US3643824A

US3643824A - Automatic packer cycle for refuse-carrying apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3643824A
Application number: US26700A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harvie C Partridge
Original assignee: SMITHPAC CANADA Ltd
Current assignee: SMITHPAC CANADA Ltd
Priority date: 1970-04-08
Filing date: 1970-04-08
Publication date: 1972-02-22
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-22

Abstract

A refuse carrying vehicle receives refuse into a receptacle mounted thereon. An aperture extends through a wall of the receptacle for alignment with a carrying chamber pivotally mounted on the vehicle for movement between a horizontal position and a tilted dumping position. A hydraulic ram pushes refuse horizontally from within the receptacle through the aperture into the chamber, a second hydraulic compacting ram is located in said carrying chamber to plunge vertically onto the refuse in said chamber. A hydraulic pressure system is mounted on the chassis for operating the loading ram and the refuse-compacting ram and is controlled by electric switch means including ram movement limiting switches and pressure limit switches to cyclically activate and deactivate solenoid operated valves in said pressure system whereby said loading ram and said compacting ram are continuously synchronously reciprocating.

Description

United States Patent Partridge 1 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] AUTOMATIC PACKER CYCLE FOR REFUSE-CARRYING APPARATUS [72] Inventor: Harvie C. Partridge, Port Credit, Ontario,

Canada [73] Assignee: Smithpac Canada Ltd., Toronto, Ontario,

Canada v [22] Filed: Apr. 8, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 26,700

[52] US. Cl ..214/510, 214/83.3, 100/232, 100/269 [51] Int. Cl ..B60p H28 [58] Field of Search ..214/503, 83.3, 508, 509, 518, 214/510; 100/232, 269

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,490,631 l/1970 Smith ..2l4/83.3 X 3,266,413 8/1966 Sharp et a1. 3,326,120 6/1967 Schneider et a1. ..100/232 X 3,358,590 12/1967 Howard ..100/232 X Primary ExamineH-Albert J. Makay Att0rneySmart & Biggar {57] ABSTRACT A refuse carrying vehicle receives refuse into a receptacle mounted thereon. An aperture extends through a wall of the receptacle for alignment with a carrying chamber pivotally mounted on the vehicle for movement between a horizontal position and a tilted dumping position. A hydraulic ram pushes refuse horizontally from within the receptacle through the aperture into the chamber, a second hydraulic compacting ram is located in said carrying chamber to plunge vertically onto the refuse in said chamber. A hydraulic pressure system is mounted on the chassis for operating the loading ram and the refuse-compacting ram and is controlled by electric switch means including ram movement limiting switches and pressure limit switches to cyclically activate and deactivate solenoid operated valves in said pressure system whereby said loading ram and said compacting ram are continuously synchronously reciprocating.

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Inventor HARVIE CHARLES PARTRIDGE by: WJKMW.

AUTOMATIC PACKER CYCLE FOR REFUSE-CARRYING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to refuse-holding apparatus and more particularly to a refuse-carrying vehicle having a loading receptacle mounted behind the cab on the chassis of the vehicle and disposed adjacent a loading aperture of a refuse-receiving chamber mounted rearwardly of the vehicle to permit the transfer of refuse from the loading receptacle into the refuse-receiving chamber. A hydraulically operating loading ram is provided within the loading receptacle for movement toward and away from the loading aperture to push refuse from the loading receptacle through the loading aperture into the refuse-receiving chamber. A second hydraulically operated ram herewith referred to as a compacting ram is located above the aperture in the receiving chamber for vertical movement across the loading aperture to effect compression of refuse after it is pushed into the refuse chamber. Compaction of the refuse is caused by movement of its compacting ram toward and away from the rigid surface of the floor of the refuse-receiving chamber and by its being disposed and operating in a plane of 90 with the plane of operation of the loading ram.

When the refuse-compacting ram is provided in a refusecarrying apparatus in accordance with this invention, such an apparatus will usefully further be provided with a hydraulically operable drive mechanism for effecting the reciprocal movement of the refuse-compacting ram toward and away from said floor. A hydraulic control means for directing hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinder is operatively associated with the control means of the packing ram. The control means is adapted to control operation of the aforementioned rams by the supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure from the hydraulic fluid pressure system to the drive mechanism and by the passage of hydraulic fluid from the drive mechanism to the hydfaulic fluid return system.

The aforementioned hydraulic fluid pump can be electrically operable and the pump drive means associated with that pump could comprise an electrical connection means for the supply of electrical energy to the pump and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy.

Hydraulic power for the rams is obtained by providing a hydraulic pump driven by a power takeoff from the primary engine of the vehicle. In circumstances where the apparatus is towed or lifted onto a trailer to be stationed for a period of time at a fixed location, after which period it is driven to a disposal location, electric or other power means can be provided to operate the hydraulic pump. An ordinary truck direct current battery is used to operate the switches and solenoids. When on a vehicle its battery is employed.

It is a principal object of the present invention to improve refuse-carrying apparatus of the type-described by integrating the rams into a continuously synchronous operating cycle activated and deactivated by a pushbutton switch on the cab of the vehicle. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a refuse-carrying apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a refuse-receiving chamber pivotally mounted on the supporting frame for tilting movement of said refuse-receiving chamber between a generally horizontal loading position and a tilted dumping position, a rigid bottom on said chamber; a loading aperture in said refuse-receiving chamber for the admittance of refuse into said chamber; a loading receptacle disposed on said supporting frame so as to be adjacent said loading aperture when said refuse-receiving chamber is disposed in said generally horizontal loading position thereof; a loading ram within said loading receptacle for-movement therein toward and away from said loading aperture for pushing refuse through said loading aperture into said refuse-receiving chamber; a refusecompacting ram disposed within said refuse-receiving chamber for reciprocal movement across the loading aperture toward and away from the floor of the chamber for the purpose of compressing refuse thereagainst after introduction of refuse by the loading ram into the chamber through the loading aperture; a hydraulically operable power mechanism for effecting movement of said loading ram toward and away from said loading aperture and for effecting movement of said compacting ram across the face of said aperture; a hydraulic fluid directional valve for controlling operation of said rams; a hydraulic fluid reservoir carried by said supporting frame; a hydraulic fluid pump carried by said supporting frame and operatively associated with said hydraulic fluid reservoir and with said hydraulic fluid pressure system and adapted, on operation, to withdraw hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic fluid reservoir and to supply such hydraulic fluid under pressure to said hydraulic fluid pressure system; power means for operating said pump; a hydraulic fluid return system operatively associated with said hydraulic control valve means for the return of hydraulic fluid from each said hydraulic rams to said hydraulic fluid reservoir; said control valve comprising a stack of spool valves operated by a plurality of solenoids controlling the direction of hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the rams and from the rams to the reservoir; a source of electric power; an electric switch means to electrically actuate one of the solenoids on said valve thereby directing hydraulic pressure to the ram end of a hydraulic cylinder associated with the loading ram retracting said ram into said cylinder, a first limit switch activated by the retraction of said ram, said limit switch deactivating said one solenoid and activating a second of said solenoids; said solenoid when activated, directing the flow of hydraulic fluid to the ram end of the compacting ram hydraulic cylinder thereby retracting said ram into said cylinder across the refuse-receiving chamber above said aperture; a second limit switch activated by retraction of the compacting ram to switch current from said second solenoid deactivating same, to a third solenoid; said third solenoid actuating a valve directing pressure to the head end of said packing ram cylinder to extend said ram toward said aperture, said second limit switch further providing current to a control relay operative to permit said packing ram to extend off said first limit switch without activating the first solenoid; a first pressure switch operative when said packing ram generates a preset pressure limit to provide power to a second control relay which deenergizes said third solenoid and provides holding-in circuit for said relay and providing current to a fourth solenoid; said fourth solenoid operating a valve in said stack to direct fluid pressure to the head end of said vertical compacting ram to drive said ram downwardly onto said refuse toward the floor of said chamber; a second pressure switch operated by the generation of a preset pressure force against said compacting ram to deenergize said first and second relays and said fourth solenoid and to energize said first solenoid to repeat the sequence of retraction of said loading ram, retraction of said compacting ram, extension of said loading ram, extension of said compacting ram continuously until said electric switch means is opened to arrest the flow of current to the limit switches and relays.

The refuse-receiving chamber of the refuse-carrying apparatus herein is additionally provided with a tailgate pivotally mounted on a rear discharge end of the refuse chamber for movement between open and closed positions, a hydraulically operable tailgate drive mechanism operatively interconnecting said refuse-receiving chamber and said tailgate and effective to move said tailgate between said open and closed positions thereof and a hydraulic tailgate control means operatively associated with such tailgate drive mechanism, with said hydraulic fluid pressure system and with said hydraulic fluid return system and adapted to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure from said hydraulic fluid pressure system to said tailgate drive mechanism to move said tailgate selectively and controllably into a desired one of said open and closed positions thereof. The controls for the hydraulics of the tailgate cylinder and body tilt cylinder are provided by the directional control valve but the valves thereon are manually operated rather than by solenoids.

An interlock resistance valve (CV FIG. 4b) is located in the line to generate pilot pressure for the stack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing objects and features of the invention and the manner in which the same are accomplished will become more readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refuse truck equipped with the improved loading hydraulic packer and the improved compactor described which are automatically cycled together in the present improved invention. This view shows the location of the hydraulic pump, hydraulic reservoir, hydraulic directional control mechanism and the electrically actuating starting switches and limiting switches of the compacting ram;

FIG. 2 shows in phantom form the disposition upon the truck body of the packing ram and compacting rams relative to one another;

Fig. 3 shows the horizontal ram disposed in the loading receptacle with a limit switch disposed proximate the head connections of the various solenoids and the method of switching the fluid from power line to return line directions in the reciprocating cycle of each of the rams; and

FIG. 4b is an electrical schematic diagram of the electric controls of the invention showing the method of switching the solenoids on and off FIG. 4a is a schematic drawing of the hydraulic control mechanism and hydraulic circuits showing the method of switching the solenoids on and off upon actuation of the limit switches and the pressure switches of the circuits.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 a refuse-carrying vehicle such as a truck is shown and designated as numeral 10. The truck has a front cab 13 and a rear tipable and dumpable portion 12. Between the dumpable portion and the cab is a refuse-receiving receptacle 14. Located under the cab and capable of extending against the refuse in the refuse receptacle is a packer ram 15 which is hydraulically operated by a piston hydraulically driven from cylinder 16. Ram 15 reciprocates in a horizontal plane parallel to the chassis 11 of the vehicle. The interior of the rear portion 12 of the vehicle comprises a refuse chamber 17 which has a frame 18 facing the cab end of said rear portion, said frame forming an aperture 19 in said back portion into which refuse can be pushed from the receptacle 14 by the reciprocal movement of hydraulic ram, 15. Reciprocating in a vertical plane to the plane of the chassis and within said frame is a second ram 20, hydraulically driven by a piston associated with a hydraulic cylinder 21. Ram 20 is centered within frame 18 at the aperture in the body of the chamber of the dumping portion of the truck operating reciprocally across the aperture. Both

cylinders

16 and 21 are hydraulically operated from a common control located at 22 on the body of the vehicle and said common control is connected to a reservoir and pump system.

The invention herein is the improvement in operating the packing ram and the compacting ram to provide reciprocal, automatic and cyclical operation of the rams by actuation of electric switch means to ensure that the refuse is packed into the body of the dumping chamber in a most efficient compact manner. This is done as hereinafter described by having the hydraulic valves of the system electrically actuated to operate the rams together on a precise cycle to ensure that after a horizontal push of given force is made to the refuse, a vertical compacting force is given to it before withdrawal of the holding force of the horizontal ram is made. By timing the cycle of pack and compact sequence, the refuse will be subjected to a continuous horizontal and vertical sequence of blows to ensure optimum packing of the refuse. The cycling of the rams provides the improvement herein whereby the refuse is not merely pushed into the carrying dumpable chamber but compacted by the repeated blows of the rams to eliminate the unwanted air pockets normally occuring in the refuse.

On the front of the cab, a power takeofi' from the internal combustion engine of the vehicle is made to drive a pump 23 which forces fluid throughout the hydraulic system. Located at 24 beside the pump is a hydraulic reservoir connected to the directional control valve 22. A limit switch 25 is provided on the path of travel of the piston of ram 15 of hydraulic cylinder 16 and another limit switch 26 is located at the upper portion of the path of travel of ram piston 20 of cylinder 21.

In the hydraulic schematic FIG. 4a, the reservoir 24 and the pump 23 are shown on the lines 27 and 28 leading from and to the reservoir respectively. In the return line to the reservoir, a filter 29 is provided and in the line between the reservoir and the pump a suction strainer 30 is provided. The directional control valve is designated as numeral 22 in FIG. 4a and comprises the stack of spools, valves and solenoids necessary for directing fluid pressure to the horizontal ram and the vertical ram.

Also associated with the directional control valve are manually operated body tilt and manually operated tailgate hydraulic systems.

A system relief valve 31 is placed in the line from the pump to the directional control valve and is set for a relief of 2,000 p.s.i. with a bypass into the reservoir by way of the filter. The power to motivate the hydraulic pump is, as before stated, obtained from a power takeoff such as belts to the internal combustion engine of the truck. Should the vehicle be solely electrically operated, a suitable pump can be connected to the electrical system of the vehicle. The pump could also be operated if properly electrically connected to an outside power source such as a building outlet.

In the embodiment shown, the hydraulic system will not operate unless the vehicles engine is turning over, that is, unless the internal combustion engine is operating in at least idling condition.

When the pump is operating, hydraulic fluid is drawn into the circuit from the reservoir into the system pressure relief valve. It then flows from the pump through the relief valve into the directional control stack. The stack is a conventional manufactured hydraulic stack where the internal passages allow pressure to be available at each directional section such that movement of any valve handle or the energizing of any solenoid either mechanically or by normal operation by elec trical means of the solenoid, will move the internal spool within the stack, applying pressures on one side of one of the hydraulic cylinders and allowing oil from the other side of the cylinder to return to the reservoir.

In FIG. 4a, 33 is a four-way, three-position solenoidoperated valve controlling the primary or packing cylinder of the horizontal ram for moving the ram in the horizontal position. 34 is a four-way three-position solenoid-operated valve for controlling the compacting or secondary cylinde for moving the vertical ram. Both

valves

33 and 34 are loca led in the direction control stack valve 22. Each valve has 2 I olenoids and each solenoid has an extended push pin shown at 35 on FIG. 1 and 2 which allows for the manual control at each ram cylinder independent of the automatic packing control system, such that when the packer automatic control electric system is shut off, the pushing of the pin associated with the ram end of the horizontal ram cylinder will actuate the valve associated with the horizontal ram thereby to retract it. This also applies to pushing a similar pin associated with rlalve 34, causing the vertical ram to retract. The respective ra s can be made to extend by pushing the two pins opposite the two retracting pins. This manual operation allows the rams to be preset to retracted positions for loading the receptacle with power off.

In FIG. 1,

numerals

36 and 37 indicate a four-way threeposition level operated valve in the control unit for controlling the body tilt cylinder and a tailgate cylinder respectively. The body tilt cylinders are shown as 38 and the tailgate cylinder are shown as 39 on the FIG. 1.

FIG. 4b shows the electrical circuit wherein a number of control switches 40 are connected to the 12 v. DC supply 41 of the truck battery. For safety purposes, switches 40 are located inside the cab and at two positions outside the cab in order that the circuit could be broken whenever the operator is standing. To initiate operation of the cycle for the rams, all of the control switches 40 located at various points in the cab and chassis of the vehicle are closed. The hydraulic pump is then put into operation by starting the truck engine which after the engine has operated the pump for about 1 minute, builds up sufficient pressure to operate the system. At startup, the horizontal ram is put into the fully extended position and the vertical ram is also put in a fully extended position by manually operating the control valves using the manual solenoid push pins controlling the extending

solenoids

43 and 44. Next, all the control switches shown at 40 in the electrical schematic are closed to provide through the limit switch 45 power to the circuit shown in FIG. 4!). Providing power to limit switch 45 operates solenoid 41 causing the control valve to direct fluid pressure to the ram end of the horizontal cylinder 16 causing ram to retract. When the horizontal ram is fully retracted with the cylinder, limit switch 45 is actuated, causing contacts 450 to open disconnecting the power to solenoid 41 and causing the contacts 45b to close providing power through limit switch 46 to solenoid 42 causing the hydraulic valve to direct fluid pressure to the vertical cylinder and thereby to retract the vertical ram. When the vertical ram is fully retracted, limit switch 46 is actuated causing contacts 46a to open disconnecting the power to solenoid 42 and closing contacts 46b thereby providing power to the coil of a controlled relay 47 and to solenoid 43. When the control relay 47 is energized, relay contacts 47a open setting up a permissive circuit which will allow the horizontal ram to extend off the limit switch 45 without providing power to solenoid 41. Then, relay contacts 47b will close setting up a holding-in circuit to maintain power to control relay 47 when the vertical ram extends. Solenoid 43 is also energized at this time causing the horizontal ram to extend. When the horizontal ram extends to the end of its full stroke or against a sufi'lcient load resistance to generate l,700 p.s.i. pressure, a pressure switch designated numeral 48 will close. When the pressure switch 48 is closed, power is supplied to control relay coil 49 causing contacts 490 to open, deenergizing solenoid 43. Contacts 49b then close providing the holding-in circuit for relay 49. Solenoid 44 then becomes energized causing the vertical ram to extend. When the vertical ram extends to the end of its full stroke or against a sufficient load resistance to generate 1,700 psi. pressure, a second pressure switch designated numeral 50 opens, causing both

relays

47 and 49 to deenergize and the system to return to the original condition causing the horizontal ram to retract and recommence the automatic packing cycle as described above.

The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is given here by way of example only. The invention is not to be taken as limited to any of the specific features as described, but comprehends all such variations thereof as come within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A refuse-carrying apparatus comprising:

a supporting frame;

a refuse-receiving chamber pivotally mounted on said frame and having a rigid bottom therein;

a loading aperture in said chamber for the admittance of refuse thereinto;

a loading receptacle disposed on said supporting frame adjacent said loading aperture;

a loading ram mounted in said loading receptacle for reciprocal movement therein toward and away from said loading aperture; a refuse-compacting ram disposed within said refuse-receiving chamber for reciprocal movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of the said loading ram and for movement across the loading aperture toward and away from the floor of the chamber to compress refuse thereagainst;

a hydraulically operable power mechanism for effecting movement of said loading ram and of said compacting ram;

a hydraulic fluid valve for controlling direction of flow of fluid to said rams;

a hydraulic fluid reservoir carried by said supporting frame;

a hydraulic fluid pump carried by said supporting frame and operatively associated with said hydraulic fluid reservoir and with said hydraulic fluid pressure system and adapted, on operation, to withdraw hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic fluid reservoir and to supply such hydraulic fluid under pressure and under direction of said pressure valve to said hydraulic rams;

power means for operating said pump;

a hydraulic fluid return system operatively associated with said hydraulic control valve means for the return of hydraulic fluid from each said hydraulic rams to said hydraulic fluid reservoir;

said pressure control valve comprising a stack of spool valves operated by solenoids to control the direction of hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the rams and from the rams to the reservoir, each of said ram cylinders having a solenoid controlling the flow of fluid pressure to its ram end and a second solenoid controlling the flow of fluid pressure to its head end;

a source of electric power;

an electric switch means to electrically actuate one of the solenoids on said valve thereby directing hydraulic pressure to the ram end of the hydraulic cylinder associated with the loading ram retracting said rarn into said cylinder, a first limit switch activated by the retraction of said ram, said limit switch deactivating said one solenoid and activating a second of said solenoids;

said second solenoid when activated, directing he flow of hydraulic fluid to the ram end of the compacting ram hydraulic cylinder thereby retracting said ram into said cylinder across the refuse-receiving chamber above said aperture;

a second limit switch activated by retraction of the compacting ram to switch current from said second solenoid deactivating same, to a third solenoid;

said third solenoid actuating a valve directing pressure to the head end of said packing ram cylinder to extend said ram toward said aperture, said second limit switch further providing current to a control relay operative to permit said packing ram to extend off said first limit switch without activating the first solenoid;

a first pressure switch operative when said packing ram generates a prefixed pressure limit to provide power to a second control relay which deenergized said third solenoid and provides a holding-in circuit for said relay and providing current to a fourth solenoid;

said fourth solenoid operating a valve in said stack to direct fluid pressure to the head end of said vertical compacting ram to drive said ram downwardly onto said refuse toward the floor of said chamber; and

a second pressure switch operated by the generation of a prefixed pressure force against said compacting rarn to deenergize said first and second relays and said fourth solenoid and to energize said first solenoid to repeat the cycle sequence of retraction and extension of said rams until said actuation switch is opened therebyiarresting current flow to said limit switches and relays and thereby stopping said sequential cycling of said rams.

Claims

1. A refuse-carrying apparatus comprising: a supporting frame; a refuse-receiving chamber pivotally mounted on said frame and having a rigid bottom therein; a loading aperture in said chamber for the admittance of refuse thereinto; a loading receptacle disposed on said supporting frame adjacent said loading aperture; a loading ram mounted in said loading receptacle for reciprocal movement therein toward and away from said loading aperture; a refuse-compacting ram disposed within said refuse-receiving chamber for reciprocal movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of movement of the said loading ram and for movement across the loading aperture toward and away from the floor of the chamber to compress refuse thereagainst; a hydraulically operable power mechanism for effecting movement of said loading ram and of said compacting ram; a hydraulic fluid valve for controlling direction of flow of fluid to said rams; a hydraulic fluid reservoir carried by said supporting frame; a hydraulic fluid pump carried by said supporting frame and operatively associated with said hydraulic fluid reservoir and with said hydraulic fluid pressure system and adapted, on operation, to withdraw hydraulic fluid from said hydraulic fluid reservoir and to supply such hydraulic fluid under pressure and under direction of said pressure valve to said hydraulic rams; power means for operating said pump; a hydraulic fluid return system operatively associated with said hydraulic control valve means for the return of hydraulic fluid from each said hydraulic rams to said hydraulic fluid reservoir; said pressure control valve comprising a stack of spool valves operated by solenoids to control the direction of hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to the rams and from the rams to the reservoir, each of said ram cylinders having a solenoid controlling the flow of fluid pressure to its ram end and a second solenoid controlling the flow of fluid pressure to its head end; a source of electric power; an electric switch means to electrically actuate one of the solenoids on said valve thereby directing hydraulic pressure to the ram end of the hydraulic cylinder associated with the loading ram retracting said ram into said cylinder, a first limit switch activated by the retraction of said ram, said limit switch deactivating said one solenoid and activating a second of said solenoids; said second solenoid when activated, directing he flow of hydraulic fluid to the ram end of the compacting ram hydraulic cylinder thereby retracting said ram into said cylinder across the refuse-receiving chamber above said aperture; a second limit switch activated by retraction of the compacting ram to switch current from said second solenoid deactivating same, to a third solenoid; said third solenoid actuating a valve directing pressure to the head end of said packing ram cylinder to extend said ram toward said aperture, said second limit switch further providing current to a control relay operative to permit said packing ram to extend off said first limit switch without activating the first solenoid; a first pressure switch operative when said packing ram generates a prefixed pressure limit to provide power to a second control relay which deenergized said third solenoid and provides a holding-in circuit for said relay and providing current to a fourth solenoid; said fourth solenoid operating a valve in said stack to direct fluid pressure to the head end of said vertical compacting ram to drive said ram downwardly onto said refuse toward the floor of said chamber; and a second pressure switch operated by the generation of a prefixed pressure force against said compacting ram to deenergize said first and second relays and said fourth solenoid and to energize said first solenoid to repeat the cycle sequence of retraction and extension of said rams until said actuation switch is opened thereby arresting current flow to said limit switches and relays and thereby stopping said sequential cycling of said rams.