Importance

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Abstract

A mechanized container handling system on a motorized refuse collection vehicle includes a horizontally extensible and retractable support structure having an outer end on which a container grasping assembly is carried, and a container elevating and dumping assembly for lifting the grasped container and dumping its contents into an elevated hopper opening of the vehicle. The support structure comprises telescoped inner, intermediate and outer sections interconnected by an extension scissors structure, the intermediate section being horizontally driven by a hydraulic actuator and the scissors structure being operative to responsively extend and retract the outer section. The container elevating and dumping system is driven by a hydraulic piston and gear system positioned between the upper ends of a pair of support tracks and drivingly connected to a pair of articulated container lifting force arms. The container grasping assembly includes a pair of hydraulically pivotable articulated engagement arms having a spaced series of resilient container gripping members secured to inner side surfaces thereof, for liftingly engaging cylindrical refuse containers, and suitable engagement structure may be added for handling larger rectangular containers. The power and control portions of the hydraulic system used to operate the apparatus may be conveniently housed in a lift-off module detachably secured to the refuse collection vehicle.

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First Claim