Multi-use garbage truck

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10239689-B2
Application number	US-201514809616-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 27, 2015
Priority date	Jul 27, 2015
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

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.

First claim

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what is claimed herein is:

1. A front loading refuse collection vehicle, comprising:
a chassis supporting a refuse collection body, said chassis having a cab disposed towards a front of the chassis where an operator can drive the chassis;
said refuse collection body having left and right frame arms pivotably connected relative to a hopper on opposing sides of the hopper along a pivot axis, said pivot axis disposed towards a front and bottom of the hopper and rearward of the cab, cylinders connected to the frame arms above the pivot axis and to one of the chassis and refuse collection body, whereby said cylinders through extension and retraction of pistons direct the frame arms in a radial manner about the pivot axis whereby attachments connected to the frame arms are directed to clear the cab of the chassis from in front of the cab to up and over the cab and above the hopper; and
a front cross bar connecting the frame arms at an end of the frame arms opposite the pivot axis, said front cross bar rotatably driven relative to the frame arms by driver arms connected by cylinders to the frame arms, whereupon extension and retractions of pistons, the driver arms are moved rotationally while rotating the cross bar; and
said cross bar configured to selectively connect to a selected one of a plurality of attachments in addition to container forks used in a garbage dumping configuration, whereby a container is at least temporarily supported by the container forks and then rotated over the cab and dumped in the hopper;
wherein the selected one of said plurality of attachments are selected from the group of a snow plow attachment, a blower attachment, a street sweeper attachment, a vacuum attachment, a grapple attachment, a grasper arm independently rotatable with a single frame arm having first and second movement limitations about the pivot axis relative to the other frame arm, and a spreader attachment and the selected one of the attachments connects directly to the crossbar in a first alternative configuration;
wherein the selected one of the plurality of attachments coordinates with the frame arms whereby when in the first alternative configuration, the second movement limitations differ from the first movement limitations related to a garbage dumping configuration, said second movement limitations limit at least one of the rotational movement of the frame arms, the cross bar, and the cross bar relative to the position of the frame arm; and
wherein the selected one of the attachments provides a signal through one of a wireless and an electrical connection to a processor connected to one of the chassis and the refuse collection body, said processor receiving the signal and switching from the garbage dumping configuration to the first alternative configuration.

2. The front loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 1 further comprising at least one quick connect for a selected one of an electric and a hydraulic line directed along the frame arms towards the crossbar; and said selected one of the plurality of attachments connects to the quick connect 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.

3. The front loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 2 further comprising at least one quick connect for a selected second of an electric and a hydraulic line directed along the frame arms towards the crossbar; and said selected one of the plurality of attachments connects to the quick connect and with the selected one provides electricity and hydraulics to the selected one of the plurality of attachments for operating at least a portion of the attachment.

4. The front loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the front cross bar is further configured to non-destructively disconnect from the selected one of the plurality of attachments.

5. The front loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the front cross bar is coupled to left and right arm connectors, and wherein the left arm connector is coupled to the left frame arm and the right arm connector is coupled to the right frame arm.

6. The front loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the left arm connector comprises a left sleeve configured to receive at least a portion of the left frame arm, and wherein the right arm connector comprises a right sleeve configured to receive at least a portion of the right frame arm.

7. The front loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 6 , further comprising mechanical fasteners securing the left sleeve to the left frame arm and the right sleeve to the right frame arm.

8. The front loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the left and right arm connectors are configured to non-destructively disconnect from the left and right frame arms.

9. A front loading refuse collection vehicle, comprising:
a chassis supporting a refuse collection body, said chassis having a cab disposed towards a front of the chassis where an operator can drive the chassis;
said refuse collection body having left and right frame arms pivotably connected relative to a hopper on opposing sides of the hopper along a pivot axis, said pivot axis disposed towards a front and bottom of the hopper and rearward of the cab, cylinders connected to the frame arms above the pivot axis and to one of the chassis and refuse collection body, whereby said cylinders, through extension and retraction of pistons direct the frame arms in a radial manner about the pivot axis whereby attachments connected to the frame arms are directed to clear the cab of the chassis from in front of the cab to up and over the cab and above the hopper; and
a front cross bar connecting the frame arms at an end of the frame arms opposite the pivot axis, said front cross bar rotatably driven relative to the frame arms by driver arms connected by cylinders to the frame arms, whereupon extension and retractions of pistons, the driver arms are moved rotationally while rotating the cross bar; and
said cross bar configured to selectively connect to a selected one of a plurality of attachments in addition to container forks used in a garbage dumping configuration, whereby a container is at least temporarily supported by the container forks and then rotated over the cab and dumped in the hopper;
wherein the selected one of said plurality of attachments are selected from the group of a snow plow attachment, a blower attachment, a street sweeper attachment, a vacuum attachment, a grapple attachment, a grasper arm independently rotatable with a single frame arm having first and second movement limitations about the pivot axis relative to the other frame arm, and a spreader attachment; and the selected one of the attachments connects directly to the crossbar in a first alternative configuration;
wherein the selected one of the plurality of attachments coordinates with the frame arms whereby when in the first alternative configuration, the second movement limitations differ from the first movement limitations related to a garbage dumping configuration, said second movement limitations limit at least one of the rotational movement of the frame arms, the cross bar, and the cross bar relative to the position of the frame arm; and
wherein the refuse collection body has a first mode of operation whereby the left frame arm is independently rotatable about the pivot axis relative to the rotation of the right frame arm about the pivot axis.

10. The front loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the front cross bar is further configured to non-destructively disconnect from the selected one of the plurality of attachmen

Assignees

• Heil Co

Inventors

• Peek Shane
• Ford Richard
• Gentry Chad
• Smith John
• Mckinney Bobby
• Bedwell John
• Parker Brian
• Beaver Ken

Classifications

• B65F2003/0223

  the discharging means comprising elements for holding the receptacle · CPC title

• B65F2003/0253

  Means for synchronising or coupling two or more discharging devices, e.g. for allowing the discharge of one large container or the simultaneous discharge of two or more containers · CPC title

• E01H6/00

  Apparatus equipped with, or having provisions for equipping with, both elements {for especially} removal of refuse or the like and elements for removal of snow or ice (E01H8/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E01H1/02

  Brushing apparatus, {e.g. with auxiliary instruments for mechanically loosening dirt}({E01H1/003, E01H1/005, E01H1/006 and} E01H1/08 - E01H1/14 take precedence; {loosening by means of gas jets or streams E01H1/0818, E01H1/0872; with brushes functioning under vacuum or combined with independent suction nozzles E01H1/0827; loosening by means of liquid streams E01H1/101; mechanical loosening instruments other than brushes E01H1/105; for railway tracks E01H8/00}; brushes in general A46B; {for floors or similar surfaces A47L11/22, A47L11/24}) · CPC title

• B65F2003/0279

  the discharging means mounted at the front of the vehicle · CPC title