US2865286A - Plows for garbage trucks - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 23,1958 E. T. N'Ewl-:LL 2,865,286

FLOWS FOR GARBAGE TRUCKS Filed Dec. 31, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 23, 1958 E. T. NEWELL 2,365,286

FLOWS FOR GARBAGE TRUCKS Filed Dec. 31. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 HEM- PLOWS FOR GARBAGE TRUCKS Edward T. Newell, Portland, Oreg.

Application December 31, 1953, Serial No. 401,621

2 Claims. (Cl. 100-295) This invention relates to refuse truck bodies and more particularly to packing devices for such bodies.

The usual refuse or garbage truck body is adapted to be loaded at one end and discharged at the other end with gate or door means closing the discharge end or opening, and is provided with a plow or dozer reciprocally movable longitudinally of the body with means for moving the plow to move refuse dumped into the body toward the discharge end or opening and pack the refuse in the body as well as to discharge the refuse through the discharge opening. A structure of this type is shown in my Patent No. 2,541,538. A truck body of this type, especially if employed in garbage collection, now usually comprises a closed body of generally tubular configuration including a fioor and side and top walls and having access opening means at one end, usually the front end, for the admissio-n of refuse into the body and a discharge opening, normally the rear end of the body, closed by door means.

The plow or dozer, as shown in the aforementioned patent, usually comprises a generally flat, substantially vertically disposed member extending transversely of the truck body and, if the body is closed, substantially conforming to the configuration of the body. This plow is usually provided at its lower portion with a toe inclined downwardly and toward the discharge end or opening to force the loose refuse material upwardly so as to ll the upper part of the body. It has been found, however, that when the plow is retracted for the admission of additional refuse, the toe portion leaves a cavity under the packed material and, as a result, a considerable portion of the previously packed material falls to the bottom or floor of the truck body.

Having in mind thedefects of the prior art devices, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide means for packing loose material such as refuse so that the material remains substantially in its packed condition when the packing means is withdrawn from the compressed material.

lt is another object of the invention to provide means for packing loose material, such as refuse, substantially the full height of a body or container.

lt is still another object of the invention to provide means for packing loose material, such as refuse, by applying pressure thereto in a generally vertical plane and substantially the full height of a body or container.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like parts through the several figures and in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional View taken' on line 1--1 of Fig. 4 transversely of a closed refuse truck body and shownited States Patent and a top wall 5l.

ice

ing a packing device or plow in accordance with the present invention parts being broken away for clarity;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken transversely through the' truck body on line 2-2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on a vertical plane longitudinally through a truck body on line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View similar to that of Fig. 4 but showing only the lower portion of the packing means or plow with the normally inclined toe portion in collapsed or retracted position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially in cross-section, as seen from the viewing line 7--7 of Fig. 4, of the toe-bracing mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, specifically to Figs. 1 and 4, the present invention relates to a packing means constituted by a plow or dozer 2 of the type shown in my Patent No. 2,541,538. In the presen't instance, this plow is shown in conjunction with the usual closed refuse or garbage collection truck body 1 which is of generally tubular configuration and includes a floor 14, side walls 50 Normally, such a body 1 is provided at one end, usually the forward end, to the left of Fig. 4, with access opening means of any conventional form for the admission of refuse into the body 1, and a discharge opening at the other end 53, usually the rear end of the body l, which is closed during the collecting operation but may be opened for discharge of the collected material.

The packing means or plow 2 extends across the'body 1 and is reciprocally movable in the body 1 so that it can be retracted beyond the receiving or access opening of the body l to enable loose material or refuse to be load ed thereinto whereupon, the plow 2 is advanced or moved toward the discharge end 53 of the body l, that is, in the direction of the arrow 39 in Fig. 4, to compress the loose material into a compact mass 38. The plow 2 may be reciprocally moved in any desired manner but, as disclosed in the aforementioned patent, the preferred moving means is co-nstituted by endless chains 3 running in channels or guideways 4 extending longitudinally of the walls of the body l and having slots 6 in their inner sides to accommodate arms 5 fixed with the plow 2 and connected to the chains 3, as best shown' in Figs. 1-3.

The plow 2, as shown in the aforementioned patent, preferably is disposed in a substantially vertical plane transversely of the body l and at its lower portion is provided with a toe portion 3 which is inclined from its working face 12 downwardly to the body floor 14 and toward the discharge end of the body 1. In operation, the in' clined toe portion 8 forces the loose material upwardly from the door 14 so as to pack the material or refuse in the upper portion 4d of the body l and prevent an ac cumulation of the material only in the lower portion thereof. However, when the toe portion 8 is in xed relation to the plow 2., it forms a cavity or undercut por tion 41 undermining the packed material 3B so that when the plow Z is retracted to receive additional material, a portion of the packed material falls from the upper portion of the body 1 to the floor H4.

As the inclined toe portion 8 is necessary to force the material upwardly so as to iill the upper portions of the body l, this toe portion 8, in accordance with the present invention, is constituted by `a separate plate which is movably supported by the plow 2 and normally retained in an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 4, but is also capable of being collapsed, byreaction of the compressed material 38, into a position generally parallel 3 to and substantially contiguous with the working face l2 of the plow 2, as shown in Fig. 5, so that the compressed material 33 is compacted in a generally vertical plane and any cavity under such material is eliminated. Consequently, when the plow .2 is withdrawn or retracted from the compacted or compressed material 3E, the latter tends to stay in a compressed mass and does not fall down to any great degree.

The toe plate 8 is movably supported by the plow 2 and according to a preferred embodiment of invention, the plow 2 is provided with a cutout 9 r 1 g '.g the bottom of the plow to accommodate the toe plate supporting means. The toe plate 8 has an upper edge lit which is maintained in engagement with the working surface l2 of the plow 2 and a lower edge i3 whichl gages, at all times, the floor 14 of the body l. out or opening 9 is defined at the top by an edge LA the upper edge lll of the toe plate o in inclined position and at the ends the open bounded by edges 9B which are spaced inwardly ithe side edges of the plow 2 and the area of the between its side edges and the respective edges stitute leg portions integral with the plow 2 and tending to the floor 14 of the body ll, as best shown .in Fig. l.

One or more, preferably a pair, of vertically disposed legs l are xed to the lower back portion t6 of the plow 2 above the opening 9, these legsl l5 extending down a'- most to the floor i4 and substantially spanning the opening 9. Adjacent their lower ends, the legs l5 carry axially aligned bearings itl within which is journaled a substantially horizontally disposed shaft i7 having one or more arms 19 fixed therewith. Preferably, there are a pair of arms i9 which are in parallel relation at their free ends, these arms are each connected by a pivot 2l with a link Ztl which is, in turn, connected by pivot means 22 with the rear of the tee plate tl, preferably near the lower edge i3 thereof.

Each associated arm i9 and link 2l) forms a collapc'cle brace that is spring biased in one direction, as by a spring 25 coiled about the pivot 2l and having its ends 26 and 27 anchored to the link 2t) and arm 19, respectively, as shown in Fig. 7, to force the lower edge ll3 of the toe plate tl away from the lower end of the plow 2. Each brace is limited in its spring biased movement by vmutually engagcable abutments or stops 28 and 28 carried by the arm lll? and link Ztl, respectively, adliacent the pivot 2lv to retain the brace in an extended position and prevent the pivotal connection 2l thereof from passing into or beyond center, as shown in Fig. 4. lt will be noted that the abutments 28, 23 limit the brace to an angular relation and preclude the arm i9 and link Ztl from assuming alignment which might inhibit or preclude collapsing of 'the brace.

Means are provided for retaining the upper edge lll of the toe plate 8 in engagement with the Working face l2 of the plow 2 regardless of the relative position and angle of the plate 3 to the plow 2. This means is shown as including one or more, preferably a pair, cables 29 having one end 30 connected to the back of the plate 8 adjacent its upper edge 1l and the other end 3l connected to one end of a spring 32 having its other end 3d anchored to the back of the plow. Preferably, each cable 29 is trained over a pulley 3S journaled on one of the legs 15 so that the pull of the cable on the plate 8 will be in a more or less horizontal direction.

The toe plate S is provided on its working face with vertically extending reinforcing ribs 24 and across its back with horizontally extending bars 23 and 23. Similarly, the plow 2 is provided on its back with horizontal bars 33 and 33. The cables 29 have their ends 30 connected with the upper cross-bar 23 on the plate 8 While the upper ends 34 of the springs 32 are anchored to the upper -bar 33 on the plow 2, and the lower crossbar 33 provides upper attachment points for the legs l5. The width of the toe plate S is preferably substantially identical with that Iof the opening 9 in the plow 2, and the cross-bars 23, 23 are of a width or depth to abut the legs l5 when the plate 8 is collapsed or retracted so as to retain the plate substantially contiguous with the working surface l2 of the plow 2 and prevent its passing into or through the opening 9, as shown in Fig. 5. In addition, the upper bar 23 is positioned so that it is closely juxtapositic-ned to the edge 9A when the toe plate El .is vfolded or swung to its vertical collapsed position and thereby prevents the plate from slipping upwardly which would enable material to be squeezed under the lower edge i.3.

It' the width of the toe plate coincided with that of the plow 2, it would be necessary to recess its edges to odate the channels or guideways Il and enable the a tlar movement of the plate. As such recesses would permit the passage of material or refuse behind 'he plate and between the plate and plow legs lll, it is preferred that the width of the toe plate il be less than that of the plow and coincide with that of the opening To prevent passage of material around the ends cf the plate 8 and through the opening E3, the plate 8 is provided with end shields 36 along its end edges and extending from the back thereof in telescopic relation with the inner edges 9B ofthe legs lil. As the shields 36 must terminate short of the full height of the plate 8 to be accommodated by the opening 9, cooperative triangular shields 37 are xed on the Working face 12 adjacent each edge 9B and extending slightly above the edge 9A. as shown in Figs. l and 4 6. The lower edges of the shields 37 overlap the upper edges of the adjacent shields 36, as shown in Fig. 5.

ln operation, when the plow 2 is retracted to that material can be loaded into the bodv l in front of the working face of the plow, the springs 2S spread the braces @-29 to push the lower edge ll3 of the toe plate 8 forwardly of the plow, while the springs 32 and cables 29 bias the upper edge ll of the toe plate tl against the working face l2 of the plow so that the toe plate 3 assumes the inclined position shown in Fig. 4. It will be understood that the springs 25 bias the relatively -opposite ends of the arms i9 and links 2l) apart and tend to swing the respective arms 19 and links 2@ into alignment. Before the respective arms 19 and links Ztl can reach alignment, however, their respective stops 23, 28 come into abutment to retain them in slight angular relation.

After a certain amount of material is loaded into the body ll, the plow 2 is then advanced toward the discharge end 53 in the direction of the arrow 39 in Fig. 4, and the inclined toe portion scoops or cams the material upwardly from the body floor lli to the upper portion titl of the bcdy until the newly packed material becomes a parli of the mass of packed or compressed material tl. Upon engagement with the mass 3S, the reactive pressure on the toe plate 8 overcomes the bias of the springs 2S sufcientlv to collapse the braces l9-2tl, that is, cause the respective arms 19 and links 2l) to swing toward each other about their mutual pivots 2l in opposition to the springs 25, and permit the toe plate S to swing from its inclined position, Fig. 4, back toward and into contiguous relation with the plow 2, Fig. 5.

As the toe plate 8 is forced back, a part of the material of the mass 38 is squeezed downwardly in front of the toe plate to fill the under-cut or cavity All, Fig. 4, while retaining the material packed at the upper portions 40. When the toe plate 8 is fully collapsed, the pressure face of the mass 38 extends substantially vertically and is packed from the floor 14 upwardly the full height thereof. Consequently, upon retraction of the plow 2 from the mass 38, there is very little tendency of the material to fall from the mass. As the plow 2 is retracted, the springs 25 again bias the arms 19 and their respective links 2.0 apart to swing the bottom 13 of the toe plate 8 away from the plo-w 2 and position the plate in its inclined position.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prio-r art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

l claim:

1. A packing device for refuse truck bodies adored to receive loose refuse material to be packed at one end thereof, said packing device comprising a plow in a substantially upright position transversely of the body and reciprocally movable in the body longitudinally thereof, said plow including a substantially flat main portion having a pressure face and a substantially iiat toe portion across the lower part of said main portion on the pressure side thereof, said toe portion having a lower edge engageable with the iioor of the body and said toe portion normally being inclined downwardly and forwardly of said main portion to force some of the loose material upwardly when the plow is moved toward the packing position, and collapsible means connecting said toe portion to said main portion and including spring biased mechanism normally maintaining. said toe portion in its inclined relation with the upper edge portion of said toe portion engaging said main portion and the lower edge portion of said toe portion engaging the body oor, said collapsible means including an arm pivotally connected at one end to said main portion and pivotally connected at its other end to a link with the other end of the link pivotally connected to the lower part of said toe portion, stop means on said link and arm to prevent the arm and link from assuming a straight line or dead center position, a spring urging the arm and link toward a straight line position, and spring means connected between the upper part of said toe portion and said main portion and biasing the upper edge portion of said toe portion into engagement with said main portion while permitting vertical and angular movement therebetween. 2. A packing device as dened in claim l comprising end plates attached to the sides of said toe portion and shields attached to said main portion in contact with said end plates to prevent refuse from getting between 'the toe portion and main portion and behind the plow.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 200,131 Cousland Feb. 12, 1878 872,850 Rowekamp Dec. 3, 1907 2,055,291 Henry Sept. 22, 1936 2,298,747 Agar Oct. 13, i942 2,387,535 Sewell 0er. 23, 1945 2,541,538 Newell Feb. 13, 1951 2,693,890 Bridge Nov. 9, 1954

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