Refuse Vehicle Intermediate Container Leg Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refuse vehicle systems require fork tine weldments to secure intermediate containers, leading to increased travel height, weight, and stress on structural and hydraulic components, as well as elevated operating noise and cab vibration.

Innovation Solution

An intermediate container design featuring a frame assembly with legs that attach directly to the front loading arm assembly of a refuse vehicle, eliminating the need for fork tine weldments, reducing weight and travel height, and improving component protection and noise reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fork tine weldments are used to secure the intermediate container, then the container is securely attached to the refuse vehicle, but the travel height increases and weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer attachment securityVSAvoidtravel height
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the fork tine weldment component from the attachment system. Instead of using traditional fork tines that extend upward from the container base, the invention uses legs that extend directly from the container body and attach to the front loading arm assembly, eliminating the need for separate fork tine weldments and reducing overall attachment height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional attachment approach by having the container legs attach directly to the front loading arm assembly rather than requiring the arm assembly to insert forks into the container. This reversal eliminates the need for upward-extending fork tines and reduces the vertical profile of the attachment system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If fork tine weldments are used to secure the intermediate container, then the container is securely attached to the refuse vehicle, but the overall weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer attachment securityVSAvoidcontainer assembly weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the fork tine weldment component from the attachment system. Instead of using traditional fork tines that extend upward from the container base, the invention uses legs that extend directly from the container body and attach to the front loading arm assembly, eliminating the need for separate fork tine weldments and reducing overall attachment height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the attachment legs with the container body structure itself. The legs are integrated into the container frame rather than being separate components, eliminating the need for additional weldments and reducing the overall weight of the container assembly while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If traditional intermediate container attachment is used, then the container can be secured to the refuse vehicle, but stress and strain on structural and hydraulic components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer attachment securityVSAvoidstress on structural and hydraulic components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional attachment approach by having the container legs attach directly to the front loading arm assembly rather than requiring the arm assembly to insert forks into the container. This reversal eliminates the need for upward-extending fork tines and reduces the vertical profile of the attachment system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent distributes the attachment load across multiple legs that are positioned to optimize force distribution. The legs are arranged to engage with multiple points on the front loading arm assembly, preliminary distributing the stress and strain before the hydraulic system engages, thereby reducing peak loads on structural and hydraulic components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If fork tine weldments are used to secure the intermediate container, then the container is attached to the refuse vehicle, but cab vibration and operating noise increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontainer attachment securityVSAvoidcab vibration and operating noise
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the attachment legs with the container body structure itself. The legs are integrated into the container frame rather than being separate components, eliminating the need for additional weldments and reducing the overall weight of the container assembly while maintaining secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes the fork tine weldment component from the attachment system. Instead of using traditional fork tines that extend upward from the container base, the invention uses legs that extend directly from the container body and attach to the front loading arm assembly, eliminating the need for separate fork tine weldments and reducing overall attachment height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12304728B2Intermediate container for integration with a refuse vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.05.20 HEIL CO
  • US12304728B2 patent drawing
  • US12304728B2 patent drawing
  • US12304728B2 patent drawing

AI summary

An intermediate container for a refuse vehicle where the container is positioned in front of the refuse vehicle is provided. A plurality of legs extends from the container toward the refuse vehicle. An attachment mechanism is on each leg to secure the legs to a front loading arm assembly of the refuse vehicle.