Lighting system for a refuse vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12365535-B2
Application number	US-202418670079-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2024
Priority date	Apr 17, 2020
Publication date	Jul 22, 2025
Grant date	Jul 22, 2025

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 and to define a target area when in an on state; and
a processing unit in communication with the projector and configured to toggle through a plurality of preset modes to adjust a format of the target area defined by the projector in the on state.

2. The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to adjust a parameter of the light emitted by the projector.

3. The refuse vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising a sensor in communication with the processing unit, the sensor configured to communicate a signal to the processing unit when an obstacle has been detected.

4. The refuse vehicle of claim 3 , 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 plurality of preset modes includes a first mode and a second mode, the first mode being different than the second mode.

6. The refuse vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the aspect of the target area is a size of the target area, such that in the first mode the target area is larger than the target area in the second mode.

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 the light outwardly away from the 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 a 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 processing unit is further configured to automatically activate the projector in response to the refuse vehicle moving at less than a threshold speed or being stopped.

11. 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 a carry can coupled to the lift assembly to define a boundary of the target area with light; and
a controller in communication with the projector, wherein the controller controls the projector to adjust a parameter of the light emitted by the projector.

12. The refuse vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the parameter of the light emitted by the projector according to a selected one of a plurality of preset modes.

13. The refuse vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of preset modes includes a first mode corresponding to a first sized refuse container and a second mode corresponding to a second sized refuse container, wherein the refuse container detection system is configured to adjust the target area to be a first size in response to the first mode being selected and adjust the target area to be a second size in response to the second mode being selected.

14. The refuse vehicle of claim 11 , 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.

15. The refuse vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to automatically activate the projector in response to the refuse vehicle moving at less than a threshold speed or being stopped.

16. The refuse vehicle of claim 11 , further comprising a sensor in communication with the controller, the sensor to monitor the target area for an obstacle and communicate a signal to the controller when the obstacle has been detected.

17. The refuse vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the light is light having a wavelength outside the visible spectrum, and wherein the refuse container detection system further comprises:
a sensor in communication with the controller, the sensor configured to detect the light within the target area, and
a display device in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to provide an indication on the display device in visible light of the light in the target area.

18. The refuse vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the lift assembly further includes a lifting device on the carry can, and wherein the projector is positioned along the carry can and configured to direct visible light outward from the carry can to define the boundary of the target area below the carry can.

19. The refuse vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the refuse vehicle is operable in a first mode corresponding to a first sized refuse container and a second mode corresponding to a second sized refuse container, wherein the refuse container detection system is configured to adjust the target area to be a first size in response to the first mode being selected and adjust the target area to be a second size in response to the second mode being selected.

20. 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, the light defining a target area boundary defining a target area, wherein the projector is configured to selectively illuminate the target area boundary relative to a portion of the target area;
a first camera configured to detect the light emitted by the projector;
a second camera configured to detect the light emitted by the projector; and
a display positioned within the vehicle body and in communication with the first camera and the second camera, the display configured to receive a signal from at least one of the first camera or the second camera to facilitate presenting at least a portion of the light emitted by the projector, the portion defining the target area.

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