GB1592777A

GB1592777A - Refuse collecting vehicles

Info

Publication number: GB1592777A
Application number: GB4820877A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: JOHNSTON BROS ENG Ltd
Current assignee: JOHNSTON BROS ENG Ltd
Priority date: 1976-11-18
Filing date: 1977-11-18
Publication date: 1981-07-08

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN REFUSE COLLECTING VEHICLES (71) We JOHNSTON BROTHERS (ENGINEERING) LIMITED, a British Company, of Johnston House, Hatchlands Road, Redhill, Surrey, RHi 1BG, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement::- The invention relates to refuse collecting vehicles and provides a refuse collecting vehicle comprising a container mounted on the chassis of the vehicle, at least one inlet communicating at one end with the container and provided at the other end with an orifice which may be disposed at a short distance from the ground means for transporting refuse through said inlet into the container and brush means for loosening refuse from the ground and sweeping it towards said orifice, the brush means comprising at least one rotatable brush mounted on the vehicle which may be disposed in contact with the ground in front of the orifice in The normal direction of travel of the vehicle wherein the brush is mounted for rotation on a first bracket connected by a pair of links to a second bracket, the links being pivotally connected to the first and second brackets for pivotal movement about generally horizontal axes and the second bracket being connected to the chassis for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis, and wherein a ram is connected to a third bracket extending generally horizontally from the second bracket for effecting movement of the second brackets about a vertical axis and the ram is also connected by a flexible link to one of said links for effecting movement of the links about horizontal axes, said ram being operable to move the brush between an operating position in which the brush is in contact with the ground and the links extend outboard of the vehicle chassis so that the brush extends outside the wheel base of the vehicle and a stowed position in which the brush is raised clear of the ground and the links are swung inboard so that the brush lies within the plan area delimited by the vehicle.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, by way of example, of a preferred embodiment of a road sweeping vehicle according to the invention the description being read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic elevation of a road sweeping vehicle according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view showing the channel brush in the retracted position; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the channel brush in its working position; Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the channel brush in its working position; and Figure 5 is an end elevation showing the channel brush curtain.

Referring first to Figure 1, a dua! sweep suction road sweeping vehicle 10 comprises a self-propelled chassis 11 including road wheels 12 and a driver's cab 13, on which are mounted a tipping body 15, a fan housing 16, suction equipment 17, a wide sweep brush 18 and a pair of channel brushes 19, one located on either side of the vehicle.

The tipping body 15 is an all steel welded monocoque assembly which is pivotable about a horizontal axis 21 adjacent its rear end. The body is mounted on a subframe comprising steel members 23 to which the body is pivotally attached by means of flanges 22 depending from the body. The interior of the tipping body, which will be described in more detail below, provides an air-tight container for dust etc., swept up by the vehicle and is closed off by a rear door 25. As can be seen in Figure 1, the rear door is pivoted about its upper edge and is operable by a ram (not shown) in known manner to permit egress of material contained in the body when the body is tipped.

A further ram (not shown) connected between the front part of the tipping body 15 and the subframe 23 is operable to tip the body.

Integral with the tipping body and closed off by doors which are flush with the external surface of the body are tool lockers 27, hose trays and other standard lockers of the type normally found on suction road sweeping vehicles in which the lockers and hose trays are normally of the "bolt-on" type. The provision of these lockers integral with the tipping body allows a design of body 15 which is symmetrical about a central longitudinal plane and has no external protrusions, in contrast with known road sweeping vehicles in which the lockers are of the "bolt-on" type.

Protruding from the top of the tipping body 15 is a wandering hose 30 comprising a first section 31 which communicates with the interior of the body 15 and is pivotable about a vertical axis. Hingedly connected to the first section 31 is a second hose section 32 which is L-shaped so that a nozzle 33 of the wandering hose may be brought adjacent to the ground by pivotal and hinging movement of the wandering hose.

The fan housing 16 extends from the front of the tipping body 13 to which it is rigidly connected and from which it is divided by a partition. The housing 16 encloses, when in the position shown in Figure 1, an engine and suction fan which are mounted on the sub frame 23 and apply suction to the interior of the tipping body when the vehicle is sweeping as will be described below. The ancillary hydraulic equipment, fuel tanks, etc., for the sweeping equipment are also mounted on the subframe within the housing 16.

The subframe is rigidly mounted on the chassis 11 which may be any suitable type of vehicle chassis, provided with dual driving controls in the cab 13.

The suction equipment 17 comprises, on each side of the vehicle 10, a nozzle 35 connected by a flexible p,pe 36 to an inlet duct 37 into the body 15. There is a suitable make-and-break connection between each pipe 36 and duct 37 to allow the body to be tipped. Each nozzle 35 is arranged behind the corresponding channel brush 19 and in front of the rear wheels 12. The nozzle 35 is pivoted on a draw bar 40 the free end of which is supported by wheels 41 which control the height of the nozzle 35 above the road sur face. Each nozzle 35 and wheel 41 assembly may be lifted clear of the road by a ram 42 and the assembly is so lifted except when the vehicle is sweeping using the channel brush 19 on the same side as the said nozzle.

Turning now to Figures 2 to 5, a more detailed description of a channel brush 19 and its associated equipment will be given.

The left hand side channel brush 19 is illu strated in Figures 2 to 5 but it will be realised that the description applies equally to he right hand brush.

The channel brush 19 is mounted on a bracket 60 and is driven by a hydraulic motor 61 also mounted on the bracket 60. The bracket 60 is connected to a second bracket 62 by a pair of pivotal links 63,64, the upper one of which 63 has an adjustable sliding connection 65 with the bracket 60 to permit adjustment of the angle of the brush 19 relative to the ground. The second bracket 62 is mounted on a vertical pivot 66 which is rigidly supported on a framework 67 which is in turn attached to the chassis 11.

Extending from the bracket 62 and rigidly secured thereto are a pair of plates 69 between which is rotatably mounted a pulley 70. A cable 72 attached at one end to a pair of flanges 71 upstanding from the lower link 64, passes around the pulley 70 and is attached at its other end to the cylinder 73 of a pneumatic ram 74. The cylinder 73 is slidably connected at 76 to another portion of the framework 67 and its piston 75 is pivoted to the plates 69.

Figures 3 and 4 show the brush 19 in its lowered operating position in which the ram 74 is contracted to allow the cable 72 to be slack and the brush to float on the ground.

Pressure is maintained in the ram 74 during operation of the brush in order to provide a cushion for the brush against which it may react on contact with a pavement or like obstacles.

Nozzles 78 are provided on a bracket 79 attached to bracket 62 and spray water towards the brush 19 during operation as shown in Figure 3.

When the brush 19 is not in use it is retracted by pressurisation and thus extension of ram 74 to tighten the cable 72. Tightening of the cable causes the brush 19 to be lifted clear of the ground and simultaneously swung inwardly of the vehicle to the position illustrated in Figure 2. The sliding connection 76 of the cylinder 73 to the framework 67 allows a freedom of movement of the cylinder which ensures that the brush is lifted upwardly and inwardly in a smooth operation.

A curtain assembly (Figure 5) is provided on the inboard side of each brush 19 to control the sweepings and ensure that they remain in the path of the suction nozzle 35. The curtain assembly comprises a flexible curtain 80, suspended from a pair of support arms 81.

The curtain is attached to the support arm by chains 82 so that it niay be adjusted in a upand-down direction relative to the arms. Each support arm 81 is pivoted at its upper end to a davit 84 pivoted on the framework 67 and the two davits 84 are rigidly connected together by a relay rod 85. An operating link 86 connects one of the davits 84 to an operating lever 88 which is pivotally attached at 89 to a portion of the framework 67.

The operating lever 88 is actuated by a finger 90 (see Figure 3) rigidly attached to the end of plate 69 remote from bracket 62.

The extension and contraction of ram 74 moves the finger 90 between the positions shown in Figures 2 and 3. In Figure 3 the finger is out of contact with the operating lever 88 and the curtain descends downwardly and outwardly to the position shown in Figure 3 and by chain dot lines in Figure 5. The limit of this movement is controlled by the relay rod 85 coming into contact with frame work 67. As the ram 74 is extended towards the position shown in Figure 2, the finger 90 contacts operating lever 88 and pivots it thus lifting the curtain 80 upwardly and inwardly to the position shown in Figure 2 and in solid lines in Figure 5.

Reference is also made to our co-pending Application No. 48226/76 (Serial No.

1,592,775) in which we have described and claimed a vacuum operated refuse collecting vehicle comprising in combination an air-tight container mounted on the chassis of the vehicle and having an outlet communicating with means for generating a vacuum within the container, a suction conduit for each side of the vehicle, each suction conduit extending at one end into the interior of the container and being provided at the other end with a nozzle which may be disposed at a short distance from the ground, flap means mounted at said one end of each conduit and operable from outside the container for separately closing off said one end of each suction conduit to prevent refuse entering said one end of the conduit when it is closed, in which said one ends of said suction conduits communicate with the container in positions one on each side of a central longitudinal plane of the container and adjacent one end of the container, said outlet is positioned in the upper part of the container adjacent the other end of the container and continuously curved deflector means are provided above said one end of each suction conduit, the arrangement being such that, in use, with one suction conduit open and the other closed, air entering the container through said one of the suction conduits is diverted by the respective deflector means up around the upper part of the container and down towards the central lower part of the container before passing out through the outlet, to prevent refuse being deposited on and around said one end of said other suction conduit.

Reference is also made to our co-pending Application No. 48209/77 (Serial No.

1,592,778) in which we have described and claimed a vacuum operated refuse collecting vehicle comprising an air-tight container mounted on the chassis of the vehicle and having an outlet communicating with means for generating a vacuum within the container, a suction conduit on each side of a central longitudinal plane of the vehicle, each suction.

conduit communicating at one end with the container and provided at the other end with a suction nozzle, moving means for each nozzle for moving the nozzle between an operating position in which the nozzle is disposed at a short distance from the ground and a stowed position in which the nozzle is raised clear of the ground, a rotatable channel brush on each side of the vehicle, each channel brush being connected by a pivotable linkage to the chassis, pivoting means for each channel brush for pivoting the brush between an operating position in which the brush is in contact with the ground and a stowed position in which the brush is raised clear of the ground, a pivotable closure for each suction conduit and pivoting means for each closure for pivoting the closure between a closed position in which the closure closes off the said one end of its respective suction conduit and an open position wherein remote control means are provided for operating the nozzle moving means, the channel brush pivoting means and the conduit closure pivoting means, said remote control means including controls for operating all said moving and pivoting means separately and a master control for operating the nozzle moving means and the brush pivoting means simultaneously to move one nozzle from its operating position to its stowed position, move the other nozzle from its stowed position to its operating position, move one channel brush from its operating position to its stowed position and move the other channel brush from its stowed position to its operating position.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A refuse collecting vehicle comprising a container mounted on the chassis of the vehicle, at least one inlet communicating at one end with the container and provided at the other end with an orifice which may be disposed at a short distance from the ground, means for transporting refuse through said inlet into the container and brush means for loosening refuse from the ground and sweeping it towards said orifice, the brush means comprising a least one rotatable brush mounted on the vehicle which may be disposed in contact with the ground in front of the orifice in the normal direction of travel of the vehicle wherein the brush is mounted for rotation on a first bracket connected by a pair of links to a second bracket, the links being pivotally connected to the first and second brackets for pivotal movement about generally horizontal axes and the second bracket being connected to the chassis for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis, and wherein a ram is connected to a third bracket extending generally horizontally from the second bracket for effecting movement of the second brackets about a vertical axis and the ram is also connected by a flexible link to one of said links for effecting movement of the links about horizontal axes, said ram being operable to move the brush between an operating position in which the brush is in contact with the ground and the links extend outboard of the vehicle chassis so that the brush extends outside the wheel base of the vehicle and a stowed position in which the brush is raised clear of the ground and the links are swung inboard so that the brush lies within the plan area delimited by the vehicle.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. work 67. As the ram 74 is extended towards the position shown in Figure 2, the finger 90 contacts operating lever 88 and pivots it thus lifting the curtain 80 upwardly and inwardly to the position shown in Figure 2 and in solid lines in Figure 5. Reference is also made to our co-pending Application No. 48226/76 (Serial No. 1,592,775) in which we have described and claimed a vacuum operated refuse collecting vehicle comprising in combination an air-tight container mounted on the chassis of the vehicle and having an outlet communicating with means for generating a vacuum within the container, a suction conduit for each side of the vehicle, each suction conduit extending at one end into the interior of the container and being provided at the other end with a nozzle which may be disposed at a short distance from the ground, flap means mounted at said one end of each conduit and operable from outside the container for separately closing off said one end of each suction conduit to prevent refuse entering said one end of the conduit when it is closed, in which said one ends of said suction conduits communicate with the container in positions one on each side of a central longitudinal plane of the container and adjacent one end of the container, said outlet is positioned in the upper part of the container adjacent the other end of the container and continuously curved deflector means are provided above said one end of each suction conduit, the arrangement being such that, in use, with one suction conduit open and the other closed, air entering the container through said one of the suction conduits is diverted by the respective deflector means up around the upper part of the container and down towards the central lower part of the container before passing out through the outlet, to prevent refuse being deposited on and around said one end of said other suction conduit. Reference is also made to our co-pending Application No. 48209/77 (Serial No. 1,592,778) in which we have described and claimed a vacuum operated refuse collecting vehicle comprising an air-tight container mounted on the chassis of the vehicle and having an outlet communicating with means for generating a vacuum within the container, a suction conduit on each side of a central longitudinal plane of the vehicle, each suction. conduit communicating at one end with the container and provided at the other end with a suction nozzle, moving means for each nozzle for moving the nozzle between an operating position in which the nozzle is disposed at a short distance from the ground and a stowed position in which the nozzle is raised clear of the ground, a rotatable channel brush on each side of the vehicle, each channel brush being connected by a pivotable linkage to the chassis, pivoting means for each channel brush for pivoting the brush between an operating position in which the brush is in contact with the ground and a stowed position in which the brush is raised clear of the ground, a pivotable closure for each suction conduit and pivoting means for each closure for pivoting the closure between a closed position in which the closure closes off the said one end of its respective suction conduit and an open position wherein remote control means are provided for operating the nozzle moving means, the channel brush pivoting means and the conduit closure pivoting means, said remote control means including controls for operating all said moving and pivoting means separately and a master control for operating the nozzle moving means and the brush pivoting means simultaneously to move one nozzle from its operating position to its stowed position, move the other nozzle from its stowed position to its operating position, move one channel brush from its operating position to its stowed position and move the other channel brush from its stowed position to its operating position. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A refuse collecting vehicle comprising a container mounted on the chassis of the vehicle, at least one inlet communicating at one end with the container and provided at the other end with an orifice which may be disposed at a short distance from the ground, means for transporting refuse through said inlet into the container and brush means for loosening refuse from the ground and sweeping it towards said orifice, the brush means comprising a least one rotatable brush mounted on the vehicle which may be disposed in contact with the ground in front of the orifice in the normal direction of travel of the vehicle wherein the brush is mounted for rotation on a first bracket connected by a pair of links to a second bracket, the links being pivotally connected to the first and second brackets for pivotal movement about generally horizontal axes and the second bracket being connected to the chassis for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis, and wherein a ram is connected to a third bracket extending generally horizontally from the second bracket for effecting movement of the second brackets about a vertical axis and the ram is also connected by a flexible link to one of said links for effecting movement of the links about horizontal axes, said ram being operable to move the brush between an operating position in which the brush is in contact with the ground and the links extend outboard of the vehicle chassis so that the brush extends outside the wheel base of the vehicle and a stowed position in which the brush is raised clear of the ground and the links are swung inboard so that the brush lies within the plan area delimited by the vehicle.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in which

the brush is mounted for rotation about a generally vertical axis and a motor for rotating the brush is also mounted on the first bracket.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the connection between the first bracket and one of said links is an adjustable connection whereby the orientation of the axis of rotation of the brush may be varied.

4. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the flexible link comprises a cable passing around a pulley pivotated on said third bracket.

5. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a curtain arranged inboard of the brush and mounted on davits for movement between a raised position and a lowered position.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5 in which at least one of said davits is connected by a link to an actuation lever mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, a protrusion being provided on said third bracket for pivoting the actuation lever to raise and lower said curtain.

7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 in which the curtain is suspended from the davits by adjustable links whereby the height of the curtain relative to the davits may be adjusted.

8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 7 in which the adjustable links comprise chains.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which a rotatable brush is provided on each side of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the container is airtight, the or each inlet comprises a suction conduit and the refuse transporting means comprises means for generating a vacuum within the container.