Refuse collection vehicle

Claim 2

A loading apparatus for loading refuse from a plurality of individual containers into a main cargo hold of a refuse collection vehicle comprising: a loading bin; at least one loading arm means connected between said vehicle and said bin and including means to move said bin from a first loading position near the ground to a second unloading position over said hold; and a boom assembly having one end mounted on said vehicle adjacent said bin and clamping means on the opposite end, said assembly being adapted to grasp individual refuse containers, move them to an empty position over said loading bin, and return empty containers to their original position.

Claim 3

A loading apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said loading bin comprises: a substantially rectangular box formed by a pair of interfitting members movable relative to each other, and at least one fluid actuated ram means adapted to effect said relative movement of said members.

Claim 4

A loading apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said boom assembly comprises: articulated arm means connected to and extending from said vehicle, and said clamping means comprises at least one clamping means adapted to engage said individual containers.

Claim 5

A loading apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said at least one clamping means comprises: at least one upper clamping means adapted to engage an upper rim portion of said refuse containers, and at least one lower clamping means spaced below said upper clamping means and adapted to engage closed neck portions of flexible containers.

Claim 6

A loading apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said boom assembly comprises: articulated arm means one end of which is attached to said vehicle, an element on the free end of said arm means upon which said clamping means are mounted, and means to rotate said element about a substantially horizontal axis to effect emptying of said containers.

Claim 7

A loading apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said articulated arm means is attached to said vehicle by means adapted to move horizontally along the vehicle and to move said arm means about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

Claim 8

A refuse collection vehicle comprising a motor vehicle chassis having a cab and a refuse cargo hold mounted on said chassis; a loading bin; at least one arm means having one end pivotally attached to said chassis and the other end attached to said bin and adapted to move said bin from a loading position near the ground to an unloading position over said cargo hold; and a boom assembly including a grab arm with one end attached to said vehicle and clamping means on the other end, said assembly being adapted to engage and empty individual refuse containers into said loading bin.

Claim 9

A refuse collection vehicle comprising a motor vehicle chassis having a cab and a refuse cargo hold mounted on said chassis; a loading bin; at least one arm means having one end pivotally attached to said chassis and the other end attached to said bin and adapted to move said bin from a loading position near the ground to an unloading position over said cargo hold; and a boom assembly including a grab arm with one end attached to said vehicle and clamping means on the other end, said assembly being adapted to engage and empty individual refuse containers into said loading bin.

Claim 10

A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 7 wherein said loading bin comprises; first and second interfitting members assembled in relatively movable fashion to form a substantially rectangular box and means to move said members relative to each other whereby at least one dimension of said box is varied.

Claim 11

A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 7 wherein the loading position of said loading bin is adjacent the front of the vehicle, said boom assembly being attached to a front portion of said vehicle by means adapted to move transversely across the front of said vehicle as well as to impart motion to said boom assembly about both a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.

Claim 12

A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 7 wherein the loading position of said loading bin is adjacent the front of the vehicle, said boom assembly being mounted on one side of said vehicle within reach of said loading bin, and further comprising a second boom assembly mounted on the other side of said vehicle also within reach of said loading bin.

Claim 13

A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 7 wherein said clamping means comprises; an element mounted on the free end of said grab arm for movement about a horizontal axis; at least one upper clamp and at least one lower clamp mounted on said element; means to actuate said clamping means; and means to rotate said element about said horizontal axis.

Claim 14

A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 11 further comprising; guide means on said element spaced below said at least one upper clamp for guiding containers gripped by said at least one upper clamp as said element is rotated.

Claim 15

A refuse collection vehicle having improved loading means, said vehicle comprising a motor vehicle chassis including a frame having a cab and a refuse cargo hold mounted thereon; a pair of load arms rotatably mounted on said chassis extending toward the front of said vehicle; loading bin means mounted on the free end of said load arms and adapted to be moved by said arms between an upright loading position near the ground to an inverted unloading position above said cargo hold; and a boom assembly mounted of the front of said vehicle for movement transversly across the front of the vehicle as well as about both horizontal and vertical axes; said boom assembly including articulated arm means having a clamping device on the free end thereof; said clamping device including an element mounted on said arm means for rotation about a horizontal axis and means to effect said rotation, upper clamping means and lower clamping means on said element, and means for actuating said clamping means, whereby individual refuse containers are grasped by said boom assembly, transported to and emptied into said loading bin, the refuse intially compacted in said bin, and then emptied into said cargo hold.

Claim 16

A refuse collection vehicle having improved loading means, said vehicle comprising a motor vehicle chassis including a frame having a cab and a refuse cargo hold mounted thereon; a pair of load arms rotatably mounted on said chassis extending toward the front of said vehicle; loading bin means mounted on the free end of said load arms and adapted to be moved by said arms between an upright loading position near the ground to an inverted unloading position above said cargo hold; and a boom assembly mounted of the front of said vehicle for movement transversly across the front of the vehicle as well as about both horizontal and vertical axes; said boom assembly including articulated arm means having a clamping device on the free end thereof; said clamping device including an element mounted on said arm means for rotation about a horizontal axis and means to effect said rotation, upper clamping means and lower clamping means on said element, and means for actuating said clamping means, whereby individual refuse containers are grasped by said boom assembly, transported to and emptied into said loading bin, the refuse intially compacted in said bin, and then emptied into said cargo hold.

Claim 17

A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 13 wherein said cargo hold includes an openable roof portion to receive refuse, and main compacting means within said hold.