Tailgate with structurally integrated CNG system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11590839-B2
Application number	US-201816137066-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 20, 2018
Priority date	Jun 18, 2013
Publication date	Feb 28, 2023
Grant date	Feb 28, 2023

Abstract

A refuse vehicle has a tailgate. The tailgate has a framework to secure CNG tanks. A cover overlays the frame work to provide an aesthetic appearance to the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refuse vehicle comprising:
a vehicle chassis;
a container secured to the vehicle chassis; and
a tailgate coupled to the container at one or more hinges disposed at an upper end of the tailgate such that the tailgate is pivotable with respect to the container, the tailgate comprising:
a frame including a pair of parallel side members extending vertically on respective sides of the tailgate;
a plurality of compressed natural gas tanks arranged side-by-side between the side members;
a removable cover enclosing the plurality of compressed natural gas tanks, the cover comprising two side portions, each having an arcuate rearward edge that follows a respective one of the side members; and
a structural cross beam connecting the side members, extending horizontally between vertical sides of the tailgate and disposed at an elevation between uppermost and lowermost ones of the compressed natural gas tanks.

2. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cross beam is secured directly to each of the side members.

3. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cross beam member is welded to one or more gussets that are each welded to a respective one of the side members.

4. The refuse vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the side members each have a flange extending from a side wall, and a gusset welded to both the side wall and the flange.

5. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the compressed natural gas tanks comprise elongated cylinders, and wherein each tank is secured at opposite ends to the side members.

6. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cross beam is disposed between adjacent ones of the compressed natural gas tanks.

7. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the compressed natural gas tanks is disposed between the container and the cross beam.

8. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cover forms a rear surface of the vehicle.

9. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cover has a rearwardly-projecting, curved outer surface.

10. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises two curved panels connected by a horizontal panel connector extending across the cover between the two curved panels.

11. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a cross member extends between the two side portions and is directly connected to the cover.

12. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a plurality of discrete sections removably coupled to the tailgate.

13. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a cross member extends between the two side portions and is removable with the cover.

14. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the side members are arcuate.

15. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the compressed natural gas tanks are arranged in an arcuate row.

16. A refuse vehicle comprising:
a vehicle chassis;
a container secured to the vehicle chassis; and
a tailgate coupled to the container at one or more hinges disposed at an upper end of the tailgate such that the tailgate is pivotable with respect to the container, the tailgate comprising:
a frame including a pair of parallel side members extending vertically on respective sides of the tailgate;
a plurality of compressed natural gas tanks extending horizontally and arranged side-by-side between the side members; and
a removable cover enclosing the plurality of compressed natural gas tanks, the cover comprising two side portions, each having an arcuate rearward edge that follows a respective one of the side members;

wherein the tanks are arranged such that with the tailgate in a closed position, an uppermost one of the compressed natural gas tanks overlies a lowermost one of the compressed natural gas tanks.

17. The refuse vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the compressed natural gas tanks are arranged along an arc.

18. The refuse vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of compressed natural gas tanks comprises a set of six tanks.

19. The refuse vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of compressed natural gas tanks comprises two uppermost tanks, and wherein one of the two uppermost tanks is disposed adjacent to the hinges and is closer to the container than the other one of the two uppermost tanks.

20. The refuse vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of compressed natural gas tanks comprises multiple tanks disposed between the uppermost and lowermost tanks.

21. A refuse vehicle comprising:
a vehicle chassis;
a container secured to the vehicle chassis; and
a tailgate coupled to the container at one or more hinges disposed at an upper end of the tailgate such that the tailgate is pivotable with respect to the container, the tailgate comprising:
a frame including a pair of parallel side members extending vertically on respective sides of the tailgate;
a plurality of compressed natural gas tanks comprising elongated cylinders and extending horizontally and arranged side-by-side between the side members; and
a cover extending across the plurality of compressed natural gas tanks and comprising a curved outer surface covering and disposed rearwardly of the compressed natural gas tanks, wherein the cover comprises two side portions, each having an arcuate rearward edge that follows a respective one of the side members.

22. The refuse vehicle of claim 21 , wherein the cover has a convex outer contour.

23. The refuse vehicle of claim 21 , wherein the cover forms a rear surface of the vehicle.

24. The refuse vehicle of claim 21 , wherein the cover comprises two curved panels connected by a horizontal panel connector extending across the cover between the two curved panels.

25. The refuse vehicle of claim 21 , wherein the cover includes a plurality of discrete sections removably coupled to the tailgate.

26. A refuse vehicle comprising:
a vehicle chassis;
a container secured to the vehicle chassis; and
a tailgate coupled to the container at one or more hinges disposed at an upper end of the tailgate such that the tailgate is pivotable with respect to the container, the tailgate comprising:
a frame including a pair of parallel side members extending vertically on respective sides of the tailgate, an upper horizontal member connecting upper ends of the side members, and a lower horizontal member connecting lower ends of the side members;
a plurality of compressed natural gas tanks arranged side-by-side between the side members;
a removable cover enclosing the plurality of compressed natural gas tanks, the cover comprising two side portions, each having an arcuate rearward edge that follows a respective one of the side members; and
an intermediate horizontal cross beam connecting the side members and disposed between the upper and lower horizontal members.

27. The refuse vehicle of claim 26 , wherein the compressed natural gas tanks comprise cylinders extending horizontally between the side members.

28. The refuse vehicle of claim 27 , wherein the compressed natural gas tanks are each secured at opposite ends to the side members.

29. The refuse vehicle of claim 26 , wherein the intermediate horizontal cross beam member is secured directly to each of the side members.

Assignees

• Heil Co
• The Heil Company

Inventors

• Mckinney Bobby Ray

Classifications

• B60Y2200/144

  Garbage trucks, e.g. refuse trucks · CPC title

• B60K15/07 Primary

  of gas tanks · CPC title

• B65F3/00

  Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse (vehicles in general B60; driving vehicle equipment or auxiliaries B60K; discharging contents by tilting entire vehicles B65G; wheeled apparatus for emptying sewers or cesspools E03F7/10) · CPC title

• B60J5/108 Primary

  for load transporting vehicles or public transport, e.g. lorries, trucks, buses · CPC title

• B62D33/0276

  by vertical translation (B62D33/0273 takes precedence) · CPC title