US3648868A - Container transporting vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A vehicle for transporting a walled container which contains a movable platen therein. The vehicle is provided with means for moving the container relative to the vehicle, while carried thereon, to unload material from the container. The vehicle includes means for holding the platen in one position while the container is moved on the vehicle relative to the platen to assist in the unloading of the container.

Description

United States Patent Richler Max M. 1 Mar. 14, 1972 [54] CONTAINER TRANSPORTING [56] References Cited VEHICLE UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Inventor: Richler Max Laurent, Quebec 2,826,321 3/1958 Nelson ..2|4/s10 Canada 3,138,185 6/1964 Fredrick ..2l4/5l0 X [73] Assignee: Atlas Hoist & Body Incorporated, Mon- Primary ExaminerAlbertJ.Makay treal, Quebec, Canada Att0rneyAlan Swabey 22 Filed: Feb. 18, 1970 [571 ABSTRACT A vehicle for transporting a walled container which contains a [21] Appl' NO: 12,176 movable platen therein. The vehicle is provided with means for moving the container relative to the vehicle, while carned thereon, to unload material from the container. The vehicle includes means for holding the platen in one position while the [52] U.S.Cl "214/510, 298/14, 214/82 container is moved on the vehicle relative to the platen to [51] Int. Cl ..B60p 1/28 assist i the unloading f the container [58] Field ofSearch ..2l4/83.3, 503,501,510, 82;

298/14, 16, l B 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDM'AR 14 m2 SHEET 1, BF 2 INVENTOR Max M. RICHLER A TTORNEY PATENTEDMAR 14 I972 SHEET 2 [1F 2 INVENTOR Max M. RICHLER A 1TORNEY f CONTAINER TRANSPORTING VEHICLE BACKGROUND OF INVENTION l. Field of Invention This invention relates to a vehicle and a container carried thereby.

More particularly, the invention relates to a vehicle used to transport a container of the type which can be loaded with material, such as refuse, at one location, transported to a disposal location by the vehicle where the material is dumped from the container while still on the vehicle, and returned to the loading location by the vehicle.

2. Description of Prior Art Vehicles for transporting containers, particularly refuse containers, are well known as are the containers. The vehicles usually have a tilt frame for receiving and supporting the container and means for moving the container onto the tilt frame. The refuse containers are packed tightly with refuse at a loading station by a separate, non-transportable packing unit, placed on the vehicle and transported to a dumping station. However, it is sometimes difficult to dump or unload the packed refuse from the container at the disposal site by tilting the container on the vehicle, particularly when the refuse is wet and freezes to the walls of the container.

To make it easier to unload the refuse, containers have been built with a pusher or platen which is integral and transportable with the container. The platen is used to unload the refuse from the container, while on the vehicle, at the disposal location and can also be used to pack refuse into the container at the loading location. A refuse container with an integral platen of this type is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,071,264, issued Jan. 1, 1963, T. C. Totaro et al., inventors, for example.

However, this type of container is expensive since a platen and the means for moving the platen must be provided with each container. Generally, the platen moving means comprises a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and piston arrangement mounted on the container which is an expensive piece of equipment.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement over the existing vehicle and container system which is much simpler and inexpensive in construction and operation. The improvement comprises using a platen in each container for dumping material, together with means mounted on the transport vehicle, rather than on or in the container, to have the container move relative to the platen when dumping. A separate packer can be provided at the loading location to pack the material in the container. The means on the vehicle for having the container move relative to the platen can be used with each container. Separate means for moving the platen thus need not be provided for each container, which thereby reduces the expense of the overall system.

The invention is particularly directed toward a vehicle for transporting a walled container having a movable platen mounted within the container adjacent one container end wall and a loading or unloading opening in the container opposite the one end wall. The vehicle includes tiltable means for supporting the container in a first loaded position and means for controlling movement of the container along the support means, when tilted, from the first position to a second position. The vehicle also includes rigid means mounted on the support means and passing through an aperture in a wall of the container, with the container in the second position, to hold the platen in the second position while the container is moved by the movement-controlling means back along the support means to the first position to have the platen push refuse toward the opening in the container.

The invention further relates to a method for unloading a container. The method comprises the steps of supporting a container packed with refuse or other material on a tiltable support means carried by a vehicle in a first position. The support means is tilted and the container is moved from the first position to a second position relative to the support means. The container is then moved from the second position back toward the first position while means, cooperating with the support means, hold a platen, initially located adjacent one end wall of the container in the second position to cause movement of the container relative to the platen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The vehicle 1, as shown in FIGS. I and 2, has a chassis 3, a

cab 5 on the front end of the chassis and wheels 7. Support means are mounted on the chassis at the rear of the cab. The support means preferably is tiltably mounted and comprises a frame 9 consisting of two support beams 11 and cross members I3 joining the beams together. The beams 11 rest on the.

chassis beams 15 of the vehicle. The rear end of the frame 9 is pivotably connected tobrackets 17 mounted onchassis beams 15. Pins 21 pass through apertures in thebrackets 17 and the support beams 11 of frame 9. The opposite or front end of the frame 9, adjacent to the cab S, is connected to the chassis by a hydraulic orpneumatic cylinder 23. As more clearly shown in 5 FIG. 1, thecylinder 23 is pivotably mounted from one end by a bracket 24 on a cross beam 26 extending betweenchassis beams 15. Thecylinder 23 has a piston rod 25 extending therefrom, which is connected, through apin 27 andbrackets 29, to across member 31 extending between the support beams 11 of the tiltable frame 9. Operation of thecylinder 23 raises or lowers the front end of the frame 9 about the pivot pins 2] connecting the rear end of the frame 9 to the chassis 3.

Atransportable refuse container 33 is provided comprisingend walls 35, 37,side walls 39, top and bottom walls 4], 43. Therear end wall 35 can be connected to the top wall 4] along oneedge 45 byhinges 47 permitting theend wall 35 to swing out and open the container. Locking means 49 are provided on the side wall of the container, cooperating with alatch pin 50, for normally keeping theend wall 35 closed.

Aplaten 51 is mounted in thecontainer 33 adjacentfront end wall 37. Theplaten 51 preferably has an area just smaller than the cross-sectional area of the container. The platen can comprise a plate 53 which is reinforced bybars 54.Rollers 55, mounted on the sides of theplaten 51, fit intracks 57, the tracks being mounted at the top and bottom of eachside wall 39 of the container adjacentfront end wall 37. The rollers permit theplaten 51 to slide back and forth within the container for a limited distance from theend wall 37.Stops 56 can be provided in the tracks for limiting movement of the platen. Theplaten 51 remains substantially parallel to theend wall 37 of the container at all times. Other suitable mounting means for the platen can be provided permitting its limited movement with respect to the container.

Thecontainer 33 is left at a loading site, such as for example, a restaurant or a hotel, and refuse is packed into the container through the end of the container, whenend wall 35 is open, by a packing means (not shown) located on the site. Any well-known packing means can be used.

When thecontainer 33 has been filled with refuse or other material, it is ready to be transported by the vehicle 1 to a disposal site for unloading. When filled, the platen SI is located in a first position adjacent theend wall 37 of the container. The filledcontainer 33 is then loaded onto the vehicle 1 to rest on the frame 9. Preferably, in loading the container,

the front end of the frame 9 is lifted with the frame pivoting aboutpins 21 by the operation ofcylinder 23. The front end of the container is then positioned onto the back end of the frame 9. A bracket 59 is provided on thefront wall 37 of the container to which one end of acable 61 is attached. Thecable 61 is connected to awinch 65 mounted on a cross-plate 64 at the front end of the frame 9. Thewinch 65 is operated to wind up thecable 61, thus drawing the container onto the support means. The container preferably has support rails 67 attached to its floor 43 which cooperate with the support beams 11 of the frame 9 to guide the container as it is drawn up on the frame. The container is drawn up to rest completely onto the frame until it abuts stops 71 on the frame. Means (not shown) are operated to lock the container in this first loaded position on the frame. The frame 9, and thus the container, is then lowered by thecylinder 23 to a horizontal position to rest on chassis 3, as shown in FIG. 3a, and the vehicle is driven to the unloading site.

At the unloading site the frame 9 is again tilted relative to the chassis, thus tilting the container, as shown in FIG. 3a. Therear end wall 35 on the container is opened to permit the material to be moved out of the container. Thewinch 65 is then operated to unwind thecable 61 connected to the container to allow the container to move, under its own weight, relative to the frame 9, away from the first position at the stops 71 for a short distance to a second position along the frame, as shown in FIG. 30.

In this second position rigid means, provided on the frame 9, are operated to contact theplaten 51, locatedadjacent end wall 37, to hold it in this second position. These rigid means can comprise a pneumatic orhydraulic cylinder 72 andpiston rod 73 mounted on aplate 74, which in turn is mounted on asupport frame 75 mounted in turn on thecross plate 64 on the end of the frame 9 adjacent the cab. Thepiston rod 73 extends through an aperture 77 in theend wall 37 of the container. With the container and the platen in the first position, therod 73 is in a retracted position. When the container and platen are moved to the second position, thecylinder 72 is actuated to extend therod 73 to abut against the platen. Thecontainer 33 is then moved bywinch 65 andcable 61 along the frame 9 in the reverse direction back toward the stops 71 to move from its second position to its first position, as shown in FIG. 311. However, theplaten 51 is prevented from moving with the container back to the first position by thepiston rod 73. The container, therefore, is moved relative to the platen through the cooperatingrollers 55 and tracks 57 for a short distance movingend wall 37 away from the platen. This relative movement provides a positive force tending to break away any frozen material from the walls of the container, thus loosening the bulk of the material so that it will then slide under its own weight the remaining distance out of the container through the open end to empty it.

When the container is emptied, thepiston rod 73 can then be retracted by operation of cylinder72 and the frame 9 is lowered back onto chassis 3. The empty container can then be driven back to the loading site and removed from the vehicle, theplaten 51 being now free to be moved backadjacent end wall 37 of the container.

The hydraulic orpneumatic cylinders 23 and 72 can be controlled and operated by known means carried on the chassis 3 or cab of the vehicle.

While the means for locking the platen in the second position has been shown as a single piston and cylinder arrangement, two or more piston and cylinder arrangements could be used acting simultaneously. Alternatively, the locking means could comprise one or more rigid pins connectable to the support means and passing through one or more elongated slots formed in the floor of the container to rest adjacent the face of the platen nearest the cab. The pins are inserted through the slots when the container and platen are in the second position and prevent the platen from returning to the first position when the container is moved from the second position to the first position.

Thewinch 65 has been shown mounted on the tiltable frame 9. It could, alternatively, be mounted on chassis 3 with thecable 61 passing up over a pulley mounted on the front edge of frame 9.

[Claims 1. A vehicle for use with:

a walled container having a movable piston mounted within the container adjacent one wall of the container and an opening in the container opposite said one wall;

the vehicle including a chassis;

a cab;

frame means on the chassis for receiving and supporting the container in a first position with said one wall adjacent the cab;

means on said vehicle adjacent the cab for controlling movement of said container along said frame means from said first position to a second position spaced from the cab; and

rigid means, mounted on the frame means for passing through a wall of the container when the container is moved to the second position to maintain the platen in the second position while said container is moved by said movement controlling means back toward said first position, whereby said one wall moves away from the platen.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 including means for raising one end of the frame means relative to the chassis, the other end of the frame means pivotably connected to the chassrs.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for controlling movement of said container along said support means comprises:

a winch mounted on the frame means; and

a cable attached at one end to the winch and at the other end to the container on or adjacent said one wall.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rigid means comprise:

a support mounted on the end of the frame means adjacent the cab;

a rod; and

means on the support for moving the rod away from the cab to abut the platen within the container through an aperture in said one wall of the container when the container is moved by the movement controlling means from the first position adjacent the cab to the second position.

5. A disposal system including, in combination:

a walled, transportable material container;

a movable platen mounted within the container adjacent one end wall;

an opening in the container opposite the one end wall;

a vehicle including a chassis and a cab;

frame means on the chassis for receiving and supporting the container with the one end wall located adjacent the cab;

means on the chassis for controlling the movement of the container along the frame means from a first position adjacent the cab to a second position spaced from the cab; and

rigid means on the frame means passing through an aperture in the wall of the container to hold the platen in the second position while the container is moved back toward the first position.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5 including means for raising one end of the frame means relative to the chassis, the other end of the frame means pivotably connected to the chassis.

Claims (6)

1. A vehicle for use with: a walled container having a movable platen mounted within the container adjacent one wall of the container and an opening in the container opposite said one wall; the vehicle including a chassis; a cab; frame means on the chassis for receiving and supporting the container in a first position with said one wall adjacent the cab; means on said vehicle adjacent the cab for controlling movement of said container along said frame means from said first position to a second position spaced from the cab; and rigid means mounted on the frame means for passing through a wall of the container when the container is moved to the second position to maintain the platen in the second position while said container is moved by said movement controlling means back toward said first position, whereby said one wall moves away from the platen.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1 including means for raising one end of the frame means relative to the chassis, the other end of the frame means pivotably connected to the chassis.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for controlling movement of said container along said support means comprises: a winch mounted on the frame means; and a cable attached at one end to the winch and at the other end to the container on or adjacent said one wall.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rigid means comprise: a support mounted on the end of the frame means adjacent the cab; a rod; and means on the support for moving the rod away from the cab to abut the platen within the container through an aperture in said one wall of the container when the container is moved by the movement controlling means from the first position adjacent the cab to the second position.

5. A disposal system including, in combination: a walled, transportable material container; a movable platen mounted within the container adjacent one end wall; an opening in the container opposite the one end wall; a vehicle including a chassis and a cab; frame means on the chassis for receiving and supporting the container with the one end wall located adjacent the cab; means on the chassis for controlling the movement of the container along the frame means from a first position adjacent the cab to a second position spaced from the cab; and rigid means on the frame means passing through an aperture in the wall of the container to hold the platen in the second position while the container is movEd back toward the first position.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 5 including means for raising one end of the frame means relative to the chassis, the other end of the frame means pivotably connected to the chassis.

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