US3921832A

US3921832A - Refuse collection apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3921832A
Application number: US440789A
Authority: US
Inventors: Fred T Smith
Original assignee: Sargent Industries Inc
Current assignee: Sargent Industries Inc
Priority date: 1972-06-19
Filing date: 1974-02-08
Publication date: 1975-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1992-11-25

Abstract

A refuse collector is provided which includes a storage body having a pair of spaced side walls defining the width of the storage body and having front and rear portions defining the length of the storage body. Braces are disposed relative to the spaced side walls at progressive positions along the side walls between the front and rear portions to provide enhanced strength to the side walls. Ejection means are disposed within the storage body and are movable between the front and rear portions of the storage body for ejecting refuse from the storage body and are slanted relative to the front and rear portions of the storage body. The braces have the same disposition with respect to the storage body as the ejection means. The ejection means may include an ejection panel having a curved configuration in elevation or may include a pair of ejection panels disposed above each other and having curved configurations in elevation, with a support member disposed between the ejection panels. The top wall of the storage body may have a particular curvature which causes the top wall to resist in tension the side forces imposed on the top wall by the side walls during a maximum loading of refuse in the storage body. Bracing means may be disposed on the side walls and extend to the top wall in a particular configuration which causes the bracing means to reduce the sharp change in contour between the side walls and the top wall and thereby provide strength and reduce stress concentration at the juncture between the side and top walls. The floor of the storage body has portions integral with the floor and curved upwardly and extending inwardly at the side walls at a position removed from the floor to prevent liquid on the floor of the storage body from leaking from the storage body. Means supporting the ejection means for movement between the front and rear portions of the storage body are disposed on the floor and are retained by the upwardly curved and inwardly extending portions of the floor and are movable along the floor to provide for a movement of the ejection means.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 Smith 51 Nov. 25, 1975 1 1 REFUSE COLLECTION APPARATUS Fred T. Smith, Dearborn Heights, Mich.

[75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Sargent Industries, Inc., Los

Angeles, Calif.

[22] Filed: Feb. 8, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 440,789

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 264,021, June 19, 1972.

[52] US. Cl. 214/82 [51] Int. Cl. B65F 3/02 [58] Field of Search 214/82, 83.3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,195,744 7/1965 Wender 214/82 3,212,656 10/1965 Kamin 214/82 3,220,586 11/1965 Gollnick 214/82 X 3,232,463 2/1966 Weir 2l4/83.3 X 3,273,728 9/1966 Kelso 214/82 Primary Examiner-Leo Friaglia Attorney, Agent, or FirmEllsworth R. Roston [57] ABSTRACT A refuse collector is provided which includes a storage body having a pair of spaced side walls defining the width of the storage body and having front and rear portions defining the length of the storage body. Braces are disposed relative to the spaced side walls at progressive positions along the side walls between the front and rear portions to provide enhanced strength to the side walls. Ejection means are disposed within the storage body and are movable between the front and rear portions of the storage body for ejecting refuse from the storage body and are slanted relative to the front and rear portions of the storage body. The braces have the same disposition with respect to the storage body as the ejection means.

The ejection means may include an ejection panel having a curved configuration in elevation or may include a pair of ejection panels disposed above each other and having curved configurations in elevation, with a support member disposed between the ejection panels.

The floor of the storage body has portions integral with the floor and curved upwardly and extending inwardly at the side walls at a position removed from the floor to prevent liquid on the floor of the storage body from leaking from the storage body. Means supporting the ejection means for movement between the front and rear portions of the storage body are disposed on the floor and are retained by the upwardly curved and inwardly extending portions of the floor and are movable along the floor to provide for a movement of the ejection means.

28 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures Sheet10f14 3921,8152

U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 SheetZof 14 3,921,832

U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet30f 14 3,921,832

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet40f 14 3,921,832

3,921,832 t t Nov. 25, 1975 SheetSof 14 US. Pa en IIII 'IIQI I.

US Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet6of 14 3,921,832

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet70f 14 3,921,832

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 SheetSof 14 3,921,832

U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet90f 14 3,921,832

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 10 of 14 3,921,832

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 @hw 12 of 14 3,921,832

U.S. Patfint Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 14 of 14 3,921,832

REFUSE COLLECTION APPARATUS This is a division of application Ser. No. 264,021, filed June 19, 1972.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In collecting refuse, the refuse is generally picked up at individual locations, such as homes, and loaded into a storage body mounted on a truck. When the storage body becomes full, the truck must make a trip to a dumping point to unload the refuse. Depending upon the location of the dumping point, the time required for dumping can be quite substantial. This time is lost time since the refuse collection apparatus performs merely as a truck during its trip to and from the dumping site.

To reduce lost time spent in transporting refuse to the dumping site, modern refuse collection equipment functions by packing the refuse under high pressures within a storage body. The capacity of the refuse collection apparatus is, thereby, increased, and it is able to function by collecting refuse for a longer period of time before having to make a trip to the dump.

In refuse collection equipment presently in use, the storage body is mounted on a truck frame and mounted behind the storage body is tailgate structure. The tailgate includes a loading hopper and packing mean for removing the refuse from the hopper and packing it under high pressure within the storage body. It is common practice to mount a movable ejection panel within the storage body. During the packing operation, refuse is packed against the ejection panel which moves forwardly within the storage body as the packing operation progresses. When the storage body is completely full, the ejection panel has moved all the way forward to a position adjacent the front of the storage body. During the dumping operation, the tailgate structure is pivoted upwardly with respect to the storage body and the refuse is ejected by moving the ejection panel rear wardly to push the refuse out of the storage body.

Present refuse collection apparatus is rather large and unwieldy as a result of several factors. First, the tailgate structure which contains the packing mechanism is relatively long, and extends outward a considerable distance from the back of the storage body. The length of the tailgate structure is dictated, to a large extent, by the shape of the loading hopper defined in the lower portion of the tailgate. Present loading hoppers have a generally uniformly curved bottom which slopes gradually downward from a loading lip at the rear of the hopper to a low point and then gradually upward to an inclined passage which leads into the storage body. A panel is rotated through the hopper with the lower edge of the panel following along the curvature of the hopper bottom. Due to the curved configuration of the hopper bottom to accommodate rotation of the panel, the hopper is relatively long and shallow. Thus, the tailgate structure must also be relatively long which produces a tailgate whose center of mass is positioned a considerable distance rearward of the tailgate supporting structure.

A further factor contributing to large and unwieldly refuse collection equipment is the movement of the packing means within the tailgate structure. Many refuse collectors which use pivotally interconnected upper and lower panels for packing (see US. Pat. No. 3,143,230), employ an upper panel which is reciprocated in a straight-line movement between an upper 2 and forward position and a lower and rearward position. To provide a high horizontal force component to the upper panel, the straight-line path must have a slope which provides substantial horizontal movement to the panel. This, in turn, requires that the tailgate structure be relatively long.

In present refuse collection equipment, the storage body is made from relatively heavy structural members to accommodate the high internal pressures imposed on the body. The high weight of the structural members further contributes to making the refuse collection equipment unwieldly. Added weight in the refuse storage body requires additional weight in the structural members for the truck frame which also increases the weight of the vehicle. As the length and weightof the vehicle are increased, it becomes increasingly more difficult to maneuver in congested areas in picking up refuse.

As stated, modern refuse collection equipment functions by packing refuse under high pressures within a storage body mounted on the frame of a truck. ln present equipment, little or no packing is accomplished within the loading hopper. The refuse is merely swept from the hopper by rotation of a panel and packing does not occur until the refuse is moved into the storage body. To accomplish more uniform packing, it would be desirable if some of the packing could take place within the loading hopper.

During the packing operation, the refuse is moved into a storage body and compacted against an ejection panel. As the refuse is compacted, it may be moved in an upward direction against the top of the refuse storage body and impose large stresses on the top of the body. To accommodate these stresses, the top of the refuse body will have to be heavily reinforced and, therefore, heavy.

As the packing continues, the ejection panel moves forwardly within the storage body. The movement of the ejection panel is generally controlled by a telescopic hydraulic cylinder in which the effective hydraulic area within the cylinder varies with its degree of extension. As the ejection panel moves forwardly, the refuse within the body also moves as new refuse is packed into the body. The friction between the refuse within the body and the side walls of the body varies depending on the amount of refuse in the body. Due to the various factors which affect movement of the ejection panel and refuse within the body, it is difficult to obtain uniform compaction of the refuse throughout the storage body. Refuse in one region of the storage body may be very densely compacted while refuse in another region may be less densely compacted. It would be desirable to obtain compaction throughout the body at relatively high and uniform compaction pressures at or near the maximum pressures generated by the packing means since this would permit packing more refuse into a storage body of a given volume.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accord with the present invention, 1 have provided a refuse collector which is capable of using a relatively short and deep loading hopper that is positioned rearwardly of and adjacent to an opening into a storage body. In utilizing such a hopper, an upper panel having a lower panel pivotally connected therewith is moved in a rearwardly and downwardly convexly curved path between an upward and forward position and a downward and rearward position. The path of movement provided the upper panel has a slope which changes from substantially vertical to substantially horizontal as the panel moves from a rearward lowered position to a forward raised position. This provides a high horizontal force component to the panel during the packing cycle without the use of a long tailgate structure.

The upper extremity of the opening into the storage body may be provided by a fixed panel having an up wardly curved lower surface. During upward movement of the packing panels, refuse is packed against the upwardly curved lower surface of the fixed panel. This provides a forward direction of movement to the refuse which assists its movement into the storage body and against the ejection panel. Further, by providing a forward direction of movement to the refuse, the refuse has less tendency to exert high pressures on the top of the refuse body.

In an embodiment of my invention which utilizes an upper and a lower packing panel which are pivotally interrelated for movement within a tailgate structure, the upper panel preferably has a curved forward surface in close proximity to a rearward surface of a fixed panel defining the upper extremity of the opening into the storage body. During relative movement between the upper panel and the fixed panel, the rearward surface of the fixed panel removes refuse from the curved forward surface of the upper panel.

In providing a rearwardly and downwardly convexly curved path for an upper panel, the panel is preferably tilted as it undergoes movement from a forward raised position to a rearward lowered position and vice versa. As the panel moves downwardly and rearwardly, the lower portion of the panel is tilted rearwardly while the upper portion of the panel is tilted forwardly. The lower panel is pivotally connected to the upper panel at a point adjacent its lower edge. Thus, as the lower portion of the panel is tilted rearwardly, the pivotal points for the lower panel are moved rearwardly to properly position the lower panel for movement with respect to the hopper. As the upper panel moves forwardly and upwardly, the tilting of the lower portion of the upper panel in a forward direction provides a forward movement to the refuse. This assists in moving the refuse through an opening into the storage body and in compacting the refuse against an ejection panel.

In accord with another aspect of my invention, a refuse collection apparatus is provided in which a packing panel having a curved forward packing surface is moved through a hopper. As the packing panel moves through the hopper, the refuse has a greater tendency to roll upwardly onto the surface of the panel due to its curved configuration. The refuse is, thus, more readily removed from the hopper by the panel.

The packing panel may have one or more upstanding ribs positioned on its curved forward surface. The ribs provide a reduced area for application of high localized pressures to refuse contacted by the rib or ribs as the panel moves through the hopper. If more than one rib is employed, the ribs are positioned in spaced relationship and preferably are positioned vertically with respect to the hopper bottom as the packing panel moves through the hopper. Each of the ribs has sloping side walls which are joined together to form a breaking surface. The sloping side walls of adjacent ribs define a packing region which is bounded by the adjacent side walls and the forward curved surface of the packing panel. Refuse which moves between adjacent ribs into contact with the forward curved surface of the panel is thereby compacted through compression between the side walls of the adjacent ribs.

Preferably, the loading hopper has a vertically inclined forward packing surface. Thus, as the packing panel moves through the hopper, refuse is compacted between the curved packing surface of the panel and the upwardly inclined forward packing surface of the hopper. If the packing panel is rotated to provide movement through the hopper and then lifted to remove refuse from the hopper, the curved packing surface of the panel preferably makes an angle of at least about with the forward packing surface. This reduces the tendency for refuse to jam between the surface of the packing panel and the forward packing surface of the hopper during upward movement of the packing panel.

In another aspect of my invention, the loading hopper is provided with a straight rearward wall portion positioned between a loading lip and the hopper bottom. A packing panel is then provided which has a narrowed lower edge. The narrowed lower edge of the panel is then moved in contiguous relation to the straight rearward wall portion of the hopper as the panel moves into the hopper. Refuse which overhangs the loading lip of the hopper is, thereby, subjected to breaking forces by the narrowed lower edge of the packing panel during its movement into the hopper.

In view of the various aspects of my invention, I am able to provide a refuse collection apparatus having a relatively short and deep hopper which is quite different than hoppers employed in previous refuse collection equipment. Further, I am now able to provide a refuse collection apparatus in which the refuse is broken up and packed to a considerable degree within the loading hopper itself.

As a corollary to my overall invention, I have provided a unique packing panel for use in a refuse collection apparatus in which the panel has a curved surface that is adapted to contact refuse contained in a hopper during movement of the panel through the hopper. The curvature of the panel surface, as it moves through the hopper assists in removing refuse from the hopper which rolls upwardly onto the panel along the curved surface. Also, the packing panel of my invention may provide one or more upstanding ribs on the curved surface of the panel to provide a reduced area for application of high localized pressure to refuse which is contacted by the rib. When a plurality of ribs is employed which are positioned in spaced relation to each other, the side walls of adjacent ribs define a packing region which is bounded by the side walls and the curved surface of the packing panel. The packing panel may also have a narrowed edge which is adapted to provide high breaking pressures to refuse contacted by the edge.

A further corollary to my overall invention involves a unique refuse hopper which is particularly suitable for use in conjunction with the overall apparatus of my invention. The hopper has a lip over which refuse is dumped, a curved bottom portion and a straight wall portion between the lip and the curved bottom portion. Also provided in the hopper is an upwardly inclined structurally reinforced packing surface which is positioned opposite the straight wall portion. Side walls interconnect the bottom with the packing surface and the straight wall portion.

As described, refuse compactors presently in use include a storage body having a movable ejection panel within the body and packing means for compacting refusewithin the body against the ejection panel. As refuse is compacted against the ejection panel, there is an incremental movement of the panel in a direction away from the packing means as the body is progressively filled with refuse. In accord with a further aspect of my invention, I have provided a unique means for hydraulically interrelating the movement of the ejection panel and the packing means to provide better compaction of the refuse. A first hydraulic means which controls the movement of the ejection panel is hydraulically interrelated with a second hydraulic means which controls the movement of the packing means. A sump means is provided for receiving hydraulic fluid from both of the first and second hydraulic means and a control means regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid from the first and second hydraulic means to the sump means.

The control means is set to operate at a predetermined pressure of hydraulic fluid in the second hydraulic means which controls movement of the packing means to momentarily dump hydraulic fluid from both the first and second hydraulic means to the sump means. Dumping of fluid ceases when the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the second hydraulic means is reduced to a fixed level below the predetermined pressure. The predetermined pressure within the second hydraulic means which actuates the control means is generally set at or near the maximum operating pressure of the packing means. As a result, the refuse is packed at or near the maximum packing pressures obtainable throughout the entire loading operation. The incremental movement of the ejection panel away from the packing means during the packing operation is controlled entirely by the predetermined high pressure level within the hydraulic means which controls the movement of the packing means. Thus, the movement of the ejection panel is independent of such variables as the friction of refuse against the walls of the storage container or the effective hydraulic pressure surface within a telescopic cylinder which will vary with its degree of extension.

A further aspect of my invention concerns a hydraulic circuit for operation of an upper packing panel that is movably mounted within a tailgate structure for upand-down movement with respect to a loading hopper and a lower packing panel mounted for forward and rearward rotation with respect to the hopper. A first hydraulic means is operably connected to the upper packer panel to provide up-and-down movement of the panel while a second hydraulic means is operably connected to the lower packer panel to provide forward and rearward rotation of the lower panel. The second hydraulic means provides a relatively quick rotation of the lower panel in a rearward direction with relatively low rotational force exerted on the panel and a relatively slow rotation of the lower panel in a forward direction with relatively high rotational force exerted on the panel.

A first feed means is provided to feed hydraulic fluid to the second hydraulic means to rotate the lower panel in a rearward direction and to hold the panel in a rearward position. A second feed means is provided to feed hydraulic fluid to the first hydraulic means while withdrawing hydraulic fluid from the first hydraulic means and combining the withdrawn fluid with the feed fluid to establish a regenerative loop to the first hydraulic means. The use of a regenerative loop provides relatively quick downward movement of the upper panel after which the upper panel is held in a lowered position. A third feed means is provided to feed hydraulic fluid to the second hydraulic means to rotate the lower panel in a forward direction and to hold the lower panel in a forward position. Lastly, a fourth feed means is provided to feed hydraulic fluid at a relatively high pressure to the first hydraulic means to move the upper packing panel in an upward direction to move refuse from the hopper and through an opening into a storage body.

A further aspect of the invention includes the provision of a unique storage body for containing refuse under pressure. The body includes a reinforced bottom, a pair of parallel reinforced side walls, and a top. The top has a uniformly curved configuration and curves upwardly from its juncture with the side walls. The high point in the curvature of the top, lies midway between the side walls and the high point has a preselected chordal height. The preselected chordal height of the high point of the top curvature provides a top in which the metal is primarily in tension in resisting the forces exerted on the top by the side walls due to the pressure of refuse within the storage body. Preferably, reinforcing members positioned along the side walls at the line of juncture between the side walls and the top have a shape which reduces the abruptness in the change of the surface at the juncture between the side walls and the top to reduce the stress concentration at the juncture.

In the storage body of the present invention, the bottom portion of the storage body is preferably bent upwardly at either side to form side fold portions which are joined to the side walls to form a watertight dam between the bottom and the side walls. If an ejector panel is positioned within the storage body, the side fold portions are preferably bent adjacent their upper end to form guideways which extend into corresponding grooveways on the sides of the ejector panel.

In the movement of an ejection panel within a storage body in accord with the invention, a hard metal slide plate is preferably attached to the structure supporting the ejection panel in sliding engagement with the metal forming the bottom of the storage body. The bottom of thestorage body is formed of a softer metal than the slide plate. Hard refuse materials become imbedded in the metal of the floor in the region of contact of the floor with the slide plate during usage of the apparatus. The hard imbedded refuse materials form 'a slippery surface on which the slide plate moves.

An ejector panel having particular suitability in the overall apparatus of the present invention has a packing surface formed from a plurality of arcuate segments. A brace member is positioned between pairs of arcuate segments and the chordal height of each of the segments is selected to permit the segments to be in tension in resisting packing pressure imposed by refuse. The length of arc of the arcuate segments is selected to reduce the end forces transmitted from the arcuate segments to the brace members which support them. t

In accord with my invention, a storage body is utilized for holding refuse under pressure with the storage body having an opening through which refuse is packed. A plurality of parallel side support members are positioned along the side walls of the storage body to resist the side loading exerted by the pressure of refuse within the body. The pressures exerted by the refuse are higher adjacent the opening into the body. Thus, the side support members are spaced closer together in the region adjacent to the opening of the storage body and are moved further apart in the areas of the side wall which are positioned further away from the opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings which are illustrative of an embodiment of my invention:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a truck chassis supporting a storage body with a tailgate structure positioned rearwardly of the storage body;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tailgate structure with the protective cover removed which shields certain of the movable structural elements;

FIG. 3 is a partial end view of the tailgate structure, as seen from the left side along lines 3--3 in FIG. 2, with portions broken away or in section to illustrate specific details;

FIG. 4 is a partial side sectional view of the tailgate structure illustrating the upper and lower packing panels in a raised positioned prior to initiation of the packing cycle;

FIG. 5 is a partial side sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, showing the rotation of the lower packing panel in a rearward direction with respect to the upper packing panel in the first step of the packing cycle;

FIG. 6 is a partial side sectional view, similar to FIG. 5, illustrating the next movement in the packing cycle in which the upper packing panel is moved from a forward and upward position to a lowered and rearward position;

FIG. 7 is a partial side sectional view, similar to FIG. 6, illustrating the next movement in the packing cycle in which the lower packing panel has moved forwardly through the loading hopper while the upper packing panel has been held in a lowered position;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a lower packing panel;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view through the packing panel of FIG. 8 along the lines 99;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view through a rib portion of the packing panel of FIG. 8 along the lines l010;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a storage body, partly in section, to illustrate movement of the ejection panel within the storage body;

FIG. 12 is a partial section side elevational view, similar to FIG. 11, illustrating the movement of the ejection panel within the storage body;

FIG. 13 is a rear elevational view of a refuse storage body with the tailgate section removed to show the ejection panel during unloading of the storage body;

FIG. 14 is a detailed sectional view of the structure indicated by the arrow l4-14 in FIG. 13 illustrating the structure for guiding and slidably positioning the ejection panel within the storage body;

FIG. 15 is a partial end elevation of the storage body as viewed from the tailgate end with the tailgate removed;

FIG. 16 is a partial end elevation of the storage body as viewed from the end adjacent the cab;

FIG. 17 is a partial side elevational view of the storage body;

FIG. 18 is a schematic drawing illustrating the hydraulic circuitry employed in actuation of the packing panels, the ejector panel, and auxillary equipment, and

FIG. 19 is a partial side elevational view of the tailgate illustrating the control linkage used in automatically cycling the packing panel through a packing cycle, and

8 FIG. 20 is a schematic drawing illustrating the electrical circuit for controlling the power input from the truck engine to the pump during the packing cycle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 illustrates a refuse collection apparatus in combination with a wheeled vehicle with the overall combination referred to as a truck 2. The truck 2 includes a cab 4, a frame 5 which supports a storage body 6, and a tailgate 8. The tailgate 8 is connected to the storage body 6 through a pair of hinges 10 with a lock 11. On releasing the lock 11, the tailgate 8 may be pivoted upwardly with respect to the body 6 about the hinges 10.

A cover plate 13 is mounted on either side of the tailgate structure to cover certain of the mechanism which is positioned exteriorly of its side walls. The cover plates 13 are connected to the tailgate through hinges 15 and may be swung away from the tailgate by rotation about the hinges. The storage body 6 includes a plurality of parallel spaced side braces 7 which are spaced more closely together in the area adjacent to the connection of the body to the tailgate. Moving from the left to right in FIG. 1,. the side braces 7 are positioned increasingly further apart. The rear edge of the body 6 forms a slanting surface 17 which joins a correspondingly slanted surface on the tailgate 8. The side supports 7 are each parallel to the slanting surface 17.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tailgate 8 with the cover plate 13 removed. As shown, a hopper 12 is defined in the lower portion of the tailgate 8. The hopper 12 has a curved bottom 13, a vertically inclined forward packing surface 16, a loading lip 18 and a straight rearward wall portion 29 interconnecting the loading lip with the curved bottom 14. In the use of the terms forward and rearward, forward refers to a direction toward the cab 4 while rearward refers to a direction toward the tailgate 8.

Positioned between the side walls 19 of the tailgate 8 are an upper packing panel 22 and a lower packing panel 24. A pair of lower stub shafts 26 carried at the lower extremity of the upper panel 22 pivotally support the lower packing panel 24 for rotational movement with respect to the upper panel 22. A pair of lower links 28 are each pivotally connected to a stub shaft 26 at one end while their other ends are pivotally connected to pivots 32 on either side of the tailgate structure supported by pivot brackets 34. The upper packing panel 22 is also supported by a pair of upper links 30 which are each pivotally connected at one end to an upper stub shaft 36 carried on the upper panel 22. The other ends of the upper links 30 are connected to pivots 64 supported by the tailgate structure.

A fixed panel 38 is positioned transversely across the tailgate 8 and defines the upper extremity of an opening 66 leading from the tailgate 88 into the storage body 6 when the tailgate and the storage body are connected together. The lower extremity of the opening 66 is defined by the-upper end of the packing surface 16 within hopper 12.

The motive power for the upper packing panel 22 is provided by a pair of hydraulic cylinders 40 which are mounted on either side of the tailgate 8 exteriorly of the side walls 19. The hydraulic cylinders 40 are each connected at their upper ends to pivots 422 supported by the tailgate 8. The lower ends of the hydraulic cylinders are pivotally connected to extensions of the lower stub shafts 26 which extend through curved slots in 9 the side walls 19.

A pair of hydraulic cylinders 44 are mounted inwardly of the side walls 19 to provide the motive power for the lower packing panel 24. The upper portions of the cylinders 44 are connected to pivots 45 carried by the upper packing panel 22 while the lower portions of the cylinders 44 are connected to pivots 46 carried by the lower packing panel 24.

A pair of hydraulic cylinders 48 mounted exteriorly of side walls 19 provides the motive power for raising and lowering the tailgate 8 with respect to the refuse body 6. The forward ends of the cylinders 48 are connected to pivots 56 carried by pivot brace members 58 attached to the refuse body 6. The rearward ends of the cylinders 48 are connected to pivots 50 supported by pivot brackets 52 carried by structural members 54 of the tailgate 8. As illustrated, a portion of the upper panel 22 and portions of the upper links 30 extend through openings (not shown) in the upper surface of the tailgate 8 when the upper panel 22 is positioned as in FIG. 2.

A pair of pivot openings 62 in the tailgate 8 are engaged by a pin (not shown) in providing hinges (FIG. 1) between the tailgate 8 and the storage 6. On extension of the hydraulic cylinders 48, the tailgate structure is pivoted upwardly about the axis of the pivot opening 62 with respect to the storage body 6. When the hydraulic cylinders 48 are contracted, the tailgate 8 pivots downwardly about the axis of the pivot openings 62 into engagement with the rearward surface 17 of the storage body 6 as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3, which is a partial end view of the tailgate 8, illustrates, the relative positions of the upper links 30, the lower links 28, and the

hydraulic cylinders

40 and 44. The stub shaft 26 extends through the side wall 19 and connected to its outer end are a lower link 28 and a piston rod 68 extending from hydraulic cylinder 40. The cover plate 13 shields the hydraulic cylinder 40 and lower link 28 to prevent contact with these elements during cycling of the packing means.

The upper link 30 is pivotally connected to upper stub shaft 36 which is held between support braces 74 extending from the upper panel 22. The hydraulic cylinder 44 is pivotally connected to a pivot shaft 45 which is also held between support braces 74. A piston rod 76 extending from hydraulic cylinder 44 is connected at its lower end to the pivot 46 carried by the lower panel 24. The upper links 30 and hydraulic cylinders 44 are positioned inwardly from the side wall 19 while the hydraulic cylinders 40 and lower links 28 are positioned outwardly of side wall 19.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the upper links 30, lower links 28 and the

hydraulic cylinders

40 and 44 are each mounted to provide for sime lateral movement with respect to their pivotal mountings. This permits the

links

30 and 28 and

cylinders

40 and 44 to shift laterally under the influence of unbalanced loading on the upper panel 22 or lower panel 24. The bearing surfaces on the supporting pivotal mountings are woven Teflon fabric bonded with an adhesive to the pivot support shaft which engages the eye connection of the link or hydraulic cylinder. During usage, the Teflon fabric flows into any holes in the pivot support shaft to give a uniform bearing surface. Also, the Teflon provides a low coefficient of friction to permit lateral movement between the eye connection of the link or hydraulic piston and the pivotal support shaft to provide a lateral floating action of the upper panel 22 and lower panel 24 relative to the tailgate 8. Alternatively, the woven Teflon fabric is bonded with an adhesive to the inner surface of a steel bushing which is pressed into the eye connection of the links or the rod ends of the hydraulic cylinders. The inner surface of the bushing then engages the pivot support shaft with the Teflon providing a low coefficient of friction betweenthe bushing and the shaft.

A gap 33 is provided between the sides of the upper and

lower panels

22 and 24, and the inner surface of the tailgate side walls 19. The side walls 19 are con structed of steel sheets which are both strong and hard such as 165,000 psi sheets having a Brinnell hardness of 360 to 400. The extreme hardness of side walls 19 provides a durable bearing surface against which the relatively large side areas of the upper and

lower panels

22 and 24 may rub during lateral movement of the panels to provide a floating action in movement of the panels to relieve unbalanced refuse loadings.

The movement of the upper packing panel 22 and the lower packing panel 24 during cycling is illustrated in FIGS. 47 which are each partial side sectional views of the tailgate 8. The lower panel 24 has been shaded in these Figures to better illustrate its movement. FIG. 4 illustrates the beginning of a packing cycle with the upper panel 22 in a raised forward position and the lower packing panel 24 rotated forwardly with respect to the upper panel 22. In this position, refuse is held within the storage body 6 by the lower packing panel 24 which extends into the opening 66. To hold the panels in the position shown in FIG. 4, hydraulic cylinders 44 are extended while hydraulic cylinders 40 are contracted.

The upper packing panel 22 has a curved forward surface 78 while the fixed panel 38 has a lower edge surface 80 which is in close proximity to the surface 78. The fixed panel 38 has a curved upwardly extending lower surface 82. As the upper panel 22 is raised with the lower panel 24 held in the position shown in FIG. 4, refuse is packed against the curved lower surface 82. Due to the curvature of surface 82, the refuse is given a forward direction of movement. Thus, the curvature of the lower surface 82 is an important factor in insuring even packing of the refuse within the storage body A rear opening 86 in the tailgate 8 permits refuse to be dumped into the hopper 12 over the lip 18. The tailgate 8 has a rear wall 84 which terminates at an inwardly bent portion 88. The upper extremity of the opening 86 is defined by the bent portion 88 while the lower extremity is defined by the lip 18.

As shown in FIG. 5, during the first movement of the packing cycle the lower packing panel 24 is rotated rearwardly as shown by the arrow from position A to position b. During this movement, the lower stub shafts 26 on which the lower panel 24 is pivotally mounted are held in an upward position by the upper panel 22. Thus, as the lower panel 24 rotates rearwardly, it passes well above refuse contained in the hopper 12. Since the lower panel 24 does not encounter resistance during its rearward rotation to position B, this movement is relatively quick.

Following rotation of the lower packing panel to position B, the upper packing panel 22 is moved downwardly in a downward and rearward convexly curved path, as illustrated in FIG. 6. As the upper panel 22 moves downwardly and rearwardly, the hydraulic cylinders 40 are extended. When the lower packing panel 24

Claims

1. In a refuse collector, a storage body having a pair of spaced side walls defining the width of the storage body and having front and rear portions defining the length of the storage body, braces disposed relative to the spaced side walls at progressive positions along the side walls between the front and rear portions to provide enhanced strength to the side walls, ejection means disposed within the storage body and movable between the front and rear portions of the storage body for ejecting refuse from the storage means, the ejection means being provided with a curvature to resist In tension the forces imposed upon the ejection means by the refuse disposed against the ejection means, the braces having the same disposition with respect to the storage body as the ejection means, and means operatively coupled to the ejection means for providing controlled movements of the ejection means between the front and rear portions of the storage body.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the top wall has a uniform curvature and curves upwardly from the side walls toward the middle of the top wall.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein the ejection means includes an ejection panel slanted at a paarticular angle relative to the forward and rear portions of the storage body and wherein the braces are slanted at the particular angle relative to the front and rear portions of the ejection panel.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3 wherein the ejection panel has a curvature in elevation to resist in tension the forces imposed against the ejection panel by the refuse disposed against the ejection panel.

5. In a refuse collector, a storage body having a pair of side walls defining the width of the storage body and having front and rear portions defining the length of the storage body and having a top wall with a particular curvature to resist in tension the side forces imposed on the top wall by the side walls during maximum loading of refuse in the storage body, braces disposed at the side walls in the storage body at spaced positions between the front and rear portions of the storage body to provide enhanced strength to the storage body, means disposed within the storage body for providing for the insertion of refuse into the storage body in packed form, and ejection means disposed within the storage body for providing for the ejection of refuse from the storage body, the braces having a configuration for reducing sharp changes in tension at the juncture between the side walls and the top wall of the storage body.

6. In a refuse collector, a storage body having a pair of side walls defining the width of the storage body and having front and rear portions defining the length of the storage body and having a bottom wall and having a top wall with a particular curvature which causes the top wall to resist in tension the side forces imposed on the top wall by the side walls during a maximum loading of refuse in the storage body, bracing means disposed on the side walls and extending to the top wall in a particular configuration which causes the bracing means to reduce the sharp change in contour between the side walls and the top wall and thereby provide strength and reduce stress concentration at the juncture between the side and top walls, means disposed within the storage body for providing for the insertion of refuse into the storage body in packed form, and ejection means disposed within the storage body and movable between the front and rear portions of the storage body for providing for the ejection of refuse from the storage body.

7. In a refuse collector as set forth in claim 6 guide means cooperative with the ejection means for providing for controlled movements of the ejection means between the front and rear portions of the storage body and for providing a water-tight seal at the bottom of the storage body.

8. In a refuse collector as set forth in claim 7, the storage body being made from a metal having a high strength.

9. In a refuse collector as set forth in claim 6, the bracing means includes braces disposed on the side walls at spaced positions between the front and rear portions of the storage body.

10. In a refuse collector as set forth in claim 9, the bracing means including angle braces disposed on the side walls adjacent the top wall and having a particular configuration to reduce sharp changes in contour between the side walls and the top wall.

11. In a refuse collector, a storage body haVing a pair of spaced side walls and front and rear portions spaced from each other, the storage body also having a floor joining the spaced side walls and the front and rear portions, the floor of the storage body having portions integral with the floor and curved upwardly and extending inwardly at the side walls at a position removed from the floor to prevent liquid on the floor of the storage body from leaking from the storage body, ejection means disposed within the storage body and movable between the front and rear portions of the storage body, and means supporting the ejection means for movement between the front and rear portions of the storage body and disposed on the floor and retained by the upwardly curved and inwardly extending portions of the floor and movable along the floor to provide for a movement of the ejection means.

12. In a refuse collector as set forth in claim 11, the supporting means for the ejection means being made from a material to facilitate their movement along the floor of the storage body.

13. In a refuse collector as set forth in claim 12, the ejection means including at least one ejection panel having a curved configuration in elevation to resist in tension the forces imposed upon the ejection panel by the refuse disposed against the ejection panel.

14. In a refuse collector as set forth in claim 12, the ejection means including a pair of ejection panels disposed one above the other and having a configuration in elevation to resist in tension the forces imposed upon the ejection panels by the refuse disposed against the ejection panels and further including support members disposed between the ejection panels.

15. In a refuse collector, a storage body having a pair of spaced side walls and forward and rear portions spaced from each other, ejection panel means disposed within the storage body for movement between the rear and forward positions of the storage body, means operatively coupled to the ejection panel means for providing a controlled movement of the ejection panel means between the rear and forward positions of the storage body, the ejection panel means including at least a pair of arcuate panels having a curvature to resist in tension the stresses imposed upon the panels by the refuse which is packed against them, and braces disposed relative to the spaced side walls at progressive positions along the side walls between the front and rear portions of the storage body.

16. In a refuse collector as set forth in claim 15 the ejection panel means being slanted at a particular angle relative to the rear and forward portions of the storage body, and the braces being slanted at the particular angle relative to the rear and forward portions of the storage body.

17. In a refuse collector as set forth in claim 16 the side walls and the forward and rear portions of the storage body being made from a metal having a high strength.

18. In a storage body as set forth in claim 17, the braces having progressively decreased spacings with progressive distances toward the rear portion of the storage body.

19. In a refuse collector, a storage body having a pair of spaced side walls defining the width of the storage body and having front and rear portions defining the length of the storage body, braces disposed relative to the spaced side walls at progressive positions along the side walls between the front and rear portions to provide enhanced strength to the side walls, ejection means disposed within the storage body and movable between the front and rear portions of the storage body for ejection refuse from the storage means, the braces having the same disposition with respect to the storage body as the ejection means, means operatively coupled to the ejection means for providng controlled movements of the ejection means between the front and rear portions of the storage body, the ejection means including an ejecTion panel slanted at a particular angle relative to the front and rear portions of the storage body, and the braces being slanted at the particular angle relative to the front and rear portions of the storage body.

20. The refuse collector set forth in claim 19 wherein the ejection means includes at least one ejection panel having a curved configuration in elevation.

21. The refuse collector set forth in claim 19 wherein the ejection means includes a pair of ejection panels disposed above each other and having curved configurations in elevation and further includes at least one support member between the ejection panels.

22. In a refuse collector as set forth in claim 19, the braces being spaced by progressively reduced distances from one another with progressive displacements toward the rear portion of the storage body.

23. In a refuse collector as set forth in claim 19, the side walls and the front and rear portions of the storage body being made from a metal having a high strength.

24. In a refuse collector, a storage body having a pair of side walls defining the width of the storage body and having front and rear portions defining the length of the storage body and having a top wall with a particular curvature to resist in tension the side forces imposed on the top wall by the side walls during maximum loading of refuse in the storage body, braces disposed at the side walls in the storage body at spaced positions between the front and rear portions of the storage body to provide enhanced strength to the storage body, means disposed within the storage body for providing for the insertion of refuse into the storage body in packed form, ejection means disposed within the storage body for providing for the ejection of refuse from the storage body, the ejection means including an ejection panel slanted at a particular angle relative to the forward and rear portions of the storage body, and the braces being slanted at the particular angle relative to the front and rear portions of the ejection panel.

25. In a refuse collector as set forth in claim 24 the storage body being made from a metal having a high strength.

26. In a refuse collector as set forth in claim 25, the braces having progressively reduced spacings at progressive positions toward the rear portion of the storage body.

27. In a refuse collector, a storage body having a pair of side walls defining the width of the storage body and having front and rear portions defining the length of the storage body and having a bottom wall and having a top wall with a particular curvature to resist in tension the side forces imposed on the top wall by the side walls during a maximum loading of refuse in the storage body, means disposed on the side walls near the top wall to provide strength and reduce stress concentration at the juncture between the side and top walls, means disposed within the storage body for providing for the insertion of refuse into the storage body in packed form, ejection means disposed within the storage body and movable between the front and rear portions of the storage body for providing for the ejection of refuse from the storage body, braces disposed on the side walls at spaced position between the front and rear portions of the storage body, the ejection means including an ejection panel slanted at a particular angle relative to the front and rear portions of the storage body, and the braces being slanted at the particular angle relative to the front and rear portions of the storage body.

28. In a refuse collector as set forth in claim 27, the braces having progressively reduced spacing with progressive distances toward the rear portion of the storage body.