Lighting system for a refuse vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12017849-B2
Application number	US-202217945254-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2022
Priority date	Apr 17, 2020
Publication date	Jun 25, 2024
Grant date	Jun 25, 2024

Abstract

A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a vehicle body supported by the chassis, a lift assembly, and a projector. The vehicle body defines a receptacle for storing refuse. The lift assembly is configured to selectively engage a waste container. The lift assembly is movable between a first position and a second position. The projector is positioned to emit light outwardly away from the refuse vehicle and proximate the lift assembly to define a target area.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refuse vehicle comprising:
a chassis;
a vehicle body supported by the chassis, the vehicle body defining a receptacle for storing refuse;
a lift assembly configured to selectively engage a waste container, the lift assembly movable between a first position and a second position;
a projector positioned to emit light outwardly away from the refuse vehicle and proximate the lift assembly to define a target area; and
a sensor in communication with a processing unit, the sensor configured to scan a field of view outward from the vehicle body for an obstacle and communicate a signal to the processing unit when the obstacle has been detected within the field of view, and wherein the processing unit controls the projector to adjust a parameter of the light emitted by the projector.

2. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the projector emits at least one of visible light or light having a wavelength outside the visible spectrum outwardly away from the vehicle body and proximate the lift assembly to define the target area.

3. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a first sensor, further comprising:
the first sensor having a first field of view including the target area; and
a second sensor in communication with the processing unit, the second sensor having a second field of view including the target area and at least partially overlapping the first field of view.

4. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to adjust the parameter of the light emitted by the projector based at least in part on a position of the obstacle relative to the target area.

5. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is configured to adjust the parameter of the light emitted by the projector to a first color when the obstacle is outside of the target area and to a second color different than the first color when the obstacle is within the target area.

6. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to adjust the parameter of the light emitted by the projector to a first light with first parameters when the obstacle is within the target area but outside a desired portion of the target area, and to a second light with second parameters different than the first parameters when the obstacle is within the target area and the desired portion.

7. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the target area corresponds to a location within which the lift assembly can extend outwardly away from the vehicle body to engage a waste receptacle wholly positioned within the target area without additional movement of the refuse vehicle.

8. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the projector comprises two lighting assemblies, wherein the two lighting assemblies are spaced apart from one another, each of the two lighting assemblies configured to independently emit light outwardly away from the refuse vehicle body and proximate the lift assembly to define the target area.

9. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the projector comprises a plurality of lighting assemblies including a first lighting assembly and a second lighting assembly, the first lighting assembly further including the sensor, the sensor being configured to detect an obstacle impeding light emitted by the first lighting assembly and communicate a signal to the processing unit in communication with the first lighting assembly that an obstacle has been detected at least partially outside the target area.

10. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the projector comprises a first lighting assembly and a second lighting assembly, wherein the first lighting assembly is spaced apart from the second lighting assembly, the first lighting assembly being positioned on opposite sides of the lift assembly from the second lighting assembly, and wherein the first lighting assembly emits light outwardly away from the refuse vehicle confined along a first line, and wherein the second lighting assembly emits light outwardly away from the refuse vehicle confined along a second line, the first line and the second line defining outer boundaries of the target area.

11. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor is a camera.

12. A refuse vehicle comprising:
a chassis;
a body coupled to the chassis, the body defining a receptacle for storing refuse;
a lift assembly coupled to at least one of the body or the chassis; and
a refuse container detection system configured to facilitate detecting when a refuse container is positioned within a target area for engagement by the lift assembly, wherein the refuse container detection system comprises:
a projector emitting light outward from one of (i) the body or (ii) a carry can coupled to the lift assembly to define a boundary of the target area with light; and
a sensor in communication with a controller, the sensor to monitor the target area for an obstacle and communicate a signal to the controller when the obstacle has been detected, and wherein the controller controls the projector to adjust a parameter of the light emitted by the projector.

13. The refuse vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the refuse container detection system includes a display device in communication with the controller, wherein the display device is configured to provide a display of the target area based on a signal received from the sensor, and wherein the controller is configured to at least one of (i) provide an indication on the display when the obstacle is in the target area and engageable with the lift assembly or (ii) control the projector to vary a parameter of the light emitted thereby when the refuse container is in the target area and engageable with the lift assembly.

14. The refuse vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the light is non-visible light, and wherein the controller is configured to provide the indication on the display when the refuse container is in the target area and engageable with the lift assembly.

15. The refuse vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the light is visible light, and wherein the controller is configured to control the projector to vary the parameter of the light emitted thereby when the refuse container is in the target area and engageable with the lift assembly.

16. The refuse vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to at least one of:
automatically activate the projector in response to the refuse vehicle moving at less than a threshold speed or being stopped; or
vary a parameter of the light emitted by the projector when the refuse container is in the target area and engageable with the lift assembly.

17. The refuse vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to facilitate activating the lift assembly in response to the data indicating that the refuse container is positioned within the target area and engageable with the lift assembly.

18. The refuse vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to at least one of:
prevent the lift assembly from being activated unless the refuse vehicle is in a park configuration;
activate the lift assembly in response to receiving a lift command from a user interface;
automatically activate the lift assembly in response to determining that the refuse container is within the target area; or
autonomously adjust a position of the refuse vehicle relative to the refuse container in response to the refuse container being positioned at least partially outside the target area.

19. The refuse vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the lift assembly furthe

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Koga Jeffrey
• Davis Emily
• Kappers Jerrod
• Schad Vince
• Messina Robert S
• Yakes Christopher K
• Rocholl Joshua D
• Hoover Vincent
• Weckwerth Clinton T
• Klein Zachary L
• Beck John
• Chan Brendan
• Wachter Skylar A
• Matsumoto Dale

Classifications

• B65F2003/025

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

• B65F2210/139

  Illuminating means · CPC title

• B65F2210/168

  Sensing means · CPC title

• B60Q1/0023

  the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera · CPC title

• B60Y2200/144

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