US3732997A - Container lift and dump apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for lifting a container and dumping its contents into a receptacle such as a truck body. The apparatus has a horizontal fulcrum mounted on the outside of the receptacle and an elongated frame is swingable about the fulcrum between a lowered and a raised position. Endless chains on the frame have drive sprockets coaxial with the fulcrum and hooks on the chains engage the container to first lift the same while the frame remains in its lowered position. In the lifted position of the container the hooks cooperate with abutments on the frame so that continued movement of the chains swings the frame with the container to a raised position in which contents of the container are dumped into the receptacle.

Description

United States 1 Reaviset al.

3,732,997 May 15, 1973 CONTAINER LIFT AND DUMP APPARATUS Inventors: Robert P. Reavis; Robert P. Reavis, Jr., both of Box 5229; Robert P. Reavis III, Monticello Drive, all of Statesville, NC.

Filed: Feb. '28, 1972 Appl. No.: 229,685

US. Cl. ..2l4/302, 214/130 R, 214/317 Int. Cl. ..B65f 3/02 Field of Search ..2l4/302, 303, 313,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerLawrence J. Oresky Attorney Munson H. Lane et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus is provided for lifting a container and dumping its contents into a receptacle such as a truck body. The apparatus has a horizontal fulcrum mounted on the outside of the receptacle and an elongated frame is swingable about the fulcrum between a lowered and a raised position. Endless chains on the frame have drive sprockets coaxial with the fulcrum and hooks on the chains engage the container to first lift the same while the frame remains in its lowered position. In the lifted position of the container the hooks cooperate with abutments on the frame so that continued movement of the chains swings the frame with the container to a raised position in which contents of the container are dumped into the receptacle.

12 Claims, 1 1 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAY 1 5197s sum 1 [IF 4 PATENTEB MAY] 5 I973 SHEET 3 OF 4 F/G.5b.

FIG. 5a.

1 CONTAINER LIFT AND DUMP APPARATUS This invention relates to new and useful improvements in apparatus for lifting and tilting containers so as to dump the contents thereof into a suitable receptacle, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a power-driven apparatus whereby the container lifting and dumping operation may be very quickly and easily performed.

While the apparatus of the invention may be used with different types of containers and various types of receptacles, it is particularly useful for emptying refuse bins or carts into the bodies of refuse trucks, or the like. This is shown and described in the disclosure which follows, although it is to be understood that either or both the container and the receptacle may be mobile or stationary, as required by conditions of the environment in which the invention is used.

Inasmuch as the receptacle, such as a truck body for example, is raised off the ground, it is necessary for the container to first be lifted prior to dumping. The appa ratus of the invention, which is mounted on the outside of the receptacle and has means for releasably engaging the container, is especially adapted to first lift the container to an elevated position and then to tilt the same for dumping the contents thereof into the receptacle. An important feature of the invention resides in a novel structural arrangement whereby the container lifting and dumping phases are effected successively by a continuous operation of only one power source.

With the foregoing more important object and features in view and such other objects and features which may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference designate like parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a refuse truck with the container lifting and dumping apparatus of the invention mounted thereon, the container being shown in the lowered position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but with the container in the dump position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary view, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing the lift and dump apparatus with the container lowered;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus per se;

FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c are fragmentary sectional views, taken substantially in the plane of the line 5-5 in FIG. 4 and showing the apparatus in the lowered, elevated and dumping positions, respectively;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of one of the frame side members;

FIG. 7 is a diagramatic view of the hydraulic system;

FIG. 8 is a view, similar to FIG. 3, but showing a modified embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the modified embodiment of FIG. 8 mounted on a refuse truck.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in de tail, more particularly to FIGS. 1-6, the lift and dump apparatus of the invention is designated generally by thereference numeral 10 and is shown as being mounted at the back of arefuse truck 12 for use in lifting and dumping acontainer 13 into the body of the truck. For illustrative purposes thecontainer 13 is shown as being in the form of a refuse cart having a pair ofwheels 14 and ahandle 15, the side members 15a of the handle being fixed to the sides of the cart and extended to form afixed bail 16 on the side of the cart opposite from thehandle 15.

The lift anddump apparatus 10 comprises a support 17 which is suitably mounted at the back of thetruck 12. Ahydraulic motor 18 is mounted on the support 17, as by thescrews 19, the motor having ahorizontal drive shaft 20 with a pair ofsprockets 21 secured to the ends thereof. Theshaft 20 constitutes a fulcrum for a verticallyswingable frame 22, the latter including a pair of transversely spacedframe side members 22a provided withbearings 23 at one end thereof, as is best shown in FIG. 4. Thebearings 23 are secured in cutouts 23a formed in one end of theside members 22a as shown in FIG. 6, and the bearings are rotatably positioned on themotor shaft 20 inside of thesprockets 21 so that theentire frame 22 is swingably mounted by one end thereof on thefulcrum shaft 20. The frame is swingable between a lowered position shown in FIG. 1 wherein it extends downwardly from thefulcrum shaft 20, and a raised position wherein it slants upwardly and outwardly from the fulcrum shaft, as shown in FIG. 2. Asuitable rest 24 is provided on the support 17 for theframe 22 in the lowered position of the latter.

The end portion of theframe 22 remote from thefulcrum shaft 20 is provided with a pair ofbearings 25 for acountershaft 26 which extends throughapertures 27 in theframe side members 22a and has a pair ofidler sprockets 28 secured thereto. A pair of transversely spacedendless chains 29 pass around thedrive sprockets 21 andidler sprockets 28, as will be apparent.

Means are provided on thechains 29 for engaging thefixed bail 16 of thecontainer 13, these means consisting of a pair ofupturned hooks 30 provided at the ends of across bar 31 which is suitably secured to thechains 29 as at 32. When theframe 22 is in its lowered position as in FIG. 3 (and also in FIG. 1) thecross bar 31 with thehooks 30 is disposed adjacent theidler sprockets 28, or adjacent what then is the lower end of the frame. However, when themotor 18 is energized to rotate theshaft 20 in the direction of thearrow 33, thechains 29 move the cross bar with the hooks upwardly, as indicated at 34 in FIG. 3.

Acontainer rest 35 is supported by a transverselyelongated bracket 36 on the lower or outer end of theframe 22, adjacent theidler sprockets 28 and in spaced relation from thehooks 30. Conveniently, therest 35 may be in the form of a roller for engaging the adjacent side of thecontainer 13 when the latter is applied to the apparatus of the invention as presently described.

When the contents of thecontainer 13 are to be emptied into the body of thetruck 12, the container is wheeled toward theapparatus 10 at the back of the truck. By using thehandle 15, thecontainer 13 may be tilted slightly about the axis of itswheels 14, so that thefixed bail 16 on the container is slightly raised and then permitted to drop into theupturned hooks 30 on thechains 29, as shown in FIGS. 1 and .3. Then, by energizing themotor 18 to rotate thedrive shaft 20 in the direction of thearrow 33, thechains 29 move thecross bar 31 with thehooks 30 upwardly as at 34. The engagement of thehooks 30 with thebail 16 of the container lifts the entire container off the ground to an elevated position in which the container still remains substantially upright and theframe 22 still remains relatively stationary in its lowered position. As the container is being lifted, it may tilt slightly about a fulcrum provided by engagement of thehooks 30 with thebail 16, so that the container comes to rest against theroller 35 on theframe 22.

A pair of abutments in the form ofdownturned hooks 37 are secured to theside members 22a of theframe 22 at points adjacent the drive sprockets 11 but in radially spaced relation fromfulcrum shaft 20. When thecontainer 13 is lifted from its lowered position to its elevated position, thecontainer bail 16 carried by theupturned hooks 30 is received in thedownturned abutment hooks 37 on theframe 22 as shown in FIG. b. Since thehooks 37 are fixed to the frame, further raising movement of the container relative to the frame is not possible. However, as rotation of the drive shaft 249 in thedirection 33 continues, the upward moving force exerted by thehooks 30 through thebail 16 against theabutment hooks 37 at a point spaced radially from theshaft 20 produces a leverage action by which theentire frame 22 is swung upwardly about thefulcrum shaft 20 to its raised position shown in FIGS. 2 and 5c. This carries thecontainer 13 into the dumping position shown in FIG. 2, wherein its contents are emptied into thetruck body 12. It may be mentioned at this point that as shown in the drawings, the transverse spacing of the lifting hooks is greater than that of theabutment hooks 37 and consequently, the leverage action which swings theframe 22 upwardly comes about through the medium of thecontainer bail 16 when seated in thehooks 30, 37. However, if the transverse spacing of thehooks 30, 37 were substantially the same, that is, if thehooks 37 were disposed in substantially the same vertical planes as thehooks 30, the two sets of hooks would come into physical contact in the lifted position of the container and such contact between the two sets of hooks would then provide the leverage action for swinging theframe 22 and the container to the dumping position.

In any event, additional means may also be provided to effect or to assist in effecting the leverage action for swinging the frame to the dumping position of the container. Such additional means comprise a pair of drivinglugs 38 secured to therespective drive sprockets 21 at points spaced radially from thefulcrum shaft 20, thelugs 38 being engageable with fixedabutment lugs 39 secured to the respectiveframe side members 22a. FIGS. 3 and 5a show the relative positions of thelugs 38, 39 when theframe 22 is lowered and thecontainer 13 is on the ground. When thechains 29 raise the container to its elevated position shown in FIG. 5b where thehooks 30 being thecontainer bail 16 into thehooks 37, thedrive sprockets 21 will have rotated sufficiently for thelugs 38 on the sprockets to come into abutment with the fixed lugs 39 on theframe 22. Thereafter, continued rotation of the sprockets will provide a leverage action at the abutting lugs 38, 39 for swinging theframe 22 to the dumping position of the container, as in FIG. 5c, quite independently of or in addition to any leverage action such as may exist at abutment of thebooks 30, 37 with each other or with thecontainer bail 16. FIG. 7 diagramatically shows the hydraulic system including the drivingmotor 18 which is connected byhoses 40 throughflow control valves 41 to a four-way actuating valve 42, the latter communicating through aline 43 with apump 44 and with afluid reservoir 45. The four-way valve 42 has afluid return line 46 to thereservoir 45, and a by-pass 47 from the outlet of thepump 44 to the reservoir is provided with apressure relief valve 48. Themotor 18 is reversible and when thepump 44 is in operation, the motor may rotate in one direction or the other by an appropriate setting of the four-way valve 42 which is manually controlled. THepump 44 may be driven by the engine of thetruck 12, or in any other suitable manner.

When themotor 18 rotates so as to drive theshaft 20 in the direction of thearrow 33, thecontainer 13 is first lifted as at 34 and subsequently dumped as in FIG. 2, as has been already explained. When the dumping operation is completed, the direction of rotation of themotor 18 is reversed so that with the assistance of gravity, theframe 22 with the container thereon moves back from the dumping position of FIGS. 2 and 50 to the position of FIG. 5b in which theframe 22 is fully lowered against the rest 24 but the container is still elevated. Thereupon, continued rotation of themotor 18 in the reverse direction causes thechains 29 to lower the container to the ground as in FIGS. 1 and 50, thus completing the operating cycle.

Generally speaking, the center of gravity of thecontainer 13 in the dumping position of theframe 22 lies at the outside of thefulcrum shaft 20, so that when rotation of themotor 18 is reversed, the returning movement of the container and frame is gravity-assisted. However, if this should not occur, the returning movement of the container may be assisted by hand of the attendant of the machine, at least during the initial stage of the returning movement until gravity takes over.

However, in a slightly modified embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, resilient means are provided to positively assist in returning the container from its dumping position. For most part, the modified embodiment is the same as that already described in conjunction with FIGS. 1-7, except for the resilient biasing means which comprise atension spring 52 having one end thereof secured to abracket 53 which is rigidly fixed to the support 17. The other end of thespring 52 has connected thereto a length of chain 54, the links of which are selectively engageable with a hook ordetent 55 provided on across member 56 extending between theframe side members 22a.

It will be apparent that when the container 17 is lifted and then dumped as shown in FIG. 9, thetension spring 52 reacting between the support 17 and theframe 22 will become stretched, and the energy stored in the stretched spring will subsequently assist in returning theframe 22 from the dumping position, at least to the point where gravity takes over in fully lowering theframe 22 against therest 24 and returning the container to the ground while thedrive shaft 20 rotates in the appropriate reverse direction.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A container lift and dump apparatus, comprising in combination a support, a horizontal fulcrum provided on said support, an elongated frame mounted by one end thereof on said fulcrum for vertical swinging movement between a lowered position wherein the frame extends downwardly from the fulcrum and a raised position wherein it slants upwardly and outwardly from the fulcrum, drive sprocket means coaxial with the fulcrum, idler sprocket means provided on said frame remote from the fulcrum, endless chain means passing around said drive sprocket means and said idler sprocket means, container engaging means provided on said chain means and disposed adjacent said idler sprocket means when said frame is in its lowered position, fixed abutment means provided on said frame adjacent said drive sprocket means but spaced radially from said fulcrum, and means for driving said drive sprocket means whereby said container engaging means may first be lifted by said chain means to an elevated position against said abutment means while said frame is relatively stationary, and whereby continued rotation of the drive sprocket means may then swing the frame with the chain means to the raised position of the frame in which a container supported by said container engaging means is dumped.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with a driving lug provided on said drive sprocket means in radially spaced relation from said fulcrum, and a fixed lug provided on said frame, said driving lug being engageable with said fixed lug when said container engaging means is in its elevated position, whereby to assist in swinging the frame to its raised position.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with resilient means reacting between said support and said frame to assist in returning the frame from its raised to its lowered position.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with a rest provided on said support for said frame in its lowered position.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with a container rest provided on said frame at a point spaced longitudinally from said container engaging means.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said container engaging means include upturned hook means adapted to engage a fixed bail at one side of a container.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said abutment means include downturned hook means adapted to engage a fixed bail at one side of a container.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 which is ,further characterized in that said container engaging means and said abutment means cooperate through the medium of a fixed bail provided at one side of a container.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with a drive motor mounted on said support and having a drive shaft which constitutes said fulcrum, said drive sprocket means being secured to said drive shaft for rotation therewith and said frame being swingably mounted on the drive shaft.

10. The combination of a container, a receptacle for contents of said container, and apparatus whereby the container may be lifted and its contents dumped into said receptacle, said apparatus comprising a horizontal fulcrum provided on the outside of said receptacle, an elongated frame mounted by one end thereof on said fulcrum for swinging movement between a lowered position wherein the frame extends downwardly from the fulcrum and a raised position wherein it slants upwardly and outwardly from the fulcrum, drive sprocket means coaxial with the fulcrum, idler sprocket means provided on said frame. remote from the fulcrum, endless chain means passing around said drive sprocket means and said idler sprocket means, means provided on said chain means for engaging; said container, said container engaging means being disposed adjacent said idler sprocket means when said frame is in its lowered position, fixed abutment means provided on said frame adjacent said drive sprocket means but spaced radially from said fulcrum, and means for driving said drive sprocket means whereby said container engaging means may first lift said container to an elevated position in which the container engaging means come into abutment with said abutment means while said frame is relatively stationary, and whereby continued rotation of the drive sprocket means may then swing the frame with said container to the raised position of the frame in which the contents of the container are dumped into said receptacle.

11. The combination as defined inclaim 10 wherein said container includes a fixed bail at one side thereof, said container engaging means including upturned hook means engageable with said bail.

12. The combination as defined inclaim 10 wherein said container includes a fixed bail at one side thereof, said container engaging means being engageable with said bail and acting through the medium of the bail to abut said abutment means.

Claims (12)

1. A container lift and dump apparatus, comprising in combination a support, a horizontal fulcrum provided on said support, an elongated frame mounted by one end thereof on said fulcrum for vertical swinging movement between a lowered position wherein the frame extends downwardly from the fulcrum and a raised position wherein it slants upwardly and outwardly from the fulcrum, drive sprocket means coaxial with the fulcrum, idler sprocket means provided on said frame remote from the fulcrum, endless chain means passing around said drive sprocket means and said idler sprocket means, container engaging means provided on said chain means and disposed adjacent said idler sprocket means when said frame is in its lowered position, fixed abutment means provided on said frame adjacent said drive sprocket means but spaced radially from said fulcrum, and means for driving said drive sprocket means whereby said container engaging means may first be lifted by said chain means to an elevated position against said abutment means while said frame is relatively stationary, and whereby continued rotation of the drivE sprocket means may then swing the frame with the chain means to the raised position of the frame in which a container supported by said container engaging means is dumped.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with a driving lug provided on said drive sprocket means in radially spaced relation from said fulcrum, and a fixed lug provided on said frame, said driving lug being engageable with said fixed lug when said container engaging means is in its elevated position, whereby to assist in swinging the frame to its raised position.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with resilient means reacting between said support and said frame to assist in returning the frame from its raised to its lowered position.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with a rest provided on said support for said frame in its lowered position.

5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with a container rest provided on said frame at a point spaced longitudinally from said container engaging means.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said container engaging means include upturned hook means adapted to engage a fixed bail at one side of a container.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said abutment means include downturned hook means adapted to engage a fixed bail at one side of a container.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 which is further characterized in that said container engaging means and said abutment means cooperate through the medium of a fixed bail provided at one side of a container.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1 together with a drive motor mounted on said support and having a drive shaft which constitutes said fulcrum, said drive sprocket means being secured to said drive shaft for rotation therewith and said frame being swingably mounted on the drive shaft.

10. The combination of a container, a receptacle for contents of said container, and apparatus whereby the container may be lifted and its contents dumped into said receptacle, said apparatus comprising a horizontal fulcrum provided on the outside of said receptacle, an elongated frame mounted by one end thereof on said fulcrum for swinging movement between a lowered position wherein the frame extends downwardly from the fulcrum and a raised position wherein it slants upwardly and outwardly from the fulcrum, drive sprocket means coaxial with the fulcrum, idler sprocket means provided on said frame remote from the fulcrum, endless chain means passing around said drive sprocket means and said idler sprocket means, means provided on said chain means for engaging said container, said container engaging means being disposed adjacent said idler sprocket means when said frame is in its lowered position, fixed abutment means provided on said frame adjacent said drive sprocket means but spaced radially from said fulcrum, and means for driving said drive sprocket means whereby said container engaging means may first lift said container to an elevated position in which the container engaging means come into abutment with said abutment means while said frame is relatively stationary, and whereby continued rotation of the drive sprocket means may then swing the frame with said container to the raised position of the frame in which the contents of the container are dumped into said receptacle.

11. The combination as defined in claim 10 wherein said container includes a fixed bail at one side thereof, said container engaging means including upturned hook means engageable with said bail.

12. The combination as defined in claim 10 wherein said container includes a fixed bail at one side thereof, said container engaging means being engageable with said bail and acting through the medium of the bail to abut said abutment means.

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