US5316430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Material collecting and hauling apparatus
Assignee: CLEAN EARTH KENTUCKY LLC
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Filing: 1993-04-15
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Granted: 1994-05-31
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Expires: 2013-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A waste hauling apparatus including a truck body divided into two separate compartments by a movable dividing wall. A bucket assembly having separate side-by-side bins is operative to transfer trash material loaded into the bucket by an operator at ground level to the isolated compartments. The bucket travels between a material receiving position and a material discharging position along a trackway having a path of movement including a vertical portion and a transverse portion. At the material discharging position the material contained in the bins is discharged into associated material receiving openings that communicate with respective compartments defined by the truck body. The bucket is reciprocally conveyed between the trash receiving and trash discharging positions by a chain drive mechanism driven by a fluid pressure operated motor and interconnected with the bucket by a linkage mechanism. The linkage mechanism cooperates with the chains to define the limits of movement for the bucket. The compartment dividing wall is used to adjust the volumes of the compartments and is transversely movable inside the truck body by a fluid pressure operated actuator. A discharge door forming part of the dividing wall is opened in order to empty the contents of one of the compartments, through the rear of the truck body as the overall truck body is raised and rotated about a rear pivot axis. Covers overlie the material receiving openings and are opened as the bucket moves to its material discharging position. In an alternate embodiment, the truck body includes upper and lower compartments divided by a fixed dividing wall. Each compartment includes an associated packing blade. A hydraulic control system coordinates movement in the blades and bucket.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry D. Horning
- 👤 Eugene R. Grubaugh
- 👤 Thomas E. Pfeifer
- 👤 Carroll R. Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:39
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65F; B65F3/00; B65F3/001; B65F3/02; B65F3/08; B65F3/14; B65F3/20; B65F3/201; B65F3/24; B65F3/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 46
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
Material collecting apparatus, comprising: (a) structure defining a truck body having a front and rear mountable to a truck frame; (b) front and rear material-receiving compartments defined and separated in part within the body by a moveable dividing wall; said moveable dividing wall including a transverse section slideable along a track extending longitudinally with respect to said truck body and a substantially vertically oriented section extending downwardly from said transverse section; (c) a bucket moveable between a loading position and a discharge position along a path of travel and along at least one side of said truck body; (d) a hoist mechanism for transporting said bucket from said loading position to said discharge position; and (e) a recess which is defined by said truck body at the front thereof and within which said bucket travels for a portion of its path of travel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
Material collecting apparatus, comprising: (a) structure defining a truck body having a front and rear mountable to a truck frame; (b) front and rear material-receiving compartments defined and separated in part within the body by a moveable dividing wall; said moveable dividing wall including a transverse section slideable along a track extending longitudinally with respect to said truck body and a substantially vertically oriented section extending downwardly from said transverse section; (c) a bucket moveable between a loading position and a discharge position along a path of travel and along at least one side of said truck body; (d) a hoist mechanism for transporting said bucket from said loading position to said discharge position; and (e) a recess which is defined by said truck body at the front thereof and within which said bucket travels for a portion of its path of travel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vertically oriented section includes a pivotally mounted discharge door through which material collected in said front compartment is discharged from a rear portion of said truck body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 2 which further comprises actuating means for selectively pivoting said discharge door.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said truck body includes a pivotally mounted rear door through which trash collected in said rear compartment is discharged.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said truck body is pivotally mounted on a vehicle frame and includes dumping means for raising said truck body about a substantially transverse pivot axis whereby material collected in said truck body is discharged through said rear door.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said rear compartment includes a ram means for pushing material received in said compartment towards a rear region of said compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said truck body includes means for permitting the position of said dividing wall to be determined.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said permitting means comprises an aperture in at least one side wall of said truck body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said truck body includes a narrower dimensioned section and said recess is defined at least in part by said narrower dimensioned section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further including a fluid pressure operated control system for operating said ram means and said bucket, said control system including means for coordinating movement of said bucket and said ram means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein: said coordinated movement effected by said control system comprises (i) movement of the ram means towards the forward portion of said rear compartment in response to said bucket moving toward said discharge position and (ii) movement of said ram means towards said rear region of said rear compartment in response to said bucket moving toward said loading position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
Material collecting apparatus, comprising: a) structure defining a truck body mountable to a truck frame; b) said truck body including front and rear trash receiving compartments divided in part by a longitudinally moveable dividing wall; c) a bucket moveable between a loading position and a discharge position along at least one side of said truck body; d) a hoist mechanism for transporting said bucket from said loading position to said discharge position; and, e) said dividing wall including a transverse section dividing said truck body into upper and lower compartment portions.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
91 words
Material collecting apparatus, comprising: a) structure defining a truck body mountable to a truck frame; b) said truck body including front and rear trash receiving compartments divided in part by a longitudinally moveable dividing wall; c) a bucket moveable between a loading position and a discharge position along at least one side of said truck body; d) a hoist mechanism for transporting said bucket from said loading position to said discharge position; and, e) said dividing wall including a transverse section dividing said truck body into upper and lower compartment portions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said truck body defines longitudinally adjacent inlet openings respectively communicating with said upper and lower compartment portions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
Material collecting apparatus, comprising: (a) structure defining a truck body mountable to a truck frame; (b) said truck body including front and rear material receiving compartments divided in part by a moveable dividing wall; (c) a bucket moveable between a leading position and a discharge position along at least one side of said truck body; (d) a hoist mechanism for transporting said bucket from said loading position to said discharge position; and (e) said dividing wall including a transverse section and vertical section, whereby said truck body is divided into a rear compartment which is L-shaped and a front compartment which is rectangular, with a portion of said front compartment lying below a portion of said L-shaped compartment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
Material collecting apparatus, comprising: (a) structure defining a truck body mountable to a truck frame; (b) said truck body including front and rear material receiving compartments divided in part by a moveable dividing wall; (c) a bucket moveable between a leading position and a discharge position along at least one side of said truck body; (d) a hoist mechanism for transporting said bucket from said loading position to said discharge position; and (e) said dividing wall including a transverse section and vertical section, whereby said truck body is divided into a rear compartment which is L-shaped and a front compartment which is rectangular, with a portion of said front compartment lying below a portion of said L-shaped compartment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said vertical section of said moveable dividing wall includes a discharge door for discharging material from said front compartment into said rear compartment.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said truck body includes a rear door through which material is dumped from said rear compartment and then from said front compartment after said discharge door is opened.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein at least one of said compartments includes a packing blade for redistributing material in said compartment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said packing blade is located in said rear L-shaped compartment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
160 words
Material collecting apparatus, comprising: (a) structure defining a truck body which has a material-receiving compartment: (b) said truck body being defined by at least one planar sidewall; (c) a loading device for transporting material between a loading position and a discharge position at which material from said loading device is dumped into said compartment; and (d) a structure defining a path of travel for said loading device such that said loading device moves along said sidewall in close proximity thereto, material being contained in said loading device jointly by a plurality of external containing walls of the loading device and by said truck body sidewall; and, (e) said truck body sidewall cooperating with the containing walls of said loading device to maintain material within said loading device until said loading device reaches said discharge position at which material is free to fall from said loading device as said loading device moves past an upper portion of said truck body sidewall.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
160 words
Material collecting apparatus, comprising: (a) structure defining a truck body which has a material-receiving compartment: (b) said truck body being defined by at least one planar sidewall; (c) a loading device for transporting material between a loading position and a discharge position at which material from said loading device is dumped into said compartment; and (d) a structure defining a path of travel for said loading device such that said loading device moves along said sidewall in close proximity thereto, material being contained in said loading device jointly by a plurality of external containing walls of the loading device and by said truck body sidewall; and, (e) said truck body sidewall cooperating with the containing walls of said loading device to maintain material within said loading device until said loading device reaches said discharge position at which material is free to fall from said loading device as said loading device moves past an upper portion of said truck body sidewall.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said structure further defines a trackway having a vertical portion and a transverse portion along which said loading device travels, said sidewall cooperating with said loading device when said loading device is traveling along said vertical portion of said trackway, and said sidewall arranged to allow material to discharge from said loading device as said loading device moves from said vertical portion of said trackway to said transverse portion of said trackway.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said truck body is divided into at least two substantially isolated compartments and said loading device comprises a bucket assembly having dual, material receiving bins, said bucket assembly and sidewall arranged such that material from said bins is discharged into respective compartments in said truck body as said bucket assembly moves to a discharge position.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus as in claim 19, wherein: the containing walls of the loading device include a bottom wall and side walls closing all but one side of the loading device, the one open side of the loading device being adjacent to, and being closed by, the planar side wall when the loading device is in the loading position and as the loading device moves between the loading and discharge positions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
197 words
Material collecting apparatus, comprising: (a) structure defining a truck body mountable to a truck frame; (b) partition means disposed within said truck body and dividing said truck body into first and second compartments; (c) discharge doors associated with each compartment; (d) a bucket moveable between a loading position and a discharge position along at least one side of said truck body; (e) first and second longitudinally spaced material-receiving openings located at the discharge position of the bucket to receive material from the bucket, the first opening communicating with the first compartment and the second opening communicating with the second compartment; (f) a hoist mechanism for transporting said bucket between said loading position and said discharge position; door means normally closing the openings for opening simultaneously with movement of the bucket to the discharge position and for closing simultaneously with movement of the bucket to the loading position, (h) first and second packing blades respectively associated with said first and second compartments; (i) actuator means for causing reciprocating movement of said packing blades and, (j) control means for controlling the actuation of said actuators such that when one of said actuators is extended, said other actuator is retracted.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
197 words
Material collecting apparatus, comprising: (a) structure defining a truck body mountable to a truck frame; (b) partition means disposed within said truck body and dividing said truck body into first and second compartments; (c) discharge doors associated with each compartment; (d) a bucket moveable between a loading position and a discharge position along at least one side of said truck body; (e) first and second longitudinally spaced material-receiving openings located at the discharge position of the bucket to receive material from the bucket, the first opening communicating with the first compartment and the second opening communicating with the second compartment; (f) a hoist mechanism for transporting said bucket between said loading position and said discharge position; door means normally closing the openings for opening simultaneously with movement of the bucket to the discharge position and for closing simultaneously with movement of the bucket to the loading position, (h) first and second packing blades respectively associated with said first and second compartments; (i) actuator means for causing reciprocating movement of said packing blades and, (j) control means for controlling the actuation of said actuators such that when one of said actuators is extended, said other actuator is retracted.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said means for controlling said actuators includes means for conveying fluid discharge by one actuator to said other actuator whereby said other actuator is actuated.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein movement of said packing blade actuators is coordinated with movement in said bucket.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 25 further including pressure relief valve means for discharging fluid from said control means when one of said actuators reaches a predetermined position before said other actuator reaches an associated predetermined position.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
177 words
Material collecting apparatus, comprising: (a) structure defining a truck body mountable to a truck frame; (b) said truck body including upper and lower material-receiving compartments divided by a partition; (c) said truck body defining an external recess located near a forward portion of said truck body; (d) a bucket positioned within said recess and moveable between a loading position and a discharge position; (e) first and second longitudinally spaced material-receiving opening located at the discharge position to receive material from the bucket, the first opening communicating with the upper compartment and the second opening communicating with the lower compartment; (f) a hoist mechanism for transporting said bucket between said loading position and said discharge position; (g) packing blade means disposed in each of said compartments operative for pushing material received through said compartment openings towards a rear region of its associated compartment; actuator means for selectively reciprocating the packing blade means; and (i) packing blade control means for coordinating movement of said packing blades by said actuator means with transport of said bucket by said hoist mechanism.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
177 words
Material collecting apparatus, comprising: (a) structure defining a truck body mountable to a truck frame; (b) said truck body including upper and lower material-receiving compartments divided by a partition; (c) said truck body defining an external recess located near a forward portion of said truck body; (d) a bucket positioned within said recess and moveable between a loading position and a discharge position; (e) first and second longitudinally spaced material-receiving opening located at the discharge position to receive material from the bucket, the first opening communicating with the upper compartment and the second opening communicating with the lower compartment; (f) a hoist mechanism for transporting said bucket between said loading position and said discharge position; (g) packing blade means disposed in each of said compartments operative for pushing material received through said compartment openings towards a rear region of its associated compartment; actuator means for selectively reciprocating the packing blade means; and (i) packing blade control means for coordinating movement of said packing blades by said actuator means with transport of said bucket by said hoist mechanism.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said control means further includes means for conveying fluid exhausted by one actuator means to another actuator whereby said other actuator means is caused to actuate to associated blade.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus as in claim 27, wherein: the coordinated movement effected by said control means comprises movement of the packing blades towards the rear region of their compartments in response to movement of the bucket toward the loading position after it has occupied the discharge position.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as in claim 29, wherein: the coordinated movement effected by said control means further comprises movement of one packing blade toward the rear region of its compartment followed by movement of the other packing blade toward the rear of its compartment.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
364 words
Collecting apparatus for recyclable material, which apparatus comprises: (a) a truck body having a top and bottom which longitudinally extends between a forward end and a rearward end, the truck body being mountable to a truck frame so that its forward end is adjacent to a cab on the frame, the body enclosing an interior volume and having an exterior, longitudinally and vertically extending recess at its forward end, which recess extends between the forward end and a location intermediate the forward and rearward ends, the recess including a generally longitudinally and vertically extending, generally planar exterior wall of the body; (b) a wall which divides the volume into separated compartments for receiving different recyclable materials, the wall having a generally horizontal portion which extends transversely and longitudinally; (c) longitudinally spaced openings in the top of the body, each opening communicating with one of the compartments; (d) a bucket located in the recess at the forward end of the body, the bucket including a bottom wall and side walls closing all but one side of the bucket, the one open side of the bucket being adjacent to and closed by the exterior wall of the body when the bucket is in the loading position and when the bucket moves between the loading and discharge positions; the bucket being vertically movable in and along the recess between a loading position adjacent the bottom of the body and a discharge position adjacent the top of the body, and the bucket being substantially contained in the recess and not significantly transversely protruding beyond the recess in either position or when moving therebetween; (e) a wall for dividing the bucket into separated bins for respectively receiving the different recyclable materials, each bin being aligned with one of the openings when the bucket is at its discharge position; and (f) means for moving the bucket between the loading position, whereat the bins are fillable with recyclable materials from a site which is near the cab and at a convenient height, and the discharge position and for dumping the recyclable material from the bins into the compartments via the openings aligned therewith when the bucket is at the discharge position.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
364 words
Collecting apparatus for recyclable material, which apparatus comprises: (a) a truck body having a top and bottom which longitudinally extends between a forward end and a rearward end, the truck body being mountable to a truck frame so that its forward end is adjacent to a cab on the frame, the body enclosing an interior volume and having an exterior, longitudinally and vertically extending recess at its forward end, which recess extends between the forward end and a location intermediate the forward and rearward ends, the recess including a generally longitudinally and vertically extending, generally planar exterior wall of the body; (b) a wall which divides the volume into separated compartments for receiving different recyclable materials, the wall having a generally horizontal portion which extends transversely and longitudinally; (c) longitudinally spaced openings in the top of the body, each opening communicating with one of the compartments; (d) a bucket located in the recess at the forward end of the body, the bucket including a bottom wall and side walls closing all but one side of the bucket, the one open side of the bucket being adjacent to and closed by the exterior wall of the body when the bucket is in the loading position and when the bucket moves between the loading and discharge positions; the bucket being vertically movable in and along the recess between a loading position adjacent the bottom of the body and a discharge position adjacent the top of the body, and the bucket being substantially contained in the recess and not significantly transversely protruding beyond the recess in either position or when moving therebetween; (e) a wall for dividing the bucket into separated bins for respectively receiving the different recyclable materials, each bin being aligned with one of the openings when the bucket is at its discharge position; and (f) means for moving the bucket between the loading position, whereat the bins are fillable with recyclable materials from a site which is near the cab and at a convenient height, and the discharge position and for dumping the recyclable material from the bins into the compartments via the openings aligned therewith when the bucket is at the discharge position.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as in claim 31, wherein: dumping of the material is effected by rotation of the bucket after the one open side clears the top of the exterior wall, the one open side of the bucket permitting dumping to occur following less than 90° of rotation of the bucket.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
316 words
Collecting apparatus for recyclable material, which apparatus comprises: (a) a truck body having a top and bottom which longitudinally extends between a forward end and a rearward end, the truck body being mountable to a truck frame so that its forward end is adjacent to a cab on the frame, the body enclosing an interior volume and having an exterior, longitudinally and vertically extending recess at its forward end, which recess extends between the forward end and a location intermediate the forward and rearward ends; (b) a wall which divides the volume into separated compartments for receiving different recyclable materials, the wall having a generally horizontal portion which extends transversely and longitudinally; (c) longitudinally spaced openings in the top of the body, each opening communicating with one of the compartments; (d) a bucket located in the recess at the forward end of the body, the bucket being vertically movable in and along the recess between a loading position adjacent the bottom of the body and a discharge position adjacent the top of the body, the bucket being substantially contained in the recess and not significantly transversely protruding beyond the recess in either position or when moving therebetween; (e) a wall for dividing the bucket into separated bins for respectively receiving the different recyclable materials, each bin being aligned with one of the openings when the bucket is at its discharge position; (f) means for moving the bucket between the loading position, whereat the bins are fillable with recyclable materials from a site which is near the cab and at a convenient height, and the discharge position and for dumping the recyclable material from the bins into the compartments via the openings aligned therewith when the bucket is at the discharge position; (g) a first ram in one compartment for pushing material therein toward the rearward end; and (h) first means for selectively operating the first ram.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
316 words
Collecting apparatus for recyclable material, which apparatus comprises: (a) a truck body having a top and bottom which longitudinally extends between a forward end and a rearward end, the truck body being mountable to a truck frame so that its forward end is adjacent to a cab on the frame, the body enclosing an interior volume and having an exterior, longitudinally and vertically extending recess at its forward end, which recess extends between the forward end and a location intermediate the forward and rearward ends; (b) a wall which divides the volume into separated compartments for receiving different recyclable materials, the wall having a generally horizontal portion which extends transversely and longitudinally; (c) longitudinally spaced openings in the top of the body, each opening communicating with one of the compartments; (d) a bucket located in the recess at the forward end of the body, the bucket being vertically movable in and along the recess between a loading position adjacent the bottom of the body and a discharge position adjacent the top of the body, the bucket being substantially contained in the recess and not significantly transversely protruding beyond the recess in either position or when moving therebetween; (e) a wall for dividing the bucket into separated bins for respectively receiving the different recyclable materials, each bin being aligned with one of the openings when the bucket is at its discharge position; (f) means for moving the bucket between the loading position, whereat the bins are fillable with recyclable materials from a site which is near the cab and at a convenient height, and the discharge position and for dumping the recyclable material from the bins into the compartments via the openings aligned therewith when the bucket is at the discharge position; (g) a first ram in one compartment for pushing material therein toward the rearward end; and (h) first means for selectively operating the first ram.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as in claim 33, which further comprises: a second ram in the other compartment for pushing material therein toward the rearward end, and second means for selectively operating the second ram.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus as in claim 34, wherein: the first and second means operate the rams so that when the bucket is in the loading position, one of the rams is normally located at the forward end and the other ram is normally located toward the rearward end; when the bucket is moving from the loading position toward the discharge position, the ram at the forward end moves toward the rearward end and the ram which is toward the rearward end moves to the forward end; and when the bucket is moving from the discharge position toward the loading position, the rams return to their normal positions.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
146 words
Collecting apparatus for recyclable material, which apparatus comprises: (a) a truck body having a top and bottom enclosing a volume for receiving material; the truck body including a generally planar exterior wall; (b) a bucket movable between a loading position, which is toward the bottom of the body, and a discharge position which is toward the top of the body, material placed in the bucket at the loading position begin dumped into the volume at the discharge position; the bucket including a bottom wall and side walls closing all but one side of the bucket, the one open side of the bucket being adjacent to and closed by the exterior wall of the body when the bucket is in the loading position and when the bucket moves between the loading and discharge positions; and (c) means for moving the bucket between the loading and discharge positions.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
146 words
Collecting apparatus for recyclable material, which apparatus comprises: (a) a truck body having a top and bottom enclosing a volume for receiving material; the truck body including a generally planar exterior wall; (b) a bucket movable between a loading position, which is toward the bottom of the body, and a discharge position which is toward the top of the body, material placed in the bucket at the loading position begin dumped into the volume at the discharge position; the bucket including a bottom wall and side walls closing all but one side of the bucket, the one open side of the bucket being adjacent to and closed by the exterior wall of the body when the bucket is in the loading position and when the bucket moves between the loading and discharge positions; and (c) means for moving the bucket between the loading and discharge positions.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as in claim 36, wherein; dumping of the material is effected, in part, by the one open side of the bucket clearing the top of the exterior wall of the body as the bucket reaches the discharge position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-05-30 | 1997-11-29 | 1998-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-05-30 | 2001-11-29 | 2002-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-05-30 | 2005-11-29 | 2006-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |