EP3351490B1

EP3351490B1 - Loading system for refuse collection vehicle

Info

Publication number: EP3351490B1
Application number: EP18152276.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael O Brien
Original assignee: Dillon Waste Unlimited Co
Current assignee: Dillon Waste Unlimited Co
Priority date: 2017-01-18
Filing date: 2018-01-18
Publication date: 2022-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-18
Also published as: GB2558903A; GB201700869D0; EP3351490A1; IES20180016A2; IES86897B2; GB2558903B; ES2929300T3

Description

Field of the Invention

The present application relates to refuse collection vehicles that are known as a rear loader, comprising a loading system for discharging waste.

Background

Refuse collection vehicles are well known. When used for collection of domestic or commercial waste that is stored in refuse containers of standard dimensions such collection vehicles are typically of a rear loading type. As is known to those of ordinary skill, typically, a rear loader mechanism is provided on the tailgate of a truck having an enclosed body. Refuse is collected at each house or collection site in large containers which in recent times have become wheeled containers. The containers are moved to the rear of the collection vehicle where a lifting mechanism provided at the rear of the vehicle is used to lift the container and dump their contents into a hopper located in the tailgate assembly of the truck. The rear loader mechanism is usually operated by manual controls located adjacent the hopper opening. Periodically, a packing plate is then used to push the hopper contents into one or more silos defined within the volume of the vehicles.
Traditionally each refuse collection vehicle was only used for collecting one type of waste and as such each vehicle had only one silo for retention of the collected waste prior to discharge at a waste discharge facility. With changes in recycling regulations, it is now common for the waste to be sorted into specific waste containers by the user. For example, mixed dry recycling (MDR) may be provided in one waste container type and mixed municipal waste (MMW) provided in another. It is therefore becoming common for refuse collection vehicles to include two or more silos to facilitate the concurrent collection of waste of two or more types.
It is also known for the refuse collection companies to use standardised containers for distribution to customers. These containers are standardised to facilitate the lifting of them by the refuse collection vehicle. For domestic waste known standard size containers include those of the 360 litre, 240 litre and 140 litre sized containers. These are known for use in domestic refuse collection where the volume of waste that is generated in any one collection cycle is normally limited. For commercial waste, it is known to provide the commercial customer with a larger container. Standard sized larger commercial containers include the 1100 litre commercial bin with 4 wheels which conform with the EN840 standard.
The dimensions of this larger container are such that when presented to the hopper of the refuse collection vehicle, it occupies a large proportion of the available presentation width. At present, these 1100 litre collection bins can only be collected separately on a single compartment truck or what is known as a 70/30 divided truck.
On a 70/30 divided truck there are provided two silos with a divider wall between the two. Not surprisingly, these trucks are so named as the ratio of size of each silo to the total volume available for waste collection is 70/30. The larger sized volume is used for collection of the expected larger volume waste and the smaller for the lower volume. Each of the two silos have a lifting mechanism that is aligned with that silo such that appropriate lifting of waste by either a first lifter or a second lifter will present the collected waste from a container into either the 70 side silo or the 30 side silo.
Given the larger size of the 70 side, it is known to provide a double lifter at that side and use a single lifter at the 30 side. It is known to use this double lifter on the 70% side to either lift two smaller refuse containers simultaneously an and present their refuse into the 70 silo. It is also known to use the double lifter to lift a single large 1100 litre bins. The single lifter cannot empty these bins. The single lifter can only empty the smaller 360/240/140 litre bin. However, these bins are not large enough for commercial use.
To facilitate the collection of refuse of two different types, for example the MMW and MDR varieties, where each is provided in a large 1100 refuse container (or similarly dimensioned large commercial type refuse collection container), it is heretofore typical to use a dedicate refuse collection vehicle for each of the two waste or refuse types. Each collection vehicle uses the double lifter at the rear of the refuse collection vehicle to lift the large refuse container where it is either then retained in the 70 side of the 70:30 vehicle or in a single silo vehicle is stored directly within the available volume. To use dedicated vehicles for each type of waste that is collected from commercial users is not cost effective or efficient.
Document SE 519368 C2 discloses a rear loading collection vehicle comprising a first collection silo and a second collection silo in a 50:50 configuration. The vehicle comprises a loading system configured to enable a discharge of waste from an 1100-litre refuse container into each of the first collection silo and the second collection silo. One can appreciate that the width of the 1100-litre refuse container is greater than the width of either the openings of the first collection silo or the second collection silo. The loading system comprises:

a frame mountable to the rear of the vehicle, the frame comprising a frame chassis which is fixable to the vehicle and a movable frame element comprising a high-level lifting mechanism, the lifting mechanism being moveable relative to the frame chassis in a direction up-and-down relative to the rear of the refuse collection vehicle and configured to effect a lifting of a refuse container and a dumping of the contents of the refuse container into a respective one of the first collection silo or the second collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle;
a divider plate movable to selectively direct refuse dumped into the vehicle into either the first collection silo or the second collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle;
an actuating mechanism configured to effect movement of the divider, wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to effect a first loading configuration wherein the divider has a first orientation relative to a first location of the movable frame element relative to the frame chassis to effect a loading of the first collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle and a second loading configuration wherein the divider has a second orientation relative to a second location of the movable frame element of the frame chassis to effect a loading of the second collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle.

The vehicle also comprises an additional cover plate for avoiding that refuse is fed in the wrong silo.
It is desirable to provide an improved system for selectively routing commercial waste of two or more types into the same refuse vehicle.

Summary

These and other problems are addressed in accordance with the present teaching which provides a loading system for a ear loader refuse collection vehicles which facilitates a selective routing of waste of two or more types to an appropriate storage silo within a refuse collection vehicle.
Accordingly, the invention provides a rear loading refuse collection vehicle as detailed in claim 1. The application also provides a method as detailed in respective independent claim 12.
Advantageous embodiments are provided in the dependent claims.
The vehicle of the invention comprises inter alia a loading system for a rear-loading refuse collection vehicle having a first collection silo and a second collection silo arranged within a 50:50 split body vehicle is provided. The first collection silo and the second collection silo have openings at the rear of the vehicle through which refuse may be introduced into the vehicle collection silos, the system being configured to enable a discharge of waste from an 1100 litre refuse container into each of the first collection silo and the second collection silo. The width of the 1100 litre refuse container is greater than the width of either the openings of the first collection silo or the second collection silo. The system comprises a frame mountable to the rear of the vehicle, the frame comprising a frame chassis which is fixable to the vehicle and a movable frame element comprising a high-level lifting mechanism, wherein the movable frame element is operably movable on the frame chassis in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis and side-to-side relative to the rear of the refuse collection vehicle to align the lifting mechanism with a respective one of the first collection silo and the second collection silo. The lifting mechanism is moveable relative to the frame chassis in a direction up-and-down relative to the rear of the refuse collection vehicle and configured to effect a lifting of a refuse container and a dumping of the contents of the refuse container into a respective one of the first collection silo or the second collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle. A divider which is movable to selectively direct refuse dumped into the vehicle into either the first collection silo or the second collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle is provided. In addition there is provided an actuating mechanism configured to effect movement of each of the movable frame element and the divider, wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to effect a first loading configuration wherein the divider has a first orientation relative to a first location of the movable frame element relative to the frame chassis to effect a loading of the first collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle and a second loading configuration wherein the divider has a second orientation relative to a second location of the moveable frame element of the frame chassis to effect a loading of the second collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle, wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to effect concurrent movement of each of the divider and the movable frame element to adopt the first loading configuration or the second loading configuration and wherein movement of the divider to adopt each of the first orientation and the second orientation is operably opposite in direction to movement of the movable frame to adopt each of the first location and the second location respectively
The movable frame element is movable to adopt a third location relative to the frame chassis, the third location being between the first location and the second location.
The actuating mechanism may be configured to effect a third loading configuration, the third loading configuration effecting a movement of the divider to a third orientation coincident with adoption of the third location by the movable frame element. The divider in the third loading configuration may be arranged to adopt a position between each of the first collection silo and the second collection silo that facilitates concurrent collection of waste to each of the first collection silo and the second collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle.
The divider is movable relative to the frame chassis to adopt the first orientation or the second orientation.
In preferred arrangements, the system comprises a plurality of drive rams, the drive rams being coupled to and providing assisted movement to the divider flap and the movable frame respectively. The drive rams are ideally, but not essentially, in communication with the actuating mechanism such that actuation of the actuating mechanism effects a corresponding movement of a respective drive ram.
The drive rams may be electrically or hydraulically actuated.
According to the invention, the divider is pivotable relative to the refuse collection vehicle, a pivoting movement of the divider operably allowing a selective loading of each of the first silo, the second silo or the first and second silo concurrently.
A sensing module configured to provide a sensing signal confirming movement of the movable frame element to the first location or the second location may be provided. In such arrangements, the sensing module is in electronic communication with the actuating mechanism, such that controlled movement of the movable frame to the first location or the second location is effected in response to a single user input to the actuating mechanism.
The actuating mechanism may comprise a push button actuating interface comprising a plurality of user activatable push buttons, a first user button being uniquely associated with effecting actuation of the first location and a second user button being uniquely associated with effecting actuation of the second location.
The lifting mechanism may comprise a first lifter and a second lifter, the first and second lifter being arranged to cooperate with one another to provide a double lifter wherein each of the first lifter and the second lifter concurrently lift the same refuse container.
Certain arrangements may comprise an electronic reader configured to interrogate a refuse collection container to identify a type of refuse collection container and to automatically effect a movement of the divider and movable frame element in response to the identified type of refuse collection container, wherein the electronic reader is a RFID reader configured to interrogate an RFID tag associated with the refuse collection container.
In an advantageous configuration, vehicle further comprises a packer plate, the packer plate being operable to move received waste from a hopper of the vehicle into a collection silo, wherein the packer plate is movable under the divider and operably passes under the divider when moving received waste into the collection silo.
In addition, the invention provides method of loading the rear loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 1, the method comprising:

moving the movable frame element to adopt the first location and the divider to operably direct received refuse to the first silo;
actuating the lifting mechanism to lift a refuse container and deposit its content into the refuse collection vehicle.

These and other features will be better understood with reference to the drawings that follow.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

The present application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic showing a refuse collection vehicle incorporating a loading system in accordance with the present teaching.
Figure 2 is a shows frame components of the loading system.
Figure 3 shows the vehicle of Figure 1 with one refuse container in a lifted orientation so as to facilitate discharge of refuse material into the vehicle.
Figure 4 shows detail of a rear portion of the vehicle with the mounting of a movable divider in accordance with the present teaching.
Figure 5 is a perspective view from the rear and side of the vehicle of Figure 1 showing a protective shield component in an extended configuration consistent with a movement of the movable frame element to the right had side configuration.
Figure 6 is a view from the rear of the vehicle showing the movable frame element provided in a left hand side configuration.
Figures 7 and 8 show a detail of a rear portion of the vehicle with proximity sensors mounted.
Figure 9 shows detail of a control panel that is used to allow user control of the movement of the loading system.
Figure 10 shows detail of a mounting arrangement that is useable to provide a controlled movement of the movable frame element relative to the chassis.
Figure 11 is detail of a mounting arrangement that is useable to control forces that are exerted during a tipping of the vehicle to discharge collected waste.
Figure 12 is a side view of a portion of the vehicle incorporating the loading system of the present teaching.

Detailed Description Of The Drawings

Figures 1 to 12 show a loading system 100 for a rear-loading refuse collection vehicle 110 in accordance with teaching. In these exemplary arrangements, the vehicle 110 is an otherwise conventional vehicle and comprises a first collection silo 120 and a second collection silo 130. The collection silos 120, 130 are arranged longitudinally within the vehicle and are separated by a dividing wall so as to ensure that waste that is received into the first collection silo does not contaminate waste that is collected in the second collection silo. Such an arrangement for collection silos within a collection vehicle will be known to those of ordinary skill. For example it is known to have a 50:50 collection vehicle where the interior volume is divided into two equally sized collection silos. It is also known to provide a 70:30 collection vehicle where 70% of the collection volume is used for a first collection silo and 30% is used for a second collection silo. The segmentation necessary to achieve these standard configurations will be apparent and does not require further discussion here.
In accordance with the invention and as shown in Figure 1, a 50:50 split body vehicle is useable to collect the two different waste streams (municipal waste (MMW) and mixed dry recycling (MDR)) at the one time. Using such a conventional vehicle the present teaching provides a loading system 100 comprising a frame 200 mountable to the vehicle, the frame comprising a frame chassis 210 which is fixable to the vehicle and a movable frame element 220 which is operably movable on the frame chassis in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the refuse collection vehicle. In accordance with the invention and as shown in Figure 2, the movable frame element is moveable side to side on the rear of the vehicle. When extended to in its full extension either to the right hand side or the left hand side, a protective shield component 180 that is coupled to the moveable frame element will project beyond the normal side of the vehicle. In such an extended frame configuration, the vehicle should typically be maintained in a stationary position and only moved when the movable frame element is moved back to its central "normal" configuration. As is shown in Figures 1 and 3, there is provided a protective shield component 180 on each side of the movable frame component. This is desirably fabricated from a resilient and flexible material such as rubber. An example of a suitable material is heavy duty EPA 500-3 conveyor rubber. The shield component is fixed to the outer sides of the truck and to both sides of movable frame element. It folds up and extends naturally once the frame element is shifted from one side of the vehicle to the other and serves to prevent inadvertent access between the side of the vehicle and the moveable frame element.
The movable frame element 220 comprises a lifting mechanism 140 configured to effect a lifting of a refuse container 150 and a dumping of the contents of the refuse container into the refuse collection vehicle. In this illustrated example, the lifting mechanism comprises a first lifter 140A and a second lifter 140B. The first and second lifter are arranged to cooperate with one another, as shown in Figure 3, to provide a double lifter wherein each of the first lifter and the second lifter concurrently lift the same refuse container 150 and facilitate the dumping of the content of that container into the refuse vehicle. Such a dual lifter is required for large containers 150 such as those having four wheels and a volume of approximately 1100 litres such as shown in the Figures. As will be evident from inspection of Figure 3 (and the other Figures) the width of the entrance area 160 is approximately the same as the width as of the refuse container such that only one container can be lifted and its content deposited into the refuse vehicle at any one time.
For smaller containers, such as those as those having a volume selected from one of 360/240/140 litres, each of the first lifter and the second lifter are independently operable to allow a concurrent lifting of a first refuse container and a second refuse container and the depositing of their contents into the refuse container.
When used to lift a single large refuse container and selectively target its content to either the first silo or the second silo, the movable frame element is moved fully from one side to the other as shown in Figures 3 to 6 (Figure 3 shows extended fully to the right hand side to fill the second silo 130 whereas Figure 6 shows it fully extended to the left hand side to fill the first silo 120), the 1100 Itr commercial bin is still wider than the width of the 50/50 divide. Therefore, a divider 170 is provided to direct the material from the bin to the appropriate compartment. This divider moves in the opposite direction of the lifter.
When the movable frame element is in the centre position as in Figure 1, the divider is standing straight up as an extension of the centre dividing wall which splits the body. In this position, it is now possible to empty the smaller domestic bins of difference waste types into their respective compartments at the same time.
When depositing mixed waste into a split vehicle it is important that the waste is ultimately directed into the appropriate collections silo for that waste type. In accordance with the present invention there the divider 170 is movable to selectively direct refuse dumped into the vehicle into either the first collection silo or the second collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle. Therefore and as explained above when the movable frame element is moved to the right side of the truck, the divider 170 moves to the left side. This allows a commercial 1100 Itr bin with waste type A to be tipped into silo compartment # 1. When the movable frame element is moved to the left side of the truck (figure 6), the divider 170 moves to the right side. This allows a commercial 1100 Itr bin with waste type B to be tipped into silo compartment # 2.
To facilitate this movement, the system comprises an actuating mechanism configured to effect movement of each of the movable frame element and the divider. The actuating mechanism is configured to effect a first loading configuration wherein the divider has a first orientation relative to a first location of the movable frame element relative to the frame chassis to effect a loading of the first collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle (Figure 6) and a second loading configuration wherein the divider has a second orientation relative to a second location of the moveable frame element of the frame chassis to effect a loading of the second collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle (Figure 3).
The actuating mechanism is configured to effect concurrent movement of each of the divider and the movable frame element to adopt the first loading configuration or the second loading configuration. In other configurations movement of either of the divider or the movable frame element may precede the movement of the other.
As shown in Figure 1, when viewed relative to each of Figures 3 and 6, the movable frame element is movable to adopt a third location relative to the frame chassis, the third location being between the first location and the second location. The actuating mechanism can be configured to effect this third loading configuration, the third loading configuration effecting a movement of the divider to a third orientation coincident with adoption of the third location by the movable frame element. Adoption of the third loading configuration facilitates concurrent collection of waste to each of the first collection silo and the second collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle. This will typically be used when the vehicle is used for collecting domestic waste which is presented in smaller collection bins. Equally the third loading configuration centres the movable frame relative to the vehicle and is the normal configuration adopted during movement of the vehicle.
To achieve the necessary adoption of each of the configurations, the divider 170 is movable relative to the frame chassis to adopt the first orientation or the second orientation or the third orientations. Movement of the divider to adopt each of the first orientation and the second orientation is operably opposite in direction to movement of the movable frame to adopt each of the first location and the second location respectively. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the divider is pivotably mounted to the vehicle itself such that it is fixed at one side to a mount 400 of the vehicle and pivots along a line 401-402 relative to that fixed mount. This fixed mount is typically coincident with the end of the divider wall that separates the two silos. The fixed mount is desirably, in this configuration provided within the vehicle such that the free side of the divider (170B) is closer to the end of the vehicle. The length of divider- i.e. the distance between the fixed side and the free side is chosen such that when the movable frame element moves to either the right hand side or the left hand side, the divider 170 extends fully from the silo dividing wall to the mouth of the collection vehicle so as to ensure that any waste that is presented into the collection vehicle cannot inadvertently be passed into the wrong silo. By extending fully to the mouth, and moving the frame element, the entrance to the non-desired silo is concurrently blocked by the opening of the entrance to the desired silo.
While the divider in this arrangement is a pivotable plate- for example heavy duty 10 mm sheet metal plate- other arrangements of gating the entrance to a first silo while opening an entrance to another silo could be employed.
To achieve movement of the movable frame element and the divider, the system may comprise a plurality of drive rams, the drive rams being coupled to and providing assisted movement to the divider and the movable frame respectively. Each of the movable frame element and the divider may be coupled to dedicated rams. The rams can be electrically or hydraulically actuated.
In one arrangement the movement of the movable frame element is effected using electric rams. In an exemplary arrangement, two rams are used are configured to give three positions by the individual strokes of each rods.

Two rams in closed position = movable frame element in right side location
Ram 1 extended/Ram 2 closed = movable frame element in central position
Two rams extended = movable frame element in left side location.

Due to space constraints, the rams can be mounted at the back of the refuse collection vehicle for example within a 100 mm box section. This advantageously keeps them in a safe clean environment as the back of a refuse vehicle can be a harsh environment. The box section can be fitted in a number of different locations- for example it may be fitted under the frame chassis 210 for further protection. The travel of the rams can be configured to suit the distance which the movable frame element needs to move to be in one of the three positions.
The divider can also be moved using the assist of drive rams. These are typically separate to the movable frame element rams but will also desirably include two rams which are arranged to gives its three positions. These divider rams are considerably smaller and have a shorter stroke when compared to the movable frame element rams.
As shown in Figure 8, the system may incorporate a sensing module 800, such as one including for example proximity switches, configured to provide a sensing signal confirming movement of the movable frame element to the first location or the second location. The sensing module is desirably in electronic communication with the actuating mechanism, such that controlled movement of the movable frame to the first location or the second location is effected in response to a single user input to the actuating mechanism. The use of proximity switches is advantageous as these can be provided in weather and dust resistant configurations and can be used to determine when the movable frame element has reached one of its three positions. These proximity switches can be mounted under the 100 mm box section which contains the rams or any other suitable location. The sensing module, comprising a plurality individual sensors, is typically located on a frame 820 extending across the rear of the vehicle 110, above the taillights 810 of the vehicle.
The hydraulic lines of the rams are plumbed into the same hydraulic lines as the movable frame element rams and can also use the hydraulic lines of the lifting mechanism. By using a latching relay in conjunction with a timer, when the actuation mechanism of actuated or engaged a signal is sent to a hydraulic diverter valve. Oil is then diverted from the lifting mechanism supply to a movable frame element hydraulic valve chest and the required ram moves as necessary. By incorporating a timer into an electrical control circuit if the movable frame element reaches its position first and flags the proximity sensor, the divider will need its hydraulic circuit to charge fully before it can be moved to its appropriate location relative to the movable frame element. By providing an adjustable timer it is possible to ensure that the necessary hydraulic charge and discharge times are facilitated to ensure that each part meets its location before the relevant bin is emptied.
The drive rams are in communication with the actuating mechanism such that actuation of the actuating mechanism effects a corresponding movement of a respective drive ram.
As shown in Figure 9 the actuating mechanism 900 comprises a push button actuating interface 910 comprising a plurality of user activatable push buttons 920, 930, 940. A first user button 920 is uniquely associated with effecting actuation of the first location and a second user button being uniquely associated with effecting actuation of the second location. A third button 940 is useable to ensure that the movable frame element adopts the normal default position.
In operation an operator will select an appropriate button to move the movable frame element to adopt the relevant first or second location and the divider to operably direct received refuse to the first silo or second silo respectively. Once the correct silo is determined and accessible, the operator will actuate the lifting mechanism to lift a refuse container and deposit its content into the refuse collection vehicle, typically within the hopper region of the vehicle. On receipt, and in a fashion that will be familiar to persons of ordinary skill, the vehicle will use its packer plate to move received waste from a hopper of the vehicle into the appropriate collection silo. The packer plate is movable under the divider and operably passes under the divider when moving received waste into the collection silo.
In a modification to that described heretofore, the loading system may be automated. Such automation may be effected by use of an electronic reader configured to interrogate a refuse collection container to identify a type of refuse collection container and to automatically effect a movement of the divider and movable frame element in response to the identified type of refuse collection container. The electronic reader may be a RFID reader configured to interrogate an RFID tag associated with the refuse collection container.
As will be appreciated from the above, a loading system per the present teaching needs to be mounted to the vehicle in a robust, yet simple fashion. Whilst it is envisaged that a vehicle could be manufactured incorporating a loading system per the present application, it is most likely that such loading systems will be retrospectively added to existing vehicles that are on the road. An example of such a vehicle is a standard existing bin truck with a 50/50 split body and high-level lifters already provided at the rear of the vehicle. Such vehicles are already used to empty domestic bins and collect the two different waste streams (MMW & MDR) at the one time.
Per the present teaching the existing high-level lifters can be removed and the frame chassis 210 is fixed to the vehicle. The frame chassis will form a track along which the moveable frame element will have controlled movement. Such a track needs to be robust and simple to survive the harsh operating conditions to which rubbish collection vehicles are exposed. In an example of such an implementation shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, the track 210 comprises a 125 mm x 65 mm "C" section fabricated from steel. There is one fixed on the bottom of the truck and one on top of the vehicle - see Figure 12.
Due to the forces which would be acting on the frame and the track, roller bearings 1000 may be used as load bearing wheels which take the downward weight of the moveable frame element 220 and associated lifter mechanism.
Whilst it is not intended to constrain the present teaching to any specific configuration in one aspect, three sets of these roller bearings were fitted on the bottom track 210. Two were fitted on the top track for stability when the rear door was opened to allow the truck to empty. In such a configuration, the frame is in a horizontal position. To counteract the lateral forces which would be acting on the moveable frame element two sets of staggered high load rated roller bearing wheels 1100 were incorporated and these serve to take the load that would otherwise be imparted onto the roller bearing 1000. These roller bearing wheels 1100 are configured to engage with a side wall of the channels formed by the track 210 when the loading system is provided in a non- vertical orientation.
It will be appreciated that this specific mounting arrangement is exemplary of the type of configuration that may be employed to ensure that the movable frame element can reliably slide or otherwise move from one side of the vehicle to another so as to allow dedicated discharge of waste from a refuse container to a specific silo. Modifications can be made to these specifics without departing from the scope of invention, which is defined by the appended claims.
The words comprises/comprising when used in this specification are to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers , steps, components or groups thereof.

Claims

A rear loading refuse collection vehicle (110) comprising a first collection silo (120) and a second collection silo (130), the first and second collection silos being arranged side by side along a longitudinal axis of the collection vehicle in a 50:50 configuration, the first collection silo (120) and the second collection silo (130) having openings at the rear of the vehicle through which refuse may be introduced into the vehicle collection silos, the vehicle (110) further comprising a loading system (100), being configured to enable a discharge of waste from an 1100 litre refuse container (150) into each of the first collection silo and the second collection silo, the width of the 1100 litre refuse container being greater than the width of either the openings of the first collection silo (120) or the second collection silo (130) the system comprising:
a frame (200) mounted to the rear of the vehicle, the frame comprising a frame chassis (210) which is fixed to the vehicle and a movable frame element (220) comprising a high-level lifting mechanism (140), wherein the movable frame element (220) is operably movable on the frame chassis in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis and side-to-side relative to the rear of the refuse collection vehicle to align the lifting mechanism (140) with a respective one of the first collection silo (120) and the second collection silo (130), the lifting mechanism being moveable relative to the frame chassis (210) in a direction up-and-down relative to the rear of the refuse collection vehicle and configured to effect a lifting of a refuse container and a dumping of the contents of the refuse container into a respective one of the first collection silo (120) or the second collection silo (130) of the refuse collection vehicle;

a divider (170) movable to selectively direct refuse dumped into the vehicle into either the first collection silo or the second collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle;

an actuating mechanism configured to effect movement of each of the movable frame element (220) and the divider (170), wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to effect a first loading configuration wherein the divider has a first orientation relative to a first location of the movable frame element relative to the frame chassis (210) to effect a loading of the first collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle and a second loading configuration wherein the divider (170) has a second orientation relative to a second location of the moveable frame element of the frame chassis to effect a loading of the second collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle, wherein the movable frame element (220) is movable to adopt a third location relative to the frame chassis (210), the third location being between the first location and the second location, wherein the actuating mechanism is configured to effect concurrent movement of each of the divider (170) and the movable frame element (220) to adopt the first loading configuration or the second loading configuration and wherein movement of the divider to adopt each of the first orientation and the second orientation is operably opposite in direction to movement of the movable frame to adopt each of the first location and the second location respectively;

a protective shield component (180) provided on each side of the moveable frame element, wherein the protective shield component (180) is fixed to the outer sides of the vehicle and to both sides of the moveable frame element and is configured to project beyond the normal side of the vehicle when the movable frame element (220) is the first location or the second location, the shield component being configured to fold up and extend naturally once the moveable frame element is shifted from one side of the vehicle to the other and serving to prevent inadvertent access between a side of the vehicle and the moveable frame element; and

wherein the divider (170) is a plate that is pivotable relative to the refuse collection vehicle, a pivoting movement of the divider operably allowing a selective loading of each of the first silo (120), the second silo (130) or the first and second silo concurrently, the divider (170) having a length such that the divider extends fully from a fixed mount at the end of the dividing wall that splits the body of the rear-loading refuse collection vehicle to a mouth of the rear-loading refuse collection vehicle so as to form an entrance (160) to an opening of the first or second silo when the actuating mechanism is in the respective first or second loading configuration, the entrance having a width equivalent to the width of the 1100 litre refuse container and wherein the length of the divider is such that in the first loading configuration it expands the opening of the entrance to the first collection silo and concurrently blocks the entrance to the second collection silo and in the second loading configuration it expands the opening of the entrance to the second collection silo and concurrently blocks the entrance to the first collection silo.
The rear loading refuse collection vehicle (110) of claim 1 wherein the actuating mechanism is configured in the third loading configuration to effect a movement of the divider (170) to a third orientation coincident with adoption of the third location by the movable frame element.
The rear loading refuse collection vehicle (110) of claim 1 or 2 wherein the divider (170) in the third loading configuration adopts a position between each of the first collection silo (120) and the second collection silo (130) that facilitates concurrent collection of waste to each of the first collection silo and the second collection silo of the refuse collection vehicle.
The rear loading refuse collection vehicle (110) of any preceding claim comprising a plurality of drive rams, the drive rams being coupled to and providing assisted movement to the divider (170) and the movable frame respectively.
The rear loading refuse collection vehicle (110) of claim 4, the drive rams being in communication with the actuating mechanism such that actuation of the actuating mechanism effects a corresponding movement of a respective drive ram.
The rear loading refuse collection vehicle (110) of claim 4 or 5 wherein the drive rams are electrically actuated or wherein the drive rams are hydraulically actuated.
The rear loading refuse collection vehicle (110) of any preceding claim comprising a sensing module (800) configured to provide a sensing signal confirming movement of the movable frame element to the first location or the second location, wherein the sensing module (800) is in electronic communication with the actuating mechanism, such that controlled movement of the movable frame to the first location or the second location is effected in response to a single user input to the actuating mechanism.
The rear loading refuse collection vehicle (110) of claim 7 wherein the actuating mechanism (900) comprises a push button actuating interface (910) comprising a plurality of user activatable push buttons (920, 930, 940), a first user button (920) being uniquely associated with effecting actuation of the first location and a second user button (930) being uniquely associated with effecting actuation of the second location.
The rear loading refuse collection vehicle (110) of any preceding claim wherein the lifting mechanism (140) comprises a first lifter (140A) and a second lifter (140B), the first and second lifter being arranged to cooperate with one another to provide a double lifter wherein each of the first lifter and the second lifter concurrently lift the same refuse container (150).
The rear loading refuse collection vehicle (110) of any preceding claim comprising an electronic reader configured to interrogate a refuse collection container to identify a type of refuse collection container and to automatically effect a movement of the divider (170) and movable frame element (220) in response to the identified type of refuse collection container, wherein the electronic reader is a RFID reader configured to interrogate an RFID tag associated with the refuse collection container.
The rear loading refuse collection vehicle (110) of any preceding claim further comprising a packer plate, the packer plate being operable to move received waste from a hopper of the vehicle into a collection silo, wherein the packer plate is movable under the divider (170) and operably passes under the divider when moving received waste into the collection silo.
A method of loading the rear loading refuse collection vehicle (110) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, the method comprising:
moving the movable frame element (220) to adopt the first location and the divider (170) to operably direct received refuse to the first silo (120); and

actuating the lifting mechanism (140) to lift a refuse container and deposit its content into the refuse collection vehicle.