Abstract:
Vehicle mounted container handling devices including a rotating swivel mount and an articulated arm connected to the swivel mount are disclosed. The swivel mount includes a housing operable to rotate about a shaft in a first plane. The articulated arm is attached at one end to the housing and disposed to pivot in a second plane which intersects the first plane. A grasping device is pivotally connected to the free end of the articulated arm for pivoting in the second plane. In operation, with the grasping device opened, the articulated arm is extended to reach out toward a container of interest. The swivel mount is operated to pivot the articulated arm as required for the grasping device to engage the container. The articulated arm is operated further to lift and dump the container in the vehicle above the swivel mount. The grasping device includes arms pivotally connected to a support member and moved by actuators pivotally connected between the arms and the support member.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     I. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates generally to material handling equipment and, more particularly, to a lifting device attached to a refuse vehicle for handling containers during collection efforts. 
     II. Related Art 
     Mechanized material handling devices often include a container holder or grasping device connected to an arm which is connected to a base, such as a vehicle. The arm and grasping device are operated to engage a container of interest, lift and dump the container into a receiving hopper in the vehicle. 
     A representative example of such a device appears in U.S. Pat. No. 5,391,039, issued to Holtom, which describes a refuse loader arm including a lift limb and a reach limb articulated to one another at a pivot point. The lift limb is vertically pivotally attached at one end to a refuse vehicle and the reach limb is articulated at its other end to a bin grasping assembly which is held at a constant angle to the lift limb by a parallelogram linkage. The lift limb and the reach limb pivot in a common plane to reach out and grasp the container of interest and lift and dump the container. Of course, the vehicle must be positioned directly alongside such that the container is aligned with the pivoting plane of the arm. U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,308, issued to Armando et al., describes a refuse container loading device including a tubular support attached to a refuse vehicle, operable to pivot in a horizontal plane. A telecopying arm that pivots vertically is attached to the base and to a bin grasping device that is able to pivot a limited amount vertically and swivel horizontally. 
     Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,903, issued to Carson, describes an apparatus for picking up containers wherein a boom arm is attached to a platform which is pivotally attached to a refuse vehicle for rotating in a generally horizontal plane. The boom arm is pivotally attached to the platform for pivoting vertically to raise and dump a container. A pick-up arm is provided to grasp the container and is attached to the boom arm with the ability to rotate in essentially a horizontal plane. Using the devices described in the &#39;308 and &#39;903 patents eliminates the need for precise positioning of the vehicle. But, the lift and dump arms are quite complex. 
     A principle object of the invention then is to provide an improved lifting device for handling objects or containers of interest. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively simple lifting device attached to a vehicle which eliminates the need for precise positioning of the vehicle. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a lifting device which includes an articulated arm disposed to pivot in one plane and rotatably attached to the vehicle for swiveling in another plane. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lifting device which operates in two planes and includes a bin grasping device. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a lifting device including an articulated arm disposed to pivot in one plane and rotatably attached to a refuse vehicle for pivoting in another plane and including a grasping device pivotally attached to the articulated arm for pivoting in the same plane as the articulated arm. 
     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art through familiarity with the summary of the invention, detailed description, claims, and drawings herein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing and other objects of the present invention, are attained by providing a lifting device including a swivel mount or turret which rotates in a generally horizontal plane, i.e., parallel to the deck of a vehicle on which it is mounted such as a refuse vehicle and an articulated arm connected to the swivel mount. The swivel mount includes a housing which rotates about a shaft connected to one or more support plates which are, in turn, attached to the vehicle. The articulated arm is attached to the housing and includes first and second arm members joined or articulated to one another, at one end. The first arm member is pivotally attached at a second end to an arm pivot support attached to the housing and the second arm member has a free end which carries a gripping or grasping mechanism. The articulated arm pivots in a generally vertical plane to provide a lift and dump function. 
     In one embodiment, the swivel mount includes a base plate attached to the frame of a vehicle and upper and lower parallel pivot plates attached to the base plate and carrying a shaft therebetween. The housing member is engaged on the shaft and a lever arm is attached to the housing member. The lever arm or crank is connected to the rod end of a hydraulic cylinder attached to the frame or a frame extension of the vehicle and which reciprocates to rotate the housing member. The housing member rotates in a plane parallel to the deck or frame of the vehicle. The arm base pivot is attached to the housing member such that the articulated arm is disposed to pivot in a generally vertical plane essentially perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the swivel mount. The grasping device is pivotally connected to the second or outer arm member of the articulated arm so as to pivot in the same plane as the articulated arm. One embodiment of the grasping device further uses a plurality of opposed digits which may be articulated and which open and close to release and capture a standing container of any cross sectional shape. 
     In operation, at the beginning of a lift and dump cycle the digits of the grasping device are in an “as stowed” or open position and the articulated arm is extended to move the grasping device toward the container of interest. The swivel mount is pivoted to move the grasping device into engagement with the container of interest. The grasping device is operated to a closed position to grab the container and the articulated arm is operated generally vertically to lift and tip or invert the container and empty the contents into a receiving hopper of the vehicle. During the lifting and dumping operation, the swivel mount need not be operated since the arm and grasping device tilt the container above the swivel mount regardless of the selective rotational position of the swivel mount. 
     In another embodiment, the swivel mount includes a rotary actuator, such as a rack and pinion or beveled gears including a worm gear and planetary gear or other device such as a rotary hydraulic actuator, to pivot the housing member about a shaft which is carried by a single lower pivot plate attached to a base plate which, in turn, is fixed to the frame. The articulated arm and grasping device are attached to the housing member connected to pivot in a generally vertical plane which is perpendicular to the plane of rotation of the housing member. 
     One grasping device suitable for any embodiment of the invention has a pair of spaced, opposed arms or digits pivotally connected to a central support member. The arms are shaped to fit around containers of a plurality of different shapes, including curved, rectangular, hexagonal and others. The arms are pivoted between an open or retracted position in a closed or grasping position by fluid-operated actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders. The arms may be either single or plural member type arms having curvilinear shape and in one embodiment shown, the plural member or articulated dual arm embodiment is described in which each arm has an inner member pivotally connected at one end to a common support member and an outer member pivotally connected to a corresponding inner member. The fluid-operated actuators, such as double acting hydraulic cylinders, are pivotally connected between each outer member and the common support member. The pivot points of the arms are closer together and closer to the container of interest than those of the actuators on the common support to provide leverage and allow the arms to grasp the container of interest on the power stroke of the double acting hydraulic cylinders. 
     While the detailed embodiments are devoted to refuse trucks, the lifting device of the present invention may be mounted on other vehicles including dump trucks or even as a stationary loader. In situations where the lifting device is attached to a vehicle, the swivel mount may be attached to either the frame (chassis) of the vehicle or to a material receiving body of the vehicle, such as the storage body of the refuse truck or dump body of a dump truck. In this configuration, the lifting device is lifted with the storage body or dumping body to a raised position during the dumping operations. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a refuse collection vehicle equipped with a lifting device according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 depicts an enlarged view partially in section taken substantially along lines  2 — 2  of FIG.  1  and showing one type of hydraulically operated swivel mount; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial top view of the refuse collection vehicle of FIG. 1 showing the hydraulic cylinder and lifting device in dashed lines; 
     FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the articulated arm extended and the swivel mount in three different positions; 
     FIG. 5 is a view of the refuse collection vehicle of FIG. 1 taken substantially along lines  5 — 5  of FIG. 1 showing the articulated arm in the stowed position in bold lines and in the grasping and dumping positions in dashed lines; 
     FIG. 6 is a top view of the grasping device in the open as stowed position; 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the grasping device in the closed or grasping position; and 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged view similar to that of FIG. 5 showing a rotatory swivel actuator. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The swivel or rotary mounted lifting device of the present invention is particularly applicable to load refuse collection vehicles. It is characterized by a swivel or rotary mount or joint in combination with an articulated lift and dump arm having a container grasping device. The swivel or rotary mount enables a connected lift arm and grasping device or grabber to move extensively for and aft of the mount to thereby enable the system to address containers at a variety of locations alongside the vehicle. 
     The swivel mount may include a linear actuator and lever arm or a rotary actuator for pivoting the swivel. The swivel mount base may be adapted to be attached to the frame or chassis, or to the body of any refuse vehicles. In the embodiments described below, the swivel mounted lifting device is attached to the frame of a side loading refuse vehicle. The side loading refuse vehicle may have an offset or recessed hopper portion but this is not required to accommodate the swivel mount system. The hopper may be recessed on the side opposite the swivel mounted lifting device to accommodate a second loading mechanism. This may be a manually loaded bucket with a mechanized dumping system. Vehicles of this type are described and shown in application Ser. No. 08/508,384 now abandoned, filed Jul. 31, 1995, titled REFUSE COLLECTION SYSTEM, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference for any necessary purposes. 
     In accordance with the drawings, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a chassis or frame mounted swivelling lifting device includes a swivel mount, generally at  20 , which is attached to a main frame or chassis member  22  of a side loading refuse vehicle  24 . The swivel mount  20  is attached to the frame member  22  underneath a refuse receiving or charging hopper  26  which includes a top opening  28  for receiving refuse. A hinged or pivoting lift arm, generally at  30 , is pivotally connected to the swivel mount  20  and a refuse container holder or grabber, generally at,  32  is pivotally attached to the lift arm  30 . As will be described below, the swivel mount enables the position of the lift arm  30  and container holder  32  to be adjusted back and forth along the length of the refuse vehicle  24  to accommodate the position of a container of interest. The grabber  32  and lift arm  30  cooperate to empty refuse containers into charging hopper  26  through opening  28 . The refuse vehicle  24  need not be aligned with the container of interest for grasping and tilting. 
     The refuse vehicle  24  includes the usual cab  34  and wheels  36  which carry a storage body  38  connected to a charging hopper  26  and pivotally attached to the frame members  22  as at  40 . Storage body  38  includes a tailgate  42  which is pivotally attached by a pair of vertically displaceable hinges, one of which appears at  44 , mounted at the top of the storage body  38 . The tailgate  42  is operated between an open and a closed position by a pair of hydraulic cylinders, one of which is shown at  46 , which are pivotally attached to the tailgate  42 , as at  48 , and to the storage body  38  as at  50 . Side latches  52  are provided for latching the tailgate  42  to the storage body  38  in a well-known matter. The storage body is designed to tilt in conjunction with the opening of the tail gate to discharge refuse. Tilting is accomplished by a pair of side mounted hydraulic lift cylinders  54  that are pivotally attached to the frame by structural member  56  at  58  and to the storage body  38  at  60 . 
     As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the swivel mount  20  includes a base plate  70  fixed to frame member  22 . An upper and lower swivel mount pivot plate  72  and  74  are attached, as by welding, to the base plate  70 . A stationary shaft  76  is attached between the upper and lower pivot plates  72  and  74  and the swivel mount turns on a bearing housing  80  that rotates about the shaft  76  on spaced roller bearings  82  and  84 . An arm mounting plate or member  78  is attached to the bearing housing  80 . The arm mounting member  78  pivots as bearing housing  80  is rotated about shaft  76 . The rotation of the housing  80  and the arm mounting member  78  is accomplished by a system including a lever or crank arm  86  attached to the bearing housing  80  and pivotally attached at  88  to a linear operator such as a hydraulic cylinder  90  (FIG. 3) which is pivotally attached at  92  to a plate member  94 . Hydraulic cylinder  90  operates crank  86  to rotate or pivot bearing housing  80  and the arm pivot member about the shaft  76 . Plate members  96  and  98  are attached between the base plate  70  and the upper and lower pivot plates  72  and  74  to add structural support. 
     Details of the articulated lift arm are best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. The lift arm  30  includes a pair of connected generally vertically pivotal articulated members including a first or inner lift arm member  100  pivotally attached to the lift arm mounting member  78  at  102  and a second or outer lift arm member  104  pivotally attached to the first lift arm member  100  at  106 . The refuse can holder or grabber  32  is pivotally attached to the outer lift arm member  104  at  108 . The lift arm  30  may be operated by hydraulic cylinders or rotary actuators (not shown) at the pivots  102 ,  106 , and  108  to extend the lift arm  30  for grasping the container of interest and lifting and dumping the container into the refuse charging hopper  26 . Of course, the lift arm  30  is not limited to the embodiment shown and may be any suitable lift arm attached to the bearing housing  80 . Extending and retracting hydraulic cylinder  90  rotates or pivots the lift arm  30  about shaft  76  to position the container grabber  32  along the length of the refuse vehicle  24 . The swivel cylinder  90  and the lift arm  30  and container grabber or grasping device  32  cooperate to grasp a container of interest lift, invert and dump it into the refuse charging hopper  26  through opening  28 . 
     In a stowed position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and depicted in FIG. 5 in solid lines, the lift arm  30  is pulled in next to the hopper  26  and the container grabber  32  is retracted to the open (flat) position. This holds the container grabber or grasping device  32  substantially in line with one side of the storage body  38 . 
     Details of one grasping device are shown in FIGS. 4-7. Addition detail and embodiments may be had by consulting U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/342,752, entitled CONTAINER HOLDING AND LIFTING DEVICE, filed Nov. 21, 1994 now abandoned and assigned to the same assignee as the present application, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by referenced herein for any necessary purpose. The refuse container grabber  32  itself includes first and second opposed compound arms  110  and  112  which are pivotally attached to support member  114  which, in turn, is pivotally attached to outer lift arm member  104  at  108 . The opposed arms  110  and  112  are operated by hydraulic cylinders or rotary actuators between an open or stowed position (FIG. 6) and a closed or grasping position (FIG.  7 ). 
     Details of the grabber are more clearly shown in the enlarged views of FIGS. 6 and 7. Arms  110  and  112  include inner members  140  and  142  pivotally connected to the support member  114  at first support pivot points  144  and  146  and pivotally connected to outer members  148  and  150  at arm member pivot points  152  and  154 . Linear actuators  156  and  158 , preferably hydraulic cylinders, are pivotally connected to the support member  114  at second support pivot points  160  and  162  and to outer members  148  and  150  at offset pivot points  164  and  166 . 
     Hydraulic cylinder actuators  156  and  158 , are expanded to accomplish the gripping or grasping operation. Inner members  140  and  142  close around a container of interest and outer members  148  and  150  pivot about points  152  and  154  to contact and grasp the container of interest pulling it toward supporting member  114 . Contact rollers  170  and  172  carried by the outer members  148  and  150  operate to urge containers of a plurality of different shapes toward and securely hold the containers against the support member  114 . Hydraulic cylinder actuators  156  and  158  are retracted to reverse this sequence and open the grasping device  32  to the position shown in FIG.  6 . 
     The support member  114  has a rounded centered recess surface at  174  to receive a rounded or circular container  176  flanked by a pair of flat surface segments  178  and  180  which accommodate a rectangular container  182 . The grasping device  32 , then, holds either a rounded container or a rectangular container  182  with equal dexterity. Inner members  140  and  142  have first corresponding and opposed shaped inner surfaces  184  and  186  and outer members  148  and  150  have second corresponding and opposed shaped inner surfaces  188  and  190  to fit around the corners of a rectangular container  182 . Together, inner members  140  and  142  and outer members  148  and  150  produce a smooth rounded surface for holding a rounded container  176 . 
     Round and rectangular shaped containers are representative of the diverse variety of shapes the grasping device can successfully engage. Other shapes that can be grasped include hexanginal and oblong shapes. 
     In another embodiment, depicted in FIG. 8, the hydraulic cylinder-operated swivel mount support and operating system is replaced by a rotary actuator, indicated by the numeral  120 , which may be any type of rotary actuator including rotary hydraulic actuator, a rotating piston, planetary and worm gear arrangement, rack and pinion, etc. The rotary actuator  120  is attached to a pivot plate  122  which is carried by a base plate  124  which, in turn, is attached to frame member  22 . An actuator support plate  126  is attached to the base plate and additional support is provided by member  127 . The rotary actuator  120  carries lever arm mounting plate member  78  and rotates about  128  to pivot the lift arm  30  and container grabber  32  along the length of the vehicle  24 . The lift arm  30  and container grasping device  32  are aligned with a container using the rotary actuator  120  to grasp and dump containers into the hopper  26 . 
     The refuse received in the charging hopper  26 , of course, is moved and packed through the hopper into the storage body  38  in a well known manner. This system may employ a packing ram or rotary packer, for example. 
     In the stowed position, as shown in FIG. 8, the lift arm  30  is retracted close to the hopper  26  and the container grabber or grasping device  32  is left in the open position. The container grasping device  32  and lift arm  30  are essentially in line with the side  130  of the storage body  38 . In this manner the loading device does not protrude beyond the side of the storage body when the truck is operated between pich-up stops. Thus, the system does not necessitate a deeply recessed charging hopper  26 . 
     This invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the patent statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use embodiments of the example as required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different devices and that various modifications can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself.