leaf blowing attachment (not shown), a grapple attachment shown in FIG. 9, a bucket attachment as shown in FIG. 8,120 and/or other could be provided as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The bucket attachment 120 of FIG. 8 could be connected by either utilizing the system shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the system shown in FIG. 11 or other connection systems.

[0046] Now instead of going through and replacing the entire set of arms 12,13, at least for many embodiments of the arm connectors as described above could be exchanged quickly replace attachments. Alternatively, the specific attachments could be relatively easily replaced relative to a non-replaced cross bar 66 for at least some embodiments. Change out time is reduced and the possibility of multiple use could be a significant advantage. Arms 12,13 could be replaced as well for some embodiments.

[0047] RFID or other technology could be utilized to coordinate with software (such as pressure 202) to facilitate movement of the arms 28,30, crossbar 66 and or other portions of the system to ensure that the cab 122 or other portion of the refuse container body or carrier vehicle 100 is not inadvertently contacted with a particular piece of equipment from the attachments. A controller 201 could also be used for manual control by an operator. The technology could utilize the electrical and/or other communication system to coordinate the information as to which attachment is provided at any particular point in time. The technology may further advise the software and/or processor 201 that the attachment is securely connected and possibly provide other information.

[0048] Some competitors or others may try to replace the entire arms 12,13 as they connect all the way back to the pivot point at the refuse garbage truck body 1 for some embodiments. While this is certainly possible using the technology described herein, it is more likely than not that portions of the arms 12,13 (with arm connector) and/or connection portions of the attachments to the cross member 66 will be the more likely change out positions for various attachments as shown and described above through the systems taught and suggested herein.

[0049] While the application of this technology certainly will not apply to every front end loading garbage truck body 1 in the marketplace, there appears to be a likelihood that for those customers requiring versatility and the ability to multi task with a specific vehicle 100, this may be an excellent option for an ability to provide such services on a limited basis such as snow plow services particularly in the south where that would be a relatively rare occurrence without having a need to provide a separate vehicle with a snow plow. The same is true for a salt spreader attachment 80 particularly in some locations where there would be little expectations that garbage service would be provided such as a weather event.

[0050] For support of claims, a front loading refuse collection vehicle can have a chassis 16 supporting a refuse collection body 1. The chassis 16 can have a cab 17 disposed towards a front of the chassis 16 where an operator can drive the chassis 16. The refuse collection body 1 can have left and right frame arms 28,30 disposed towards a front bottom portion of the hopper 9 and rearward of the cab 17. The frame arms 28,30 can be pivotably connected relative to one of a hopper 9 and the chassis 16 on opposing sides of the hopper 9 along a pivot axis 6 and/or 7. Cylinders 14,15 can be connected to the frame arms 28,30 above the pivot axis 6 and/or 7, and to one of the chassis 16 and hopper 9 whereby said cylinders 14,15 direct the frame arms 28,30 in a radial manner about the pivot axis 6 and/or 7 whereby articles (or attachments) connected to the frame arms 28,30 may be directed to clear the cab 17 of the chassis 16 from in front of the cab 17 to up and over the cab 17 above the hopper 9. The refuse collection body 1 may have a first mode of operation whereby the left frame arm 30 can be independently rotated relative to the right frame arm 28 about the pivot axis or axes 6 and/or 7.

[0051] In the first mode of operation, a first of the left and right frame arms 28,30 may rotate to a dump state rear of the cab 17 in the hopper 9, while a second of the left and right frame arms 28,30 may have a forward-most portion forward of the cab 17 and below at least a portion of the operator in the cab 17 driving the vehicle for at least some embodiments.

[0052] The first of the left and right frame arms 28,30 may have a grabbing assembly 97 configured to grasp residential garbage cans 98.

[0053] A second of the left and right frame arms 28,30 can be connected to one of a leaf blower, a street sweeper, a snow plow, a bucket, and a refuse container.

[0054] At least one of the left and right frame arms 28,30 and a connecting crossbar 66 can connect the right and left frame arms 28,30 at ends of the frame arms opposite the frame arms from the pivot axis 6,7 and can be configured to receive at least one of plurality of attachments other than container forks 62,64.

[0055] A refuse collection body 1 can have a second mode of operation whereby the left and right frame arms 28,30 operate in synchronous movement together about the pivot axis 6 and/or 7.

[0056] A front loading refuse collection vehicle can have a chassis 16 supporting a refuse collection body 1, said chassis 16 having a cab 17 disposed towards a front of the chassis 16 where an operator can drive the chassis 16. Left and right frame arms 28,30 can be pivotably connected relative to a hopper 9 on opposing sides of the hopper 9 along a pivot axis 6 and/or 7. The pivot axis 6 and/or 7 can be disposed towards a front and bottom of the hopper 9 and rearward of the cab 17. Cylinders 14 and 15 can be connected to the frame arms 28,30 above the pivot axis 6 and/or 7 and to one of the chassis 16 and refuse collection body 1. The cylinders, through extension and retraction of pistons 91,92 may direct the frame arms 28,30 in a radial manner about the pivot axis 6 and/or 7 whereby attachments connected to the frame arms 28,30 are directed to clear the cab 17 of the chassis 16 from in front of the cab 17 to up and over the cab 17 and above the hopper 9.

[0057] A front cross bar 66 can connect the frame arms 28,30 at an end of the frame arms 28,30 opposite the pivot axis 6 and/or 7. Said front cross bar 66 can be rotatably driven relative to the frame arms by driver arms 59,69 connected by cylinders 58,60 to the frame arms, whereupon extension and retractions of pistons 63,65, the driver arms 59,69 can be moved rotationally while rotating the crossbar 66. The crossbar 66 can be configured to selectively connect to a selected one of a plurality of attachments in addition to container forks 62,64 used in a garbage dumping configuration. A container 4 can be at least temporarily supported by the container forks 62,64 and then rotated over the cab 17 and dumped in the hopper 9 in the garbage dumping configuration. The plurality of attachments can be selected from the group of a snow plow attachment, a blower attachment, a street sweeper attachment, a vacuum attachment, a bucket attachment, a grapple attachment, a grasper arm, and a spreader attachment or other attachments. The selected one of the attachments can connect directly to the crossbar 66 in a first alternative configuration.

[0058] A selected one of the plurality of attachments can coordinate with the frame arms 28,30 whereby when in the first alternative configuration, movement limitations which differ from movement limitations imposed in the garbage dumping configuration are provided to limit at least one of the rotational movement of the frame arms 28,30, the cross bar 66, and the cross bar 66 relative to the position of the frame arms 28,30. A selected one of the attachments provides a signal through one of a wireless (such as from device 199) and an electrical connection 50-56 to a processor 202 connected to one of the chassis 16 and the refuse collection body 1, said processor 202 receiving the signal and switching from the garbage dumping configuration to the first alternative configuration.

[0059] At least one quick connect 50-56 for a selected one of an electric and a hydraulic line 51,53 directed along the frame arms 28,30 towards the crossbar 66; and said selected one of the plurality of attachments connects to the quick connect 50-56 and provides one of electricity and hydraulics to the selected one of the plurality of attachments for operating at least a portion of the attachment. A front loading second of an electric and a hydraulic line 51,53 directed along the frame arms 28,30 provides the other of electricity and hydraulics to the selected one of the plurality of attachments for operating at least a portion of the attachment. The cab 17 can have a controller 201 there inside, said controller 201 switching from the garbage dumping configuration to the first alternative configuration upon receipt of input by an operator. The refuse collection body 1 can have a first mode of operation whereby the left frame arm 30 is independently rotatable about the pivot axis relative to the rotation of the right frame arm 28 about the pivot axis 6 and/or 7. The refuse collection vehicle can also provide a chassis 16 supporting a refuse collection body 1, said chassis having a cab 17 disposed towards a front of the chassis 16 where an operator can drive the chassis 16. The said refuse collection body 1 can have left and right frame arms 28,30 pivotably connected relative to a hopper 9 on opposing sides of the hopper 9 along a pivot axis 6 and/or 7. The pivot axis 6 and/or 7 can be disposed towards a front and bottom of the hopper 9 and rearward of the cab 17. Cylinders can be connected to the frame arms 28,30 above the pivot axis 6 and/or 7 and to one of the chassis 16 and refuse collection body 1, whereby said cylinders 14,15 through extension and retraction of pistons 91,93 direct the frame arms 28,30 in a radial manner about the pivot axis 6 and/or 7 whereby attachments connected to the frame arms 28,30 can be directed to clear the cab 17 of the chassis 16 from in front of the cab 17 to up and over the cab 17 and above the hopper 9.

[0060] There can be a garbage collection configuration and a first alternative configuration. When in the garbage collection configuration, a first arm connector assembly can be selectively connected to each of the frame arms 28,30, said first arm connector assembly having arm connectors such as sleeve 36 respectively selectively connected to and extending from the frame arms 28,30 to a front cross bar 66 connecting the frame arms 28,30 at an end of the frame arms 28,30 opposite the pivot axis 6 and/or 7, said front cross bar rotatably driven relative to the frame arms 28,30 by driver arms 59,69 connected by cylinders 58,60 to the frame arms 28,30. Upon extension and retractions of pistons 63,65, the driver arms 59,69 can be moved rotationally while rotating the crossbar 66; whereby when in the garbage collection configuration, a container 4 can be at least temporarily supported by the container forks 62,64 and can then be rotated over the cab 17 and dumped in the hopper 9.

[0061] When in said first alternative configuration, at least one of said frame arms 28,30 can be selectively connectable to a selected one of a plurality of attachments having arm connector assemblies such as sleeve 36 which can connect to at least one of the frame arms 28,30, said plurality of attachments being in addition to container forks 62,64 used in the garbage collection configuration and selected from the group of a snow plow attachment, a blower attachment, a street sweeper attachment, a vacuum attachment, a bucket attachment, a grapple attachment, a grasper arm, and a spreader attachment; and the selected one of the attachments connects as a second arm connector assembly with at least one arm extender connected to at least one of the first and second frame arms 28,30 in the first alternative configuration.

[0062] The front loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 14 wherein the selected one of the plurality of attachments coordinates with one of the chassis and the refuse collection body whereby when in the first alternative configuration, movement limitations of the frame arms 28,30 differ from movement limitations imposed when in the garbage dumping configuration to limit at least one of the movement of the frame arms 28,30, and the selected one of the plurality of attachments.

[0063] A one of the attachments can provide a signal through one of a wireless (such as from device 199, like an RFID device) and an electrical connection (50 or 52) to a processor 202 connected to one of the chassis 16 and the refuse collection body 1, said processor 202 receiving the signal and switching from the garbage dumping configuration to the first alternative configuration. The cab 17 can alternatively or additionally have a controller 201 there inside for switching from the garbage dumping configuration to the first alternative configuration upon receipt of input by an operator.

[0064] A quick connect 50-56 for a selected one of an electric and a hydraulic line can be directed along at least one of the frame arms 28,30 and the arm extensions such as a sleeve 36 or other structure. One of the plurality of attachments can use the quick connect 50-56 and provide at least one of electricity and hydraulics to the selected one of the plurality of attachments for operating at least a portion of the selected attachment.

[0065] Both the left and right frame arms 28,30 can be selectively connectable to the selected one of a plurality of attachments at opposing arm connector assemblies such as through sleeves 36 or otherwise which respectively connect the left and right frame arms 28,30 with the selected one of the plurality of attachments supported by both the left and right frame arms 2830.

[0066] The refuse collection body t can have a first mode of operation whereby the left frame arm 30 is independently rotatable about the pivot axis 6 and/or 7 relative to the rotation of the right frame arm 28 about the pivot axis 6 and/or 7.

[0067] Furthermore, the ability to connect such attachments as street sweepers, leaf blowers and other devices may be done in conjunction with and/or container for it may be done in conjunction with the ability to provide a grapple attachment for a residential can so that not only could residential cans be picked up during a pass but simultaneously the truck could be providing leaf blowing or street sweeping in a relatively simultaneous manner to therefore potentially reduce the amount of fuel consumed by not requiring two trucks to make an extremely similar route or portions thereof. Still further advantages may be seen through experience and trying out various embodiments.

[0068] Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the an. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.