Refuse vehicle track and guide system

{
  "publication_number": "US9809383B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Refuse vehicle track and guide system",
  "abstract": "A track and guide system for a refuse vehicle has at least one track member mounted on a bumper of the refuse vehicle. The track member has a desired length extending transverse to the ground. At least one guide member is mounted on a front loading fork of the refuse vehicle. The at least one guide member contacts the at least one track member to prohibit horizontal movement of the front loading fork with respect to the refuse vehicle.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A track and guide system for a refuse vehicle comprising: at least one track member with at least one lateral side in a plane, vertical with respect to the refuse vehicle, the at least one track member to be mounted on a bumper of the refuse vehicle, the at least one track member has a desired length extending transverse to the ground so that a portion of the at least one track member extends below the bumper of the refuse vehicle; and at least one guide member, the at least one guide member is to be mounted on a cross bar between a pair of side bars, pivotally coupled with the refuse vehicle, of a front loading fork of the refuse vehicle, the at least one guide member contacts the at least one lateral side of the at least one track member to prohibit horizontal movement of the front loading fork with respect to the refuse vehicle and the guide member can contact the at least one track member below the bumper to enable adjustment of the front loading fork to accommodate intermediate containers.",
    "2. The track and guide system of claim 1, further comprising a wear pad on one of the at least one track member or at least one guide member.",
    "3. The track and guide system of claim 1, further comprising gusset plates coupled with both the track member and guide member for providing strength in a direction of an applied force.",
    "4. The track and guide system of claim 1, wherein the length of the at least one track member enables contact with the at least one guide member as the front loading fork raises vertically.",
    "5. The track and guide system of claim 1, wherein the at least one track member includes a first portion for attaching with the refuse vehicle and a second portion contacting the at least one guide member, the second portion is substantially transverse to the first portion.",
    "6. The track and guide system of claim 1, wherein the at least one track member and at least one guide member further comprising a pair of track members and a pair of guide members.",
    "7. The track and guide system of claim 1, wherein the at least one guide member is sandwiched by the at least one track member.",
    "8. The track and guide system of claim 7, wherein the at least one track member including a pair of plates sandwiching the at least one guide member.",
    "9. A refuse vehicle comprising: a vehicle chassis including a cab; a container coupled within the rear portion of the chassis; and front loading forks, with a cross bar between a pair of side bars and extending tines, the pair of side bars pivotally coupled with the refuse vehicle for dumping intermediate containers into the container on the rear of the chassis; at least one track member with at least one lateral side in a plane, vertical with respect to the refuse vehicle, the at least one track member is mounted on a bumper of the refuse vehicle, the at least one track member has a desired length extending from the bumper so that a portion of the at least one track member extends below the bumper of the refuse vehicle; and at least one guide member, the at least one guide member is mounted on the cross bar of the front loading forks of the refuse vehicle, the at least one guide member contacts the at least one lateral side of the at least one track member to prohibit horizontal movement of the front loading fork with respect to the refuse vehicle and the guide member can contact the at least one track member below the bumper to enable adjustment of the front loading fork to accommodate the intermediate containers.",
    "10. The refuse vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a wear pad on one of the at least one track member or at least one guide member.",
    "11. The refuse vehicle of claim 9, further comprising gusset plates coupled with both the at least one track member and the at least one guide member for providing strength in a direction of an applied force.",
    "12. The refuse vehicle of claim 9, wherein the length of the at least one track member enables contact with the at least one guide member as the front loading fork rises vertically.",
    "13. The refuse vehicle of claim 9, wherein the at least one track member includes a first portion for attaching with the refuse vehicle and a second portion contacting the at least one guide member, the second portion is substantially transverse to the first portion.",
    "14. The refuse vehicle of claim 9, wherein the at least one track member and at least one guide member further comprising a pair of track members and a pair of guide members.",
    "15. The refuse vehicle of claim 9, wherein the at least one guide member is sandwiched by the at least one track member.",
    "16. The refuse vehicle of claim 15, wherein the at least one track member including a pair of plates sandwiching the at least one guide member."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates to refuse vehicles and, more particularly, to refuse vehicles with front loading forks and a track and guide system.\n\nWhen picking up residential, as well as commercial refuse, refuse haulers attempt to maximize their refuse vehicle potential. Refuse vehicles with front loading forks can be utilized to pick up large intermediate containers at commercial buildings. Additionally, these types of vehicles can be utilized for receiving residential refuse at the rear of the vehicle. Recently, intermediate containers, that are maintained on the front loading forks and include garbage can gripping devices, have become more popular for picking up residential refuse. These intermediate containers include a self-contained arm that extends from the intermediate container. The arm grasps a garbage can and dumps the garbage can into the intermediate container. Once the intermediate container is full, the front loading forks dump the intermediate container into the hopper of the large permanent container on the vehicle.\n\nWhile utilizing these intermediate containers with a grasping arm, it has been found that as the arm extends from the intermediate container, due to the fast cycle time, that substantial horizontal movement is created in the front loading forks. The further the arm extends from the intermediate container, the more likely horizontal movement of the front loading forks is to occur. The horizontal motion causes increased stress on the front loading forks. The front loading forks were originally designed to handle vertical forces from the operation of commercial container dump cycles.",
  "cpc": [
    "B65F 3/041",
    "B65F 2003/023",
    "B65F 2003/0279",
    "B65F 2003/0283"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65F 3/04"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Heil Co"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Richard Ford"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-04-07",
  "publication_date": "2017-11-07",
  "grant_date": "2017-11-07",
  "priority_date": "2013-05-17",
  "application_number": "US-201414246733-A",
  "family_id": "50721656",
  "cited_by_count": 11,
  "citations": [
    "US2643011A",
    "US2784853A",
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    "US3090512A",
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    "US3074570A",
    "US3112834A",
    "US3207343A",
    "US4547118A",
    "US20050095096A1"
  ]
}