Patent Publication Number: US-5425613-A

Title: Apparatus for lifting and dumping a receptacle

Description:
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     This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/876,321 filed Apr. 30, 1992, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to apparatus for lifting and dumping a receptacle during trash collection. More particularly this invention relates to apparatus for efficiently dumping a container, such as a dumpster, into a refuse gathering vehicle having a rear opening. 
     Description of the Prior Art 
     Large receptacles, generally referred to as dumpsters, have been difficult to efficiently dump into refuse collection vehicles. These dumpsters present laterally extending bar members (referred to as trunnion bars) from their upper front, and these bars are used to grasp, lift and dump the container in cooperation with a lower foot member. Prior systems have generally required operator intervention to attach the dumpster to the lifting apparatus. Chains are extended from the vehicle to hook onto the trunnion bars, and retraction of the chains pulls the dumpster into the vehicle cavity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a principal objective of the present invention to provide an effective dumping apparatus which allows automatic grasping and inversion of the dumpster without operator intervention. 
     The apparatus of the present invention uses rotating hooks mounted within the rear opening of the vehicle and extending outwardly therefrom. Rotation of the hooks engage the trunnion bars of the dumpster such that the receptacle is lifted and pulled into the opening by the hooks. Following the initial hook motion, a lower foot pivots upwardly to complete the inversion of the receptacle and empty its contents. 
     In another feature, there is provided an accessory for attachment to the rotating hooks for grasping, and dumping smaller containers. This device uses a cam-actuated mechanism that operates as the hooks rotate. The cam actuates linkage which operates to grasp the lower handles of this container during movement into the rear opening. Complete rotation of the hooks completes the inversion of the container. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a receptacle dumping apparatus accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the sequence of the dumping operation. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of an attachment device for the apparatus of FIG. 1 for dumping smaller containers. 
     FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of the cam actuation of the device of FIG. 3. 
     While the invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not the intent to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is the intent to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning first to FIG. 1, there is shown a commonly known refuse collection vehicle 10 having a rear opening thereto. Mounted for rotation on the inside wall on each side are hook members 20a and 20b. These members are eccentrically mounted with an elongated hook extending therefrom. Selective rotation of the hooks are accomplished by use of fluid motors 22a and 22b connected to the hydraulic lines of the vehicle. Additionally, a lower foot member 24 is pivotally mounted to the lip of the rear opening and driven by fluidic cylinders 26a and 26b to complete the inversion of the dumpster as described in detail below. 
     The refuse collection vehicle is first moved into contact with the dumpster, allowing the hook members 20a and 20b to extend under the trunnion bars 32 extending from the dumpster. Fluid power is then applied to the fluid motors 22a and 22b causing the hooks to rotate. This rotation initially lifts the dumpster (position 34a), then draws the dumpster into the vehicle opening (position 34b), positioning the trunnion bars against the stop 36. At this point the rotational position of the hooks is sensed and the fluid power is directed to the cylinders 26a and 26b to drive the foot 24 upward against the dumpster and to ultimately invert it (position 34c). The hydraulic circuitry to accomplish the above actuation is not specified herein as it is well within the capabilities of one skilled in the art. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown an attachment to the hook mechanism of FIG. 1 to facilitate lifting and dumping of smaller containers 40. This attachment employs a mounting bar 42 spanning the rear opening of the vehicle and (removeably) secured to the hook members 20a and 20b. An actuating bar 44 extends along the upper surface of the mounting bar and carries a pawl 46 at its extremity positioned to ride against a cam 48 secured to the side of the vehicle opening. The other end of the actuating bar 44 passes through a bearing mount 50 (FIG. 3) and is affixed to an actuating lever 52. This lever in turn controls linkage 54a and 54b in response to rotation of the actuating bar. 
     Operation of the linkage occurs when the hook members are driven by the fluid motors as previously described. As rotation begins, the pawl 46 contacts the cam 48 and is forced to rotate downwardly as shown. This rotation forces actuating lever 52 (FIG. 3) to pull upwardly on the linkage 54a, to force linkage 54b to rotate about its pivot 56 is 58 closes over the lower handle 60 of the container to restrain it against the lower support 61. At the top of the container, the upper handle 62 is cradled by a support 64. 
     When the hooks 20a and 20b are rotated, the handles of the container are grasped securely by the supports and by operation of the linkage while the apparatus is rotated to initially position the container into the dumpster. Further rotation of the hook members completes the inversion of the container to dump its contents into the vehicle cavity. 
     From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that modifications can be made to the apparatus and method for using same without departing from the teachings of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.