Abstract:
The invention provides a refuse and recyclable materials collection system which includes a self-dumping bin, a hauling unit with a tailgate and an opening top, side or both, a compacting ram that empties the hopper into the body, compacts and ejects the collected materials. The collection vehicle is placed into a loading position, which can be on either side of the vehicle. For collection of two different types of recyclable materials the collection vehicle can be equipped with two receiving doors, hoppers, rams, compacting chambers and tailgates. The self-dumping bin receives power by connecting hydraulic lines from the collection vehicle. The self-dumping bin is then raised to the dumping position by a lifting mechanism. The receiving door opens to form a chute for receiving the materials from the self-dumping bin. A baffle on each of the receiving doors forms a trap to prevent spillage. The bin has a tapered “lip” that funnels the material into the hopper of the hauling unit. The bin is moved into a tipping position allowing the materials to empty from the bin into the hopper of the collection vehicle. As the hopper is filled the ram manually or automatically cycles to empty the hopper and compact the material. The loaded vehicle is then transported to either a landfill for refuse or a material recycling facility for recycling. The collection vehicle can be a trailer, which is towed by a truck or a body mounted on a truck chassis.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to improvements in refuse and recycling systems. More specifically, the inventive system involves a self-dumping bin, which unloads material into a hauling unit, whereupon the material can be compacted for hauling purposes. 
     2. Prior Art 
     The collection and removal of solid waste is a major municipal problem. For example, residential refuse is generated at an average rate of approximately 2.5 pounds per day per capita. As accumulated, loose and uncompacted, the refuse has a density generally in the range of 150 to 250 pounds per cubic yard. For the well being of the community, removal of refuse is imperative. 
     Traditionally, recycling and residential refuse, including garbage, trash, and other waste materials are usually stored in containers of approximately 10 to 30 gallon capacity. Once or twice a week, the containers are placed at curbside for a scheduled collection. Containers weigh approximately 75 to 100 pounds. Commercial or industrial facilities accumulate waste in larger, heavier containers. 
     Conventionally, these refuse containers are emptied into a refuse collection vehicle, which transports the material to a disposal site. Disposal sites could be landfills, dumps or incinerators. The conventional refuse collection method involves a mechanized unit and manual labor. A crew of three or more attended the vehicle. One of the crew, the driver, tends to the everyday operation of the vehicle, while others bring the refuse to the vehicle. The vehicle includes a hopper with a low loading height into which the collectors empty the containers. 
     Considerable effort has been devoted to developing devices, which increase the speed, and efficiency of refuse collected. The current efforts are directed towards automation of the collection process. These self loading devices engage, lift, and dump refuse containers into the collection vehicle. The self-loading devices include side or rear mounted arms and front loading arms. The use of such devices has increased the rate of collection. 
     While many improvements have greatly increased the rate at which refuse is collected, they fail to address pressing problems generated by the increasing population and the expenses related to constructing and operating disposal sites. Americans generate over 300 million tons of solid waste a year. The national recycling effort only consists of approximately 100 million tons per year, or 30%, which leaves 200 million tons of disposal entering into landfills. Recycling programs are the most logical solution to control the amount of material entering into disposal sites. In return, these programs will help decrease the cost of operating landfills and generate materials for future products such as recycled paper, plastic and glass etc. 
     The largest cost of recycling and refuse disposal is collecting and transporting. Curbside collection has been a growing trend. In less than a decade, the US has gone from approximately 1,000 curbside programs to over 9,000 programs. However, curbside collection is inherently inefficient. The reasons for this inefficiency are due to the transporting of source-separated raw materials and the intense labor required to collect and to separate materials at the curbside or a collection site. 
     Inventors are attempting to develop a system that will reduce the collection and transportation of recyclable materials. This invention could also be used for refuse collection in certain situations. One major problem is the complex and sophisticated loading devices mounted onto the hauling units, which are functional only 30% of the collection process. Another major problem is the lack of equipment which can collect, compact and transport recyclable materials without a loading device on the collection vehicles. 
     One method of reducing the cost of recycling is to strategically locate self-dumping bins for each type of recyclable material. These bins are located at what is generally called depot stations. These depots are normally located in heavily traveled areas in the community with ease and safe access such as shopping malls or roadside parks. 
     This type system has been in operation for several years. The Haul-All Company, located in Lethbridge, Alberta Canada, has a bin called the Hyd-A-Way. The Hyd-A-Way is a hydraulic dumping container, which operates with several truck models. The Hyd-A-Way containers (bins) range from 2 cubic yards to 6 cubic yards. The 6 cubic yard bins are normally preferred because of the holding capacity, which allows for fewer dumps into the hauling unit. 
     There are several inefficiencies with this system. The trucks, which range from 12 cubic yards to 21 cubic yards of hauling capacity, load material with a side hopper which is approximately 1½ cubic yards. This causes the bin to dump into the hopper approximately 4 to 8 times depending on the type and quantity of materials in the bin. Each time this process takes place it has an opportunity for spillage by over filling the hopper or wind blowing small materials thus causing litter problems which workers must pick up. 
     In an effort not to spill the material the operator attempts to tip the bin just enough to get the material to slide into the hopper. This not only slows the process, but sometimes the material might hang on the lid of the bin. In an attempt to avoid a large amount of material breaking loose all at one time, the operator may take a shaft with a hook on the end and try to loosen the jammed materials. This causes an unsafe operation and could cause the operator to be injured. Another inefficiency of this system is the hauling units receive a very low compaction ratio, which causes more frequent trips from the depots to the recycling materials facility. 
     A new hauling unit is now being used that allows for higher compaction of the materials, but the transfer process from the bins to the side hopper have the same inefficiencies previously discussed. The hopper is slightly larger which will reduce the number of times the bins are tipped, approximately 3 to 6 times depending on the type and quantity of materials. The compaction of this equipment requires a very large and expensive truck and is not very efficient when used for refuse collection. 
     ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FOR PRIOR ART 
     Concerning the Hyd-A-Way bins, much skill is required when dumping the bin into the side hopper of the truck. If the operator is not careful when he tips the bin he can over tip the bin allowing the material to break loose, overfilling the hopper and spilling onto the ground. 
     Furthermore, the driver of the truck has to be skilled to position the truck for receiving the material from the bin. In some cases the driver has to be flagged into position by a fellow worker in order to get into the receiving position. Not being positioned properly, too far away or too close may cause problems when transferring the materials from the bin to the hopper of the hauling unit. The latest and most improved hauling unit, the Aug-Pac manufactured by Haul-All, is harder to position than the conventional hauling unit because of its narrower hopper. When out of position and not recognized by the operator, the bin in a tipped position may cause damage to the hopper and/or the Hyd-A-Way bins. 
     It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies in the prior art. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a recycling collection system that reduces the amount of material being disposed of into landfills. 
     Another object of the present invention is to reduce recycling collection costs by having consumers bring recyclable materials to strategically placed bins that are enclosed and tamper proof from animals. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to raise and transfer material from a self-dumping bin into the collection vehicle in a safe and timely manner. 
     And still another object is to dump the material from the self-dumping bin into the hopper one time. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to transport materials at an optimal compaction ratio for specific materials. 
     Another object is to minimize the spillage of recyclable materials during a bin-to-truck transfer process. 
     Still another object is to allow the collection vehicle to serve as a centralized collection bin in high volume areas. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Briefly, to achieve the desired objects of the instant invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, provided is a refuse and recyclable materials collection system which includes a self-dumping bin, a hauling unit with a tailgate and an opening top, side or both, a compacting ram that empties the hopper into the body, compacts and ejects the collected materials. The collection vehicle is placed into a loading position which can be either side of the vehicle. For collection of two different types of recyclable materials the collection vehicle can be equipped with two receiving doors, hoppers, rams, compacting chambers and tailgates. The self-dumping bin receives power by connecting hydraulic lines from the collection vehicle. The self-dumping bin is then raised to the dumping position by a lifting mechanism. The receiving door opens to form a chute for receiving the materials from the self-dumping bin. A baffle on each of the receiving door forms a trap to prevent spillage. The bin has a tapered “lip” that funnels the material into the hopper of the hauling unit. This “lip” decreases the length of the hopper, therefore increasing the hauling capacity without increasing the overall length of the hauling unit. The bin is moved into a tipping position allowing the materials to empty from the bin into the hopper of the collection vehicle. As the bin tips, the lid of the bin opens on each end. This lip forms a chute for funneling the material from the bin through the “lip” into the chute formed by the opening of the door or doors of the hauling unit. As the hopper is filled the ram manually or automatically cycles to empty the hopper and compact the material. The loaded vehicle is then transported to either a landfill for refuse or a material recycling facility for recycling. 
     The collection vehicle can be a trailer, which is towed by a truck or a body mounted on a truck chassis. The complete collection system can be powered by the power take off of the tow vehicle or by an alternate power source mounted on the vehicle. When the unit is mounted on a trailer and equipped with an alternate power source, lower side loading doors can serve as a collection unit at a depot station that receives large volumes of materials. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a collection and hauling system consisting of a self-dumping bin and a trailer type hauling unit constructed in accordance with the teaching of the instant invention. 
     FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a collection and hauling system following the invention consisting of a self-dumping bin and a truck chassis. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram of the process used in the operation of the invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an end view of the hauling unit and a side view of the self-dumping bin illustrating movement of the bin through three positions to transfer recyclable material through the chute formed by the top door of the hauling unit. 
     FIG. 4 is an end view in accordance with FIG. 3 except the side door of the hauling unit forms the chute. 
     FIG. 5 is another end view showing the chute being formed by the top and side doors of the hauling unit and further showing the effective range of possible lateral locations of a hauling unit. 
     FIGS. 6A-F show a series of views of the preferred bin lifting device portion of the self-dumping bin showing the platform in several different positions from closed to fully extended taken from both the left side and the rear, and 
     FIG. 6G shows a detail of the roller mounting of the platform. 
     FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the chutes formed by the top and side doors. 
     FIGS. 8A-B show side views of the self-dumping bin,  8 A in the collection position and  8 B in the dumping position, while  8 C-D show the bin in respective front views. 
     FIGS. 9A-B show side and top views respectively of the hydraulic connection of the hauling unit to the self-dumping bin. 
     FIGS. 10A-B show side views respectively of the ram removing the material from the hopper and compacting it into the compaction chamber of the hauling unit. 
     FIGS. 11A-B are side views of the tailgate open allowing the ram to eject the material from the hauling unit, respectively truck mounted or trailer mounted. 
     FIG. 12 is an end view of the hauling unit receiving materials from bins dumping from each side of the hauling unit into a top chute. 
     FIG. 13 is an end view of a dual chamber hauling unit receiving two different types of material, one from either side of the hauling unit. 
     FIGS. 14A-B show the use of photoelectric sensor devices to indicate to the driver proper positioning of the hauling unit for collection. 
     FIGS. 15A-C show a mechanical indicating means for indicating proper positioning of the hauling unit for collection. 
     FIGS. 16A-F show the maximum and minimum distances for positioning a trailer hauling unit, A-B, when top and side chutes both are available on the hauling unit for use, C-D, when a top only chute is available, and E-F, when a side only chute is available. 
     FIGS. 17A-F show the maximum and minimum distances for positioning a truck mounted hauling unit, A-B, when top and side chutes both are available on the hauling unit for use, C-D, when a top only chute is available, and E-F, when a side only chute is available. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, these drawings show a perspective view of the invention, generally identified as  100 . This system  100  has a hauling unit  110  mounted on a transporting vehicle, generally referred to as  120 . The transporting vehicle can be either a trailer  121  or a truck chassis  122 . The hauling unit  110  is located adjacent to, and at the proper location in relation to the self-dumping bin  130 , so that bin  130  can be unloaded into the hauling unit  110 . The self-dumping bin  130  is mounted on lift mechanism  140 . The details of this invention will be expanded on in FIGS. 2 through 17. 
     FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing the sequence of events to unload the self-dumping bin  130  into the hauling unit  110 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, it shows an end view of the hauling unit  110 , mounted on a transporting vehicle  120 , with the top loading doors  170  that form a chute open to receive material from bin  130 . Top loading doors  170  are opened by hydraulic cylinders  180 . Bin  130  is in the unloading position (shown with dotted lines), which is tilted at the proper angle to unload by tip cylinder  133  and is lifted by a lifting mechanism  140 . FIG. 3 also shows the bin in the down and not tipped, position  1 , lift mechanism raised and bin not tipped, position  2 , and bin raised and tipped, position  3 . 
     FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, except for showing that a side loading door  170 ′ forming a chute can be used, instead of the top loading door  170 , shown in FIG.  3 . Side loading door  170 ′ is opened by hydraulic cylinder  180 ′. 
     FIG. 5 is similar to FIGS. 3 and 4, except for showing that a top loading door  170  forming a chute can be used and a side loading door  170 ′ can be used to increase the load opening size, if needed. FIG. 5 also shows that the hauling unit  110  has a minimum and maximum distance that can be offset from lift mechanism  140  and self-dumping bin  130  and still be in a correct position for the self-dumping bin  130  to unload. 
     CONSTRUCTION OF THE LIFTING MECHANISM FOR SELF-DUMPING BINS 
     Two common types of lifting devices that could be used to lift the self-dumping bin are a scissors lift and a parallelogram lift. The disadvantages of each become apparent when you consider lifting the bin into the correct position for unloading. 
     First, considering the parallelogram-lifting device, the parallelogram lift, as it raises, moves the bin closer to the hauling unit. This is a desired result of lifting to prevent having to park the hauling unit too close to the bin. But the disadvantage of a parallelogram lift for use in this invention is that in order for the lift to raise to the needed height, the forward leg would extend back towards the center of the lift platform, resulting in the bin resting on the part of the lift top platform that would be unsupported by the lifting legs. Another disadvantage is that the forward motion, as the lift raises, would be too great, resulting in having to park the hauling unit at too great a distance from the bin. 
     Next, considering a scissors type lifting device, a scissors lift would not have the disadvantage that a parallelogram lift has, with the bin resting on the part of the lift platform that is unsupported by the lifting legs. A scissors lift would also lift the bin up in a straight line. The disadvantage of this construction would be that the hauling unit would have to be placed very close to the bin in order for the bin to be in the correct position to unload. 
     A lifting mechanism that has the advantage of a parallelogram lift and a scissors lift, but without the disadvantage of either, would be the preferred type of lifting mechanism. A lifting mechanism of this type would lift the bin to the correct height, while keeping the lifting legs properly positioned under the bin for support, and at the same time, move the bin towards the hauling unit. A lift of this type is shown in FIG.  6 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 6A,  6 B,  6 C,  6 D,  6 E,  6 F, and  6 G, there are shown six views of the lifting mechanism  140  and an additional view of a detail of the roller assembly which allows the platform to move laterally as well as vertically. Those views include two views in the lowered position, namely, FIGS. 6A and 6D, two views in the partially raised position, namely, FIGS. 6B and 6E, and two views in the raised position, namely, FIGS. 6C and 6F. Referring to FIG. 6C, showing a side view in the raised position, the lifting mechanism includes a lower frame assembly  210 , lift arms  220 , pivotally mounted to lower frame assembly  210  by pivot pin  222  and to top frame assembly  230  by pivot pin  221 . The lift arms  220  are raised and lowered by hydraulic cylinders  240 . The hydraulic cylinders  240  are pivotally attached to the lower frame  21  by pin  242  and to lift arm  220 , by pin  241 . As the hydraulic cylinders  240  extend, lift arm  220  moves the top frame assembly  230  vertically and horizontally to position bin  130  for unloading. Idler arm  250  maintains the top frame assembly in the level position. Idler arm  250  is pivotally attached to the lift arm  220  by pin  223 . Pivot pin  223  is located at the center of lift arm  220  and idler arm  250 . The lower end of idler arm  250  has a roller  254  attached. Roller  254  rolls in and is supported by roller track  253 , which is attached to lower frame assembly  210 . The upper end of idler arm  250  has a roller  251  attached. Roller  251  rolls in and is supported by roller track  252 , which is attached to upper frame assembly  230 . 
     Referring to FIG. 7, this Figure shows the hauling unit  110 , which can be either a trailer or a truck chassis mounted with a top door  170  and a side door  170 ′ to form an open loading chute, ready to receive refuse or recyclables from the self-dumping bins  130 . A baffle means  260  is attached to each side of the load doors  170  and  170 ′, so that the doors and the baffle form a receiving chute to reduce spillage when unloading the self-dumping bins  130  into the hopper  270 . Baffle means  260  is composed of an outer part  261 , which is hinged by hinge  262  at the ends of loading door  170  and by center hinge  263  secured to the inner part  265 . The inner part is hinged by hinge  264  to the hauling unit. When the loading doors  170  and  170 ′ are opened, the baffle  260  will not fold out to 180° but is always biased to fold outward from the load opening when the loading doors  170 ,  170 ′ are closed. 
     FIG. 8 is a side view, FIGS. 8A and 8B, and a front view, FIGS. 8C and 8D, of the self-dumping bin  130  in the raised and lowered position, supported on lifting mechanism  140 . The bin  130  is equipped with a tapered lip  280 , which forms a funnel for evacuating items stored in the bin  130  into the hopper  270  of the hauling unit  110 . The self-dumping bin  130  is also equipped with at least one door or opening  290  to load refuse or recyclables. Bin  130  is supported by and pivotally attached to self-dumping bin base frame  136  by pivot pin  134 . The bin  130  is tipped into the dumping position shown in View A by bin tip hydraulic cylinder  133 . Hydraulic cylinder  133  is pinned to the bin base frame by lower cylinder pin  135  and to self-dumping bin  130  by upper cylinder pin  134 . Bin  130  is equipped with an unloading door  370 . Door  370  is pivotally attached to bin  130  by hinge  371 . Unloading door  370  has a flexible side material  380  that forms side to the unloading door  370  to reduce spillage when the self-dumping bin  130  is unloading material into the hopper  270  of hauling unit  110 . 
     FIG. 9 in view  9 B shows the hauling unit  110  positioned adjacent to the self-dumping bin  130  with the umbilical assembly  300  shown connected to the power connection  310  which is attached to the lower frame of the lifting mechanism  140 . The umbilical assembly  300  supplies power to operate the lift mechanism  140  and the tipping mechanism of the self-dumping bin  130 . Controllers  330  are mounted on the hauling unit  110  to operate the lift mechanism  140  and the self-dumping bin  130 . Retainer  320  is used to retain umbilical assembly  300  to the hauling unit  110  when the hauling unit is being moved. View  9 A is a side view of the self-dumping bin  130  mounted on lift mechanism  140  to further illustrate the preferred location of the power connection  310 . 
     FIG. 10A shows the hauling unit  110  mounted on a truck chassis  122 , with the compaction chamber  350  and the hopper  270  filled with uncompacted material, and the compaction/ejection ram  340  in the forward position. FIG. 10B shows the hauling unit  110  mounted on a trailer  121 . In this view, the loose material in the hopper  270  and the compaction chamber  350  has been compacted by compaction/ejection ram  340  against the tailgate  360 . 
     FIG. 11A shows the hauling unit  110  mounted on a truck chassis  122  while FIG. 11B shows the hauling unit  110  mounted on a trailer  121 , with the tailgate  360  open and the compaction/ejection ram  340  in the extended or unloading position. In this position, the ram  340  will have ejected all the collected and compacted material out of the rear end of the hauling unit  110 . Referring again to FIGS. 10A,  10 B,  11 A, and  11 B, these figures show the preferred method of guiding the compaction/ejection ram  340  through the hopper  270  and compaction chamber  350 . The hauling unit  110  is equipped with a left and a right side steel guide track  510 . The compaction/ejection ram  340  is equipped with left and right horizontal steel bearing rollers  500  to support the compaction/ejection ram  340  as hydraulic cylinder  520  advances the ram  340  to compact or eject material. The ram  340  is also equipped with left and right vertical steel rollers  490 . These rollers keep the ram centered as it advances through the hopper  270  and compaction chamber  250 . Tailgate  360  is opened by hydraulic cylinder  361 . Hydraulic cylinder  361  is pivotally attached to the tailgate  360  by pin  364  and to latch bar  362  by pin  363 . Tailgate  360  is pivotally attached to hauling unit  110  by pin  365 . 
     FIG. 12 shows a pair of the self-dumping bins  130  lifted on lifting mechanisms  140 , and tipped in the unloading position on the left side, and on the right side, of the hauling unit  110 . FIG. 12 demonstrates that the hauling unit  110  can be equipped with left loading door  170 ″ or right loading door  170 , or the hauling unit  110  can be divided in the center by partitions  390  and equipped with a right side loading door  170  and a left side loading door  170 ″. In this mode, the hauling unit  110  will also have a right side hopper  270 , and a left side hopper  270 ′, and a right side compaction chamber  350 , and a left side compaction chamber  350 ′. FIG. 12 also shows that when self-dumping bin  130  is in the tipped position, the bin top door  370 , which is pivotally attached to the bin by hinge  371 , opens. The top door  370 , in conjunction with the door baffle  380  and the tapered lip  280 , form a chute that mates with the top door  170  serving as the loading chute of the hauling unit  110 , which chute reduces the spillage of material when unloading the bin  130  into the hopper  270 . 
     FIG. 13 is similar to FIG. 12, except that it shows that side collection doors  170 ′ and  170 ′″ can be used in place of top collection doors  170  and  170 ″. 
     FIGS. 14A and 14B show the use of an indicating means to the hauling unit  110 &#39;s operator that the hauling unit  110  is in the correct position to unload the self-dumping bins  130  into the hauling unit  110 . In this method a photoelectric sensor  400  is mounted on the hauling unit  110 . The photoelectric sensor  400  transmits an infrared light beam  410  to a reflective surface  420  mounted on the power connection  310  stand. The infrared light beam  410  is then reflected back to the receiver unit, which is part of the photoelectric sensor  400 . When the photoelectric sensor  400  is receiving reflected light back, a green light  430  will come on. This green light  430  would preferably be mounted in the cab of the hauling vehicle  120 . The reflective surface  420  is made just long enough so the green light  430  will come on when the hauling unit  110  advances to the rear-most position to unload the bin  130 . In this position the hauling unit  110  is shown with solid lines. The end of the hauling unit  110  is also shown with broken lines. This indicates that if the hauling unit  110  advances past this point the green light  430  will go out and the hauling unit  110  is not in position for the bin to be unloaded. The photoelectric sensor  400  can also be adjusted so that the green light  430  will only come on if the hauling unit  110  is not at too great a distance laterally from the self-dumping bin  130 . A second photoelectric sensor  400 ′ could be added to indicate that the hauling unit  110  is too close to the self-dumping bin  130 . The preferred method would be to use two photoelectric sensors  400  and  400 ′. When this method is used, the hauling unit  110  must be in the correct position and also, in the correct range, laterally, before the green light  430  will come on. The sensor  400 ′ also transmits an infrared beam  410 ′. Sensor  400 ′ will be set at the correct distance, laterally, so that if the hauling unit  110  is too close to self-dumping bin  130 , it will prevent the green light  430  from coming on. 
     There are different ways of indicating that the hauling unit  110  is in the correct range to unload bin  130 . FIG. 15 shows three possibilities: 
     (1) FIG. 15B shows that two parallel lines  440  can be painted parallel to and at the correct distance laterally from the bin  130 , so that if the left edge of the hauling unit  110  is between these lines, the hauling unit  110  is at the correct distance laterally from the bins  130  to unload. Two lines perpendicular  450  to the parallel lines  440  can be used to indicate that the transporting vehicle  120  is stopped at the correct position for unloading bin  130 . 
     (2) FIG. 15A shows that another method to indicate that the hauling unit  110  is in the correct range to unload bin  130  would be to use a hinged bar  460  with a tee handle  480 , as shown in FIG.  15 C. The hinged bar  460  would pivot down from the hauling unit  110  at pivot point  471  and would have a second pivot  470  to indicate the minimum distance from the bin  130  the hauling unit  110  can be positioned. The full length of the hinged bar  460  would indicate the maximum distance the hauling unit  110  can be from the bin  130 . The tee handle  480  would be made the correct length so that when the hinged bar  460  is down, and the edge of bin  130  is within the length of the tee handle  480 , the hauling unit  110  is in the correct forward position. 
     (3) The last method, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, would be to attach to the ground surface an indicating device  530 . This indicating device  530  would have two raised surfaces, or bumps, that the transporting vehicle  120 &#39;s rear tires would roll over if the hauling unit  110  was moving parallel and at the correct lateral distance from the bin  130 . The two raised surfaces on indicating device  530  would be spaced apart so that when the rear tires go over the first bump, but do not go over the second bump, the hauling unit  110  is in the correct forward position. 
     FIGS. 16A and 16B show the maximum “a” and minimum “b” distance, laterally, that the hauling unit  110  can be from the self-dumping bin  130  when the hauling unit&#39;s transporting vehicle is a trailer  121 . In FIGS. 16A and 16B, the hauling unit  110  is equipped with a top door  170  and a side door  171 ′ for loading. With this arrangement the maximum distance “a” is approximately 60 inches, as shown in FIG.  16 A. The minimum distance “b” is shown in FIG.  16 B and is approximately 37 inches. FIGS. 16C and 16D show the minimum “b” and maximum “a” distance that the hauling unit  110  can be from the self-dumping bin  130  when the hauling unit  110  is equipped with a top load door  170  only. In FIG. 16C the maximum distance “a” is approximately 47 inches and the minimum distance “b” is approximately 30 inches. FIGS. 16E and 16F show the minimum “b” and maximum “a” distance that the hauling unit  110  can be from the self-dumping bin  130  when the hauling unit  110  is equipped with a side load door  170 ′ only. In FIG. 16E the maximum distance “a” is approximately 66 inches and the minimum distance “b” is approximately 62 inches. 
     FIG. 17 is similar to FIG. 16 except that in FIG. 17, the transporting vehicle  120  is a truck chassis  122 . The difference in the lateral distance, when the hauling unit  110  is mounted on a truck chassis  122 , is that the hauling unit  110  will not be at the same height as when mounted on a trailer. In FIGS. 17A and 17B the hauling unit  110  is equipped with a top door  170  and a side door  171 ′ for loading. With this arrangement the maximum distance “a” is approximately 70 inches and the minimum distance “b” is approximately 35 inches. FIGS. 17C and 17D show the minimum “b” and maximum “a” distance that the hauling unit  110  can be from the self-dumping bins  113  when the hauling unit  110  is equipped with a top load door  170  only. In view  17 C the maximum distance “a” is approximately 37 inches and the minimum distance “b” is approximately 30 inches. Views  17 E and  17 F show the minimum “b” and maximum “a” distance when the hauling unit  110  is equipped with a side load door  170 ′ only. The maximum distance “a” in FIG. 17E is approximately 56 inches and the minimum distance “b” is approximately 54 inches. 
     FIGS. 16 and 17 demonstrate that the greatest variance the hauling unit  110  can be from the self-dumping bin  130 , and still be in the correct position, laterally, to unload, is when the hauling unit  110  is equipped with a top  170  and side  170 ′ load door. The desirability of providing a large variance in lateral positioning of the hauling unit  110  should be apparent in that it would allow the self-dumping bin  130  to be unloaded, whether the transporting vehicle is a trailer  121  or a truck chassis  122 , as less skill would be required to position the hauling unit  110 . Such a variance would be advantageous for the operator as well as it would make dumping the bins easier. 
     The foregoing relates to preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, it being understood that other variants and embodiments thereof are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, the latter being defined by the appended claims.