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An apparatus for collecting refuse, the apparatus comprising a vehicle having a frame formed as two substantially parallel members and a hopper secured to the frame. First and second bins may be connected by respective first and second dumping mechanisms to opposite, exterior sides of the hopper. Th

An apparatus for collecting refuse, the apparatus comprising a vehicle having a frame formed as two substantially parallel members and a hopper secured to the frame. First and second bins may be connected by respective first and second dumping mechanisms to opposite, exterior sides of the hopper. The first and second dumping mechanisms may selectively and independently move respective first and second bins between stowed positions substantially below the hopper and dumping positions above the hopper. The width between the exterior extremes of the first and second bins when both are in stowed positions may substantially be defined by a summation of the width of the first bin, the distance between the outer extremes of the frame, and the width of the second bin.

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What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 1. An apparatus comprising: a vehicle comprising a frame formed as two substantially parallel members extending lengthwise and a hopper secured to the frame; first and second bins sized to receive refuse therein; first an

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 1. An apparatus comprising: a vehicle comprising a frame formed as two substantially parallel members extending lengthwise and a hopper secured to the frame; first and second bins sized to receive refuse therein; first and second dumping mechanisms respectively connecting the first and second bins to opposite, exterior sides of the hopper and selectively, independently, and respectively moving the first and second bins between stowed positions at least partially directly underneath the hopper and dumping positions above the hopper; and the first dumping mechanism comprising a torsion member selected from the group consisting of a torsion bar and a torsion tube, a first linkage connecting a first side of the first bin to the torsion member, a second linkage connecting a second side of the first bin to the torsion member for synchronously lifting the first and second sides of the first bin, and a single four-bar linkage applying to the torsion member substantially exclusively a torsional load to move synchronously the first and second sides of the first bin between the stowed and dumping positions. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the maximum width of the vehicle and first and second bins, when the first and second bins are both in the stowed position, is less than or equal to one hundred two inches. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first bin comprises a first engagement mechanism positioned on an exterior thereof to engage and secure a standardized refuse container. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second bin comprises a second engagement mechanism positioned to extend beyond an exterior surface thereof to engage and secure a standardized refuse container. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first bin has at least one roller positioned at each of a forward end and a rearward end thereof. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first dumping mechanism comprises: a first track secured to the hopper to guide the at least one roller positioned at the forward end of the first bin; and a second track secured to the hopper to guide the at least one roller positioned at the rearward end of the first bin. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second dumping mechanism comprises: a torsion tube; a first linkage connecting the forward end of the first bin to the torsion tube; and a second linkage connecting the rearward end of the first bin to the torsion tube. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second dumping mechanism further comprises a control mechanism applying to the torsion tube substantially exclusively a torsional load to move the second bin between the stowed and dumping positions. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the vehicle further comprises a body secured to the frame, the body having a first opening operably communicating from the hopper to the body, and at least one rail extending from the hopper, through the first opening, to the body. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an ejector comprising a first platen positioned within the body, a sled secured to the first platen and slidingly engaging the rail, and a first hydraulic cylinder connecting the sled to the vehicle to selectively advance and retract the sled with respect thereto. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a packer comprising a second platen slidingly engaging the rail and a second hydraulic cylinder connecting the second platen to the sled to advance and retract the second platen with respect thereto. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the packer is positioned to advance and retract substantially exclusively within the hopper when the ejector is in a retracted position. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first platen has a second opening corresponding to the first opening. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second platen has a perimeter corresponding to a perimeter of the hopper. 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first platen has a perimeter corresponding to a perimeter of the body. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a third hydraulic cylinder connecting the sled to the vehicle, the third hydraulic cylinder working in conjunction with the first hydraulic cylinder to advance and retract the sled with respect thereto. 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the control linkage of the first dumping mechanism comprises a fourth hydraulic cylinder. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first dumping mechanism comprises a single hydraulic cylinder only. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first, second, third, and fourth hydraulic cylinders are each single-stage, double-acting hydraulic cylinders. 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle further comprises a body provided with an opening connecting the hopper to the body, and at least one rail extending from the hopper, through the opening, to the body. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising: an ejector comprising a first platen positioned within the body, a sled secured to the first platen and slidingly engaging the rail, and a first hydraulic cylinder connecting the sled to the vehicle to advance and retract the sled with respect thereto; and a packer comprising a second platen slidingly engaging the rail and a second hydraulic cylinder connecting the second platen to the sled to advance and retract the second platen with respect thereto. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the packer is positioned to advance and retract substantially exclusively within the hopper when the ejector is in a retracted position. 23. An apparatus defining longitudinal, lateral, and transverse directions substantially orthogonal to one another, the apparatus comprising: a vehicle comprising a frame formed as two substantially parallel members extending in the longitudinal direction, a body secured to the frame, and a hopper secured to the frame to receive refuse and transfer the refuse into the body; first and second bins; first and second dumping mechanisms respectively connecting the first and second bins to opposite, exterior sides of the frame, each of the first and second bins being located at least partially directly underneath the hopper, and selectively and respectively moving the first and second bins between stowed positions substantially below the hopper and dumping positions above the hopper; the bins and vehicle sized together, wherein the width in the lateral direction between the exterior extremes of the first and second bins when both are in stowed positions is substantially defined by a summation of the width of the first bin in the lateral direction, the distance between the outer extremes of the frame in the lateral direction, and the width of the second bin in the lateral direction; and the first dumping mechanism comprising a torsion member selected from the group consisting of a torsion bar and a torsion tube, a first linkage connecting the forward end of the first bin to the torsion member to be lifted directly thereby, a second linkage connecting the rearward end of the first bin to the torsion member to be lifted directly thereby, and a single four-bar linkage applying to the torsion member substantially exclusively a torsional load to move the first bin between the stowed and dumping positions. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the width in the lateral direction between the exterior extremes of the first and second bins when both are in stowed positioned is less than or equal to one hundred two inches. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the distance between the outer extremes of the frame in the lateral direction is less than or equal to thirty-four inches. 26. An apparatus comprising: a vehicle comprising a frame formed as two substantially parallel members extending lengthwise, a hopper secured to the frame, a body distinct from the hopper and secured to the frame, a first opening connecting the hopper to the body, and at least one rail extending from the hopper, through the first opening, and into the body; at least one bin sized to receive refuse therein; at least one dumping mechanism connecting the at least one bin to a side of the hopper and selectively moving the at least one bin between a stowed position at least partially directly underneath the hopper and a dumping position above the hopper, the at least one dumping mechanism comprising a torsion member, a first linkage connecting a first side of the at least one bin to the torsion member, a second linkage connecting a second side of the at least one bin to the torsion member for synchronously lifting the first and second sides of the at least one bin, and a single four-bar linkage applying to the torsion member substantially exclusively a torsional load to move synchronously the first and second sides of the at least one bin between the stowed and dumping positions; an ejector positioned within the body and slidingly engaging the rail; a first hydraulic cylinder connecting the ejector to the vehicle to advance and retract the ejector with respect thereto; a packer slidingly engaging the rail to pack refuse from the hopper, through the first opening, and into the body; and a second hydraulic cylinder connecting the packer to the ejector to advance and retract the packer with respect thereto during packing and to selectively align the packer with the ejector to function with the ejector to eject the refuse from the body.