US-20260125936-A1 - REFUSE VEHICLE WITH LOCKING TAILGATE

US20260125936A1US 20260125936 A1US20260125936 A1US 20260125936A1US-20260125936-A1

Abstract

A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body, a tailgate, a tailgate actuator, and a tailgate locking assembly. The body supports the chassis and defines a receptacle configured to store refuse therein. The tailgate is positioned at an end of the receptacle and is rotatably coupled to the body. The tailgate actuator coupled to the tailgate and is configured to move the tailgate relative to the body between an open position and a closed position. The tailgate locking assembly is coupled to the body and the tailgate actuator and is configured to couple the tailgate to the body in response to the movement of the tailgate actuator.

Inventors

Jerrod Kappers
Vince Schad
Jacob Solberg
Troy Meyers

Assignees

OSHKOSH CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251229

Claims (20)

1 . A refuse vehicle, comprising: a chassis; a body supported by the chassis and defining a receptacle configured to store refuse therein; a tailgate positioned at an end of the receptacle, the tailgate rotatably coupled to the body; a tailgate actuator coupled to the tailgate and configured to move the tailgate relative to the body between an open position and a closed position; and a tailgate locking assembly coupled to the body and the tailgate actuator, the tailgate locking assembly comprising: a pivot plate rotatably coupled to the body, a first end of the pivot plate coupled to the tailgate actuator; a pivot arm coupled to the pivot plate at a second end of the pivot plate, the pivot arm extending away from the pivot plate at an angle; and a locking arm rotatably coupled to the pivot arm and spaced apart from the pivot plate by the pivot arm, the locking arm configured to engage with a tailgate coupling mechanism of the body to couple the tailgate to the body in response to movement of the tailgate actuator.
2 . The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tailgate locking assembly further comprises a passive lock configured to prevent operation of the tailgate actuator.
3 . The refuse vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the passive lock comprises a locking pin that is movably coupled to one of the body and the tailgate, the locking pin configured to engage with the tailgate locking assembly to prevent movement of the tailgate locking assembly.
4 . The refuse vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising: a control module; and a sensor communicably coupled to the control module and configured to transmit an indication of a position of the passive lock to the control module, the control module configured to selectively limit operation of the refuse vehicle based on the position.
5 . The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the locking arm is positioned within an interior cavity of the body, the locking arm movable with respect to the body between a locked position and an unlocked position.
6 . The refuse vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the body defines an opening proximate to the tailgate locking assembly and providing access to the interior cavity and at least one component of the tailgate locking assembly, the body further comprising an access panel covering the opening.
7 . The refuse vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the pivot plate rotates in response to movement of the tailgate actuator.
8 . The refuse vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the tailgate coupling mechanism comprises a slot configured to receive the locking arm when the locking arm is in the locked position.
9 . The refuse vehicle of claim 5 , further comprising a control module communicably coupled to the tailgate actuator and configured to control actuation of the tailgate actuator to cause movement of the locking arm between the locked position and the unlocked position.
10 . The refuse vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the locking arm comprises a first shaft and a second shaft that is threadingly engaged to the first shaft so as to allow adjustment to an overall length of the locking arm.
11 . The refuse vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tailgate actuator is a hydraulic cylinder that is fluidly coupled to a hydraulic pump onboard the chassis or the body.
12 . A tailgate locking assembly, comprising: a mounting bracket; a pivot plate rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket, a first end of the pivot plate configured to couple to a tailgate actuator for securing a tailgate to a body of a vehicle; a pivot arm coupled to the pivot plate at a second end of the pivot plate, the pivot arm extending away from the pivot plate at an angle; and a locking arm rotatably coupled to the pivot arm and spaced apart from the pivot plate by the pivot arm, the locking arm configured to engage with a tailgate coupling mechanism of the body to secure the tailgate of the vehicle to the body of the vehicle.
13 . The tailgate locking assembly of claim 12 , wherein the mounting bracket comprises a trunnion that is configured to rotatably couple the pivot plate to the body.
14 . The tailgate locking assembly of claim 12 , wherein the pivot arm is integrally formed with the pivot plate as a single monolithic piece.
15 . The tailgate locking assembly of claim 12 , wherein rotation of the pivot plate causes substantially linear movement of the locking arm.
16 . The tailgate locking assembly of claim 12 , further comprising the tailgate coupling mechanism, the tailgate coupling mechanism aligned with the locking arm and defining an opening configured to receive the locking arm therein.
17 . The tailgate locking assembly of claim 12 , further comprising: a first bearing assembly that rotatably couples the pivot plate to the mounting bracket; and a second bearing assembly disposed at the first end of the pivot plate, the second bearing assembly configured to rotatably couple the pivot plate to the tailgate actuator.
18 . The tailgate locking assembly of claim 12 , wherein the locking arm comprises a first shaft and a second shaft that is threadingly engaged to the first shaft so as to allow adjustment to an overall length of the locking arm.
19 . A method of locking a tailgate to a body of a refuse vehicle, comprising: controlling a tailgate actuator to move the tailgate to a closed position by engaging an end of the tailgate with the body so as to align a tailgate latch of the tailgate with a coupling mechanism of the body; and automatically actuating a tailgate locking assembly that is movably coupled to the tailgate actuator to couple a portion of the tailgate locking assembly to the coupling mechanism and thereby secure the tailgate latch to the coupling mechanism in response to an indication that the tailgate is in the closed position, by: actuating a pivot plate that is rotatably coupled to the body and that is coupled to a first end of the tailgate actuator responsive to movement of the tailgate actuator, the actuation of the pivot plate causing movement of a pivot arm that is coupled to at a second end of the pivot plate and extends away from the pivot plate at an angle; and actuating a locking arm that is rotatably coupled to the pivot arm and is spaced away from the pivot plate by the pivot arm responsive to movement of the pivot arm to engage both the tailgate latch and the coupling mechanism.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein wherein actuating the pivot plate comprises rotating the pivot plate in response to movement of the tailgate actuator so as to insert the locking arm into the coupling mechanism.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/120,170, filed Mar. 10, 2023, which claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/436,184, filed Dec. 30, 2022, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/319,029, filed Mar. 11, 2022, the entire contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND The present disclosure relates generally to the field of rear-loading refuse vehicles and in particular locking assemblies that prevent movement of portions of the refuse vehicle during operation. SUMMARY One embodiment relates to a refuse vehicle. The refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body, a tailgate, a tailgate actuator, and a tailgate locking assembly. The body supports the chassis and defines a receptacle configured to store refuse therein. The tailgate is positioned at an end of the receptacle and is rotatably coupled to the body. The tailgate actuator coupled to the tailgate and is configured to move the tailgate relative to the body between an open position and a closed position. The tailgate locking assembly is coupled to the body and the tailgate actuator and is configured to couple the tailgate to the body in response to the movement of the tailgate actuator. Another embodiment relates to a tailgate locking assembly that can be used on a refuse vehicle. The tailgate locking assembly includes a mounting bracket, a pivot plate, a pivot arm, and a locking arm. The pivot plate is rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket. A first end of the pivot plate is configured to couple to a tailgate actuator for securing a tailgate to a body of a vehicle. The pivot arm is coupled to the pivot plate at a second end of the pivot plate and extends away from the pivot plate at an angle. The locking arm is rotatably coupled to the pivot arm and is spaced apart from the pivot plate by the pivot arm. The locking arm is configured to engage with a tailgate coupling mechanism of the body to secure the tailgate of the vehicle to a body of the vehicle. Yet another embodiment relates to a method of locking a tailgate to a body of a refuse vehicle. The method includes controlling a tailgate actuator to move the tailgate to a closed position by engaging an end of the tailgate with the body so as to align a tailgate latch of the tailgate with a coupling mechanism of the body. The method also includes automatically actuating a tailgate locking assembly that is movably coupled to the tailgate actuator to couple a portion of the tailgate locking assembly to the coupling mechanism and thereby secure the tailgate latch to the coupling mechanism in response to an indication that the tailgate is in the closed position. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being carried out in various ways. Alternative embodiments relate to other features and combinations of features as may be recited herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The disclosure will become more fully understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, in which: FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a refuse vehicle shown with the tailgate raised away from a chassis of the refuse vehicle, according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the refuse vehicle of FIG. 1 showing the tailgate in a closed position. FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a portion of a refuse vehicle with a tailgate locking assembly in an unlocked position, according to an embodiment; FIG. 4 is perspective view of the tailgate locking assembly of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tailgate locking assembly of FIG. 3; FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the refuse vehicle of FIG. 3 with a fully opened tailgate; FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a tailgate of the refuse vehicle of FIG. 3, shown with the tailgate in an unlocked position; FIG. 8 is another side perspective view of the refuse vehicle of FIG. 3, shown with the tailgate in an unlocked position; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a tailgate coupling mechanism of the tailgate locking assembly of FIG. 3; FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the tailgate coupling mechanism of FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is bottom perspective view of a tailgate flange of the tailgate coupling mechanism of FIG. 9; FIG. 12 is another bottom perspective view of the tailgate flange of FIG. 11; FIG. 13 is a side view of a tailgate locking assembly of a refuse vehicle shown with the tailgate locking assembly in a locked position, according to an embodiment; FIG. 14 is a side cross-sectional view of the tailgate locking assembly of FIG. 13; FIG. 15 is a rear perspective view of the tailgate locking assembly of FIG. 13; FIG. 16 is a side view of a tailgate locking assembly of a refuse vehicle, according to another embodiment; FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the tailgate locking assembly of F