US 12,071,300 B2
Refuse packer system with helical band actuators
John Forrest Smith, Fort Payne, AL (US); Thomas Leon Wilding, Willard, UT (US); and Rodel Caguete Magsombol, Peachtree City, GA (US)
Assigned to The Heil Co., Chattanooga, TN (US)
Filed by The Heil Co., Chattanooga, TN (US)
Filed on Jul. 7, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/811,253.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/219,682, filed on Jul. 8, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0011562 A1, Jan. 12, 2023
Int. Cl. B65F 3/20 (2006.01); B65F 3/28 (2006.01); B65F 3/14 (2006.01)
CPC B65F 3/207 (2013.01) [B65F 3/201 (2013.01); B65F 3/28 (2013.01); B65F 2003/146 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refuse collection vehicle, comprising:
a body comprising a storage compartment, the storage compartment comprising a floor;
a packer system coupled to the body, the packer system comprising:
an ejector;
two or more helical band actuators coupled to the ejector, each of at least two of the helical band actuators comprising:
a drive cylinder base;
a helical band drive cylinder coupled to the drive cylinder base; and
a drive cylinder receptacle coupled between the helical band drive cylinder and the ejector;
a driver commonly coupled to the at least two of the two or more helical band actuators and operable to extend and retract the helical band drive cylinders; and
one or more cross members coupled between the drive cylinder receptacles of the at least two of the helical band actuators,
wherein the helical band actuators are operable to advance the ejector such that refuse is compacted in the storage compartment or ejected from the storage compartment,
wherein the one or more cross members are configured to maintain a spacing between the drive cylinder receptacles, and
wherein at least one of the one or more cross members is configured to maintain a squareness of the helical band actuators with respect to a common base.