Receptacle lift and slim profile power unit therefor

A lifting apparatus includes two pairs of lift arms having respective displaced pivot points on a movable carriage for projecting such carriage up into a refuse-receiving opening of a garbage truck, and in an inverted position so as to dump the contents of a receptacle held on such carriage. The two pairs of arms are also axially nested in a co-planar orientation when the carriage is in its fully lowered position, so as to minimize the overall width of the lifting apparatus. A particular hydraulic rotary motor having a relatively thin width may be used to actuate the apparatus. The hydraulic rotary motor utilizes meshed rack and pinion teeth generally within the confines of a cylinder thereof for minimizing the width of the cylinder block. Also, the rack and pinion teeth remain enclosed within such cylinder immersed in hydraulic fluid passing therethrough so as to lubricate the moving components for prolonging their service life with less maintenance. A plurality of cylinders may be aligned in parallel, and share a common pinion gear output shaft, with each cylinder having a reciprocating piston rod supporting rack teeth for engagement with such pinion gear. A lifting apparatus as presently described in combination with the disclosed hydraulic rotary motor can have minimized width while still being capable of repetitively handling full weight loads with reduced maintenance and projecting same a selected distance up into a garbage truck, which also reduces the need for successive compaction of the dumped receptacle contents after each dumping cycle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention in general concerns a lift apparatus and drive therefor, and 
in particular it concerns a trash receptacle lift for use with a 
refuse-gathering vehicle, and a slim profile rotary motor which may be 
used to actuate such a lift. 
In recent years, conventional residential trash cans which must be manually 
emptied into the back of a refuse-gathering vehicle have been increasingly 
replaced with a somewhat standardized trash receptacle which has wheels 
for ease of transportation by a resident between his or her house and curb 
side, and which is further adapted to be lifted and dumped with a power 
lift unit mounted on the refuse-gathering vehicle (i.e garbage truck). The 
construction and operation of various waste receptacle dumping mechanisms 
are known. See for example, Brown et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 3,804,277, issued 
Apr. 16, 1974); Shive (U.S. Pat. No. 3,894,642, issued July 15, 1975); and 
Wyman et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,751, issued Oct. 30, 1984), each of 
which generally disclose a movable carriage adapted for receipt of a 
receptacle thereon, the contents of which are to be dumped into a garbage 
truck. Each movable carriage is generally supported on arms which are 
actuated by various drive means, such as hydraulic actuators, for raising 
and substantially inverting the movable carriage so as to dump the 
receptacle contents into a garbage truck on which the lift unit is 
mounted. The disclosures of such patents are incorporated herein by 
reference. 
While different companies, such as Zarn, Inc., of Reidsville, North 
Carolina, and Applied Plastics Company, also of North Carolina, market 
various lift units adapted for specific use with particular styles of 
receptacles, most of such receptacles have certain generally standard 
features. For example, many typical receptacles have a single axle with 
wheels on each end of such axle to permit the receptacle to be rolled 
about by the user. An extended handle bar or its equivalent permits ready 
manipulation and required tilting of the receptacle so that it may roll on 
its two wheels. The side of the receptacle opposite such handle bar 
typically has an engagement member located about 34 inches above ground 
level. By appropriate tilting of the receptacle as it is brought into 
position to be lifted, such engagement member may be hooked onto a fixed 
element of the lift apparatus movable carriage, so that the receptacle may 
be raised and inverted by the lift apparatus. 
Obviously, such gravity-type engagement feature would, if used by itself, 
be defeated during inversion of the movable carriage. To prevent such 
occurrence, various movable engagement hooks are activated during dumping 
of the receptacle to engage it at an additional point thereon below the 
above-mentioned fixed element so as to retain the receptacle on the 
movable carriage while it is being inverted. The above-identified patents 
also each disclose examples of such engagement means and their operation 
during a receptacle dumping cycle. 
While such types of lift devices and associated receptacles generally 
permit mechanized dumping (as opposed to manual), various drawbacks and 
inefficiencies persist. For example, such prior art receptacle dumping 
mechanisms typically tend to dump the contents of the receptacle only near 
the very back of the refuse-receiving opening of the garbage truck. A 
typical garbage truck has a large opening located at its rear to provide 
access to a relatively large trash container carried on the truck. A 
dumping apparatus as discussed above is usually mounted adjacent such 
opening, such as on a rear bumper of the truck. A built-in trash compactor 
is also present in the container for compacting refuse therein. If the 
contents of the receptacle are dumped only at the very back of such 
refuse-receiving opening (as is often the case), a compaction cycle (i.e. 
operation of the built-in compactor of the garbage truck) must be run 
after almost each successive receptacle dumping so as to push the dumped 
contents forward, i.e. away from the very rear of the garbage truck, to 
make room for the next dumping. Having to frequently repeat compacting 
cycles is very time consuming, since a garbage truck normally would 
include a great number of stops at relatively short intervals on its 
route, and also adds to wear and tear on the compactor equipment. 
Another drawback of such prior art mechanized dumping devices is the sheer 
size of the unit itself. Many prior art dumping devices have a width (i.e. 
projection from the rear bumper of the garbage truck) in a range of about 
16 to 20 inches. That range is without the trash receptacle mounted for 
dumping. A safety hazard is thus presented by structure which projects 
substantially from the rear of the vehicle, particularly since it cannot 
be seen by the driver of the truck. 
Also, as an additional practical matter, garbage trucks outfitted with such 
prior art (relatively thick) dumping apparatuses for smaller residential 
trash receptacles cannot be simultaneously used for dumping larger 
commercial trash dumpsters. Such dumpsters are normally pivoted against 
pivot members mounted at the rear of the truck itself while being winched 
upward with a powered cable mounted at the top of the garbage truck. Such 
dual use of a garbage truck is normally not possible with the typical 
prior art residential receptacle dumping device because there is not 
sufficient clearance for the commercial dumpster to be pivoted on the 
truck-mounted pivot members around the prior art residential dumping 
devices due to their relatively thick width. 
Additionally, some refuse-gathering vehicles have their refuse-receiving 
openings on the sides of the truck, rather than at their backs. Such 
side-loading vehicles typically cannot safely use such prior art dumping 
devices again because they generally extend too far from the side of the 
truck. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention recognizes and addresses the above-noted drawbacks 
and disadvantages of typical prior art residential receptacle dumping 
apparatuses, as well as other drawbacks of such devices. 
It is a general object to provide an improved lifting device. It is a more 
specific object of the present invention to provide a lifting apparatus 
having a width (when folded) which is substantially less than typical 
prior art lifting devices, so as to alleviate many of the width-related 
drawbacks discussed above. 
In providing a slim profile lifting apparatus, particularly for use with a 
refuse-gathering vehicle, it is a further object of this invention to 
provide a correspondingly reduced-width power drive unit for such lifting 
mechanism. More generally, it is an object to provide such an improved 
drive unit suitable for drive applications other than receptacle lifting 
mechanisms. In providing such an improved drive unit, it is another object 
of this invention to provide improved maintenance characteristics for such 
drive units. 
It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a lifting 
apparatus having maintenance characteristics, in part by virtue of 
incorporating the above-mentioned improved power drive unit, and further 
by virtue of requiring less frequent operation of a compactor unit for the 
refuse-gathering vehicle with which the present invention is used. In 
accordance with such general object, it is a more specific object of this 
invention to provide a lifting apparatus which dumps receptacle contents a 
predetermined distance up into the refuse-gathering vehicle so that it is 
not necessary to operate the vehicle compactor after each successive 
dumping cycle. In furtherance of such general object, it is another more 
specific object and feature of the present invention to provide a dumping 
apparatus for which such predetermined distance may be adjusted so as to 
adapt the dumping apparatus for use with a particular refuse-gathering 
vehicle. 
While various power drive units and lifting apparatuses embodying different 
combinations of presently disclosed features may comprise various 
embodiments in accordance with the present invention, one exemplary 
apparatus, in accordance with this invention, for dumping the contents of 
a receptacle into a refuse-gathering vehicle adapted for gathering such 
contents, comprises: a support frame adapted to be mounted onto a 
refuse-gathering vehicle; drive means, supported by the support frame, and 
having a rotatable output shaft, such drive means controllably positioning 
the rotary orientation of the output shaft; a carriage adapted for 
carrying a receptacle for dumping of the contents thereof, such carriage 
being pivotably supported relative the apparatus for controlled movement 
with respect thereto; first arm means for pivotably supporting the 
carriage relative the support frame; and second arm means for pivotably 
supporting the carriage relative the output shaft; wherein selected 
operation of the drive means causes controlled pivoting of the carriage on 
respective ends of the first and second arm means, between a lowered, 
upright position of the carriage for receiving a receptacle thereon and a 
relatively raised, inverted position of the carriage for emptying a 
receptacle received thereon. 
Another exemplary embodiment of a receptacle dumping apparatus in 
accordance with the present invention, for mounting on a refuse-gathering 
vehicle having an opening therein adapted for receiving refuse into the 
vehicle, comprises: a support base for being integrally associated with 
such a refuse-gathering vehicle near the refuse-receiving opening thereof; 
relatively narrow-width hydraulic power means, received on the support 
base, and having a rotatable output shaft, for selectively operating 
responsive to the controlled passage of hydraulic fluid therethrough so as 
to control the rotary orientation of the output shaft; a receptacle 
carriage for carrying a receptacle for the dumping thereof; and dual 
paired projection arm means, pivotably associated with the support base 
and the power means, respectively, for supporting and selectively 
positioning the carriage, such arm means being operatively driven by the 
power means output shaft for lifting and projecting the carriage together 
with any receptacle carried thereby up into the vehicle refuse-receiving 
opening while substantially inverting the carriage so as to dump into the 
vehicle the contents of any such receptacle carried by the carriage. 
Still another example of a receptacle lift in accordance with the present 
invention, for attachment to a refuse truck for lifting and dumping the 
contents of refuse-filled receptacles into such truck, comprises: a 
support plate having first and second opposing sides, the first side being 
adapted for attachment to a substantially vertical planar area of a refuse 
truck; a movable carriage for receipt of a receptacle thereon, such 
carriage being continuously movable between a first position for initially 
receiving such a receptacle, and a second position for holding such 
receptacle in a substantially inverted position for dumping of the 
contents thereof into the refuse truck; hydraulic rotary motor means, 
fixely secured to the second side of the support plate, and having at 
least one hydraulically-drivable reciprocable piston and a rotatable drive 
shaft respectively supporting rack and pinion gear teeth, which rack and 
pinion gear teeth are mutually engaged and situated substantially within 
at least one cylinder of the rotary motor means, the drive shaft being 
rotatably driven by hydraulically-controlled reciprocable positioning of 
the piston within the cylinder, and such drive shaft further being 
disposed substantially parallel to the support plate, with opposing ends 
of the drive shaft emerging from the rotary motor means; a first pair of 
carriage support arms, respective ends thereof being fixedly secured to 
one of each of the drive shaft opposing ends for rotation therewith, and 
the other ends of such first pair of arms being defined as relatively 
moving ends thereof which are pivotably engaged with the movable carriage; 
and a second pair of carriage support arms, respective ends thereof being 
pivotably engaged with the second side of said support plate, and the 
other ends of such second pair of arms being defined as relatively moving 
ends thereof which are pivotably engaged with the movable carriage; 
wherein the movable carriage is continuously movable between the first and 
second positions thereof carried on the defined moving ends of the first 
and second respective pairs of support arms whenever the rotary motor 
means is controllably actuated. 
More particularly concerning the power drive unit presently disclosed in 
accordance with the present invention, one example of a fluid-actuated 
motor in accordance with this invention comprises: a housing having first 
and second ports for the passage of fluids therethrough, an output shaft 
opening, and at least one cylinder within the housing; at least one piston 
matably received in the housing cylinder for fluid-powered reciprocable 
movement therein; a piston rod, secured to the piston for movement 
therewith, and having gear teeth therealong; and an output shaft rotatably 
received in the housing and extending through the output shaft opening 
thereof so as to project from the housing, the output shaft being provided 
with teeth thereabout and positioned so that such output shaft teeth 
engage the piston rod gear teeth such that the output shaft is rotated by 
reciprocable movement of the piston; whereby a load secured to the output 
shaft projecting from the housing may be selectively powered by 
reciprocable movement of the at least one piston with controlled 
introduction of fluids through the housing ports. 
Another embodiment of a hydraulic rotary motor in accordance with this 
invention comprises: housing means adapted for the controlled flow of 
hydraulic fluids therethrough; piston means received in the housing means 
for controlled hydraulically-actuated reciprocable movement therein, such 
piston means including a piston rod supporting rack teeth thereon; and 
pinion gear output shaft means, operatively associated with the housing 
means and projecting therefrom, for being rotatably driven by engagement 
of pinion teeth thereof with the rack teeth of the piston means; whereby 
the output shaft means may be rotated for driving a load by controlled 
reciprocable movement of the piston means. 
While various specific features and aspects of this invention are disclosed 
herewith so as to provide a complete and enabling description of the 
present invention, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize 
numerous variations and modifications to such features and aspects of this 
invention which may be practiced in accordance with the invention. All 
such modifications, use of equivalents, reversal of parts, or the like, 
are intended to come within the spirit and scope of the present invention 
by virtue of present reference thereto.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
While use of a lifting apparatus in accordance with the present invention 
is not limited to a rear loading refuse-gathering vehicle, FIG. 1 
illustrates one preferred configuration for use of an embodiment of this 
invention mounted on the rear of such a vehicle. The rear of such a 
vehicle 10 includes a refuse-receiving receiving opening 20 into which the 
contents of a receptacle 30 may be dumped with one of a pair of lifting 
devices 40, provided in accordance with the present invention. While 
various power drive units may be practiced in accordance with such lifting 
apparatus 40, including the slim profile hydraulic rotary motor disclosed 
below, a variety of driving units may be used to actuate lift arms of the 
device 40, operation of which is discussed below in greater detail. 
Preferably, the hydraulic rotary motor of this invention as presently 
disclosed is used with lift 40, and is controllably actuated by a 
conventional hydraulic valve 12, which is linked with the hydraulic rotary 
motor through a pair of hydraulic lines 14 and 16, as understood by those 
of ordinary skill in the art. Line 15 may provide hydraulic pressure to 
valve 12. Additional details of typical hydraulic control lines and 
cooperation thereof with a hydraulic mechanism are known, as set forth for 
example in the United States Patents identified above in the Background of 
the Invention, the disclosure of which patents is incorporated by 
reference. 
Similar in a general sense to typical prior lifting mechanisms, the present 
device 40 has a generally planar movable carriage 42 on which a receptacle 
30 is received to be dumped. Receptacle 30 includes upper and lower 
engagement members 32 and 34, respectively, which cooperate with 
engagement elements of lifting devices 40 in a generally known fashion, 
undrstood to those in the art. Engagement element 32 is preferably about 
34 inches above ground level, while the corresponding fixed engagement 
element 44 of the lifting apparatus 40 is preferably slightly higher above 
ground level. When lifting apparatus 40 is in its lowered position 
illustrated in FIG. 1, a receptacle 30 may be rolled on its wheels 36 into 
position adjacent movable carriage 42, with the lid 38 of such receptacle 
opened in anticipation of the contents thereof being dumped into opening 
20 of garbage truck 10. Once so positioned, receptacle 30 may be tilted 
back on its wheels 36, and guided into contact with the planar surface of 
movable carriage 42 such that fixed engagement element 44 of device 40 is 
registered and engaged with engagement element 32 of the receptacle. 
Normally, during a dumping cycle in which movable carriage 42 is pivoted 
into a raised, inverted position (from its illustrated lowered, upright 
position) so that the contents of receptacle 30 are dumped into opening 20 
of truck 10, a movable engagement element 46 of lifting apparatus 40 
automatically engages lower engagement feature 34 of receptacle 30 so as 
to prevent the receptacle itself from falling into the truck. Such movable 
engagement feature for operating during a dumping cycle may be provided in 
a variety of ways, the specific details of which form no particular 
features of the present invention. Examples of such engagement features 
operative during a dumping cycle are disclosed in the above-identified 
U.S. Patents, incorporated by reference. 
More particular features of the present lift unit, including its operative 
structure thereof, are not seen in the view illustrated in present FIG. 1 
since especially the lift arms and power drive unit for the lift unit are 
behind planar movable carriage 42. However, FIG. 1 well illustrates the 
relatively slim profile of the width A of a lifting apparatus in 
accordance with the present invention relative garbage truck 10 and 
receptacle 30. Width A varies even for different embodiments of the 
present invention; however, widths generally in the range of from about 4 
to about 8 inches (and more preferably of about 43/4 inches) are possible 
with the present invention, compared with typical widths of 16 to 20 
inches for many prior art lifting apparatuses. 
Relatively slim lift unit widths specifically overcome many drawbacks of 
prior art structures, as discussed in the above Background of the 
Invention. For example, since lifting devices 40 in accordance with this 
invention project from the rear of a truck bumper no further than stops 18 
thereof, truck 10 may also be outfitted with conventional pivot elements 
22 and a winch mechanism 24. As known in the art, a hook 26 may be mounted 
on the end of a cable of such wench 24 and used to raise a commercial 
trash dumpster about pivot points 28 provided by pivot elements 22 so that 
a commercial dumpster may be emptied into opening 20 of truck 10. Since 
width A of lifting apparatus 40 of this invention is relatively narrow in 
comparison with some prior art lifting apparatuses discussed above with 
reference to the cited patents, the advantage is gained that truck 10 can 
be concurrently outfitted for alternatively lifting either receptacles 30 
(with lift unit 40) or commercial dumpsters (using such devices as members 
22, 24, 26 and 28 mounted on truck 10). 
The remaining disclosure more specifically describes features and aspects 
of lifting apparatus 40 which are not apparent from the illustration of 
present FIG. 1. Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, operative details of a 
dumping apparatus 40 as shown in FIG. 1 are illustrated. FIG. 2 shows a 
perspective view of a lifting apparatus 100 in accordance with the present 
invention (shown in solid line) supporting in a raised, inverted position 
a receptacle 102 (shown in dotted line), which FIG. 3 illustrates in 
partial cutaway a plan view of the FIG. 2 lift unit in a folded or closed, 
i.e. lowered, position thereof. 
A support frame 104 is preferably planar, and has two sides. Side 106 is 
adapted to be secured, such as by welding or with bolts or the like, to a 
refuse-gathering vehicle or other structure with which the lifting 
mechanism is to be used. Preferably, side 106 is removably welded to the 
back metal bumper of a vehicle, as exemplified by present FIG. 1; however, 
alternative installations of the present lifting apparatus, including 
those for other than express use as a trash receptacle dumping device, 
come within the scope of the present invention. 
An opposite side 108 of frame 104 supports a drive means 110, one example 
of which is discussed in greater detail in FIGS. 5 and 6 below. Frame 104 
also supports a pair of pivot points 112 (only one of which is seen in the 
illustration of FIG. 2) for a pair of pivoting arms 114, which comprise a 
first arm means for pivotably supporting movable carriage 116 
(substantially the same as movable carriage 42 of present FIG. 1) relative 
support frame 104. Both ends of each of arms 114 are pivotably mounted at 
their respective connections, with a pair of pivots 118 for defined 
relatively moving ends of arms 114 being supported by movable carriage 116 
itself. 
Respective pivot points 118 of the first arm means are displaced a selected 
distance on the movable carriage from a second pair of pivoting points 120 
for a second pair of arms 122. Though pivotally connected to carriage 116 
at their defined relatively moving ends 120, such arms 122 are fixedly 
connected at their opposite ends 124 to a rotatable drive shaft 126 of 
drive means 110. Such output or drive shaft 126 preferably has two 
respective ends which project from drive means 110, so that each of the 
arm ends 124 may be respectively secured thereto for simultaneously 
rotating their respective relatively moving arm ends 120 through an arc 
having a radius the length of arms 122 whenever shaft 126 is rotated, as 
discussed below. Arms 122 generally comprise a second arm means for 
pivotably supporting carriage 116 relative such output shaft 126. 
The respective lengths of arms 122 and 114, together with the displacement 
of their pivot points 118 and 120 on carriage 116, determine a distance 
which the front edge 128 of movable carriage 116 is projected behind 
support frame 104 on side 106 thereof whenever a receptacle 102 is fully 
raised to its inverted position (as illustrated in FIG. 2). Such lateral 
translation of receptacle 102 actually serves a useful purpose, i.e. to 
project the receptacle a predetermined distance up into the 
refuse-receiving opening of the garbage truck so that the contents of the 
receptacle are dumped forwardly into the truck, at least some distance 
from the very rear of the truck. Accordingly, projection dumping provides 
the benefits discussed in the Background of this Invention with reference 
to reduced need for frequent operation of a compactor device of the 
garbage truck. 
Yet another feature of the present invention, better illustrated in present 
FIG. 3, concerns the nesting or co-planar resting of the four arms 
preferably used to selectively raise and project movable carriage 116. 
Pivots 124 of longer arms 122, which are directly powered by drive means 
110 for actually raising and lowering movable carriage 116, are positioned 
axially inward of pivots 112 of shorter arms 114, so that such arms are in 
co-planar alignment whenever they are folded for positioning movable 
carriage 116 in its lowered, upright position. Output shaft 126 extends 
through drive unit 110 and is controllably rotated thereby, and is also 
adapted for fixed driving engagement on either drive end thereof with arm 
ends 124, for example by a key or keyway. 
While the precise construction of different drive units 110 may vary 
considerably, and a given lifting device in accordance with this invention 
is not limited to a particular type or form of a drive unit, a 
hydraulically-actuated two cylinder rack and pinion mechanism, as 
presently disclosed, is one preferred construction. In general, a pair of 
cylinders 130 and 132 are held in parallel alignment, axially displaced 
from one another by housing 134, and with output shaft 126 commonly passed 
through such cylinders for being rotated thereby in a manner discussed 
below. Briefly, pistons received within such cylinders are hydraulically 
actuated, as understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, so as to be 
controllably reciprocated. Each piston is outfitted with a piston rod 
having rack teeth thereon, which rack teeth are suitably positioned to 
engage pinion teeth supported about output shaft 126 for controllably 
rotating same responsive to the controlled reciprocation of each such 
piston. Housing 134 generally may include upper and lower blockheads 136 
and 138, respectively, and which are joined by bolts 140 or the like. 
Other features of exemplary drive unit 110 are discussed below in greater 
detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. 
Movable carriage 116 is partially cutaway in present FIG. 3 to permit 
illustration of the present operative structure normally hidden 
therebehind (as in present FIG. 1). Movable carriage 116 primarily 
includes a planar surface 142 for contacting and supporting a trash 
receptacle 102, as illustrated with respect to planar surface 42 of 
present FIG. 1. Planar surface 142 is integrally associated with side 
flanges 144, which provide support for bearings or the like which in turn 
receive arms 114 and 122 at pivot points 118 and 120 thereof, 
respectively. Top and bottom flanges 146 and 148 cooperate with side 
flanges 144 to form a complete apron around the lifting apparatus, and 
into which the apparatus folds for protection thereof whenever it is in 
its lowered, upright position (as illustrated in present FIG. 1). 
Movable engagement element 46 (illustrated in FIG. 1), which is operative 
during the dumping cycle of a lifting apparatus of this invention to 
retain a receptacle thereon, is driven by a linkage system which 
interconnects preferably between the pair of arms 114 and the movable 
carriage 116 itself. More specifically, an adjustable linkage member 150 
connects to a pivot point 152 on each respective arm 114 a selected 
distance from the moving end pivot 118 thereof. The other end of each 
respective linkage member 150 is connected with a transverse element 154, 
which is further controllably linked with adjustable linkages 156 for 
rotating movable engagement members (hooks) 158 themselves as lifting 
apparatus 100 passes through its dumping phase. In other words, hooks 158 
are projected outward from surface 142 of movable carriage 116 to latch 
onto a receptacle received on the carriage as such carriage is moved 
towards, through and from its raised, inverted position. 
Additional structure and operation of such linkage system need not be 
discussed in detail for an enabling disclosure of this invention, in view 
of incorporation by reference of the above-cited patents. However, the 
lengths of linkage members 150 may be readily adapted to compensate for 
dynamic changes in the spatial relationship between pivots 152 and 
transverse element 154, resulting from changes to the lengths of arms 122 
or 114, or changes to the respective carriage pivot points 120 and 118 
thereof. The displacement on carriage 116 of such pivot points, which 
contributes to the projection of front edge 128 of carriage 116 up into a 
refuse-receiving opening, is enhanced while retaining the above-discussed 
co-planarity of arms 122 and 114 by providing a bend 160 in each of arms 
114. 
Drive unit 110 may in practice comprise virtually any type of driving 
system for controllably rotating (i.e. actuating) pivot ends 124 of arms 
122. However, a hydraulic rotary motor, as briefly discussed above, is 
preferred. Housing 134 may be provided with a pair of hydraulic fluid 
ports 162 and 164, to which conventional hydraulic control lines 166 may 
be connected for controlled actuation of drive means 110. Housing 134 is 
generally sealed other than the hydraulic fluid ports 162 and 164 thereof 
so as to also retain such fluid for lubricating the moving parts and 
meshing teeth therein. The only other opening in such housing preferably 
comprises an output shaft opening or openings to permit shaft 126 to pass 
therethrough. 
Referring now to FIG. 4, a side cross-sectional view of the FIG. 3 
embodiment is illustrated in accordance with the sectional lines of such 
FIG. 3. Where possible, repeat use is made of reference characters from 
FIGS. 2 and 3 so as to minimize the need for repeated detailed discussion 
of such FIG. 4 features. 
FIG. 4 primarily illustrates a solid line view of the aforementioned side 
cross-section, and a dotted line view of the carriage and its supporting 
arms partially moved towards its raised, inverted position illustrated in 
present FIG. 2. As drive means 110 rotates arms 122 in the direction of 
arrow 170 by rotating its output shaft in the direction of arrow 172, 
carriage 116 is advanced to an intermediate raised position 116'. During 
such movement the previously discussed linkage mechanism, operative with 
controlled movement of arms 114, functionally drives movable engagement 
member 158 in the direction of arrows 174 so that garbage receptacle 102 
is engaged at both its upper engagement point 176 and its lower engagement 
point 178. Thus, receptacle 102 remains fully in contact with movable 
carriage 116, even in the inverted position thereof. Such linkage for 
driving movable engagement member 158 is discussed in detail above with 
reference to FIGS. 2 and 3; hence, specific reference characters for each 
such linkage members are not repeated in FIG. 4 so as to retain clarity of 
the illustration thereof. 
It should be noted however that movable engagement member 158 is preferably 
fully retracted behind a contact plate 180 which initially contacts lower 
engagement member 178 as receptacle 102 is brought into engagement with 
movable carriage 116. Thus, the width of the movable engagement feature of 
the present invention is also relatively minimized so as to retain a slim 
profile character for the overall lifting apparatus. As discussed above, 
such lifting apparatus can provide the slim profile advantages and the 
projecting advantages of this invention while using a variety of different 
driving mechanisms for powering the actuating arms 122 thereof. The dual 
pair of arms, as well as the nested configuration thereof, advantageously 
contributes to such features of this invention, which are further 
contributed to by the particular hydraulic rotary motor presently 
disclosed. 
FIGS. 5 and 6 more particularly illustrate rotary motor which are preferred 
drive means 110 for use with the presently disclosed lifting apparatus, 
and which may be used alternatively for providing output power to 
virtually any other desired load which may be rotatably driven. FIG. 5 
comprises a sectional view of the drive unit illustrated in present FIG. 
2; accordingly, reference characters from such FIG. 2 are in part repeated 
so as to minimize repetitive description of the rotary power means. 
Housing means 134 includes a lower blockhead 138 and an upper blockhead 
136, which cooperates with bolts 140 or the like to retain at least one 
cylinder 200 therein. As shown by the further transverse sectional view of 
FIG. 6 (taken along the lines illustrated in present FIG. 5), preferably 
two cylinders 202 and 204 are provided, though one or more cylinders of 
selected like diameters may be used. 
Regardless of how many cylinders are used in a given embodiment, each 
cylinder is preferably provided with a piston means reciprocally received 
therein, as illustrated by arrow 206 of FIG. 5. Such piston means may 
include a piston head 208 with a diameter slightly smaller than the inside 
diameter of cylinder 200, and having a piston rod 210 integrally 
associated therewith and extending longitudinally within such cylinder. As 
best illustrated by FIG. 6, piston rod 210 is preferably of semi-circular 
construction so as to longitudinally bi-sect cylinders 202 and 204. 
Furthermore, rack teeth 212 are provided along the face of piston rod 210 
which is nearest the center of its respective cylinder. Such rack teeth 
cooperate with pinion teeth 214 supported around shaft 126, which shaft 
has a rotational axis which runs transversely to the direction of the 
plane of movement 216 of arms 122 for lifting a movable carriage (whenever 
the hydraulic rotary motor of FIG. 5 is used with a lift apparatus as 
described above). A key 218 is provided for fixedly securing rotatable 
output shaft 126 to a desired load, such as lift arms 122. Teeth 212 and 
214 are meshed in relatively tight tolerances of several thousandths of an 
inch so as to provide tight control to the moving end of arm 122 and 
smooth rack and pinion operation. 
As another feature of this invention, the rack and pinion gear teeth are 
substantially received within the confines of their respective cylinder 
(e.g. cylinder 200) so that hydraulic fluids received therein for 
controllably powering the reciprocable piston means also serve to 
lubricate all such parts as well as the rack and pinion teeth, thus 
considerably lessening the required maintenance of the power unit. Other 
than hydraulic fluid ports 162 and 164, output shaft opening or openings 
220 are the only openings in the otherwise sealed housing means 134. Also, 
such output shaft openings may be provided with various seal members, 
particularly as illustrated in present FIG. 6, so as to prevent escape of 
any hydraulic fluid or the loss of hydraulic pressure within cylinder 200 
(or cylinders 202 and 204). 
Additionally, housing means 134 includes a slightly enlarged region 222 
which cooperates with upper blockhead 136 for enclosing output shaft 126 
and the pinion gear teeth 214 thereof. The necessary width of such member 
222 adds to the minimum width of the overall hydraulic rotary motor, the 
full width of which is defined by opposing faces 224 and 226 thereof. 
In operation, the hydraulic rotary motor of FIGS. 5 and 6 may be 
operatively associated with virtually any rotatably driven load, and is 
particularly suited for use with the present slim profile lifting 
mechanism, due to the relatively narrow width of the rotary motor itself. 
Such compactness is in part achieved by providing the piston rod and 
pinion output shaft substantially within the cylinder of the hydraulic 
rotary motor, as illustrated in the Figures. Those of ordinary skill in 
the art will understand that during operation hydraulic fluid is passed 
through hydraulic control lines 166 in either one of the two flow 
directions indicated by arrow 206 so as to reciprocate the piston means 
likewise within cylinder 200. During such reciprocation, the rack teeth 
212 of piston rod 210 mesh with the pinion output shaft teeth 214 so as to 
controllably rotate output shaft 126 in a desired direction, including the 
extended portion or portions of shaft 126 which project from housing means 
34 (as illustrated in present FIG. 6). 
As an example of the manner in which the present hydraulic rotary motor may 
be incorporated into the lifting apparatus of present FIG. 2 for powering 
the actuating lift arms 122 thereof, piston rod 210 may be moved to its 
dotted line position 210' (FIG. 5) by proper introduction of hydraulic 
fluid into port 164 and out from ort 162 of housing means 134, thus moving 
rod 210 upward. Such movement of piston rod 210 rotates output shaft 126 
in the direction of arrow 228 so that arm or arms 122 secured to the end 
or ends of output shaft 126 emerging from housing means 134 is (are) moved 
in the direction of arrow 216 to its dotted line position 122', on the way 
to raising and inverting a movable carriage for dumping the contents of a 
receptacle mounted on such carriage. 
Since the hydraulic rotary motor of FIGS. 5 and 6 is essentially sealed, as 
discussed above, such rotary motor may be used in a variety of power drive 
applications in virtually any orientation. The diameter of the respective 
cylinder and piston means may be selectively varied and the number of 
cylinders used in a given application may also be varied, so as to provide 
adequate output power on shaft 126 thereof to meet needed torque 
requirements for a given load. In general, the power unit output torque 
capacity (a function of cylinder size and number) should increase 
correspondingly with increasing load arm length to accommodate the 
additional torque requirements generated by the increased lever arm 
length. For use in driving a lifting apparatus as in present FIG. 2, two 
cylinders (such as in present FIG. 6) form one preferred configuration, 
and may be provided with diameters generally in a range of from about two 
to about five inches, with the resulting total width of the unit (in its 
folded position, i.e. lowered, upright position) being generally in a 
range from about four to about eight inches. Obviously, various 
embodiments of selected capacities (virtually without limitation) may be 
practiced by those of ordinary skill in the art to meet particular load 
requirements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
FIGS. 7 through 9 summarize operation of a dumping cycle for a lifting 
apparatus in accordance with the present invention, further combined with 
a hydraulic rotary motor in accordance with this invention, as presently 
disclosed in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6. 
In general, a lifting apparatus 300 is mounted on a substantially vertical 
platform 302 (such as the rear bumper of a trash collecting vehicle) for 
controllably raising and inverting a movable carriage 304. A fully 
lowered, upright position of such movable carriage 304 is represented by 
present FIGS. 1 and 4 (the solid line illustration thereof). Operation of 
lift device 300 moves movable carriage 304 continuously between such fully 
lowered position and a fully raised, substantially inverted position 
thereof (as in present FIGS. 2 and 9). Longer arms 306 are progressively 
rotated in the direction of arrows 308 about output shaft 310 to which 
such arms are fixedly secured, and which shaft is preferably rotated 
through approximately 180.degree. between the fully lowered and fully 
raised positions of movable carriage 304. The bore stroke of the piston 
means within the cylinder of the rotary motor of FIGS. 5 and 6 may be 
varied so as to adjust the rotational limits of output shaft 310 for 
particular applications, as understood by those of ordinary skill in the 
art. 
As shown in the first intermediate phase (FIG. 7), the bend 312 in shorter 
arms 314 maintains the coplanar relationship of such shorter arms with 
longer arms 306 for as long as possible while permitting substantial 
separation between pivot points 316 and 318 of arms 306 and 314, 
respectively. As discussed in detail above with reference to FIGS. 2-4, 
various linkage members (linkage means 320 generally) are actuated during 
the dumping cycle so as to advance movable engagement member 322 in the 
direction of arrow 324 therefor so as to oppose fixed engagement member 
326 and retain a receptacle to be dumped which is received on movable 
carriage 304. 
Once the contents of a receptacle are dumped, the lifting apparatus is 
controlled for lowering carriage 304 (i.e. the progression of operation 
goes from FIG. 9 towards FIG. 7 until the orientation of the solid line 
illustration of FIG. 4 is again obtained), during which the movable 
engagement element 322 is automatically retracted so as to release the 
receptacle by the time the lowered, upright position of carriage 304 is 
regained. 
FIG. 9 particularly illustrates the advantage of the present invention with 
respect to projecting the contents of a receptacle carried on carriage 304 
up into the refuse-receiving opening of a typical refuse-gathering 
vehicle. In other words, the leading edge 330 of movable carriage 304, 
which is adjacent the opening out which the receptacle contents are dumped 
(see FIG. 2), is projected a predetermined distance beyond mounting of 
unit 300 onto substantially vertical structure 302. In one exemplary 
embodiment, where the length of arms 306 is about 16 inches, the forward 
edge 330 may be projected up into the receiving truck approximately 12 to 
14 inches, depending in part on the separation between pivot points 316 
and 318 on carriage 304. 
In testing, a prototype lifting apparatus having 16 inch main arms (i.e. 
those secured to the output shaft), using a hydraulic rotary motor as in 
present FIGS. 5 and 6, with a pair of cylinders each having diameters of 
about 21/2 inches, was able to lift a 200 pound weight through 
approximately 11,000 lift cycles without any maintenance problems 
whatsoever. The number of repeated cycles is equivalent to approximately 
one year or slightly longer of service in the field for such a lifting 
apparatus used on a garbage vehicle making rounds in a residential area. 
The overall collapsed width of such a 16 arm unit was only 43/4 inches, 
while the throw or projection up into the truck of the receptacle forward 
edge was 12 to 14 inches. Accordingly, such exemplary embodiment 
substantially overcomes the drawbacks and disadvantages of typical prior 
art constructions, as discussed above in the Background of the Invention. 
While exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been discussed in 
particular detail, numerous modifications and variations thereto may be 
practiced. For example, instead of varying the length of the arms means, 
or the distance between their respective pivot points on the movable 
carriage, in order to change the lateral translation of such carriage up 
into a garbage-receiving vehicle, a plurality of holes may be provided in 
sides 144 of movable carriage 116 so that the pivot points 118 of shorter 
arms 114 may be varied to similarly change the lateral translation. 
Corresponding changes in the lengths of linkages 150 would also obviously 
be made in order to permit operation of the movable engagement feature of 
this invention. 
Also, the actuating arms of a lift apparatus in accordance with the present 
invention may be powered externally, rather than by an axially internal 
drive unit, as illustrated in present FIG. 2. Thus, a lifting apparatus in 
accordance with this invention need not utilize the particular hydraulic 
rotary motor presently disclosed. Similarly, such hydraulic rotary motor 
may be utilized for drive applications other than with a lifting 
apparatus. All such modifications and variations, and alternative 
applications of presently disclosed features, are intended to come within 
the spirit and scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the language 
presently used to describe the exemplary embodiments is by way of 
description and example only, and is not intended to be limiting, which 
limitations are set forth only in the appended claims.