Material or article handling – Device for emptying portable receptacle – For emptying contents thereof into portable receiving means
Patent
1993-09-22
1995-02-21
Werner, Frank E.
Material or article handling
Device for emptying portable receptacle
For emptying contents thereof into portable receiving means
414421, 414917, 414733, 414406, 414486, 414555, 414739, B65F 306
Patent
active
053910397
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a refuse loader arm assembly.
More particularly, the invention relates to an arm assembly for loading refuse contained in a bin into a larger refuse storage chamber. Preferably, the refuse loader arm assembly is mounted on a refuse collection vehicle which also supports the refuse storage chamber.
BACKGROUND ART
It is known to construct refuse loader arm assemblies of a type based on the pivotally extendable and retractable arm principle. The arm assembly may include two or more pivotally connected limb members and terminate in a grab device adapted to grab a bin containing the refuse. The limb members may be actuated so as to cause the arm assembly to pivotally extend towards the bin so that the grab device may be in a position to grab the bin. Once grabbed, the bin may be lifted to a predumping position over the refuse storage chamber by reverse actuation of the limb members.
However, these prior art arm assemblies apparatus generally require a separate actuation of the grab device to cause the bin to tilt from its predumping position and release its contents into the storage chamber. The tilting of the bin has normally been achieved by the actuation of an hydraulic cylinder operable between the outermost limb of the arm assembly and the grab device. The grab device tilt cylinder works in concert with other cylinders operably mounted on the limb members.
The complexity of cylinders and the reliance placed upon their operation in effecting extension and retraction of the loader arm assembly and tilting of the grab device has meant that such prior apparatus are difficult to maintain, heavy and prone to failure.
Furthermore, prior art means of grabbing the bin generally do not include means for controlling the tightness of the grab and are unable to grab and lift differently sized bins or bins that are not in an appropriate alignment with the vehicle. This is because the frames of the grab devices of the prior art are generally fixed, or, if not fixed, have no back pressure responsive correction facility.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the disadvantages of the prior art.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, there is provided a refuse loader arm assembly for raising a refuse bin to a dump position, said arm assembly comprising a first limb pivotally connected to a reference frame at a first pivot point and pivotally connected to a second arm assembly, the said second arm assembly including a grab limb adapted to grab the bin, and including a linkage means to the first limb, whereby the said grab limb is maintained at a fixed angular orientation with respect to said first limb independent of the angular orientation of the balance of said second arm assembly with respect to said first limb throughout the bin raising operation.
Preferably, the linkage means is a linkage limb pivotally connected at one end to the first limb and at the other end to an extended portion of the said grab limb.
Preferably, said second arm assembly comprises a second limb pivotally connected to the first limb at a second pivot point, the grab limb pivotally connected to the second limb at a third pivot point and to the linkage limb at a fourth pivot point located on the said extended portion, and the linkage limb is pivotally connected to the first limb at a fifth pivot point, whereby said second, third, fourth and fifth pivot points interconnect said first, second, grab and linkage limbs into a parallelogram structure.
Preferably, said grab limb includes symmetrically opposed first and second grab fingers.
Preferably, each of said first and second grab fingers comprises first and second limbs articulated about a common pivot point.
Preferably, both said first and second symmetrically opposed grab fingers are pivotally connected to a common portion of said grab limb about separate pivot points.
In a particularly preferred form, each pivot point of said first and second grab fingers has its pivoting angle cont
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Matrik Pty. Ltd.
Werner Frank E.
LandOfFree
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