Refuse collection system and method

Abstract

A refuse disposal system includes a relatively small refuse collection truck including a chassis and a hopper, including a packer, for receiving refuse. A body has a bottom, side walls, and a cover and defines an opening in a side wall. The chassis includes detachment and manipulation apparatus with the body being detachably mounted on the detachment and manipulation apparatus in communication with the opening for moving refuse thereto with the body in a collecting position. The detachment and manipulation apparatus is designed to move the body from the collecting position to a hauling position and to detach the body in the hauling position. A relatively large haul vehicle has a chassis with a plurality of body receiving frames mounted thereon positioned to receive the body from the collecting truck when the body is moved by the detachment and manipulation apparatus from the collecting position to the hauling position.

1 . A refuse disposal system comprising: 
 a refuse collection truck including a chassis and a hopper for receiving refuse, the hopper including a packer;    a body having a bottom, side walls, and a cover and defining an opening in the side walls;    the chassis including detachment and manipulation apparatus, the body being detachably mounted on the detachment and manipulation apparatus with the opening in communication with the hopper for receiving refuse therefrom with the body in a collecting position, the detachment and manipulation apparatus being designed to move the body from the collecting position to a hauling position and to detach the body in the hauling position; and    packer operating apparatus for operating the packer to move refuse from the hopper into the body through the opening with the body in the collecting position.    
   
   
       2 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the detachment and manipulation apparatus includes a hoist frame movable between a horizontal position and a vertical position, and a slide frame coupled to the hoist frame and movable vertically, the body being detachably latched to the slide frame, the body and slide frame being movable with the hoist frame from the collecting position to a hauling position and the slide frame being movable vertically to detach the body.  
   
   
       3 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the hoist frame is elongated with one end pivotally attached to the chassis for movement between the horizontal position and the vertical position, and the hoist frame further including a hydraulic cylinder for moving the hoist frame between the horizontal position and the vertical position.  
   
   
       4 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the slide frame is elongated and slideably coupled to the hoist frame for relative sliding movements therebetween, and the slide frame further including a hydraulic cylinder for moving the slide frame vertically with the hoist frame in the vertical position.  
   
   
       5 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 1  further including hooks attached to the floor of the body and positioned to detachably engage the slide frame in the collecting position and further including at least one releasable latch mounted on the slide frame so as to latch the hooks in engagement with the slide frame.  
   
   
       6 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the body is designed to receive up to five tons of refuse.  
   
   
       7 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the gross weight of the truck with a fully loaded body is less than 26,000 pounds.  
   
   
       8 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the cover is hinged to the side walls along one edge and is releasably latched to the side walls along an opposing edge.  
   
   
       9 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the cover is hinged to the side walls along one edge adjacent the opening and is releasably latched to the side walls along an opposing edge opposite the opening.  
   
   
       10 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the hopper is mounted on the detachment and manipulation apparatus.  
   
   
       11 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the hopper includes a slideable curtain attached to the packer for movement therewith and positioned to prevent refuse from entering an area behind the packer.  
   
   
       12 . A method of disposing of refuse including the steps of: 
 providing a relatively small collecting truck with a detachable body defining a refuse receiving opening in a side wall thereof, detachment and manipulation apparatus mounted on the collecting truck for moving the body between an attached collecting position and a detached hauling position, and the collecting truck further including a hopper and a packer with the hopper mounted in communication with the opening when the body is in the collecting position and the packer positioned to move refuse from the hopper to the body through the opening;    moving the collecting truck to various refuse receptacles and emptying each refuse receptacle into the hopper, operating the packer to move refuse from the hopper to the body;    moving the collecting truck to an adjacent body receiving station when the body is substantially full of refuse; and    operating the detachment and manipulation apparatus mounted on the collecting truck to move the body from the attached collecting position to the detached hauling position at the body receiving station.    
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12 , subsequent to the step of operating the detachment and manipulation apparatus mounted on the collecting truck to move the body from the attached collecting position to the detached hauling position, the method further including the steps of moving the collecting truck to a position adjacent an empty body in a hauling position at the body receiving station, operating the detachment and manipulation apparatus mounted on the collecting truck to move the empty body from the detached hauling position at the body receiving station to an attached collecting position on the collecting truck, and moving the collecting truck to various refuse receptacles and emptying each refuse receptacle into the hopper.  
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the provided detachment and manipulation apparatus includes a hoist frame for moving the body between the collecting position and the hauling position and a sliding frame having the body detachably coupled thereto, and the method includes operating the hoist frame to move the body from the collecting position to the hauling position and operating the sliding frame to detach the body from the sliding frame.  
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the body receiving station includes one of a haul vehicle and the ground.  
   
   
       16 . A refuse disposal system comprising: 
 a relatively small refuse collection truck including a chassis and a hopper for receiving refuse, the hopper including a packer;    a body having a bottom, side walls, and a cover and defining an opening in the side walls;    the chassis including detachment and manipulation apparatus, the body being detachably mounted on the detachment and manipulation apparatus with the opening in communication with the hopper for receiving refuse therefrom with the body in a collecting position, the detachment and manipulation apparatus being designed to move the body from the collecting position to a hauling position and to detach the body in the hauling position;    packer reciprocating apparatus for reciprocating the packer within the hopper to move refuse from the hopper into the body through the opening with the body in the collecting position; and    a relatively large haul vehicle having a chassis with a plurality of body receiving frames mounted thereon, each body receiving frame being positioned to receive the body from the collecting truck when collecting truck is moved to a position adjacent the haul vehicle and the body is moved by the detachment and manipulation apparatus from the collecting position to the hauling position.    
   
   
       17 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the detachment and manipulation apparatus includes a hoist frame movable between a horizontal position and a vertical position, and a slide frame coupled to the hoist frame and movable vertically, the body being detachably latched to the slide frame, the body and slide frame being movable with the hoist frame from the collecting position to a hauling position and the slide frame being movable vertically to detach the body.  
   
   
       18 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the hoist frame is elongated with one end pivotally attached to the chassis for movement between the horizontal position and the vertical position, and the hoist frame further including a hydraulic cylinder for moving the hoist frame between the horizontal position and the vertical position.  
   
   
       19 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the slide frame is elongated and slideably coupled to the hoist frame for relative sliding movements therebetween, and the slide frame further including a hydraulic cylinder for moving the slide frame vertically with the hoist frame in the vertical position.  
   
   
       20 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein each body receiving frame of the plurality of body receiving frames includes transversely extending support members affixed to the chassis and a lifting frame pivotally attached to the support members, the lifting frame further including attachment apparatus to detachably couple bodies to the lifting frame.  
   
   
       21 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 20  further including a first set of hooks attached to the floor of the body and positioned to detachably engage the slide frame in the collecting position and further including at least one releasable latch mounted on the slide frame so as to latch the first set of hooks in engagement with the slide frame.  
   
   
       22 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 21  further including a second set of hooks attached to the side walls of the body and positioned to detachably engage the lifting frame in the hauling position and further including at least one releasable latch mounted on the lifting frame so as to latch the second set of hooks in engagement with the lifting frame.  
   
   
       23 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the cover is hinged to the side walls along one edge and is releasably latched to the side walls along an opposing edge.  
   
   
       24 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the cover is hinged to the side walls along one edge adjacent the opening and is latched to the side walls by at least one releasable latch along an opposing edge opposite the opening.  
   
   
       25 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 24  wherein each body receiving frame of the plurality of body receiving frames includes a hydraulic cylinder coupled between the lifting frame and the transversely extending support members for moving the lifting frame between a horizontal body receiving position and a raised body dumping position.  
   
   
       26 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 25  wherein each body receiving frame of the plurality of body receiving frames includes at least one cam positioned to engage the at least one releasable latch and unlatch the cover from the side walls when the lifting frame is moved from the horizontal to the raised dumping position.  
   
   
       27 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the body is designed to receive up to five tons of refuse.  
   
   
       28 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the gross weight of the collecting truck with a fully loaded body is less than 26,000 pounds.  
   
   
       29 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the gross weight of the haul vehicle with a plurality of fully loaded bodies is greater than 50,000 pounds.  
   
   
       30 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the hopper is mounted on the detachment and manipulation apparatus.  
   
   
       31 . A refuse disposal system as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the hopper includes a slideable curtain attached to the packer for movement therewith and positioned to prevent refuse from entering an area behind the packer.  
   
   
       32 . A method of disposing of refuse comprising the steps of: 
 providing a relatively small collection truck including a chassis and a first detachable body attached to the chassis;    filling the first detachable body with refuse;    providing a relatively large haul vehicle including a plurality of body receiving apparatus for positioning a plurality of detachable bodies, one each, thereon, at least some of the plurality of body receiving apparatus including empty detachable bodies in an attached position thereon;    using the collection truck, moving the filled first detachable body to the haul vehicle, placing the filled first detachable body on the haul vehicle and detaching the first detachable body from the collection vehicle, and attaching the first detachable body to an empty one of the plurality of body receiving apparatus on the haul vehicle;    moving the collection vehicle to an empty second detachable body attached to the haul vehicle, detaching the second detachable body from the haul vehicle and moving the second detachable body from the haul vehicle to the collection truck, and attaching the second detachable body to the collection truck; and    filling the second detachable body with refuse.    
   
   
       33 . A method as claimed in  claim 32  wherein the step of providing the collection truck includes providing detachment and manipulation apparatus mounted on the collecting truck and the step of moving the filled first detachable body to the haul vehicle includes operating the detachment and manipulation apparatus mounted on the collecting truck to move the first body from the attached collecting position on the collecting truck to the detached hauling position, and attaching the filled first detachable body to the haul vehicle.  
   
   
       34 . A method as claimed in  claim 33  wherein the step of moving the collecting truck to a position adjacent an empty body in a hauling position on the haul vehicle includes operating the detachment and manipulation apparatus mounted on the collecting truck to move the empty body from the attached hauling position on the haul vehicle to an attached collecting position on the collecting truck.  
   
   
       35 . A method as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the step of providing detachment and manipulation apparatus includes providing a hoist frame for moving the filled first detachable body between the collecting position and the hauling position and a sliding frame having the filled first detachable body detachably coupled thereto, and the method includes operating the hoist frame to move the filled first detachable body from the collecting position to the hauling position and operating the sliding frame to detach the filled first detachable body from the sliding frame.  
   
   
       36 . A method as claimed in  claim 32  further including the steps of, with substantially all of the detachable bodies filled, moving the haul vehicle to a disposal area and maneuvering each of the filled detachable bodies to dump refuse therefrom into the disposal area.  
   
   
       37 . A method as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the step of providing a body includes providing a body with bottom, sidewalls, and a cover, with one of the side walls including an opening for receiving refuse therethrough and the cover hinged to the one of the side walls along one edge adjacent the opening and latched to an opposed side wall by at least one releasably latch along an opposing edge opposite the opening.  
   
   
       38 . A method as claimed in  claim 37  wherein the step of providing a relatively large haul vehicle including a plurality of body receiving apparatus includes providing each body receiving apparatus of the plurality of body receiving apparatus with a hydraulic cylinder coupled between a lifting frame and transversely extending support members for moving the lifting frame between a horizontal body receiving position and a raised body dumping position.  
   
   
       39 . A method as claimed in  claim 38  wherein the step of providing a relatively large haul vehicle including a plurality of body receiving apparatus further includes providing each body receiving frame of the plurality of body receiving frames with at least one cam positioned to engage the at least one releasable latch and unlatch the cover from the side walls when the lifting frame is moved from the horizontal to the raised dumping position and the step of maneuvering each of the filled detachable bodies to dump refuse therefrom into the disposal area includes moving the lifting frame from the horizontal to the raised dumping position of each body receiving apparatus having a filled body attached thereto.  
   
   
       40 . In a refuse disposal system, a haul vehicle comprising: 
 an elongated chassis with wheels attached thereto;    a plurality of body receiving frames transversely mounted on the chassis, each body receiving frame being positioned to receive a body from a refuse collecting truck when the collecting truck is moved to a position adjacent the haul vehicle;    each body receiving frame of the plurality of body receiving frames including transversely extending support members affixed to the chassis and a lifting frame pivotally attached to the support members, the lifting frame further including attachment apparatus to detachably couple bodies to the lifting frame; and    each body receiving frame of the plurality of body receiving frames including apparatus coupled between the lifting frame and the transversely extending support members for moving the lifting frame between a horizontal body receiving position and a raised body dumping position.    
   
   
       41 . A haul vehicle as claimed in  claim 40  wherein each body receiving frame of the plurality of body receiving frames includes at least one cam positioned to engage a releasable latch on a body attached thereto and unlatch a cover when the lifting frame is moved from the horizontal to the raised dumping position.  
   
   
       42 . A haul vehicle as claimed in  claim 40  wherein the apparatus coupled between the lifting frame and the transversely extending support members includes a hydraulic cylinder.  
   
   
       43 . A method of disposing of refuse in a refuse disposal area comprising the steps of: 
 providing a haul vehicle including an elongated chassis with wheels attached thereto, a plurality of body receiving frames transversely mounted on the chassis, each body receiving frame being positioned to receive a body from a refuse collecting truck when the collecting truck is moved to a position adjacent the haul vehicle, each body receiving frame of the plurality of body receiving frames including transversely extending support members affixed to the chassis and a lifting frame pivotally attached to the support members, the lifting frame further including attachment apparatus to detachably couple bodies to the lifting frame, and each body receiving frame of the plurality of body receiving frames including apparatus coupled between the lifting frame and the transversely extending support members for moving the lifting frame between a horizontal body receiving position and a raised body dumping position; and    attaching filled bodies to at least some of the plurality of body receiving frames; and    moving the lifting frame from the horizontal body receiving position to the raised dumping position of each body receiving frame having a filled body attached thereto.    
   
   
       44 . A method as claimed in  claim 43  wherein each of the bodies includes a cover latched by a releasable latch, and the step of moving the lifting frame having a filled body attached from the horizontal body receiving position to the raised dumping position includes unlatching the cover of the filled body as the lifting frame and attached filled body are moved to the raised dumping position.  
   
   
       45 . A method as claimed in  claim 44  wherein the step of providing a plurality of body receiving frames includes providing a cam-acting latch release on each of the body receiving frames, and the step of moving the lifting frame into the raised dumping position includes automatically engaging the releasable latch on the body with the cam-acting latch release to unlatch the cover when the lifting frame is moved from the horizontal to the raised dumping position.