Refuse packer system with auger

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12428223-B2
Application number	US-202217810995-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 6, 2022
Priority date	Jul 6, 2021
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

A refuse collection vehicle having a packer system, a hopper, and a storage compartment. A wall between the storage compartment and the hopper defines an opening that allows refuse to pass from the hopper to the storage compartment. The packer system includes an auger screw and a driver. The driver rotates the auger screw such that refuse is packed into the storage compartment through the opening. A door can be positioned to cover the opening in the wall to inhibit refuse from passing back through the opening. A door actuator system moves the door to selectively open and close the door on the opening. A packing actuator can push an ejector panel across the floor of the storage compartment while the door is closed on the opening in the wall to further compact refuse in the storage compartment or to eject refuse from the vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refuse collection vehicle, comprising:
a body comprising a storage compartment and a hopper;
a wall at least partially between the hopper and the storage compartment, wherein the wall defines an opening configured to allow refuse to pass from the hopper to the storage compartment, wherein the wall comprises:
a first side facing toward the storage compartment; and
a second side facing toward the hopper, the second side opposite the first side;

a packer system coupled to the body, the packer system comprising:
an auger screw operable to rotate to advance refuse from the hopper to the storage compartment through the opening in the wall; and
a driver coupled to the auger screw and operable to rotate the auger screw such that refuse is packed into the storage compartment;

a door rotatable about an axis orthogonal to the first side of the wall to cover at least a portion of the opening in the wall to inhibit refuse from passing through the opening, wherein the first side of the wall is located between the door and the second side of the wall, and wherein the door comprises:
a plate comprising:
a first surface facing the wall; and
a second surface facing a rear of the refuse collection vehicle; and

one or more sweeping members configured to sweep, via rotation of the door about the axis, refuse from in front of the opening in the wall, wherein the one or more sweeping members comprise at least one rib extending from the second surface of the plate toward the rear of the refuse collection vehicle; and

an actuator system configured to move the wall across at least a portion of a floor of the storage compartment while the door at least partially covers the opening in the wall.

2. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the door is configured to rotate about a hinge point offset from the opening in the wall.

3. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the door comprises two or more door panels, wherein at least two of the two or more door panels are separately movable from one another.

4. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the door comprises two or more panels, and wherein at least two of the two or more panels are rotatable away from one another to at least partially uncover the opening in the wall.

5. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the driver of the packer system comprises a hydraulic motor.

6. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the driver of the packer system comprises an electric motor.

7. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising one or more linear actuators configured to rotate the door about a hinge point.

8. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor to rotate the door.

9. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a control system configured to control rotation of the door.

10. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an automatic side loader configured to load refuse into the hopper.

11. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a door actuator configured to rotate the door, wherein the door actuator is configured to be operated in a sweeping mode to clear refuse from in front of the opening in response to determining, based on data received from one or more sensors, that the door is unable to move between a fully closed position and a fully open position due to blockage by refuse in the path of the door.

12. A refuse collection vehicle, comprising:
a body comprising a storage compartment and a hopper;
a wall at least partially between the hopper and the storage compartment, wherein the wall defines an opening configured to allow refuse to pass from the hopper to the storage compartment, and wherein the wall comprises:
a first side facing toward the storage compartment; and
a second side facing toward the hopper, the second side opposite the first side;

a door rotatable about an axis orthogonal to the first side of the wall to selectively cover at least a portion of the opening in the wall to inhibit refuse from passing through the opening, wherein the first side of the wall is located between the door and the second side of the wall, and wherein the door comprises:
a plate comprising:
a first surface facing the wall; and
a second surface facing a rear of the refuse collection vehicle; and

one or more sweeping members configured to sweep, via rotation of the door about the axis, refuse from in front of the opening in the wall, wherein the one or more sweeping members comprise at least one rib extending from the second surface of the plate toward the rear of the refuse collection vehicle; and

a packer system coupled to the body, the packer system comprising:
one or more auger screws operable to rotate to advance refuse from the hopper to the storage compartment through the opening in the wall;
an auger screw driver coupled to at least one auger screw of the one or more auger screws and operable to rotate the at least one auger screw such that refuse is packed into the storage compartment;
an ejector panel; and
a packing actuator configured to push the ejector panel across at least a portion of a floor of the storage compartment while the door is at least partially closed on the opening in the wall.

13. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the packing actuator comprises one or more linear actuators configured to move the ejector panel.

14. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the one or more auger screws are configured to remain stationary in the body of the vehicle as the packing actuator advances the ejector panel across at least a portion of a floor of the storage compartment.

15. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the packing actuator is configured to advance at least one of the one or more auger screws across at least a portion of a floor of the storage compartment.

16. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the ejector panel is included in the wall.

17. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the ejector panel is coupled to the wall.

18. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the auger screw driver comprises a hydraulic motor.

19. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the auger screw driver comprises an electric motor.

20. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the one or more auger screws comprise two auger screws in a side-by-side arrangement, wherein each of the auger screws is configurable to rotate to advance refuse from the hopper to the storage compartment through the opening in the wall.

21. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising one or more tracks coupled to the body, wherein the ejector panel is configured to engage on the one or more tracks.

22. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 12 , wherein:
the packing actuator is configured to push the ejector panel to advance the ejector panel from a first position toward a second position; and
the packing actuator is further configured to at least partially retract the ejector panel toward the first position.

23. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the door is configured to rotate about a hinge point offset from the opening in the wall.

24. The refuse collection vehicle of claim 12 , further comprising a door actuator configured to rotate the door, wherein the door actuat

Assignees

• Heil Co

Inventors

• Fraas Mark
• Evans Eric
• Peek Michael Shane
• Mason Tracy
• Pandya Tapankumar
• White Bryan
• Basrai Taher Taiyeb

Classifications

• B65F2003/146

  Sensors, e.g. pressure sensors · CPC title

• B65F3/28

  by a lengthwise movement of a wall, e.g. a plate, a piston, or the like (for charging B65F3/20) · CPC title

• B65F2003/0289

  the opening means being mounted on the discharging means · CPC title

• B65F3/201

  the charging pistons, plates or the like moving rectilinearly · CPC title

• B65F3/22 Primary

  with screw conveyors, rotary tanks · CPC title