Mechanically actuated side loading arrangement for a vehicle body

Claim 2

An operator controlled mechanism for attachment to the side of a vehicle, which vehicle has an open top body, which mechanism mechanically engages, elevates, dumps, lowers and replaces a container, which mechanism comprises: a. a mounting frame secured to a side of the vehicle and extending below the body thereof at least partially thereacross,

Claim 3

a support member mounted on said mounting frame for longitudinal movement relative thereto, b. upright mast means on the outer end of said support member, c. container engaging means mounted on said upright mast means to selectively engage a container,

Claim 4

a support member mounted on said mounting frame for longitudinal movement relative thereto, b. upright mast means on the outer end of said support member, c. container engaging means mounted on said upright mast means to selectively engage a container,

Claim 5

said upright mast means on said support member being movable with said support member, d. power means connected to said support member and to said mounting frame to move said upright mast means and said container engaging means outwardly to engage a container preparatory to moving the container inward,

Claim 6

said upright mast means on said support member being movable with said support member, d. power means connected to said support member and to said mounting frame to move said upright mast means and said container engaging means outwardly to engage a container preparatory to moving the container inward,

Claim 7

said power means adapted to move said mast means, said container engaging means and the container inward to a position to be elevated, e. upright, power actuated conveyor means mounted on said mast means and connected to said container engaging means for moving

Claim 8

said power means adapted to move said mast means, said container engaging means and the container inward to a position to be elevated, e. upright, power actuated conveyor means mounted on said mast means and connected to said container engaging means for moving

Claim 9

guide rollers mounted on each of said conveyor chains and positioned intermediate associated ones of said inturned flanges and said second flanges to guide said container engaging means on said mast members, and wherein said container engaging means includes: f. a transverse member pivotally supported on said conveyor chains, and

Claim 10

guide rollers mounted on each of said conveyor chains and positioned intermediate associated ones of said inturned flanges and said second flanges to guide said container engaging means on said mast members, and wherein said container engaging means includes: f. a transverse member pivotally supported on said conveyor chains, and

Claim 11

container engaging members near the ends of said transverse member, and wherein said mechanism includes:

Claim 12

container engaging members near the ends of said transverse member, and wherein said mechanism includes:

Claim 13

the container above the open top of the vehicle body for dumping the container, when the conveyor means is in one position,

Claim 14

the container above the open top of the vehicle body for dumping the container, when the conveyor means is in one position,

Claim 15

a container lock is pivotally mounted on each of said mast members and is connected with a cam actuated means on said conveyor means,

Claim 16

a container lock is pivotally mounted on each of said mast members and is connected with a cam actuated means on said conveyor means,

Claim 17

mast means movably mounted on said vehicle, said mast means having an upper end adjacent said elevated opening and a lower end adjacent said surface, said mast means including flange means forming a track means from said lower end to said upper end of said mast means;

Claim 18

mast means movably mounted on said vehicle, said mast means having an upper end adjacent said elevated opening and a lower end adjacent said surface, said mast means including flange means forming a track means from said lower end to said upper end of said mast means;

Claim 19

mounting frame means secured to said vehicle;

Claim 20

mounting frame means secured to said vehicle;

Claim 21

said power means also being adapted to move said mast means and said container engaging means inwardly adjacent a side of the vehicle.

Claim 22

said power means also being adapted to move said mast means and said container engaging means inwardly adjacent a side of the vehicle.

Claim 23

a further roller mounted on the upper side of said mounting frame intermediate the length thereof and being in rolling engagement with said support member so as to minimize friction between said mounting frame and said support member upon movement thereof.

Claim 24

a further roller mounted on the upper side of said mounting frame intermediate the length thereof and being in rolling engagement with said support member so as to minimize friction between said mounting frame and said support member upon movement thereof.

Claim 25

An operator controlled mechanism for attachment to the side of a vehicle, as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said mounting frame has a roller mounted on the lower side thereof near the outer end to engage said support member in rolling relation,

Claim 26

support member means movably mounted on said mounting frame means, said support member means including a free end extending outwardly of said vehicle, said connecting means connecting said vehicle power supply means to said support member means.

Claim 27

support member means movably mounted on said mounting frame means, said support member means including a free end extending outwardly of said vehicle, said connecting means connecting said vehicle power supply means to said support member means.

Claim 28

container pick-up means movably mounted on said mast means and including roller means engageable with said flange means for guiding said container pick-up means along said track means, said container pick-up means also including container engaging means adapted to engage said coupling means on said container for releasably connecting said container to said container pick-up means;

Claim 29

container pick-up means movably mounted on said mast means and including roller means engageable with said flange means for guiding said container pick-up means along said track means, said container pick-up means also including container engaging means adapted to engage said coupling means on said container for releasably connecting said container to said container pick-up means;

Claim 30

said cam actuated means on said conveyor means being movable when said cam actuated means moves onto the arcuate portions of said flanges to move said lock into abridging relation with respect to said container engaging means and with the container to maintain the container against disengagement with the conveyor means when in inverted position.

Claim 31

said cam actuated means on said conveyor means being movable when said cam actuated means moves onto the arcuate portions of said flanges to move said lock into abridging relation with respect to said container engaging means and with the container to maintain the container against disengagement with the conveyor means when in inverted position.

Claim 32

a container having complementary members to interengage with said container engaging members,

Claim 33

a container having complementary members to interengage with said container engaging members,

Claim 34

said conveyor means being adapted to move the container to a position near the lower end of said convEyor means to another position prior to the placement of the container in a selected position, f. said power means being adapted to move said mast means, said container engaging means and the container outwardly after said container engaging means and the container have been lowered to place the container in a selected position,

Claim 35

said conveyor means being adapted to move the container to a position near the lower end of said convEyor means to another position prior to the placement of the container in a selected position, f. said power means being adapted to move said mast means, said container engaging means and the container outwardly after said container engaging means and the container have been lowered to place the container in a selected position,

Claim 36

An operator controlled mechanism for attachment to a side of a vehicle, as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said upright mast means comprises spaced apart, upright mast members rigidly secured together, said mast members each having an outer face with inturned flanges on at least a portion thereof, said flanges extending arcuately at least 180* around the upper portion of said mast members so as to form a cam track, and wherein

Claim 37

said locks being adapted to prevent relative movement between said complementary membeRs and said container engaging members when the container is in inverted position.

Claim 38

said locks being adapted to prevent relative movement between said complementary membeRs and said container engaging members when the container is in inverted position.

Claim 39

conveyor means connected to said container pick-up means for moving said container pick-up means along said track means; and

Claim 40

conveyor means connected to said container pick-up means for moving said container pick-up means along said track means; and

Claim 41

upright mast means mounted on said free end of said support member means, said upper and lower ends of said elevator means being provided on said upright mast means,

Claim 42

upright mast means mounted on said free end of said support member means, said upper and lower ends of said elevator means being provided on said upright mast means,

Claim 43

power-actuated conveyor means mounted on said mast means and extending from said lower end to said upper end thereof, said container engaging means being connected to said power-actuated conveyor means; and

Claim 44

power-actuated conveyor means mounted on said mast means and extending from said lower end to said upper end thereof, said container engaging means being connected to said power-actuated conveyor means; and

Claim 45

means connecting said mast means to said power supply means for moving said lower end of said mast means from a position closely adjacent said vehicle to a position closely adjacent said container, whereby said container engaging means will engage said coupling means on said container when said container pick-up means is positioned at said lower end of said mast means.

Claim 46

means connecting said mast means to said power supply means for moving said lower end of said mast means from a position closely adjacent said vehicle to a position closely adjacent said container, whereby said container engaging means will engage said coupling means on said container when said container pick-up means is positioned at said lower end of said mast means.

Claim 47

An operator controlled mechanism for attachment to the side of a vehicle, as defined in claim 1 wherein said power means includes: a. a hydraulic cylinder which is connected to said support member and to said mounting frame to move said support member longitudinally relative thereto; and b. valve means to selectively control the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from said hydraulic cylinder.

Claim 48

An operator controlled mechanism for attachment to a side of a vehicle, as defined in claim 3 wherein said conveyor means includes: a. a pair of parallel shafts mounted on said mast members, inward from the inturned flanges thereof, near each end of said mast members, one of which shafts is power driven, b. pairs of spaced apart sprockets mounted on each said shaft, inward from the respective inturned flanges thereof, with pairs of said sprockets being in driving alignment for rotation of said sprockets about the respective axes thereof, c. a conveyor chain surrounding each pair of said aligned sprockets, d. motor means connected in driving relation with one of said shafts to drive said sprockets, and wherein said mast members each has: e. a second flange located a spaced distance inward from the outer inturned flanges thereof and being substantially parallel with said inturned flanges on the straight-away length of said inturned flanges, and wherein said conveyor means also includes

Claim 49

motor means connecting said power-actuated conveyor means to said vehicle power supply means to move said power-actuated conveyor means, when carrying said container, to selected positions.

Claim 50

motor means connecting said power-actuated conveyor means to said vehicle power supply means to move said power-actuated conveyor means, when carrying said container, to selected positions.

Claim 51

An operator controlled mechanism for attachment to a side of a vehicle, as defined in claim 5 including: a. an abutment mounted on the rear side of each said mast member near the top thereof to form a bumper; and b. a complementary abutment plate on each said conveyor chain to complementally engage said abutments that form said bumpers to form stops for said conveyor chains.

Claim 52

An operator controlled mechanism for attachment to a side of a vehicle, as defined in claim 5, wherein said container engaging members are detachably connected to said transverse member to enable the interchanging of said container engaging members to selectively pick up containers with different complementary members.

Claim 53

An operator controlled mechanism for attachment to a side of a vehicle, as defined in claim 5; wherein said container engaging members each includes: a pair of horizontal, vertically spaced apart members spaced outward from each end of said transverse member to receive hooks thereon; and wherein said complementary members on said container comprises: a pair of vertically spaced apart hooks on each side thereof to engage said vertically spaced apart horizontal members on each end of said transverse member.

Claim 54

An operator controlled mechanism for attachment to a side of a vehicle, as defined in claim 4 including: a pump; conduits connecting said pump to said hydraulic cylinder for supplying hydraulic fluid thereto; solenoid valves for controlling the supply of said hydraulic fluid from said pump through said conduits to said hydraulic cylinder; electrical circuits, including a source of electricity, connected to the solenoids of said solenoid valves; a first normally open switch within one said electrical circuit to close the circuit to energize a first solenoid to actuate a valve to control the flow of hydraulic fluid through said conduit into one end of said cylinder and to control the discharge of said hydraulic fluid into a conduit from the opposite end of said cylinder, when in one position; a second normally open switch connecting another of said circuits to the second solenoid of said solenoid valves; a normally open switch within said second circuit to direct electricity to said second solenoid to energize said solenoid to actuate said valve to direct hydraulic fluid through one of said conduits into the other end of said hydraulic cylinder and to direct hydraulic fluid outward, through another of said conduits, from the opposite end of said cylinder; and an operating lever to selectively close only one of said switches at a time, and means to maintain said operating lever out of engagement with said switches when the lever is not manually operated.

Claim 55

An operator controlled mechanism for attachment to a side of a vehicle, as defined in claim 9 including: a second pair of circuits, including a source of electricity; another solenoid valve having a pair of solenoids thereon, one solenoid thereof being in each of said second pair of circuits, third and fourth normally open switches, one in each of said second pair of circuits; a hydraulic motor connected to said conveyor means; and conduits connecting said hydraulic motor to said another solenoid valve, whereby upon closing one of said third and fourth switches to energize one of said solenoids in said another solenoid valve said another solenoid valve will be moved to direct hydraulic fluid, under pressure, into one of said motor conduits to said hydraulic motor, and whereby hydraulic fluid will be directed out of another of said motor conduits so as to rotate the motor in one direction and upon closing the other of said third and fourth switches, the other of said pair of solenoids will be energized to move said another solenoid valve to another position to direct hydraulic fluid, under pressure, to said another of said motor conduiTs with the hydraulic fluid exhausting through said one motor conduit to rotate the hydraulic motor in the opposite direction, so as to selectively move said conveyor means in the desired direction, said lever being adapted to be moved to a position to depress one or the other of said third and fourth normally open switches to enable the hydraulic motor to be rotated in the selected direction.

Claim 56

In combination with a vehicle having power supply means and a hollow body having an elevated access opening, apparatus for emptying the contents of a container into said hollow body of the vehicle through said elevated access opening, comprising: a. elevator means to raise and lower said container, said elevator means including a guide track defined by flange means having a curved upper end adjacent said elevated access opening and a lower end adjacent a surface supporting the container, b. means connecting said elevator means to said power supply means to move said flange means over said surface between a first position closely adjacent said vehicle and a second position spaced outwardly from said vehicle and closely adjacent said container, and c. container engaging means on said elevator means to mechanically engage said container when said flange means is moved to said second position by said power supply means.

Claim 57

In combination with a vehicle having power supply means and a hollow body having an elevated access opening, apparatus for emptying the contents of a container into said hollow body of the vehicle through said elevated access opening, comprising: a. elevator means to raise and lower said container, said elevator means including a guide track defined by flange means having a curved upper end adjacent said elevated access opening and a lower end adjacent a surface supporting the container, b. means connecting said elevator means to said power supply means to move said flange means over said surface between a first position closely adjacent said vehicle and a second position spaced outwardly from said vehicle and closely adjacent said container, and c. container engaging means on said elevator means to mechanically engage said container when said flange means is moved to said second position by said power supply means.

Claim 58

A combination as stated in claim 11; wherein a. said elevator means is mounted on a side of said vehicle; and b. wherein at least said lower end of said flange means moves laterally outwardly from said side of said vehicle.

Claim 59

In combination with a vehicle having power supply means and a hollow body having an elevated access opening, apparatus for emptying the contents of a container into said hollow body of the vehicle through said elevated access opening, comprising: a. elevator means to raise and lower said container, said elevator means having an upper end adjacent said elevated access opening and a lower end adjacent a surface supporting the container, b. means connecting said elevator means to said power supply means to move at least said lower end of said elevator means over said surface between a first position closely adjacent said vehicle and a second position spaced outwardly from said vehicle and closely adjacent said container, and c. container engaging means connected to said elevator means to mechanically engage said container when said elevator means is moved to said second position by said power supply means, said elevator means comprising:

Claim 60

In combination with a vehicle having power supply means and a hollow body having an elevated access opening, apparatus for emptying the contents of a container into said hollow body of the vehicle through said elevated access opening, comprising: a. elevator means to raise and lower said container, said elevator means having an upper end adjacent said elevated access opening and a lower end adjacent a surface supporting the container, b. means connecting said elevator means to said power supply means to move at least said lower end of said elevator means over said surface between a first position closely adjacent said vehicle and a second position spaced outwardly from said vehicle and closely adjacent said container, and c. container engaging means connected to said elevator means to mechanically engage said container when said elevator means is moved to said second position by said power supply means, said elevator means comprising:

Claim 61

A combination as stated in claim 13 including means for releasably connecting said container engaging means to said conveyor means.

Claim 62

A mechanically-actuated loading arrangement, comprising: a. a vehicle adapted to travel over a surface upon which a container of material is stationed, said vehicle having a body portion provided with an elevated opening and including power supply means; b. a container stationed on said surface adjacent the path-of-travel of said vehicle, said container including means for releasably coupling said container to a container pick-up means; and c. container loader means connected to said vehicle for moving outwardly over said surface from said vehicle to said container, engaging said container, lifting said container to said opening, emptying said container and lowering said container to said surface, said container loader means including:

Claim 63

A mechanically-actuated loading arrangement, comprising: a. a vehicle adapted to travel over a surface upon which a container of material is stationed, said vehicle having a body portion provided with an elevated opening and including power supply means; b. a container stationed on said surface adjacent the path-of-travel of said vehicle, said container including means for releasably coupling said container to a container pick-up means; and c. container loader means connected to said vehicle for moving outwardly over said surface from said vehicle to said container, engaging said container, lifting said container to said opening, emptying said container and lowering said container to said surface, said container loader means including:

Claim 64

A mechanically-actuated loading arrangement as stated in claim 15 wherein said flange means includes: spaced-apart inner and outer flanges forming a channel for said roller means, at least one of said flanges being interrupted adjacent said upper end of said mast means, whereby said roller means may be swung out of the plane of said channel when said container pick-up means and said container are swung toward said opening to empty said container.

Claim 65

A mechanically-actuated loading arrangement as stated in claim 15 wherein said mast means and said container pick-up means include: a pair of spaced-apart mast members each having a pair of inner and outer flanges forming a channel for said roller means; and mounting bar means positioned between said spaced-apart mast members, said roller means including at least one roller connected to each end of said mounting bar means.

Claim 66

A mechanically-actuated loading arrangement as stated in claim 15 wherein said means connecting said mast means to said power supply means comprises hydraulic cylinder means.

Claim 67

A mechanically-actuated loading arrangement as stated in claim 15 including container lock means and means for bringing said container lock means, said container coupling means and said container engaging means into locked relationship with each other, whereby said container may be inverted without becoming disconnected from said container engaging means.

Claim 68

A mechanically-actuated loading arrangement as stated in claim 15 wherein one of said container coupling means and said container engaging means includes roller means and the other of said container coupling means and said container engaging means includes hook means.

Claim 69

A mechanically-actuated loading arrangement as stated in claim 15 wherein said container coupling means includes hook means and wherein said container engaging means includes roller means engageable in said hook means.

Claim 70

In combination with a vehicle having power supply means and a hollow body having an elevated access opening, apparatus for emptying the contents of a container into said hollow body of the vehicle through said elevated access opening, comprising: a. elevator means on said vehicle to raise and lower said container, said elevator means including means defining an upstanding guide track having an upper end adjacent said elevated access opening and a lower end adjacent a surface supporting the container and container holding means movable along said guIde track, b. means connecting said elevator means to said power supply means to move at least said lower end of said guide track over said surface between a first position closely adjacent said vehicle and a second position spaced outwardly from said vehicle and closely adjacent said container, and c. container engaging means on said container holding means to mechanically engage said container when said lower end of said guide track is moved to said second position by said power supply means.

Claim 71

In combination with a vehicle having power supply means and a hollow body having an elevated access opening, apparatus for emptying the contents of a container into said hollow body of the vehicle through said elevated access opening, comprising: a. elevator means on said vehicle to raise and lower said container, said elevator means including means defining an upstanding guide track having an upper end adjacent said elevated access opening and a lower end adjacent a surface supporting the container and container holding means movable along said guIde track, b. means connecting said elevator means to said power supply means to move at least said lower end of said guide track over said surface between a first position closely adjacent said vehicle and a second position spaced outwardly from said vehicle and closely adjacent said container, and c. container engaging means on said container holding means to mechanically engage said container when said lower end of said guide track is moved to said second position by said power supply means.