US3217913A

US3217913A - Material handling device

Info

Publication number: US3217913A
Application number: US237436A
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard D Aldredge; Robert L Aldredge
Original assignee: CONTAINER SERVICE CO Inc
Current assignee: CONTAINER SERVICE CO Inc
Priority date: 1962-11-08
Filing date: 1962-11-08
Publication date: 1965-11-16
Anticipated expiration: 1982-11-16

Description

Nov. 16, 1965 Original Filed Oct. 19, 1959 H. D. ALDREDGE ETAL MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Z PW M Nov. 16, 1965 D, ALDREDGE ETAL 3,217,913

I MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS im d w 16, 1965 H. D. ALDREDGE ETAL 3,217,913

MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Original Filed Oct. 19, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E15 Ej BYjjpmwpwm United States Patent 3,217,913 MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Howard D. Aldredge and Robert L. Aldredge, Dayton,

Ohio, assignors to Container Service Company, Inc., a

corporation of Ohio Continuation of application Ser. No. 847,147, Oct. 19,

1959. This application Nov. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 237,436 8 Claims. (Cl. 214-302) This invention relates to material handling equipment, more specifically to lift and dump apparatus, and. is a continuation of co-pending application Serial No. 847,147, filed October 19, 1959 and now abandoned. It procides improvements in equipment particularly applicable to handling and removal of waste materials and will be described herein with reference thereto. However, it will be obvious therefrom to those versed in the art that the application of the invention is not so limited, nor is such intended.

Waste and waste removal is a serious problem in commercial and industrial installations. The waste accumulates so rapidly and in such large amounts that manual handling and removal thereof is quite inconvenient, expensive, and even impossible in some instances.

A step in the right direction has been achieved by a prior invention, shown in US. Letters Patent 2,885,101, providing for front loading lift and dump apparatus on large refuse trucks. In using such apparatus, large waste receptacles are placed at strategic locations. The truck incorporating this lift and dump apparatus is driven up to the receptacle and automatically coupled thereto without need for the driver to leave the truck. By energizinz suitable controls in the truck the lift apparatus is energized to lift the receptacle and dump its contents in a body attached to the truck. On reversing the controls the receptacle is returned to its proper location. The truck is then backed away and moved on to the next receptacle. While this prior art lift and dump apparatus has been successful in solving many of the problems in the particular art, its cost and complexity has been reduced by the present apparatus.

The presently disclosed lift and dump apparatus is more simple, more compact, and can be readily applied to a modern truck chassis without complication and without creation of lateral protrusions which cause trafiic hazards. In its preferred form the invention provides a very effective one arm front loader unit which offers marked contrast to the prior art structure. While this apparatus is advantageously applicable to a waste disposal truck and will be described with reference thereto, it can be easily applied to any fixed or mobile installation without need for specialized accessories. A feature of the invention is the improved control system employed which enables a lateral shift of its operating mechanism from a stored to a functional position.

A primary object of the invention is to provide material handling equipment which is more economical to fabricate, more efiicient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety of applications and unlikely to get out of repair.

Another object of the invention is to provide carrier units with improved front loading equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved and simplified lift and dump apparatus employing a single arm as its operative support member.

A further object of the invention is to provide lift apparatus which has simplified and more flexible control structure.

An additional object of the invention is to provide waste disposal trucks and similarly applied units with improved means for automatic engaging, lifting and dump ing procedures.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel lift and dump apparatus particularly applicable to waste disposal trucks as well as other material handling units.

Another object of the invention is to provide simplified lift and dump apparatus which can be selectively applied to stationary or mobile units in a simple conventional manner.

An additional object of the invention is. to provide lift and dump apparatus possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherent meritorious characteristics and the means and mode of operation herein described.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation as .hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a waste disposal truck incorporating the lift and dump apparatus of the invention as a front loading unit, illustrating the advance of the truck to automatically couple to a waste receptacle;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the invention apparatus in position to lift the receptacle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the receptacle engaging apparatus provided;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the invention apparatus in an elevated position ready to dump the contents of the waste receptacle;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of the invention apparatus in a dumping position;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the truck of FIG. 1 showing controls for the lift and dump apparatus;

FIG. 7 is a detail showing the controls of FIG. 6 in a position corresponding to a stored position of the lift arm employed;

FIG. 8 shows the controls of FIG. 6 in a position corresponding to an operating position of the lift arm; and

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 of FIG. 2.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

As shown, the apparatus is embodied in a waste disposal truck as front loading equipment. The truck includes a chassis 1 mounting a cab 2 to its forward end and a body P to its rear end. A hearing tube 3 is fixed transversely of the chassis immediately to the rear of the cab. Within the tube 3 and inbearing relation thereto, is a hydraulic cylinder 4 which projects from the tube to either end. A right angled bracket 5 is fixed to the tube 3 so that one arm 6 thereof will overlie the tube 3 and project outwardly therefrom in an axial sense toward the left side of the chassis 1. The other arm 7 of the bracket 5 vertically depends from the projected extremity of the arm 6. A piston and rod assembly 8 fixed to the arm 7 projects axially within the cylinder 4 to provide relatively sealed chambers in the cylinder to either side of the piston.

A tubular lift arm 11 disposed generally parallel to the right side of the cab and chassis has a short tubular projection 12 at right angles to its inner end which is fixed to the right end of the cylinder 4. Suitable controls are provided in the cab 2 and connected with the cylinder 4 to selectively introduce fluid to either side of the piston therein in the conventional manner while evacuating fluid from the other side to cause the cylinder to move inwardly toward the arm 7 to the left side of the cab and chassis or outwardly to the right side of the cab and chassis. FIG. 7 of the drawings illustrates cylinder 4 3 moved to a position adjacent the arm 7 which causes the lift arm 11 to be moved inwardly within the lateral extremities of the cab 2 to avoid objectionable protrusions when the lift arm is not in use.

A sleeve fixed about the end of cylinder 4 adjacent the bracket arm 7 has a bifurcated arm 13 connected integrally therewith to project rearwardly of the chassis to the left side thereof. The projection 12 at the other end of cylinder 4 has a similar arm 13 fixed thereto to project rearwardly at the right side of the chassis parallel to the other arm 13. The rearwardly projected bifurcated extremity of each arm 13 is bridged by a transverse pivot pin 14 pivotally mounting a generally U-shaped joint member 15 the legs of which are projected rearwardly thereby in generally vertically spaced relation. The vertically spaced legs of each member 15 are connected by a pivot pin 16 which extends through and pivotally connects to the extremity of a piston rod 17 projected from a hydraulic cylinder 18 rearwardly thereof. The rearmost end of each cylinder 18 has a projected bracket 19 disposed between the vertically spaced arms of a joint member 20 and pivoted thereto by a vertical pin'21 connecting therebetween. Each joint member 20 is rotatably mounted for movement in a vertical plane on a bracket 22 projected from either side of the chassis. A piston is provided within each cylinder 18 connected to the appropriate piston rod 17. Suitable controls are connected from the cab 2 to the cylinders 18 to move the pistons therein to selectively project the rods 17 or retract them in a conventional manner. It should be particularly noted that the structure described provides for both vertical and lateral pivoting of the cylinders 18 relative the chassis 1, a universal connection being provided to either end thereof.

The lift arm 11 is moved upwardly and then inwardly relative to the right side of cab 2 when not in use. The arm 11, when not in use, is therefore stored in a vertical position behind the cab 2. The cylinder 4 is both rotatably and axially movable in the tube 3 and the lift arm 11 is fixed thereto for unison movement therewith. By operation of suitable controls in the cab 2, as previously described, the arm 11 may be moved outwardly to clear the right side of cab 2. By further operation of the pistons in the cylinders 18, the cylinder 4 may be rotated to move the arm 11 down to a generally horizontal forwardly projecting position at the right side of the cab for engagement with a receptacle R. The lateral shift of the lift arm 11 is accommodated by the universal type connection to either end of cylinders 18.

The projected extremity of the lift arm 11 has a short tubular portion 24 at right angles to its outer end projected toward the left side of the cab 2. A shaft 25 is fixed therein (as for example by welding) and projects therefrom in axial alignment therewith, toward the left side of the cab. A sleeve 26, coextensive in length with the projecting portion of shaft 25, is rotatably mounted thereon. A pair of radially projecting arms 27 are respectively fixed to the sleeve 26 in parallel spaced relation and are substantially aligned with the right and left sides of the cab. The inner end of each arm 27 is bifurcated, the furcations being fixed to the sleeve 26 in spaced relation. Slots 28 formed in sleeve 26 provide openings through which spaced brackets 29, welded or otherwise fixed to the shaft 25, project past the outer surface of the sleeve 26.

Secured to the projected extremity of each arm 27 is a plate 30 having a relatively inclined surface on its upper and forward edge. A further plate member 32 is pivoted at 33 to each plate 30, forming therewith a generally V-shaped notch 31. Secured to each plate member 32 is a stop member 32' which normally abuts a portion of the associated plate 30 to limit outward pivoting of the member 32 relative thereto. Below the pivot 33 the plate 32 carries a dependent projection 34 which is connected to the forward end of the control link 37 by a pin and slot arrangement 35-36 respectively.

The pin 35 normally engages link 37 to the forward end of slot 36 in which instance the slot is generally parallel to arm 27. The remainder of link 37 extends rearwardly and upwardly through the furcations of the associated arm 27 and is pivotally connected to the end of an associated bracket 29 projecting outwardly from shaft 25 through the slot 28 and sleeve 26. The upper and forward extremity or apex of each member 32 has a rectangular projection directed to project into the notch 31 when link 37 is in its normal position (FIGS. 1 through 4).

A control arm 39 parallel to the tubular projection 24 on the lift arm 11 is fixed at one end to the sleeve 26 and terminates at its other end in a generally L- shaped plate 40, one end of which is pivoted on the outer side of the arm 11 concentric with the portion 24. A hydraulic cylinder 41 is pivotally connected to the underside of arm 11 by means of bracket 42. The piston rod 43 of cylinder 41 is pivotally connected to the other end of the plate 40. Suitable conventional controls are provided in the cab 2 operatively connected to cylinder 41 for controlling operation of the rod 43 so as to pivot plate 40 and, through the medium of control arm 39, the sleeve 26.

Since plate 40, arm 39 and sleeve 26 are integrally connected, projection of the rod 43 will cause counterclockwise rotation of sleeve 26 and the connected arms 27 about the shaft 25 which shaft serves as the pivot. Since the position of shaft 25 relative arm 11 is fixed, the position of the brackets 29 relative the arm 11 remains fixed.

The embodiment of the invention thus illustrated is employed and functions as follows. As mentioned previously, the truck will travel with the lift arm 11 elevated and retracted in to the right side of the cab 2. It should be noted there is no arm to the left side of the cab to obstruct the vision of the driver or his access to the cab. As the truck approaches a waste receptacle the driver energizes suitable controls in the cab to axially shift the cylinder 4 and displace the arm 11 outwardly of the right side of the cab. This axial shift of the cylinder 4 is accommodated by the universal joint type connections between the cylinders 18 and the associated arms 13 and brackets 22 which enable a lateral angular disposition of the cylinders.

Thus, in summary of the structural arrangement, it is readily observed that tubular portion 24 is integrally connected to shaft 25. Also connected to shaft 25 are brackets 29 which carry links 37 which links are connected to plate members 32 by means of pins and

slot connections

35 and 36. The sleeve 26 is rotatably mounted on shaft 25 and has arms 27 and control arm 39 connected integrally therewith. The arms 27 have plates 30 connected therewith. The plates 30' are pivotally connected to the plate members 32. Thus it is seen that plate members 32 are connected to both links 37 and arms 27. Therefore, when the piston 43 is energized (which is when the receptacle has been carried to the packed unit of the truck) it causes the sleeve 26 to rotate thereby causing movement of arms 27, plates 30, and plate members 32. But since plate members 32 are constrained by brackets 29 which carry links 37, the plate members 32 are confined to movement along the slots 36 in links 37. Upon reaching the end of slots 36, the pins 35 engage the inner ends of the slots 36, which engagement causes plate members 32 to rotate counterclockwise about their pivot points 33 (as viewed in FIGURE 1) and thereby close the notch 31 substantially as shown in FIGURE 5.

In order to engage the receptacle, the driver actuates suitable controls in the cab 2 to retract the pistons in cylinders 18 pivoting arms 13 upwardly to rotate cylinder 4 forwardly and move the arm 11 down. It will be noted that the receptacle R shown in the drawings has lugs L as its respective ends. The lift arm 11 is depressed so the truck can move the projected arms 27 to dispose their notches 31 under the lugs. The driver is now in position to lift the receptacle and dump its contents. The truck having been properly positioned, the controls for the cylinders 18 are reversed to project the piston rods 17, moving the arms 13 downwardly thereby to rotate the cylinder 4 and thereby move the lift arm upwardly of the cab. As the lift arm 11 moves up, the receptacle is securely seated by its lugs in the notches 31 of arms 27. As the arm 11 moves the receptacle up to a position over the cab 2, seen in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the driver of the truck energizes suitable controls to move the piston in cylinder 41 to project the piston rod 43. Rod 43 pivots the plate 40 in a counter-clockwise direction to rotate the connected sleeve 26 through the medium of the connecting control arm 39* to move the arms 27 to turn the receptacle over to the packer unit of the truck. By this means, the receptacle is being inverted to dump its contents. The sleeve 26 and connected arms 27 rotate on shaft 25 relative the fixed position of the brackets 29. This causes a gradual shortening of the distance between the brackets 29 and control pins 35. As the arms 27 carry their receptacle towards and inverted position the distance between brackets 29 and pins 35 is so short that the inner or opposite ends of slots 36 in links 37 engage the control pins 35 and automatically pivot the members 32 counter-clockwise. The projections 38 thereon thereupon close over the container lugs I in the notches 31. Thus relationship of the control links 37 to the plates 32 is such that on predetermined rotation of the sleeve 26 the links 37 will pivot the members 32 to retain the container in the notches 31 of the arms 27. As the plates 32 move in their counter-clockwise direction they engage the lugs L and thereby pivot the lugs and the associated containers into positive alignment with the side edge of the notch 31 as defined by the lowered portion of the inclined surface in plate 30. Rotation of the plates members 32 therefore not only clamps the container through engagement with the lugs L, but simultaneously therewith rotates the lugs L and the associated container into parallel alignment with the surface forming the lower part of the notch 31. Thus as movement of the lift arm is completed, the receptacle is completely inverted, and clamped firmly to the arms 27. In the lifting process, the normal engagement of stops 32 on members 32 with the limiting portions on the dependent extremities of arms 27 assures positive control of the container and a precisely controlled dumping operation.

The container having been emptied, by reversal of the appropriate controls, the driver moves the lift arm downwardly, rotates the sleeve 26 and arms 27 to their normal forwardly projected positions to return the receptacle to its unpright position and lowers the receptacle to the ground. The lift arm 11 is depressed sufiiciently to clear the lugs on the receptacle, backed oflf, and its controls operated to elevate the lift arm once more and retract it in to the right side of the cab. In this way the lift and dump apparatus will create no objectionable protrusions which would provide traffic hazard on movement of the truck to succeeding receptacles.

It will be recognized from the above that lift and dump apparatus has been provided with is highly efficient and extremely flexible in application. The novel one arm lift, front loading equipment provided can be easily fabricated and mounted to any type support to readily adapt to a variety of material handling applications.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, We claim:

1. Lift and dump apparatus comprising, a chassis, bearing means thereon, a single lift arm having a pivotal connection with said bearing means, power means for selectively shifting said lift arm between. parallel planes respectively within the boundary of said chassis and spaced outwardly therefrom, and link means interposed between said chassis and said lift arm to provide for pivoting of said lift arm in said parallel. planes and including spaced universal connections to accommodate the shift of said arm between said parallel planes by said power means.

2. Lift and dump apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said lift arm has generally cylindrical means projecting from one end thereof for pivotally mounting said arm to said bearing means and said. link means including a pair of parallel brackets mounted on said cylindrical means.

3. Lift and dump apparatus including, a single lift arm, bearing means fixed to project substantially at right angles to said arm adjacent its one end, a sleeve rotatable on said bearing means having a pair of parallel spaced arms projected therefrom, each parallel spaced arm including gripper means defining recesses therein at their extremities, said gripper means comprising two coacting members, anchor means fixed to said bearing means, one of said coacting members pivotally connected to both said anchor means and said other coacting member for control of said gripper means whereby in response to a predetermined rotation of said sleeve means on said bearing means said recesses are substantially closed for engaging a container and dumping its contents.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a base chassis, further bearing means pivotally mounting said lift arm on said chassis and said further bearing means also providing for shifting said lift arm laterally from a position within the boundary of said chassis to a parallel position spaced outwardly of said chassis.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said one coacting member is pivotally connected to said anchor means by a lost motion connection and the said other coacting member is fixedly connected to said parallel spaced arms.

6. Lifting and dumping apparatus for one arm loading including a portable chassis, bearing means transversely mounted on said chassis, a single elongated lift arm having a transversely extending member at one end thereof and container engaging apparatus at the other end thereof, said transversely extending member interengaged with said bearing means for relative rotational and lateral shifting motions, power means for shifting said arm between a stored position adjacent said chassis and an operative position outwardly spaced of said chassis, power means on said chassis for rotating said arm in a vertical plane, whereby the arm is moved upwardly in said vertical plane over said chassis for dumping the contents from a container carried by said arm into the chassis.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 characterized in that said bearing means includes a cylinder element and said transversely extending member includes a piston telescoping in said cylinder, said piston being movable axially relative to the cylinder, said means for rotating said lift arm including arm means fixed to said piston.

8. Lifting and dumping apparatus constructed for one arm loading including a truck chassis, bearing means transversely mounted to said chassis, said bearing means comprising telescoping piston and cylinder elements one of which is fixed to said chassis and the other of which is movable axially relative to said one element, an elongated lift arm disposed longitudinally of said chassis on one side thereof and having a portion thereof fixed to said relatively movable element of said bearing means, said lift arm and said other element of said bearing means being mounted for relative rotational and lateral motions, means for introducing pressure fluid into said bearing means to eiTect lateral shifting motion of said lift arm between a stored position closely adjacent said chassis and an operating position outwardly of said chassis, apparatus support means mounted on said arm to extend transversely thereof parallel to said bearing means being spaced apart a distance to enable said support means to extend across one end of said chassis, and means for rocking said lift arm, said last named means including arm elements fixed to said axially movable element of said bearing means at spaced apart locations on opposite sides of said chassis, and individual pressure fluid actuated devices connected to said elements and based on said chassis.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,542,951 6/ 1925 Perkins 214-47 2,179,446 11/ 1939 Dahlstrom. 2,501,112 3/1950 Webster 214-78 2,754,016 7/ 1956 Anderson. 2,772,766 12/ 1956 Kellam. 2,831,589 4/1958 Way. 2,885,101 5/1959 Aldredge 214-302 2,933,209 4/1960 Tidwell 214-78 2,933,210 4/1960 Dye 214-302 X HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

MORRIS TEMIN, Examiner.

Claims

1. LIFT AND DUMP APPARATUS COMPRISING, A CHASSIS, BEARING MEANS THEREON, A SINGLE LIFT ARM HAVING A PIVOTAL CONNECTION WITH SAID BEARING MEANS, POWER MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY SHIFTING SAID LIFT ARM BETWEEN PARALLEL PLANES RESPECTIVELY WITHIN THE BOUNDARY OF SAID CHASSIS AND SPACED OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, AND LINK MEANS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID CHASSIS AND SAID LIFT ARM TO PROVIDE FOR PIVOTING OF SAID LIFT ARM IN SAID PARALLEL PLANES AND INCLUDING SPACED UNIVERSAL CONNECTIONS TO ACCOMMODATE THE SHIFT OF SAID ARM BETWEEN SAID PARALLEL PLANES BY SAID POWER MEANS.