Deformable gripper arm
A refuse collection vehicle includes a refuse grabber assembly, a lift arm coupled to the refuse grabber assembly, and a hopper configured to receive refuse from the refuse container. The lift arm is operable to position the refuse grabber assembly. The refuse grabber assembly includes a first grabber arm and a second grabber arm that are configured to cooperate to engage the refuse container. The first grabber arm includes a first gripper and a first support arm coupled to the first gripper. The first gripper includes a first deformable structure configured to contact a first surface of a refuse container. The second grabber arm includes a second gripper and a second support arm coupled to the second gripper. The second gripper includes a second deformable structure configured to contact a second surface of the refuse container.
1 . A method of manufacturing a gripper configured to grip a refuse container, the method comprising:
placing an insert in a mold, the insert comprising a first plurality of openings extending through the insert;
injecting a flowable material into the mold surrounding the insert;
flowing the flowable material along the insert and through the first plurality of openings extending through the insert; and
curing the flowable material to form a deformable structure of the gripper, the deformable structure surrounding and coupled to the insert by at least the first plurality of openings, the deformable structure of the gripper configured to contact a surface of the refuse container and to deform in response to application of a threshold force to a surface of the deformable structure.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein curing the flowable material to form the deformable structure comprises forming a first lattice of the deformable structure with a first internal web, the first lattice configured to deform in response to the application of the threshold force on an outer surface of the first lattice.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to placing the insert in the mold, forming the insert.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein forming the insert comprises removing a first portion of the insert to create the first plurality of openings, the first plurality of openings sized to receive the flowable material.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein removing the first portion of the insert to create the first plurality of openings comprises at least one of drilling the first plurality of openings through the insert or punching the first plurality of openings in the insert.
6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein:
the insert comprises:
a center portion;
a first portion defining a first end; and
a second portion defining a second end, the second portion extending from the center portion in a direction opposite the first portion; and
forming the insert comprises:
forming the first end of the insert to conform the first end to a first portion of a support arm of a refuse collection vehicle; and
forming the second end of the insert to conform the second end to a second portion of the support arm of the refuse collection vehicle.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein curing the flowable material to form the deformable structure comprises cooling the flowable material.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the deformable structure is coupled to the insert along at least the center portion of the insert.
9 . The method of claim 6 , wherein forming the insert comprises angling the first end and the second end towards each other.
10 . The method of claim 3 , wherein forming the insert comprises stamping the insert.
11 . The method of claim 6 , wherein forming the insert comprises welding the first end and the second end to the center portion.
12 . The method of claim 3 , wherein forming the insert comprises molding the insert.
13 . The method of claim 4 , wherein forming the insert comprises removing a second portion of the insert to create a second plurality of openings, each of the second plurality of openings configured to receive a fastener.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein removing the second portion of the insert to create the second plurality of openings comprises forming the second plurality of openings on the first portion and the second portion of the insert.
15 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming the mold prior to placing the insert in the mold, the mold defining a negative of the deformable structure.
16 . The method of claim 1 , wherein placing the insert in the mold comprises removably coupling the insert to the mold by one or more fasteners.
17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after curing the flowable material to form the deformable structure, removing the gripper from the mold.