GB2109335A

GB2109335A - Refuse collection vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2109335A
Application number: GB08232900A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hugh Alfred Winwood
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-11-18
Filing date: 1982-11-18
Publication date: 1983-06-02
Also published as: GB2109335B

Abstract

A refuse collection vehicle (10) comprises a first pair of lifting arms (14) for lifting skips and a second pair of lifting arms (17) for lifting smaller containers. A pair of attachment arms (20) are mounted on a cross beam (19) which extends between the second pair of lifting arms. The attachment arms are slidable along the cross beam and are pivotable about respective pivots (25) between an operative position in which they extend transversely of the cross beam and an inoperative condition in which they lie adjacent to the cross beam. The pivots are at an acute angle to the vertical and at an acute angle to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cross beam so that, when the arms are pivoted to their inoperation positions, they swing downwardly to positions which do not obstruct entry of skips into the rear opening (11) defined by the vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Refuse collection vehicle This invention relates to a refuse collection vehicle of a type capable of handling what are conventionally known as "builders' skips".

Builders' skips are large containers which can be left on site to be filled with builders' rubble for example. The initial use of such skips involved their being taken to a site loaded on a flat backed loader lorry which was equipped with a pair of hydraulically operated arms. At the site, the skip was unloaded using the arms and placed on the ground, and the loader was driven away.

Subsequently, when the skip had been filled, the loader returned, lifted the skip using the hydraulically operated arms so that it was returned to the flat back of the loader and the skip was then removed from the site for emptying.

Whilst this procedure is satisfactory for removal of single skip loads of rubble, large contractors have found it more satisfactory to leave the skip permanently on site and merely to empty it into a refuse collection vehicle when it becomes full. Vehicles have been constructed incorporating hydraulic lifting arms similar to those of the flat back loader lorries referred to, but also incorporating a hopper and refuse containing body so that several skips can be emptied. Each one is lifted, tipped and returned to its position on the ground.

It is a necessary feature of such skip loading refuse collection vehicles that a completely open back is provided, because of the large size of the skips compared with conventional refuse containers, even commercial bulk refuse containers. Another particular requirement is that the open back has a low "rave rail" which forms the lower sill of the opening, in order to cope with tipping the large skips.

To improve the versatility of skip loading refuse collection vehicles, it would be desirable to provide lifting gear enabling them to handle other large bulk refuse containers, for example, one and two cubic yard capacity rectangular refuse containers or the type of rigid, lidded bin known as a "Eurobin".

However, this has not hitherto proved to be possible because of the requirements set out above for the skip loading vehicles. The lifting points on a Eurobin for example are rather higher than the height of the rave rail necessary to permit skips to be handled. This means that any conventional type of lifting gear will obstruct the open rear end of the vehicle and prevent it from handling skips.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a refuse collection vehicle capable of handling both skips and other types of bulk refuse container. It is a further object of the invention to provide lifting gear for bulk refuse containers capable of being used with a skip loading refuse collection vehicle.

In this specification, a "bulk refuse container" is intended to mean a refuse container of the type used by commercial undertakings such as shops, restaurants and office blocks and which is larger than the conventional domestic dustbin but which is not a builder's skip.

According to the invention, there is provided a vehicle comprising a storage space with a rearwardly face opening, the lower boundary of which is defined by a sill, and a lifting assembly comprising a pair of arms suitable for lifting a bin wherein the arms are pivotable about a first axis to enable a bin to be lifted into a position where the contents of the bin can spill into the storage space, and wherein the arms are also pivotable about respective second axes between out of use positions where the arms extend in directions which are generally parallel to the length of the sill and in use positions where the arms extend in directions away from the sill, the second axes being inclined at angles relative to the length of the sill such that the arms lie wholly below the level of the sill when the arms are in their out of use positions and the lifting assembly is at a lowermost position.

An example of a vehicle in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 shows elements of the rear end of the vehicle viewed from the side thereof; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of parts of some of the elements shown in Fig. 1.

Vehicle 10 defines a load space, which load space comprises a rearwardly facing opening 11. The vehicle can be a refuse collection vehicle or the like. A lower boundary of the opening is defined by a sill or rave rail 1 2 which is generally rectilinear and generally horizontai when the vehicle is on level ground. The vehicle comprises means for lifting containers of various sizes and tipping their contents through the opening into the load space. A lifting assembly 41 is provided for lifting bins, and a further lifting assembly 42 which is spaced generally upwardly from assembly 41, is provided for lifting heavier loads in larger containers such as skips.

The further lifting assembly 42 comprises a pair of heavy duty lifting arms 14 which are linked by a cross beam (one lifting arm only is visible in Fig. 1). The lifting arms are pivotally mounted on either side of the vehicle 10 by means of pivot bearings 1 5 which are positioned part way along the length of the respective arms, nearer to one end than to the other. A hydraulic ram 1 6 extends between the vehicle and the end of each arm which is closer to the pivot bearings. Means (not shown) is provided adjacent to the further end of the arms for attachment to a skip.The lifting assembly is shown in an "out of use" position; when the assembly is in use and a skip is to be lifted, parts of the skip can be placed in sockets 1 3 positioned above the sill 1 2 and on either side of the opening 11. The sockets hook the skip so that pivoting of the lifting arms causes the skip to pivot about the sockets, thereby tipping the contents of the skip into the load space of the vehicle.

Lifting assembly 41 comprises a pair of light duty lifting arms 17. The arms are pivotally mounted on either side of the vehicle 10 by means of pivot bearings 1 8 adjacent one end of the respective arms, which pivot bearings define a first axis of the lifting assembly. A hydraulic ram 29 extends between the vehicle and a position on each arm part way along the length thereof. A cross beam 1 9 extends between the arms, respective end portions of the cross beam being mounted on each arm at a position which is spaced further from the pivot bearing 1 8 than the ram position on the arm. The cross beam is mounted on the arms adjacent to the ends furthermost from the pivot bearing ends.The parts of the arms on which the cross beam is mounted are set outwardly, by means of a web 30, from those parts on which the rams and pivot bearings are mounted. By this means the arms do not interfere, upon pivoting, with the heavy duty lifting arms 14 at positions where the hydraulic rams 1 6 are mounted thereon.

The cross beam 1 9 extends in a direction which is substantially parallel to the length of the sill 1 2 and is spaced downwardly therefrom when the lifting assembly 41 is in the lowermost position shown in the drawings. A pair of attachment arms 20 for supporting a bin are mounted on the cross beam. The drawings shown one arm of the pair in an "in use position, that is extending in a direction away from the sill. The arm is in a position wherein a bin can be mounted thereon to enable the bin to be lifted and the contents thereof tipped into the load space.

Fig. 2 shows part of the lifting assembly 41 including an attachment arm 20 which is mounted on the cross beam 19. The arm 20 is movable along the cross beam by means of a sleeve 43 which has a sliding engagement with the arm. The sleeve and cross beam comprise complementary cross-sectional profiles which are generally square as viewed along the length of the cross beam so that the sleeve is rotationally fixed relative to the cross beam. The attachment arm comprises anchoring means which is a plunger 22 for anchoring the sleeve in a fixed position along the length of the cross beam. When the sleeve is fixed, the plunger extends through an aperture in the sleeve (not shown) and a selected one of a series of apertures 24 in the cross beam. By this means the arms can be suitably positioned for lifting bins of various widths.

Each arm 20 comprises a portion which is pivotable with respect to the sleeve 43. The pivotable portion comprises a generally Ushaped part 44 which is pivotally mounted on the sleeve, and a generally plate-like part 45 which is rigidly mounted on the U-shaped part and which extends outwardly therefrom. The plate-like part comprises second bin engaging means adjacent to the end thereof furthermost from the U-shaped part. Said portion is connected with the corresponding sleeve for pivoting about a second axis 25 by means of a pivot pin (not shown) which extends between limbs of the U-shaped part, through at least one of the limbs, and through an element which is mounted on the sleeve and positioned in the space defined by the Ushaped part.

The pivot axis 25 of each arm 20, defined by the pivot pin, extends generally upwardly so that the arm can be pivoted between an "in use" position as shown and an "out of use" position in which the arm lies generally alongside the cross beam. The arm can be swung inwardly from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 to the "out of use position in which the arm extends towards the sleeve of the other arm.

The pivot axes 25 are inclined relative to the length of the sill so that each arm 20 lies wholly below the level of the sill when the arms are in their "out of use" positions and the lifting assembly 41 is at its lowermost position, as shown in the drawings. The pivot axis defines a narrow angle with a plane which is orthogonal to the length of the cross beam 1 9. Said angle is preferably less than 20 , and in the example shown in the drawings is approximately 10 . When swung from the "in use" position towards the "out of use" position, each arm is swung through a plane which is inclined downwardly. The pivot axes lie parallel to the surface of the cross beam which faces rearwardly when the assembly is in the lowermost position.The inclination of the pivot axes ensures that the arms can be positioned so as not to obstruct the opening 11 and so that bin engaging means of the arms do not interfere with a skip which is being lifted by the lifting assembly 42. The inclined axes enable a larger opening to be provided than would otherwise be the case.

Each arm 20 comprises an overcentre biasing means, which is a spring 31, for biasing the arm to the in use or "out of use" positions when the arm is adjacent to respective ones of these positions. Pivoting of the arms may be performed manually.

A stop, not shown in the drawings, is mounted on each sleeve to prevent the respective arm from pivoting further from the out of use position than the in use position.

The plate-like part 45 of each arm 20 is welded to the U-shaped part 44 at an angle such that the plane of the plate-like part is generally vertical, at least when the arm is in the "in use" position. Furthermore, when the lifting assembly 41 is at its lowermost position, as shown in the drawings, a centre line of each arm is inclined upwardly in a direction leading away from part 44. These two features enable large loads to be supported by the arms. The plate-like part comprises bin engaging means which define recesses 26 and 27 adjacent to the end of the arm. The bin engaging means lie substantially above the level of the cross beam and portions of the plate-like part lie above the level of the sill 1 2 when the arms are in the 'in use' positions with the lifting assembly at the lowermost position.

The arm comprises a gravity lock in the form of a hook 28 which is pivotally mounted on the plate-like part adjacent to the recess 26. The hook is weighted so that when protuberances on a bin are received in the recesses 26 on respective arms, and the lifting assembly 41 is pivoted about the first axis to lift the bin, the hook pivots into a retaining position to engage a protuberance, thereby retaining the bin on the arms. It will be noted that the hook is shown in a position, which is a releasing position, wherein placement of a bin protuberance in the recess 26 causes some pivoting of the hook. The hook can comprise an overcentre biasing means for biasing the hook towards the retaining position or the releasing position when adjacent to a respective one of these positions. A similar hook can be provided adjacent to recess 27. In use the lifting assembly is pivoted until the bin is in a position where the contents can tip into the load space of the vehicle. The direction of pivoting is then reversed and the bin is returned to the ground.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising a storage space with a rearwardly facing opening, the lower boundary of which is defined by a sill, and a lifting assembly comprising a pair of arms suitable for lifting a bin wherein the arms are pivotable about a first axis to enable a bin to be lifted into a position where the contents of the bin can spill into the storage space, and wherein the arms are also pivotable about respective second axes between out of use positions where the arms extend in directions which are generally parallel to the length of the sill and in use positions where the arms extend in directions away from the sill, the second axes being inclined at angles relative to the length of the sill such that the arms lie wholly below the level of the sill when the arms are in their out of use positions and the lifting assembly is at a lowermost position.

2. A vehicle according to Claim 1 wherein the second axes define angles with planes which are orthogonal to the length of the sill which are less than 20

3. A vehicle according to Claim 2 wherein said angles are approximately 10 .

4. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein when the lifting assembly is in the lowermost position, the arms can be swung to move bin engaging means on the arms downwardly from the in use positions to the out of use positions.

5. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the arms are mounted on a cross beam and lie alongside the cross beam when in the out of use position.

6. A vehicle according to Claim 5 wherein the cross beam extends generally parallel to the length of the sill.

7. A vehicle according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the arms are movable along the length of the cross beam.

8. A vehicle according to any one of Claims 5, 6 or 7 wherein the bin engaging means of the arms lie substantially above the level of the cross beam when the arms are in the in use positions with the lifting assembly at the lowermost position.

9. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein substantial parts of the arms are plate-like in form and the plane of said plate-like parts are generally vertical when the arms are in the in use positions.

10. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the arms comprise overcentre biasing means for biasing the arms towards the in use and out of use positions when adjacent to a respective one of said positions.

11. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims which comprises a further lifting assembly which is spaced upwardly from the first lifting assembly.

12. A kit of parts for use in assembling a lifting assembly on a vehicle of the kind defined in Claim 1.

1 3. A refuse collection vehicle comprising a body having a refuse receiving rear opening, the lower boundary of which is defined by a sill, a first pair of powered lifting arms adapted to lift a skip and pivotally mounted at opposed sides of the body, a second pair of powered lifting arms pivotally mounted at opposed sides of the body separately from the first pair of lifting arms and carrying a cross beam, a pair of attachment arms mounted on the cross beam and pivotable on respective pivots each inclined at an acute angle to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cross beam so that the attachment arms, on being moved from an operative condition transverse to the cross beam to an inoperative condition alongside the cross beam, swing at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the cross beam to a position where they can be disposed wholly below the level of the sill, the attachment arms being adapted, in the operative condition, to contact a bulk refuse con tainer and to lift it on actuation of the second pair of powered lifting arms.

14. A lifting means for a bulk refuse container capable of being mounted on a skip loading refuse collection vehicle, the lifting device comprising a pair of powered lifting arms adapted to be pivotally mounted at opposed sides of the body and carrying a cross beam, a pair of attachment arms mounted on the cross beam and pivotable on respective pivots, each inclined at an acute angle to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cross beam, so that the attachment arms, on being moved from an operative condition transverse to the cross beam to an inoperative condition alongside the cross beam, swing at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the cross beam, the attachment arms being adapted, in the operative condition, to contact a bulk refuse container for lifting by actuation of the powered lifting arms.

1 5. A vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

1 6. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.