Rear Loading Refuse Vehicle Rearward Hopper Inversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a need for improved refuse vehicle configurations, particularly for electric refuse vehicles, to address challenges such as power management, load capacity, load distribution, vehicle maneuverability, and refuse loading and packing, especially in tight spaces.

Innovation Solution

A refuse vehicle design featuring a hopper for receiving refuse, a storage container for compacted refuse, a tailgate that moves between closed and open positions, and a rear loading assembly that engages and lifts a refuse container over the tailgate to unload it into the hopper, along with a packing assembly that compacts refuse within the storage container.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If refuse is loaded into the hopper from the front over the cab, then the loading process is simple, but operator safety is compromised and maneuverability in tight spaces is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading process simplicityVSAvoidoperator safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional front-loading approach by implementing rear-loading. The hopper is positioned at the rear of the vehicle body, and refuse containers are loaded from the rear, eliminating the need to lift refuse over the cab and improving operator safety while maintaining loading efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Device complexity

If the vehicle is designed for traditional front loading, then the structure is simple, but maneuverability in tight spaces is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle structure simplicityVSAvoidmaneuverability in tight spaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The vehicle structure is inverted from conventional front-loading design to rear-loading design. The hopper is relocated to the rear, and the loading mechanism is positioned at the rear, allowing the vehicle to operate in tight spaces without requiring front clearance for loading operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The loading operation is shifted from the front dimension to the rear dimension of the vehicle. This spatial reconfiguration allows the vehicle to maneuver in tight spaces by utilizing the rear loading area, effectively changing the operational dimension from front-oriented to rear-oriented

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the hopper is positioned at the front of the vehicle body, then loading is straightforward, but weight distribution is unbalanced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading straightforwardnessVSAvoidweight distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The hopper position is inverted from front to rear of the vehicle body. This rearward positioning of the hopper creates a more balanced weight distribution along the vehicle chassis, improving stability while maintaining straightforward loading operations from the rear

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS20230312240A1Rear loading refuse vehicle

Publication Date: 2023.10.05 HEIL CO

AI summary

A refuse vehicle body includes a hopper configured to receive refuse and a storage container configured to store compacted refuse. A tailgate is coupled to a rearward facing side of the refuse vehicle body and is movable between closed and opened positions. The refuse vehicle body includes a rear loading assembly configured to (i) engage a refuse container at a rear side of the refuse vehicle body, (ii) lift the refuse container over a top end of the tailgate, and (iii) rotate the refuse container above the hopper such that the refuse container is unloaded into the hopper. The refuse vehicle body further includes a refuse packing assembly configured to transfer refuse from the hopper and compact said refuse in the storage container.