US2996202A - Refuse collection vehicle - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 15, 1961 o. L NEYLAND 2,996,202

REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLE Filed Nov. 5, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Or/onao Z. gig/V4370 1961 0.1. NEYLAND 2,996,202

REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLE Filed Nov. 5, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 0/ /0/700 Z. A/ey/ana INVENTOR.

z y/ww W A 7 0mm )4:

Aug. 15, 1961 o. L NEYLAND 2,996,202

REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLE Filed Nov. 5, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Il Q Q Q R Q 0 Q w\ ZiM ATTORNEyJ 2,996,202 REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLE Orlando L. Neyland, P.0. Box 946, Del Rio, Tex.

Filed Nov. 5, 1956, Ser. No. 620,559

8 Claims. (Cl. 214-82) This invention relates to refuse collection vehicles and, more particularly, to refuse collection vehicles of the type employing a packer blade to compress and pack refuse in oneend of the vehicle. This application is a continuation in part of my application for Letters Patent, Serial Number 481,859, filed January 14, 1955 now abandoned.

It has been the practice in the past to mount the packer blade of refuse collection vehicles on wheels or guides which run in a track formed in the floor of the refuse compartment. Due to the large forces involved a double channel track is usually employed. The track is open to the refuse compartment and refuse collects in the track and tends to foul the rollers. The means for moving the blade is usually mounted in the track and it also tends to United States Patent be fouled by refuse. In addition to fouling the track, the

refuse which collects in the track is diflicult to remove and garbage in the track may become very odorous after it has been in the track for several days. It has been suggested that the track be formed in the roof of the compartment but no means has heretofore been devised for handling the 10 to 15 tons of force to which the blade may be subjected in the packing operation without excessive bracing. Due to the tremendous forces acting upon the packer blade, the compressive force is usually applied to or adjacent the trolley on which the blade is found favor in refuse trucks for moving a packer blade .the length of a refuse compartment due to the fact that the mounting for the hydraulic ram has been generally thought to require that the refuse compartment be spaced from the cab of the truck to provide room for the hydraulic ram. The room thus required would necessitate a longer wheel base body for a given size refuse compartment.

There has further not been available a means for hydraulically returning the ram to the retracted position necessitating the use of some mechanical means. for returning the ram to retracted position.

It is an object of this invention to provide a refuse collection vehicle in which the objectionable features enumerated above are eliminated.

Another object is to provide a refuse collection vehicle in which the packer blade runs in an overhead track, but in which only a portion of the resistance to movement of the blade is transmitted to the track.

Another object is to provide a refuse collection vehicle in which the packer blade during compression of refuse is supported by both the floor of the compartment and by an overhead track.

Another object is to provide a refuse collection vehicle having a packer blade supported upon an overhead trolley and upon the floor of the refuse compartment in which it is not necessary to provide special reinforcing for the floor of the compartment.

Another object is to provide a greater space for refuse within a given size truck by permitting the trolley, upon which the packer blade is supported, to overlie at least 2 in part the cab of the vehicle when the blade is in its fully retracted position.

Another object is to provide in a refuse collection vehicle a packer blade mounted upon roller means spaced on opposite sides of the blade in a manner tocause the load on the blade to be distributed between the roller means when compacting refuse in the compartment.

Another object is to provide in a refuse collection vehicle a fluid powered ram for a packer blade running on an overhead trolley in which the ram extends the full length of the refuse compartment when extended and which is so mounted as to not extend forward of the vehicle substantially beyond the trolley track.

Another object is to provide in a side door loading refuse collection vehicle having a packer blade running on an overhead track, a hydraulic ram for reciprocating the blade without extending the ram forward of the vehicle beyond the track.

Another object is to provide a side door loading refuse collection vehicle having a packer blade running on a track, with a fluid ram for reciprocating the blade which extends and retracts in a path inclined to the horizontal and within the refuse compartment.

Another object is to provide a side door loading refuse collection vehicle having a packer blade running on an overhead track, with a fluid ram in which the ram is extended and retracted by pressure fluid introduced into one end of the ram.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ram for a refuse collection vehicle which is retracted and extended by fluid means.

Another object is to provide for use in a refuse collection vehicle, a fluid ram in which the ram is extended and retracted by pressure fluid introduced into one end of the ram.

Other objects, advantages and features will be apparent to one skilled in the art from the drawings, specification and claims.

In the drawings wherein there is shown by way of illustration a preferred embodiment of this invention and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a refuse collection vehicle constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in rear elevation of the vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view on an enlarged scale of the lock mechanism employed with the rear doors of the vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a fragment of the refuse collection vehicle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the packer blade, trolley, and pulley and cable system for moving the packer blade with the blade shown in part in vertical cross section to illustrate the connection of the cables to the blade and trolley;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5 looking rearwardly in the refuse compartment and showing the packer blade in elevation;

FIG. 7 is a view in side elevation of the packer blade and trolley showing the relationship of the trolley rollers with the rollers bearing upon the floor of the compartment;

FIG. 8 is a view in vertical cross section through the forward section of the refuse compartment showing the hydraulic ram in retracted position;

FIG. 9 is a horizontal cross section through the refuse compartment showing the hydraulic ram in extended position and illustrating diagrammatically the valve and pump system for supplying hydraulic fluid to the ram; and

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal cross sectional view through the ram of FIGS. 8 and 9.

In the unit shown in FIGS. 1 through 7, a circular packer blade is mounted in a cylindrical body for movement axially of the body with the blade carried by an ov rh a trolley a isunper ed. upon rol ers hich are i contact with the floor of the refuse compartmentjrrthg bo y The pa et b ade rollers i e h aetwiththe, ho at the co pa men lead he rearmest te ler Qt he rek by Th co p e v for s. applied by a eehleattaehed. to he b a a jace the. relley i h. this arrangement the de wi l tehdte be o ted. in. the eempart ne it and the oad n he a e i l be ca rie y the l wer tell an th treht es ro l s h trolley h n tetuse s being compa e i hin th re r end. of therefhse somaat i nt- 'Th l dis ib e the e d. betwee the. ttaels an h fib ef e e mpa m Ihe fbrwatdenc f the refuse p men is lef ope and he roll y and uppe m i o th bla e e ie in par the cab of he r When the blade. s co p ete y retr cted o are vi s b spa e within e r tuse. ee ig'are ment.

Referring now more in detail to FIGS. i through 7 the refuse c l i n n n. e pl y a en entieaale a h s i h le i ic ed n ral y a 1.0 a a. mobile. p atfo m- The hi e h a a 11 an spaced main m mb s anr .3 xte d n rear rdly fremthe cab of the vehicle in the usual manner. Qutboard of-;the ma n ra e emb r n exten in nera y betwee he r n a re r h e s f h ehi l amn ins heard. or p a f i p o i upon hieh orkmen they ride between collection points:

The refuse compartment is provided byelongate ehh la b dy 15 hich r s s. upon i s side- (anathema thembet d .3 anduis s eu' ed thereto. lhtetier y of the compartment and immediately above each of; mai rame mb r 1; er e t n s weal: s r ps. 16' 8 .4 se r ps, o r ie h mainframe, members and p i e r m mbe or o r mean eatri dby the packer blade as will hereinafter more fully appear, S r ns 16 nd 1. xteh shbs entially the ent re. lehs h the tetus c mp r me t Body 1.5v pte idedadiaeea its front end with side opening 18 through refuse m y e o e i t he r ihse CO P IfllI P JL he n ihs, ,may b c o ed during, pe kin Q haulhis lite ,1 9 y a lo d or which lid in r c x endins eireumfere l y f. body 1.5 and. may helo e e to the p sition sh n. i FIG l o le in ref e and raised to cover he lower. p r on pen i 1 h n desir The remainder of opening 18 may be covered by. a hori; z ontally sliding door 20 which is supported on tracks 21 and 2 f mo ment e gt s ei' heme s from a position overlying opening 18 to a position clearing open; his .8 s es h n. in FIGS. 1 and.

The forward end Of h a nu ar ody 15. is-eemn etely pen, to p i t e Packet b e o ex end o r he e 11 as will more fully appear below.

The rear end of body 15 is provided with unloading de t 3. and Do s 3 an 24 o l e he e r e end of the annular body 15 and when open permit refuse to be discharged from the, rear of the'ref ise compart mea E ch o doo s. a 4 e r-lie, a hal di h opening at the rear o ody 15 a s. hi ed o he des oi h b y y h nges and 6 e p ively Tr e p es ure may b e e d. pon the oors- .3 .1. 424 du in peekin o ref sede niassi elee s hs mechanism is provided to withstand this pressure. The me ha m helude opp sed la hplete 7, o e n tie ed at h t p. sa e se. t. he ot om. t the. t a oher ing in y 15 hese la e plates re PEQ FlQd, wi h.

hol s. nto hieh p haser 28- es tiee y a h btfleers 23 and 24 may extend. Plungers 28 are carried-for vertical reciprocation by rotating wheels 29 which when rotated will reciprocate the plungers in guides formed in the bracing of the rear doors. As best shown in FIG 3, each wheel 29 is pivotally carried by one of the doors and the plungers 28 are connected to the wheel adjacent its 4 periphery by links 30 which are pivotally connected to both ivheel 29 and plungers 28. Plungers 28 are held against horizontal movement and links 30 permit horizontal movement of the pivot points on the periphery of wheel 29. The wheel is provided With-a. radially extending actuator handle, 31, and upon rotation of wheel 29 by handle 31 to a position in which the pivot between the links and wheel are at approximately the top and bottom of the wheel as shown in FIG. 3, the plungers 28 will be exe ldedehd thed ors loc e ine o P s n. ta

of; h 29 o posi ion. h pi ot et n the wheel n link- Q a he. sides. e h ll, f course, i r plungers 28 arrd permit opening of doors 23 and 24.

overhead track 32 ergtends along the zenith of the 3215188 compartment from the rear of the compartment to a point beyond the front of the compartment and overi a. por ion. t ab. 1 Trac 3 s pr d y a pa r o f ont he c annels 3 a d 34 d in pa lation by a plate 35. Each of channels 33 and 34 and plate 35 extend the length of track 32. In addition to sp cin th ha h l m aeh th r, p a 35 provides a he eever nd pre ents a n, sno t r m li118 nto the refus o p r en The pa between the lowe de ree f channel 3 d 3 s left. ep n- The t ae is s pported by circular r b 3 hich extend about body 1. nd are. ured. to mai ram mem .2 d 1.3 h hy de ired fashion a by di ss 36 are seem d to nnels 33 and. 34 nd as plate i p i h ehan els- P eferably, ibs 3 are continuous e 80 he top oti h x ehaad are secu e o he web of nnels '3v nd. 3 2 This e hs r e en l n rce the hanhe s a hst any t ndency tsp e Ad a pport. f he ra his pro ded a t t end y g e itehsfl hi h. di er do nwa ly om he t ck and 35 areseeu d o main fr me membe 12 d .3-

Atro ley adiea ed e l y at 38 u s in ek 32 a i p o ides a. per ie 'o t e means r o g the packet la e. nthe c mpar ment- T ley 38 comprises a body 39 residing within the. space between confronting 40 flanges:1133 r a. 1 1ri .g4 and spaced roller means 40 and 41 iournaled at the front and rear end, respectively, of body 39; Preferably, each of rolier means 40 and 41 includes a roller which runs in each of'the channels 33 and 34. The preferred construction is best shown in FIG. 6 wherein roller means 40 is shown to comprise rollers 40a and 40!; running in channels 33 and 34, respectively. The rollers should be slightly smaller in diameter than the space between the flanges of the channel members 33 34 to, permitfree passage of the rollers along the so tt e A packer blade 42 is provided in the compartment for packing refuse in the rear end of the compartment. Blade 42 is circular and of slightly lesser diameter than the inner diameter of body 15 to provide clearance for the blade as it moves along the compartment. An A- frame comprising uprights 43 and 44 and horizontal braces 45 and 46 is secured to the face of blade 42 which is remote from the unloading door of the refuse compartment. The A-frame has a considerable depth dimen sion to prevent warping or bending of blade 42 under the loads imposed upon the blade during packing of e u The packer blade. 42 and its associate A-frame are secured to, and suspended from trolley 38. The packer blade i s also supported upon lower roller means which engages the lower half; or floor of the compartment to additionally support blade 42. This lower roller means may be provided by rollers 47 and 48 journaled in A- frame legs 43 and 44, respectively; for rotation about axes ing in the same vertical plane, and bearing upon the little or no tendency of these wheels to in any way distort the skin of the refuse compartment.

The relationship of the trolley roller means 40 and 41 and the lower roller means provided by rollers 47 and 48 is such that a portion of the load imposed upon the blade 42 during the packing operation will always be imposed upon lower rollers 47 and 48. This may be accomplished by positioning lower rollers 47 and 48 rearwardly of the rearmost roller means 41 on trolley 49 and applying the force urging the blade rearwardly in the truck at a point above the center of resistance of the material being compacted. In other words, all of the rollers of the trolley are on the cab side of a vertical plane passing through the axis of rotation of lower rollers 47 and 48. By way of example, the rearmost trolley roller means 41 may have a rotational axis spaced some 4% inches from said plane. The forward trolley roller means 40 would be several feet from said plane.

Preferably, the blade motive force is applied to the blade immediately adjacent the trolley and preferably adjacent trolley roller means 40. With this arrangement the rearmost trolley roller means 41 becomes a neutral roller and only functions as a guide during compacting of material.

The relationship of the various rollers by which a portion of the force is always exerted upon the lower roller means may be readily understood by considering a "resistance to compacting of refuse to be applied to the blade at the point R as indicated in FIG. 7 and by .considering the lower roller means '47 and 48 to be the fulcrum point. Then as a rearward force is applied to the blade in the vicinity of troller roller means 40, .the blade will tend to pivot around lower rollers 47 and 48. Inasmuch as the linear distance between the 'l0w'er..rollers and the forward trolley roller means 40 is considerably greater than the linear distance between the lower rollers and the rearmost trolley roller means 41, roller means 40 will engage the top runners of the track before the rearmost roller means 41 does. Thus, roller means 41 will be substantially neutral other than as a guide and the force upon blade 42 will be transmitted to the chassis through upper roller means 40 and the lower roller means. It is further preferred that the rearmost trolley roller means 41 be spaced only a slight distance from a vertical plane passing through the rotational axis of rollers 47 and 48. A circle subscribed about the axis of rotation of either of rollers 47 or 48 and passing through roller means 41 for practical purposes may be considered to be straight and to extend parallel to track 32 for the short distance between the axis of roller means 41 and a vertical plane passing through the rotational axis of the lower roller means. Thus, in considering movement of roller means 41 about the lower roller means, it will be apparent that the vertical component of movement of roller means 41 is very slight as compared to the vertical component of movement of roller means 40. As roller means 41 moves parallel to the track, roller means 40 will be moving upwardly and will engage the top runners of the track. The resistance to movement of the blade will, therefore, be divided between the forward roller means 40 and lower rollers 47 and 48.

The means for applying a motive force to packer blade 42 is provided by a reversible cable winch 49 together with cables and a system of pulleys. The winch 49 is driven by a power take-off (not shown) from the vehicle engine. One cable 50 is secured to the lower horizontal 46 of the A-frarne as at 51 and rotation of the cable winch in one direction will retract packer blade 42. second cable 52 is wrapped about the cable winch 49 1n a direction opposed to that of cable 50 and extends upwardly from the cable winch to a fixed pulley 53 mounted on the side of track 35. From this point cable 52 extends rearwardly of the truck to 'a fixed pulley 54 at the rear end of track 35, and thence forwardly from pulley 54 to the packer blade where it is secured to the blade by a takeup arrangement indicated at 55. Cable 52 is secured to a bolt 56 which passes through a plate 57 carried by the packer blade. A nut 58 is received over the free end of bolt 56 and abuts against plate 57 to secure the cable 52 thereto. This arrangement permits taking up of slack in both of the cables as they may be considered to be a single cable wound about reel 49. Two separate cables are preferred as they may be secured to the drum of winch 49 and prevent slipping between the drum and cables. Reverse rotation of the winch will move the packer blade rearwardly in the refuse compartment.

Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that the front end of the refuse compartment is open, the A-frame of the packer blade projects from the refuse compartment, and both the A-frame and trolley 38 in part overlie the cab of the truck. This permits the lower end of the packer blade to be positioned close to the cab of the truck so that the refuse compartment may begin at a point closely adjacent the cab of the truck.

During collection of refuse the rear doors 23 and 24 of the truck will normally be closed and the side doors 19 and 20 of the truck open. Refuse will be dumped into the compartment through side openings 18. As soon as sufficient refuse has accumulated, winch 49 is operated to move packer blade 42 rearwardly in the refuse compartment to compact the refuse in the rear end of the compartment. The blade is then returned to its fully retracted position as illustrated at FIG. 1 and more refuse dumped into the compartment through openings 18. The packing operation is repeated from time to time as necessary until the refuse compartment has been filled.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 through l0 there is shown the now preferred form of actuator for the packer blade 42. This form of refuse vehicle is identical with the form shown in FIGS. 1 through 7 except that power for reciprocating the packer blade is supplied through a fluid ram, preferably hydraulic, indicated generally at 60; In actual comparative tests between the refuse collection vehicles employing the cable operated blade. as illustrated herein and the hydraulic operated blade as illustrated herein, it has been found that the compaction of refuse is of a more even nature with the hydraulic ram, probably due to the steady pressure of the hydraulic unit. The unit works in a more efiicient manner under every day problems of operation and the tonnage handled per day with the hydraulic ram proved to far exceed the cable ram form of unit. A factor which possibly contributes to this increased efiiciency is that the hydraulic pressure can be controlled and a constant pressure can be exerted on the packer blade without danger of bursting the tank or rear doors.

Referring first to the mounting of the hydraulic ram 60, reference is made to FIG. 8. One end of the ram is secured to the packer blade at the lower section thereof through a pivotal connection 61. Preferably, this pivotal connect-ion is in the vicinity of the center of resistance of refuse in the compartment to compaction. The other end of ram 60 is secured to the chassis adjacent the forward end of the track and substantially at the level of the top of the refuse compartment. As shown, the ram may be secured to the track 33 at the forwardmost end thereof. That is, the end which overlies the cab of the vehicle. The ram 60 may be secured to the rack by a pivotal connection 62. These two pivots 61 and 62 permit the ram to oscillate in a vertical plane as the packer blade is extended and retracted. This arrangement is necessary due to the fact that the hydraulic ram when the packer blade is retracted approaches the vertical, and when the packer blade is extended the hydraulic ram approaches the horizontal.

It is particularly pointed out that by mounting the hydraulic ram 60 on the forwardmost end of track 33 and attaching the ram to the blade adjacent its lower end, the ram when retracted permits the packer blade to withdraw beyond the side door of the body and the ram does not SAQQIQQQ n any y erf re wi h re ewes o. the eh L othe e ic e- I e. hydra c pist n j s le rs; h ask Well. at: the. ab Th r in. may b u ed; i h. a r fu c mp re nieut. f. he. sam a the b e. p ra ed hicle. w thout ne essita in the use. of. a ruc ha in a lo e hee base-t h le la e omponen o he. orc rom. he. h rau i r m s. do n a d. hen. the paeker lade isto ed to ard it ill be u der tood. h tv there; is ery l t e es tsat ee to mo eme f he pac er; bl de. unt a te it h pass th s e door n he hydrauli ram h i oted n o a morehq zonta pos on- R fe r n ne o 916-. 9 t re s hQ m ies a ma ieal y h hy u ie syste or. pe t n h ram 60. hi y em. in u es a pump .3. e e n y ra l c d through conduit 64 and receiving hydraulic fluid through conduit 65. These two conduits lead to a four-way valve 66 o y d s r eonstru iea h eh alte a e y everse the connections of lines 64 and 65 with lines 67 and 68 leading to the hydraulic rarn dd. The valveis operated by a cont l hand e 6.?-

The pump 63 is preferably provided with the usual bypass valve (not shown) to limit the pressure which it exerts on the hydraulic rain and this pressure is selected to, x t h maximum om ressin f ce. desi ed. with the packer blade. In this way the compartment and the a d o are p ote e a ain b rst n u n e p tion of refuse. The hydraulic ram is extended to move the pa ker bla e ear ard y b m n o valve 66 to interconnect line 64 with line 68, as shown in FIG. 9. The ram is retracted by reversing this con.-

nte pla e p essure in linee' E c s fl fro h ra n when. i is etr edis. e eet d t e. re ervoir 7 erposed in l ne Referring to FIG. the hydraulic ram 60 is madeeup o a plur li y o c n i tel s op e tions 72. 7 74 and 75. It will he understood that as many Sections may be utilized as desired. The inner section 72 is closed at one end, by a closure member 76 and the outer section 75 likewise elosed at the opposite end of the ram by a l sur em er h cl sure m be 76 an 7 carry ears 78 and 79 respectively which are secured to the track and packer blade at 62 and 61 respectively.

In order to provide for extending and contracting the ram w th fiuid, each adjacent pair of telescoping sections have pos tioned therebetween spaced seal means indicated generally at 81 and 82, Seal means 81 is carried by the outer of each pair of sections and may be termed the primary seal between the telescoping sections as it prevents leakage of hydraulic fluid to the exterior of the ram. This seal means also provides pressure-responsive surfaces for retracting the ram as will appear more fully below. The seal means 81 is provided by back-up rings 83 secured to the inner periphery of each of sections 73, 74 and 75, and resilient packing 84 compressed between the back-up rings 83 and glands 85 which are threadedly secured to the inner periphery of each of sections 73, 74 and 75. The inner periphery of glands 85 as well as the back-up rings 83 are preferably plated with brass or a similar metal to provide Wear surfaces.

The seal 82 is provided by compression rings 86 car e b th nne most o e eh pai of telescoping sections in grooved members 87. The rings 86 are circumferential and split at one point in the manner of a conventional piston ring to permit their being slipped over the end of carrier 87 and into the grooves therein,

n o d t mi e en io and trae n o the se ra les pin ions o the rain h e i Pr ided. snap rin c ried in s i able oo es in the nn r el i es of telescoping members 73, 74 and 75 at the extremity of these members adjacent the closure 77. At points spaced from these stops, additional stops 89 are secured to the outer periphery of each telescoping member 72, 73 and 74. Thus, as the several telescoping sections move into fully retracted position, the stop rings 88 will strike the retainer plates 87 of the next innermost telescoping sec- Gil ie and. i itme ea satth rebet en Lik e a the rant is extended, the r' gs $3 of seal assemblies 81 will s trilge the stops $7 of; thenext innermost telescoping sectionrand limit extension of the telescoping member. The are preferably-plated with brass or a like metal o. Pro i e a e: s ta'e I When pressure fluid is introduced into line 68 by pump. 63, this fluid will first till the bore of the inner telescoping rnernher 72 and then act against the closure plate 77 to extend the outermost telescoping member 75. When the outermost member is fully extended, the ring 83 and stop 89 will abut and further extension of the ram will cause thetelescoping member 74 to begin to extend. This action is continued until the ram is extended suificient to have the lower portion of the packer blade 42 substand ily reach the doors at the rear of the refuse compartment.

With the ram in fully extended position, the four-way valve 66 is reversed to permit withdrawal of pressure fluid through line 68 and introduction of pressure fluid through line 67. The pressure fluid entering through line 67 passes through conduit 91 in the innermost section 72 to a port 92 through the wall of the innermost telescoping section 72. The port 92 opens into the area between the g spaced seals 81 and 82 with the telescoping member in inlly extended position and into the annulus between the telescoping members 72 and 73. Fluid introduced into the annulus between these telescoping members through conduit 91 will be confined by the seals 81 and 82. As the seal 82 has a sliding contact with telescoping member 73 and seal 31 has a sliding contact with telescoping member 72, this pressure fluid will build up between the seals and cause the two seals to move apart. Inasmuch as the pr telescoping memher 72 is secured to the frame: worlg, the outer telescoping member 73 will be forced to the fully retracted position shown in FIG. 10.

As the telescoping member 73 moves into its fully re; tracted position,'a port 93 in member 73 is uncovered and fluid from the annulus between the telescoping mem: bers 72 and 73 is now free to llow into the annulus between telescoping members 73 and 74. Here it acts in like manner upon the spaced seals 81 and 82 to retract the telescoping section 74. A like port 94 is provided in telescoping member 74 to introduce fluid into the an nulus between telescoping member 74 and 75 and retract the telescoping member 75.

From the above description of the illustrative embodiments, it will be appreciated that all of the objects of this invention have been attained. There has been provided a refuse truck of the type employing a packer blade in which there is no track in the lower section ofthe compartment in which refuse may accumulate and foul the trolley or means for applying the motive force to the packer blade. There has also been provided a packer-blade in which the forces are distributed between thetop and bottom of the compartment permitting the use of an overhead trolley with minimum bracing of the track for the trolley. The trolley and a portion of the packer blade overlie in part the cab of the vehicle so as to provide maximum space for the refuse compartment.

There has been provided a fluid ram for reciprocating the packer blade which may be actuated by the introduction offluid at one end of the ram for both extending and retracting the ram. There has further been provided a means for mounting this ram in which the ram will extend the full length of the refuse compartment and yet does not interfere with free use of the cab of the refuse vehicle. The ram may be secured to the overhead track and does not require a special framework for mounting the ram. The ram is further mounted at an angleapproaching the vertical when the ram is retracted and an angle approaching the horizontal when the ram is extended and therefore requires a minimum of space when the packer blade is in retracted position. The ram is mounted at the top of the refuse compartment and Q reciprocates within the refuse compartment and therefore the refuse compartment can be completely enclosed and there is no possibility of the refuse fouling the blade or the ram.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adaped to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

The invention having been described what is claimed is:

1. A refuse collection vehicle comprising, an elongate annular body positioned with the axis of the body extending horizontally to provide a refuse compartment substantially enclosed over its top, a track extending along the topmost portion of and directly over the compartment, 9. packer blade for packing refuse in one end of the body, said blade mounted in the body upon lower roller means bearing upon the floor of the compartment and upon a trolley having rollers spaced along said track, said lower roller means positioned to lead all of the rollers of the trolley as the blade is moved toward said one end of the compartment, said trolley rollers spaced apart in the direction of the track a distance suflicient that the total re sistance to movement of the blade toward said one end of the compartment will be applied to the lower roller means and to the trailing trolley roller, and means secured to the trolley to move the blade toward said one end of the compartment.

2. A refuse collection vehicle comprising, a vehicle chassis having spaced main frame members extending lengthwise of the chassis, a body having an annular wall with an elongate refuse compartment therein substantially enclosed over its top and with the annular wall of the body resting upon each of said frame members and secured thereto, a track extending along the topmost portion of and directly over the compartment, a packer blade for packing refuse in one end of the body, said blade mounted in the body upon lower rollers which bear upon and roll along the portions of the annular body which directly overlie the main frame members, said blade also mounted upon a trolley having rollers spaced along said track, said lower rollers positioned to lead all the rollers of the trolley as the blade is moved toward one end of the compartment, said trolley rollers spaced apart in the direction of the track a distance sufficient that the total resistance to movement of the blade toward said one end of the compartment will be applied to the lower roller means and to the trailing trolley roller, and means secured to the trolley to move the blade toward said one end of the compartment.

3. A refuse collection vehicle comprising, a vehicle chassis having spaced main frame members extending lengthwise of the vehicle, a body having an elongated refuse compartment therein, said body supported upon and extending along said frame members with the floor of the compartment bearing upon said frame members, a track extending along the top of the compartment and supported at least in part by ribs exterior of the compartment and secured to the main frame members, a packer blade for packing refuse in one end of the compartment, said blade mounted in the compartment upon lower roller means which bear upon and roll along the portion of the floor of the compartment which directly overlies said main frame members to transmit the load on said rollers directly to the frame members, said blade also mounted upon a trolley having rollers spaced along 10 said track, and means secured to the upper section of the blade to move the blade toward said one end of the compartment.

4. A refuse collection vehicle comprising, a vehiclechassis having spaced main frame members extending lengthwise of the vehicle, a body having an elongated refuse compartment therein, said body supported upon and extending along said frame members with the floor of the compartment bearing upon said frame members, a track extending along the top of the compartment and supported at least in part by ribs exterior of the compartment and secured to the main frame members, a packer blade for packing refuse in one end of the compartment, said blade mounted in the compartment upon lower roller means which bear upon and roll along the portion of the floor of the compartment which directly overlies said main frame members to transmit the load on said rollers directly to the frame members, said blade also mounted upon a trolley having rollers spaced along said track, said lower roller means positioned to lead all of the rollers of the trolley as the blade is moved towards said one end of the compartment, and means secured to the upper section of the blade to move the blade toward said one end of the compartment.

5. A refuse collection vehicle comprising, a cab and chassis type tractor, a refuse compartment mounted upon the open chassis rearwardly of the cab, said compartment having an open end facing the cab, a track extending along the top of the compartment and in part overlying the cab, a trolley running on said track, a packer blade carried by the trolley for packing refuse in the end of the compartment remote from the cab, side doors in the compartment for introducing refuse into the compartment, said trolley overlying the cab at least in part when the blade is on the cab side of the side doors and means for urging the blade toward said remote end to pack refuse in said remote end.

6. A refuse collection vehicle comprising, a cab and chassis type tractor, a refuse compartment mounted upon the open chassis rearwardly of the cab, said compartment having an open end facing the cab, a track extending along the top of the compartment and in part overlying the cab, a trolley running on said track, a packer blade carried by the trolley for packing refuse in the end of the compartment remote from the crab, lower roller means carried by the blade and running on the floor of the compartment, said lower roller means leading the trolley as the blade is moved away from the cab, side doors in the compartment for introducing refuse into the compartment, said trolley overlying the cab at least in part when the blade is on the cab side of the side doors, and means for urging the blade toward said remote end to pack refuse in said remote end.

7. A refuse collection vehicle comprising, a cab and chassis type tractor, a refuse compartment mounted upon the open chassis rearwardly of the cab, said compartment having an open end facing the cab, a track extending along the top of the compartment and in part ovenlying the cab, a trolley running on said track, a packer blade carried by the trolley for packing refuse in the end of the compartment remote from the cab, and an elongate expansible and contractible force applying means for reciprocating the packer blade in the compartment, said means having one end pivotally secured to the portion of the track overlying the cab and its other end pivotally secured to the blade adjacent the bottom thereof.

8. A refuse collection vehicle comprising, a vehicle chassis, a refuse compartment mounted on the chassis, a track extending along the top of the compartment, a trolley running on said track, a packer blade carried by said trolley for packing refuse in one end of the compartment, a plurality of concentric telescoping tubular members, the innermost and outermost of which are closed at first and second opposite ends respectively, the closed end of the innermost tubular member pivotally connected to enema the track at one end thereo f 'and the closed end of the outermost telescoping memb'er pivotally connected toth'e;

the outer member of each pair. and the: seal. means furthest away from said first end. carried by the inner member. of each pair, stops betv veen adjacent members limiting relativemecip'rocatioil of each pair of members, a. fluid -inlet into the innermost of said members for admitting pressure fluid to extend the telescoping tubular members, port means through the wall of theinnermost member. between the seals for the innermost pair ofmembers, conduit means in the innermost member interconnecting said port means with a source of, pressure;

fluid exterior of said members for admitting a pressure fluid'to telescope the members, and port means through each member intermediate the innermost and outermost members for conveying the retracting pressure fluid to the space between seals between, adjacent pairs of memhers to completely retract, the several telescoping members, the port means through each intermediate member being located out of communication with the annular space between it and the next inner member when said two last-mentioned members are extended relative to each other and just within communication with such s 'aace when said two lasbmentioned members are, fully telescopedrelativeto each other, whereby said members will tel'escope sequentially relative to each other when said retracting fluid pressure, is applied, the innermost telescoping first.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1908;899 Kayel May 16, 1933 2,047,602- Tomlinson July 14, 1936 2,364,741 Merchant Dec. 12, 1944 2,408,284 Anthony Sept. 24, 1946 2,517,153 Wood Aug. 1, 1950, 2,696,925- LeLaurin Dec. 14, 1954 2,777,588 Williams Jan; 15, 1957 2,783,744 Tennis Mar. 5, 1957" 2,800,234 Herpich et a1. July 23, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 474,968 Germany Apr. 17, 1929, 585,388 Germany Oct. 6, 1933 T8634 Ia/60 Germany Oct. 6, 1933 200,476., Switzerland Dec. 16, 1938

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