Abstract:
Gate operator and latch mechanism in which a refuse container is provided with a gate which is pivotally attached to the refuse container and which normally closes an opening through which refuse is discharged from the refuse container. A latch mechanism secures the gate in closed position. The operator mechansim is operably joined to the gate for pivotal movement thereof. The operation mechanism is also operably joined to the latch mechanism for operation thereof.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to a refuse container which is provided with a pivotally mounted gate which closes an opening from which refuse is discharged from the container. This invention also pertains to a latch mechanism which secures the gate in closed position and operator mechanism which operates the gate and which also operates the latch mechanism. 
     An object of this invention is to provide operator mechanism which moves a gate of a refuse container between closed position and an open position. The operator mechanism also operates a latch mechanism which functions to secure the gate in closed position and in which the latch mechanism is operable to release the gate to permit the gate to be opened. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide such operator mechanism which is capable of applying a high degree of force to a latch mechanism for closing the gate and for latching the gate. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide such a latch mechanism in which the latching forces automatically increase as internal opening pressure is applied upon the gate. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide such operator mechanism which is capable of relatively large magnitudes of work in consideration of the physical size of the mechanism. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention reside in the construction of parts, the combination thereof, the method of construction and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Gate operator and latch mechanism of this invention comprises a linearly operable fluid motor which is operably joined to a gate for pivotal movement of the gate and which is also operably joined to latch mechanism for latching and unlatching the gate. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a portion of a refuse container provided with a gate. This view also shows a gate operator and latch mechanism of this invention. This figure shows the gate in closed and latched condition. 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view, similar to FIG. 1, showing the gate in an open position. 
     FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 fragmentary side elevational views, drawn on a larger scale than FIGS. 1 and 2 and illustrating operation of the latch mechanism as the gate pivotally moves adjacent the refuse container. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 shows a portion of a refuse container 10 which is provided with a gate or closure member 12. Hinge elements 14 and 16 at the upper portion of the refuse container 10 and at the upper portion of the gate 12 hingedly attach the gate 12 to the refuse container 10. An elongate linearly operable fluid motor 18 has a housing 20 and an actuator rod 22. The housing 20 is pivotally attached to the lower portion of the refuse container 10 by means of a pin 26. A lever 30 is pivotally attached to the upper portion of the gate 12 by means of a pin 32, which is intermediate the ends of the lever 30. Adjacent the lever 30 is a limit member 31 and a limit member 33, which are engageable by the lever 30 to limit the pivotal movement thereof. When the gate 12 is completely closed, the lever 30 is in engagement with the limit member 33, as shown in FIG. 1. 
     The actuator rod 22 of the fluid motor 18 is pivotally attached to an end portion of the lever 30 by means of a pin 34. A rigid arm 38 has an upper end portion pivotally attached to the opposite end portion of the lever 30 by means of a pin 40. 
     A link 44 is pivotally attached to the lower portion of the gate 12 by means of a pin 46. The rigid arm 38 has a lower end portion which is pivotally attached to the link 44 by means of a pin 48. Pivotally attached to the link 44 by means of a pin 50 is a latch 54. The pin 50 is intermediate the ends of the link 44 and is between the pin 46 and the pin 48. The latch 54 has a connection portion 54a which is joined to the pin 50. The latch 54 also has a main portion 54b, which is angular with respect to the connection portion 54a. At the juncture of the main portion 54b and the connection portion 54a the latch 54 has an abutment portion 54c which is engageable with the pin 46 which extends axially from the surface of the gate 12. The latch 54 also has a hook end portion 54d. 
     At the lower portion of the gate 12 below the latch 54 is an engagement surface 58, which is engageable by the lower surface of the latch 54, with pivotal movement of the latch 54. 
     At the lower portion of the refuse container 10 is a latch pin 64. 
     It is to be understood that the structure shown in the drawings and discussed herein constitutes one side of the structure. Similar structure and mechanism are positioned on the opposite side of the refuse container 10 and the gate 12, and the operation of the mechanism is the same as to the operation of the mechanism shown and described. 
     Operation 
     FIG. 1 shows the gate 12 in closed position with respect to the refuse container 10. This figure also shows the latch 54 in latched position. The hook end portion 54d of the latch 54 is in firm engagement with the latch pin 64. The actuator rod 22 of the fluid motor 18 is positioned substantially entirely within the housing 20. The lever 30 is pivoted in its maximum counter clockwise position, as the lever 30 engages the limit member 33, as shown in FIG. 1. Thus, the arm 38 and the link 44 are in the upper positions thereof. The connection portion 54a of the latch 54 is in the upper position thereof. In this position of the latch 54, the pin 46 which extends axially from the surface of the gate 12, is engaged by the abutment portion 54c of the latch 54. 
     When it is desired to discharge refuse from the refuse container 10, the gate 12 is pivotally moved upwardly. To pivotally move the gate 12, the fluid motor 18 is operated. The actuator rod 22 of the fluid motor 18 is moved in a direction from the housing 20. The actuator rod 22 thus applies a force upon the lever 30. This force pivotally moves the lever 30 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. This pivotal movement of the lever 30 forces the arm 38 to move generally axially downwardly. Downward movement of the arm 38 causes pivotal movement of the link 44 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. This pivotal movement of the link 44 about the pin 46 forces the connection portion 54a of the latch 54 downwardly. 
     As the connection portion 54a of the latch 54 moves downwardly, the lower part of the latch 54 engages the engagement surface 58. Thus, the hook end portion 54d of the latch 54 is moved upwardly as the connection portion 54a of the latch 54 moves downwardly. As the hook end portion 54d of the latch 54 moves upwardly, the hook end portion 54d of the latch 54 moves away from the latch pin 64. Thus, the gate 12 is free to pivotally move upwardly. 
     Continued upward travel of the actuator rod 22 with respect to the housing 20 applies greater force upon the lever 30. The lever 30 is pivotally moved into engagement with the limit member 31, and there is no additional pivotal movement of the lever 30. However, due to the fact that the lever 30 is attached to the gate 12, continued force upon the lever 30 forces the gate 12 to pivotally move upwardly as the actuator rod 22 travels upwardly. Thus, the gate 12 is moved to an open position as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the contents of the refuse container 10 can be discharged therefrom. 
     When it is desired to close the gate 12, the fluid motor 18 is operated to move the actuator rod 22 downwardly and toward the housing 20. This downward movement of the actuator rod 22 moves the lever 30 downwardly without pivotal movement of the lever 30. This downward movement of the actuator rod 22 permits the gate 12 to move pivotally downwardly. As the fluid motor 18 moves the gate 12 pivotally downwardly, the lever 30 is pivotally moved in a counterclockwise direction. Thus, the arm 38 is moved upwardly, and the link 44 is pivotally moved upwardly. As the gate 12 pivotally moves downwardly the latch 54 is carried downwardly with pivotal downward movement of the gate 12, and the latch 54 moves toward the lower portion of the refuse container 10. 
     FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, illustrate operation of the latch 54 as the gate 12 pivotally approaches the refuse container 10. The connection portion 54a of the latch 54 is moved upwardly by upward pivotal movement of the link 44. As this upward movement of the connection portion 54a of the latch 54 occurs, the hook end portion 54d is moved downwardly, as the lower surface of the latch 54 moves in engagement with the engagement surface 58. 
     Thus, the latch 54 pivotally moves, and the hook end portion 54d is moved to a position above the latch pin 64, as shown in FIG. 3. As the hook end portion 54d approaches the latch pin 64, the abutment portion 54c of the latch 54 approaches the pin 46. 
     During this downward pivotal movement of the gate 12, the arm 38 is moving upwardly and pivotally moving the link 44 upwardly. The link 44 is moving the connection portion 54a of the latch 54 upwardly, and the hook portion 54d of the latch 54 moves downwardly and engages the latch pin 64, as shown in FIG. 4. However, at this position shown in FIG. 4, the gate 12 is not fully closed. Additional upward movement of the connection portion 54a of the latch 54 by upward movement of the link 44 results in movement of the abutment portion 54c into engagement with the pin 46. Thus, as the arm 38 is moved upwardly the latch 54 is pivotally moved about the pin 50 and into firm engagement with the latch pin 64. Thus, there is additional pivotal movement of the latch 54, and the lower portion of the gate 12 is drawn into secure firm engagement with the lower portion of the container 10, as illustrated in FIG. 5. 
     Due to the fact that the arm 38 through pivotal movement of the lever 30 is capable of exerting significant forces upon the link 44, the link 44 is capable of firm pivotal movement of the latch 54 about the pin 50 and about the engagement surface 58. Thus, a very significant force is applied to the latch 54 for drawing the lower portion of the gate 12 toward the lower portion of the refuse container 10. Thus, the gate 12 is firmly closed upon the refuse container 10. Also, it is to be noted that the pin 48 of the link 44 is above a centerline drawn through the pins 46 and 50 when the gate 12 is closed. Thus, an over center position exists in the link 44, and the latch 54 is maintained in firm engagement with the latch pin 64 when the arm 38 is maintained in its position shown in FIG. 1. 
     Thus, it is understood that the mechanism of this invention includes latch mechanism and also includes motor and linkage means for operation of the latch mechanism and for pivotal movement of the gate. 
     Although the preferred embodiment of the mechanism of this invention has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof, and the mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a gate operator and latch mechanism within the scope of the appended claims.