Carry can for refuse vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11001440-B2
Application number	US-202017007720-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2020
Priority date	May 3, 2019
Publication date	May 11, 2021
Grant date	May 11, 2021

Abstract

A vehicle system includes a refuse vehicle, a carry can, and an electric energy system. The refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body assembly coupled to the chassis, and a lift assembly. The body assembly defines a vehicle refuse compartment. The carry can is selectively couplable to the lift assembly. The carry can includes a container defining a container refuse compartment and an articulating collection arm coupled the container. The articulating collection arm has an actuator positioned to facilitate manipulating the articulating collection arm. The electric energy system is at least one of positioned on the refuse vehicle or positioned on the carry can. The electric energy system is configured to facilitate operating the actuator of the articulating collection arm.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle system comprising:
a refuse vehicle comprising:
a chassis;
a body assembly coupled to the chassis, the body assembly defining a vehicle refuse compartment;
an electric energy system; and
a lift assembly;

a carry can selectively couplable to the lift assembly, the carry can comprising:
a container defining a container refuse compartment;
an articulating collection arm coupled to the container, the articulating collection arm including:
an extension mechanism including an extendable arm and a first actuator positioned to facilitate extending and retracting the extendable arm;
a lift mechanism coupled to an end of the extendable arm, the lift mechanism including a lift arm and a second actuator positioned to facilitate pivoting the lift arm about a pivot axis; and
a grabber mechanism coupled to an end of the lift arm, the grabber mechanism including grabber arms and a third actuator positioned to facilitate opening and closing the grabber arms;
wherein each of the first actuator, the second actuator, and the third actuator includes an electrically-operated actuator powered by the electric energy system;
wherein the first actuator includes one of:
(i) a linear actuator, a ball screw coupled to the linear actuator, and an extension motor positioned to drive the ball screw to extend and retract the extendable arm;
(ii) a rack disposed along the extendable arm, a rack pinion positioned to engage the rack, and an extension motor positioned to drive the rack pinion to extend and retract the extendable arm; or
(iii) a push chain disposed along the extendable arm, a chain pinion positioned to engage the push chain, and an extension motor positioned to drive the chain pinion to extend and retract the extendable arm; and wherein at least one of:

(i) the second actuator includes (a) a transmission device coupled to the lift arm and positioned along the pivot axis and (b) a rotational actuator coupled to the transmission device and positioned along an offset axis that is parallel to and is offset from the pivot axis; or
(ii) the carry can includes a battery disposed along or within the container, the battery is undersized to power the articulating collection arm for repeated operation, and the electrical energy system is configured to trickle charge the battery in-between uses of the articulating collection arm to facilitate powering the articulating collection arm with the battery for repeated operation.

2. The vehicle system of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical connection extending between the refuse vehicle and the carry can, the electrical connection configured to facilitate transferring electrical energy from the refuse vehicle to the carry can and (ii) transferring commands from the refuse vehicle to the carry can.

3. The vehicle system of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical connection extending between the refuse vehicle and the carry can, wherein the electrical connection is a power connection configured to facilitate transferring electrical energy from the refuse vehicle to the carry can.

4. The vehicle system of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical connection extending between the refuse vehicle and the carry can, wherein the electrical connection is a communication connection configured to facilitate transferring commands from the refuse vehicle to the carry can.

5. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the carry can includes a wireless communication device configured to receive commands wirelessly from at least one of the refuse vehicle or a portable user device.

6. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the carry can includes the battery disposed along or within the container, wherein the battery is undersized to power the articulating collection arm for repeated operation, and wherein the electrical energy system is configured to trickle charge the battery in-between uses of the articulating collection arm to facilitate powering the articulating collection arm with the battery for repeated operation.

7. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the electric energy system includes at least one of a power interface, a battery, a solar panel, or a generator configured to at least one of receive energy, store energy, or generate energy.

8. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the carry can includes at least one of:
a battery configured to store energy;
a generator or a solar panel configured to generate energy; or
a power interface configured to receive energy from an external electrical power source including the electric energy system of the refuse vehicle.

9. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the second actuator is disposed along the pivot axis.

10. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the second actuator includes (a) the transmission device coupled to the lift arm and positioned along the pivot axis and (b) the rotational actuator coupled to the transmission device and positioned along the offset axis that is parallel to and is offset from the pivot axis.

11. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator includes the push chain, the extension motor, and the chain pinion.

12. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator includes the linear actuator, the ball screw, and the extension motor.

13. The vehicle system of claim 1 , wherein the first actuator includes the rack, the extension motor, and the rack pinion.

14. A carry can for a refuse vehicle, the carry can comprising:
a container defining a refuse compartment, the container including an interface configured to facilitate selectively coupling the container to a lift assembly of the refuse vehicle;
an electric energy system including at least one of:
a battery configured to store energy;
a generator or solar panel configured to generate energy; or
a power interface configured to receive energy from an external electrical power source; and

a collection arm coupled to the container, the collection arm including:
an extension mechanism including an extendable arm and a first actuator positioned to facilitate extending and retracting the extendable arm;
a lift mechanism coupled to an end of the extendable arm, the lift mechanism including a lift arm and an actuator assembly positioned to facilitate pivoting the lift arm about a pivot axis, the actuator assembly including (i) a transmission device coupled to the lift arm and positioned along the pivot axis and (ii) a second actuator coupled to the transmission device and positioned along an offset axis that is parallel to and offset from the pivot axis; and
a grabber mechanism coupled to an end of the lift arm, the grabber mechanism including grabber arms and a third actuator positioned to facilitate opening and closing the grabber arms;
wherein at least one of the first actuator, the second actuator, or the third actuator includes at least one of (i) an electrically-operated actuator powered by the electric energy system or (ii) a fluidly-operated actuator coupled to a fluid pump driven by an electric motor powered by the electric energy system.

15. A vehicle system comprising:
a refuse vehicle including:
a chassis;
a body assembly coupled to the chassis, the body assembly defining a vehicle refuse compartment;
a lift assembly; and
an electric energy system; and

a carry can selectively carried by the lift assembly, the carry can including:
a container defining a container refuse compartment;
a battery coupled to or disposed within the container;
a power interface configured to facilitate selectively electrically coupling the battery to the electric energy system;

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Rocholl Joshua D
• Wente Derek A
• Kellander John T
• Clifton Cody D
• Hoover Vincent
• Klein Zachary L
• Weckwerth Clinton T
• Wachter Skylar A

Classifications

• Y02W30/10

  Waste collection, transportation, transfer or storage, e.g. segregated refuse collecting, electric or hybrid propulsion · CPC title

• B65F2003/0276

  capable of moving towards or away from the vehicle · CPC title

• B65F2003/0263

  Constructional features relating to discharging means · CPC title

• B65F2003/0279

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

• B65F3/041 Primary

  Pivoted arms or pivoted carriers · CPC title