This invention relates to refuse collection vehicles.
More particularly, the present invention relates to the fabrication of refuse collection semi-trailers.
In a further and more specific aspect, the present invention concerns a method of converting a refuse collection vehicle into a semi-trailer.
The collection and removal of refuse, the solid waste of a community, is a major municipal problem. Traditionally, residential refuse, including garbage, trash, and other waste materials, is collected and stored in containers having a capacity of 10 to 30 gallons, although these figures can vary depending on the community. Commercial or industrial refuse generators accumulate refuse in larger heavier containers.
Conventionally, refuse containers are emptied into a refuse collection vehicle which transports the collected refuse to a disposal site such as a land fill, dump, incinerator, etc. The refuse collection vehicle includes a vehicle chassis with a cab mounted at one end and a refuse collection body mounted on the chassis behind the cab. A hopper is typically included, into which refuse is deposited for transfer into the refuse collection body.
Hoppers can be located at the front of the body or the rear. Refuse container handling devices are often used to deposit refuse from the containers into the hoppers. Front loaders and side loaders typically deposit refuse into a hopper located at the front of the vehicle. Rear loading vehicle are often manually loaded but may also be loaded by various mechanical devices.
Refuse collection vehicles typically must travel quite a distance to reach a disposal site. As sites closer to city centers become full or operate at capacity, new sites are opened further away from the areas of refuse collection. Because landfill regulations increase the cost of preparation and closing, the trend is for fewer disposal sites at greater distances apart. This increases the travel time needed to dispose of refuse. Conventional refuse collection vehicles are limited in the amount of refuse they can carry by the weight supported by the rear axles. This is particularly troublesome in rear loading vehicles in which the heavy rear loading hopper mechanism is positioned behind the rear axles. Thus a larger proportion of the weight is supported by the rear axle reducing load capacities. A longer vehicle will carry a larger load, but once the weight limit on the rear axle is reached, more space becomes irrelevant. Additionally, a longer vehicle will become unwieldy and difficult to maneuver.
These problems have been solved by the use of semi-trailer refuse collection vehicles as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,824, entitled xe2x80x9cArticulated Refuse Collection Apparatusxe2x80x9d filed in July 1994. This reference teaches the use of semi-trailers to provide larger carrying capacity as well as greater maneuverability. However, manufacturing of these semi-trailers can be very expensive. Manufacture of semi-trailers require retooling of equipment and establishment of new production lines. Many municipalities and companies are not interested in renovating their fleets of refuse collection vehicles due to these costs involved.
It would be highly advantageous, therefore, to remedy the foregoing and other deficiencies inherent in the prior art.
Accordingly, it is an object the present invention to provide a method of converting a refuse collection body into a semi-trailer.
Briefly, to achieve the desired objects of the present invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, provided is a method of converting a refuse collection body into a semi-trailer. A refuse collection body having a front end and a rear end, and a frame extending along a bottom of the body from adjacent the front end to adjacent the rear end is provided. A king pin is mounted to the frame proximate the front end for attachment to a fifth wheel of a tractor and an axle assembly is mounted to the frame proximate the rear end.
In a preferred embodiment, the frame is shaped proximate the front end to form a contour of the frame substantially matching a surface of the fifth wheel of a tractor. Shaping the frame includes removing portions thereof and affixing cover portions. The frame includes spaced apart, elongated hollow members each having a bottom wall and sidewalls, and the step of removing portions of the frame includes removing a portion of the bottom wall and portions of the sidewalls. Cover portions are then affixed to the remaining portions of the sidewalls forming another bottom wall.