A refuse collection vehicle includes a packer system with an auger screw, one or more refuse support panels, one or more sensing devices, and a refuse support panel actuator system. The refuse support panel(s) support refuse while the refuse is sensed. The refuse support panel actuator system moves the refuse support panels such that refuse is released from the refuse support panels in to the packer system. A driver of the packer system rotates the auger screw such the refuse is packed into a storage compartment of the vehicle.
B65F 3/22 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with devices for charging, distributing, or compressing refuse in the interior of the tank of a refuse vehicle with screw conveyors or rotary tanks
B65F 3/14 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with devices for charging, distributing, or compressing refuse in the interior of the tank of a refuse vehicle
A refuse collection vehicle having a packer system, a hopper, and a storage compartment. A wall between the storage compartment and the hopper defines an opening that allows refuse to pass from the hopper to the storage compartment. The packer system includes an auger screw and a driver. The driver rotates the auger screw such that refuse is packed into the storage compartment through the opening. A door can be positioned to cover the opening in the wall to inhibit refuse from passing back through the opening. A door actuator system moves the door to selectively open and close the door on the opening. A packing actuator can push an ejector panel across the floor of the storage compartment while the door is closed on the opening in the wall to further compact refuse in the storage compartment or to eject refuse from the vehicle.
B65F 3/22 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with devices for charging, distributing, or compressing refuse in the interior of the tank of a refuse vehicle with screw conveyors or rotary tanks
= A refuse vehicle body includes an electrically actuated, rack and pinion tailgate actuation system. A tailgate is rotationally coupled to the body and configured to rotate between closed and open positions. The tailgate actuation system may be supported by the body and/or tailgate and is configured rotate the tailgate between the closed and open position. The tailgate actuation system may further optionally include a locking mechanism configured to lock and unlock the tailgate in the closed position using the same electrically powered rotary actuator that opens and closes the tailgate.
B65F 3/00 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse
B65F 3/14 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with devices for charging, distributing, or compressing refuse in the interior of the tank of a refuse vehicle
, , õ A refuse vehicle body includes a tailgate coupled to the body. The tailgate is movable between closed and open positions. An ejector is deployed in the body and configured to translate between forward and rearward positions. An actuator is configured to translate the ejector between the forward and rearward positions and is further configured to provide an actuation force that moves the tailgate from the closed position towards the open position and thereby at least partially opens the tailgate.
B65F 3/24 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with devices for unloading the tank of a refuse vehicle
B62D 33/03 - Sideboard or tailgate structures movable by swinging down
B65F 3/16 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with devices for charging, distributing, or compressing refuse in the interior of the tank of a refuse vehicle with conveyor wheels
A refuse collection vehicle has various hydraulic actuators including at least one cylinder with an internal seal. A sensor is responsive to movement of the piston and sends a signal to a controller to indicate piston movement information during an associated vehicle body component movement. The controller is configured to determine a motion characteristic of the piston during a predetermined body component movement, compare the determined motion characteristic to a stored reference motion characteristic, and in response to determining that a difference between the determined motion characteristic and the reference motion characteristic is greater than a predetermined value, trigger an indication that the refuse collection vehicle is in need of service.
B65F 3/00 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse
F15B 19/00 - Testing fluid-pressure actuator systems or apparatus, so far as not provided for elsewhere
F15B 20/00 - Safety arrangements for fluid actuator systems; Applications of safety devices in fluid actuator systems; Emergency measures for fluid actuator systems
Among other things, the techniques described herein include a method for receiving a plurality of images of one or more containers while the one or more containers are being emptied, the plurality of images comprising a training set of images and a validation set of images; labeling each image of the plurality of images as including either an overfilled container or a not-overfilled container; processing each image of the plurality of images to reduce bias of a machine learning model; training, and based on the labeling, the machine learning model using the plurality of images; and optimizing the machine learning model by performing learning against the validation set, the optimized machine learning model being used to generate a prediction for a new image of a container, the prediction indicating whether the container in the new image was overfilled prior to the new container being emptied.
A refuse collection vehicle includes a fork assembly that is operable to engage one or more fork pockets of a refuse container, a lift arm that is operable to lift a refuse container, and at least one sensor that is configured to collect data indicating a position of the one or more fork pockets of the refuse container. A position of at least one of the fork assembly or the lift arm is adjusted in response to the data collected by the at least one sensor.
A refuse collection vehicle includes a grabber that is operable to engage a refuse container, a lift arm that is operable to lift a refuse container, at least one sensor that is arranged to collect data indicating an angular position of the grabber, at least one sensor that is arranged to collect data indicating a relative positioning of the lift arm, a first controller for adjusting the angular position of the grabber, and a second controller adjusting the relative positioning of the lift arm. The adjustment of the angular position of the grabber is coordinated with the adjustment of the relative positioning of the lift arm.
A refuse collection vehicle includes a grabber that is operable to engage a refuse container, at least one sensor that is arranged to collect data indicating a relative positioning of a first arm of the grabber and a second arm of the grabber, and a controller having one or more control elements for selecting a target positioning of a first arm of the grabber and a second arm of the grabber. The first arm and the second arm automatically move to the target positioning in response to a signal received by an onboard computing device of the vehicle.
Operating a refuse collection vehicle to collect refuse from a refuse container includes positioning a refuse collection vehicle with respect to a refuse container to be emptied, and manually engaging a switch to initiate a dump cycle to be performed by the refuse collection vehicle on the refuse container. The dump cycle includes engaging the refuse container with a portion of the vehicle, lifting the engaged refuse container to a dump position, and moving the refuse container to release contents of the refuse container into a hopper of the refuse collection vehicle. The dump cycle continues to completion as long as the switch remains manually engaged.
This disclosure describes an assembly for gas (e.g., compressed natural gas) storage. The assembly includes multiple gas storage tanks, with each tank coupled to a separate sub-assembly that includes a pressure gauge, shutoff valve, and pressure relief device (PRD), providing for independent pressure monitoring, shutoff, and pressure relief for each of the tanks.
A computer-implemented method for analyzing refuse includes operations of receiving sensor data indicating an operational state of a vehicle body component of a refuse collection vehicle (RCV); analyzing the sensor data to detect a presence of a triggering condition based at least partly on a particular operational state of the vehicle body component, as indicated by the sensor data; in response to detecting the triggering condition, accessing image data indicating a physical state of refuse collected by the RCV; providing the image data as input to at least one contaminant detection model trained, using at least one machine learning (ML) algorithm, to output a classification of the image data, the classification indicating a degree of contamination of the refuse; and storing, in a machine-readable medium, the classification of the image data.
B65F 3/02 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with means for discharging refuse receptacles thereinto
B65F 3/14 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with devices for charging, distributing, or compressing refuse in the interior of the tank of a refuse vehicle
There is disclosed a waste collecting device having a container for receiving waste therein. The container has an end wall and an ejector panel. The container encloses a waste receiving volume. The ejector panel has an opening therethrough for allowing access to the waste receiving volume for receiving the waste. The waste collecting device further has a compactor outside the waste receiving volume being operable for pushing the waste in the container through the opening. The ejector panel is movable within the waste receiving volume and relative to a floor of the container for pushing the waste out of the waste receiving volume. A method of operating a waste collecting device is also disclosed.
B65F 3/14 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with devices for charging, distributing, or compressing refuse in the interior of the tank of a refuse vehicle
B65F 3/02 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with means for discharging refuse receptacles thereinto
B65F 3/24 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse with devices for unloading the tank of a refuse vehicle
14.
MECHANICAL ARM SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING GARBAGE FROM A GARBAGE CONTAINER
The mechanical arm system can include a garbage container holder and at least one mast. The holder can have guiding wheels engaged with adjacent tracks of the mast, the two adjacent tracks both having a lower portion extending upwardly along the mast, the lower portion of the first track being located forwardly of the lower portion of the second track, the lower portion of both tracks leading into corresponding upper portions which are curved rearwardly. The system can have a primary mast and a secondary mast slidably mounted to the primary mast, with the garbage container slidable mounted to the secondary mast. A driving link can simultaneously connect the primary mast to the secondary mast, and the secondary mast to the holder in a manner that when the driving link is moved, both sliding movements are performed in the same direction.
Techniques are described for determining an amount of fuel that is consumed by the body components of a vehicle, based at least partly on sensor data describing the operations of the body components and/or the location of the vehicle. A vehicle is equipped with a body that has any suitable number of body components that perform operations not directly associated with the translational movement of the vehicle from one location to another. Fuel is consumed to provide power (e.g., through power take off) to operate the body components. The vehicle includes sensor device(s) configured to sense the operations of the body components and generate sensor data that describes the operations of the body components. The sensor data is analyzed to determine an amount of fuel that is consumed to power the operations of the body components.
G06Q 99/00 - Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
G07C 5/00 - Registering or indicating the working of vehicles
G07C 5/08 - Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle, or waiting time
A CNG leak detection system has a plurality of CNG tanks. A plurality of control valve mechanisms, equal in number to the plurality of CNG tanks, is coupled with each CNG tank. A sensor is coupled with each control valve mechanism. The sensor monitors the CNG in the tank. A processor is electrically coupled with the sensor. A display is coupled with the processor to display the sensed condition of at least one desired tank of the plurality of tanks.
G01M 3/32 - Investigating fluid tightness of structures by using fluid or vacuum by measuring rate of loss or gain of fluid, e.g. by pressure-responsive devices, by flow detectors for containers, e.g. radiators
B65F 3/00 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse
G01L 19/08 - Means for indicating or recording, e.g. for remote indication
An intermediate container (24) for a refuse vehicle (10) where the container (24) is positioned in front of the refuse vehicle (10) is provided. A plurality of legs (30,32) extends from the container (24) toward the refuse vehicle (10). An attachment mechanism (36) is on each leg (30, 32) to secure the legs (30, 32) to a front loading arm assembly (20, 22) of the refuse vehicle (10).
A grabber assembly has a beam assembly with a bracket. A grabber gear assembly is coupled with the bracket. The grabber gear assembly has a pair of gear mechanisms coupled with the bracket. Each gear mechanism has a shaft and a pair of thrust bearings, one at each end of the shaft. A grabber arm mounting pad is coupled with each shaft. A gear section is coupled with each shaft. The gear sections of each shaft mesh with one another to drive the grabber arm mounting pads. An actuating driver is coupled with one of the shafts to drive the grabber gear assembly and move the arms between an open and grasping position.
A cradle and guide system for a refuse vehicle has at least one track member mounted on a bumper of a refuse vehicle. The at least one track member is able to deflect horizontally to compensate for misalignment. At least one guide member is mounted to a front loading fork of the refuse vehicle. The at least one guide member contacts the at least one track member to limit horizontal movement of the front loading fork with respect to the refuse vehicle during misalignment. The at least one track member returns to its original position to align the front loading forks.
A cradle and guide system for a refuse vehicle has at least one track member mounted on a bumper of a refuse vehicle. The at least one track member is able to deflect horizontally to compensate for misalignment. At least one guide member is mounted to a front loading fork of the refuse vehicle. The at least one guide member contacts the at least one track member to limit horizontal movement of the front loading fork with respect to the refuse vehicle during misalignment. The at least one track member returns to its original position to align the front loading forks.
A vertically adjustable collection arm assembly for picking up refuse cans has an arm mechanism to pick up the cans. A lift mechanism raises and lowers the arm mechanism. The lift mechanism is coupled with the arm mechanism and a structure. The lift provides vertical movement to lift and lower the arm mechanism with respect to the structure.
A refuse vehicle has a tailgate. The tailgate has a framework to secure CNG tanks. A cover overlays the frame work to provide an aesthetic appearance to the vehicle.
A track and guide system for a refuse vehicle has at least one track member mounted on a bumper of the refuse vehicle. The track member has a desired length extending transverse to the ground. At least one guide member is mounted on a front loading fork of the refuse vehicle. The at least one guide member contacts the at least one track member to prohibit horizontal movement of the front loading fork with respect to the refuse vehicle.
An automatic control system for a refuse vehicle includes a mode select switch disposed within the vehicle that generates a mode select signal based on input from an operator of the vehicle, a control mechanism disposed within the vehicle that operates in response to the mode select signal, and a plurality of sensors adapted to sense a plurality of characteristics of the vehicle and adapted to communicate the plurality of sensed characteristics. The system further includes a control module that receives control instructions from the control mechanism and selectively controls at least one component of a plurality of components of the vehicle based on the mode select signal, at least one of the plurality of sensed characteristics, and the control instructions.
B65F 3/00 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse
B60P 1/48 - Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using pivoted arms raisable above the load supporting or containing element
B60P 3/00 - Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
B66F 9/00 - Devices for lifting or lowering bulky or heavy goods for loading or unloading purposes
An automatic control system for a refuse vehicle includes a mode select switch disposed within the vehicle that generates a mode select signal based on input from an operator of the vehicle, a control mechanism disposed within the vehicle that operates in response to the mode select signal, and a plurality of sensors adapted to sense a plurality of characteristics of the vehicle and adapted to communicate the plurality of sensed characteristics. The system further includes a control module that receives control instructions from the control mechanism and selectively controls at least one component of a plurality of components of the vehicle based on the mode select signal, at least one of the plurality of sensed characteristics, and the control instructions.
B65F 3/00 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse
B60P 1/48 - Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using pivoted arms raisable above the load supporting or containing element
B60P 3/00 - Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
A support rack for a side loading arm of a refuse vehicle has a frame to secure with the refuse vehicle. A rack is pivotally coupled with the frame. A biasing member is coupled between the rack and frame. The biasing member enables pivotal movement of the rack between a first and second position. The biasing member returns the rack to the first position after movement into the second position.
A support rack for a side loading arm of a refuse vehicle has a frame to secure with the refuse vehicle. A support member is pivotally coupled with the frame. The support member receives the side loading arm. An actuating mechanism is coupled between the frame and the support member. The actuating mechanism moves the support member between 'a first and a second position. In the first position, the support member is in a locked position which locks the side loading arm in position with the support rack during over road traveling conditions. In the second position, the support member is in an unlocked position to enable the side loading arm to move away from the support rack.
A control mechanism for a refuse vehicle includes a first control valve that operates a first hydraulically controlled mechanism and a second control valve that operates a second hydraulically controlled mechanism. The control mechanism also includes a plurality of switches and a pneumatic control mechanism. The plurality of switches generates a valve select signal and a mode signal. The pneumatic control mechanism selectively controls the first control valve and the second control valve based on the valve select signal and the mode signal. An operator of the refuse vehicle actuates the plurality of switches while the operator is operating the pneumatic control mechanism.
B65F 3/00 - Vehicles particularly adapted for collecting refuse
F15B 21/00 - Common features of fluid actuator systems; Fluid-pressure actuator systems or details thereof, not covered by any other group of this subclass
ABSTRACT A telescopic side arm for a refuse vehicle has an inner and outer boom. A mounting assembly secures the outer boom with a refuse vehicle. -A plurality of bearing pads is positioned between the inner and outer booms to provide smooth movement between the inner and outer booms. A plurality of shims is associated with the bearing pads to assure a tight fit between the inner and outer booms. CA 3095649 2020-10-08
B60P 1/48 - Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using pivoted arms raisable above the load supporting or containing element
A telescopic side arm for a refuse vehicle has an inner and outer boom. A mounting assembly secures the outer boom with a refuse vehicle. A plurality of bearing pads is positioned between the inner and outer booms to provide smooth movement between the inner and outer booms. A plurality of shims is associated with the bearing pads to assure a tight fit between the inner and outer booms.
B60P 1/48 - Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using pivoted arms raisable above the load supporting or containing element
A telescopic side arm for a refuse vehicle has an inner and outer boom. A mounting assembly secures the outer boom with a refuse.vehicle. A plurality of bearing pads is positioned between the inner and outer booms to provide smooth movement between the inner and outer booms. A plurality of shims is associated with the bearing pads to assure a tight fit between the inner and outer booms.
B60P 1/48 - Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading using pivoted arms raisable above the load supporting or containing element
A grabber assembly has a base to secure with the refuse collection device. A pair of arms is pivotally coupled with the base. The pair of arms moves between a grasping position and a release position. Belts are coupled with the arms. The belts contact the refuse container in the grasping position. A tensioning device tensions the belts to provide a variable force rate to tension the belts.
ABSTRACT A grabber assembly has a base to secure with the refuse collection device. A pair of arms is pivotally coupled with the base. The pair of arms moves between a grasping position and a release position. Belts are coupled with the arms. The belts contact the refuse container in the grasping position. A tensioning device tensions the belts to provide a variable force rate to tension the belts. CA 3100530 2020-11-24
A refuse collection vehicle has a container collection arm with a telescoping boom coupled with a refuse stowage unit of the vehicle. A grasping mechanism is coupled with an end of the boom. A rotary actuator couples the grasping mechanism with the boom to enable a waste container to be moved between a pick up position and a dump position.
A weight based load limiting system for a refuse vehicle. The system includes a weight determination module that generates a signal that varies in accordance with a vehicle weight. If the vehicle weight approaches or exceeds a predetermined maximum weight, the signal inhibits a portion of the loading or packing operation to prevent overloading the vehicle. In various configurations, the inhibiting can be to prevent a lifting of a refuse container to prevent empting the container into the vehicle hopper. In other various configurations, the inhibiting occurs by maintaining engine power to less than the engine power typically output during a packing operation.
A bolt-on shaft and gear system includes a body assembly defining two spaced apart mounts. A powered grasping assembly includes a first pivot pin pivotally positioned in a first of the two mounts and a first gear section fixedly coupled to the first pivot pin. An actuating driver is attached between the body assembly and the powered grasping assembly for controllably rotating the powered grasping assembly about the first pivot pin. A follower grasping assembly includes a second pivot pin pivotally positioned in a second of the two mounts and a second gear section fixedly coupled to the second pivot pin, the second gear section is meshed with the first gear section so as to rotate with the powered grasping assembly in an opposite direction.
B65F 3/04 - Linkages, pivoted arms, or pivoted carriers for raising and subsequently tipping receptacles
B66F 9/20 - Means for actuating or controlling masts, platforms, or forks
F16H 1/06 - Toothed gearings for conveying rotary motion without gears having orbital motion involving only two intermeshing members with parallel axes
37.
FRONT-LOADABLE REFUSE CONTAINER HAVING SIDE-LOADING ROBOTIC ARM WITH MOTORS AND OTHER MASS MOUNTED AT REAR OF CONTAINER AND USE OF SAME WITH FRONT-LOADING WASTE-HAULING VEHICLE HAVING HYDRAULIC FRONT FORKS OR OTHER RETRACTABLY ENGAGEABLE LIFT MEANS
A front-loading, refuse collecting vehicle is modularly provided with a combination of a low-profile, front-loadable waste bin and one or more, side- loading robotic arms. To reduce mechanical stresses along couplings between the vehicle and the combination of the intermediate container and the robotic arm(s), a major portion of the mass of the robotic arm mechanism is situated to the rear of the intermediate container so that a mass and beam combination is defined where the mass-supporting beam has reduced length. More specifically, hydraulic and/or other relatively massive motor means of the robotic arm mechanism are mounted to the rear of a refuse-containing wall of the intermediate container. Elastomeric and/or other dampening means may be interposed between the vehicle and the bulk mass of the combination of the intermediate container and robotic arm mechanism for converting into heat some of the vibrational. A modular sled system may be provided.
patents
