CA1142891A - Refuse compaction apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

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REFUSE COMPACTION APPARATUS

Abstract of the Disclosure A refuse compacting apparatus having a container for storing refuse under pressure, a loading hopper, and a passage leading from the hopper into the container. A narrowed throat in the passage is positioned at a point intermediate that of enlarged openings from the passage into the hopper and the storage container. Refuse compacting means are positioned to sweep through the hopper to compact refuse and move the refuse from the hopper through the passage into the container. As the refuse moves through the passage, the refuse is squeezed and is subjected to high localized pressures as the refuse passes through the narrowed throat.
A refuse compacting apparatus having a container or storage body for storing refuse under pressure, an ejection panel movable in the storage body, a loading hopper, a passage with a narrowed throat and packing panels Movable in the hopper on a cyclic basis. Refuse is stuffed at high pressures into the narrowed throat in successive cycles of movement of the packing panels and is churned, fragmented and compacted during such stuffing operation. The refuse is then directed through the passage into the storage body where it is stored at reduced pressures. A servo operation is then provided to control optimally the compacting action on the refuse in the passage by controlling the pressure exerted by the refuse in the storage body. Thus, when the pressure exerted by the refuse against the ejection panel reaches a first particular value, the ejection panel is moved in a direction to relieve such pressure.

The movement of the ejection panel occurs on an incremental basis until the pressure of the refuse against the ejection panel decreases to a second particular value lower than the first particular value.
A refuse compacting apparatus having a storage body for refuse and a movable panel positioned within the storage body. A support member is provided for the movable panel, which member has a movable end and a fixed end with the fixed end pivotally connected to the storage body. A link connects the movable end to the movable panel such that the movement of the panel causes pivotal movement of the support member.
means are provided to transmit a force to the movable panel from a point on the support member which is intermediate the fixed end and movable end. Thus, as the panel undergoes move-ment within the storage body, the support member undergoes rotational movement with the intermediate point on the support member moving in an arcuate path in the direction of movement of the movable panel.
A refuse compacting apparatus having a container for storing refuse under pressure and a loading hopper in communica-tion with the storage container. Refuse compacting means are positioned to sweep through the hopper to compact refuse and to move the refuse from the loading hopper into the storage container. A retainer panel is positioned to move between an opened and a closed position. With the retainer panel in its closed position, the retainer panel impedes the flow of refuse from the container into the hopper. In its opened position, the retainer panel permits the flow of refuse from the hopper into the storage container. Control means are provided to move the retainer panel to an opened position, while moving the refuse compacting means through the hopper to move refuse into the storage container and to move the retainer panel to a closed position, while returning the refuse compacting means to a position to begin sweeping through the hopper.
A refuse compacting apparatus having a container for storing refuse under pressure, a loading hopper in communica-tion with the storage container and a packing panel mounted to sweep through the hopper to compact refuse therein and to move the refuse from the loading hopper and into the storage container. The loading hopper includes a curved inner surface and a sill over which refuse is inserted into the hopper. An edge on the packing panel is positioned adjacent to the curved inner surface as the packing panel sweeps through the loading hopper. Means are provided to maintain a minimum distance between an edge on the packing panel and the curved inner surface at a point adjacent to the sill, which distance is slightly greater than the depth of the human finger. The distance between the edge on the packing panel and the curved inner surface is then increased slightly after the packing panel moves past the sill in sweeping through the hopper.
The minimum spacing between the edge of the packing panel and the inner surface at the sill reduces the level of forces applied to the sill area during packing of refuse while also protecting the worker's fingers. The increases spacing between the edge on the packing panel and the curved inner surface as the panel sweeps through the loading hopper provides a gripping force to refuse caught between the edge and the inner surface such that refuse is pulled over the sill and into the hopper as the panel sweeps through the hopper.
A refuse compacting apparatus having a panel positioned for working movement in a first direction, a ///
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relatively large first hydraulic motor for driving the panel in the first direction, and the panel undergoing return movement in a second direction with a relatively small hydraulic motor driving the panel in the second direction. Means provide pressurized hydraulic fluid for driving the first and second hydraulic motors with the first and second hydraulic motors being mechanically interconnected such that movement of the first motor to drive the panel in said first direction causes movement of the second motor in a direction opposite to its move-ment in driving the panel in said second direction.
Similarly, movement of the second motor to drive the panel in said second direction causes movement of the first motor in a direction opposite to its movement to drive the panel insaid first direction.
The first motor has a first opening and a second opening and the second motor has a first opening and a second opening. Means are provided to connect the second opening of the first motor with the second open-ing of the second motor, and means are provided to connect the second opening of the first motor and the second opening of the second motor to sump means. Valve means are positioned between the first and second motors and the means to supply pressurized hydraulic fluid with the valve means having a first operative position to direct hydraulic fluid to the first opening of the first motor to cause movement of the first motor to drive the panel in the said first direction. The valve means in its first operative position also transmits hydraulic fluid from the first opening in the second motor to the sump means as the second motor moves in a direction opposite to its movement to drive the panel in said second direction. Hydraulic fluid flowing from the second opening of the first motor may flow into the second opening of the second motor and may also flow into the sump as the first motor moves to drive the panel in said first direction.
The valve means has a second operative position to direct hydraulic fluid to the first opening of the second motor to cause movement of the second motor to drive the panel in said second direction while also causing movement of the first motor in a direction opposite to its movement in driving the panel in said first direction.
The valve means in its second operative position transmits hydraulic fluid from the first opening of the first motor to the sump and means interconnect the first and second openings of the first motor which means are actuated when the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to the first opening of the second motor reaches a predetermined pres-sure level to permit hydraulic fluid to flow from the first opening of the first motor into the second opening of the first motor. The second motor, therefore, acts as an accumulator for hydraulic fluid from the first motor as the first motor is driving the panel in its first direction, and the second motor is moving in a direction ///
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opposite to its movement to drive the panel in said second direction. Also, the first motor acts as its own accumu-lator when the second motor is driving the panel in said second direction and the first motor is moving in a direction opposite to its movement in driving the panel in its first direction with hydraulic fluid being trans-mitted from the first opening in the first motor to the second opening of the first motor.
A refuse compaction apparatus having a refuse container, a loading hopper and a passage from the hopper into the refuse container. A packing panel is positioned within the loading hopper for rotational movement from a rest position in a working direction in sweeping through the hopper to compact refuse and to move the refuse through the passage into the refuse container. Means for driving the panel include a drive shaft rotatably supporting the panel and a drive member connected to the panel with the drive member having a drive surface. A drive lever is connected to the drive member and a flexible drive member having a drive end and a fixed end has its fixed end connected to the drive lever. A motor is connected to the driving end of the flexible drive member with the flexible drive member being positioned to contact the drive surface in driving the panel during movement of the panel in a working direction from its rest position during the initial portion of its movement through the hopper. The flexible drive member then moves out of contact with the drive ///
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surface to drive the packing panel through the connec-tion between the fixed end of the drive member and the drive lever during the latter portion of the movement of the packing panel in a working direction through the hopper.
A refuse compaction apparatus including a hopper and a panel rotatably positioned for movement through the hopper. The panel has a body with a generally elliptical cross-sectional configuration and a high torque-transmitting capability. Drive means are connected to only one end of the panel with the drive means imparting a rotational force to the panel at said one end, which force is transmitted throughout the panel by the generally elliptically-shaped body.
A refuse compaction apparatus having a container for storing refuse under pressure and means for pressurizing refuse within the container. The container includes a first rigid frame positioned at one end and a second rigid frame positioned at the other end of the container. A plurality of longitudinal members interconnect the first and second frames and a plurality of flexible metal sheet members enclose the container with the sheet members being supported by the first and second frames and by the longitudinal members. The flexible sheet members are bowed outwardly from their points of support, such that the sheet members are placed in tension in resisting pressure within the storage container.

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A refuse compaction apparatus including a con-tainer for storing refuse under pressure, a tailgate rotatably mounted on the container for movement between an opened and a closed position. The tailgate in its opened position permits refuse to be discharged from the container and the tailgate in its closed position forms a closure with the storage container. In maintaining the tailgate in its closed position, a latch member is engageable with a keeper member with means to provide rotational movement of the latch member into a position to make contact with the keeper member. After rotational movement of the latch member, means are provided to ?ause translational movement of the latch member into contact with the keeper member to maintain the tailgate in a closed position.
A refuse compaction apparatus including a con-tainer for storing refuse under pressure, a tailgate rotatably mounted on the container for movement between an opened and a closed position with the tailgate in-cluding a loading hopper to receive refuse and packing means within the hopper to move refuse from the hopper into the storage container. Drive means are provided within the hopper to drive the packing means in moving refuse from the loading hopper into the storage container when the tailgate is in its closed position in abutting relation with the storage body. The tailgate in its opened position is rotated upwardly to expose the storage body for the discharge of refuse.
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?-1101 The drive means within the tailgate is positioned at one side of the tailgate to drive the packing means from said one side with the weight of said one side of the tailgate being greater than the weight of the other side of the tailgate. An upper beam is provided within the tailgate with the tailgate being rotatably connected to the storage container through the upper beam. A stiffener assembly in the upper beam is positioned adjacent to the rotatable connection of the heavier side of the tailgate to the storage container with the stiffener assembly having a configuration which provides a high resistance to torque. A lifting force applied to the tailgate for raising the tailgate to its opened position is, there-fore, transmitted through the upper beam with the twisting forces applied to the upper beam by the weight of the heavier one side being resisted by the stiffener assembly.

Description

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1 This application is a divisional application of

2 Application 319,954, filed January 19, 1979

3 There is a direct correlation between the ~1 alfluence and industrialization of a society and the quantity of refuse which is generatecl by that society.
6 ThUS, in the industrialized nations, the quantity of 7 refuse which is generated may be many time~ that 8 generated in a more primitive society.
9 In modern refuse collection apparatus, the refuse is compacted within a pressurized storage con-11 tainer~ The storage container may, for example, be 12 mounted on the frame of a truck with the tailgate ro-13 tatably secured to the rear of the container. Within 14 the tailgate, there is ~enerally a packing mechanism, with refuse being placed in a loading hopper in the 1~ tailgate and the packing mechanism forcing the refuse 17 under high pressures into tlle storage container. By 1~ forcing the refuse into the storage container under 19 high pressures, the refuse is compacted so that a rela-tively lar~e quantity of refuse may be carried within 21 the storage container. This permits the refuse collec-22 tion apparatus to function for a long period of time 23 before it becomes necessary to empty the stora~e con tainer. The time spent in driving to a landfill or ~5 refuse transfer point to empty the storage container 26 is time lost from the primary function of the apparatus 27 in picking up the refuse at a home or a business and 2~ /// , 29 !// ,i 32 ' ' .

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. placing the refuse in a compacted form which is convenien-t 2 for its disposal. Accordingly, it is essential to the 3 function of a refuse collection apparatus that the quanti-ty of refuse carried within the refuse container be maximized.
6 To maximize the quantity of refuse which may be 7 packed under pressure within the refuse storage container, it has previously been necessary to construct the apparatus 9 of heavy structural members to provide great streng-th.
This has resulted in the refuse compaction apparatus being ll relatively large and heavy. These requirements have in-12 creased the costs of refuse compaction apparatus and have ~3 made the apparatus a high consumer of energy for operation~
l~ Additionally, the weight of previous refuse collection apparatus may be injurious t:o street surfaces over which lG the apparatus is driven.
l~ In addition to being relatively heavy and e~-l~ pensive, previous refuse collection appara-tus has been 19 relatively complicated. In previous apparatus, it has ~ generally been necessary to place hydraulic cylinders on 21 either side of the tailgate to drive the packing mecha1lism 22 in forcing the refuse from the loading hopper into the 23 refuse storage container. The weight and expense of the 2~ hydraulic cylinders have, -thus, contributed to the overall weight and expense of the refuse collection apparatus.
26 Additionally, to control a plurality of hydraulic cylin-27 ders to insure that the driving forces applied -to each D - 1 1 0 ].
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1 end of the packin~ mecharlism are synchronized has re-2 quired the use of complex hyclraulic circuitry. This 3 may reduce the reliability of the refuse collection D apparatus, since the reliability of a complex mechanism ~ is generallyinversely proportional to the comple~ity 6 of tlle mechanism.
In view of the above problems, it would be desirable if a refuse compaction appara-tus could be 9 provided which would be lighter than previous apparatus and which would consume a smaller quantity of eneryy 11 for operation. Such an apparatus would also be cheaper 12 because of the use of lighter and less e~pensive struc-1~ tural members used in its constructioll. These would 1-~ be considerable advantages in view oE the ever-increasing cost of energy in the form of oil, gasoline and other lG fossil fuels for operation of industrial equipment.
1'~ Additionally, by being lighter than previous collection 1~ apparatus, such an apparatus would be less injurious to 19 the public streets in its operation.
In addition to providing a refuse compaction 21 apparatus which would be cheaper and lighler, it would be 22 desirable to provide an apparatus WhiC]l would be silnpler 23 in its construction, and, therefore, more reliable and 24 less likely to break down. Desirahly, such an apparatus would provide a mecllanical interconnectiorl betweell the 26 hydraulic motors used to drive the packincJ mechallism.
27 This wou:Ld serve to eliminate the previous problems of ~ D-llO:I
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1 synchroniziny the movement of hydraulic cylinclers to 2 drive the packing mechanism by means of a complex 3 hydraulic circuit. Also, it would be desirable if such a refuse compaction apparatus could function by driving ~ the packing mechanism from only one end, since this 6 would tend to avoid the many problems which may result q from the use of duplicate drive cylinders positioned at either end of the packing mechanism, which cylinders ~ must be synchronized in their movement~s.
In addition, it woulcl be desirable if a re-11 fuse compaction apparatus could be provided in which the 12 refuse could be suhjected to very high pressures before 13 being placed within the refuse storage container. This 1~ would permit the retention of hic3hly compacted refuse within the storage container at reduced pressures. The 16 storage container could then be made lighter while still 17 performing its function of containing a ma~imum quan-tity 18 Of refuse to reduce the amount of lost time required to 1~ periodically empty the container.

2~

2g 1 ~umlary o~ the _nvelltion In provicl.iny a soluticn to the aforernentioned:
~-~ probl.ems, the presellt invention provides a refuse com~
5 pactiol~ apparatus which is relatively ligllt in weight, is 6 relatively ine~peilsi.ve, and is also less complex than ~ ~ ~
7 previous refuse compaction apparatus. Accordingly, the : ;
refuse compaction apparatus of the inven-tion i.s adMirably 9 suited for meetiny the complex problems posed by the con~
tradictory demands of providing efficient and uni:Eorm 11 compaction of refuse a-t hi.gh pressures, while reducing 12 the weight and complexity of -the apparatus and the energy 13 required for its operation.
1~ One aspect of the inventioll concerns a refuse compacting appara-tus in whicll a passage having a narrowed 16 tllroat is positioned betwecn a container for storing re~
~: ` , 17 fuse ullcler pressure and a loading hopper. I~efuse compac- : ;

18 ting means mav be positioned to sweep through -the hopper 19 to compact refuse and to rnove the refuse from the loading hopper into the storage container. As -the refuse is moved 21 through the passage by the refuse compacting means, the ~2 refuse may be squeezed and subjected to very high localiæed 23 pressures wi.thin the narrowed throat as the refuse passes : ;~

~^ through the narrowed tllroat.

~5 ~ movable ejection panel may be positioned with-2G in the storage container, with the panel being movable from .

27 a position adjacent -the passage when the container is empty ~2 :

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:L to a position displaced from the passage when the con~
i~ tainer is full. Means may be provided to control the 3 movemen-!- of the ejection panel away from the passage in response to -the pressure of refuse wllich is exer-ted 5 against the panel. Thus, as refuse is moved into -the 6 container from the passage, the refuse may be packed 7 agains-t the panel until the pressure of refuse a~alnst 8 the ejec-tion panel exceeds a predetermined level with 9 the panel then being moved an incremental distance to 10 a new position to reduce -the pressure of refuse against 11 tl-e panel. Additional refuse may then be packed against 12 the ejection panel in its new position until the pressure 13 aqains-t the panel exceeds the predetermined level with 14 the panel being again moved an incremental distance to 15 a new pOSitiOIl, etc., such that the alternate packincJ of refuse and moving of the ejection panel is continued until 17 t:he storage container is uniformly filled with refuse.
1~3 The passacJe leading from the loacling hopper 19 into the refuse container may include a surface at the 20 enlarged opening from the passage into the s-torage con~
~1 tainer which surface imparts movement of the refuse that 22 is directed toward the panel. ~dditionally, the pressure 23 exer-ted on the refuse passing -through the narrowed throat 2~ within the passage may greatly exceed the pressure whlch 25 is exerted by refuse against the ejection panel and the 2~ interior of -the refuse storage container. i~ccordingly, 27 the high locali~ed pressures ~hich may be exerted on 3].

-1 refuse as it passes through the narrowed throat within 2 the passage need not be transmitted to the interior of 3 the s-torage container.
It is desirable that the pressures oE the refuse~
directed through the narrowed throat of the passa~e be ~ regulated. If the pressures exertecl on the refuse in -the~
7 narrowed throat are excessive, the movement of the refuse through -the narrowed throat of the passage tends to become ~
9 bloc~ed. On the other hand, if the pressures exer-ted on the , :~ ..
~o refuse in -the narrowed throat are not sufficient, a rela--lve1y li little amount o:E compaction or fragmentati.on is producea on~
12 the reEuse in the narrowed throat. The regulation of the;
pressures on the refuse in the narrowed throat is provided 1~ by controlling the pressure of the refuse in the storage body. ~hen the pressure of the refuse Oll the ejection panel~
16 in the storage body reaches a first particular value, the 17 ejection panel is moved in a direction to relieve such lc~ pressure. Such movement oE the ejection panel occ~urs on 19 an incremental basis until the pressure of the refuse aqalnst~
the ejection panel decreases to a second particular value 21 lower than -the first particular value.

22 The ability to regulate -the pressure of the refuse~

23 in the narro~ed throat of -the passage by regulating the 2a pressure exerted by the refuse against the ejection panel , ,:, 25 can be seen from the following. For example, the pressure ~

2~ of the refuse agains-t the ejection panel corresponds to the ..
27 pressure of the refuse in the enlarged opening in the passage~

2~ at a position adjacent -to the storage body. Furtherrnore, 30 /// ;~

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1 ~he pressul-e in Lhe elllargecl opening causes a back pressure 2 to be exerted agairlst the refuse in the narrowed throa-t to 3 control the pressure of the refuse in the narrowed throat. ~;
s a resu]t, the pressure of the refuse in the narrowed throat of the passa(3e is directly related to the pressure 6 of the refuse against the ejec-tioll panel. In this way, a 7 servo action is obtained for providing an optima1 churning, ~ fragmerltation and compaction of the refuse as the refuse 9 is clirected throucJh the narrowed throat.
In moving refuse from the 1Oading hopper through - .
li the passage into Lhe refuse s-torage container, a movable 12 retainer panel may be positioned for rnovement between a first 13 ~)osition in which -the retainer panel is positioned away from 14 the passage and a second position in which the retainer pane1 15 at least partia11y blocks the passage. When the re-Euse lG compactinc~ means is moved away from -the passage, the retainer 17 pane1 may be moved to i-ts second position to impecle the move-lS ment of the refuse Erom the passac~e back into the 1Oading 19 hopper. ~dditionally, as the retainer panel moves from its 20 Eirst position to its second position, the retainer pane1 may : .~
21 be shaped and positioned to sweep refuse from the refuse ~;

22 compacting means during this movement with the refuse swept 23 from the refuse compacting means being moved in-to the passage ~

2~ by -the retainer panel. ~ ;-25 ~ith the retainer panel in its first position which ;~

26 cloes not impede the movement of refuse from the 1Oading hopper 27 tllroucJh the passage into -the storage container, the retainer 2~ panel may include a surface which merges into and forms an 29 extension of the surface of the passage. The configuration o the retainer panel may, thereby, assist the movement of 31 the refuse into -the passage from the loading hopper.

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-16a-1 In another aspect. of the invention, a refuse~
2 compactiny appara-tus may be provlded in which a movable '~
3 panel is positioned within a storage body for refuse. ,~

4 support member for the movable panel may have a mov~ble~
end and a fi~ed end with the fixed~end pivotall~y c~o~n~
6 nected to the storaye body. A link may connect the~
7 movable end of the support member to the movable panel~
such that movement of the panel causes pivotal movement~
9 of the support member. Means may be provided~to transmi~t~
a force to the movable panel from 8 point on the sopyort 11 member which is positioned intermediate the fixed end'~and ~2 the movable end. As the panel undergoes movement wl~th 13 the support body to cause rotational movemen-t of~the 1~ support member, the intermediate point on -tlie SUppOI t~
member may then move in an arcuate path in the direc~tion 16 of movement of the panel~. The means to transmit~a ~forc`e~
17 from the support member to the movable panel may~comprlse~
1~ a hydraulic cylinder having one end connected to the inter~
19 mediate point on the support member a;nd~the other end`con- `
~ nected to the movable panel. The~ expansion of~the hydraù~
21 lic cylinder may, thus, cause movement of~ the panel a~à,y~
22 from the fixed end of the support member while contract n '~
23 of -the hydraulic cylinder may cause movement of the~pànel~
24 toward the fi~ed end~of the support member.
The intermediate point on the support member~may~
26 be positioned out of alignment with the fixed~and movahle~
27 ends of the support member with the fixed and;mova~ble ends l~L42g391 1 lyinc~ on a straight line and the movable panel being 2 positioned -transverse to the straight line. The in-ter-3 mediate point on the support mernber may then be positioned transversely Wit}l respect to the straigllt line but ln a direction opposite to the position of the panel with 6 respect to the straight line. The support member may have a generally triangular configuration with the fixed end and the movable end of the support member lying a-t ,.: ~
9 two of the apices of a triangle. The intermediate pOillt on t~le support member may then lie at the other apex 11 of the triangle. The panel may be positioned transversely~
12 to a line through the fixed and movable ends with the ~3 intermediate point being positioned transversely to the 14 line but in a direction opposi-te to the position of the ;~
p~nel witl~ respect to the line.
16 The refuse storage ~ody may have an open end and :
17 a closed end with the movable panel forming a closure for 1~ the open end. The generally triangular support member may~
19 -then be positioned adjacent to the open end with the intermediate-point apex of the support member extending : ~,; . .. :
21 outside of the storage body through said open e~d. In :t}liS
22 manner, the movable panel may be positioned more closely 23 adjacent to the open end with less interference from the .
24 position of the rneans to transmit force from the support member -to the panel.
26 As a further aspect of the invention, a refuse 27 compacting apparatus may be provided in which a loading ~ ;

,~ D-ll01 ~ ;

hopper is in communication with a container for storing 2 refuse under pressure. ~ refuse compacting means may be ;~
3 positioned -to sweep through the loading hopper to compact ;
refuse therein and to move the refuse frorn the loading hopper into the storage contai.ner. A retainer panel 6 may be positioned to move between an opened and a closed 7 position with the retainer panel impedlng the flow of refuse from the storage container in-to the hopper ~lth 9 -the re-tainel panel in its closed position and permitt~ing~
the flow of refuse from the hopper into the storage con~
11 tainer by the refuse compacting means with the retalner 12 panel i.n i-ts opened position. Control means may be 13 provided to move the retainer panel to an opened poslt~on ;~
1~ while moving the refuse compacting means through the hop~
per to move refuse from the hopper into the s-torage con-~
tainer. The control means may also function to move tlle~
17 re-tainer panel -to a closed position ~hile returning the~
18 refuse compac-ting means to a return posi-tion to beyin ;~
19 sweeping through the loading hopper.
In providing control of the movement of the 21 retainer panel and the refuse compacting meansj~a source 22 of pressurizecl hydraulic fluid may be used to drlve~a 23 first hydraulic motor means that is operatively connected~
2~ to the retainer panel and a second hydraulic motor means~
which is operatively connected to the refuse compactinq 26 means. A first valve means may control the flow of lly-27 draulic fluid to the first motor means in moving the - 1 9 - ' 1 retainer panel be-tweell an opened and a closed position.
2 1~ second valve means may control the flow of hydraulic 3 fluid to the second rnotor means in moving the refuse 4 compacting means through the loading hopper -to sweep re~

5 fuse from the hopper and to then return to a return

6 position to begin sweeping throuclh the hopper. Means may

7 be provided to move the first and second valves in unison

8 to first clirect hydraulic fluid to the first motor means ~3 before directiny hydraulic fluid to the second motor means.
10 In this manner the retainer panel may undergo movement 11 before movement of the refuse compacting means.
12 Coupled with the movement of the refuse coinpac~
13 -ting means and the retainer panelr an ejection panel may 1~1 be positioned wil~hin the storage container. l~leans may be 15 provided to move the ejection panel in small increments 1~ within the storage container in response to the pressure 17 o E refuse against the ejection panel. Thus, as refuse 18 is moved into the storaye container and packed against the 19 ejection panel the ejection panel may be incremehtally 20 moved to enlarge tlle available volume for storing reEuse 21 within the stora~e container. A third hydraulic rnotor 22 means may be connected to the ejection panel and means may `~
23 be provided to sense the pressure oE hydraulic fluid 2a within the second motor means as the reEuse compacting 25 means sweeps through the loading hopper. Means may be 26 provided to momentarily dump hydraulic fluid from the third 27 motor means when the sensed pressure within -the second 29 /~
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~li9L289~

motor means exceecls a predetermined pressure leve~ o 2 move the ejection panel a sma11 .incremental distance 3 and, tllereby, to reduce the pressure of refuse against :;~
~1 t ll e e j e c t i o n pan e l .
rl'he f irst va1ve means an~l second valve means 6 ma y b e p o s i t i o n ed i n a s e r i e s r e l a -t i o n W i t }l r e s p e c t t o q the source o f pres suri zed hydrau1 ic f luid . Fur ther, ~3 t lle i~ i rs t va lve mean s may be pos i t ioned be tween: the

9 second valve means and the ~source of pressurized hyclrau~1i-c fluid with -the first valve means returning to its~ neu~ral 11 posi-tion af-ter movement of the- first and second~ valve~
~2 means in unison . The second va] ve means may then receive `~
13 hydrau1ic fluid from the source of pressurized hy~lraulic 1'~ fluid such that movemen-t of -the retainer p~ne1 ma~ pre~
cc;cle movell-ent o~ the packing means within the 10ading l G }lOPL)~r, 17 In a furtller aspec-t of the invention, there :~is 1~3 provided a refuse compacti.ng apparatus for storlng re:fuse 19 under pressure, a loading hopper in communica~t:ion with the s toragc~ container and a packing pane1 moun-ted for~
21 movernent through the loading hopper to sweep through th~e 22 hopper in compacting refuse therein and in moving refuse:~
23 from the loading hopper into the storage container. The~
~4 loading hopper may inc1ude a curved :inner surface with a 2 5 s i l l on the load in g hoppe r over whi ch re f u s e may be ln~
26 serted into the hopper. The pàcking panel may have an~
~7 edye whicll is positioned adjacent to the curved surfaGe 2c~

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within the loaclincJ hoE)E~er as the yacking pane- 1 s~ieeps 2 t ~rouc3h the load i llc.~ hop~- r . Means may be provided to 3 mailltain a minimum distance between the edge on the ~
packing pallel and the curved surface on the hopper at a point W}liC h i S ad j acent to the s i l l which minimum G distance may be sligh-tly greater than the depth of a 7 human finger.
8 Addi-tionally the means to maintain a minimum `
9 distallce between the eclge of the packing p.lnel and the 0 inner curved surface of the hopper may increase the `
11 minimum distance slightly as -the packi.ng panel sweeps 12 past the sill and through the hopper. The minimum 13 spacing betweell the edge of the packing panel nnd -the ~ curved inller su.rEace of the loading hopper of the s~
may reduce forces applied to the sill during downward 16 movement of the pac~iing panel while also protectlnJ the~
17 worker ' s f ingers . The increased minimum spacing be~
18 tween the edge of the packing panel and the curved inner~
19 sur:Eace of the hopper as the panel sweeps through the ::
loading hopper may provide a gripping force on refuse 21 caught between the edge of the packing panel snd ths ::::
22 curved inner surface of the hopper which force~ may; pull 23 refuse over the sill and into the hopper as the panel 2~ sweeps through t:he hopper .
A further aspect of the invention concerl-ls a 26 refuse compactiny apparatus having a panel positioned for 27 working movement in a first clirecti.on, and a relatively ~:~L42~g~ ~ ~

1 larye first hydrauLic motor for driviny the panel in the:;~
2 first direction. The panel may undergo return:movement in a second direction and a relatively small second~hy~
draulic motor may drive the panel in sald second dlrec~
-tiO~ source of pressurized hydraul~c fluid may 2rive the first and second hydraulic motors with means mecha;ni~
q cally interconnecting the first and second motors such that movement of the first motor to drive the panel in 9 said first direction causes movement of the second motor in a direction oppos~te to its moaement to drive the~
11 panel in the second direction. Slmilarly movement~of~
12 t~le second motor to drive the panel in said second ~direc:~
13 tion may cause movement of the first motor in a direction:~
ll opposite to its movement in driviny the panel in said first direction.
lG The first motor may have a first opening and a~
17 second openi.ng with -the second motor also haviny a first~open~in~
18 and a second operIing. Means may he provi.ded for connecL~ing 19 the second opening of the first motor with the second~
opening of the second motor sump means to receive hyd~rauIic;~
21 fluil and means connecting the second opening of the ~Elrs:t~
22 motor and the second opening of the second motor to t~he :~
23 sump means. Valve means may be positioned bett~een the 24 first and second mo-tors and the means to supply pre~ssurized hydraulic fluid with the valve means having a first opera~
26 tive position to direct pressurized hydraulic fluid to t}le~ s~

~: `

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~ 2~

first opel)in~J oE tl1e first motor to cause rmoveme1lt of the 2 irst motor to drive -the panel in said first direc-tion.
3 1~ h the valve means in its first operative position, hy~
4 draulic fluicl may also be transmitted Erom the first opening of the second motor to the sump as -the second motor 6 is moved in a clirection opposi-te to its movemer1-t when 7 driving the panel in said second direction. ~Iydraulic fluid may a:lso flow from the second openincJ of the f~rst motor 9 illtO the second opening of the seconcl motor and may also flow into the sump as the first motor moves to drive the 11 panel in said first direction.
12 The valve means may also have a second operative ~3 position to direct hydraulic f]uid to -the first opening~of 1~ the second mo-tor to cause movement of the second motor to ]5 drive the panel in said second direction and to cause move~
lG me11t of the f:irst mo-tor in a direction opposite to its ~
17 movement when driving the panel in said first direc-tion.
a The valve means in its second operative position may trans~
~9 mit hydraulic fluid from the first opening of the first motor to the sump. Means may also be provided~to inter~
21 connect the first and second openings of the first rnotor 22 when the pressure of hydraulic Eluid supplied to the first 23 opening of the second motor reaches a predetermined prèssure ,~
24 level to permit hydrau1ic fluid to flow from the firs-t open~

ing of the first motor into the second opening of the first ~

26 motor. ln this manner the second motor may act as an ;~ ~;

27 accumulator for hydrau1ic f1uid from the Eirst motor Whell 2a ///

~

31 ; `~;

~2 -2~-~z~

1 tlle firs-t Ino~or :is driving the pane1 in its f:irst direc-2 tion and the secol-ld motor is moving in a direct:ion oppo~
3 site to its movement when driving the pclne1 in said 4 secolld direction.
Additionally, the first motor may act as lts 6 own accumu1ator of hydrau1ic flui.d when the second motor 7 is driving the pane1 in said second direction and the Eirst motor is movincJ in a direction opvosite to its ::
9 movement whell driving the pane1 in its first c~irectiol~
~`he first motor, in acting as its own accumu1ator, may 11 discharge hydrau1ic fluid through the first opening 1~ which may be conveyed back into the second opening ln 13 tlle Ei.rst Inotor. In the refuse compacting apparatus, ~-~ the firs-t mo-tor may be a relatively 1arge 11ydrau1ie cy1in~
der havi~ a first piston whicll separates the first:and 16 second openings within the first motor. The second motor~
17 may be a re1ative1y smal.1 hydraulic cylillder which inc].ucle:s~
- ;~, ,, 1~ a second pistoll that separates the fi.rst and second open~

19 ings in the second motor.
~ further aspect of the invention concerns a 21 refuse compaction apparatus having a refuse container, a 22 1Oading hopper and a passage from the loading hopper in~to~
, , :
23 the refuse container. A packing panel may be posltloned 2-~ within the loading hopper for rotati.onal movement from a rest position in a working directi.on in sweeping through 26 the loading hopL)er to compact refuse therein and to move 27 the refuse throllc3}1 the passage into the refuse container.

32 : `

":

~ D-lI.01 1 Means may be provided for driving -the packing panel which 2 incl-Ide a drive shaft rotatably supporting the packlng panel and a drive member connected -to the panel. : The drive member may include a drive surface with a drive~
lever connected to the drive member.
6 A fle~ible drive member having a drivInc~ end and~
7 a fi.Yed end may be connec-ted to the drive lever through~
said fixed end while a motor is connected to the driving 9 end. The flexible drive member may be positioned to con~
tact the drive surface in drivIny tIle packing panel~;du~rIn~g 11 movement of the packing panel in a working direction from 12 its rest position durinq the initial portion of i-ts move~
13 ment through the hopper. The flexible drive member may ~-~ then move out oE contact with the drive surface to dr]ve the pac~iny panel throuc;h -the connection between ~the fixe~d~
~-~ end oE t~le flexible drive member and the drlve leve,r~durlnc~
17 the latter por-tion of the movement of. t}ie packing panel in :~
18 a working direction throucJh said hopper. ~ r~
19 The dr,ive surface may have a constant radius~:s,uch~
that contact of the flexi.ble drive member with the drive 21 surface drives the packing panel with a force which is 22 applied through a constant mornent arm whose distance is 23 determined by the radius. During movement of the packing 2~l panel through the loading hopper, the flexible drive mem~
ber may contact the drive surface during rotation of the~
26 drive memb~r tIhro-Igh an angle of about 158 with the ;
27 :Ele.Yibl.e drive member theIl moving out of contact with the~

: ;~

~: :

~? ~ D- 1 1 n ] , ~ . ~

drive surface to drive the panel directly through the 2 clrive lever and to apply a progressive force to the 3 panel during rotation of the drive lever through an ds ar~c71e of about 90 The packiny panel may be rota-table in a re~
6 turn direction towards its rest position after sweei~ing 7 througll the hopper in a working direction. A second 8 flexible drive mebmer havillg a driving end and a fixed 9 end may havc its fixed end connected to the drive sur-13 face and its driven end connected to a second motor.
11 Tlle second flexible drive member may, thereby, impart 12 rotational movement of the packing panel in moving the ~-3 panel in a return direction to said rest position. In -~
1~ driving the packing panel in a working direction and in ~5 a return direction with -t:he flexible cLrive member anc~
16 the second flexible drive member, the connection of the 17 fixed end of the flexible drive member to the drive 1~3 lever and connection of the fixed end of the second 19 flexible drive member to a point on the drive sur~
20 face ~ith the connections of the fixed ends of the 2~- flexible drive member and the second flexible drive 22 mernber being displaced a sufficien-t distance relative 23 to the drive surface to concurrently permit unwinding 2'L of the flexible drive member ~rom the drive surface 25 and winding of the second flexible drive member onto 2~ the drive surface as the packing panel is moved in 27 a working direction. I~lso, the said displacement 2'c3 may concurrently permit unwinding of the second flex-29 ible driv~ member from the drive surface and winding 1 of the flexil~le drive member onto the drive surface as the pack:ing pallel is moved in a return direction towar~
3 its re~t position.
A further aspect of the invention concerns a~
reuse compaction apparatus which includes a hopper and 6 a panel whicll is rotatably positioned for movement ;~
7 -throuyh the hop~er. The panel may have a body with~ a 8 generally ellip-tical confic3uration, arld a high ~torque~
9 transmittillcJ capal~ility. Drive means for the panel mly~
be connected to only one end of the panel such that a~
11 rotational force may be applied to the panel at said one~
12 end with -the rotational force being transmitted tllrou3h~
13 out the panel by the elliptical body.
14 A fu~ther aspect of the invention concerns a refuse con-tainer for stori.ng refuse under pressure,~a .6 ~oading hopper, a passaqe leading from -the loadill~g hopper~
17 :into the container, and a packing panel rotatably posi-~
18 tioned within -the hopper to move from a rest position~ n~
19 a working direction to sweep through the hopper to com~
pact refuse within the hopper and to move the refuse ~from~
21 the hopper through the passage and into -the container.
~2 The packing panel may be movable in a return direction 23 to return the panel to i-ts rest p~sition with motor means~
2-~ connected to the panel for providing movement thereof.
Control means may be operatively connected to the motor~
2~ means to provide movement o:E the panel in a worki~ng direc-~
2~ tion and movement of the panel in a returll direction.

~2 :: : : ~ : ~
-2~

D-J

1 The control means may have a neutral position 2 in ~J}IiC}l the motor means is inactivated with the control 3 mearls beiny movab:Le to a Ei,rs-t position in which the motor means is activated to move the packing panel in a working direction. The control means may also be movabl~e 6 to a second position in which the motor means is activated q to move the pac}~ing panel in a return direction. Actuating:~
8 means may be provided to return the control means from 9 its first position or its second position to~its neutral~
position wi.th the actuating means being operably connected~
11 t~ the packing L~anel. The ac-tuating means may have~a~third~
12 position when the panel is in i-ts rest posl-tion and~a 13 fourth position wncn the panel has moved completely through~
14 -the hopper in a working direction. The panel may occ~upy~
a pinch-point position with respect t:o the hopper wlth:the 1~ panel moved into close proximity with the hopper durlng~
1~ movement of the hopper in a working direction. ;~
1~ The actuating rneans may have a fift}l position ;~
19 when the panel is in its pinch-point positlon with the con~
~ trol means having a manually actuable override to diseng~aqe~
21 the control means and actuating means when the actuatinc~!noa~
22 is in its fifth position. The actuating means may move the~con~
23 trol means from its first position to its neutral posltlon;to~
2~ stop the parIel at its p.inch-point ~osi.tion when the a~tuating rneans is in its fi~th position and -the override is unac~
26 tuated. Additionally, the actuating means may ~mov~ the 27 control means :from its first posi tion to i.-ts neutral posltion~

~;

J~ o l 1 when the aCtUatinCJ means is in i-ts fourtll position and the 2 packing panel has comp1eted its movement in a working 3 direction. ~1so tlle actuating means may move the control~
means from i-ts second position to its neutra1 position ; ;~
when the actuating means is in its -third position and the 6 panel has completed its movement in a return direction.
A further aspect of the invention concerns a 8 refuse cornpaction apparatus having a contaiIler for storing 9 refuse under pressure and means for pressurizing refuse ~ within the container. A firs-t r.igid frame may be posi~
11 -tioned at one end of the container with a second rigid 12 frame positioned at the other end of tlle container. A ; ;~
13 plurality oE loncJitudinal rigicl members may interconnect ~a the first and second frames. A plura1ity oE fle~ible :
metal sheet members may enclose the container with the 16 sheet members heincJ supported by the first and second 17 frames and the longi.tudinal rigid members. Ihe flexible 18 sheet members may each be bowed outwardly at their poiDts 19 of support. In this manner the sheet members may be placed in tension in resisting pressures within the 21 container.

~2 ~ further aspect of the invention concerns a 23 refuse compaction apparatus which may inc1ude a con-tainer for storing refuse under pressure and a tai1cJate rotatably mounted on the container for movement between an opened 26 and a c1Osed positi.on. With the tailgate in its opened 27 position refuse may be discharged from the container ~ ;

32 `

`

- r 1 1 01 1 and with the tailc3ate in its closed position, a cI~osure~
2 may be formed between -the tailgate and -the stordge~ con~
~ tainer. In fi~lng the position oi the tailgate~ with~
4 respect -to the :refuse container with the tai~l~ate in~
its closed position, a latch member may engage a~keeper 6 member. Means may be provided to impart rotational;
q movement to the latcll member -to position the latch member, at a location where i-t may make contact wlth the k~eeper~
9 member. Additional].y, means may be provided~to i~mpdrt,~

10 translational movement to the .I.atch Member afte~r ~;lts~ ? `

11 rota-tional movement to move the lat~ch mqmber in~tR contact~ "~

12 with the keeper member and to maintain the tailgate in~'a~

13 closed position.

1~ A further aspect of the invention concerns~a~
refuse compaction apparatus including a contaIner for~
1~ storing refuse under pressure, a tai]gate rotatab;ly~moùntèd'`~
17 on the container for movement between an opened~and~a~ s~
18 closed pOSitiOIl and the tailgate~lncludIng a~hopper~to,~ '5``'~
19 receive refuse. ~ packing means may be positioned withl~n~
the loading hopper to move the refuse from the~hopper~lnto~
the storage container with the tailgate in lts cl~osed~
position. Drive means may be provided to drive tho pac~king~
23 means in moving refuse from the hopper into thé storage~
2'~ container. The tailgate in its closed position may be'in~ '; "~
abutting relation with the refuse storage container~to form 26 a closure therewith and the tailgate in its opened pOSl~
27 tion may be rotated u~wardly to expose the storage~conta~ner~

for discharge of refuse therefrom.

.~ , 1 The drive means may be positioned on one side 2 of the tailgate to drive the packing means from said one~
3 side. The weight of said one side of the tailgate ma~y then he grea-ter than th~ weight of the other s~ide~of the tailgate. An upper beam may be provided ~within~th~e~
6 ~ailgate with the tailgate being rotatably connected to~
7 the storage con1:ainer through said;uppjer beam. The upper~
8 beam may include a stlffener assembly positl~oned adja~cent 9 to the rotatable conllection of -the lleavier one side~of~
the tailgate to the storage contalner. I`he stifeen~er~
ll assembly may have a configuration which provides~a~high~
12 resistance to torque. Thus~ when a ~llEtlng force 1S
13 applied to the tailgate ~or raising the tai~lga~te to~its~
ll opened pOSitiOIl t~le force may be transm~tted th}ou~b~
l the upper beam Wit}l the twisting forces applied to the~
lG upper beam by the weight o~ the~heavler one slde of~the~
17 tailgate being resisted by the stiffener assembly.

28 ;~

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' D-llOl .
i~ ~fZ ~ ";~"

.Tlle Drawings 3 To illustrate a preferred embodiment Df the~
inventioll, reference is made to the accompally}ng dra~/~inys~
~ in w~lich~
6 r~ i g . 1 i s a sicle elevational view or a garbage;~
7 truck utiliziny a refuse compacting apparatus of:the ln~
8 ventioni 9 Fig. 2 ls a sicle elevational vie~ of a garb~age;;~
truck illustrating the movement of an ejection pane;l:wlthin~
11 the storage container by a conventional hydraulic cyllrlde~ri~
12 that is supported by a pivotal mounting ~^~hich imparts trans~ m~
13 ].ational movement to the cylinder that is i.n the same~
a direction as the moveMent of the ejection panel, Fi~. 3 is a slde sectional vlew of the tail3a~te lG structure positioned at the rear of the stora:qe contalner~
17 as shown in Fig. 1 with a side pla-te for the tailgate~r~e~ ?`~
18 moved to il.lustrate the position of hydraulic cylinders~
19 therein for moving a packing panel Lhrough a loading~llop~
per;
21 Fig. 4 is an elevation detailed 'view of a packing~
22 panel and a portion of the drive mecllallism for:thè~pane~
23 viewed from the rear of the tailgate as il:lust~rated~ln~

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view,~ partly~in ~sac~
26 tion, of the packing panel taken along line 5--5 of Fi~g~.~4,~

32 :~

,: ~

~ L2~

1 Fic3. G is a sectional view taken along line 2 6--6 of ~'ic3. ~
: , -3 Yig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line , --D; 7--7 of Fig. 4;
Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 6 8--8 of Fig. 4;
q ~ig. 9 is a side elevational view of a re-c~ tainer panel and retainer panel cylinder illustratlng 9 the movement of the retainer panel between an opened and a closed position;
11 Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the tail-12 gate and drive mechanism, similar to Fig. 3, with the 3 packing panel in a rest position and the retainer panel 1~ in a closed position;
Fig. Il is a side elevational view, similar to ;~
~G Fig. 10, illustrating the movement of the retainer panel 17 in a working direction through -the loading hopper;
1~ Fig. 12 is a side elevational view, similar to ; ;~
19 Figs. 10 and 11, illustrating the position of the pack~
ing panel at its pinch-point location after movement of 21 the panel in a working direction until the lower edge of 22 the packing panel is positioned closely adjacent to a 23 curved inner surface of the loading hopper at a point 2~ adjacent to the sill of the loading hoppe~
Fig. 13 is a side elevational view, similar to 2G Figs. 10-12, illustrating the position of the packing ~7 parlel aEter movement of the packing panel in a working ///
::

34- ;~
~, ~ 3' '' ~', . ~

L) 'IOl 1 direction throuyh the loading hopper to force refuse 2 throuyh a passaye haviny a narrowed throat and then into~
3 the re~use storiny container with very hiyh pressures~
i beiny exerted on the refuse as it passes through~the , ~ ,h~
5 throat; ~ s'"~
E`iy. 14 is an elevational view taken alony~:line 7 14--14 of Fiy. ~ illustrating the appearance oP the~ta~ ,?",~ ' $ yate as vie~ed from the rear; ~ 7`'~
9 Fiy. 14a is a sectlonal view takell al~ony~ ne~ ",'~
14a--14a of Fiy. 14;~
11 Fig. 14b is a detailed secti~onal view taken~;alo?ng. ~ ~ "~
12 line 14b--14b of Fiy. 14; ;~
~3 Fig. 14c is a detailed view, partia:lly:in seati~on,,~

14 of the top beam for the~tailgate illustratlny a stif~Penlny~
assembly incorporated into the beam for resis~tiny twistlnq~
16 forces imparted to the beam by,the weiyht of the relatlve~ly ~ ~ ?~
1l heavy driviny mechanism for the packing panel illus,tratèd' l& at the left in Fig. 14;
19 Fig. 14d is a sectional. vlew taken~along~ ne~
20 14d--14d of Fig. 14c to illus-trate the struitur~e of:;the~ "`,?,"~
21 stiffening assembly within the top be~am;
~2 Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along~line~ 5'--~lS~
2~ of Fiy. 1 to illus-trate the structure of the rePuse:~;storagé' 2'~ container and the manner in which flexible~plates~ma~-be,~ ",`,~
utilized in forming walls of -the container wlth the~plates~
26 beiny bowed outwardly to be placed ln tension as~press;ur:e~s~
21 are applied to the interior of the refuse contalner, ~ ",,~

- - 1 1 0 1 ` ' Fig. 16 is a view -taken along line 16--16 of 2 Fig. 1 to illustrate the inner appearance of the tail-3 ~Jate;
Fig. 16a is a sectional view taken along line 5 16a--16a of Fig. 16 -to illustrate the configuration~ of 6 a seal utilized in sealing the tailgate to the refuse q storage container when the tailgate is lowerecl to a ~3 closed position;
9 Fig. 17 is an elevational view of the refuse lO storage container as viewed from inside the storage 11 1~ody;
12 ~ig. 17a is a sec-tional view taken along line :13 17a--17a of Fig. 17 14 Fig. 18 is a rear view of the refuse storage ;~

15 l~ody, as viewed from the right in Fig. 1, with the tailgate ;~

16 removed for clarity of illustration;

17 Fig. 18a is a sectional vie~1 taken alonc3 line

18 18a--13a of ~'ig. 13;

19 Fig. 19 is a partial elevational view of the tall-

20 ~ate as viewed from the right side in Fig. 14 to illustrate :

21 a control mechanism for causing movement of the packing

22 panel, coupled with a stop mechanism connected to the pack~

23 ing panel for returning the control mechanism -to a neu-tral `~
2~ poSitiOIl;
Fig. ]9a is a partial detailed view taken along~
2G line 19a--19a of Fig. 19;
~: :~ , ~: .:
27 E'ig. 20 is an elevation vicw taken along line 23 20--20 of Fig. 19;

` ,..................... ~';",101 ~ ' 1 Fig. 21 is an elevational view of control rods 2 positioned within the tailyate whose movement is con~
3 trolled by movement of the control mechanism of Fig. 19;
Fig. 21a is a sectional view taken along line 21a--21a of Fig. 21;
G Fig. 21b is an elevational view, similar to 7 Fig. 21a, i.llus-tra-ting the positioning of the control '~ rods after one of the control rods has returned to its 9 neutral position, with the other control rod remaining in an activated position;
ll Fig. 21c is a partial sectional view taken along 12 line 21c--21c of Fig. 21 illustrating the functioning of 13 a deten-t mechanis~ in holding one of the control rods ln an activated postiion while the o-ther control rod may be returned to its neutral postiion;
lG Fig. 22 is a schematic hydraulic circuit diagram~
17 illustrating one embodiment of a hydraulic circuit for con~
l~ trolli.ng movement of the ref~ise compaction mechanism;
l9 Fig. 23 is a schematic hydraulic circui-t diagram,~
similar to Fig. 22, illustrating a second embodiment of a 21 hydraulic circuit for controlling movement of tlle refuse 22 compaction mechanism, and, 23 Fig. 24 is an elevational view, similar to Fig. 21, 2~ il]ustrating the use of a single control rod for actuating a portion of the elements in the hydraulic circuit illus~
26 trated in Fig. 23.

32 ; .

~ llO]. .^ ~
~ ~1 A~1 1 Detailed Des ption ;;:~

3 Figure 1 illustrates the invention embodied 4 in a garhage truck 2 having a cab 4 and a frame 6. A
5 storage body 8 for holding refuse under pressure lS : ;
6 positioned on the truck frame 6 with a tailga-te 10 7 being rotatably supported at the rear of the storage~
8 body. The tailgate in its closed pOSitiOII is indicated 9 in solid line drawing as 10 and is illustrated in 10 phantom line drawing in a raised position as 10'. Durlng 11 the packing of storage body 8 with refuse under pressure;, 12 the tailgate is main-tained in its lowered position 10 13 and is fixedly positioned against the storage body.
4 llowever, whell the storage body 8 is filled with refuse,~
15 the tailgate is then raised to its position:l0' and lG refuse within the storage body may be ejected through ~ s~
17 the exposed opening at the rear of the storage body.
18 An ejec-tion panel 12 may be slidably positioned~
19 within the storage body 8 with movement of the ejectlon~
20 panel serving to vary the volume within the storage body:~
21 which is available for storing refuse. To fill the 22 storage body 8 with the ma~imum amount of refuse, lt is ;~
23 impor-tant that refuse within the storage body be packed : 24 at a relatively uniform pressure. To accomplish this ~
25 result, the ejection panel may be positioned as shown in 26 solid line drawing 12 at a point adjacent the rear of 27 the storage body 8 cluring the initial stage of packlng 28 refuse within the storage body.

- 30 /// ; `~

~ : -:

1 ~s refuse is introduced into the storage body 2 8 from tailgate 10, the refuse may exert pressure aqainst 3 the ejection panel 12. When the pressure exerted by 4 refuse against ejection panel 12 exceeds a predetermined pressure level, the ejection panel may then be moved a '~f small incremental dis-tance toward the fron-t of the 7 storage body 8. This reduce~s the pressure exerted by 8 refuse against the ejection panel 12 and the packinq of~
9 reEuse into the storage body 8 may then continue unti~
the pressure exerted by refuse against the ejectlon 11 panel again exceeds the predetermlned pressure level 12 with the ejection panel then beiny again moved a small~
13 incremental distance, etc. Progressive filling of the 14 storaye body 8 with refuse may then be accomplished in a uniform manner with the refuse being packed within 16 the s-toraye body at a relatively uniform pressure.
17 This resul-ts in filling the storage body 8 with the 18 maximum amount of refuse which is beneficial in reduclng 19 the time which is lost in -trips to a landfill or refuse transfer center to discharye refuse.
21 When -the storage body 8 is full of refuse, the ~2 ejec-tion panel may occupy the position shown in phantom 23 line drawing as 12' adjacent to the forward end of the

24 storaye body. To move the ejection panel 12 within the ;~
storaye body 8, a telescopic cylinder 14 may be connected ;~
26 to a pivot 16 at the forward end of the storage body with 27 the other encl of the cylinder connected to a pivot l8 on ::

-39- ;

.
, ~3~L

the frame for the ejection panel. ~1ith the ejection 2 panel in its forward position 12 ', the -tele~scopic 3 cylinder 14 ma~ be completely contracted and with the e j ec t ion pan e l in i t s rea rward po s i t ion 12 ', t he cylinder may be completely extended. Slide rails 20 6 may be positioned along either side of the storage body 7 8 wi th s lots in the f rame f or the e j ecti on panel 12 8 engaging the slicle rails. The upright position of the 9 ejection panel 12 within the storage body 8 may, -thus, be maintained during movement of the ejection panel.
11 As indica-ted, the storage body 8 may include 12 a front frame 22 positioned adjacent to the cab 4 and 13 a rear Iframe 24 which supports -the tailgate 10 and 14 engages the tailgate in its closed position. I'he con~
struction of the storage body 8, as will be described, 16 is s-trong and also surprisingly light as compared with 17 prior constructions. Thus, the storage ~ody 8 does 18 no t r equ i r e s uppor -t a t po i n t s i n t ermed i a t e i t s end s . ;;~
19 Only the front and rear frames 22 and 24 may be con~
nected to the truck frame 6 in providing a lighter con- ;
21 struction wi-th savings in the enerqy required to power 22 the truck 2 and a reduction in the wear and tear 2 3 the llighway s during usage of the truck .
24 A t a i l g a t e cy l i nder 2 6 may be emp l oy ed f o r raising and lowering of the tailgate 10. The tailgate 26 10 may l~e connected to the rear frame 24 through pivots 27 2 8 pos i t ioned on e i the r s ide of the rear f rame . The ~9 ///

`'' ~ .

~.~.. D ~
~Z~9~

1 tailgate cylinder 26 may be connected to the rear frame 2 24 throuc3h a pivot 30 w:ith the o-ther end of the tailgate 3 cylinder being connected to the tail.gate 10 through a :;
pivot 32. The cylinder is illustrated in sol.id line drawing in an extended condi-tion as 26 with the tailgate 6 in its raised pOsitiOIl 10'. ~i-th the tailgate ln :its ;~
7 lowered position 10, the tailgate cylinder is shown ln 8 phantom line drawing in its contracted condition as 26'.
9 A hopper generally indicated as 34 may be formed in the lower portion of the tailgate 10 with the hopper inc1udinq~
11 a curved bottom surface 36, a loading opening 38 to re~
12 ceive refuse, and a loading sill 40 beneath the loadlnq 13 opening. A passage shown in phantom line drawing as~42 14 may lead from -the hopper 34 into the storage body 8 and a packing panel, generally indicated as 44, may be 16 positioned within the hopper to move refuse from the 17 hopper throug}l the passage into the storacJe body.
18 The packing panel 44 may include a main panel 19 indicated in phantom llne drawing as 46 and a foldable 2.0 panel in phantom line drawing as 48. As will be described,~
21 the foldable panel 48 may underyo limi-ted rota-ti.onal 22 movement with respect to the main panel 46 with the~fold~
23 able panel in an extended position adjacent the surface 24 36 as the packin~ panel 44 sweeps through the hopper 34 :~
in a working direction to move refuse through the passage 26 42 into the storage body 8. Ilowever, when the packing 27 panel 44 then moves in a return direction to return to :~

~ ~ L101 ;~

Z8~

1 its rest position adjacent the rear of the hopper 34, ;;;~
2 -the foldable panel 48 may undergo rotational movement ;~
3 with respect to the main panel 46 to pass over refuse within the l~opper.
In discussing the various positions of -the ; ;~
6 packing panel 44, -the packing panel will be referred -to 7 in its extended condition when the foldable panel 48 is 8 extended -to a position adjacent the bottom surface 36 9 during movement of the packing panel in a working direction. The packing panel 44 will be referred t~o 11 in its collapsed or partially collapsed condition a~s 12 the packing panel moves in a return direction to its 13 rest position. To provide movement of the foldahle 14 panel 48 with respect to the main panel 46, friction 15 pads indicated in phantom line drawing as 99 may be ; ~ u ;~
16 provicled in either end of the foldable panel. The 17 friction pads 49 may have an outer surface formed of 18 plastic with the friction pads being spring biased ln 19 an outward direction into contact wlth -the sidewalls of the hopper 34. The friction pads 49 may, thus, cause~
21 rotational movement of the foldable panel 48 to an 22 extended condition as the panel sweeps through~the ~
23 hopper 34 in a working direction. ~lowever, on movement 24 of the packing panel 44 in a return direction to its rest position, the frictional contact of the friction~
26 pads ~9 wit~l-the siclewa:Lls of the hopper 34 may cause 2r7 rotational movement of the foldable panel 48 to a ;~

~ , D-1101 1 collapsed or partially collapsed position sueh that~the~
2 foldable panel 48 may ride over refuse within the~
hopper.
In providing movement of the packing panel:44 5 within the hopper 34, a relatively large hydraulie drive~ "~
6 cylin~er 50 may be used to drive the paekiny panel in;~a~
7 working direction while a smaller hydraul~le retur~n~eylindèr~
8 52 may be used to move the packing panel in a return 9 direction to its rest position. As~lndicated,~ the~drlve~
cylinder 50 may transmit rotatlonal~movemen~t:~:to;~t~he 11 packing panel ~4 through;a drlv;e:plate 53 whieh ls: opèra~
12 tively conneeted to the paeking pallel and ~unetlon~s~:as~
13 a lever in providing a meehani.eal advantage in ~transmltt~in~
14 power to the packing panel.
A retc~iner panel indieated~:ln phantom~ né;~
16 drawing as 54 may be rotatably posit~ioned adjaeent the~ ~Y`"~
17 entrance in-to the passaye 42 from -the~hopper 34. :~During~
18 movement of the pacXinq panel 44 in~à~work~lng~alre~ot~lon 19 through the hopper 3~, the retainer::panel:~54 may:Eos~itlon in its opened position as lndlcated;ln~Flg~ure l to pérm t~
21 movement of refuse froM the hopper:lnto the passa~e.~W ~ `.
22 the retalner panel 54 1n its opened pos~ltlon as~lnc~icat 23 in Figure 1, the lower surface~;of the retainer~panel,~in:~
24 effec-t, forms a continuation of~the upper surface of~the~
passaye 42. This is advantageo~us in assisting the~move~
26 ment of refuse from the hopper 34 through the passay;e~;42 27 However, on move~merlt of the packin~ panel 44 in a return ., : : , . ~ ~::

,. . . ': ;1101 : :
l2893L : :

1 direction away from the passaye 42, as will be described, ;~
2 the retainer panel may be rotated to its closed position 3 to at least partially block the openiny between the~
4 passage and the hopper 34. I~ith the retainer panel 54 in i-ts closed position, the flow of refuse from the ~ passage 42 into the hopper 34 is impeded, which improves 7 the overall efficiency of the packing mechanism in a mov ng refuse Erom the loading hopper into the storag~e l~ith the packing panel 44 in:its rest position~

11 in a ralsed location a-t the rear of the hopper 34, the ~ u.
12 packing panel may be in its collapsed condition. Durinq~
13 movement of the pac]cing panel 34 from its rest position 14 in a working direction, contact of the frict:ion pads 4 against the sidewalls of the hopper 34 cause the foldable~
16 panel 48 to undergo rotational movement with respect to :;~
17 the main panel 4~. During this movement of the packin~
18 panel 44 in a working direction, it is desirable that:the:~
19 foldable panel 48 should not extend out of the hopper~34 through the loading opening 38 since this could present~
21 a safety hazard. Guide rails shown in phantom line draw~ h :
22 ing as 56 may be formed on the side walls of the hopper :
23 34. The guide rails 56 may extend inwardl~ to~engage :
2~ the foldable panel 48 anc1 to maintain the foldable panel within the corlfi.nes of the hopper as the packing panel 44 2~ moves from its rest position to a position adjacent the ~7 hopper sill 40.

29 /// ; ~
` ~. :
31 :

~L42~9~

l ~s indicatecl in Figure l, -the telescopic cylin~
der l~l may be used in moving the ejec-tion panel 12 ~ithin 3 the storage body ~. A te:Lescopic cylinder, such as cylinder l4, is a relatively complex hydraulic device with interllal passacJes within the cylinder to supply 6 hydraulic fluid to the various cylinder sections which 7 vary in size. Due to the difference in size between the 8 pressure areas wlthin the telescopic cylinder, problems 9 may be encountered in its use. For example, when there is all increase in the ambient -temperature alld the tele~
11 scopic cylinder is Eull of hydraulic fluid, the expanslon~
12 of hydraulic fluid a-t the large area end of the cylinder~
13 may produce unclesirably high pressures at the small area 14 end of the cylinder. If the ratio between the areas at the large and small ends of the cylinder is, for example, 16 lO to l, a one hundred pounds per square inch increase 17 due to expan~ion of fluid at the larye end may produce 1~ a tho-lsand pounds per square inch increase at -the sinall l~ end. It would, thus, be desirable if some means could ;;~
be provided for providing movement to the ejection panel 21 12 without requiring the use of a telescopic cylinder, 22 such as cylinder ]4. ~lowever, due to the large distance 23 through which a hydraulic cylinder must move ln provid~
24 ing movernent -to the ejection panel 12, there has pre~
viously been no alternative except to use a telescopic 26 hydraulic cylinder.

;

32 ;~
;

~ " . 1~- 1 1 0 1 ~X15~9~

1 Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the in~
2 vention in which a means is provided to produce movement 3 of the ejection panel 12 through use oE a conventional;
hydraulic cylinder. For simplicity in illustration, llke re~erence nllmerals have been used in referr~ng to struc~
6 tural elements in Figure 2 which are the same as -those 7 described iJl Fi~ure 1. ~s indicated, a pivot 58 may be 8 provided at the forward end of the storage body 8, with 9 a preferably triangular support member 60 rotatably supported by the pivot. A conventional hydraulic cylinder~
11 62 may be rotatably secured to a pivot 64 on the support 12 member 60 positioned a-t a point intermediate ltS ends.
13 As indicated, with the ejection panel 12 at its forward 1~ position within the storage body 8, the generally trian~
gular configuratioll of support member 60 may be advan~
16 tageous in permitting the hydraulic cylinder 62 to ext~en~d 17 in a forward direction beyond the front frame 22. This 18 permits the storacJe body 8 to be made shorter slnce there~
19 does not need to be additional length provided simply to accommodate the hydraulic cylinder 62.
21 The ejection pane] 12 may include a transverse 22 frame member 66 with a pivot 68 on the frame member rota~
23 tably engaging the rod of the piston 62. A link member 24 72 may rotatably engage a pivot 70 on the support inember 60 with the link member also engaging the pivot 68 on 26 transverse frame member 66. The link member 72, thus,~
27 fixes the distance between the pivot 70 on support member :~:
;. .' : ~ :

1 60 and the pivot 68 on the transverse frame member 66.
2 ~s will be described, this permits translation of -t~he 3 hydraulic cylinder 62 durinc its expansion and contrac-; ;,'~;~,~ '~'. ,~'~'''.'.' ', 4 tion which results from rotational movement of the~sup~
port member 6C wi-th respect to the pivot S8.
6 On expansion of the hydraulic cylinder from 7 its position indicated:as 62 to a new position lndica~
8 ted as 62a, the support member 60~underyoes rot~t~lonal~
~ movement to position 60a.~ This produces movement; of~
the pivot 64 to a new position 64' such that the 11 hydraulic cylinder ln posltion 62a:has undergone trans 12 lational movement to follow the movement of:the:e~ec~
13 tion panel to its new position 12a.
14 On further expansion of the~hydraulic~cyl~ln~ s,~
15 der to position 62b, the ejection pdnel has been moved;~ , "~
16 to position 12b where lt ls;~posltloned immedlately~ad3à~
17 cent to the rear end of the storaye body ~ Also, the~a 1~ support member has underyone further rotatlonal movement~ s''~
19 to position 60b with further movement~of the pi~vot;~:64 2,0 to position 64b. Thus, the translatl~on~l movement~pro~
21 vided to hydraulic cylind:er 62:has~permitted the use~of~
22 the cylinder in provldiny a movement of~ the ejectlon~
23 I)anel 12 which is much greater than the total expanslon 24 of the hydraulic cylinder. A conventional hydraulic'~
cylinder 62 may, therefore, now function in:a manner 2G which is the equivalent of the fun~ction of: a more com~
27 plex and more expensive telescopic hydraulic cylinder.

32 ::

:

~ D-1101 ~L421~

1 During contraction of the hydraul:ic cylinder 62, the 2 above sequence of movements is reversed, with the ~ :
3 cylinder moviny from position 62h to position 62a and then to pOSitiOII G2 as the support member moves from 5 position 60b to position 60a and then to position 60.
~ FicJure 3 is a side sec-tional view through the 7 tailgate 10 to illustrate the mechanism for packinq ~3 refuse and moving the refuse from the hopper 34 into 9 the storage body 8. The pivot 30 for the tai.lgate cylinder 26, as ill.ustrated, may be formed wi-thin a 11 mounting ear 71 which is affixed to the rear frame 24.
12 The hopper 34, ~s viewed from the left in Figure 3, ~a~
13 include a~ sidew~ll 73 which may be formed from several 14 plates connected together in any suitable fashion, such as by welding. The sidewall 73 may be positioned between 16 -the packing panel 44 and the drive mechanism for the 17 packing panel itself such that the drive mechanism is 18 shielded from contact with refuse. The drive cyl.in~er :~
19 50 May be rotatably connected at its upper end to a pivot 74 that is secured to the tailgate I0. Similarly, 21 the relatively small return cylinder 52 may be connected 22 at its upper end to a pivot 76 secured to the tailgate 23 10. The packing panel 44, as illustrated, has complete~
2~ i.ts movement in a workin~ direction through the hopper : :
.: .

25 34 to move refuse from the hopper into the passaqe ~2. : :~

2~ At this point, -the return cyli~ider 52 is completely ~7 extended, as indicated by the position of the piston rod 29 /// :

~428~

1 78. Piston rod 78 may be connected to-a drive chain 80 X for transmitting movement to the packing panel 94 during 3 i-ts movement in a return clirection to its rest posi~tlon.
~ith the packing panel 4~l positioned as illus~
trated, the drive cvlinder 50 is completely contracted 6 as indicated by the retracted position of piston rod 82.
7 The piston rod 82 may be connected to a drive chain 84 8 whose lower end is secured to a connection 86 on the 9 drive plate 53. As described, the drive cylinder 50 and -the return cylinder 52 may work together ln unison~because 11 of their connection to the drive mechanism for -the~;~pack ng~
12 panel 44. Thus, as the drive cylinder 50 contracts~, the 13 return cylinder 52 expands during the movemènt of~the 14 packing panel 44 in a worklng direction throuyll the hop~
lS per 34. Similarly, during movement o~f the packln~i panel 16 94 in a return dlrection to its rest posi-tion, the return~
17 cylinder 52 contracts while the drive cylinder 50 expands~
18 The retainer panel 54 may b~e rotatably secur~ed 19 to a pivot 88 for movement between its open and closed positions. The retainer panel 54 is illustrated in~its ~
21 opened position in Figure 3 as the packing panel is moved 22 in a working direction through -the hopper 34 to move r~efuse~
23 Erom the hopper into passage 42 and into the storage 2~ body 8.
With the tailgate 10 in its lowered position, 2G the tailgate may be fi~ed with respect to the storage 27 body 8 by a tailyate latch generally referred to as 90.

:

1 The tailgate latch 90 may be rotatably connectecl to the 2 tailgate 10 through a pivot 92 while a support member 94 3 on the rear frame 24 supports a keeper 96 which is engaged ;
4 by the tailgate latch 90. The tailgate latch 90 may in~
slude a threaded rod 98 wi-th a correspondingly -threaded :~
6 sleeve 100 being positioned about the rod. A handle 102 7 may be formed at the outer end of the sleeve 100 such 8 that turning of the handle either threads or unthreads;
9 the sleeve with respect to the threaded rod 98. An en~
10 largement 103 on the rod 98 may engage one side of the :~
11 keeper 96 while the other side of the keeper may be 12 engaged by the inner end of the sleeve 100 with the keeper,~
13 t~ereby, being tightly gripped between the enlargement 14 and tlle end of the threaded sleeve. The tailgate 10 may then be securely latched to the storage body 8.
~6 Turning to Figure 4, which is a sectional view 17 taken along line 4--4 of Figure 3, the packing panel 44 18 may be rotatably mounted on a pair of shafts 104 and 106. ;;~
19 In driving the packing panel 44, a torque tube 108 may be secured to the shaft 104 with a drive plate 110 being ;::~
21 rigidly secured to the outer end of the tor~ue tube. As 22 illustrated, the shaft 104, the torque tube 10~, the 23 drive plate 110 and the drive plate 53 move together in ;
24 unison in imparting rotational movement to the pac]cinq :~
panel 44. ~loving inwardly along the shaft 104, a separa~:~

26 tor plate 112 is joined to the drive plate 53 and a stif~

27 fening plate 114 is j,oined to the plate 112 and to the

28 ///

29 ///

...D-llOl 1 torque tube 10~. A stiffeniny plate 116 may then be~
2 joined -to the inner end of the torque tube 108, to the 3 shaft 104 and to the main panel 46.
4 ~t its undriven end, t'he main panel 46~may`~bè~
connectecl to the shaft 106 by a stiffeniny plat;e 118 6 w}lic~l is joined to the shaft and also to the main panel~
7 A support member 120 may surround the shaft 106 and be ~ `u~
8 connected to the ma~n panel 46 witll a stiffenlny plate~
9 122 beiny joined to the o:ther end of the support member,:~
to the shaft and also to the main~panel~ A colIar~ 24 11 may be positioned about the shaft;104~with~the collar en~
12 gaging the exterior surface of th~e clrive:plate llO~and~
13 a collar 126 may be positioned about the sha~ft l06~wl-th~ P~
14 the collar engaging the exterior surface of stiffeniny~ ; `". ~ .i .. `~

16 To provide a strong and rig.d eonne~tl~ betwee ;~
17 the torque tube 108; the shaft 104 ancl the main panel:~46,`~
18 a pair of side plates~l28 may be~se~cured to -the to~rque~
19 tube and also to the main panel.~ The~si~de;plates~12 with the stiffening plates 114 and 116, joined to~ the~
21 end surfaces of the slde plates, form~a:very rlgld struo~
22 ture through which torque is transmitted~from the~torque~
23 tube 108 ~o the main ~anel 46. :~
24 As illustrated, the drlve chains 80~and~84~may;~
each be connected to the drive plates 53 and~110: through~
26 which torque is imparted to the;torque tube lO~ and to~
27 the packing panel 44. In connecting the drive chain~`80 D-IloI
114289~

1 to plates 53 and 110, a pin 130 may be seGured to the 2 drive plates through apertures therein with a clevis 3 132 positioned on the pin and having secured thereto~
the drive chain 80. A spacer element 13~ may~ also~be~
positionecl on the pin 130 to maintain the posltion of:the 6 clevis 132 relative to the pin 130.
7 In securing the drive chain 84 to the drlve 8 plates 110 and 53, the pivot 86 may be secured to ~th;e 9 drive plates through apertures therein with a mounting:~
plate 136 secured to plate 110 to retain the oute~r~end ;~
11 of the pivot relative to`the plate ll0.~ A clevi~s~138 12 may be rotatably positioned on the plVOt 86 with the 13 clevis secured to the drive chain 84. As indicated, the `~
14 connection between the drive chain 84 and clevis l38~is~
positioned a greater distance from the~ axes of~the; shaPt`s~
16 104 and 106 than the connection between drlve chain~80 17 and the clevis 130. Thus, forces transmi.tted to:packlng~
18 panel 44 through the drive chain 84 may act through~a 19 greater moment arm than the forces transmitted to the~
packing panel by the drive chain 80. This is advanta~
21 yeous in providiny a mechanical advantage during mov~eme~
22 Of the packing panel 44 in a workiny directlon by the 23 drive chain 84.
24 The side wall 73 of the hopper 34, as illus~
tratecl in Figure 4, may extend into a space between the;
26 p]ates 53 a~d 114 such that the drive mechanism for the 27 packing panel 44 is isolated from refuse within ~he 1101 ', ~

1 loading ~opper 34. ~ second si.dewall 140 of loading 2 hopper 34 may also be posltioned in close proximity to 3 the other end of the packing panel 44. The foldable panel 4 4~ may be rotatably mounted wlth respect -to the main panel 5 L~6 within slots 142 formed in the maln panel. Tongue ~ members 144 joined to the foldable panel 48 may be posi~
7 tioned within thn slots 142 with the tongue members each 8 being rotatably secured to pins 146 which extend between 9 the sidewalls of the slots to engage apertures formed in 10 the tongue members. Stop members 148 may be secured to ;,~
11 the main panel 46 to permit limited rotational movement ~2 of the foldable panel 48 with respect to the mai.n panel 46.
13 The rotational movement of panel 48, as discussed 14 previously, may be provided by friction pads 49 pos~tloned~
15 at either end of the foldable panel 48 in contact wlth the 16 sidewalls 73 and 140. As the main panel 46 is moved, the;
17 frictional engagement of pads 49 with the sidewalls 73 an~d 18 140 causes rotational movement of the foldable panel 43 ;~
19 with respect to the main panel 46. Additionally, the 2P movement of the foldable panel 48 is controlled to some 21 extent by the guide rails 56 which may extend inwardly a 22 short distance from the sidewalls 73 and 140 to engage 23 guide members 150 on the foldable panel 48.
24 Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along line 25 5--5 of F,igure 4 which illustrates the position of fold~
26 able panel 48 w.ith respect to main panel 46 and the manner 27 in which rotational movement of the foldable panel is 1 linli.ted with respect to the main panel. ~s indicated, 2 SuE~port brackets 147 secured within the foldable panel~
3 48 by bolts 149 may rotatahly engage the pins 146 mounted 4 to the main panel 46. The support brackets 147 may be secured to the foldable panel 48 by bolts 149. Stop ~ members 148 secured to the main panel 46 may each pro~
7 vide stop surfac~s 152 and 154 which are engagable by 8 a stop member 156 secured to the foldable panel 48 by~a 9 support bracket 158. As indicated, contact between the stop member 156 and stop surfaces 152 and 154 effectively 11 limits the ro-tational movement of the foldable panel 12 between the limiting positions provided by the stop 13 surfaces.
14 Figure 5 illus-trates the foldable panel 48 in its extended condition after rotation~of the foldable~
16 panel in a clockwise direction with respect to the pin 17 1~6 to engage the stop member 156 with the stop surface ;
18 152. This is the position of the foldable panel;;48 when 19 the packincJ panel 44 rotates in a counter-clockwlse~
direction from its direction shown in Figure 5 in moving~
21 in a working direction through the hopper 34 as shown~ln~
22 Figure 3. During rotational movement of the packing 23 panel 44 in a return direction, i.e., clockwise from lts~
24 position shown in Figure 5, the foldable panel 48 may~
undergo rotational movement in a counter-clockwlse~direc~
26 tion until the stop member 156 contacts the s-top surface~
27 154. At this point, the packlng panel 44 is in a collapsed , ~,~.,," ~].01 ~428991l l position such that the foLdable panel 48 may pass over 2 refuse within the hopper 34 during movement of the 3 packing panel in i-ts return direction.
Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6~-6 cf Figure 4 to illustrate the construction of 6 the main panel 46 and that of the stop members 148 which:
7 control the degree of rotational movement of the foldable~
panel 48. ~s indicated, the torque tube 108 may be :~
9 directly connected to the main panel 46 which may be~dls~
l~ placed from -the axis of the torque tube. Additionally, :
ll the slde plates 128 may extend from the exterior sur;face 12 of the torque tube 108 to the exterior surface of the :~
13 main panel 46 to provide a very strong and rigid connec~
14 tion between the torque tube and main~panel.. In previous 15 refuse compaction apparatus, it has been necessary to ~ 3`!~
16 drive the packing mechanism through hydraulic cylinder~s 17 positioned at eithe.r end of the packing panel. I~Iowever,~
l~ in the present apparatus, the main panel 46 may be~
l9 driven from only one of its ends. Tllis permits a great reduction in -the weigh-t of the drive mechanism and als~o;
21 simplification of the drive mechanism. To achi.eve these :
22 beneficial results, the main panel 46 has a generally 23 elliptical cross sectional configuration which has great 2~ strength in resisting twisting moments and in transmit~
~5 ting torque. The cross-sectional configuration of the 26 main panel 46 together with the strong and rigld connec~

27 ti.on between the torque tube 108 and the main panel ~)V

-55- ;

1 permits driving the main panel from only one of ltS ends 2 ~ith the torque which is imparted to the main~panel then 3 beincJ transmi-tted th'roughout the main panel. ~ ~ `"~
4 As indicated in Figure 6, an aperture l60~may be formed in each of the stop members 148 to rotatabl~y 6 support the foldable panel 48 with respect to the maln 7 panel 46. ~dditionally, an~aperture 162 may be~formed ~ '``?,~
in the stiffeniny plate 114 to en3age the support shaft 9 104 as shown in Figure 4.
I0 Figure 7 is a sectiona~l vlew taken a~long;the~
11 line 7--7 of Figure 4 which:illustrates~the internal con-~
12 struction of the main panel 46 through~which the fold~able,~
13 panel 48 is supported. To provide strength within:the~
14 main panel 46 to support the foldable panel 48, trans~
verse baffle plates 164 may be posl~tloned wlthin the~
16 interior of the main panel with the ba~ffle~plates being~
17 secured to the inner surface of the:main panel throug 18 any suitable means SUC}I as welding. ~Additionally,~the~
19 baffle plates 164 may then~extend;through the exterlor~
20 surface of the main panel 46 to be integrally connected~ , 8~ ,"~
21 to the stop members~148. ~ channel; l66 (~shown,in phant,om~
~2 line drawing) may then:be rigidly secured to:the baf~fle~
23 plate and an angle 168~may be connected to the stop mem~
24 ber 148 in providing additional strength~for the stop ~ ."
25 me~bers.
26 Figure 8 is a sectional view taken:along the 27 I.ine 8--8 of Figure 4 which illustrates,~the cross-sec-32 ::
-56~

l tional confiyuration of the main panel 46 at its undriven 2 end. In securing the main panel 46 to the shaft 106, an~
3 aperture 170 may be formed in the stiffening plate 122 4 to engage -the exterior surface of the shaft. Dur1ng~move-~
5 ment of refuse from the loading hopper 34 through the ~ p~
6 passage 42 into the storage body 8, as discussed;1n~regard~
7 to Figures ]. and 3, the movement of the packing~panel~4~4 8 and the retainer panel 54 may be precisely coordinated~
~ Thus, as the packing pane]. 44 is dr1ven 1n~ a~work1ng~
lO direction through the hopper 34, the retai~ner::pa~nel~54~ `
l1 may he positioned in an opened posit1on so~that~:there~ s~
unimpeded flow of refuse from the hopper 34 ~into~the~pas~
13 sage 42 and then into the storage body 8. However, w1th ~4 movement of the packing panel 44 in a return direction~::to~
15 return the packing panel to its rest position, the retainèr~ '?~
16 panel 54 is moved to a closed position with the retain~e~r~
17 panel at least partially blocking the opening between the~
18 loading hopper 34 and the passage 42.~ In its closed po~
l9 sition, the retainer panel 54, thus, functions to ;1mpè~de~
20 th? flow of refuse from the passage~42:into~the hopper 3:~
21 When the packing panel 44 has completed its 22 movement in a working direction w1th the reta~1ner panel 23 54 in an opened position (see Figure 3)~,~the retainer 24 panel is positioned closely adjacent to the exterior~sur~
25 face of the main panel 46. When the movement of the:
26 packing panel 44 is then reversed in moving the packing ;
27 panel in a return direction, the retainer panel 54 may:

~ ~.

D-llOl ~ ~

2~39~
, 1 then be immediately moved to its closed position. During 2 this movement of the retainer panel to a closed position, 3 the retainer panel may move very close to the surface of 4 the main panel to sweep refuse from the main panel which is forced into the passage 42 by the retainer panel S4.
6 Returning to Figure 8, the main panel 46 may include~an - ~ .
7 inwardly curved surface 172 which is expressly designed 8 to accommodate the movement of the retainer panel 54 rela~

9 tive to the main panel 46 as the retainer panel is moved from its opened to its closed position. The retainer panel 11 54 m~y, thus, move along the inwardly curved surface~172 12 in sweeping re:Euse from the main panel 46 which is, there~

13 by, forced from the main panel 46 into the paasage 42.

14 Fi~ure 9 is a detailed view of the retainer panel, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, with the panel~in~its 16 opened position indicated in solid line drawing as~54 and 17 the panel in its closed position indicated in phantom 18 line drawing as 5~'. With -the retainer panel in its~opened~

19 position 54, the lower panel surface 173, in effect, forms a continuation of the wall 174 of passa~e 42. Thus 21 with the retainer panel in its opened position 54, the 22 configuration of the panel assists in the movement oE re~

23 fuse into the passage 42. A cross brace 176 provides 24 strengthening of the wall 174 adjacent to the retainer panel~

54 with the retainer panel cylinder 55 having a piston 26 rod 180 which extends through an opening 182 formecl in 27 the cross brace. A link 184 is joined at one end -to the 1 piston rod 180 with the other end being rotatably connected~
2 to a pin 186. An eccentrlc 188 has its upper end :rota~tah~ly~
3 connected to the pin 186 with the eccentric passing through 4 an opening 190 in -the cross brace 176 to connect through~
a pin 194 to the pivot 88 for the retainer panel 5~4~ Sup~
6 port members 196 and 198 may be joined to elther~e~nd~,of~
7 retainer panel 54 to provide additlonal strengthening thereof.
9 During movement of -the retainer pan~el to:its~
lO closed position 54', the cylinder 55 undergoes exte;nslon :to~ "".~;` `'~.;~
11 cause a downward movement of the plston rod;~l80 and;~
12 1~2 and rotational movement of~the eccentrlc l98~. ~;This, in~
13 -turn, causes rotational movement of~the retainer panel~t~o`:,~
14 its closed posi-tion 5~'. During this ro~tational movement,~
the retainer panel may sweep along the lnwardly~curved~
16 surface 172 of the mai.n panel 46 as illustrated~in:~lgù.re~
17 8. To assist in noldinq refuse withln the passaqe~42,~t ~ `~
18 retainer panel 54 may include a lip 200. With~the reta~l~ner`~
19 panel in its closed position 54'j the~lip lndlcated a~s:`;~
2,0 200' opposes the movement of refuse along the~curved~sur~
21 face 173 which is directed~:inwardly tot~a~rd the pass~agè~4~2,,~
22 to assist in preventing the flow of~refuse from the~pas~
23 sage back into the loading hopper 34.
2~ Figure 10 lS the first in a~series of flqures'`,~
which illustrate the movement of the m.aln panel,4~ and 26 the foldable panel 48 during their movements wlthlm~:the `; ;~
27 loading hopper 34. As illustrated, the passage 42 : ' ~:

~1~4z~

l includes an enlarged opening 202 which leads into the 2 storac3e body ~. The passage 42 also i.ncludes a narrowed 3 throat 204 where the walls of the passage are converged.
I'he narrowecl throat 204 serves a very unique and importan~t:~
function in compacting refuse in a new and lmproved manner G as compared with refuse compacting apparatus of the prior 7 art. In previous refuse compacting apparatus, the refuse 8 was compacted under high pressure by packing panels~which 9 squeezed the refuse between the surfaces of the packing panels and the surface of an ejection panel such as;the ll panel 12 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. With the ejec~
12 tion panel being mounted within a refuse s-torage body, 13 such as storage body 8, h.igh compac-tion pressures were , 14 generated by squeezing the refuse between the packlng panels and the ejection panel to create large internal 16 pressures which had to be absorbed by the s-tructure~of the ;~

17 refuse storage body. This required tllat the refuse 18 storage body had to be formed of heavy structural members~

l9 which resulted in increased weight of the refuse compac~

tion apparatus. This was, of course, undesirable, since 21 the increased weight of the xefuse compac-tion apparatus 22 increased the energy requirements for movement of the 23 apparatus. ~lso, the increased weight of the refuse com~

24 paction appara-tus caused increased wear and tear to the road surfaces used by the apparatus and increased the cost~

26 of -the apparatus.

27 By using a passage 92 in the present appara-tus~

28 with a narrowed throat 204, extremely high pressures may

30 /// ~ ;

31

32 .,:

1 be generated as the refuse passes through the converging 2 surfaces of the passage 42 within the narrowed throat 3 204. These locally high pressures result in squeezinq the refuse within the narrowed throat 204 at pressur;es~
which may far exceed the pressures within the refuse 6 stoxage body 8. For example, in the use of a refuse 7 compaction apparatus of the invention havillg a narrowed 8 throat 204, the ratio of the pressures exerted on~the 9 refuse ak the narrowed throat with respect to the pressures~
irnposed by the refuse against the ejection panel 12 wit~hin~
11 the storac,~e body 8 (see Flgures 1 and 2) may~;be~ln;the~
12 order of 35 to 7. -That is to say, when the refuse is~
13 subjected to a pressure of 35 psi in passing throucJh 14 the narrowed throat 204, the pressure within the storage body 8 may only be in the order of 7 psi. Thls~
16 then, permits constructing the storage body 8 oE~rela~
17 tively light materlals while still uniformly packing the - 18 refuse within the storage body at the:very high~pressures~
13 genera-ted within -the narrowed throat 204. In this~mannèr,~
20 the cost of the refuse compaction apparatus may be reduced~ 2~ "b, : 21 by the savings in the metal used~for construction~of-the~
22 storage body 8 and also the overall weight of~the refuse~
?~3 compaction apparauts may be greatly reduced.
24 In its position shown in Figure 10, the packing~
25 panel 44 is in its collapsed rest position with the fold~
2G able panel 48 folded with respect to the main panel 4;6 27 and the packillg panel in an elevated location adjacent 32 :~

~: :: :

l the rear of ~he hopper 34. ~dditionally, the retainer ,~ i;S'~
2 panel 54 is in its closed position to impede the flow 3 of refuse from the passage 42 into the hopper 34.~ With~
4 the packing panel 44 i.n i-ts rest posltion, the~drlve ~ . ' ;,P~
cylinder 50 is completely extended and the return cylinder`~
6 52 is completely contracted. To begin the movement of~
7 the packing panel 44 in a working~direction from its rest~
8 positlon, control rods indicated ln phantom llne draw~
9 ing as 206 and 207 may then be moved to initi~ate~the~flow of hydraulic fluid for contraction of the drive~cyli~nder, ~ ~ '~
ll 50, extension of the~return cylinder S2 and rotational~
12 movement of the retainer panel 59 from its closed~posi~
13 tion to its opened posltion.
14 Turning to Figure ll, with~movement o~f the con trol rods 206 and 207 to init~iate movement of ~the~packin~
16 panel 44 in a working direction, the~firs~t;eve~nt to~take-~
17 place is the rotational movement of the retaln~er panel~S`4 ~ '', 18 froM its closed position indicated in Flgure lO to~i~ts~
l9 opened position shown in Flgure ll. This:provides an~ ''f enlarged opening 208 from the hopper 34 into the pas~sage~
21 42. Moreover, as illustrated, the lower surfa;ce~of~ the~
22 retainer panel 54 with the retainer panel:in lts;:opened~
23 position forms an extension oE the ad~acent~surface~of~
24 the passage 42 to cooperate in promoting the flow of~
refuse from the hopper 34 into the passage and~in:provid~ng~
26 high localized pressures within the passage at the~narrowed~
27 throat 204.

~ ~1101 ';.~

1 Proceeding to Figure 12, af-ter movement of the 2 retainer panel 54 to its opened position shown in Figure 3 11, the packing panel 44 moves downwardly from its rest 4 l~osition within the hopper 34. During downward movement of the pac]cing panel 44, the foldable panel 48 undergoes ;
6 rotational movement with respect to the main panel 46 to 7 move the pac]cing panel from its collapsed condition to 8 its e~tended condition. As previously described, this ;~
9 takes place because of tlle frictional engagement of the friction pads 49 (see Figures 1, 3 and 4) wi-th the side~
11 walls of the hopper 34. During movement of the packing 12 panel from its collapsed to its extended position, the 13 lower edge of the foldable panel 48 is guided throu~h ., , 14 contact with the side rails 5~ which may maintain the foldable panel 48 within the confines of the hopper 3~
16 l~ith the packing panel 44 positioned as shown 17 in Figure 12, the lower edge of the :Eoldable panel 48 is 18 brought into rela-tively close proximLty with the curved ;
19 bottom 36 at a point adjacent to sill 40, which is termed~
the "pinch point" 210. At the pinch point 210, there is~
21 a spacing between -the lower edge o the foldable panel 22 4~ and the inner surface 36 which is sufficiently l~rge 23 to accommodate a worker's fingers. Thus, if the worker 24 were careless and placed his fingers at the pinch point 210 as the packing panel was descending, the spacing at 26 the pinch point would he sufficiently great to prevent 27 the loss of the worker's fingers. Also, as indicated, a 32 ~ ~
-63- :
:
;: :
:

~i'. D-1101 "~

f ~ Z~391 :
1 considerable dis~ance is provided between the outer end~
2 of the sill 40 and the pinch point 210 (generally in :~
3 the order of a foot-and-a-half to two feet) which~is a~
4 safety feature, since this distance woul-l make it dif-~
ficu1t for the worker to have his fingers at the pinc'~h "~ 'F~
G point.
7 In adclition -to the safety reasons for main-~
taining the distance be~tween the panel ~4 and the sur;facè~
9 36 at the pinch point 210, -the distance at Lhe plnch 10 point reduces the impact forces exerted Qn the meta1 at~ F~ .Yn.
11 the sill 40 by -the descendiny force of~the pa~cklng~pa'nel 12 against refuse at the pinch point. In prevlous:refus'e~
13 compaction apparatus, the packing pane1 was brought~ex-'~
14 -tremely close to the lnner surface of the hopper at;a`~
15 point adjacent to the hopper sill. The refuse~was~th~en~ Sj 16 subjected to very high shearing forces e~erted;ther~eon:~b~
17 the downward edge of the packing panel. To resist the'se~
18 high shearing force:, it was generally nec~:ssary~to~pro-~
19 vide heavy reinforcement withln the;tal1gate s~tructure~
at the sill at a point approximating the~loc:a;tlon of~the:'~
21 pinch point 210. Thls had the :ffect of;lncreas~lng~the~
~2 overall weight of th: r:fuse compactloll apparatus.~ ~How~
23 ever, by providing the pxesent distance between ~the~
24 foldable panel 48 and the curved inner surface 36~at thè~
25 pinch point 210, it is nossible to reduce the weiqht of~
26 the structural members in the tailgate 10 in the~vicinity~
27 of the pinch point 210. This results in making t.he over-~
28 all apparatus lighter and cheaper.

. ~ . ..
. ; :
~: ;

,'.. rj"."i10:L
,%8~ `~

1 During downward movement of the packing panel 2 44 from its rest position, shown in Figure 11, -to its 3 position shown in Figure 12, the drive cylinder 50 may contract, with force being transmitted from the piston rod 82 to the drive chain 84 and to the drive pla-te 53 6 and torque tube 108. As illustrated, with this move~
7 ment of the packing panel 44, the drive chain ~4 may 8 contact the exterior surface of the torque tube 108 9 Thus, torque which is transmitted to the packing panel 44 may be supplied through a constant moment arm deter~
11 mined by the radius of the -torque tube 108. During 12 this movement o -the packing panel 44, the packing panel 13 may be moved relatively rapidly and -the force applied 14 to the packing panel by the drive chain 84 may be rela~
tively low. Also, during this movement of the packing ;
16 panel 4~, tlle panel does not encounter ~reat resistance 17 from refuse within the hopper 34 since the panel is 18 merely moving from its collapsed res-t position to a 19 position where the foldable panel 48 is in an extended ~ condition adjacent to curved inner surface 36 at the 21 pinch point 210.
22 During movement of the packing panel 44 from 23 its collapsed rest condition in Figure 11 to i-ts extende;d~
24 condition shown in Figure 12, the return cylinder 52 may undergo expansion with the piston rod 78 being extended~
2~ and the drive chain 80 being wrapped about the exterior~
27 surface of the torque tube lOB. As indicated, the posi~

29 /// ;~

32 ~;

: ~ :
, ~, ,.................... .','` p-llO] ', ' ~; .

I tioning of the drive chains 80 and 84 with respect to 2 the torque tube 108 permits unwinding of the chain 84 3 from the torque -tube while the drive chain ~0 is being 4 wound about the torque tube without interference between ~ the two drive chains. Further, as illustrated, the 6 movement of the cylinclers S0 and 52 may be precisely 7 coordinated due to their mechani.cal interconnection through 8 drive chains 80 and 84 with the torque tube 108. In 9 previous refuse compaction apparatus uslny several cylin~
ders for driving a packing panel, it has been difficult~
11 ~o coordinate the movements of the various cYlinders. This~
12 has resulted from the fact that the only lnterconnectlon 13 between the various cylinders may have been a hydraulic interconnection which, -through failure of some element~
in tlle hydraulic system, could permit the various cyllnders 16 to get out of balance. This cannot occur in the function~
17 ing of the present apparatus, since the mechan.ical inter~
18 corlnec-tioll of cylinders 50 and 52 insures that these 19 cylinders must work in unison. Additionally, as will be ;~
~ described, the cylinders 50 and 52 are hydraulically 21 interconnected. i-lowever, the hydraulic in-terconnection 22 of cylinders 50 and 52 is augmented by their mechanical;~
23 interconnection which preven-ts -the cylinders from being 24 out of balance in moving the packing panel 44 within the~
hopper 34.
26 ~s discussed, during movement of the packing ;~
27 panel 44 from its position in Figure 11 to its position 3].

~ ', :: :
. ~ .
~ .

,i L01 ~4~39~

1 in Figure 12, the rotational force applied to the pack~
2 ing panel by the drive chain 84 may be app].ied through 3 a constant moment arm deterrnined by the radius of the torque tube 10~. Elowever, on continued rotational ;~
movement of the torque tube 108 and drive plate 53 from 6 their pOsitioll shown at the right of Figure 12, the 7 connection point 86 moves to a point positioned to 8 the lef-t oE the shaft 104. During this movement, the 9 drive chain 84 is moved out of contac~t with the exterlor~
surface of the torque tube 108 and the drlving force 11 from the cylinder 50 through drive chain 84 is applied~
~2 directly to drive plate 53 at the connection point 86.
13 This results in progressively increasing the moment arm~
14 through which the drive chain 84 acts in providing torque for rotational movement of the packing panel 44 with the 16 applied force to the packing panel being progressively 17 increased as the packing pane]. continues its movement ;~
18 through the hopper 34 in a working direction. Durlng 19 this movement of the packing panel 44, the resistance of~
refuse within the hopper is greatly increased as the 1 refuse is compacted and forced into the passage 42 and~
22 -through the narrowed throat ,'04. Accordinqly, during~
23 this movement of the packing panel 44, it is essentlal 2~ that a large drivi.ng force be applied to the packing panel. Also, during this movement of the packing panel~
2~7 4~, the rotational speed of movement of the packing 27 panel is proyressively decreased as the moment arm ~50 ;;

v~
-67- ; ~;

- ~ :

1)-110]. ,: .

1 between the drive chain and the axis of rotation o the 2 panel is progressively increased.
3 Figure 13, which is similar to Figures 10 4 through 12, illustrates the position of the packing panel~
: ~
44 after completion of its movement in a working direc~
6 tion through hopper 34. During movement of the packing 7 panel 44 from its position in Figure 12 to tha-t shown in~
8 Figure 13, the connection point 86 between the drive 9 chain 84 and drive plate 53 is moved further and fur-ther away from the axis of the shaft 104. This progres~
11 sively increases the torque applied to the packing panel 12 44 through contraction of the relatively large hydraulic 13 drive cylinder 50. This progressive increase in tor~ue 14 provides a progressively increasing force to refuse within the loading hopper 34 as the refuse is forced 16 into the passage 42 and through the narrowed throat 204 17 -to exert very higll localized pressures Oll the refuse.
18 Also, cluring this ~ovement of the packing panel 44, the ..::
19 drive chain 80 is wound about the outer surface of torque tube 108 as the return cylinder 52 continues its 21 expansin-22 ~s indicated, the inner surface of passa~e 42 23 includes a curved surface portion 212, whose curvature : ~ .... . :
24 is direc-ted toward -the interior of the storage body 8, 25 to exert a horizon-tal flow direction to refuse, indicated ;~
26 as 214, which is directed into the storage body. Thus, 27 after subjecting the refuse to very high localized ~ `

~4289~

. ~
1 pressures within the narroweci throa-t 204, the refuse is 2 discharged from passage 42 into storage body 8 with the 3 movement of the refuse directed toward the ejection panel 12 as described in Figures 1 and 2. I'he force exerted O~
the ejection panel 12 by refuse in the storage body 8, even 6 though much less than the pressures exerted on refuse a-t the 7 narrowed throat 204, may be used in providing movement of 8 the ejection panel away from the passage 42 as the storage 9 body 8 becomes progressively filled with refuse. This permits 10 uniform filling of the storage body 8 with refuse which has 1]. previously been uniformly compacted at relatively high 12 pressures within the narrowed throat 204 with the refuse ;~
13 bein~ stored at tlle lower pressures determined by the pressure ;
14 of refuse against the ejection panel 12. The increased moment arm produced by the connection of the drive cha~n to the~
connection point 86 on the drive plate 53 is indicated as 17 216 at the right of Figure 13.
lF3 The various members effect~vely opera~te in a servo 19 relationship to provide an optimum compaction of the refuse~
in the hopper 34, and particularly in the passage or opening 21 42. This will be seen from the discussion immediately below.
22 As will be appreciated, the main pane1 46 and the;~
23 foldable panel 48 compact the refuse during their movement 24 forwardly from their respective posi-tions shown in F1gure~13.
As the refuse becomes compacted, it i5 directed upwardly and~
26 forwardly into the narrowed throat 204 of the passage or 27 opening 42.
2~ The distance of movement of the refuse in -the 29 narrowecl throat 204 is relatively long. Yurthermore, the ///

~69- `

:' ' 1 narrowed throat 204 has a progressive constriction with -~
2 progressive distances along the passage or openiny 4Z.
3 Tllis causes the refuse to become compacted as it is directed 4 through the passage or opening 42. It also causes the refuse to become fragmented during the movement of the refuse through~
6 the passage, partly because of the venturi effect on the 7 refuse in the passage 42 and partly because of the interaction : ., 8 between the different pieces of refuse with -the progressive 9 constriction in the passage.

Since the passage 42 is fairly long, the reuse 11 does not move completely through the passage in a single 12 cycle of movemen-t of the main panel 46 and the foldable panel~

13 ~8. Thus, the refuse introduced into the passage 42 in 14 previous cycles of operation of the panels 46 and 48 is stuffed further into the passage by refuse introduced into .
16 the passage in subsequent cycles of operations of the panels.

17 As the refuse is stuffed deeper into the passage in the sub~

18 sequent cycles, it produces some churning of the refuse 19 introduced into the passage in the previous cycles and also ;~

produces compaction and Eraymentation of such refuse as a 21 result of such stuffing and churning.

22 ~s previously described, the pressure against the 23 refuse in the most constricted area of the passage or opening ~ .
24 42 is quite large. This pressure is then relieved to a large;

extent in the enlarged opening 202 because the enlarged 26 opening 202 flares outwardly with progressive positions 27 toward -the storage body 8. Thus, the pressure of the refuse 2~ is relatively low as it enters the storage body 8.

///

~ 69a-~ ::

l 5'he servo effec-t results in part from the control 2 exerted on the positioning of the e~ection panel 12 to 3 maintain -the pressure of the refuse in the storage body 8 agail1st the ejection panel 12 within precisely controlled limits. Thus, when the pressure of the refuse against the 6 ejection panel 12 exceeds a first particular limitj the ~
7 ejec-tion panel is moved through an incremental distance in 8 a direction away from the passage 42 to reduce the pressure~
9 of the refuse against the ejection panel. This lncrementa~
lO movement continues until the pressure of the refuse against ll the ejection panel decreases to a second;particular value 12 less than the first particular value. As will be descrlbed 13 subsequently in detail, the response to pressures of the~
l~ refuse in the storage body 8 above the first particular value occurs instantaneously. Furthermore, the incremental move~
16 ment of the ejection panel is provided instantaneously~t}irough~
17 booster arrangements. In thi.s way, the ejection~panel~l2~ls~
l8 moved incrementally through small distances before the~move~
19 ments are interrupted by pressures below the second particular value of the refuse against -the ejection panel.
21 A precise control over-the pressure of the refuse~
22 in the storage body 8 is important in insuring that an optimum~
23 action of fragmenting and compacting the refuse occurs in -the~
24 passage 42. This results from the fact that the pressure~of~
the refuse in the storage body 8 oorresponds to the redooed~
26 pressure of the réfuse in the enlarged opening 202 of the 27 passage 42.
2~ For exarnple, if the pressure of the refuse in the 29 storage body 8 should increase above the firs-t particular~
value, the pressure exerted by the refuse in the enlarged 31 opening tends to become excessive. This inhibits the ability ~ ; . :

",Y- 6 9 b ~
: ~-:
:

.

1 f the refuse in the narrowed throat 204 of the passage 42 to 2 become stuffed into the passa~e by the direction of refuse into~
3 the passac]e in subsequent cycles and to become chrned and cornpactecl as it is stuffed into -the passage. In effect, the ~: ~
refuse in the narrowed throat 204 of the passage 42 becornes 6 constipated because of the excessive back pressure exerted 7 against this refuse by tl-e refuse in the enlarged opening~202.

~ Such constipation tends to block further flow of refuse through~

g the p~ssa~e 42.

Similarly, if the ejection panel 12 becomes moved~

li incrementally when the pressure of the refuse against the 12 ejection panel is below the second particular value~,~an~

13 efEicient action of compacting and fragmenting the re~fuse in~

14 the narrowed throat 2-4 of the passage 42 cannot be obtained.

15 This results from the fact that the refuse in the~enlar~ged 16 opening 202 does not exert a sufficient back pressure agàinst 17 the refuse ln the narrowed throat 204 of the passage 42~to~

1~ cause the refuse in the narrowed throat to become stuffe;d~a~nd~

19 accordingly to become fragmented and compacted. In efEect,~

because of the insufficient back pressure of the refuse~;in the 21 enlarged opening 202, the refuse is moved loosely, or at~ leàst;~

22 too easi.ly, -through the passage 42 without belng subj~ecte~d~to~

23 the forces which normally cause such refuse to be fragmented~

24 and compacted.

Figure 14 is a rear view of the truck with the 26 tailgate 10 in a closed position as indicated by the arrows 27 14--14 in Figure 1. The hopper opening is indicated by the 28 distance of the bracket indicated as 218 wi-th a por-tion of 29 ~he fi~ure being broken away at the left -to illustrate the support structure 220 for the shaft 104. As indicated, the 31 drive mechanism, including the relatively large drive cylinder 32 50 may be positioned at the left side of -tailgate 10 with the -69c- .

,;--. 1 !" ". 1 01 9~

1 L~acking panel 44 being driven from only one side to pro~
2 vide a lighter and less complex drive mechanism. By 3 providing the drive mechanism on only one side of the 4 tailgate 10, there may be a weight imbalance, since the side of -the tailgate 10 which houses the drive mechanism 6 may be heavier than the other side. Also, reaction :~
7 forces which are transmitted from -the drive members lnto 8 tlle support structure of the tailgate 10 will be~greater 9 on the si.de of the tailgate which supports the d~rlve mec~lanism. For these reasons, the construc-tlon of the~
11 tailgate 10 may be strengthened, as will be indlcat~ed,~
12 to absorb the greater weight and the greater reaction~
13 force.s whic~l may be imposed on the s:ide ~hich hollse.s th~
14 ~lriv~ mec}lani.sln.
The ~a.ilc3ate In may include an upper beam 222, :
16 an enlarged side beam 224 and a smaller side beam 226.
17 Turning to Figure 14a, which is a sectlonal view taken 18 along lines 14a--14a of Figure 14, the movement of the ;:~
19 foldable panel 48 is illustrated in various states with~
2P in the hopper 34. In moving from its rest position to 21 its position at the pinch point 210, the lower end of the:
~2 foldable panel 48 may move along a curved path indicated 23 by the arrow ~ with the guide members 150 contacting the~
2~ guide rails 56. During this movement, contact of the ~25 friction pads 49 on foldable panel 48 with the sidewalls 26 of the hopper causes rotational movement of the foldable~
27 panel about the pin 146 in -the direction indicated by the~

-70- ;

'~
::

~. ~ '.1101 - , 2l~ L ~;

1 arrow B. In moving in the direction of arrow B, the 2 I)~nel 48, thus, moves from a folded position relative 3 to th~ main panel 46 to an extendecl condi-tion relative to the main pallel. During the movement of the fold~
abl.e L~anel 48 in a reverse direction within the hopper 34 wi-th the panel undergoiny movement in a return di-7 rection, the frictional contact between friction pads 49 and the sidewalls of the hopper 34 produces rotational 9 movement of the panel with respect to pin 146 which is :~
opposite to -that indicated by the arrow B. Thus, during 11 return movement of the foldable panel 4~, ~he panel is 12 moved from i-ts extended condition to its col.lapsed or ;~
13 .Eol.ded condition. . ;~
14 As described, when -the panel 48 is moved down~
.~ardly to a point adjacent the pinch point 210, there is 16 a distance between the lower edge of the panel 48 and the~
.
17 .inner curved surface 36 which may be in the order of 18 1 to 2 inches. This distance provides a margin of safe~y~

19 for the wor]cer who may inadvertently place his finqers 2.0 within the pinch point 210. Also, this distance reduces .:
21 impact forces which may be transmitted from the panel 48:~

22 -to the structure of the-tailgate 10 at the pinch point 210.

23 In its position indicated as 481, the foIdable 24 panel is positioned adjacent to the pinch point 210 and~

this may be the closest point of approach of the panel to :

2G tlle curved inner surface 36 of hopper 34. ~fter passing 27 beyoncl the pi.nch point 210, the panel ~8 has a path of 31 ;

32 ;:

` llOl `
"` ~14~89~

;~ ~
1 movement indicated by the line 228. As illustrated, 2 the line 228 is positioned further away from inner sur~
3 face 36 than the distance be-tween the foldable panel 48 and the curved inner surface at the pinch point 210. This~
increased dis-tance, as indicated by -the bracket 230, may~
6 be in the order of two and a half to four inches, which 7 represents a distinct difference between the present appara~
8 tus as compared with compac-tion apparatus oE the prior 9 art. In previous refuse compaction apparatus, it has been ;~
customary for the packing panel to pass in very clcse~ prox ~1 mity to the wall of the loading hopper during~packlng~of~
12 refuse within the loading hopper. By having the packing~
13 panel move in very close proximity to the curved surface~
14 of -tile hopper, as has been done previously, the power re~~
quirements for driving the packing panel thrcugh the lcad~
16 ing hopper may be greatly increased. With the panel posi~
17 tione~ very close to the wall of the hopper, ~here;is no 18 provision for slippage through which refuse may be permitted `~
9 to slip by the panel during its movement thrcugh the~hopper ~
20 However, with the path of movement of panel 4~ J
2~ as indicated by line 228 in Figure 14a, there i5 prCViSlC
22 for slippage such that refuse may be permitted to remain 23 in the hopper 34 by slipping by the foldable panel~48~as~
2~ it is moved through the hopper 34. By providing this degree of slippage, the power requirements ~or movement~
26 of the panel 48 -through hopper 34 may be reduced.

~-1101 1 ~dditionally, the spacing 230 between the path 2 of movement 228 and the curved inner surface 36 provides 3 a fur-ther advantage which has been lacki.ng in refuse 4 compaction apparatus of the prior ar-t. For example, in loadillg refuse into a hopper, such as hopper 34, the re-6 ~use may frequelltly be of a bulky nature such as, for 7 example, a large cardboard box. Due to the size of the 8 oi>ject being placed within the hopper, only a SMa~
9 portlon of -the object may be capable of insertion into 10 the hopper with the balance of the article extending ;~
11 out of the opening of the hopper and over the sill 90. ;~
12 In previous refuse compaction apparatus, the downward 13 movement of the packi.ng panel blade into close proximity~
14 to the surface of the loadin~ hopper would provide a sllearing force which would sever a large bulky article 16 so that the severed portion would be packed within the 17 hoppe.r as the balance of the bulky article fe].l to the 1~ ~round by reason of the weight of the article extending 19 over -the loading sill. This would make it necessary to again lift the article and to feed the remainder of the 21 article sequentially into the hopper as each working ;~
22 movement of the packing ~anel would, in eLfect, take another 23 bite out of the article.
2~ By providing a distance between the edge of the 25 packing panel, such as the distance 230 between the fold~
26 able panel ~8 ancl-tlle curved inner surface 36, the panel 27 may ~ot completely shear bulky articles inserted in-to the D-llOl 1 hopper. Thus, the article, if it were a cardboard box, 2 would merely be gripped between the lower edge of the 3 panel 48 and the inner curved surEace 36. As the panel 4 48 continues its movement through the hopper 34, the bulky article may then be dragyed into the hopper by the 6 gripping force applied to the article by the movahle 7 panel. Following movement of the panel 48 through the 8 hopper, -the movement of the panel in its collapsed posi~
9 tion during return movement through the hopper may permit~
the panel to pass over the refuse whlch has been dragged~
11 into the hopper. In this manner, instead of the~ panel~
12 48 taking bites out of bulky articles as they are~i~nserted 13 into the hopper 34, the panel may not only pack the bul~ky~
14 article within ~he hopper in a series of packing motions,~
but may also lighten the job of the worker by pulling~th;e~
16 bulky article into the hopper-with each succeedlng move~
17 ment of the foldable panel in a working direction.~ The~
18 movement of the panel 48 through various positions wlthin~
19 the hopper 34, as shown in phantom line drawing, is~indi~
cated as 48''~
21 To provide support for the retainer panel cylin~
22 der 55 (see Figure 9) a support plate 232 may be provlde~
23 on the interior of the tailgate 10 with an aperture 234 24 to pivotal]y support the retainer panel cylinder. Also,~
a pivot suppor-t 236 may be provided for rotatably~suppor-~
26 ting the retainer panel 54 at a point adjacent to passage~
27 42. Rdditionally, a support member 238 may be provlded~

~4~8~

for supporting the shaft 106 (see Figure 4) and a pivot 2 support 240 may be provided for the pivot 74 (see Figure~ 3) : . . .
3 for support of the cylinder 50.
4 As discussed in regard to Figure 14, the struc~
5 ture of the tailgate 10 may be designed to compensate for 6 tlle additional weight and reaction forces which are borne; ;~
7 by the tailgate as a result of housing the drive mechanism;~
8 for the packing panels at only one side of the tallgate.
9 Figure 14b is a sectional view taken along the line i~ndi~
10 cated by the arrows 14b--14b of Figure 14. As indicated, 11 rregularly shaped stiffening plates 242 may be position~ed 12 at either side of -the side beam 224 to en~age the~beams 13 2~14 and 246 which may converge at the pivot support 240.
14 This provides a strong base of support to absorb large;
15 reaction forces which may be transmit-ted to the pivot 16 support 240 by the rela-tively large hydraulic drive 17 cylinder 50.
18 Returning to Figure 14, an enlarged side elè~va~
19 tional view of the upper beam 222 is shown in Figure 14c~
20 As illustrated in Figure 14c, the upper beam 222 may 21 include an outer surface member 248 having a s-tiffener 2~r~ assembly 250 integrally formed within the upper beam at ;~
2~ a position adjacent its left side as indica-tec~ bv the~ loca~
24 tion of the arrows 14d--14d in Fiyure 14. The function 25 of the stiffener assembly may be to effectively lsolat~e~
26 the high forces generated in the lefthand portion of 27 beam 222 such -t11a-t these forces are not allowed to twist , ~

.

~--' D-llOl ~-1 or ~end the upper beam~ ~s indicated, the stiffener 2 assembly 250 may include a transverse stiffener plate 3 252 positi.oned at one end and a transverse stiffener plate 254 positioned at the other end of -the assembly.
Turning to Figure 14d, which is a sectional 6 view taken along the line 14d--14d of Figure 14c, the 7 transverse stiffener plates 252 and 254 may each have an irregular configuration with enlarged ends joined 9 to the outer surface mernber 248 and to an outer surface member 256 which is joined to outer surface member 248.
11 Additionally, longitudinal stiffeners 258 and 256, which 12 may each have a curved configuration corresponding to~
13 the shape of the plates 252 and 254, may join the stif~
14 fener plates together. The closed configuration of the stiffener assembly 250 which may be provided by the 16 interconnection of the transverse plates 252 and 254 with 17 the longitudinal stiffener plates 258 and 260 may pro-1~ vide a very stiff and strong structure having a high 19 resistance to twisting and bending. In this manner, large forces which may be generated i.n the left portion 21 of the upper beam 222 (see Figure 14) due to mounting~
22 of the drive mechanism on the left side of the tailga-te 23 10 are successfully resisted by the upper beam 222.
2~ Figure lS is a sectional view through the storage body 8 taken along line 15--lS of Figure 1. As 26 indicated, the storage body 8 may be supported by upper :~
27 longitudinal stiffeners 262 and 264 and lower longitudinal 2~

32 ~ ;
-76- ~

L~ - l l O l ~ ' 1 stiffeners 266 and 268. The slide rails 20 may be Z formed integrally with the lower stiffeners 266 and 268 ;~
3 to extend inwardly into -the storage body 8. As des~
4 cribed previously in regard to Figures 1 and 2, the ejection panel 12 may slidingly engage the rails 20 6 with the slide rails engaging grooves formed in the 7 lower portion oE the frame for the ejection panel. ~
8 As discussed, the present ap~aratus may be 9 ligh-ter than previous refuse compaction apl~ratus. ;To provide a strong and yet light construction for the~
11 s-torage body 8, -the sidewalls of the storage body may be~
12 formed of flexible metal sheets, indicated as 270, 272~
13 274 and 276. The flexible sheets 270, 272, 274 and 276 14 may be bowed outwardly from their points of connection to the longitudinal s-tiffeners 262, 264, 266 and 2~68 16 This insures that the flexible metal sheets 270,~272 17 274 and 276 may be placed in tension by pressures 18 generated within the storage body ~. Since the metal~
19 sheets may have a high tensile strength as compared to~
their strength in compression, this may permit the~
21 relatively thin and lightweight sheets 270, 272,;274 22 and 276 to be used in forming the s-torage body~8.~The~
23 storage body 8 may, thus, be made lighter. Also, as 24 discussed previously, by subjecting the refuse to high pressures within the narrowed throat 204 of passage 42 26 prior to introduction of the refuse into the storage 27 body 8, -the storage body may be designed to function at ~77-.....

,.;? ~.,D 1101 , :
3L 1 4 ?;2 ~

1 lower pressures. This also may reduce the need for rela~
2 tively heavy structural members in the construction of 3 the storage body $.
4 As irlclicated in Figure 15, a conduit passage 278 may be formed on the surface of the upper sheet;~
6 member 274 and a corresponding condui-t passage 280 may :~ ,."~
7 be formed on the surface of the lower sheet member~276.
8 The conduit passages 278 and 280 may be used for~running 9 hydraulic or electrical lines between the front and;~'rear,~
portions of -the storage body 8.
li Fiyure 16 is a front view of t~he tallgate~l~0 i~
~: 12 its lowered posi-tion as indicated by line 16--16 of~Figure 1.
13 ~.s indicated?, seal members 281 and 282 ma:y be positionie~d~
, 14 on the side beams ~24 and 226 for contact with the rear~
Of the storage bocly 8 Witil the tailgate 10 in ltS ldwered~
16 position. A transverse brace 28~3 may provide~support:for~
7 the upper wall of the passac3e 42 and a l~ower frame~member:~
284 may be positioned between the s:ide beams 224 and 22:6 9 A flat surface ~86 may be formed below the portion of the passage 42 with the flat surface positioned~
21 in close proximity to a.corresponding flat surface on .
22 the storage body 8 with the tailgate ln its lowered pOSl~
23 tion as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. A seal 285~may~
24 be positioned abou-t a portion of the flat surface 286,~ whlch~
, 25 seal may engage the storage body 8 with the tailgate~l~0 26 in its lowered position to form a flui.d-tight barrier.
27 ~s refuse is compacted within the loading hopper, fluld ~ h~

.:
' 32 , :
~, . , D lnl ~

::
1 may be expressed from -the refuse with the fluid collec~
2 tiny in tlle reyion bounded by the seal 285. ~rhe seal 285, 3 tllus, functions to prevent a leakage of Eluid from the :1 : ;~
4 joint between the lowered tailgate 10 and -the storage body 8.
6 Figure 16a is a sectional view taken along 7 the line 16a~-16a of Figure ].6 to illustrate the config~ra~
~ tion of the seal member 285. ~s indicated, the seal mem~~
9 ber 285 may include a base portion 287 that may be posi~
~ioned against the side beams 224 and 226 and the lower~
11 frame member 28~ with a curved upstanding portion 288 12 positioned at a generally right angle with respect to ::
13 the base portion 287. The curved upstanding portion 288 14 may include a hollow region 289 that permits deformation o~ tl~e curved upstanding portion during usage in form1ng 16 a liquid-tight barrier between the storage body 8 and 17 the tailgate 10.
18 In supporting the seal 285, a support member~290 19 may extend outwardly in a generally perpendicular direc~
tion with respect to the surface of the side beams 224 and`;:
21 226 and the lower frame member 284 and a support 22 clamp member 291 may extend in an angular relation to the ;~
23 seal to engage the upper surface of base portion 287. F~or~
24 ease in replacement of seal member 285, the support clamp 291 rnay be somewhat flexible such that the clamp member 26 can be pulled outwardly away from contact with the base 27 member 287. This permits the removal of the sea1 member ;~

,~ 31 I?-l:l.ol ~ 2~

1 285 witll the clamp member 291 being pulled outwardly as a new seal member ls inserted. Ei'ollowing this, the clamp 3 member 291 may be released to clamp the replacement seal ;~
member 285 firmly in place.
Fiyure 17 is a front elevational view of the 6 forward support frame 22 as viewed from inside the storage 7 body 8. As indicated, the forward frarne 22 may include 8 a top frame member 292 having a curved lower surface 294 9 for engagement with the curved sheet member 274 (see Figure 15). ~dditionally, side frame members 296 and 11 298 may be joined to the top frame member 292 and a 12 cross channel 30~ may interconnect the side frame members.
13 This provides -the forward frame 22 with a structure which ;~
1~ is both rigid ancl s-trong. ~ pair of generally triangular shaped plates 3n2 and 304 may be positioned against the 16 chanllel 300 and generally triangular shaped support chan~
17 nels 306 ancl 308 rnay be positioned beneath the cross :
18 channel 300 to provide a su~port between -the 19 structure of the reEuse storage body 8 and the truck frame 6.
21 A plate 310 may extend between the inner ends 22 of the channels 306 and 308 with plates 312 and 314 belng 23 affixed to t}le inner ends of the channels 306 and 308 and~
24 also with the cross channel 300. Downwardly extending connectillg members 316 and 318 may be affixed respectively 26 to the plates 312 and 314 with the connecting members ~7 being joined at their lower ends to the truck frame 6.

31 , - D-llu1 ~
9L289~

1 ~ h~draulic fluid reservoir 320 may he positioned on the .
2 upper surface of the cross channel 300 and a pivot sup~
3 port 322 for the ejection panel 12 (see Figure 1) may 4 be forrned between the legs of the cross channel 300.
E'igure 17a is a side sectional view taken along~
6 the lines 17a--17a of Figure 17. As indica-ted ln Fiqure~
7 17a, the connecting members 316 and 318 may ea:ch be:joined~
8 to the respective plates 312 and~31~ with the connectlng 9 members extendincl through openings in the lower surface~
of the support ch~nnels 306 and 308. Connecting memher`
11 316, for.example, extends through opening 323 in the 12 channel 3û6 to engage plate 312. Additionally,~the 13 connecting members 316 and 318 may each include a 14 plurality of apertures 324 within which bolts may be ;~
placed in securing the connecting members to the vehicle~
16 frame 17 Figure 18 is an elevational view of the storage 18 body 8 as seen from the rear of the truck 2 with the t:a 19 gate removed (see Figure 1). ~s indicated, the r~ar frame 24 of the storage body 8 may include rigid s.i~de 21 members 326 and 328 joined at their upper ends by à to~
22 member 330. The lower portions of side members 326 and~
23 328 may be connected by a cross beam 332 wlth the cross 24 beam being joined to the truck frame 6 through angle ;~
Z5 braces 334 and 336. One leg of each of the angle braces:
26 334 and 336 may be positioned in contact with the upper 27 surface of the ~.on~itudinal members of the truck frame 6 :

: : :,.

,~ D-llO1 1 with the angle braces being secured to the fram?e 2 through any convenient means such as connecting bolts 3 or welding. Additionally, the angle braces 334 and 336 4 may include upstanding legs whlch may bear against the cross beam 332 and may be secured therto, by example~
6 by weldlng.
q A rear plate 338 may be joined to cross beam~
8 332 wlth the rear plate forming a flat downwardly ex~
~ ter.dlng surface at the rear of storage body 8 which sur~
10 face may be posltioned in close proximity to the flat~ n~
11 surface 286 of tallgate 10 (see F'i;gure 16) when the 12 tailgate is in its lowered positioll at the rear of~the~
13 storage body. Tlle upper edge of the rear plate 338 may~
14 be curved to correspond with the curvature of the flexible metal sheet 276 of the storage body~8.~ Simi~
16 larly, the side members 326 and 328 may be suitably 1I curved to support the flexible metal sheets 270~and 272 1~ forming the sides of the storage body 8 while the top 19 member 330 may also be curved to support the flexible~
sheet 274.
Plate support members 390 and 342 may be;
22 joined to the cross beam 332 with the plate support mem~
23 bers extending downwardly from the cross beam to~provide~
~ support for the downwardly extending rear plat;e 338.
~ cross brace 344 may be joined to the plate support ;~
26 members 340 and 342 with the cross brace being secured~
27 to t~le lower extremity of the flat plate 3380 Plate ;~

n ol ~ ~ ~Z8~31l 1 s~pport mernbers 340 and 3~2, toge-ther with the cross brace 2 394 may, thus, form a rigid frame for support of the ;~
3 downwardly e~tendillg rear plate 338 which may bear ayainst the tailgate lO in its lowered position.
A pivot member 346 may be formed at the upper 6 extremity of side member 328 with the pivot member rotatably : ~:
7 supporting one side of the tailgate 10 with respect to the 8 storage body 8 (see Figure 1). The other side of the 9 tailgate 10 may be supported by the pivot 28 which may be supported by a channel brace 348 connected to -the top 11 member 330. ~s described previously in Figure 14, hydraulic 12 cylinders within the tailgate 10 may be mounted at one side :~
13 thereof such that the packing panel 94 may be driven from on:ly~
1~ one side, as described in Figures 4 and 5. This positionlng~
15 of the }Iydraulic cylinders may produce a weight imbalan~e 16 within the tailgate 10 such that one side of the tailgate~ls 17 heavier than the other side. The heavier side of the tai~
18 gate 10, w~lich contains the hydraulic ~cylinders, may be 1~ pivotally connected to the pivot 28 with the channel brace 398 providing additional strength in rotatably supporting ;~
21 the heavier side of the tailgate. In addition, a support~
22 channel 350 may be joined to the top member 330 to further 23 strengthen the top member at the region adjacent to the ~., 2~ pivot 28 in rotatably supporting the heavier side of the 25 tailgate 10.

.
2~3 29 ~`~

32 ~ :

.
, :

1. 1 0 1 1~L4Z89~

1 As indicated, support beams 352:may be positioned,~
2 along elther side of the storage body 8 at the lower~ex,~
3 tremities -thereof to provide strengthening of the~storage~
body at these reyions. Also, curved plates 354 may~;be joined to the suppor-t beams 352 with the curved~plates '~ n 6 being connected to the upper ends of support member~s 34:0,and,'.
342., The curved configuration of~plates 35~, as i].lust:ra't 8 may merge smoothly into the curvature of the flexlb1e .;-~9 metal sheet 276. The connection~of the plates 354 ~to',:the~
1~ flexible metal sheet 276 may,~therefore, serve~to~fix t ~ "~
11 curvature of the metal sheet at~its:;extremlties, whLle~àls ~ ."~
12 providing strengthening of the lower::portions of the ~ '"~
~-3 storage body 8.
14 Figure 18a~is an elevational~view taken along the' ~ ,-~
llne 18a--18a of Figure 18, which i1:1u~stra~tes~the~conflgura ~ ;"
tlon of siAe member 328. The pivot 346 formed at:~thé~upper ,r~
17 extremity of side member 328 may extend rearwardly~from~the~
18 storage body 8 with the pivot 30 for the talIga~te lif`ti 19 cylinder 26 (see Figure l)~likew~se~extendlng;~rearwàrdly 20 and being positioned below the pivot 346. The;plate~s,ùp~ "'~
21 port member 342 may include a rearwardly 1ncl~ined~ surf c 22 355, Additionally, the othe~r plate~support~member~340 (see Figure 18) may also include an inclln~ed surface~sim ~ lar to surface 355. The effect of incl:ined surface~355,is;::~
to reduce the weight of the support member 342 whilé stil`l~
26 providing support for the rear plate 338.

'84-:

~'~r ~)~ "". 01 1 Fic~ure 19 is a fragmentary side elevational 2 view taken from the riyht side of the -tailgate 10 shown 3 in Figure 14 to illustrate the operation of the control 4 mechanism. A con-trol member 356 which may be grasped by the operator may include an outer tube 358 which is 6 secured to a plate 360. The plate 360 may be connect~d 7 to a rotatable rod 362 through a pin 364. With the con~
, 8 trol member 25~ positioned as shown in Figure 19, the 9 control member is in its neutral position and there is no movement of the packing panel ~4. With the packing~
11 panel 44 in its rest posi-tion as shown in Figure 10, move~
~2 ment oE the control member 356 in the directi.on of the 13 arrow B initiates the movement of the packing panel in a 14 workinc3 direction and movement of the retainer panel 54 ~
from a closed to an opened position. Conversely, with the :
16 packing panel 44 and retainer panel 54 positioned as 17 shown in Figure 13, movement of the control member 356 18 in the direction of the arrow C initiates movement of 19 -the retainer panel 54 from an opened to a closed posi~
tion and movement of the packing panel 44 in a~return 21 direction from its position in E`igure 13 to that ln 22 Figure 10.
23 A rod 366 may be positioned within the tube 358 24 with the rod e~tending through an aperture in the closed bottom 370 OL the tube. A spring 372 may be positloned 26 about the rod 366 at its lower end with one end of the 27 spri]lg engaying tile bottom 370 and the otller end of the .: :

32 ~ :

r)-ll.Ol ~ ' ~42~9~

1 spring engaying a spring s-top 374 positionecl about the 2 rod. A halldle 376 may be positioned abou-t the oute~r 3 tube 358 at its lower end with the handle includlng~a 4 cross member 378 which engages the lower end of the rod 3G6. With the rod 366 connected to a connector 380, as ;;:~
6 will be described, the connector 380 may, in turn, be 7 joined to a rod 382, then to a connector 384 and to a 8 rod 386. The rod 386 may be positioned adjacent to a ;~
9 tailgate sidewall 387 ancl extend through a transverse wall 388 extending from the tailgate sidewall and through 11 a passage 390. The passage 390 may extend into a housing~
12 392 with a ta~ 393 being formed at the lower end of the 13 rod 386. ~:~
::; ~;:
14 A rotatable stop mechanism generally indicated as 394 may be ro-tatably positioned within -the houslng:392 16 with the rotational position of the stop mechanism being~
~7 coordinated with the rota-tional movement of the pac~king 18 panel 44 as illustra-ted in Figures 10-13.
19 The stop mechanism 394 may include a first plate~
396 in abutting relation to a second plate 398. To a~d~ust~
21 the angular relationship between the first plate 396 and 22 second plate 398, slo-ts 400 may be formed in the second 23 plate with bolts 402 extending through the slots and 2~ threadably engaging apertures in the first plate. Thus,:
when the bolts 402 are tightened, the rotational positlon 26 of the second plate 398 may be fixed with respect to the 27 rotational position of -the first plate 396~ A bolt 404 ///

-~ ~ llOl ~28~

l may e~tend through both the first plate 396 and second plate~
2 398 to engage the shaf-t 106 which supports the undrive~n 3 end of the packing panel 44 (see Figure 4).
4 On movement of the control member 356 in the :~
direction of the arrow B, the shaft 106 rotates in the 6 direction of the arrow denoted D as the packing panel~44 7 moves in a working direction through the hopper 34~as 8 illustrated in Figures 10-13. ~lowever, on movement of~ the:~
9 control member 356 in the direction of the arrow~C,~ the shaft 106 rotates in the direction of the arrow~E as the ll packing panel 44 moves in a return direction to its rest;
12 position shown in Figure 10.

13 On rotation of the shaft 106 in the direc tion~
14 of arrow D, with the control member 356 moved in the direction of arrow B, a stop member 406 may be rotated~

16 into engagement wi-th the tab 393. The stop member 406 17 may include a stop surface 408 which engages the tab 393 18 to exert a force through the connecting members 386, 384,~

l9 382 and 380 that may exert a rotational force on plate 2.0 360 to return the control member 356 to lts neutra~

21 position. When the stop surface 408 encounters tab 393,~

22 the packing panel 44 may be generally positioned adiacent 23 to the pinch point 210 as illustrated in Figure 12. :Thu~s~
2~ t~lrough contact of the stop surface 408 with tak 393,~the~

packiny panel 44 may not proceed beyond this point in a 26 working direction unless some action is taken by the opera~

27 tor to move the tab 393 so that the tab does not contact 32 : : :

-87- : ~

: ~:

r~ L2~

1 tl~e stop surface 408. This may provide an additional 2 factor of safety by illsuring that the operator consciously ~ ;
3 move the tab 393 out of contact with the stop surface 408 to have a continuation of the movement of the pack~
incJ panel 44 through the hoppe.r 34.
6 To move the tab 393 out of contact with the 7 stop surface 408, the operator may pull downwardly on the ;
8 handle 876 which may cause movement of the rod 366 in a 9 downward direction relative to -the tube 358 against the force of -the biasing spring 372. This, in turn, may pro;~
11 vide a rotational movement of the rod 382, as will be 12 described, in the direction of the arrow F -to rotate the ~3 tab 393 out of contac-t with the s-top surface 408. ~s 1~ the opera-tor pushes the control member 356 in the direction Of arrow B to initiate movemen-t of the packing panel 44 1~ in a working direc-tion, the operator may -then keep his 17 hand on the handle 376 until the packing panel approaches~
18 the pinch point 210 as shown in Figure 12. At this point,~
19 the operator may then pull downwardly upon the handle 376 such that the packin~ panel 44 ~oves past the pinch point :
21 210 in a continuous movement in a working direction through~
22 the hopper 34.
23 During movement of the packing panel ~ ln a re~
24 turn direction from its position shown in Figure 13, it is~
~25 desirable tha-t the movement of the packing panel not be 26 stopped when the packing panel reaches the general location 27 of the pinch point 210. Thus, a slide surface 410 may be ~ :

~88-' :

I~, . l ;:
~4~
. ~` ;.
~ .
1 formed on the s-top member 406 with the slide surface 2 beinc3 shaped and positioned to slide over the tab 393 ;.
3 during movemen-t of the packing panel in a return direc~
4 tion and to not interrupt the movement of the packing panel at the pinch point 210.
6 With the packincJ panel 44 moving in a working 7 direction and the shaft 106 rotating in the direction 8 of tlle arrow D, when the s-top 406 has rotated beyond 9 the tab 393 as descxibed, the rotation of the shaft may continue until stop member 412 on the first plate 11 39G encounters -the tab 393. At this point, the plate 12 360 and control member 356 may be rotated in a direction 13 counter to that shown by arrow B to return the plate 14 and control member -to the neutral position indicated in 1~ Figure 19. At this point, the movement of the packing ::~
16 panel 44 may cease. With the packing panel 44 occupying 17 the position shown in Figure 13, the member 356 and 18 plate 360 may t]-len be moved in the direction indicated 19 by arrow C. This may cause rotation of the shaft 106 in~
the direction indicated by arrow E in which the slide 21 surface 410 of stop member 406 rides over the tab 393. Ro~
22 tational movement of the shaft 106 may, thus, continue in:the :~
23 direction of the arrow E until a stop member 414 on first 24 plate 396 contac-ts the tab member 393. At this poInt, the~
plate 360 and the control member 356 may be rotated in a di~
26 rection counter to that indicated by the arrow C to return 27 the plate and operatillg member to their neutral positions 2~ shown in Figure 19. At this point, the mo~ement of the pack~
29 ing panel 44 may cease and the packing panel may be posi-tioned at its rest position shown in Figure 10.

31 /// ~ ~ :
3~ /// -`

.R.'~ r 1 As described, the angular position of the second 2 plate 398 with respect to first plate 396 may be varied 3 by loosening bolts 402 and 404, rotating the second plate~
4 with respect to the first plate, and re-tightening -the bolts. The position of the stop member 406 may, thusj be 6 varied with respect to the positions of the stop members~
7 412 and 414. This, in turn, may vary the point at whlch 8 the stop surface 408 encounters the tab 393 such that the~
9 packiny panel 4g may be stopped at the pinch point 210 as~
shown in Figure 12 or at a point ln advance of~;the~plnch~
11 point, as desired.
12 Flgure l9a lS a detailed vlew taken along the~
13 line l9a--19a o:E Figure 19 -to illustrate the construction`~
14 of the stop member 406 and its funct~.on of sliding over~
the tab 393, during rotational movement of the stop member 16 in the direction of the arrow Æ. As indicated, the~stop~
17 member 406 may include a transverse portion 416 from which~
18 may depend the stop surface 408. The slide surface 410, 19 whicll lies behind the stop surface 408 in Figure 19a may~
2P be inclined upwardly from the stop surface toward a sur~
21 face 409 whose length is less than that of surface 408 22 as indicated by the brackets identifying the surfaces 23 and their length. In usage, the tab 393 does not COD~
24 tact the surface 409 due to its decreased length as ~he stop member 406 moves in the direction of the 26 arro~l E. Rather, the tab 393 then encounters the ?,r7 inclined slide ~urface 410 with the surface 410 then 28 riding over the tab 393 due to the resiliency of khe 29 transverse portion 416. However, when the stop member ///

~ ~ D-llOl 1 406 encounters the -tab 393 during movement of the packin~
2 panel 44 in a working direction with rotation of the ~ shaft 106 in the direction of the arrow D, the longer stop~
4 surface 408 may directly contact the tab 393. ~s des~
cribed, this may move the control member 356 to its neu~
6 tral position unless the operator has rotated the tab 393 7 out of contact with the stop member 406 by pulling~down~
3 wardly on handle 376.
9 Figure 20 is a view taken along the line~20~--20 of Figure 19 which further illustra-tes the functioning~of~
11 the control mechanism. As indica-ted, the rod~382 may 12 connect a-t its upper end through a universal jo1nt~418 to 13 the plate 360. Additionally, the rod 382 may be fixedly 14 connected to an ~-shaped bracket 420 which may, in turn, ;~
1~ be connected through a universal joint 422 to the rod 366.
16 Thus, when the rod 366 is pulled downwardly by~handle 37G~
17 as discussed in regard to Figure 19, the downward movement 1~ of the rod 366 may have no effect upon the position of the~
19 tube 358 which is fixedly connected to plate 360. The~
20 downward movement of the rod 366 does, however, exert~a ~L downward force upon the L-shaped bracket 420 whose posi~
2~ tion is angled outwardly away from the plane of the paper 23 as it is shown in Figure 20. The downward force exerted 24 upon L-shaped bracket 420, thus,.may exert a turning momen~t~
25 on the rod 382 which may rotate -the rod in the direction 26 indicated by arrow F to move the tab 393 out of engagement 27 with the stop member 406. Due to the presence of the ", ~ : ~

~ D-llOl ~L~L422399L

l universal joints 418 and 422, the rotational movement 2 ov the I.-shaped bracket 420 and the rod 382 does not 3 disturb the position of the plate 360 and tube 358.
4 Thus, the control handle 356 remains in its position even though the rod 382 is rotated. The universal joint 418,~
6 while permitting rotational movement of the rod 380 with;
7 respect to plate 360 does not, however, permit transla~
8 tional movement of the rod 382 with respect to the plate~
9 360. Thus, when the -tab 393 is engaged by any of the stops 412, 414, 416 to produce translational movement~of~
ll the rod 382, this translational movement causes movemen~t~
12 of tlle plate 360 and tube 358 as described previously.
13 As indicated, in the lower portion of Figure 20, 14 a support bearing 424 may be provided for the shaft 106 with the first and second plates 396 and 393 being secured~
16 to the shaf-t at a mounting location which is positioned~
17 outboard from the support bearing. Further, a closure `
18 plate 426 may be positioned over the housing 392 with the l9 closure plate being secured to the housing in any conven~
tional manner, such as the use of bolts 428.
21 Figure 21 is a detailed view illustrating the~
22 rnovement of control rods 206 and 207 in transmlttlng 23 movement from the rotatable rod 362 shown in Figure l9 to~
24 valves for controlling the hydraulic mechanism. As indi~
25 cated, the rotatable rod 362 may extend from the right ;~
26 rear side of the tailgate 10 where the control mechanism 27 may be located -to the left rear side of -the tailgate where 2~ the drive mechanism may be located (see Figure 14).

///

-~.

,,~01 8 !9~

At tIle term:Lnus oE the rotatable rod 362 at the ;~
2 leEt rear side of the tailgate 10, the rod may be supported 3 by a beariny plate 430 secured to a support plate 432. A~
partial closure 434 may extend about the rotatahle rod 362 as it crosses the back of -the tailgate 10 to protect the 6 rod. ~n eccentric 436 may be secured to the rotatable ;~
rod 362 at a position which is inboard from the beariny 8 plate 430. The control rods 206 and 207 may be eonneeted 9 to a pin 442 joinecl to the eccentrie 436 such that rota~
tional movement of the rocd 362 in the direc-tion indicated 11 by arrow G may cause simultaneous movement of the eontrol~
12 rods in the direetion indieated by arrow IT. The eontrol 13 rod 207 may be connected to a valve actuation member 444 1~ while t~le control rod 206 is conneeted to a valve aetuation member 446. As will be deseribed, a detent meehanism 448 16 may be posltioned adjaeent to the valve actuation member 17 446 to hold the va:Lve actuation member in a desired pOSl~
18 tion after movement o the rod 206.
19 ~igure 21a is a seetional view taken along the lines 21a--21a of Figure 21 to demonstrate the manner in 21 which the rods 206 and 207 may be connected to the eccen~
22 trie 436. The rod 206 may inelude a s-ot 450;formed~at~
23 its outer end with the rod 207 ineluding a slot 45Z formed~
24 at its outer end. With rotation of the rod 362 in the ~5 direction of arrow G as shown in Figure 21, the pin 442 26 may move to -the right hand ends of -the two slots 450 and~
27 452. This contact may, then, move both the rods 206 and 28 207 in the direction of arrow H as shown in Figure 20. ;~

~93 ? : ~ i D-].101 1 .~s will be described, rod 20i may be used to 2 actuate t~)e movement of the retainer panel 54 from a 3 closed to an opened posltion (see Figures 10 and 11) or to actuate movement of the retainer panel from its opened to its closed position. As described previously with 6 regard to Figures 10-13, movement of the retainer panel 7 54 may precede the movement of the packing panel 44. For 8 example, the retainer panel 54 may move from a closed to 9 an opened position before movement of the packing panel 10 44 in a working direction through the hopper 34 tsee :~
11 Figures 10 and 11). Similarly, -the movement of the re~
~2 tainer panel Sa from an opened to a closed position may 13 precede the movement of the packing panel 44 from its 14 posi-tion shown in Figure 13 in a return direction to its rest position shown in Figure 10. To provide this result,`~
16 a spring centered valve may be used for providing move~
17 ment of the retainer panel 54 which valve Tnay be actuated 1~ by movement of the rod 207. The spring centered valve 19 may be biased to a neutral position in which no hydraullc fluid flows to the retainer panel cylinder 55 (see Figure 9).
21 On movement of the pin 442 to the right from its position 22 shown in Figure 21a, the rod 207 may be held in position~
23 by the operator with control member 356 held in the direc~
24 tion of arrow B until the retainer panel 54 (see Figures 10-13) has completed its movement from a closed to an 26 opened position. At this point, the operator may then re~
:.:
27 turn the control member 356 to its neutral position shown : ~

.~;i ~ D-1101 ~ ~
~1~L2 !3~

1 in Figure 19 which may cause the pin 442 to occupy the 2 position shown in Figure 21b.
3 The spr:ing centered valve may then automatically~
return tlle rod 207 to its centered position shown in Fiyure 21b. I~owever, the rod 206 may remain held in the 6 direction of the arrow H shown in Figure 21 by the detent~
7 mechanism 448. The rod 206 may, -thus, occupy the posi~
8 tion shown in Figure 21b with the pin 442 positioned 9 closely adjacent -to the left end of the slot 450. With reference to Figure 19, the rod 206 may continue to 11 occupy the position as shown in Figure 2~b until the tab 12 393 is contacted by the stop member 406 or 412 to move 13 the pin 442 slightly to the left from its position shown 14 in Figure 21b and into contact with the left end of slot~
450. At this pOillt, the rod 206 may become disengaged 16 from the detent mechanism 448 with a biasing sprlng of ~
17 the valve returning the rod 206 to its neutral position.
18 At this point, hoth the rods 206 and 207 may occupy the~
19 positions shown in Figure 21a in which the pin 442 is centered within slots 450 and 452.
21 Again, referring to Figure l9, when the con~
22 -trol member 356 is moved in the direction of arrow C, 23 the rod 362 shown in Figure 21 may be rotated in a 2~ direction opposite to that indicated by arrow G. This~
may cause the pin 442 to move to the left from its 26 position shown in Figure 21a into contact with the l~e~t 27 ends of the slots 450 and 452. As a result, -the rods : ~ :` :

.

1 206 and 207 may then be moved in a direction opposi-te 2 to that indicated by arrow H in Figure 21. The con~
3 trol member 356 shown in Figure 19 may then be held in ;~
the direction of arrow C until the retainer panel 54 has completed its movement from an opened to a closed 6 positlon (see Figure 1) with the control member then being~
7 returned to its neutral position and with the rod 207 re~
turning to its neutral posi-tion to occupy the position~
9 shown in Figure 21b. However, the rod 206 may remain in~a~
held position opposite to that indicated by the arrow H ln~
11 Figure 21 under the influence of the detent mechanism~448 12 with the rigllt end of the slot 450 as shown in Figure 21b~
13 being positioned closely adjacent to the pin 442. The rod 14 2n6 may remain held in this position by the detent mechani~sm~
~5 448 until the tab 393 (see Figure 19) is con-tacted by the~
16 stop member 414 as the shaft 106 rotates in the direction~
~7 of the arrow E~ At this point, the pin 442 (see Figure 18 21b) may be moved slightly to the right illtO contact 19 with the right end of slot 450. This may disengage the detent mechanism 448 from the rod 206 such that the rod 2~ returns to its neutral position with~rods 206 and 207 22 and pin 442 occupying the position shown in Figure 21a.;
23 Figure 21c is a detailed side elevation view, 2~ partly in section, taken along line 21c--21c as shown ln Figure 21 to indicate the functioning of the detent 26 mechanism 448 in holding the rod 206. As indicated, the , 27 detent mechanism 448 may include a base member 454 with :~0 : '~.
~:

,~ ~-1101 1 a rotatable arm 456 mounted thereon through a pivot 458 ~`
and an arm support member 460 that supports the pivot 3 for enyagement with the rotatable arm. The arm 456 may be biased in any convenient manner, such as by a spring, for rotation in a clockwise direction from its position 6 shown in Figure 21c with a roller 462 at the outer end of the arm being forced into contact wi-th the rod 206.
8 Notciles 464 may be formed in the rod 206 with the posi~
9 tion of the notches corresponding to the position of the `~
rod when i-t is moved in the direction of the arrow H
11 shown in Figure 21 to actuate the packing panel 44 in a 12 working direction (see Figures 10 13), or when~the rod 13 206 is moved in a direction opposite that of arrow ~I to 14 actuate movement of the packing panel in a return direction.
, :
16 As indica-ted, when the roller 462 engages one 17 of -the notches 464, the upward force of the roller against 18 the notch may hold -the rod 206 in a given position. A

19 valve 466, which may be actuated hy movement of the rod 206, may be a spring-centered valve. Thus, when either 21 the right or left end of the slot 450 in rod 206 is con~

22 tacted by the pin 442 (see Figure 21b) the rod may under-23 go sufficient movement to disengage the roller 462 from 24 one of the notches 464. At this point, the spring-cen-tering action oE valve 466 may return the rod 206 to its 2G neutral position as indicated in Figure 21a with the 27 valve 466 then being in a neutral position such that the 28 movement of the packing panel 44 ceases (see Figures 10-I3 ///

32 `~

.
`

1 Figure 22 is a schematic representation o~ a 2 hydraulic circuit which may be used in actuating the 3 present apparatus. As lndicated, hydraulic fluid from 4 the reservoir 348 may be transported through a supply Iine 468 and a valve 470 to a pump 472. From the pump 6 472 the hydraulic fluid may be supplied wlder pressure 7 through a line ~74 which is joined to a branch line 476.
8 Branch line 476 leads to a pilot-operated relief valve 478 9 that may be conveniently set at a pressure such as 2950 psi~
psi. When the pressure in the line 474 and the branch 11 line 476 reaches the predetermined pressure, the pressure 12 transmitted through a pressure line 479 may cause the 13 valve 478 to open to permit fluid to pass through the 14 valve to a return line 511 leading to the reservoir 348.
In permitting fluid to pass through the valve 478 at a 16 predetermined pressure of about 2950 psi, the 17 relief valve 478 acts as a safety va:Lve for the entire 18 hydraulic system to insure that pressures within~the 19 system do not exceed the predetermined pressure level.
The line 474, after passing the branch line 21 476, leads to a branch line 480 and to a spring-centered 22 valve 482. With the spring-centered valve 482 in i-ts ;~
23 neutral position as shown in Figure 22, hydraulic fluld 24 in line 474 may flow through the valve. The valve 482 25 may include a control handle 484 through which the 26 valve may be moved -to a raised or a lowered position from 2r~ its neutral position shown in Figure 22. On movement ~ . --98- ~
: ~:

~ D-1101 .,'. ~ ':
2~L

1 of the handle 484 to move the valve upwardly from its 2 position shown in Figure 22, hydraulic fluid from line 3 474 may flow througn a check valve 4S6 and through the valve 4$2 to a line 488. The line 488 may lead to a branch line 490 which leads to a pilot-operated relief 6 valve 492. The relief valve 492 may be set to open 7 at a predetermined pressure of about 3100 ~psi which 8 may be transmitted through a pressure line 493 to open 9 the relief valve such that hydraulic. fluid from llne ~90 may flow tc return line 511 and to the reservoir 11 348. ~he relief valve 492 which may be set at a pressure~
12 less than the opening pressure for relief valve 47B~
13 may, thus, function to permit the release of~hydraulic 14 fluid from line 490 when the telescopic ejection cylinder 14 encounters an undesirable pressure buildup during, ~6 for example, movement of the ejection panel 12 from the ;~
17 front to the rear of the storage body 8 during the 18 ejec-tion of refuse from the storage body (see Figure~
19 The line 488, after passing the branch line 490, may lead to two lines 494 and 496. Line 494 may ;
21 lead to a 501enoid valve 495 which, when actuated, as will~
22 be described, will permit hydraulic fluid to flow to a 23 return line 497 and to the reservoir 348. The line 496 24 may lead to the large end of the telescopic hydraulic cylinder 14 which may have, for example, a pressure area~
26 in the order c~ ten times the pressure area at the small 27 end of the telescopic'cylinder. A line 498 may lead from _99_ '~ '~
: "

D-llOl 1 the small end of the telscopic cylinder 14 to a llne 2 512 d.irected to the valve 482. With valve 482 in its 3 raised position, hydraulic fluid may, thus, flow 4 through the valve to lines 488 and 496 to expand the telescopic cylinder 14 while fluid from the small enc~
6 of the telescopic cylinder may flow througil lines 498 7 and 512 throuqh the valve to a line 514 to return llne :~
8 Sll and to the sump 348. ~ strainer 515 may be posi~
9 tioned between the return line 511 and the reservoir~
1~ 348 to remove particles from the hydraulic fluid to 11 prevent clogging of the valves in the hydraulic system~
12 by t~e particles.
13 When the handle 484 is actuated to move the valve 482 in a downward direction from that shown in Figure 22, pressurized hydraulic f:Luid may flow through 16 the check valve 486 and the valve 48~ i.to the lines~S12 7 and 498. This may introduce pressurized hydraullc fluid:~
18 into the small end of the telescopic cyli.nder 14 with~
19 fluid from the large end of the cylinder being returned~
through lines 496 and 498 to the valve ~82. The re:turned~
21 fluid from the large end of telescopic cylinder 14 may 22 then be conveyed through through the valve 482 to line ~ 23 514 to -the return line 511 and the sump 348. As this~
j 24 occurs, the telescopic cylinder may undergo contraction j ~5 to move the ejection panel 12 from the rear to the ront ¦ 26 of the storage body 8 (see Figure 1). ;~

, 28 1 32 ; ~ ~ :

, ~ 1101 ~L4Z8~

1 When valve 482 is in i-ts neutral position as ;~
2 shown in Figure 22 with the telescopic cylinder 14 being 3 filled with hydraulic fluid, a problem may arise if there~
4 is, for example, an increase in the ambient temperature.
Due to the substantial difference between the pressure 6 area at the large end of the telescopic cylinder 14 as 7 compared with the pressure area at the small end of -the~
8 cylinder, a pressure increase at the large end due to 9 thermal expansion of fluid at the large end may produce a tellfold pressure increase at the small end of the tele~
11 scopic cylinder. To protect against undesirable pressur~e~
12 buildup at the small end of telescopic cylinder 14, the 13 line 998 from the small end of the cylinder may lead to a 14 branch line 500 leading to two lines 502 and 504. A
check valve 506 may be positioned in line 502 to prevent;
16 t~le flow of llydraulic fluid from line 502 to a line 510 and~
17 to the return li.ne 511.
18 llowever, line 504 may lead to a pilot-operated~
19 relief valve 508 which may be set to open at a pressurè
2.0 of about 3100 psi. When the pressure in line 504 21 reaches this pressure level, pressure may be transmitted ~2 to the valve 508 through a pressure line 509 to open~the~
23 relief valve such that fluid may flow to line 510 -to the;
2~ return line 511 and -to the reservoir 348.
After passing the valve 48~, the line 474 may 26 lead to a spring-~entered valve 516 which may be used to 27 actuate the tai.lgate lifting cylinder 26. With valve 516 :

`

1 in its ncutral position as shown in Figure 22, hyd.raulic . ~ .:
2 fluid may flow directly through the valve~ A handle 518 :
3 connected to the valve 516 may be used in moving -the 4 valve to a raised or a lowered position from that shown in Figure 22. ~^1hen valve 516 is moved to a lowered 6 positlon, hydraulic fluid may flow from line 480 through 7 a check valve 520 and through -the valve 516 to a line 522.
8 The line 522 may leacl to a hydraulic choke 524 with 9 hydraulic fluid e~pandincj the cylinder 26 during movement 10 of the tailgate lQ to its raised potiion shown in :
11 Figure 1. When the cylinder 26 is expanded to a desired 12 extent, the valve 516 may be moved to its neutral posi-13 tiOII shown in Figure 22 to iso]ate the cylinder 26 and 14 to insure that -the cylinder remains in its expanded con-dition.
16 When it is then desired to lower the tailgate 10 17 (see Figure 1), the valve 516 may be moved to its raised : : :
18 position from that shown in E'igure 22. At this point, 19 the weigh-t of the tailgate structure 10 may be exerted ;~
against the fluid within the cylinder 26 through a piston 21 rod 525. The weiyht of -the tailgate 10 may, thus, force 22 a piston 527 downwardly within the cylinder 26 with fluid 23 flowing from the cylinder through choke 524, line 522 and 24 the valve 516. After flowing through valve 516, the fluid may be conveyed through a line 526 to the return line 511 26 and to the sump 343. The choke 524 may function to re-27 duce the flow r~te of hydraulic fluid through line 522 29 /// ~ ~;
: :`
31 :

- D-llOl `

1 to a relatively low flow rate. This may insure that the 2 tailyate descends slowly ln moving from its raised posi~
3 tion 10' to i-ts lowered position 10 as shown in Figure l.
After passing heyond the valve 516, the line~474 may reach two branch lines 528 and 530. The bra~nch line~
6 530 may lead to a pilot-operated relief valve 532 having 7 a pressure line 533 connected to the line 474. When the~
8 pressure within line 474 reaches a predetermined value of 9 about 3100 psi, the pressure transmittecl through line 533 may open the valve 532 to permit pressurized fluld 11 to flow through the valve to a return~ line 5~6 which~
12 leads to line 511 and to the reservoir 348. The rellef~
13 valve 532 may, -thus, control the pressure of hydraulic~
14 fluid which is fed to the cylinder 55 for actuation o~f the retainer panel 54 and which is fed to the cylinders~
16 52 and 50 for actuation of the packing panel 44 as il~
17 lustrated in Figures 10-13.
18 As described in Figures 21, 21a, 21b and 21c,~
19 the control rods 206 and 207 may be moved together in unison. With the rods 206 and 207~moved together in ;~
21 unison in the direction of arrow H as shown in Figure 21 22 a spring-centered valve 538 may be moved upwardly from 23 its neutral position as shown in Figure 22 and the spring~
24 centered valve 466 may also be moved upwardly. Hydraullc fluid may then flow from the line 474 through a line 528 2G to a line 534 and through a check valve 536. After 27 flowin~ through check valve 536, pressurized hydraulic ::

D-1101 ;
;- ~14~289~

1 Eluid may then flow through the valve 538 and through a 2 line 540 to the cylinder 55. This may cause the cylinder~
3 55 to con-tract with fluid from the head end of the ~ 2 cylinder flowing through a line 542, -throu~h valve 538 ;~
5 and through a line 544 to the return line Sg6.
6 Since the volume of the hudraulic cylinder 55 7 may be relatively small, the contraction of the cylinder 8 may be relatively rapid to provide rapid movement of ;~
9 the retainer panel 54 from its closed position shown ln 10 Figure 10 to its opened position shown in Figure 11. A~t 11 this point, the control handle 356, after first being 12 moved in the direction of arrow B, may be moved in a 13 direction opposite -that of arrow B to its neutral posi~
14 tion as sho~n in Figure 19. This may permit the spring~
15 centered valve 538 to return to lts neutral position to 16 cause the rod 207 to return to its neutral positlon~shown 1~ in Eigure 21b with the pin 442 centered withln the slot; ;~
18 452 in rod 207. The rod 206 may, however, remaln ln~the~
19 direction of arrow E~ through the action of the detent mechanism 448 as described in Figures 21b and 21c. With ;~
21 the valve 538 returned to its neutral position, and the~
22 valve 466 in its raised position from that shown ln 23 Figure 22, hydraulic fluid may flow from line 474 through 24 the valve 538 and to a branch line 545, through a check valve 548 and the valve 466 and to a line 550. Line 550 may lead to a line 552 to the rod end of the relatively 27 large drive cylinder 50 which may be used in moving the 31 ;~

~ }

1 packing panel ~4 in a working direction, as described ln 2 Fi~ures 10-13.
3 On the introduction of pressurized hydraulic 4 fluid into cyllnder 50 through line 552, a piston 554 may be moved upwardly from i-ts position shown in Figure~
6 22 to contrac-t the cylinder in moving the packing~panel ;~
7 44 in a workin~ direction as described in Figures 10-13.
8 As described in regard to Figure 3, the relatively large 9 hydraulic drive cylinder 50 may be mechanically coupled with tile rela-tlvely small hydraulic return cylinder 52.
11 Thus, as the plston 554 of cylinder 50 is moved moved 12 upwardly to contract the cylinder 50, a piston 555 of 13 return cyllnder 52 may be moved downwardly to expand the~
14 return cylinder. On downward movement of piston 555, hydraulic fluid within the rod end of cylinder 52 may be 16 exhallsted -through a line 574 and through the valve 466 17 to a llne 557 to line 546 and to line 511 and reservoir~

9 As hydraulic fluid is fed to the rod end of th~
drive cylinder 50, through line 552, a pilot-operated 21 check valve 562 may prevent the flow of hydraulic fluid 22 from the line 550 past the check valve. A line 560 con~
23 nected to the head end of the drive cylinder 50 may lead 24 to the head end of the return cylinder 52. Thus, as the piston 554 is moved upwardly with the piston 555 moving ~ , :
26 downwardly, hydraulic fluid which is exhausted from the 27 llead end of drive cylinder 50 may pass through the line ;

32 ;
: :

.. . .. . . . _ . .. _ _ _ . _ _ ,_ , ,,,_ I ~

8~

1 560 into the head end of the return cylinder 52. In ;~
2 this manner, the return cylinder 52 may act as an accumu~
3 lator of the hydraulic fluid which is discharged from the head end of cylinder 50. Additionally, a line 561 may interconnect line 560 with the return line 511 ~to 6 the reservoir 348. Hydraulic fluid which is discharged~
7 from the head end of the cylinder 50 may, thus, also ;: ;~
8 flow from line 560 into line 561 and to the return line 9 511. Ilowever, to encourage flow of hydraulic fluld be~
tween the cylinders 50 and 52, the line 560 may be re~
11 latively large to offer less resistance to flow th:an the 12 line 561.
13 As the piston 554 is moved upwardly within drive 14 cylinder 50, a pressure port 559 in the wall of the c~linder 50 may be uncovered to rece:ive pressure from 16 fluid on the underside of piston 554. The port 559 may,~
17 for example, be uncovered when the packing panel 44 move~s~
18 beyond the pinch point 210 during its movement in ~ a work;~
19 ing direction as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13. As the 2.0 packing panel 44 passes beyond the pinch point 210,~ g:reater~
21 resistance may be encountered by the panel from refuse:~
22 within the hopper 34 which may result in higher pressures~
23 at the rod end of the drive cylinder 50. As also:dis~
24 cussed in regaxd to Figures 10-13, during movement of the~
packing panel 44 in a working direction through the hop~
26 per 34, refuse wi-thin the hopper is subjected to high 27 pressures as the refuse passes -through the narrowed throat 3,~

. O l ~ ~4~,~9~

l 204 i.n passage 42 leading to the storage body 8. Thus, 2 the pressure of refuse within the storage body 8 which 3 is exerted against the ejection panel 12 may be of a 4 relatively low ~nagnitude even though high pressures are~
experienced by the refuse within the narrowed throat 6 204 and high pressure hydraulic fluid is supplied through 7 line 552 to the rod end of the cylinder 50.
8 Since the pressure of refuse within the storage~
9 body 8 exerted ~gainst the ejection panel lZ may be re:~
latively low, in comparison to previous refuse compacting:~
ll apparatus, the pressure which is experienced at the~large~
12 el~d of the telescopic cylinder 14 by refuse bearing 13 against the ejection panel may also be relatively low. :If 14 the means for dumping hydraulic fluld from the large end :~
of the cylinder 14 were a purely hydraulic mechanism, the 16 speed of actuation of the mechanism:might not be suffi~
17 ciently rapid. To provi.de a more rapid and more contro;lled 18 dumping of hydraulic fluid from the large end of the te~l~e~
l9 scopic cylinder 14 when the ejection panel 12 moves in :~
small incremental. steps from its rearward position 12:to 21 its forward position 12' (see Figure l), an electrical 22 system may be used to control the dumping of hydrauli~c~
23 fluid from the telescopic cylinder 14. The pressure port:
24 559 in the drive cylinder 50, as described, may lead to :~
a pressure sensing line 556 to a pressure actuated sw~tch~
26 558. The switch 558 is opened in its position shown in ;~
27 Figure 22. Ilowever, when the pressure at the rod end of l drive cylinder 50 reaclles a predetermined level, such as 2 2~00 psi, a switch member 563 may be moved downwardly~
3 by the press~re in l.ine 556 into contact with a pole 565~;to~
~1 com1~1ete a ci.rcuit between an electrical power source 566~n~
the solenoid valve 495 througll wires 568, 570 and 572.
6 With the switch 558 closed, the solenoid valve 7 495 may, therefore, be actuated -to quickly dump fluid from ~8 8 the large end of telescopic cylinder 14 through line 494 :~
c~ to line 497 and to the reservoir 348. This perniits move~
ment of the ejectlon panel through a small incremental ll distance as described in regard to Figure l to reduce~the~
l~ pressure of re~use against the packing panel 44 and, in 13 turn, to reduce the hydraulic pressures at the rod enù~-of 14 the drive cylinder 50. When the pressure of hyùraullc fluicl at the rod end:o the cylinder 50 then drops to a:
16 predetermined level such as 2150 psi, the switch:S58 17 may return to an opened position as shown in~Figur~e 22 18 to return the solenoid valve 495 to its closed position.
l9 The packing of refuse may then continue until the pres~
sure at the rod end of the cylinder 50 again reaches tne-~
21 predetermined level required to close switch 558 and the~
22 whole operation may be completed again, etc., to~move : ;: . ;~
23 the ejection panel 12 in small incremental steps f.rom 24 its rearward position 12 to its forward position 12' (see Figure 1) as the storage body 8 is progresslvely 26 filled with refuse. ..

i, '' :' ~ :

D-llOl 28~

1 When the packing panel 44 has completed its 2 movement in a working direction as shown in Figure 13, 3 the rod 206 may the~ be returned -to a neutral position ~y contact of the pin 442 with the end of the slot 450 5 in the rod 206 as described in regard to Fiyures 21, 21a,~
6 21b and 21c. This may, then, overcome the detent mechanism 448 such that the spring-centered valve 466~may be returned to its neutral position shown in Figure 22.
9 With the packing panel positioned as shown in Figure 13, the rods 206 and 207 may then be moved down~
11 wardly from their positions shown in Fi~ure 22 to actuate~
12 movement of the panel 44 in a return direction to~its 13 res-t position shown in Figure 10. The simultaneous move~
14 ment of the rocls 206 and 207 may move the valves 538 and 466 to their lowered positions from that shown in Figure 16 22 with hydraulic fluid passing from line 534 thro~gh 17 check valve 536 and valve 538 into line 542 to the head 18 end of the retainer panel cylinder 55. This may cause~
19 the retainer panel cylinder 55 to expand wlth hydraullc~
fluid exhaus-ted from the rod end of the retainer panel 21 cylinder passing through line 540, valve 538 and into 22 line 544 to the reservoir 348. With the volume of the 23 retainer cylinder 55 being relatively small, the expan~
24 sion of the retainer cylinder to return the retainer : ~
panel 54 to its closed position shown in Figure 10 may 26 occur relatively quickly.

!

~ ;D-llOl ~L~L4;~39~

.
1 The control member 356 (see Figure 19) may 2 then be returned to its neutral position by moving ;~
3 the control member in a direction opposite to that in~
4 dlcated by arrow C. Tllis may perrnit the spring-centered valve 538 and the control rod 207 to return to their 6 neutral positions as described in Figures 21., 21a, 21b 7 and 21c with the rod 206 being retained in a direction op~
8 posite that of arrow El through the detent mechanism 448.
9 llydraulic El.ui.d may then pass througll valve 538 in its neù-~
tral position to ~ine 545, through check valve 548, and~
11 valve 466 into line 574~to the rod end of the relatively~
12 small return cylinder 52. ~s described previously,:
13 cyl.inders 52 and 50 may be mechanically interconnected.
1~ Thus, as cylinder 52 is contracted, the relatively~large drive cylinder 50 may be expanded. Elydraulic fluid 16 which is exhausted from the rod end of the cylinder 50 ;~
17 during i.ts expansion may be conducted through line~s~5~52 1~ and 550 to valve 466 and into line 557 to the reservoir~
19 348. E-lowever, due to the relatively large volume of ~ s 2.0 hydraulic fluid which may be contained at the rod end of~
21 cylinder 50, the resistance to fluid flow encounter~d by~
22 the fluid within lines 552, 550, etc., may oppose the 23 expansion of hydraulic cylinder 50. This may increase~
24 the resistance to contraction of the return cylinder 52 w~lich may increase the pressure of hydraulic fluld fed 2~ to the rod end of the return cylinder through line 574.

: : ~ ~ , .

pilot line 564 leading from line 574 to the 2 pilot-operated check valve 562 may transmit pressure to 3 the check valve which may be set to open at a relatively 4 low pressure of about 500 psi. On opening of the check valve 562, fluid which is exhausted from the rod 6 end of cylinder 50 may then flow from line 552 through 7 the check valve 562 into the line 560 for return to the head end of cylinder 50. In this manner, the relativeLy~
9 large drive cylinder 50 may act as its own accumuIator during expansion of the cylinder. Hydraulic f1uld whlch 11 is exhausted from the head end of the return cylinder~
12 52 during its contraction may also flow through the line 13 560 into -the head end of the drive cylinder 50 with the 14 drive cylinder, therefore, also acting as an accumulator for the return cylinder 52. Additionally, hydraulic 16 fluid may flow through line 561 into the return line S~
17 to the reservoir 348. However, as stated, the size of~
18 line 560 may be larger than that of line 561 to encourage~
19 the flow of hydraulic fluid between the cylinders 52 and~
50 through the line 560.
21 Figure 23 illustrates an alternative hydrau1ic 22 circuit which may be used in controlling the present 23 apparatus. While the hydraulic circuit of Figure 23 lS ;
2~ similar to that of Figure 22, it also differs in a number of important respects. As indicated, a reservoir 576 may 26 supply hydraulic fluid through a supply line 578 to a 27 valve 580 and then to a pump 582. Leading from the pump ~:

! 1 ~ 2 8 91 l 582 is a line 584 whic}l is joined to an auxiliary line 2 586, may be used for operatiny conventional auxiliary 3 equipment. The supply llne 584 may then lead to a brancll line 588 joined to a pressure-operated pilot valve 590. The valve 590 may be set to open at a given 6 pressure level such as 2950 psi and a pressure 7 line 591 may be used to transmit pressure from the line 8 588 to open the valve wllen the predetermined pressure 9 lcvel is reached. Valve 590 may, thereby, function as 0 a safety valve for the entire hydraulic system with the ll pressure for opening the valve being the max;.mum system l pressure.
13 AEt:er passing branch line 588, the line 584 may 14 then lead to a spring-centered valve 592 which may be operated by movement of a handle 594. With the valve 16 592 in its neutral position, as shown in Figure 23, ;~
17 hydraulic fluid may flow through the valve. However, l~ when valve 592 is moved to a raised position ~rom tbat 19 shown in Figure 22, pressurized fluid may then flow 2P through a line 596, a check valve 598, and then through ~ .: . , .
21 valve 592 into a line 600. ~he line 600 may lead to 22 a branch line 602 which is directed to a solenoid valve 23 606 and also -to a line 604 which is directed to the large 24 area end of the -telescopic hydraulic cylinder 14 as shown~

in Figure 1. With pressurized hydraulic fluid being fed 26 through line 604 to the large area end of telescopic 27 cylinder 14 the -telescopic cylinder may be expanded to ~ :

-- D-llOl ,~.

Zl~9~
1 provide movement of the ejection panel 12. Hydraulic 2 fluid which may be exhausted from the small area end of 3 the telescopic cylinder 14 may flow through a line 608 ;~
4 to a linc 618 and through the valve 592 to a return 5 line 620. The line 620 may lead to`a return line 622 :
6 which may, in turn, lead to a line 616 through a check 7 valve 617 and strainer 619 and into the reservoir 576.
8 When the valve 592 is moved to its lowered 9 position from that shown in Figure 23, hydraulic fluid may flow from line 596 through check valve 598 and`
11 valve 592 into lines 618 and 608 to the small area~end 12 of telescopic cylinder 14. This may produce contrac~
13 tion of the telescopic cylinder 14 with hydraulic fluid 14 being exhausted from the large area end oE the telescopic~
cylinder through lines 604 and 600, valve 592 and into ::~
16 ~ e 620 to return line 622.
17 When valve 592 is in its neutral position ;~
18 shown in Figure 23, the telescopic cyllnder 14 is iso~
19 lated from line 584 and pressure bui:ldup may occur at the small area end of the telescopic cylinder because ;
21 of an increase in the ambient temperature. If a pres~
22 sure buildup occurs in the large area end of the cylinder 23 14, this may, ~or example, cause a tenfold pressure 24 buildup in the small area end of the cylinder because of the area ratio between tl-e pressure area at the large area:
26 end and the pressure area at the small area end. To ;:~
27 relieve such a pressure buildup, a branch line 610 from ::~

:

D-llOl ;: :

1 line 608 may lead to the pilot-operated valve 612 with a 2 pressure transmitting line 613 from line 610 to the valve 3 to control its operation. The valve 612 may be set, for 4 example, to open at a pressure of about 3100 pSl to permit the exhaust of hydraulic fluid from line 610~
6 through the valve and into a line 614 which leads to 7 return line 616.
8 ~fter passing beyond valve 592 in its neutral 9 position, the supply line 584 may lead to a spring-cen- :~
tered valve 624 which is shown in its neutral positlon 11 in Figure 23. The valve 624 may include an operating 12 handle 626 which may be actuated to move the valve to :~
13 i.ts lowered posi.tion from that shown. With the valve 14 624 in its lowered position, pressurized hydraulic fluid may then pass from line 584 to line 628, through a check 16 valve 630, and valve 624 and into a line 632. The line~
17 632 may lead through a pressure choke 634 to the hydrau-1~ lic cylinder 26 which may be used fo~r lifting of the 19 tailgate 10 as illustrated in Figure 1.
2.0 As hydraulic fluid is fed through line 632 to~
21 the head end of the cylinder 26, the cylinder may be :~
22 expanded to raise the tailgate to its position 10' shown 23 in Figure 1. The valve 624 may then be returned to .its 24 neutral position to isolate the cylinder 26 and insure 25 -that the tailgate remains in its raised position 10'. ;
26 When it is desired to lower -the tailgate to its posltion 27 10 shown in Figure 1, the valve 624 may then be moved :~

32 ~ ~:
-114- :

~:

:

l o l ~
2~9~
...

1 to its ralsecl position from that shown in Figure 23 with 2 llyclraulic fluid passing from the cylinder 26 through the :
3 choke 634 ~ -the line 632 ancl valve 624r and into a return line 636. ~s described in regard to Figure 22, the~
weight of the tailgate 10 (Figure 1) may be used to advan~
6 tage in contracting the hydraulic cylinder 26 duri.ny 7 lowering of the tailgate. Since the weight of the tail~
gate 10 may be borne by the cylinder 26, the weight of tlle 9 tailgate may force fluid from the head end of the;~cyll~nder when the valve G24 is in its raised condition. However,~ be-11 cause of the presence of the hydraulic choke 634, fluid flow~
12 t}lrough the line 632 may be maintained at a relatively slow~
13 rate to insure that the tailgate is not lowered too rapidly.
14 Proceeding beyond valve 624 in its neutral position, the supply line 584 may lead to a branch line 16 638 to a pilot-operated valve 640 controlled through a 17 pressure line 641. The pilot-operated valve 640 may be 18 set to open at a pressure of about 3100 psi to permit 19 exhaust of hydraulic fluid through the valve to a line 642 leading to return line 616 to the reservoir 576.
21 The pilot-operated valve 640 may, thus, be set to deter~
22 mine the maximum pressure of hydraulic fluid whlch is 23 supplied to the retainer panel cylinder 55, the return 24 cylinder 52 and the drive cylinder 50 during movement of the packing panel 44 as illustrated in Fiqures 10-13.
26 The supply line 584 may then lead to a spring~
.. ~ .
2~ centered detent valve 648 which may control the flow of 29 /// ;~

.
. .

:~ D~
'` ~L~ ~t~OV~

1 hydraulic fluid to cylinders 55, 52 and 50. In this re~
2 spect, valve 648 may perform the functions of both -the 3 valves 538 and 466, as discussed in Figure 22. The:use:
4 of a single spring-centered detent valve 648 in the circuit of Figure 23, thus, represents an lmprovement 6 over the hydraulic circuit of Figure 22. With valve 648 7 in its neutral position shown in Figure 23, hydraulic fluid may flow through the valve from line 584 to line~
9 616. However, when valve 648 is moved to lts raIsed position from that shown, hydr~aulic fluid may flow from~
11 line 584 through a line 644 and a check valve 646. Val~ve~
12 648 may be moved to its raised position by an operating `~
13 rod 650 with the rod being held :in a raised position ~y 14 a detent mechanism 651 which is similar in its operation to the detent mechanism 448 described in Figure;s 2I~and~
6 21c and Figure 22. That is to say, notches may be formed~
in operating rod 650 which may be engaged:by a roller :~
18 positioned on a spring biased arm to maintain the opera~
19 ting rod in a desired position with the valve~648 In a~
raised or a lowered position as compared with its neutral~
21 position shown in Figure 22.
22 With valve 648 in its ralsed position from that~
23 shown in Figure 23, pressurized hydraulic fluid passing~
24 through check valve 646 may pass through valve 643 into~
a line 652. A branch line 654 leadinc3 from line 652 may~
26 lead to the rod end of the retainer panel cylinder 55.:
27 Thus, flow of hydraulic fluid through line 654 may cause~

32 ;~
-116- : . -.. ' 1 the cylinder 55 to contract to move the retainer panel 54 2 Erom a closed to an opened position as illustrated in 3 Figures 10 and 11. ~s this is occurring, hydraulic fluid ;
4 may be exhausted from the head end of cylinder 55 to a line 696 which leads to a line 686, through the valve 648 and to a line 687. Line 687 is joined to return 7 line 642 which conveys the hydraulic fluic1 to line 616 8 and to reservoir 576. Since the hydraulic cylinder 55 9 may be relatively small in comparison with the relatively ;
large drive cylinder 50, the contraction of cylinder 55 11 may occur prior to contraction of the drive cylinder.
12 Pressurized hydxaulic fluid flowing through 13 line 652 with valve 648 in its raised position may flow 14 into a line 656, through a check valve 658 and into a line 660 leading to the rod end of drive eylinder 50.
16 This may cause the cylinder 50 to contract ln~movi~n3 17 the packing panel 44 in a working direction as deseribed 18 in Figures 10-13. When the packing panel 44 reaches the~
19 approximate position shown in Figure 12, a piston 662 within cylinder 50 may uncover a port 663 leading to a 21 pressure line 674 to a pressure-actuated switeh 676. The~
22 switch is in its open position as shown in Figure 23.
23 I-Iowever, when the pressure at the rod end of cylInder 50 24 reaches a predetermined level such as 2400 psi, a `
switch member 677 may be rotated downwardly into contact 26 with a pole 679 to close the switch 676 with the switch~re~
27 maininc3 closed until the pressure at -the rod end falls to ;~
28 a pressure level such as 2150 psi. The switch 676 29 may be connected through an electrical power source 678 ///

' l i U i .
' '~
~l~Z~

1 with the solenoid valve 606 throu~h wires 680, 682 and 2 684. The functioning of the switch 676 in conjunction~
"~
3 with the solenoid 606 is the same as described for 4 switch 558 in conjunction with solenoid 495 in regard to Figure 22. That is, closing of the switch 676 may 6 close the solenoid valve 606 to provide ra~id dumping 7 of hydraulic fluid fxom the large area end of rapid 8 telescopic cylinder 14 in response to pressures at the 9 rod end of drive cylinder 50. This rapid dumping of . . .
hydraulic fluid permits controlled incremental movement 11 of the e~ection panel from its rearward position 12 to;
12 its forward position 12' as indicated in Figure 1 during 13 filling of the storage body 8 with refuse.
14 As described, the relative;ly large drive cyllnder 50 may be mechanically interconnected with the relatively~
16 small return cylinder 52. As the drive cyllnder 50 under~
1~ qoes contraction, the return cylinder 52 may, thus, undér~
18 go expansion with hydraulic fluid from the rod end of 19 return cylinder 52 being exhausted through a line 694, a check valve 688 and i~to the line 686. The fluid flow 21 from line 686 may pass through the valve 648 in its ralsed 22 position and through the line 687 to return lines 642 and 23 616 leading to the reservoir 576. A line 664~from line~
2~ 660 to a pilot-operated check valve 666 may remain closed~
as pressurized hydraulic fluid is fed through line 660 to 26 to the rod end of cylinder 50. A line 672 may interconnec~t~
27 the head ends of the cylinders 50 and 52 such that fluid~
2a ///

:

:

~ ~ D-llOl ~ ~ ~
~1428g~ ~ ~

1 ~ischarged from the head end of the contracting drive 2 cylinder 50 may flow through line 672 to the expanding 3 head end of the return cylinder 52. In this manner, the cy]inder 52 may act as an accumulator for exhausted oil from the head end of cylinder 50 during its contraction.
6 Additionally, a line 65g may~lead from t;he head~
7 end of the cylinder 52 to a line 670 which may be joined 8 to return line 616. Hydraulic fluid may, then, also flow~
~ through lines 668 and 670 to the reservoir 576. However,~
to encourage flow between the cylinders 50 and~52 rather~
11 than to the reservoir 576, the line 672 may be relatively~
12 large as compared with the size o~ line 670.~ After~con~
13 traction of the drive cylinder 50 is comp]eted,;the;
14 packing panel 44 may occupy a position as shown in Figure 13. ~t this point, as will be described, the operatinq~
16 rod 650 may be moved to disengage the rod from the detent~
17 mechanism 651 with the valve 648 being to its neutral~ n`
18 posi-tion.
19 ''l`o cause movement of the packing panel 44 in a return direction from its position shown in F~gure 21 13 to its rest position shown in Figure 10, the rod 650 22 may be moved downwardly to move the valve 648 to a lowered 23 position from that shown in Figure 23. Hydraulic f~luld~
24 may then pass from line 644, through check valve 646 and valve 648 and into line 686. Line 686 may lead to a 26 branch line 696 through which hydraulic fluid may be :

~ D-llOl ~ ;

1 conveyed to the head end of the retainer panel cylinder 2 55. This may cause expansion of the retai.ner panel ;
3 cylinder 55 with hydraulic fluid being exhausted from the 4 rod end of the cylinder through a line 654 leading to;~
line 652 and through the valve 648 to line 6R7. Line 6 687 may convey the exhausted fluid through lines 642 and 7 616 for return to -the reservoir 576. ~s discussed, since 8 the volume of the retainer panel cylinder 55 may be re~
9 latively small, its movement may take place relatively rapidly such that the retainer panel 54 wilI complete~
11 its movement from an opened to a closed position (see 12 Figures 13 and 10) prior to the movement of the packlng~
13 panel 44 in a return direction. ;~
14 Pressurized hydraulic fluid flowlng through line 686 may also flow to the pilot-operated check valve lG 688 which may be connected through a pressure-sensing;.
17 line 690 to line 686. When the pressure in line 686 18 reaches a predetermined level, such as 1500 psi, 19 pressure transmitted through line 690 may then open the~
valve 688. Fluid passing through the line 690 for opera~
21 tion of the valve 688 may then be exhaused through a 22 pressure bleeding line 692 to the return line 616. The 23 function of the pilo-t-operated check valve 688 may,~
2~ thus, promote the movement of retainer panel cyllnder 55 prior to movement of the return cylinder 52.
26 With the pilot-operated check valve 688 moved~
27 to i.ts closed position, fluid may flow from line 686 -120- : ~

:::

~42~

1 through the valve 688 and into line 694. Line 694 may 2 convey the pressurized hydraulic fluid to the rod end of 3 return cylinder 52 to, thereby, contract the return cylinder. ~s the return cylinder 52 contracts, -the drive cylinder 50 may expand due to the mechanical connection~
6 be-tween the cylinders as discussed previously. On expan~
7 sion of the drive cylinder 50, there may be a pressure~
8 buildup at the rod end of the drive cylinder since the 9 ourflow of oil from the rod end is blocked by the check valves 658 and 666. However, the check valve 666 may be ;~
~1 set to open at a pressure of about 250 psi in 12 the line 694 which may be conveyed to the valve through 13 a pressure sensing line 698. Thus, the check valve 666 1~ may be opcned quickly to permit the flow of hydraullc fluid from the rod end of the cylinder 50 through line 16 664 and check valve 666 into line 668 to the head end of~
17 the cylinder 50. Cylinder 50 may, thus, act as its own 18 hydraulic accumulator during its expansion, wlth hydraullc 19 fluid being circulated from the rod end to the head end 20 of the cylinder. Also, hydraulic fluid discharged from 21 the rod end of drive cylinder 50 may flow through~line ~2 670 to return line 616 and the reservoir 576. However, 23 to encourage flow of hydraulic fluid from the~rod end;to ;~
24 the head end of cylinder 50 during its expansion, the~
lines 664 and 668 may be relatively large as compared 26 with line 670. Thus, there may be less resistance to 27 flow of fluid from the rod end into the head end of : ~ :: :

.

.",,, .j~Ol ~ ~ ~
~ ~ 4Z~

1 cylinder 50 as compared with resistance to flow through 2 line 670 to the reservoir 576.
3 ~s the drive cylinder 50 is expanding, the re~
turn cylinder 52 may be contracting due to the mechanlcal~
interconnection between the cylinders. During contractlon~
6 oE the return cylinder 52, fluid may be exhausted from the : :~
7 hcad end of the return cylinder through llne 672 and into 8 the head end of the drive cylinder 50. Thus, the dri~ve 9 cylinder 50 may also act as an accumulator for hydraulic fluid discharged from the return cylinder 52 during its:
11 contraction. When the return cylinder 52 has completed 12 its contraction in moving the packing panel 44 to its rest~
13 position, as shown in Figure 10, the operating rod 650~mày~
14 be moved t.o disengage the detent mechanism 651 from the~
rod and to return the valve 6~8 to its neutral poslt1o 16 shown in Figure 22.
17 Figure 24 is a detailed view similar to 18 Figure 21, which illus~rates the m~nner in which the rod~
lg 650 may be actuated in controlling the movement of the :
valve 648 as described in Figure 23. In view of the simi~
21 larity between Figures 24 and 21, like reference numerals:~
22 have been used in Fiyure 24 for ease of description. ~s~
23 previously described, ~ovement of the control member 356 ln~
2~ the direction of arrow B (Figure 19) causes rotational;~
movement of the rod 362 in the direction of the arrow G -~26 (Figure 21). This, in turn, causes translational~ movemen~t -~

31 : :: --~ 1101 ~ ~

1 of the rod 650 in the direction of the arrow H (Figure 24) :
2 to move the valve 648 to a raised position as compared with 3 its neutral pOSitiOIl shown in Figure 23. In it5 raised ;~
4 position, the valve 648 functions to provide con~traction of the drive cylinder 50 and movement of the packing panel~
6 44 in a working direction through the hopper 34 as described~
q in Fig~lres 10-13.
8 ~fter movement of the control member 356 in the~

9 direction of the arrow B, the member may remain in this~
position with the rod 650 moved in the direction of the:
11 arrow II. The member 356 is not returned to its neutra~
.2 position as in the apparatus of Figures 21, 21a, 21b, 21c ;~
13 aild 22 wllere two rods 206 and 207 may be actuated by move~
14 ment of the member 356. With the member 356 positioned ln the direction of the arrow B to cause movement of the rod 16 650 in the direction of the arrow H, the member may remain~
17 in this position until returned to its neutral position~
18 through contact of the tab 393 with stop members 4:06 or~

19 412 as described in Figure 19. As describe~ in~Flgure~l9, to avoid contact of the tab 393 with stop member 406, the 21 handle member 376 may be pulled downwardly to cause rotation~
22 of the rod 382 in the direction of thè arrow F.
23 When the member 356 is returned to its~neutral 2~ position by stop -member 412 after movement of the packing panel 44 in a working direction through the hopper 34 (see~
26 Figures 10-13), the rod 650 shown in Figure ~4 may be ~

~7 moved in a direction opposite to that of the arrow Il and : ~ ~

-123- ~ :~

~ ~`

A~b ,~!C, 1101 1 and the rocl 362 may be rotated in a direction opposite 2 to that indicated by arrow G to return the rod 650 3 to its neutral position as illustra-tecl. As the rod 4 650 is moved in a direction opposite to arrow ~I, the 5 ~It~tellc mechanism 651 may become disengaged from th~
6 rod 650.
7 With reference to Figure 19, when the control 8 member 356 is moved in the direction of the arrow C, this 9 may cause rotation of the rod 362 from its neutral posi~
tion in Figure 24 in a direction opposite to that indicated;~
11 by arrow G to provide movement of the rod 650 from its 12 neutral position in a direction opposite to that of 13 arrow l~. This may move the valve 648 to its lowered posi~
14 tion from its neutral position shown in Figure 23. The valve 648 may then remain in its lowered position until 1~ the stop member 414 contacts the tab 393 to return the con~
17 trol member 356 to its neutral position (Figure 19). ~s 1~ the control member 356 is returned to its neutral position, :~
19 the rod 650 may also be returned to its neutral position: :~
as silown ~l~ Figure 24.
21 In the foregoing description, the movement of 22 structural elements, such as valves, etc., has:been~des~
23 cribed by referring to the valves as being in a raised:po~
24 sition or a lowered position with respect to a neutral posi~
tion. This terminology has heen used in regard to Figures;2Z
26 and 23. It should be understood that the terms "raised"
27 and "lowered" do not.imp].y that the valves are positionéd 32 ~ ~:

~124~

p-llOl 1 in a particular manner or that the valves are raised or lowered in the sense of being moved to a higher or 3 lower elevation. The terms "raised" and "lowered" are, 4 therefore, used merely in a relative sense with respect to the way in which the valves are illustrated in the 6 figures of the drawings. The valves may, however, be q mounted any desired manner such that movement of the 8 valves need not have any necessary relation to their ;~
g being raised or lowered. ;~
Similarly, in the drawings, lettered arrows ;
11 have been used to illustrate movement of various struc~
12 tural elements. It should be understood that the~move~
13 ments illustrated by these arrows are intended merely ;~
14 to demonstrate relative movement of the structural~ele~
ments. However, depending upon the physical placement 16 of the structural elements, the movement of the elements~
17 in a particular direction may vary depending upon the 18 placement of the structural elements with respect to 19 the overall structure of the apparatus.
In Figures 22 and 23, reference has been made~to~
21 the telescopic cylinder 14 as illustrated in Fiyure l for~
22 providing movement of the ejection panel 12. ~The telescopic~
2~ cylinder 14 may, however, be replaced with the~conventiQnal~
24 cylinder 62 mounted on the support member 60 as shown in~
Figure 2. With this substitution, the pilot-operated va~lve~
26 508 (Figure 22) and pi]ot-operated valve 612 (Figure 2~3) 27 may be eliminated since use of the conventional cylindèr 62 28 may avoid the problem of pressure buildup that can occur in 29 the telescopic cylinder 14 with changes in the ambient temperature.

.

, :
: .

Claims (12)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. In combination in refuse equipment, a hopper having a pair of opposite side walls disposed in spaced relationship to each other, means supported on the opposite side walls of the hopper in rotatable relationship to the hopper, such means including a shaft supported on a particular one of the side walls, a torque tube disposed near the particular side wall of the hopper and supported only on the shaft:
for rotation with the shaft and for the transmission of torque during such rotation, the torque tube having a free disposition relative to the opposite side wall of the hopper, a packer panel shaped and constructed to provide strength in resisting twisting movement and in providing a transmission of torque through the packing panel, means providing a rigid connection between the torque tube and the packer panel near the particular side wall of the hopper to provide for a transmission of torque from the torque tube to the packer panel, stiffening means disposed near the opposite side wall of the hopper for stiffening the packer panel near the opposite side wall of the hopper, and means operatively coupled to the shaft for rotating the shaft to produce a cyclic movement of the packer panel through the hopper.

2. In the combination set forth in Claim 1, the packer panel being hollow and being provided with an elliptical configuration in cross-section, the major axis of the elliptical configuration of the packer panel extending through the torque tube.

3 . In the combination set forth in either of Claims 1 or 2, the hopper having an opening in its rear wall and the packer panel being movable past the opening in the rear wall of the hopper in spaced relationship to the rear wall until a pinch point near the bottom of the hopper.

4 . In combination in refuse equipment, a hopper having first and second side walls spaced from each other, a first shaft supported on the first side wall of the hopper for rotation, `
a second shaft supported on the second side wall of the hopper for rotation, a torque tube supported on the first shaft for rotation with the first shaft and constructed to transmit torque, a first packing panel constructed to provide strength in resisting twisting movement and to transmit torque through the packing panel, means connected between the torque tube and the first packing panel for providing a rigid connection between the torque tube and the first packing panel and for transmitting torque from the torque tube to the first packing panel, means operatively coupled to the first shaft for rotating the first shaft to provide a rotary movement of the first packing panel and to provide for a compaction;
of the refuse in the housing during such rotary movement, Claim 4 - continued stiffening means operatively coupled between the second shaft and the first packing panel for stiffening the first packing panel at the second wall of the hopper during the rotation of the first shaft, a second packing panel supported by the first packing panel for movement with the first packing panel and for independent movement relative to the first packing panel, and means operatively coupled to the second packing panel for providing a movement of the second packing panel independently of the movement of the first packing panel to facilitate the compaction of the refuse in the hopper.

5 . In the combination set forth in Claim 4, the torque tube being hollow and being disposed near the first side wall of the hopper and the first packing panel being hollow and extending between the first and second side walls of the hopper and the second packing panel extending between the first and second side walls of the hopper.

6 . In the combination set forth in either of Claims 4 or 5, the first packing panel having a substantially elliptical cross-section in a plane substantially parallel to the first and second side walls of the hopper with the major axis of the elliptical configuration extending toward the torque tube.

7 . In the combination set forth in any of Claims 4 or 5, a storage body for the refuse, a hopper having an opening communicating with the storage body, the opening being shaped to define a throat having a progressive constriction with progressive positions toward the communication with the storage body, retaining means disposed in the hopper and movable between a first pos.ition at least partially blocking the opening in the hopper and a second position at leastipartially defining the proqressive constriction in the opening, and means providing a movement of the retaining means between the first and second positions ln synchronous relationship with the rotation of the first shaft.
8 . In combination for packing refuse, a storage body having an:opening for introducing refuse into the storage body, a hopper having a rear wall and an opening in the rear wall and having a front wall and an opening in the front wall and having a bottom wall in communication with the front and rear walls, the opening ln the;front wall communicating with the opening in the storage body, the hopper also having first and second side walls spaoed from each other, a packer panel rotatable relative to the hopper, means operatively coupled to the first side wall of the hopper for rotatably driving the packer panel from only the first side wall of the hopper, means operatively coupled to the packer panel at the first side wall of the packer panel for rigidifying the packer panel at the first side wall, and means operatively coupled to the packer panel at the second side wall of the hopper for stiffening

Claim 8 - continued the packer panel at the second side wall, the packer panel being constructed to transmit torque through the packer panel without twisting.

9. In the combination set forth in Claim 8, means for adding weight to the packer panel at the second side wall of the hopper to balance the hopper at the first and second ends of the hopper.

10. In the combination set forth in either of Claims 8 or 9, a second packer panel, means operatively coupled to the first and second packer panels for supporting the second packer panel for movement with the first packer panel and for independent rotation relative to the first packer panel between a collapsed position and an extended position, and means operatively coupled to the second packer panel for providing for rotation of the second packer panel from the collapsed position to the extended position during the rotation of the first and second packer panels past the opening in the rear wall and for rotating the second packer panel from the extended position to the collapsed position after the rotation of the first and second packer panels past the opening in the rear wall of the hopper.

11. In the combination set forth in any of Claims 8 or 9, the rotating means for the first packer panel producing a relatively high speed of rotation of the first and second packer panels with low power during the movement of the second packer panel in the collapsed position and during the movement of the second packer panel from the collapsed position to the extended position and producing a relatively low speed of rotation of the first and second packer panels with high power during the movement of the second packer panel in the extended position.

12. The combination set forth in any of Claims 8 or 11, the opening in the front wall of the hopper having a progressive constriction and means for main-taining the pressure of the refuse in the opening in the front wall of the hopper within particular limits.