Electric tailgate for electric refuse vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11434681-B2
Application number	US-202016851543-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2020
Priority date	May 3, 2019
Publication date	Sep 6, 2022
Grant date	Sep 6, 2022

Abstract

Another implementation of the present disclosure is a refuse vehicle. The refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body coupled with the chassis, a tailgate, an electric lock, and a fully electric tailgate actuator assembly. The body assembly defines a refuse compartment. The tailgate is coupled with a rear of the body and is transitionable between a first position to limit access to the refuse compartment and a second position to allow access to the refuse compartment. The electric lock is operable between an engaged state and a disengaged state to limit movement of the tailgate out of the first position when the electric lock is in the engaged state. The fully electric tailgate actuator assembly is configured to transition the tailgate between the first position and the second position.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refuse vehicle comprising:
a chassis;
a body coupled with the chassis, the body defining a refuse compartment;
a tailgate coupled with a rear of the body, the tailgate transitionable between a first position to limit access to the refuse compartment and a second position to allow access to the refuse compartment;
a fully electric tailgate actuator assembly configured to transition the tailgate between the first position and the second position, the fully electric tailgate actuator assembly comprising:
an electric motor fixedly coupled with the body and configured to drive a gear fixedly coupled with the tailgate;
an electric brake configured to operate to lock the tailgate at a current angular position; and
a segment gear rotatably fixedly coupled with the tailgate, wherein the electric brake is configured to operate to lock the tailgate at the current angular position through engagement with the segment gear.

2. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein:
the tailgate is pivotally coupled with an upper and rear portion of the body, the first position being a first angular position and the second position being a second angular position.

3. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the gear is centered at an axis of rotation of the tailgate.

4. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the gear is positioned at a hinge between the tailgate and the body.

5. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 wherein the segment gear and the gear share a common axis about which both the segment gear and the gear rotate as the tailgate is rotated between the first position and the second position.

6. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is configured to operate to drive the gear in either direction to transition the tailgate between the first angular position and the second angular position.

7. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the fully electric tailgate actuator assembly solely uses electrical energy to transition the tailgate between the first position and the second position.

8. A fully electric tailgate actuator assembly for a refuse vehicle, comprising:
an electric motor fixedly coupled with a body of the refuse vehicle, the electric motor configured to drive a gear fixedly coupled with a tailgate of the refuse vehicle;
an electric brake configured to operate to lock the tailgate at a current angular position; and
a segment gear rotatably fixedly coupled with the tailgate, wherein the electric brake is configured to operate to lock the tailgate at the current angular position through engagement with the segment gear.

9. The fully electric tailgate actuator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the tailgate is rotatably coupled with an upper rear portion of the body, wherein the first position is a first angular position and the second position is a second angular position.

10. The fully electric tailgate actuator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the tailgate is pivotally coupled with an upper portion of the body.

11. The fully electric tailgate actuator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the gear is centered at an axis of rotation of the tailgate.

12. The fully electric tailgate actuator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the gear is positioned at a hinge between the tailgate and the body.

13. The fully electric tailgate actuator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the segment gear and the gear share a common axis about which both the segment gear and the gear rotate as the tailgate is rotated between the first position and the second position.

14. The fully electric tailgate actuator assembly of claim 8 , wherein the electric motor is configured to operate to drive the gear in either direction to transition the tailgate between the first angular position and the second angular position.

15. A refuse vehicle comprising:
a tailgate coupled with a rear of a body of the refuse vehicle, the tailgate transitionable between a first position to limit access to a refuse compartment and a second position to allow access to the refuse compartment; and
a fully electric tailgate actuator assembly configured to transition the tailgate between the first position and the second position, the fully electric tailgate actuator assembly comprising:
an electric motor fixedly coupled with the body and configured to drive a gear fixedly coupled with the tailgate;
an electric brake configured to operate to lock the tailgate at a current angular position; and
a segment gear rotatably fixedly coupled with the tailgate, wherein the electric brake is configured to operate to lock the tailgate at the current angular position through engagement with the segment gear.

16. The refuse vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the tailgate is pivotally coupled with an upper portion of the body.

17. The refuse vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the electric lock and the fully electric tailgate actuator assembly are configured to operate in unison to transition the tailgate between the first position and the second position and to lock the tailgate in the first position.

18. The refuse vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the gear is positioned at a hinge between the tailgate and the body.

19. The refuse vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the segment gear and the gear share a common axis about which both the segment gear and the gear rotate as the tailgate is rotated between the first position and the second position.

20. The refuse vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the electric motor is configured to operate to drive the gear in either direction to transition the tailgate between the first angular position and the second angular position.

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
• Kotloski Andrew
• Buege Wallace
• Binder Caleb
• Schimke Martin J

Classifications

• B65F2003/025

  Constructional features relating to actuating means for lifting or tipping containers · CPC title

• B65F3/04

  Linkages, pivoted arms, or pivoted carriers for raising and subsequently tipping receptacles · CPC title

• B60P1/14

  with cables, chains, or the like · CPC title

• B60P1/50 Primary

  loading from in front of the vehicle · CPC title

• E05F15/614 Primary

  operated by meshing gear wheels, one of which being mounted at the wing pivot axis; operated by a motor acting directly on the wing pivot axis · CPC title