Abstract:
An apparatus for loading, handling and transporting waste containers includes a vehicle having a main frame and a load container handler, the load container handler including a main frame assembly having a rear and mounted to and atop the vehicle main frame; a pivot assembly pivotally connected to the main frame assembly to rotate about a first axis; a main jib assembly connected with the pivot assembly to reciprocate along a first line between jib extended and retracted positions; a carriage assembly connected with the main jib assembly to reciprocate along a second line between carriage extended and retracted positions and including container connection elements operable to rotate about a second axis and for engaging with and holding a container; and, motive elements for moving the pivot assembly, main jib assembly and carriage assembly.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of patent application Ser. No. 12/718,921, filed Mar. 5, 2010, which application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/233,489, filed Aug. 12, 2009, which applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of transport vehicles, and more specifically, to vehicle-mounted container handlers for loading, handling and transporting waste containers. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Front load and rear load waste containers are large receptacles designed to be transported to a site and receive solid waste materials for processing and disposal, including the diversion of wastes for recycling. When full or at designated times, a vehicle is dispatched to the site where, depending on the container and vehicle type, it either picks up and dumps the contents into its own, larger transport cavity, or it picks up the container and transports it to a remote dumping location. Improvements in the latter vehicle and means for loading, handling and transporting such containers are continually being sought. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Generally speaking, a vehicle-mounted load container handler includes carriage assembly configured for pivoting, sliding and rotating movement to grasp a waste container and lift, reposition, dump and/or transport the container. 
     In one embodiment, an apparatus for loading, handling and transporting waste containers includes a vehicle having a main frame and a load container handler, the load container handler including a main frame assembly having a rear and mounted to and atop the vehicle main frame; a pivot assembly pivotally connected to the main frame assembly to rotate about a first axis; a main jib assembly connected with the pivot assembly to reciprocate along a first line between jib extended and retracted positions; a carriage assembly connected with the main jib assembly to reciprocate along a second line between carriage extended and retracted positions and including container connection elements operable to rotate about a second axis and for engaging with and holding a container; and, motive elements for moving the pivot assembly, main jib assembly and carriage assembly. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved vehicle with load container handler for loading, handling and transporting waste containers. 
     Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side, elevational view of an apparatus  10  for loading, handling and transporting waste containers in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and showing the apparatus  10  in the transport position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the load container handler  12  of the apparatus  10   FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the main frame assembly  17  of the load container handler  12  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the pivot assembly  18  of the load container handler  12  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side, elevational view of the load container handler  12  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side, cross-sectional view of the pivot assembly  18  and main jib assembly  19  of load container handler  12  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the vertical jib assembly  62  of the load container handler  12  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the horizontal jib assembly  61  of the load container handler  12  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 9  is a rear elevational view of the mast assembly  88  of the load container handler  12  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 10  is a front elevational view of the mast assembly  88  of the load container handler  12  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of the mast assembly  88  of the load container handler  12  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the fork assembly  89  of the load container handler  12  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 13  is a side, elevational view of apparatus  10  shown in the travel position. 
         FIG. 14  is a side, elevational view of apparatus  10  shown with horizontal jib assembly  61  in the retracted position. 
         FIG. 15  is a side, elevational view of apparatus  10  shown with vertical jib assembly  62  in the raised position. 
         FIG. 16  is a side, elevational view of apparatus  10  shown in the container loading/unloading position. 
         FIG. 17  is a side, elevational view of apparatus  10  shown with a front load container  141  loaded thereon and in the travel position. 
         FIG. 18  is a side, elevational view of apparatus  10  shown with a rear load container  141  loaded thereon and with vertical jib assembly  62  in a raised, container adjusting position. 
         FIG. 19  is a side, elevational view of apparatus  10  shown with load container handler  12  articulated rearwardly for container stacking. 
         FIG. 20  is a side, elevational view of apparatus  10  shown with a container in the dumping position. 
         FIG. 21  is a side, elevational view of apparatus  10  shown with a container in the load/unload position. 
         FIG. 22  is a side, elevational view of apparatus  10  shown with load container handler  12  in multiple articulated positions. 
         FIG. 23  is a side, cross-sectional view of a pivot assembly  151  and main jib assembly  154  of a load container handler  12  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 24  is a side, cross-sectional view of the vertical jib assembly  161  and main jib assembly  164  of a load container handler  12  in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, and any alterations and modifications in the illustrated device, and further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein are herein contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an apparatus  10  for loading, handling and transporting waste containers, (such as a container  5 ) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Apparatus  10  is particularly adapted for use with front load and rear load containers  141  and  145  (see  FIGS. 17 and 18 , respectively), but alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein apparatus  10  can be used to load, handle and/or transport other containers that are sized and configured for operational engagement with apparatus  10  in the same or similar manner as with the front load and rear load containers described herein. For example, ANSI Z245.60-2006 identifies one class of waste containers to which the present invention is particularly directed, that is, containers used in conjunction with mobile and stationary equipment that use mechanical means to handle the containers. As contemplated with the present invention, a vehicle mechanically engages with such containers to load (e.g. lift a container on and off the vehicle), handle (e.g. reposition a container or dump the contents of a container), and transport (e.g. move a container loaded on the vehicle from one place to another). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , apparatus  10  generally includes a vehicle  11  and a load container handler  12 . Vehicle  11  is a truck having truck main frame  13  upon which is mounted load container handler  12 , rearwardly of the vehicle cab  14 , in any appropriate manner, as is known in the industry. Vehicle  11  may be any appropriate moving structure including, without limitation, a trailer. Alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein the load container handler  12  may be mounted on a non-moving structure, as well, such as a loading dock or stationary platform. In the latter case, the platform can transported to a desired location, such as a loading dock, or retained temporarily atop the transport vehicle, used as intended, and then transported to another site. Load container handler  12  generally includes a main frame assembly  17 , a pivot assembly  18 , a main jib assembly  19 , and a carriage assembly  20 . Apparatus  10  also includes motive elements, which include any appropriate elements suitable for moving the aforementioned pivot assembly  18 , main jib assembly  19  and carriage assembly  20  (which includes individual, movable components thereof) among the many positions described herein. For example, in one embodiment, in addition to hydraulic cylinders  68 ,  74  and  90  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ), hydraulic cylinders  21  (one shown in  FIG. 1 ) are provided between main frame assembly  17  and pivot assembly  18  to pivot the pivot assembly  18  (and thus main jib assembly  19  and carriage assembly  20  connected therewith) relative to main frame assembly  17 , between a retracted, transport position  25  ( FIGS. 1 and 22 ) and an extended, loading position  26  ( FIGS. 21 and 22 ). While hydraulic cylinders are shown and described, the invention contemplates any appropriate device for moving one element relative to another, such as a rack and pinion gear assembly, a linear actuator or a rotary actuator. The motive elements are also intended to include various hydraulic lines, valves, switches and other related components not shown, but well known in the art for connecting the cylinders with the power takeoff of vehicle  11  and/or with other hydraulic or appropriate power source, as is known in the art, to enable operation of load container handler  12 , as described herein. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , main frame assembly  17  includes longitudinal rails  27  and  28 , various transverse stiffening members, such as at  29 , four forward cylinder mounts  30 , two rear pivot assembly mounts  31 , central jib assembly rest brackets  32  and  33 , forward jib assembly rest plate  36 , and left and right container support rails  34  and  35 . Support rails  34  and  35  provide a container support surface for a container placed thereon by load container handler  12 . Alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein left and right container support rails  34  and  35  are nonexistent, and the container (loaded or empty) rests directly atop pivot assembly  18  and horizontal jib assembly  61 . In other alternative embodiments, left and right container support rails  34  and  35  may instead or in addition comprise any appropriate structure that provides the desirable support for a container during transport. Main frame assembly  17  is secured atop truck main frame  13  in any appropriate manner such as welding and/or bolts. Central jib assembly rest brackets  32  and  33  are connected to the central transverse stiffening members  39  and  40 , respectively, as shown, and each includes left and right flared jib guide fingers  41  and  42  to ensure the horizontal jib assembly  62  properly seats centrally down atop its corresponding rest bracket  32 / 33 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 4 , pivot assembly  18  is a rigid, one piece unit that includes a main body  46 , a rectangular cross-sectioned tube  47  extending forwardly therefrom, a pivot mounting sleeve  48  at its rear, opposing (left and right) lift cylinder mounting sleeves (one shown at  49 ), and opposing, internal horizontal jib cylinder mounting sleeves  50  and  51 . Main body  46  defines recesses (the one on the left side of pivot assembly  18  shown at  54  sized and positioned to provide clearance for lift cylinders (the one on the left side of apparatus  10  shown at  21 ) when load container handler  12  is pivoted to its extended load/unload position  26  ( FIGS. 16 and 22 ). 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-2 and 4-8 , main jib assembly  19  includes horizontal jib assembly  61  and a vertical jib assembly  62 . Horizontal jib assembly  61  includes an L-shaped jib with a horizontal arm  63 , a vertical arm  64  and an elbow  65  rigidly connecting the two arms  63  and  64  to move together as a unit. While oriented 90 degrees from each other in the present embodiment, alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein horizontal arm  63  and vertical arm  64  are fixed to each other at an angle other than 90 degrees or their angle of connection may be selectively adjustable to accommodate a certain type of container or container handling procedure. The horizontal arm  63  of horizontal jib assembly  61  is slidably received within rectangular cross-sectioned tube  47  of pivot assembly  18 . Horizontal jib assembly  61  further includes a hydraulic cylinder assembly  68  mounted between a cylinder mounting sleeve  69  of horizontal jib assembly  61  and the jib cylinder mounting sleeves  50  and  51  of pivot assembly  18  (at  70  in  FIG. 6 ). Actuation of cylinder  68  moves horizontal jib assembly  61  along a first line between a jib extended position  71  ( FIGS. 6 and 13 ) and a jib retracted position  72  ( FIG. 14 ). Likewise, vertical jib assembly  62  includes a rectangular cross-sectioned tube  73  sized and configured to slidably receive vertical arm  64  of horizontal jib assembly  61  therein, and vertical jib assembly  62  also includes a hydraulic cylinder assembly  74  extending between a cylinder mounting sleeve  75  of vertical arm  64  and a jib cylinder mounting pin  76  of vertical jib assembly  62 . Actuation of cylinder  74  moves vertical jib assembly  62  between a carriage extended position  77  ( FIG. 18 ) and a carriage retracted position  78  ( FIGS. 5 and 17 ). Vertical jib assembly  62  further includes a tilt cylinder mounting bracket  79  and a carriage assembly mounting bracket  80 , both rigidly connected to tube  73 . Tilt cylinder mounting bracket  79  includes tilt cylinder mounting collars  81  and  82  disposed near the bottom of tube  73 , as shown. Carriage assembly mounting bracket  80  includes a carriage assembly mounting collar  83  located at the top of tube  73 , as shown. Mounting collars  81 ,  82  and  83  are here connected with and at the bottom and top of vertical jib assembly  62 , respectively, which is optimal and only means that collars  81 / 82  and  83  are spaced a desired distance apart. They need not be at the physically lowest (bottom) or highest (top) point of vertical jib assembly  62 . Appropriate wear strips  84  or similar elements, as desired, are connected to horizontal jib assembly  61  to facilitate sliding movement between horizontal jib assembly  61  and vertical jib assembly  62  and pivot assembly  18  within which it telescopically reciprocates. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 9-11 , carriage assembly  20  includes a mast assembly  88 , a fork assembly  89  and a tilt cylinder  90 . Mast assembly  88  includes a rectangular frame  91  to which are mounted a tilt cylinder mounting bracket  92 , a carriage assembly mounting bracket  93  and a fork assembly rotating mechanism  95 . Tilt cylinder mounting bracket  92  comprises a pair of forwardly extending arms  96  and  97 , which hold coaxial tilt cylinder mounting collars  98  and  99 , as shown. Carriage assembly mounting bracket  93  likewise comprises a pair of forwardly extending arms  102  and  103 , which hold carriage assembly mounting collars  104  and  105 , as shown. Carriage assembly mounting collars  104  and  105  are juxtaposed lower and rearwardly of tilt cylinder mounting collars  98  and  99 . 
     Fork assembly rotating mechanism  95  includes a central output shaft  108  that extends rearwardly from a housing  109  for connection with fork assembly  89 . Rotating mechanism  95  also includes a mechanism for selectively rotating central output shaft  108 . In one embodiment, the mechanism for selectively rotating central output shaft  108  (and thus fork assembly  89 ) includes a hydraulically driven rack a pinion arrangement (not shown) contained within housing  109 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5, 7 and 10 , mast assembly  88  is mounted for pivotal movement to the top of the vertical jib assembly tube  73  via a pin  118  through carriage assembly mounting collars  83  and  104  and  105 . Tilt cylinder  90  is pivotally mounted via pins  119  and  120  to extend between tilt cylinder mounting collars  81  and  82  at the base of the vertical jib assembly tube  73  and tilt cylinder mounting collars  98  and  99  at the top of mast assembly  88 . Extension and retraction of tilt cylinder  90  pivots mast assembly  88  (and thus carriage assembly  20 ) between a retracted position  122  ( FIG. 5 ) and an extended position  123  ( FIG. 22 ). It should be noted that the extended positions of pivot assembly  18 , horizontal jib assembly  61 , and mast assembly  88  (all shown  FIG. 22 ) and of vertical jib assembly  62  (as shown in  FIG. 18 ) may extend more than is shown in those corresponding figures. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2, 5 and 12 , fork assembly  89  includes a rectangular frame  127  to which are mounted a fork assembly mount  128 , opposing, forks  131  and  132 , container retaining chains  133  and  134 , and bumpers  135 . Assembly mount  128  contains a collar (not shown) or any similar appropriate mechanism for fixed connection with output shaft  108  of fork assembly rotating mechanism  95  so that fork assembly  89  is juxtaposed just rearwardly of and substantially parallel to mast assembly  88  (as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5 ) and so that rotation of output shaft  108  rotates fork assembly  89  between a substantially zero degree resting, transport and loading position  138  ( FIGS. 2 and 5 ) and a substantially non-zero-degree dumping position  139  ( FIG. 20 ). In one embodiment, fork assembly  89  is configured to be rotated relative to mast assembly  88  at least 180 degrees in one direction (as shown in  FIG. 20 ), that is, to turn a container held thereby completely upside down to dump the contents of such container. 
     Forks  131  and  132  are fixed to frame  127  and extend rearwardly from frame  127  at opposing sides thereof and at a distance apart that enables them to be moved along opposing sides of and engage with complementary structure on a target container, such as fork pockets (one shown at  142  on container  141 ) defined on the opposing sides a target container  141  ( FIG. 17 ) or trunnion bars (discussed below). Hook points  143  are provided at the outboard ends of forks  131  and  132  to help forks  131  and  132  stay engaged with their respective fork pockets  142 . Forks  131  and  132  are configured to engage with front load containers (i.e., container  141 ), and one or more chains (as at  133  and  134 ) are provided as a safety measure. The chains are connected to the fork assembly and extend rearwardly, as shown, for connection to the outboard end of one or more of the forks  131 / 132 . In use, once a container is held by fork assembly  89 , with forks  131  and  132  extending through the container fork pockets, the outer ends of the chains are connected with the outboard ends of forks  131  and  132  that extend through the ends of the container fork pockets to further protect against the container undesirably sliding off the forks  131  and  132 . For rear load containers and the like (e.g., container  145  of  FIG. 18 ), the forks move along the sides of the container and below the upper lip, trunnion bars, or other similar structure of the container, and one or more chains (not shown, but similar to chains  133  and  134 ) are connected with corresponding hooks  146  on the container  145  to keep the container on forks  131  and  132 . Bumpers  135  cushion the container as it is engaged by load container handler  12 . 
     Shown in  FIGS. 13-22  are a variety of the available articulations of load container handler  12  to load, unload, handle and transport front and rear load containers and the like. There are, of course, an infinite number of such articulated positions between the various extended ( 26 ,  71 ,  77  and  123 ) and retracted ( 25 ,  72 ,  78  and  122 ) positions, respectively. Handling includes, among other things, lifting, stacking, dumping (as by rotating fork assembly  89  and a container held thereby, as shown in  FIG. 20 ) and simply adjusting the position of a container. 
     Alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein fork assembly  89  does not rotate relative to mast assembly  88 . Such embodiments contemplate using substantially the same components as those in load container handler  12 , but having no fork assembly rotating mechanism  95 , but instead fixedly connecting the frame  127  of fork assembly  89  to the frame  91  of mast assembly  88 . Another embodiment is contemplated wherein the frames  91  and  127  are structurally merged to result in only a single frame performing all the same functions as individual frames  91  and  127  except for the rotation of fork assembly  89  relative to mast assembly  88 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 23 , there is shown a pivot assembly  151  and main jib assembly  152  of a load container handler in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. This load container handler is just like the load container handler  12  of  FIGS. 1-12 , except that there is no hydraulic cylinder assembly  68  ( FIG. 6 ) and, instead, the horizontal jib assembly  154  is fixedly connected with pivot assembly  151  (by any appropriate means, such as welding) and, therefore, does not extend or retract relative to pivot assembly  151 . A similar alternative embodiment is contemplated wherein the horizontal jib assembly  154  and pivot assembly  151  are structurally merged, that is, comprise a single unitary jib assembly that is pivotally connected at its rear  155  to the main frame assembly  17  and performs all the same functions as the separate, telescopically reciprocating horizontal jib assembly  61  and pivot assembly  18  (of  FIG. 6 ) except for the telescopic extension and retraction of jib assembly  61  relative to pivot assembly  18 . 
     In similar fashion referring to  FIG. 24 , another embodiment of the present invention is shown wherein there is no hydraulic cylinder assembly  74  ( FIG. 6 ), and the vertical jib assembly  161  is fixed to or manufactured as an integral, unitary part with horizontal jib assembly  162 . In this embodiment, main jib assembly  164  has no vertical reciprocation through movement of a vertical jib assembly, in which case each load container handler  12  would be specifically designed for a narrower range of container sizes and configurations. That is, the load container handler  12  with vertically adjustable jib assembly  62  ( FIG. 6 ) can accommodate a wide variety of container sizes by virtue of the vertical adjustability of its jib assembly  62 . A load container handler having either or both of fixed horizontal jib assembly  154  ( FIG. 23 ) and/or fixed vertical jib assembly  161  ( FIG. 24 ) will, of course, be less expensive to manufacture and maintain, but will also accommodate a much narrower range of container sizes. 
     Alternative embodiments are contemplated wherein the load container handler  12  is mounted to a trailer or other vehicle that is towed by a truck or other similar vehicle. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.