EP0092134B1

EP0092134B1 - Mechanism for dumping a container into a refuse collection vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP0092134B1
Application number: EP83103498A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fred T. Smith
Original assignee: Heil Co
Current assignee: Heil Co
Priority date: 1982-04-15
Filing date: 1983-04-11
Publication date: 1988-07-20
Also published as: AU611626B2; EP0092134A3; AU1320483A; DE3377412D1; ZA832546B; JPS58197101A; CA1201689A; EP0092134A2; JPH0462962B2

Description

The invention relates to a mechanism for moving a container from a standing position to a dump position and back to a standing position, a support frame assembly means including a substantially horizontal frame base part, a substantially vertically extending leg, a substantially horizontal leg extending from the upper end of said vertically extending leg and a downwardly angling portion on the free end of said horizontal leg pointing towards the side of the standing position of said container, a lift arm having two opposited ends and being supported from said frame assembly means, a container-gripping means mounted on one end of said ends of said lift arm, two power means being supported from said frame assembly means, one of said power means being supported from said horizontal leg and being pivotally connected with the other of said ends of said lift arm, the other of said power means being supported from said stationary frame base part and being indirectly coupled with said lift arm, said one of said power means serving to displace said lift arm laterally and said other of said power means to swivel said lift arm within said frame assembly means (preamble of claim 1).
Such a mechanism for moving containers from standing positions to dump positions and back to the standing positions is known from US-A-4 227 849 wherein the substantially vertically extending leg is pivotally connected with the stationary frame base part. One power means being mounted to the upper side of the horizontal leg of the frame assembly means is connected to one end of the lift arm, the other end of which carries the gripping means. The lift arm being guided for linear movements within the horizontal leg of the frame assembly means. A further power means being provided between the stationary frame base part and the downwardly angling portion of the horizontal leg. A third power means is provided on the lift arm for swinging the gripping mechanism around the free end of the lift arm in order to achieve the inverted position of an elevated container. The lift arm is adapted to lift the container from the ground into an elevated and tilted position. The third power means then bring the container into the inverted position which is necessary for dumping the contents thereof. Firstly, the lowered lift arm is shifted laterally by the power means on the horizontal leg of the frame assembly means. Secondly, the substantially vertically extending leg and the horizontal leg are raised with the help of the power means supported on the stationary frame base part in order to tilt the container. Finally, the power means on the lift arm tilt the container into the inverted dumping position. The mechanism contains many parts the distinct movements of which are complicated to control. Each dumping cycle consumes a relatively long period of time.
It is a task of the invention to create a mechanism according to the preamble part of claim 1 of a simple design and being adapted to carry out each dumping cycle in a relatively short period of time.
This can be achieved with a mechanism characterized by the following features; said lift arm and a first of two power means being provided in the interior of said frame assembly means, said lift arm being between both of its ends pivotally connected to one end of a support link member the other end of which being pivotally supported from said horizontal leg, said lift arm being between said one end with said gripping means and the pivot-connection with said one end of said support link member pivotally and slideably connected with a longitudinal guide means via a guide member mounted on said lift arm, said guide means being pivotally supported from said downwardly angling portion and being provided with a longitudinally extending guide track for said guide member, said vertically extending leg being rigidly secured to said stationary frame base part and said second of said power means being pivotally connected with said guide means.
The lift arm is supported in the simple and rigid frame assembly means with the help of the support link means and the guide means only and in a manner which allows a simultaneous swinging and shifting motion for the lift arm during which the free end of the lift arm carrying the gripping mechanism follows an arc along which the container reaches its inverted dumping position without the help of a further power means. The swinging motion of the lift arm can be carried out quickly and steadily so that the time period necessary for each dumping cycle is short. The design of the mechanism is simple. The lift arm is guided along its swinging motion in relation to the rigid frame assembly means.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are contained in the depending claims.
A preferred embodiment of the mechanism will be described in connection with the drawings. In the drawings is:

Figure 1 a side view of a refuse collection vehicle equipped with a container dumping mechanism;
Figure 2 a vertical sectional view along line 2-2 of figure 1;
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view along line 3-3 of figure 2;
Figures 4 to 8 a series of partially schematic views showing the dumping mechanism in different positions of a dumping cycle; and
Figure 9 a partially schematic view of a hydraulic control circuit for the dumping mechanism.

A dumping mechanism 10 shown schematically in Fig. 1 by a dotted line rectangular box is mounted on a vehicle 12 as shown in Fig. 1 directly behind and adjacent to the cab 14 of the vehicle. The vehicle 12 is equipped with a receiving chamber 15 of any suitable design for receiving refuse dumped from container 62 by dumping mechanism 10. Refuse dumped into chamber 15 is periodically transferred into the body 16 of vehicle 12 by any suitable mechanism (not shown).
Referring to Figs. 2-8, the dumping mechanism of the present invention is comprised of the following basic components: a frame assembly 18; a lift arm 20; a second hydraulic power means in the form of a track cylinder 22; a first hydraulic power means in the form of a lift cylinder 24; a support link member 26; and a guide track assembly 28.
Frame assembly 18 is comprised of a substantially vertically extending leg 30, a substantially horizontal leg 32 extending from leg 30 and having a downwardly angling portion 34 at its free end. Frame assembly 18 also includes a horizontally extending stationary basis part 36 for mounting the frame assembly on the chassis 38 of the vehicle 12. The means for attaching the frame assembly 18 to the chassis 38 can be accomplished in any suitable manner, such as by welding. Leg 30 is rigidly secured to the basis part 36.
Lift arm 20 is supported from the upper horizontal leg 32 of the frame assembly 18 by support link member 26 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to leg 32 by a pin 40 and is pivotally connected at its lower end to lift arm 20 by a pin 42.
Lift arm 20 is guided during its dumping movement by track assembly 28. Track assembly 28 is comprised of a guide means 44 in the form of a slotted box beam and a bracket 46 mounted on the upper end of means 44 for establishing a pivotal connection of the track assembly to portion 34 of frame 18 by a pin 48. A guide member in the form of a roller 50 is rotatively mounted on lift arm 20 and is positioned to ride up and down within the track member 44 as best shown in Fig. 2.
Lift cylinder 24 is pivotally connected at its lower end to the end of lift arm 20 by a pin 52 and is pivotally connected at its upper end to horizontal leg 32 of frame 18 by a pin 54.
Track cylinder 22 is pivotally connected at one end to leg 30 of frame assembly 18 by a pin 56 and is pivotally connected at its other end to track assembly 28 by a pin 58.
The dumping mechanism 10 is provided with a container gripper mechanism 60 for gripping and releasing a container 62. Mechanism 60 (Fig. 1) is comprised of a pair of container gripping arms 64, 64 pivotally mounted on a support arm 65 which in turn is fastened to the end of lift arm 20. Arms 64 are actuated between a release position (dotted lines) and a container gripping position (solid lines) by a gripping cylinder 66. Cylinder 66 is connected directly to one arm 64 and the movement of such arm is transmitted to the other arm 64 by a pair of bevel gears 67.
Refuse containers 62 may be of any suitable design. The container 62 shown in the drawings is comprised of a refuse containing body portion 68 having a cover member 70 pivotally mounted on the top of the body. The body 68 is provided with a downwardly facing shoulder 72 for engagement by the gripper arms 64 when the arms are moved into gripping engagement with the container 62.

Operation

The operation of dumping mechanism 10 will be described with reference to a simplified hydraulic control circuit shown in Fig. 9. It should be understood, however, that the dumping mechanism 10 could be controlled by a hydraulic control circuit other than that shown in Fig. 9. In the preferred embodiment, control valves 74, 82 and 86 as shown in Fig. 9 are located outside cab 14 of vehicle 12 with a remote actuation system (not shown) located inside the cab so that the operator need not get out of the cab to operate the dumping mechanism 10.
Referring to Fig. 1, assumed, as shown therein, that the refuse vehicle 12 has been stopped opposite a container 62 with the gripper mechanism 60 spaced from the container 62.
The first step is for the operator to actuate valve 74. This will cause hydraulic fluid under pressure to flow from pump 76 thru lines 78, 80, 114, 88 to port P of valve 74. The fluid will flow thru valve 74 from port P to port B and then to track cylinder 22 thru line 90. This extends track cylinder 22 until the gripper mechanism 60 is moved to a position immediately adjacent the container 62. Exhaust fluid from cylinder 22 will flow thru line 92 to port A of valve 74 and then thru valve 74 from port A to port T and then to the hydraulic fluid tank 94 thru lines 96, 98 and 100.
The next step is to close the gripping arms 64. This is accomplished by actuating valve 82. This will cause hydraulic fluid under pressure to flow from pump 76 thru lines 78, 80, 114, 122 to port P of valve 82. Fluid will flow from port P to port A and then to the rod end of gripping cylinder 66 thru line 104. The gripping cylinder 66 will thereby be retracted to close the gripping arms 64 around container 62 (Fig. 4). Exhaust fluid from cylinder 66 will flow thru line 102 to port B of valve 82 and then thru valve 82 from port B to port T and then to hydraulic fluid tank 94 thru lines 106, 98 and 100.
The next step is to cause the dumping mechanism to move thru the dumping portion of its dumping cycle. This is accomplished when the operator actuates valve 86. This will cause hydraulic fluid to flow from pump 76 thru lines 78, 80, 114, 116 to port P of valve 86. Fluid will flow from port P to port B of valve 86 and then to lift cylinder 24 thru line 108. This will extend lift cylinder 24 as illustrated in Figs. 4-8. Exhaust fluid from cylinder 24 will flow thru line 110 to port A of valve 86 and then thru valve 86 from port A to port T and then to tank 94 thru lines 112, 98, 100. When the mechanism 10 reaches the Fig. 8 position, cover 70 of container 62 will open and the refuse therein will be dumped into chamber 15.
To set the container back down, the valve 86 is actuated again. Fluid will then flow from pump 76 thru lines 78, 80, 114, 116 to port P of valve 86. Fluid will flow from port P to port A of valve 86 and then to the rod end of cylinder 24 thru line 110. Cylinder 24 will thereby be retracted, causing the dumping mechanism 10 to move from its dump position (Fig. 8) to is down position (Fig. 4).
As the dumping mechanism 10 reaches the last portion of its downward movement (preferably the last 12 inches of downward movement), a selectorvalve 118 in line 110 will be actuated. This will divert fluid flowing to cylinder 12 to tank 94 thru line 120. This will cause the dumping mechanism 10 and container 62 to float approximately the last 24 inches of movement to thereby prevent the container from slamming down on the ground. Valve 118 (shown only on Fig. 9) can be actuated automatically by any suitable arrangement, such as by mechanical contact by a suitable part of the dumping mechanism as the dumping mechanism reaches the last portion of its downward movement.
The next step is to open the gripping arms 64 to release container 62 from the dumping mechanism. This is accomplished by actuating valve 82 by pushing forward on the valve handle. This will cause hydraulic fluid under pressure to flow from pump 76 thru lines 78, 80, 114, 122 to port P of valve 82. Fluid will flow from port P to port B and then to cylinder 66 thru line 102. The gripping cylinder 66 will thereby be extended to open the gripping arms 64 to thereby release container 62. Exhaust fluid from cylinder 66 will flow thru line 104 to port A of valve 82 and then thru valve 82 from port A to port T and then to hydraulic fluid tank 94 through lines 106, 98 and 100.
The final step in the dumping cycle is to retract the gripping mechanism 60 back to its original position as shown in Fig. 2. This is accomplished by actuating valve 74. This will cause hydraulic fluid under pressure to flow from pump 76 through lines 78, 80,114, 88 to port P of valve 74. Fluid will flow through valve 74 from port P to port A and then to track cylinder 22 through line 92. This will retract cylinder 22 to the Fig. 2 position. Exhaust fluid from track cylinder 22 will flow to port B of valve 74 and then thru valve 74 from port B to port T and then from port T to hydraulic fluid tank 94 thru lines 96, 98 and 100. The operator moves the vehicle to the next container and the operation of the gripping mechanism 10 as described above is repeated. The operation of dump mechanism 10 as described above assumes an initial condition as shown in Fig. 2, namely, a situation where the operator has positioned the vehicle with the gripper mechanism 60 spaced from the container 62. In such a situation, it is necessary to first extend track cylinder 22 until the gripper mechanism 60 is moved to a position adjacent container 62. The distance the track cylinder 22 must be extended will depend of course on how close the operator positions the vehicle 12 with respect to the container 62.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show a situation where the track cylinder is fully extended (about 36" in the preferred embodiment). Fig. 5 shows a situation where the track cylinder 22 is partially extended and Fig. 4 shows a situation where the operator has positioned the vehicle with the gripper mechanism 60 sufficiently close to the container 62 that no extension of the track cylinder is required. An experienced operator can often position the vehicle as shown in Fig. 4, thus eliminating the necessity of actuating the track cylinder at either the beginning or the end of the dumping cycle. This is the preferred method of operation since it reduces overall operating time.
It should be noted at this point that one of the important inherent advantages of the dumping mechanism 10 is its ability to perform a substantially uniform dumping movement irrespective of whether the track cylinder is fully extended, partially extended or not extended at all. To state it another way, the dumping mechanism 10 will move the container 62 to essentially the same dumping position (Fig. 8) with respect to the vehicle irrespective of the degree to which the track cylinder is extended. Similarly the emptied container 62 will be set down on the ground at the same location from which it was raised originally.
The dumping mechanism can be actuated through its dumping cycle in a relatively short period of time as compared with prior mechanisms and this can be accomplished by a single operator who can remain in the vehicle cab during the entire operation. Furthermore, the present mechanism is of relatively simple construction and occupies a relatively small longitudinal space behind the cab of the vehicle.
It should also be noted that the major components of the mechanism are comprised of link members opposed to slide members. This simplifies the hydraulic plumbing arrangement for the hydraulic cylinders and requires flexibility for bending at the link joints only.
It is also important that the lift mechanism operate so that most of the container tilting movement occurs at the top part of the dumping arc. Furthermore, the mechanism is designed so that the mechanical lift advantage is nearly constant throughout the dumping cycle, i.e., if the container can be initially lifted off the ground the rest of the dumping cycle can be completed.

Claims

1. A mechanism for moving a container (62) from a standing position to a dump position and back to a standing position, comprising

a support frame assembly means (18) including a substantially horizontal frame base part (36), a substantially vertically extending leg (30), a substantially horizontal leg (32) extending from the upper end of said vertically extending leg (30), and a downwardly angling portion (34) on the free end of said horizontal leg (32) pointing towards the side of the standing position of said container (62),

a lift arm (20) having two opposited ends and being supported from said frame assembly means (18),

a container-gripping means (60) mounted on end end of said ends of said lift arm (20),

two power means (22, 24) being supported from said frame assembly means (18), one of said power means being supported from said horizontal leg (32) and being connected with the other of said ends of said lift arm (20),

the other of said power means (22, 24) being supported from said stationary frame base part (36) and being indirectly coupled with said lift arm (20),

said one of said power means (22, 24) serving to displace said lift arm (20) laterally and said other of said power means to swivel said lift arm (20) within said frame assembly means (18), characterized by

a) said lift arm (20) and a first (24) of two power means (22, 24) being pivotally connected to each other and being provided in the interior of said frame assembly means (18),

b) said lift arm (20) being between both of its ends pivotally connected to one end of a support link member (26) the other end of which being pivotally supported from said horizontal leg (32),

c) said lift arm (20) being between said one end with said gripping means (60) and the pivot-connection with said one end of said support link member (26) pivotally and slideably connected with a longitudinal guide means (44) via a guide member (50) mounted on said lift arm (20), said guide means (44) being pivotally supported from said downwardly angling portion (34) and being provided with a longitudinally extending guide track for said guide member (50),

d) said substantially vertically extending leg (30) being rigidly secured to said stationary frame base part (36), and

e) said second (22) of said power means (22,24) being pivotally connected with said guide means (44).

2. A mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that said guide means (44) is in the form of a track member adapted for engagement with said guide member (50) being in the form of a roller mounted on said lift arm (20).

3. A mechanism according to claims 1 and. 2, characterized in that the mechanism (10) being mounted via said stationary frame base part (36) on a frame (38) of a refuse collection vehicle for automatically dumping refuse containers located alongside a roadway, said vehicle comprising on said vehicle frame (38) a receiving chamber (15) having a top opening for receiving refuse, said mechanism (10) being mounted neighboured to the receiving chamber (15) for automatically moving and dumping refuse containers (62) in swinging motions wherein each container is inverted by the swinging motion of said lift arm (20) for dumping its contents into said receiving chamber (15).

4. A mechanism according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said first and second newer means (22. 24) beina hvdraulic power means, and that a hydraulic control means for controlling the movement of said first and second hydraulic power means (22, 24) being provided, including a sector valve means (118) operable to divert flow of hydraulic fluid flowing to said first hydraulic power means (24) during the last portion of the downward swinging movement of said lift arm (20) to thereby prevent a container (62) from slamming down on the ground.