Con-tech Manufacturing, Inc.

L&b Manufacturing, Inc.

Other

Mcneilus Truck and Manufacturing, Inc.

Pierce Manufacturing Company

Brian Meldahl

Grant McNeilus

Loyd C Van Buskirk

Garwin B McNeilus

James Cunningham

Jay Attleson

Dylan C Van Buskirk

Randall L Bice

Garwin Mcneilus

Daniel Welsh

Loyd Van Buskirk

Michael R Moore

Chad Trinkner

Claudiu Dorian Pruteanu

Tracy L Schrafel

John Randjelovic

Robert P Juidici

Basil A Briskie

Michael J Massey

Aaron J Hoff

Ryan Smith

Steven L Van Buskirk

Jay Attelson

Jason M Gillard

Steven Van Buskirk

Dylan Van Buskirk

A grabber arm mechanism for use as part of a refuse collection vehicle has a mismatched pair of grabber fingers which are both arcuate, with a first grabber finger being longer than a second grabber finger. Due to the mismatch in size in the first grabber finger and the second grabber finger, the grabber mechanism is capable of handling a larger range of container sizes thereby providing increased capabilities for a refuse collection vehicle. The configuration of the fingers (mismatched) also provides advantages when dealing with smaller containers.

Robust grabber arm for refuse collection vehicle

A robust grabber arm for use as part of a refuse collection vehicle has an inner arm member and an outer arm member which are designed to have parallel beams coupled to one another so that a wide operating profile is created. Further, care is taken in configuring compounds so that each of the hinge points and coupling points are accessible for service and maintenance purposes. To provide additional consistency, common bearings and hinge pins are used throughout, so that maintenance and possible replacement can be easily achieved.

Throughout several portions of a refuse collection system, coupling between hydraulic cylinders to related mechanical components are achieved using bolt-in bushings. The bolt-in bushings allow for improved efficiency in the manufacturing process and allow for repairs to be easily carried out by having a cylindrical opening configured to receive an attachment pin and a main body that is configured to be inserted into openings within portions of related mechanical components. The main body has a flange that will support connection holes, thereby allowing for attachment to the operating components of the refuse collection vehicle.

Refuse collection vehicle having slide and sweep mechanism with bolt-in bushings

Robust grabber arm assembly

A refuse collection vehicle includes a collection mechanism having a collection hopper which accommodates the collection of refuse by dumping into the collection hopper. A bolt-on load edge bracket is configured to be attached to a portion of the collection mechanism adjacent the collection hopper, is capable of defining an adjustable rear load edge based upon where the attachment is made. By using a separate bolt-on load edge bracket, the rear of the collection vehicle can be tailored to accommodate various load edge heights, and to allow several alternative tipper mechanisms to be the easily attached thereto.

Refuse collection vehicle having customized load edge

An onboard washing system provides the ability to wash specific areas at the rear of a concrete truck, without requiring an operator to climb a ladder or climb on the truck. Certain specified areas which are traditionally difficult to wash, including the inside of the charge hopper, the interior portions of the discharge chute, and rear portions of the mixing drum structure, can now be washed in an automated and efficient manner. The truck-mounted washing system has components which are specifically positioned to cause washing fluid (water) to be sprayed or directed toward predetermined areas in an efficient and effective manner. The system also includes hand-held washing wands or washing mechanisms, which allow an operator to easily reach additional zones or additional areas at the rear of the truck, which are lower. Most significantly, the truck-mounted wash systems and the hand-held nozzle systems (wand) are all operable while an operator remains on the ground.

Onboard wash system

A delivery chute for use on a concrete mixer truck has automated systems to allow for repositioning and reconfiguration without requiring an operator to manipulate components. The chute is configured to have multiple segments that can be folded/nested with one another for transport and can be positioned in an extended configuration thereby forming a continuous delivery surface for purposes of delivering concrete to a desired location. Powered mechanisms are used to reposition these segments, thus eliminating the need for operators to handle chute segments at all. A control system is provided to coordinate operation of components so proper sequences are followed during folding, unfolding, raising, lowering and swinging operations. An operator can control each of these operations using a remote control, having single buttons to carry out specific operations.

Power fold and swing chute assembly

A collection body is designed and coordinated so that equipment and frequently serviced components can be easily accessed by any operator while also staying away from lanes of traffic. The collection body is further designed so the main hopper is substantially rectangular, so that sidewalls are continuous and support operation of ejection pushers and related component. This configuration is also coordinated with the collection hopper and other collection mechanisms, so that overall coordination of all components is efficient and effective.

Refuse collection vehicle with improved serviceability

A fully automated container handling system for a refuse vehicle is provided that utilizes a vehicle-includes an extending, pivoting arm with a base equipped with a converging grabber to seize and empty the container. The base that grabs the container includes a sonar transducer that functions with a hydraulic system that operates the arm and grabber using a programmable mounted video camera which feeds video to a cab-mounted monitor to inform a driver of the location of a container of interest enabling accurate alignment of the vehicle. The system is operated by a single button in the cab and logic controller (PLC) computer program to run the hydraulic controls.

Automated container handling system for refuse collection vehicles

A fender assembly having a non-metallic fender panel configured in a curved manner generally prevents material from accumulating on surfaces thereof, reduces weight of the vehicle, and provides a necessary level of protection from flying rocks and other debris that the wheels of a truck may generate. A non-metallic material is used to form the fender panel, which has a desired level of strength, durability, pliability and coefficient of friction. By carefully selecting this material, the fabrication and installation of the fender assembly is further simplified, thus providing additional efficiency. When applied to a cement mixer truck, the curved fender assembly is particularly beneficial as it provides the necessary level of protection, while also discouraging a build-up of concrete on any surface since the non-metallic material will not generally allow concrete to adhere to the surface.

Fender assembly for concrete mixer truck

A fully automated container handling system for a refuse vehicle is provided that utilizes a vehicle-mounted video camera which feeds video to a cab-mounted monitor to inform a driver of the location of a container of interest enabling accurate alignment of the vehicle. The system is operated by a single button in the cab and includes an extending, pivoting arm with a base equipped with a converging grabber to seize and empty the container. The base that grabs the container includes a sonar transducer that functions with a hydraulic system that operates the arm and grabber using a programmable logic controller (PLC) computer program to run the hydraulic controls.

A simplified lift and lowering system is provided that includes a base carriage arrangement that operates along a stationary belt attached to a pivoting arm. The arm has a lower end that is capable of linear lateral extensions and the upper end that returns to the same position when the arm is retracted. The arm has a curved upper portion and is mounted to discharge or dump containers into the charging hopper section of a side-loading refuse vehicle. The stationary belt is carried in a recessed central area of the arm and is anchored at the upper end of the curved section of the arm and attached to a spring-loaded belt tensioner at the lower end of the arms.

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Brownsdale, MN, United States of America

Brian Meldahl