Improvements in and relating to Ash or Garbage Carts.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Ash or Garbage Carts.
I, JOHN HEALY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at
156 West Twenty-third Street in the City, County and State of New York,
United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to carts or other vehicles for the reception and trans-
portation of garbage, ashes and other refuse, which is usually deposited in cans
provided for that purpose, and then transferred from the same to said carts to be
removed to the dumping ground.
It has long been a great source of annoyance and discomfort to people dwelling in
large cities to have their garbage and ashes, particularly the latter, emptied from
their containing cans openly into the receiving cart, as, under the most favourable
circumstances the sidewalk and persons passing will almost inevitably receive some
of the fine dust therefrom, while on windy days the clouds of dust that arise from
this source not only litter the sidewalk but are also extremely offensive to people
passing.
It is to obviate this difficulty by emptying the contents of garbage and ash cans
into the collecting cart, without any danger of the transfer resulting as above set
forth, that my invention is directed, and this I accomplish by providing said cart.
with a receiving aperture that is normally closed, but will be temporarily opened
to receive the contents of a can, the latter serving as a cover during the transfer
of contents, and adapted to automatically close the lid of the cart when removed
therefrom.
A further object of my invention is to provide for lifting the can to the dumping
position on top of the cart through the forward movement of said cart, thus saving
the driver this labor.
These objects I accomplish in the manner and by the means hereinafter
described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in
which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cart embodying my improvements.
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the same.
Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the top of the cart, showing
the closing lid and the means for operating the same.
Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the lid and its closing hook or catch.
Figure 6 is a similar view of a portion of the can lifting yoke.
Figure 7 is a similar view of a portion of the yoke operating mechanism, and
Figure 8 is a similar view of the catches and releasing mechanism for the
emptying door of the cart.
Similar numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views.
In the said drawings the reference numeral 1 denotes the body of the cart,
the same being preferably provided with the rearwardly inclined bottom 2, and
the curved top portion 3. A door, 4, closing the rear lower end serves as a means
for emptying the cart of its contents, the said door being hinged at its top at 5 and
being provided with a retaining and releasing mechanism, hereinafter described
In the present instance the cart is illustrated as being provided with but two

page_text: wheels, 6, though, if desired, the same may be a four-wheeled vehicle. A suitable
seat, 7, is shown for the accommodation of the driver.
Mounted upon and freely rotatable on the wheel axle 8 of the cart is a yoke, 9,
preferably engaged with said axle upon each side between the body and the
wheels and extending upwardly therefrom and horizontally across the curved
top, 3, of the body, as clearly shown in Figure 3. Formed centrally upon the
top of said yoke is a chute, 10, the same being inclined rearwardly at an angle
to the body of said yoke, as clearly shown in Figure 2. The open end of this
chute is large enough to admit the upper end of an ordinary ash or garbage
can, 11, and is interiorly shouldered at 12 to limit the movement of said can
thereinto. Suitable bayonet slots, 13, are formed in the end of said chute to
engage with projections, 14, on said can.
The lower ends of the yoke, 9, are formed into extensions, 15, supporting near
their extreme ends a transverse rock-shaft, 16, running from one side of the cart
to the other and beneath the same. The rock-shaft bas fixed to each end a
pawl, 17, adapted to normally engage with the teeth of the ratchet wheels, 18,
fixed to the wheel axle, 8, of the vehicle between the wheels and the yoke, 9.
Tripping dogs, 19, also mounted on the rock-shaft, 16, serve, by contacting with
projections, 20, fixed to the sides of the cart body, to rock the shaft, 16, and thus
disengage the pawls, 17, from the ratchet wheels, 18, when the yoke, 9, is in the
position shown in Figure 2. Springs 21, serve to keep the pawls, 17, normally in
engagement with the teeth of ratchet wheels, 18. Mounted upon the lower part
of the yoke, 9, on one side is a bell-crank lever, 22, having one of its arms
connected by a chain, 23, with the end of one of the dogs, 19, and its other arm
connected through a pull rod, 24, with a hand lever, 25, pivoted to a handle, 26,
formed on the upper end of the yoke, 9, at one side thereof. If desired, this
construction may be duplicated upon the other side of the yoke. A loop, 27,
attached to this hand lever, 25, may, when desired, be swung over the handle, 26,
to draw and retain the two together.
Mounted centrally upon the curved top, 3, of the cart a little in front of a
vertical line taken through the axle, is a sliding lid, 28, curved to conform with the
configuration of the curved top, 3, and moving in suitable slides or tracks, 29, fixed
to the cart top. This lid normally covers au aperture, 30, in the top of the cart
through which the contents of the cans, 11, are to be dumped in a manner hereinafter
described. Attached centrally near the rear edge of said lid, 28, is a handle, 31,
which not only serves to open or close the lid manually, but also in connection
with other mechanism to close the same automatically. This mechanism consists
of a hook, 32, pivoted intermediate its length centrally in the front of the upper
horizontal part of the yoke, 9. As said yoke approaches the lid, 28, the front end
of this hook will pass under the cross-bar of the handle and will engage therewith,
the cam, 33, on the tail piece of said hook being sufficiently heavy to normally
press the front end of said hook upward. Fixed on the top of the cart a little to
the rear of the lid, 28, when closed, and in the path of travel of the hook, 32, is a
projection, 34, over which the cam, 33, of said hook is adapted to ride. The
engagement of these two will thus depress the front end of said book and release it
from engagement with the handle 31.
The retaining and releasing construction for the emptying door, 4, of the cart
consists of the two spring hooks, 35, for retaining the door closed, the same being
recessed at 36 to receive a transverse rod, 37, having a handle at one end
projecting from one side of the cart, as shown. This rod has formed thereon two
cams, 38, which, when the rod is pulled endwise, will engage with the spring
hooks, 35, forcing them away from the bottom of the cart and thus releasing the
door, 4.
Fixed to each side of the body of the cart, near its upper edge and forward of
the axle, are the stops, 39, the same being faced on their rear sides with rubber, 40,
if desired, and adapted to limit the forward swinging movement of the yoke, 9, on
the axle.

page_text: If desired, spring arms, 41, may be also attached to the sides of the cart in
proper position to engage with the yoke, 9, when in its forward position and retain
the same against accidental displacement.
From the above description the operation of my improved construction will be
understood to be as follows: As the cart reaches a can filled, say, with ashes, the
driver, who of necessity always walks while collecting the ashes, will move the can
to the rear of the cart, and will, by grasping the handle; 26, and lever, 25, rock the
shaft, 16, thus withholding the pawls, 17, from their engagement with the ratchet
wheels, 18, and enabling him to draw down said yoke to the position shown in
Figure 1. It will be understood that the spring arms, 41, will offer no material
resistance, but will yield readily, being made only strong enough to prevent
accidental movement of the yoke. By slightly tipping the can, 11, it may be engaged
by its projections, 14, with the bayonet slots, 13, in the chute, 10, of the yoke and
be ready for lifting. Now, by starting the horse, the rotation of the axle, 8, will
be communicated to the ratchet wheels, 18, and through the engagement therewith
of the pawls, 17, carried.by the extensions, 15, of the ends of the yoke, 9, the latter
will be rocked on said axle shaft to the position shown in full lines Figure 2. Just
as the yoke reaches this position, however, the dogs, 19, by engaging with the
projections, 20, on the sides of the cart will rock the shaft, 16, thus disengaging
the pawls, 17, from the ratchet wheels, 18, and stopping the movement imparted to.
said yoke, the stops, 39, serving also to effectually check the same and the spring
arms, 41, by their engagement with the rear edges of said yoke serving to prevent
any accidental movement to the rear. As the upper front edge of the yoke has.
approached the lid, 28, of the cart, however, the hook, 32, has passed into the
handle, 31, thereon, and as the front edge of said yoke comes in contact with the
rear edge of the lid, the latter will be forced by the subsequent movement of said
yoke to slide forward in it's slides or tracks, 29; thus uncovering the aperture, 30,
in the top of the cart. The chute, 10, however, in its forward movement passes.
over and covers said aperture as fast as the same is uncovered by the movement of
the lid, and at the same time the can, 11, carried by said chute is reaching an angle
where it will begin to discharge its contents into said chute: The complete
emptying of said can is materially aided by the jar or shock occasioned by the
yoke, 9, striking the stops, 39; as it reaches its forward limit. The driver, by now
grasping the handle, 26, and lever; 25, may again bring down the yoke and the
emptied can to the position shown in Figure 1, where the latter may be detached
and left. It will be noticed, however, that, by reason of the engagement of the
hook, 32, with the handle, 31, of the lid, 28, the latter will be drawn forward to its
initial position covering the aperture, 30, as the yoke moves downward. As the
lid 28' reaches its closed position, the cam, 33, on the tail of the hook, 32, will ride
over projection, 34, on the cart top and thus' release said hook from its engagement,
with the handle, 31, thus leaving the lid, 28, covering the aperture, 30..
It will thus be seen that at no time during the dumping' operation has the
aperture, 30, been open' for the escape of the dust, either the lid 28, or the chute 10;.
covering it at all' times.
Where the cans in use are of the same size and construction, a better plan of
operation would be, when a can' is picked up and dumpel, to carry the same to the
next can and substitute the one for the other; thus saving to the driver one
lowering of the yoke, 9, for each can dumped.
While I have herein shown' and described a specific mechanism for connecting
the cans to the chute 10, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this
construction, as any other suitable means for connecting the two together may be
employed, if desired.
Moreover, instead of mounting the ratchet wheels 18 on the axle, 8, and
causing the latter to rotate with the wheels,-6, I'may make said axle fixed, anḍ
mount the ratchet wheels, 18, on the hubs of the wheels so that they will rotate
with the latter:

page_text: aving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is :-
1. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with the receiving body thereof,
of means for engaging with the receptacle to be emptied as it stands upon the
ground, and means for automatically raising the same to the dumping position
through the forward movement of the vehicle, substantially as described.
2. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with the receiving body, and the
running gear supporting the same, of a device carried by the vehicle and adapted
to be engaged with the receptacle to be emptied as the latter stands upon the
ground, and mechanism operated by the rotating parts of the vehicle to auto-
matically lift the receptacle holding device into dumping position on top of the
vehicle as the latter moves forward, substantially as described.
3. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with the receiving body, and the
running gear supporting the same, of a device carried by the vehicle and adapted
to be engaged with the receptacle to be emptied as the latter stands upon the
ground, mechanism operated by the rotating parts of the vehicle to automatically
lift the receptacle holding device into dumping position on top of the vehicle as the
latter moves forward, and means for automatically disengaging said receptacle
holding device from the lifting mechanism as the former reaches the proper
dumping position, substantially as described.
4. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with the receiving body, and the
running gear supporting the same, of a device carried by the vehicle and adapted
to be engaged with the receptacle to be emptied as the latter stands upon the
ground, mechanism operated by the rotating parts of the vehicle to automatically
lift the receptacle holding device into dumping position on top of the vehicle as the
latter moves forward, means for automatically disengaging said receptacle. holding
device from the lifting mechanism as the former reaches the proper dumping
position, and mechanism for retaining said device in dumping position against
accidental displacement, substantially as described.
5. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with the receiving body, and the
running gear supporting the same, of a device carried by the vehicle and adapted
to be engaged with the receptacle to be emptied as the latter stands upon the
ground, mechanism operated by the rotating parts of the vehicle to automatically
lift the receptacle holding device into dumping position on top of the vehicle
as the latter moves forward, means for automatically disengaging said receptacle
holding device from the lifting mechanism as the former reaches the proper
dumping position, and means for manually retaining the lifting mechanism
disengaged to bring the receptacle lifting device, down again to the receiving
position, substantially as described.
6. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with a normally closed receiving
body, and the running gear supporting the same, of a device carried by the vehicle
and adapted to be engaged with the receptacle to be emptied as the latter stands
upon the ground, mechanism operated by the rotating parts of the vehicle to
automatically lift the receptacle from the ground into dumping position on top of
the vehicle as the latter moves forward, and means for automatically uncovering
a receiving aperture in the top of the vehicle, body as the receptacle comes into
dumping position in respect thereto, substantially as described.
7. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with a normally closed receiving
body, means for automatically lifting a receptacle to be emptied into dumping
position on top of the vehicle, and means for automatically uncovering an aperture
in the vehicle top as the receptacle arrives in dumping position and for closing
the same as said receptacle leaves the dumping position, substantially as
described.
1
8. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with a receiving boily, and, the
running gear supporting the same, of a yoke rotatably mounted upon the axle of

page_text: the vehicle at each side and extending transversely across the body of the vehicle,
a chute centrally carried by said yoke and adapted to be detachably engaged with
a receptacle to be emptied as the latter stands upon the ground, and mechanism
connecting said yoke with the rotating parts of the vehicle whereby said yoke and
receptacle may be automatically raised to dumping position on top of the vehicle
as the latter moves forward, substantially as described.
9. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with a receiving body, and the
running gear supporting the same, of a yoke rotatably mounted upon the axle of
the vehicle at each side and extending transversely across the body of the vehicle,
a rearwardly inclined chute centrally carried by said yoke and adapted to be
detachably engaged with a receptacle to be emptied as the latter stands upon the
ground, and mechanism connecting the said yoke with the rotating parts of the
vehicle whereby said yoke and receptacle may he automatically raised to
dumping position on top of the vehicle as the latter moves forward, substantially
as described.
10. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with a receiving body, and the
running gear supporting the same, of a yoke rotatably mounted upon the axle
thereof at each side and extending transversely across the body of the vehicle and
adapted to be detachably engaged with a receptacle to be emptied as the latter
stands upon the ground, mechanism connecting said yoke with the rotating parts of
the vehicle whereby said yoke and receptacle may be automatically raised to
dumping position on top of the vehicle as the latter moves forward, and means for
automatically disengaging said yoke from said lifting mechanism as the former
reaches the proper dumping position, substantially as described.
11. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with a receiving body, the
running gear supporting the same, a yoke rotatably mounted upon the axle thereof
at each side and extending transversely across the body of the vehicle, and a chute
formed centrally on said yoke and adapted to be detachably engaged with a
garbage can as the latter stands upon the ground, of ratchet wheels mounted on
the axle and rotated by the movement of the vehicle, pawls mounted on the yokes
and adapted to normally engage the teeth of said ratchet wheels, a transverse
rock-shaft connecting said pawls, dogs mounted on said shaft, and projections on
the sides of the vehicle against which said dogs contact as the yoke is rotated, thus
rocking said shaft and disengaging the pawls from the ratchet wheels, substantially
as described.
12. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with a receiving body, the
running gear supporting the same, a yoke rotatably mounted upon the axle thereof
at each side and extending transversely across the body of the vehicle, and a chute
formed centrally on said yoke and adapted to be detachably engaged with a
garbage can as the latter stands upon the ground, of ratchet wheels mounted on the
axle and rotated by the movement of the vehicle, pawls mounted on the yoke and
adapted to normally engage the teeth of said ratchet wheels, a transverse rock-
shaft connecting said pawls, dogs mounted on said shaft, projections on the sides of
the vehicle against which said dogs contact as the yoke is rotated, thus rocking said
shaft and disengaging the pawls from the ratchet wheels, stops on the sides of the
vehicle to limit the forward movement of the yoke, and spring arms to retain said
yokes in position against said stops, substantially as described.
13. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with a receiving body, the
running gear supporting the same, a yoke rotatably mounted upon the axle thereof
at each side and extending transversely across the body of the vehicle, and a chate
formed centrally on said yoke and adapted to be detachably engaged with a
garbage can as the latter stands upon the ground, of ratchet wheels mounted on the
axle and rotated by the movement of the vehicle, pawls mounted on the yoke and
adapted to normally engage the teeth of said ratchet wheels, a transverse rock-
shaft connecting said pawls, dogs mounted on said shaft, a bell-crank lever mounted
on the yoke and having one of its arms engaged with one of said dogs, a hand
lever pivoted to the outer end of the yoke, and a pull rod connecting said lever

page_text: with the other arm of the bell-crank lever whereby the rock-shaft may be rocked
manually and the pawls disengaged from the ratchet wheels substantially as
described.
14. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with the receiving body having
an aperture in the top thereof, and a sliding lid normally closing the same, of a
can lifting yoke pivoted on the vehicle axle and adapted in its forward movement
to abut against said lid and slide the same forward to uncover the aperture, and
means on the yoke for detachably engaging with said lid to draw the same to its
closed position again as the yoke returns to its lowermost position, substantially as
described.
15. In a garbage or ash vehicle, the combination with the receiving body having
an aperture in the top thereof, and a sliding lid normally closing the same, of a
can lifting yoke pivoted on the vehicle axle and adapted in its forward movement
to abut against said lid and slide the same forward to uncover the aperture, a catch
pivoted intermediate its length in the front of the yoke and adapted to engage with
the lid as the two come together, and a projection on the vehicle top for tripping
said catch to disengage the same from the lid when the latter reaches its closed
..position, substantially as described.
Dated this acht 1007
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.