Automatic control of a refuse front end loader

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025171226-A1
Application number	US-202519039647-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 28, 2025
Priority date	May 17, 2013
Publication date	May 29, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An automatic control system for a refuse vehicle includes a mode select switch disposed within the vehicle that generates a mode select signal based on input from an operator of the vehicle, a control mechanism disposed within the vehicle that operates in response to the mode select signal, and a plurality of sensors adapted to sense a plurality of characteristics of the vehicle and adapted to communicate the plurality of sensed characteristics. The system further includes a control module that receives control instructions from the control mechanism and selectively controls at least one component of a plurality of components of the vehicle based on the mode select signal, at least one of the plurality of sensed characteristics, and the control instructions.

First claim

1 - 20 . (canceled)

21 . A refuse vehicle, comprising:
a cab; a vehicle chassis coupled to the cab; a refuse body coupled to and supported on the vehicle chassis, the refuse body comprising:
a refuse collecting space; and
a lift, comprising:
a front arm comprising a distal end, the front arm configured move pivotally relative to the refuse collecting space between a raised dumping position and a lowered position where the distal end is located forward of the cab; and
a coupler pivotally attached to the distal end of the front arm;

a carry can engaging the coupler, the carry can comprising:
a refuse receptacle; and
a loader arm coupled to the refuse receptacle; and
a control system comprising a joystick controller and at least one mode-select switch, wherein the control system is configured to:
enable a first mode in response to a first actuation of the at least one mode-select switch, wherein, in the first mode, the control system is configured to:
control movement of the front arm independent of the coupler in response to movement of the joystick controller along a first axis; and
control movement of the coupler independent of the front arm in response to movement of the joystick controller along a second axis;
enable a second mode in response to a second actuation, different from the first actuation, of the at least one mode-select switch, wherein, in the second mode, the control system is configured to:
control movement of both the front arm and the coupler in response to a one-axis movement of the joystick controller; and

enable a third mode in response to a third actuation, different from the first actuation and the second actuation, of the at least one mode-select switch, wherein, in the third mode, the control system is configured to:
control movement of the loader arm of the carry can, relative to the refuse receptacle of the carry can, in response to operation of the joystick controller.

22 . The refuse vehicle of claim 21 , wherein the coupler comprises a fork.

23 . The refuse vehicle of claim 21 , wherein the joystick controller is a single lever joystick controller that has no more than one actuatable joystick lever.

24 . The refuse vehicle of claim 23 , wherein:
the single lever joystick controller is a dual axis single lever joystick; and the first axis and the second axis are different axes of the dual axis single lever joystick.

25 . The refuse vehicle of claim 21 , wherein the joystick controller is a multi-lever joystick controller having at least two actuatable joystick levers, the multi-lever joystick controller comprising at least one of:
a combination of a first single axis lever joystick and a second single axis lever joystick,
the first single axis lever joystick being movable along the first axis, and the second single axis lever joystick being movable along the second axis; or
a dual, twin, single axis controller.

26 . The refuse vehicle of claim 21 , wherein:
the at least one mode-select switch comprises a first switch and a second switch; and the joystick controller comprises at least one of the first switch or the second switch.

27 . The refuse vehicle of claim 26 , wherein:
the first switch is located within the cab of the refuse vehicle; and the joystick controller comprises the second switch.

28 . The refuse vehicle of claim 27 , wherein:
the first mode is implemented as part of a commercial mode of the refuse vehicle; the second mode and the third mode are implemented as part of a residential mode of the refuse vehicle; the control system is configured to toggle between enabling the commercial mode and enabling the residential mode in response to actuation of the first switch; and in the residential mode, the control system is configured to toggle between enabling the second mode and enabling the third mode in response to actuation of the second switch.

29 . The refuse vehicle of claim 28 , wherein the control system further comprises at least one processor communicatively coupled to a plurality of sensors, and wherein, in the second mode, the at least one processor is configured to execute instructions to automatically control the movement of both the front arm and the coupler based at least in part on output from one or more sensors of the plurality of sensors.

30 . The refuse vehicle of claim 29 , wherein, in the second mode, the movement of both the front arm and the coupler comprises raising the front arm and raising the coupler.

31 . The refuse vehicle of claim 29 , wherein, in the second mode, the movement of both the front arm and the coupler comprises lowering the front arm and lowering the coupler.

32 . A refuse vehicle, comprising:
a cab; a vehicle chassis coupled to the cab; a refuse body coupled to and supported on the vehicle chassis, the refuse body comprising:
a refuse collecting space; and
a lift comprising a front arm comprising a distal end, the front arm configured to move pivotally relative to the refuse collecting space between a raised dumping position and a lowered position where the distal end is located forward of the cab;
a carry can linked to the front arm, the carry can comprising:
a refuse receptacle; and
a loader arm coupled to the refuse receptacle; and
a control system comprising a joystick controller and at least one mode-select switch, wherein the control system is configured to:
toggle between enabling a front arm control mode and enabling a loader arm control mode in response to an actuation of at least one mode-select switch, wherein:
in the front arm control mode, the control system is configured to control movement of the front arm, such that:
responsive to a movement of the joystick controller along a first axis, the front arm moves the carry can toward the raised dumping position; and
responsive to a movement of the joystick controller along a second axis, the front arm moves the carry can toward the lowered position; and

in the loader arm control mode, the control system is configured to control movement of the loader arm of the carry can, such that:
responsive to movement of the joystick controller, the loader arm moves relative to the refuse receptacle of the carry can.

33 . The refuse vehicle of claim 32 , wherein the joystick controller is a single lever joystick controller that has no more than one actuatable joystick lever.

34 . The refuse vehicle of claim 32 , wherein the joystick controller is a multi-lever joystick controller having at least two actuatable joystick levers.

35 . The refuse vehicle of claim 32 , wherein the joystick controller comprises a switch of the at least one mode-select switch.

36 . The refuse vehicle of claim 35 , wherein the actuation of the at least one mode-select switch comprises a change in position of the switch of the joystick controller.

37 . The refuse vehicle of claim 36 , wherein, to toggle between enabling the front arm control mode and the loader arm control mode, the control system is configured to:
toggle from enabling the front arm control mode to enabling the loader arm control mode in response to first change in position of the switch of the joystick controller; and toggle from enabling the loader arm control mode to enabling the front arm control mode in response to a second change in position of the switch of the joystick controller.

38 . The refuse vehicle of claim 32 , wherein:
the lift further comprises a fork pivotally attached to the distal end of the front arm; and the carry can is linked to th

Assignees

• Heil Co

Inventors

• Whitfield Jr Ralph Waldo
• Ham Brian Huston
• Curotto John M
• Cooper Andrew Blaine
• Parker Brian T

Classifications

• B65F2003/025

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

• B65F2003/146

  Sensors, e.g. pressure sensors · CPC title

• B65F2003/0279

  the discharging means mounted at the front of the vehicle · CPC title

• G06Q10/30

  Administration of product recycling or disposal · CPC title

• Y02W90/00

  Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation · CPC title