GB2215299A - Loading refuse vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A refuse collection vehicle has a hopper (15) with an arcuate floor (23). A packer (18) is arranged to swing relative to the hopper about an axis (19) to sweep refuse across the floor (23) into a storage space of a body (12) of the vehicle. The packer returns along the same path and has a platform (28) which penetrates between further refuse in a hopper and the floor (23) to raise that further refuse from the floor and allow the packer to pass beneath the further refuse, which eventually slides down in front of the packer. <IMAGE>

Description

Title:"Collection vehicle, method of operating same and assembly for use in the vehicle" Description of Invention The present invention relates to a collection vehicle comprising a vehicle body defining a storage space in which there can be stored a relatively large bulk of material which is to be collected in and transported by the vehicle, a hopper for receiving relatively smaller bulks of the material, a packer for engaging material in the hopper and transferring that material from the hopper into the storage space and drive means for alternately advancing the packer from a ready position relative to the hopper towards the storage space and returning the packer to the ready position.

Such a vehicle is hereinafter described as being a vehicle of the kind specified. Vehicles of the kind specified are most commonly used for the collection of refuse.

In some situations, refuse is loaded into the hopper of a refuse collection vehicle by hand. For example, small bins are lifted and inverted by hand over the hopper. The use of larger bins is now common and refuse collection vehicles are therefore generally fitted with hoists at their rear ends for raising and tipping bins. This gives rise to several problems.

Refuse is normally discharged from the storage space of a refuse collection vehicle through a rear end of the body of the vehicle. When the vehicle is being used for collecting refuse, the rear end of the body is closed by a tailgate. Since the tailgate is required to be moved out of the way during tipping, the tailgate must be a rigid structure and is therefore necessarily heavy. Both the hopper and the hoist are normally mounted on the tailgate so that they can be moved with the tailgate out of the way when refuse is to be discharged from the storage space. The aggregate weight of these three structures is considerable and affects significantly the position of the centre of gravity of the loaded vehicle in an unfavourable manner, that is shifting the centre of gravity towards a rear axle of the vehicle.Thus, it is difficult to avoid overloading of the rear axle of a refuse collection vehicle, when the vehicle is fully loaded with refuse.

The more effective the packer of a refuse collection vehicle, the greater the mass of refuse which can be packed into the storage space and therefore the greater the risk of overloading of the rear axle.

The most common arrangement of packer is one in which the packer is guided for movement along a polygonal or orbital path. The packer can be parked in a forward position, so that refuse can accummulate in the hopper behind the packer. When the packer is operated, it moves upwardly, rearwardly and then downwardly to its ready position, in which the packer bears on or is immediately adjacent to a floor of the hopper and lies to the rear of refuse lying in the hopper. The packer is then advanced towards the storage space to transfer refuse from the hopper into the storage space.

With this arrangement, it is generally necessary to synchronize the discharge of material into the hopper with operation of the packer. It is dangerous for workers to load refuse by hand into the hopper whilst the packer is in motion.

If a hoist is used to discharge the contents of bins into the hopper, whilst the packer is in motion, then the packer may collide with and damage the bins. It is therefore necessary to carry out loading and packing sequentially and this inevitably limits the rate of loading.

In a further arrangement of packer known in refuse collection vehicles, the packer is guided for reciprocation towards and away from the storage space of the body and a shield is mounted above the position occupied by the packer, when in its ready position, the shield preventing refuse falling down behind the packer when the packer is advanced towards the storage space.

Refuse introduced into the hopper whilst the packer is out of its ready position rests on the shield and on the packer, until the packer is returned to its ready position. As the packer moves into its ready position, the refuse can fall down in front of the packer. With this arrongement, the shield and packer occupy a relatively large proportion of the hopper. Furthermore, the stroke through which the packer can be moved must not exceed the corresponding dimension of the shield, otherwise a gap would be opened up between the packer and the shield and allow refuse to fall behind the packer.

There is thus a conflict between the requirement to accommodate a relatively large volume of refuse in the hopper and the requirement to limit both the distance which the hopper projects rearwardly from the vehicle body and the weight of components which are spaced rearwardly from the vehicle body.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of packing material in a collection vehicle of the kind specified wherein the material is deposited in the hopper, the packer is advanced through the hopper from the ready position towards the storage space to engage and move towards that space the material in the hopper, further material is deposited in the hopper, the packer is returned to its ready position, during return of the packer to its ready position, at least some of the further material in the hopper is displaced out of the path of the packer and the packer moves past the displaced material and wherein the packer is then advanced again through the hopper from the ready position towards the storage space to move towards that space the further material in the hopper.

In a method in accordance with the invention, the packer can be advanced and returned independently of loading of material into the hopper.

Loading of material into the hopper can take place continually, notwithstanding that the packer moves material from the hopper to the storage space intermittently.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a collection vehicle of the kind specified wherein there is provided displacing means for displacing out of the path of the packer, during return of the packer to its ready position, material which is present in the hopper.

The displacing means of a vehicle in accordance with the second aspect of the invention may raise substantially all of the material in the hopper so that the packer can pass beneath that material. Alternatively, the displacing means may displace only some of the material present in the hopper, other material being left substantially undisturbed as the packer returns to its ready position but then being moved by the packer when the packer advances towards the storage space. The displacing means may be incorporated in the packer or be distinct therefrom.

Preferably, the packer is provided with said displacing means so that the displacing means participates in advance of the packer towards the storage space and return of the packer to its ready position.

In a case where the packer is provided with the displacing means, the displacing means is preferably movable relative to an element of the packer, for example being arranged for rocking relative to said element of the packer. In this case, there is preferably provided a guide surface along which the displacing means runs during at least a part of the return of the packer to the ready position and the guide surface is so shaped as to cause rocking of the displacing means relative to said element of the packer as the displacing means runs along the guide surface.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an assembly for incorporation in a vehicle according to the second aspect, the assembly comprising a hopper, a packer and drive means for alternately advancing the packer through the hopper from a ready position and returning the packer to the ready position, wherein there is provided displacing means for displacing out of the path of the packer, during return of the packer to its ready position, material which is present in the hopper.

Examples of vehicles embodying the second and third aspects of the invention and which are used in a method according to the first aspect, will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE I shows a diagrammatic representation of a side elevation of a refuse collection vehicle, together with a bin; FIGURE 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, a diagrammatic representation of certain components of the vehicle of Figure l; FIGURE 3 is a representation similar to Figure 2 but showing parts in a different position; and FIGURE 4 is a digrammatic representation of a side elevation of a further vehicle.

The collection vehicle illustrated in Figure I comprises a wheeled chassis 10, on one end of which there is mounted a cab 11 for a crew of the vehicle. Behind the cab there is mounted on the chassis a body 12 defining a storage space for containing a relatively large bulk of refuse or other material which is to be collected in and transported by the vehicle. In the example illustrated in Figure 1, the body 12 is permanently closed at its forward end adjacent to the cab and is closed at its rearward end by a tailgate 13 which is connected with the body for pivoting about a horizontal axis 14 at the top of the body so that the tailgate can be raised to open the rear end of the body and permit discharge of refuse from the body. Hydraulic rams (not shown) are arranged in a known manner for raising the tailgate.

Refuse may be discharged from the body either by tipping the body about a horizontal axis which is near to the rear end of the body or by means of a pusher which is normally parked at the forward end of the body.

There is provided on the tailgate 13 at the side thereof remote from the body 12 a hopper 15 for receiving refuse from a bin 16. A hoist 17 is provided for raising and tipping the bin 16 to discharge the contents thereof into the hopper. The hoist may be constructed and arranged in a known manner and will therefore not be described or illustrated in detail.

The vehicle further comprises a packer 18, illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, for engaging refuse lying in the hopper 15 and moving that refuse towards or into the storage space of the body 12. There is in or below the tailgate 13 an opening 29 through which refuse can be moved from the hopper into the storage space. The packer 18 is movable from a ready position, in which it is withdrawn from this opening, to a position in which the packer lies in or close to the opening and at least partly closes the opening. The packer is arranged to return to its ready position along the same path as that along which it is moved from the ready position to the opening.When the packer lies in or adjacent to the opening 29 between the hopper and the storage space, there is behind the packer a space into which refuse can fall, for example if refuse is loaded by hand into the hopper or if a bin is raised and tipped by the hoist 17 to discharge contents of the bin into the hopper. At least some of this refuse will lie in the return path of the packer and there is accordingly provided means for displacing refuse from the path of the packer so that the packer can move past the refuse, when returning from the opening to its ready position.

In the example of vehicle illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the packer 18 is arranged for swinging relative to the hopper 15 through an arc about an axis 19 which is parallel to the axis 14, lies above the level of the packer 18, lies below the level of the axis 14 and preferably lies rearwardly of the axis 14. The axis 19 is above the floor of the hopper and below the top of the body 10, but above the opening 29. The axis is also above the hopper, that is between vertical planes at the front and rear margins of the hopper.

A pair of arms 20 are disposed one adjacent to each side of the hopper 15. The arms may be rigid with the packer 18, the packer lying generally between lower end portions of the arms. The arms are supported adjacent to their upper ends by respective bearings defining the axis 19. These bearings are carried by a frame 21 which is rigid with the hopper 15.

Drive means is provided for swinging the packer 18 about the axis 19 relative to the hopper 15. The representative example of drive means illustrated in Figure 2 comprises a pair of hydraulic rams 22 disposed adjacent to respective sides of the hopper 15. Each ram is pivotally connected with a corresponding one of the arms 20 and is also pivotally connected with the frame 21 near to the rearmost extremity of the hopper.

Thus, the rams extend generally downwardly and forwardly from the rearmost extremity of the hopper. When the rams 20 are contracted, they draw the packer 18 to the ready position illustrated in Figure 2. When the rams are extended, they advance the packer to the position illustrated in Figure 3, in which the packer occupies or is close to the opening 29 between the hopper and the storage space of the body 12.

It will be understood that alternative forms of drive means may be provided for advancing and returning the packer 18. For example, rams which extend generally forwardly from the packer may be provided.

Alternatively, a rotary actuator or a rack and pinnion mechanism may be mounted adjacent to the axis 19.

The hopper 15 has a floor 23 of arcuate form, as viewed in cross-section in a plane containing a longitudinal centreline of the vehicle. A forward part of the floor 23 coincides with an arc of a circle centered on the axis 19. A rearward part of the floor has a radius of curvature which decreases gradually in a direction away from the vehicle body 12. The packer 18 comprises a first element 24 of plate-like form which lies between the lower end portions of the arms 22. The element 24 has a lower edge which bears on or is in close proximity to the hopper floor 23. This edge sweeps the forward part of the floor 23 when the packer is moved between the positions of Figures 2 and 3. The lower edge of the element 24 may be presented by a resiliently flexible or resiliently mounted component and may be adapted to scrape the floor 23.

The packer 18 further comprises a second element 25 which is movable relative to the first element 24 and relative to the arms 20. The element 25 is, however, coupled with the element 24 to participate in swinging of that element between the positions of Figures 2 and 3. In the example illustrated, the element 25 is connected with the element 24 for pivoting relative thereto about a hinge axis 26 which is parallel to the axis 19.

As shown in the drawings, the hinge axis 26 is spaced from the hopper floor 23 in a direction towards the axis 19. The hinge axis preferably lies nearer to the hopper floor than to the axis 19. The hinge axis may lie adjacent to an upper edge of the first packer element 24. The second element 25 preferably extends from the hinge axis 26 in a direction away from the hopper floor 23.

That portion 27 of the second packer element 25 which extends from the hinge axis 26 in a direction away from the floor 23 is preferably of platelike form and may be flat. The second packer element 25 further comprises a platform 28 which extends to the floor 23 from that edge of the portion 27 which is remote from the hinge axis 26. The platform 28 also may be flat.

The platform 28 bears on the floor 23 at a position spaced from the first packer element 24 in a direction away from the body 12. The platform preferdbly extends from the first packer element 24 a distance such that the platform is inclined at an acute angle to the tangent to the floor 23 where the platform meets the floor, when the packer is in the position of Figure 3 and when the packer is moved a part of the way from that position towards the ready position shown in Figure 2. The angle between the upwardly facing surface of the platform 28 and the exposed surface of the floor 23 considerably exceeds 900, so that the platform acts as a wedge and can be drawn beneath refuse lying on the floor 23 and thereby raise the refuse from the floor as the packer is returned from the position of Figure 3 towards the ready position of Figure 2.

As the packer 18 approaches the ready position, the platform 28 comes into engagement with the rearward portion of the floor 23. The platform is guided by the floor along a path such that the edge of the platform 28 which bears against the floor approaches somewhat closer to the axis 19. The platform is therefore tipped through an angle which exceeds the angle through which the first packer element 24 turns about the axis 19. As shown in Figure 2, the platform is tipped past a horizontal attitude into an attitude in which it is inclined forwardly and downwardly at an angle of approximately a 45 to the horizontal. The portion 27 then extends somewhat forwardly from the first packer element 24.

As the packer 18 moves into the ready position of Figure 2, refuse present in the hopper will slide down the platform 28 onto the floor 23 in front of the packer elements 24 and 25. If the packer is then advanced towards the body 12, it will sweep the refuse over the floor 23 and through the opening 29 into the storage space of the body.

It will be noted that, when the packer 18 is in the position of Figure 3, it occupies a small proportion only of the hopper 15. There is in the hopper a large space to accommodate refuse. When the packer is returned to the ready position of Figure 2, it moves beneath the refuse in the hopper. At no position does the packer occupy a major proportion of the space in the hopper.

The second packer element 25 may be biased downwardly onto the floor 23 by its own weight, by the weight of the refuse in the hopper and, possibly, by resilient elements acting between the packer elements 24 and 25.

The swinging motion of the packer 18 is simple and can be executed fairly rapidly without causing excessive wear. Furthermore, it is unnecessary to c-ordinate swinging of the packer with operation of the hoist 17. The packer and the hoist can be operated concurrently and with different cycle times, if convenient.

Whilst the entire packer illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 travels beneath the refuse in the hopper, when returning from the position of Figure 3 to the ready position of Figure 2, it would be within the scope of the invention to so arrange the packer that only a part of the packer moves beneath the refuse.

The packer may, for example, have one or more additional elements which move relative to the arms 20 during return of the packer to avoid some of the refuse in the hopper.

It will be noted that the first packer element 24 is maintained in an attitude in which it is at least approximately perpendicular to a tangent to the floor 23 at the position where the first packer element bears on the floor.

Accordingly, the first packer element does not act as a wedge which can be driven between refuse in the hopper and the floor 23. Furthermore, when the packer moves from the ready position of Figure 2, the portion 27 c the second packer element 25 also faces substantially in the direction its movement through the hopper, so that it tends to promote movement of refuse in the hopper with the arms 20, rather than promoting sliding of the refuse over the surface of the portion 27.

Whilst pivoting of the arms 20 about a single axis 19 and pivoting cf the second packer element 25 about a hinge axis 25 have been described, it will be understood that the vehicle may incorporate more complex linkages which produce swinging along non-circular arcs or motion of the packer along another non-circular path.

The packer of the vehicle illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is mounted adjacent to a rear end of the vehicle body and operates to displace refuse forwards from the hopper into the vehicle body. As illustrated in Figure 4, the packer 18 and the hopper 15 may alternatively be disposed adjacent to a front end of the vehicle body, the packer operating to move refuse rearwardly from the hopper into the storage space of the vehicle body. The hopper 15, packer 18 and arms 20 hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 may be disposed as represented in Figure 4. It will be understood that a different hoist would be required to raise bins above the hopper of Figure 4 and discharge the contents of the bins into that hopper.The hoist may be arranged in a known manner to pick up bins from a position in front of the vehicle and raise the bins over the cab of the vehicle to a position above the hopper. Alternatively, the hoist may be arranged to pick up bins from beside the vehicle.

The vehicle of Figure 4 may incorporate a ram 30 connected between the vehicle body 31 and the frame 21 associated with the hopper and the packer, so that extension of the ram 30 causes the hopper 15 and the packer 18 to travel along the interior of the vehicle body to the rear end thereof, to discharge refuse from the vehicle body when the tailgate has been raised.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims (1)

1. CLAI MS:

   I. A method of packing material in a collection vehicle of the kind specified wherein material is deposited in the hopper, the packer is advanced through the hopper from the ready position towards the storage space to engage and move towards that space the material in the hopper, further material is deposited in the hopper, the packer is returned to its ready position, during return of the packer to its ready position, at least some of the further material in the hopper is displaced out of the path of the packer and the packer moves past the displaced material and wherein the packer is then advanced again through the hopper from the ready position towards the storage space to engage and move towards that space the further material in the hopper.

   2. A method according to Claim I wherein at least a part of the packer travels beneath said further material in the hopper, during return of the packer to the ready position, at least some of the further material being raised relative to the hopper during said return.

   3. A method according to Claim I or Claim 2 wherein the further material in the hopper is displaced by the action of the packer on that material.

   4. A method according to Claim 3 wherein a first element of the packer advances and returns along the same path through the hopper and a second element of the packer rocks upwardly relative to the first element during return of the first element to raise said further material in the hopper.

   5. A method according to any preceding Claim wherein material is deposited in the hopper by operation of a hoist on the vehicle to raise and tip bins and wherein operation of the packer and operation of the hoist proceed independently of each other.

   6. A collection vehicle of the kind specified wherein there is provided displacing means for displacing out of the path of the packer, Luring return of the packer to its ready position, material which is present in the hopper.

   7. For incorporation in a vehicle according to Claim 6, an assembly comprising a hopper, a packer and drive means for alternately advancing the packer from a ready position relative to the hopper towards the storage space and returning the packer to the ready position, wherein there is provided displacing means for displacing out of the path of the packer during return of the packer to its ready position material which is present in the hopper.

   8. A vehicle according to Claim 6 or an assembly according to Claim 7 wherein the packer is provided with said displacing means which participates in advance of the packer towards the storage space and return of the packer to the ready position.

   9. A vehicle according to Claim 6 or Claim 8 or an assembly according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the displacing means is movable relative to an element of the packer.

   10. A vehicle or an assembly according to Claim 9 wherein the displacing means is arranged for rocking relative to said element of the packer.

   II. A vehicle or an assembly according to any one of Claims 8 to 10 wherein there is a guide surface along which the displacing means runs during at least a part of the return of the packer and displacing means and wherein said guide surface is so shaped as to cause rocking of the displacing means relative to said element of the packer as the displacing means runs along the guide surface.

   12. A vehicle according to any one of Claims 6 and 8 to 11 or an assembly according to any one of Claims 7 to II wherein the packer is mounted for swinging through an arc relative to the hopper.

   13. A vehicle or an assembly according to Claim 12 wherein the hopper has an arcuate floor and the packer is arranged to sweep that floor.

   14. A vehicle or an assembly according to Claim 13 wherein the radius of curvature of the floor decreases in a direction which is away from the storage space.

   15. In or for a vehicle of the kind specified a combination of a hopper and packer substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

   17. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawing.