Rotating Refuse Collection Arm for Flexible Bin Pickup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional side loading refuse collection vehicles face challenges in accurately positioning the vehicle for bin pickup, navigating obstacles, and reducing cognitive load on the driver, leading to increased time and costs, particularly in difficult access areas.
Innovation Solution
A refuse collection device with a rotating member and extension mechanism that allows for flexible bin collection, including a bin-grabbing member with articulating arms and a counterbalance weight, enabling operation between chassis rails and allowing for automated modes to reduce positioning requirements and improve safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional side loading refuse collection vehicle is used, then the vehicle can collect bins, but the driver must accurately position the vehicle and align the pickup arm with the bin, which increases time and cognitive load
Solution Approach 1:
The pickup arm is made dynamically adjustable with multiple degrees of freedom, allowing it to move independently of the vehicle body. The rotating member with vertically extending axis enables the arm to rotate and position bins regardless of vehicle orientation, while the elevating member provides vertical movement. This dynamic capability allows the arm to reach bins quickly without requiring precise vehicle positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The pickup arm adds a vertical dimension to the collection mechanism through the elevating member that raises and lowers the arm. This vertical movement capability, combined with the rotational freedom about the vertical axis, creates three-dimensional positioning capability that compensates for lack of precise vehicle positioning, allowing bins to be accessed from various angles and heights.
2Ease of operation
If the driver manually positions the vehicle for each bin, then bin collection can occur, but the cognitive load on the driver increases and safety risks arise from lapses in concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The pickup arm system operates autonomously to position and collect bins without requiring continuous driver intervention for positioning. The rotating member and elevating member automatically adjust the arm's position, allowing the driver to simply operate the collection mechanism once the arm is generally positioned near the bin, significantly reducing cognitive load.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating member with vertical axis serves multiple functions: it positions the pickup arm laterally, adjusts the arm's angular orientation, and enables the system to collect bins from various positions without requiring the vehicle to reposition. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require complex coordinated vehicle and arm movements into a single mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dual steer vehicles are used to improve positioning ability, then the driver can operate from the kerbside, but the vehicle requires costly conversion from a standard vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning flexibility function is extracted from the vehicle chassis and transferred to the pickup arm mechanism. Instead of modifying the vehicle's steering system to achieve positioning flexibility, the invention places a rotating member with vertical axis on the pickup arm, which provides the necessary rotational and positioning capabilities independently of the vehicle's steering configuration.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the pickup arm lacks rotational flexibility, then the mechanism is simpler, but the arm cannot reach bins in awkward positions or navigate obstacles effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The pickup arm incorporates a rotating member that provides dynamic rotational movement about a vertical axis, allowing the arm to sweep through a wide range of angular positions. This rotational freedom enables the arm to reach bins in awkward positions, navigate around obstacles, and adapt to various bin placements without requiring complex mechanical linkages.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating member introduces rotational movement about a vertical axis, adding a rotational dimension to the arm's positioning capability. This vertical axis rotation works in conjunction with the elevating member's vertical movement to create three-dimensional positioning capability, greatly expanding the arm's reach and accessibility to bins in various positions.
Data Source
AI summary
A refuse collection device mountable to a refuse collection vehicle having a first chassis rail and a second chassis rail, the device including: a base; a rotating member rotatably connected to the base about a first rotational axis; an extension member that is supported by the rotating member and configured to extend relative to the rotating member; a lifting member rotatably connected to the extension member for rotation about a second rotational axis; and a bin-grabbing member that is connected to the lifting member, the bin-grabbing member being configured to collect a bin, the device configured to mount to the vehicle to locate the first rotational axis of the rotation member between the first chassis rail and the second chassis rail.