AU2010354771B2

AU2010354771B2 - Lift mechanism for comb lift refuse bin

Info

Publication number: AU2010354771B2
Application number: AU2010354771A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Kenneth D. Goedken; Jared L. Rowland
Original assignee: Kann Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Kann Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 2010-06-07
Filing date: 2010-06-07
Publication date: 2014-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 2030-06-07
Also published as: WO2011155921A1; AU2010354771A1; AU2010354771C1; EP2576398A4; EP2576398A1; NZ603587A

Abstract

A lifting apparatus for a refuse receptacle includes a plate with tines for engaging the pockets of the receptacle and also includes movable arms which may be moved from a raised position to a position with plates on the arms touching the top edges of the sidewalls of the receptacle. The movable arms retain the receptacle against bumpers on the plate and prevent rotation of the receptacle about the tines as the lifting apparatus holding the receptacle is pulled along a pair of vertical tracks by lift rods attached to pins on either side of the plate. The lift rods are connected to lift arms which pivot to pull the lift rods. Curved upper sections of the tracks cause the plate and attached receptacle to tip so that the contents of the receptacle are emptied into a hopper on a refuse collection vehicle equipped with the lifting apparatus.

Description

WO 2011/155921 PCT/US2010/037625 IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE PATENT APPLICATION FOR LIFT MECHANISM FOR COMB LIFT REFUSE BIN 1 WO 2011/155921 PCT/US2010/037625 LIFT MECHANISM FOR COMB LIFT REFUSE BIN BACKGROUND [0001] Collection of refuse commodities including recyclable wastes requires efficient collection from individually owned bins and containers located at individual residences and businesses. Efforts to automate the emptying of individual bins and containers into refuse collection trucks have given rise to various tipping and lifting mechanisms, as well as arms which reach from the truck chassis to the curbside to grasp a container and empty it into the refuse collection body on the truck or into intermediate containers which are carried on the truck to be emptied into the refuse collection body at intervals along the route of the collection truck. [0002] In locations where little maneuverability of the collection truck is possible, as in alleys and narrow street situations, or on private property, difficulties arise in the emptying of individually owned bins and containers into the refuse collection truck. [0003] Furthermore, in some locales, one or another style bin or container is more often encountered. In certain jurisdictions, individual commodity bins feature the comb lift structure, sometimes also referred to as din profile comb structure which includes a downward extending lip near the top of the bin on its front side, the lip being divided into pockets by ribs. In order to lift such a bin by its lip, a comb having upstanding tines or fingers is employed, with the tines receivable in the pockets of the bin. Bins with this lift structure may hold volumes of 120 liters to 1500 liters but commonly are of the 1100 liter size. 2 WO 2011/155921 PCT/US2010/037625 [0004] Mechanisms to tip such comb-style bins suffer from a tendency of the bin to slide off the tines and to fall into the collection body when the bin is rotated about the rim of its front side and therefore the tipping or inversion of such bins in the emptying activities require chains or bars on the collection truck to prevent the bin from falling into the collection hopper or from over rotating past the point that allows commodity in the bin to fall by gravity from it. The presence of chains or bars on the collection truck presents obstacles to efficient operation of the collection truck and the need for such structures to prevent the bin from falling into the truck collection hopper has limited use of comb style bins to tipping mechanisms for emptying into rear load refuse bodies. [0005] A mechanism which permits a comb-lift bin to be emptied into a front loading or side-loading collection truck is needed for refuse collection activities required in limited space locations. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] A lifting mechanism for a comb lift refuse bin is disclosed. The lifting mechanism includes upstanding tines mounted to a front face of a plate of the bin engaging assembly of the invention. The tines are received in complementary pockets of a comb lift bin. The bin engaging assembly includes a pair of moveable stabilizer arms pivotably mounted to the plate near its top. The stabilizer arms can be pivoted to a lowered position wherein engagement plates on the stabilizer arms touch the upper edges of opposing sidewalls of the bin to be lifted. After a bin is suspended from the 3 WO 2011/155921 PCT/US2010/037625 tines of the bin engaging assembly, the stabilizer arms can be rotated into position with the engagement plates clamping the bin against bumper members mounted near the lower edge of the plate of the bin engaging assembly. [0007] A bar member joins the stabilizer arms near their pivot ends and moves with the stabilizer arms into a position overlying the top edge of the wall of the bin abutting the plate of the bin engaging assembly. [0008] The bin engaging assembly includes upper and lower pairs of rollers at opposing sides of the plate which ride upon rails of spaced apart opposing tracks situated on opposing sides of the bin engagement assembly. The upper pair of rollers roll between the rails of the tracks while the lower pair of rollers ride along the outer rail of the tracks. [0009] Lift rods are pivotably retained to pins protruding from opposing sides of the plate. Lift arms, which are hinged adjacent the top of a compression chamber into which commodity is to be dumped, draw on the lift rods which pull the bin engagement assembly along the tracks which curve at the top of the compression chamber of the collection body such that a bin carried on the bin engagement assembly will rotate to a generally inverted position as the bin engagement assembly follows the tracks. The engagement plates and the bar member of the stabilizer arms prevent the bin from rotating past its inverted position while urging the front wall of the bin to remain abutted against the bumper elements on the outer face of the plate. [0010] It is a primary object of the invention to provide a lift mechanism for a comb lift commodity bin which will easily attach the bin to the lift mechanism and 4 WO 2011/155921 PCT/US2010/037625 which will prevent over rotation of the bin as it is raised and rotated into an inverted position. [0011] This and other objects of the invention will be understood from examination of the detailed description which follows. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES [0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refuse collection vehicle equipped with two units of the invention and with a refuse container ready to be lifted for emptying into the refuse collection vehicle. [0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the refuse collection vehicle of FIG. 1 with one of the loading mechanisms having elevated the refuse container into the dumping position. [0014] FIG. 3 is an isolated perspective view of the lift mechanisms of the refuse collection vehicle of FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the refuse collection vehicle of FIG. 1 from the opposite side. [0016] FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the container engagement assembly for a comb lift style bin. [0017] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective of the container engagement assembly of FIG. 5. 5 WO 2011/155921 PCT/US2010/037625 [0018] FIG. 7 is a rear perspective of the container engagement assembly of FIG. 5 engaging a comb lift bin, with the stabilizer arms of the invention in the lowered position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0019] An exemplary dual side loading system incorporating the present invention as seen in FIGS. 1-4. The lifting system invention may be adapted to multiple storage compartment collection vehicles and is characterized by lifting mechanisms for dumping containers containing commodities, e.g., refuse or recyclable materials, into compaction chambers of refuse collection bodies typically mounted on trucks. [0020] FIGS. 1-4 depict a dual lift side-loading refuse collection vehicle 100, including dual compaction chambers 102, 104 attached to a dual compartment storage body 106. As described below, a mobile refuse container such as bin 108 may be carried on wheels 118 and selectively attached to a lifting mechanism 400, 401 and dumped into corresponding compaction chambers 102, 104. Compaction blades within compaction chambers 102, 104 compact the commodity and drive it into corresponding upper and lower storage compartments of the storage body 106. [0021] Refuse collection vehicle 100 includes a conventional cab 2 and wheels 4 connected to and supported on a chassis or frame 6 which carries storage body 106 and compaction chambers 102, 104. A tailgate 8 is pivotally attached to the top of storage body 106 by vertically displaceable hinges 10 at the rear of refuse collection vehicle 100. Tailgate lift cylinders 12 are pivotally attached to tailgate 8 and to storage body 106. To 6 WO 2011/155921 PCT/US2010/037625 unload refuse collection vehicle 100, tailgate lift cylinders 12 are extended to vertically displace and pivot or swing tailgate 8 to an open position, and the commodity may be expelled out of storage body 106. [0022] As shown in FIGS. 1-4, two bins 108 may be selectively attached to lift mechanisms 400, 401 and raised one at a time or simultaneously from the lowered resting position, FIG. 2, to the dump position, FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. The illustrated embodiment depicts two substantially identical first and second lift mechanisms 400, 401, respectively, that lift and dump comb lift bins such as bin 108 into corresponding compaction chambers 102, 104. For simplicity, only first lift mechanism 400 is discussed with the understanding that second lift mechanism 401 contains substantially identical features. [0023] Lift mechanism 400 includes container engagement assembly 410 that rides on rollers 412, 413 which follow spaced apart tracks 402 attached to side wall 202 of compaction chamber 102 of refuse collection vehicle 100. Container engagement assembly 410 is pivotally attached on each side to one of a pair of lift rods 404. Lift rods 404 are pivotally attached at their ends to corresponding lift arms 406 which are joined by compaction chamber cover 408 and pivotally attached at pivots 424 located near the top of compaction chamber 102 and spaced apart from upper end 420 of track 402. A cylinder 409 anchored to refuse collection vehicle 100 engages each lift arm 406 to automatically raise and lower container engagement assembly 410 between the lowered and raised positions which raises cover 408 from its rest position overlying the top opening of compaction chamber 102. In the illustrated embodiment, cylinder 409 is 7 WO 2011/155921 PCT/US2010/037625 extended when lift mechanism 400 is in the lowered position. In the lowered position, compaction chamber cover 408 and attached lift arms 406 are substantially horizontal, with compaction chamber cover 408 overlying the top of compaction chamber 102 to prevent commodity from escaping. As cylinder 409 retracts, lift arms 406 pivot upward and pull lift rods 404 which draw container engagement assembly 410 to the raised position. The raising of lift mechanism 400 will be discussed more thoroughly below in the context of dumping bin 108. [0024] Bin 108 is positioned alongside container engagement assembly 410 by an operator while the container engagement assembly is in the lowered position, for selective attachment of bin 108 to engagement member 414 which is fixed to container engagement assembly 410 of lift mechanism 400. Engagement member 414 includes a plurality of vertically extending tines 414 adapted to engage pockets on bin 108 and to carry bin 108 upward. Tines 414 are adapted to engage containers of different widths. Small containers will have fewer pockets along their width than larger containers. So long as there is a corresponding tine 414 for each pocket, bin 108 is supported across its width when it is lifted. [0025] Container engagement assembly 410 includes a pair of first rollers 412 which ride within opposing tracks 402 and are trapped therein. A pair of second rollers 413 is disposed below first pair of rollers 412 when container engagement assembly 410 is in the lowered position. Second pair of rollers 413 roll along outer rail 425 of tracks 402. As container engagement assembly 410 is elevated and passes over curved 8 WO 2011/155921 PCT/US2010/037625 segments 426 of tracks 402, second rollers may lift away from outer rails 425 as bin 108 is inverted over first compaction chamber 102. [0026] Each track 402 is angled away from compaction chamber 102 and curved at its upper end 420 to guide bin 108 in an arcuate path. With container engagement assembly 410 in the lowered position, bin 108 is alongside side wall 202 and second rollers 413 of container engagement assembly 410 rest against outside rails 425. [0027] As bin 108 rotates from its upright position to its substantially tipped dump position, that is, rotated at least ninety degrees from upright, container engagement assembly 410 rocks about the axis defined by first pair of rollers 412 while second pair of rollers 413 separate from outer rails 425. [0028] Bin 108 is supported by container engagement assembly 410 on its top by stabilizer arms 416 and on its front wall by a row of resilient bumper elements 418. Stabilizer arms 416 engage upper edges 110, 112 of sidewalls 114, 116 of bin 108 to prevent bin 108 from over rotating or falling into compaction chamber 102 when bin 108 is inverted over first compaction chamber 102. Resilient bumper elements 418 abut the front wall 125 (See FIG. 7) of bin 108 to prevent bin 108 from rocking on tines 414 when bin 108 is raised and lowered and as it is rotated out of its upright position as depicted in FIG. 1. [0029] FIGS. 5, 6, 7 disclose the components of container engagement assembly 410 for securely mounting to and elevating a refuse bin 108 which is equipped with a series of receiving pockets fixed to an upright wall of the bin (commonly called a "comb lift" bin). Specifically referring to FIG. 5, two sets of attachment members, namely 9 WO 2011/155921 PCT/US2010/037625 combs 440, are fixed side by side to the front face 442 of plate 446 of container engagement assembly 410. Plate 446 provides support structure for combs 440 and for bumper elements 418, as well as for stabilizer arms 416 and the driver device therefor. [0030] Each comb 440 includes a series of upstanding fingers or tines 444 which are spaced a small distance from front face 442. Each tine 444 may be received in one of the receiving pockets of a comb style bin such that adjacent tines 444 may enter adjacent pockets to provide a stable engagement between comb-lift bin 108 and a comb 440. [0031] Referring additionally to FIG. 6, container engagement assembly further includes a pair of stabilizer arms 416 which are fixed to axle 448 such that stabilizer arms 416 may be selectively moved from the disengaged position seen in FIGS. 5-6 to an engaged position as seen in FIG. 7 with engagement plates 450 depending from arms 416 touchingly engaged with the upper edges 110, 112 of the sidewalls 114, 116 of bin 108. Preferably each engagement plate 450 is cantilevered laterally to extend from each stabilizer arm 416 toward the other stabilizer arm 416. [0032] Stabilizer arms 416 move together on axle 448 from the disengaged position in which arms 416 are generally coplanar with plate 446 to the engaged position wherein arms 416 are approximately perpendicular to plate 446. The touching engagement of engagement plates 450 to the upper edges 110, 112 of bin 108 is crucial to operation while the disengagement position of arms 416 need only be sufficiently raised to allow bin 108 to be lifted off tines 444. [0033] An abutment bar 470 interconnects stabilizer arms 416 proximate to pivot ends 417 thereof. Abutment bar 470 comes into touching contact with the top 120 of 10 WO 2011/155921 PCT/US2010/037625 front wall 122 of bin 108 when stabilizer arms 416 are lowered into the bin engaging position. [0034] Bumper elements 418 are secured to plate 446 such that the front side 125 of bin 108 will come into contact with bumper elements 418 as bin 108 is raised off its wheels 118. [0035] Extending above and along plate 446 of container engagement assembly 410 is a deflector 468 which is supported on plate 446 and serves to direct commodity falling from bin 108 when bin 108 is substantially inverted over a receiving hopper such as compaction chamber 102 seen in FIG. 2. Deflector 468 is elongate, extending the length of plate 446, and is generally a planar element. [0036] Attachment pins 452 extend from opposing end plates 462, 464 of plate 446 for pivotable attachment of lift rods 404. Referring specifically to FIG. 6, it can be understood that cylinder 466 will effect rotation of axle 448 as cylinder rod 467 is retracted, thereby causing stabilizer arms 416 to rotate sufficiently (about 90') for engagement plates 450 to come into contact with upper edges 110, 112 of bin 108. With engagement plates 450 touchingly engaged with upper edges 100, 112 of bin 108, bin 108 may be lifted and rotated by container engagement assembly 410 as it is lifted by lift rods 404 along track 402 into the substantially tipped position illustrated in FIGS 3 and 4. Because bin 108 is clamped between engagement plates 450 and bumper elements 418, bin 108 is prevented from over rotating about tines 444 of combs 440. [0037] In the case where narrow bins are utilized, two narrow bins may be connected in side-by-side arrangement to combs 440 and raised simultaneously with 11 one engagement plate 450 touching one upper edge of the outermost sidewall of each bin and with the abutment bar 470 resisting dislodgement of the bins from combs 440 by retaining the bins on tines 444. [0038] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by appended claims and their equivalents. [0039] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. [0040] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia. 12

Claims

1. A lift mechanism for lifting a refuse bin into a substantially tipped position, the refuse bin including upright opposing sidewalls, each sidewall having a top with an upfacing edge thereon, the refuse bin further having a series of tine-receiving pockets on a first wall thereof, the invention comprising an engagement assembly comprising a plate having a first face, a substantially laterally oriented series of spaced apart tines upstanding from the first face, each of the tines selectively receivable in a one of the series of pockets of the refuse bin, a pair of spaced apart movable arms pivotable from a disengaged position to a bin engagement position, each of the movable arms including an engagement member extending therefrom, each engagement member touchingly engageable with the upfacing edge of the top of one of the sidewalls of the bin when the movable arms are in the bin engagement position, each engagement member preventing rotation of the bin about the tines when the movable arms are pivoted into the bin engagement position.

2. The lift mechanism of claim 1 wherein the plate of the engagement assembly includes a pair of first rollers extending from opposing sides of the plate, the first rollers receivable between first and second rails of spaced apart tracks, the plate further including a pair of second rollers extending from the opposing sides of the plate, the second rollers bearable upon an outer rail of each track.

3. The lift mechanism of claim 1 wherein: a bar joins the pair of spaced apart arms, the bar fixed to the spaced apart arms adjacent a pivot end thereof, 13 the bar touchingly engaging a top of the first wall of the bin when the movable arms are in the bin engagement position.

4. The lift mechanism of claim 1 wherein a deflector is attached to the plate at a top end thereof, the deflector comprising an elongate planar member extending the length of the plate.

5. The lift mechanism of claim 1 wherein the plate includes a pin extending from each opposing end thereof, a lift rod having a first end and a second end is hinged to each pin at the first end thereof, each lift rod is joined to a lift arm at the second end of the lift rod, whereby the lift arms may draw the lift rods upward.

6. The lift mechanism of claim 1 wherein a pair of spaced apart tracks is provided, the plate extending between the spaced apart tracks, each track including an inner rail and an outer rail, the rails having a space therebetween, the plate of the engagement assembly including a pair of first rollers extending from opposing sides of the plate, the first rollers receivable between the inner rail and the outer rail of each track.

7. The lift mechanism of claim 6 wherein the plate further includes a pair of second rollers extending from the opposing sides of the plate, the second rollers bearable upon the outer rail of each track.

8. A collection body for commodities comprising a storage compartment having a front end and an opposing open rear end, the open rear end selectively covered by a tailgate, at least a first compaction compartment comprising a front end and an opposing rear end, the rear end adjacent the front end of the storage compartment, 14 at least a first lift mechanism disposed adjacent the at least a first compaction compartment, the at least a first lift mechanism mounted to the collection body along a side thereof, the at least a first lift mechanism further including a container engagement assembly adapted for selective attachment to a refuse container, the container engagement assembly comprising at least one stabilizer arm selectively overlying an upfacing edge at a top of a sidewall of the refuse container, the stabilizer arm touching the upfacing edge at the top of the sidewall when the stabilizer arm overlies the upfacing edge at the top of the sidewall, the container engagement assembly fixed to opposing side rods at first ends thereof, the container engagement assembly movable along a pair of spaced apart tracks, each track having a lower substantially vertical portion and an upper curved portion, each of the opposing side rods joined at a second end thereof to a lift arm, a driver member joined to each lift arm and causing the lift arm to pivot about a pivot axis, each lift arm drawing a one of the lift rods to draw the container engagement assembly upward along the tracks.

9. A side loading refuse collection vehicle having a chassis with a collection body combined thereon, the invention comprising; a first lift mechanism, including: a track combined to an outer sidewall of the collection body, the track having a bottom and a top end; a container engagement assembly having rollers engaged in the track for movement along the track, a plurality of tines adapted to engage the container, a pair of stabilizer arms adapted to selectively touch an upper rim at a top of the container, and a bumper to engage a wall of the container and prevent the container from rocking about the tines; a lift rod having a first end combined to the container engagement assembly and a second end; and 15 an actuator combined to the second end of the lift rod to move the lift rod between a first position with the container engagement assembly at the bottom end of the track and a second position with the container engagement assembly at the top end of the track.

10. The collection vehicle of Claim 9 wherein the invention further comprises a second lift mechanism substantially identical and adjacent to the first lift mechanism, the first and second lift mechanisms independently operable.

11. A lift mechanism for lifting a refuse bin into a substantially tipped position in order to empty the refuse bin into a collection body, the refuse bin including upright sidewalls each having an upfacing edge at a top thereof, the upfacing edges of the sidewalls defining a rim of the refuse bin, the rim surrounding a top opening in the refuse bin, the refuse bin further including a front wall, the front wall having a series of spaced apart tine receiving pockets, with each tine receiving pocket having a tine receiving opening at a bottom thereof, the invention comprising an engagement assembly comprising a plurality of spaced apart upstanding tines thereon, each tine of the plurality of tines spaced apart horizontally from others of the tines, each tine having a lower part retained to the engagement assembly, each tine having a free upper end, the free upper end of each tine adapted to be received in a one of the tine receiving pockets of the refuse bin, the engagement assembly further comprising at least one pivotable arm selectively movable from a disengaged position to a bin engagement position, the movable arm including an engagement member extending substantially laterally therefrom, 16 the engagement member closely overlying the upfacing edge of a one of an opposing pair of the sidewalls of the refuse bin when the movable arm is pivoted to the bin engagement position, wherein the engagement member touchingly engages the upfacing edge of the one of the sidewalls of the refuse bin when the refuse bin is tipped by the lift mechanism into the substantially tipped position, the engagement member spaced substantially away from the refuse bin when the at least one movable arm is pivoted to the disengaged position.

12. A lift mechanism for lifting a refuse bin into a substantially tipped position, the refuse bin including upright opposing sidewalls each having an upper edge at a top thereof, the refuse bin further including a front wall, the front wall having a series of spaced apart tine receiving pockets, with each tine receiving pocket having a bottom opening, the invention comprising an engagement assembly comprising a plurality of spaced apart upstanding tines thereon, each tine of the plurality of tines spaced apart horizontally from others of the tines, each tine having a lower part retained to the engagement assembly, each tine having a free upper end, the free upper end of each tine adapted to be received in the opening of one of the tine receiving pockets of the refuse bin, the engagement assembly further comprising a pair of spaced apart movable arms selectively movable from a disengaged position to a bin engagement position, each of the movable arms closely overlying the upper edge of the top of a one of the opposing sidewalls of the refuse bin when the movable arm is pivoted to the bin engagement position, wherein each of the movable arms touchingly engages the upper edge of the top of one of the opposing sidewalls of the refuse bin when the refuse bin is tipped by the lift mechanism into the substantially tipped position, 17 each of the movable arms spaced substantially away from the upper edges of the tops of the sidewalls of the refuse bin when the movable arms are pivoted to the disengaged position.

13. The lift mechanism of claim 12 wherein a bar joins the pair of spaced apart arms, the bar fixed to the spaced apart arms adjacent a pivot end thereof, the bar touchingly engaging an upper edge at a top of the first wall of the bin when the movable arms are in the bin engagement position.

14. A lift mechanism for lifting a refuse bin into a substantially tipped position, the refuse bin including upright opposing sidewalls each having an upfacing edge at a top thereof, the refuse bin further including an upright front wall and an upright rear wall, each of the front wall and the rear wall having an upfacing edge at a top thereof, the upfacing edges of the front wall, the rear wall and the sidewalls defining a rim surrounding a top load opening of the refuse bin, the front wall comprising a series of spaced apart tine receiving pockets thereon, with each tine receiving pocket having a bottom opening, the invention comprising an engagement assembly comprising a plurality of spaced apart upstanding tines thereon, each tine of the plurality of tines spaced apart horizontally from others of the tines, each tine fixed to the engagement assembly, each tine having a free upper end, the free upper end of each tine adapted to be received in the bottom opening of a one of the tine receiving pockets of the refuse bin, the engagement assembly further comprising at least one movable arm selectively movable from a disengaged position to a bin engagement position, the at least one movable arm closely overlying a part of the rim of the refuse bin when the movable arm is pivoted to the bin engagement position, 18 wherein the at least one movable arm touchingly engages the part of the rim of the refuse bin when the refuse bin is tipped by the lift mechanism into the substantially tipped position, the at least one movable arm spaced substantially away from the rim of the refuse bin when the at least one movable arm is pivoted to the disengaged position.

15. The lift mechanism of claim 14 wherein a deflector is fixed to the engagement assembly at a top end thereof, the deflector comprising an elongate planar member disposed generally parallel to the front wall of the refuse bin.

16. The lift mechanism of claim 14 wherein the engagement assembly includes a pair of first rollers extending from opposing sides of the engagement assembly, the first rollers receivable between first and second rails of spaced apart tracks, the engagement assembly further including a pair of second rollers extending from the opposing sides thereof, the second rollers bearable upon an outer rail of each track.

17. A side loading refuse collection vehicle having a chassis with a collection body supported thereon, the collection body comprising; a first lift mechanism including a track combined to an outer sidewall of the collection body, the track having a bottom end and a top end, the lift mechanism further including a lift rod having a first end combined to a container engagement assembly, the lift rod further having a second end, an actuator combined to the second end of the lift rod to move the lift rod between a first position at the bottom end of the track and a second position with the container engagement assembly at the top end of the track, 19 a container engagement assembly including track followers engaged in the track for movement along the track, the container engagement assembly adapted for selective engagement with a refuse container, the refuse container including opposing upright end walls, the container engagement assembly including a plurality of upstanding tines adapted to engage the container, the container engagement assembly further comprising at least one elongate stabilizer arm adapted to selectively closely overlie a portion of an upper rim of the refuse container, the refuse container including an upper rim surrounding a top opening thereof, the upper rim defined by top ends of the end walls and by top ends of a front wall and of a rear wall of the refuse container, a bumper to engage the front wall of the refuse container to prevent the refuse container from rocking about the tines, wherein the at least one stabilizer arm touchingly engages the portion of the upper rim of the refuse container when the refuse container is substantially tipped by the container engagement assembly, thereby preventing the refuse container from disengaging from the tines.

18. The side loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 17 wherein the at least one stabilizer arm comprises a pair of stabilizer arms, each stabilizer arm selectively closely overlying a top edge of one of the upright end walls of the refuse container when the stabilizer arm is an engaged position, each stabilizer arm touchingly engaging the top edge of the one of the upright end walls when the refuse container is lifted and tipped to an unloading position.

19. The side loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 18 wherein each stabilizer arm includes a rim engaging member generally at a free end thereof, the each rim engaging member closely overlies a segment of the top rim. 20

20. The side loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 17 wherein each rim engaging member comprises a cantilevered plate.

21. The side loading refuse collection vehicle of claim 17 wherein a bar joins the pair of spaced apart arms, the bar fixed to the spaced apart arms spaced apart from a pivot end of each of the spaced apart arms, the bar touchingly engaging the top of the first wall of the refuse container when the movable arms are in the bin engagement position. 21