AU2003232524A1 - Dump bin - Google Patents

Description

WO 2004/002857 PCT/AU2003/000765 DUMP BIN Field of the Invention 5 This invention relates to a dump bin and relates particularly, but not exclusively to a dump bin for use with a larger dump bin whereby the contents of the dump bin can be discharged to the larger dump bin. 10 Description of Prior Art Hitherto, dump bins have been used for many applications. Typically, dump bins may be loaded from the 15 top. When a dump bin is full a collection vehicle takes the dump bin to a dump site where the contents are removed by up ending the dump bin or by opening a door at one end. Objects and Statement of the Invention 20 Dump bins of that type are useful but there is a need for dump bin which can be more easily manoeuvred and unloaded. 25 Therefore according to a first broad aspect of the present invention there may be provided a dump bin having a top through which the dump bin can be loaded, and a bottom which can be opened and closed whereby to permit a load to be discharged from the dump bin by gravity when 30 opened. Most preferably the dump bin has the bottom of the bin formed with a swingable trap door means whereby the swinging of the trap door means can open and close the 35 bottom of the dump bin. Most preferably the swingable trap door means is WO 2004/002857 PCT/AU2003/000765 -2 provided by two independent doors swingable about axis which extend parallel to one another and wherein the free ends of the independent doors align substantially midway between the axis when the trap door means is in the closed 5 condition. Most preferably the free ends of the independent doors overlap each other when the trap door means is in the closed condition. 10 Most preferably the axis of swinging of the independent doors is external of the inside walls of the dump bin, so that when the independent-doors swing to an open position, they can swing to clear the width of the 15 dump bin defined by the inside walls, whereby to provide substantially unhindered discharge of the load through the bottom of the dump bin. Most preferably the dump bin is provided with 20 wheels to permit it to be moved by hand. Most preferably the dump bin has forklift prong engaging means to enable prongs of a forklift device to locate with the dump bin, so the dump bin can be raised by 25 the forklift device. Preferably the dump bin is rectangular in horizontal cross section, and the length in a depth dimension is approximately equal to the length of the 30 prongs of the forklift device, and the length in a width direction is approximately the width of spacing apart of the prongs of the forklift device. Preferably the forklift prong engaging means is 35 provided nearer the top of the dump bin than the bottom of the dump bin.

WO 2004/002857 PCT/AU20031000765 -3 Preferably the axis of swinging of the independent doors is substantially parallel to the direction of the length of the prongs of the forklift device when the prongs are engaged with the dump bin prong 5 engaging means. Preferably the forklift prong engaging means are two elongate rectangular shaped tubular sections, one being on one side of the dump bin, and the other being on 10 the other side of the dump bin, both sections extending the depth of the dump bin. Preferably release latch means is provided to hold the independent doors in a closed condition. 15 Preferably a releasable lock means is provided to hold the releasable latch means against unintentional release. 20 Preferably, when the releasable lock means is released, the independent doors fall to an open position by gravity. Preferably the releasable latch means includes 25 arm means that extend from one of the independent doors at a free end, so that when the independent doors are in a closed overlapping condition, the arm means will extend from the lowermost independent door, said releasable latch means also including a swingable catch arm that can be 30 swung to latch with the arm means. Preferably said catch arm is connected with an operator handle at one side of the dump bin. 35 Preferably said handle is movable in an upward direction to release the catch arm from said arm means to permit said independent doors to swing to the dump bin WO 2004/002857 PCT/AU2003/000765 -4 open condition. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is also provided a method of discharging 5 the load of a dump bin as hereinbefore defined, said method comprising moving a loaded closed bottom dump bin over a larger dump bin, opening the swingable trap door means and allowing the load to pass from the bottom of the dump bin into the larger dump bin, moving the dump bin 10 away from the larger dump bin and moving said dump onto a surface so that the swingable trap door means is caused to close as the dump bin is moved onto the surface, and latching the swingable trap door means in a closed position. 15 According to a further broad aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of discharging the load of a dump bin as hereinbefore defined, said method comprising lifting a loaded closed 20 bottom dump bin over sidewalls of a larger dump bin, opening the swingable trap door means and allowing the load to pass from the bottom of the dump bin into the larger dump bin, moving the dump bin to be directly over a sidewall of the larger dump bin, lowering the dump bin so 25 the swingable trap door means is caused to close as the dump bin is lowered onto the top of the side of the larger dump bin, latching the swingable trap door means in a closed position and removing the dump bin away from the 30 larger dump bin. Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention can be more clearly 35 ascertained an example of a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; WO 2004/002857 PCT/AU2003/000765 -5 Figure 1 is a top perspective view of the example, 5 Figure 2 is a top or plan view of the example shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the example, 10 Figure 4 is a side elevation from one side of the example, Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the 15 opposite end of the example shown in Figure 3, Figure 6 is a close-up diagramnatic cross sectional view showing engagement of releasable latch means holding the bottom of the dump bin closed, and, 20 Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6, but showing the releasable latch means releasing the trap door means so that a load of the bin can be discharged. 25 Figure 8 is a view similar to that in Figure 7 showing how the releasable latch means releasing the trap door means so that a load of the bin can be discharged. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments 30 Referring firstly to Figures 1 - 5 it can be seen that there is provided a dump bin 1. Typically, the dump bin 1 is fabricated from sheet steel or other suitable metal. Other materials such as plastics are, however, not 35 excluded. The dump bin 1 is shown with an open top 3 of generally rectangular configuration. A lid (not shown) may be provided over the open top 3 if desired.

WO 2004/002857 PCT/AU2003/000765 -6 Typically, the upper edge of the open top 3 has a lip 5 which provides reinforcing to the dump bin 1. The lip 5 extends externally of the inside of the dump bin 1. This is clearly shown in Figure 1 and aids the relatively free 5 introduction of load into the dump bin 1. The dump bin 1 has a width 7, a depth 9, and a height 11 - see Figures 4 and 5. This is also shown in Figure 1. Typically the internal width is 600mm, the internal depth is 600mm, and the internal height is 1150mm. 10 The dump bin 1 has a bottom 13 which is normally closed, but which can be opened to permit the load to be discharged from the dump bin by gravity. 15 The bottom 13 of the dump bin 1 is formed with swingable trap door means 15 whereby the swinging of the trap door means 15 opens and closes the bottom 13 of the dump bin 1. The trap door means 15 is provided by two independent doors 17 which are swingable about axis 19 20 which extend parallel to one another and external of the inside walls 21 of the dump bin 1. Accordingly, when the trap door means 15 swings to the open position, the trap door means can move to allow free discharge of the contents without the bottom 13 of the dump bin being 25 partly blocked by the trap door means 15. By observing Figures 6 and 7, it can be seen that the independent doors 17 have free ends 23 and 25 respectively. When the doors 17 are in the closed 30 condition, the independent doors 17 overlap each other at the free ends 23, 25. As can be seen from all the figures, the dump bin 1 is provided with wheels 27 to permit the dump bin 1 to 35 be easily moved. Wheels 27 are preferably castor type wheels that can swing to any desired angular orientation about a vertical axis thereby permitting relatively easy WO 2004/002857 PCT/AU2003/000765 -7 manoeuvring of the dump bin 1. The dump bin 1 has forklift prong engaging means 29 to enable prongs of a forklift device to locate with 5 the dump bin 1, so the dump bin 1 can be raised by the forklift device. The forklift prong engaging means 29 are provided by two elongate rectangular shape tubular sections 31 which are fitted externally of the walls 21 of the bin 1 at a position nearer the top 3 than the bottom 10 13. Thus, with a substantially uniformly distributed full load within the dump bin 1, the centre of gravity will be below the forklift prong engaging means 29 and the load will be stable on the forklift device. It can be seen further, that even with an empty bin 1, the centre of 15 gravity of the bin 1 will be below the forklift prong engaging means 29. By viewing Figures 1 and 3, it can be seen that the spacing apart of the respective forklift prong 20 engaging means 29 is approximately equal to the width of the bin 21 - 600mm -, and therefore the width of the forklift prongs. It can be also be seen from Figure 1 that the length of the forklift prong engaging means 29 is equal to the depth 9 of the bin - 600umm - and is arranged 25 to be approximately equal to the length of the prongs of the forklift device. It can also be seen that the extreme ends of each of the forklift prong engaging means 29 are reinforced with sheet steel 33. 30 Releasable latch means 35 (see Figure 6 and Figure 5) is provided to hold the independent doors 17in a closed condition as shown in those figures. The releasable latch means 35 includes arm means 37 that extend from one of the independent doors 17 at the free 35 end 23. In this case the arm means 37 comprises an elongate rod that extends across the depth of the bin 1 i.e. across the depth length of the free end 23 of the WO 2004/002857 PCT/AU2003/000765 -8 independent doors 17. The rod extends past the ends of the independent doors 17. The releasable latch means 35 also includes a swingable catch arm 39 that is pivoted relative to the bin 1 about pivot 41. The catch arm has 5 an arcuate elongate slot 43 which can receive the arm means 37 and latch the independent doors 17 in a closed condition. If Figure 7 is considered, it can be seen that 10 the right hand independent door 17 has an up-turned free end 45. As the independent doors 17 are swung to a closed position, the right hand door 17 (Figure 7) locates above the left hand door 17. The up-turned free end 45 assists the location of a right hand door 17 in this uppermost 15 position relative to the other door 17. In this case, the left hand door 17 will be lowermost, and when the releasable latch means 35 is engaged so that the arm means 37 locates in the slot 43, the trap door means 15 will be held closed. The catch arm 39 has an arcuate shaped nose 20 47 (see Figures 6 and 7) to permit it to move over the arm means 37 so that the arm means 37 can pass into the slot 43. As can be seen from the figures, the releasable 25 latch means 35 comprises a set of the various arm means 37, catch arm 39, pivot 41, slot 43, and nose 47 at each of the front and back of the bin 1. The respective catch arms 39 are connected through an extension arm 49 to an operator handle 51 at one side of the bin 1. 30 Figure 3 shows a spring loaded adjustable means which causes the catch arm 39 to be spring biased in an anticlockwise direction so that the catch arm 39 securely holds the arm means 37 in the slot 43. 35 Figure 3 also shows a releasable lock means 55 to hold the releasable latch means. The releasable lock WO 2004/002857 PCT/AU2003/000765 -9 means comprises an elongate pin 57 welded to an external part of the bin 1. The extension arm 49 contains a tongue 59 with an opening therethrough to receive the pin 57 (Figure 3 is the best figure to show this arrangement). A 5 hole extends transversely through the free end of the pin 57 and sits above the flange 59 when the catch means 35 is in the position holding the trap door means 15 closed. A security pin (not shown) can then pass through that hole. In this way, the releasable catch means 35 can be held 10 against unwanted release and opening of the trap door means 15. It can be seen that in order to release the trap door means 15, that the operator handle 15 is moved 15 upwardly against the bias of the spring loaded adjustable means 53. The bias of the spring loaded adjustable means 53 can be controlled by means of a nut 61 to provide sufficient user resistance to provide good feel to the opening of the trap door means 15. 20 In use, the bin 1 is loaded with a load and when it is required to empty the load from the bin 1, the bin 1 is engaged by a forklift device with the forks passing into the forklift engaging means 29. The bin 1 is then 25 raised such as over a larger dump bin 67 (see Fig. 8). The larger dump bin 67 may, in fact, be an opening in a floor or the like and therefore it is not always essential that the bin 1 be raised during the unloading operation, although it is preferred. The handle 51 can then be moved 30 upwardly after suitably releasing the lock means 55, so that the releasable latch means 35 will release permitting the trap door means 15 to swing to the open position. The contents/load will then fall by gravity from the bottom 13 of the bin 1, such as into a larger dump bin 67. The dump 35 bin 1 can then be moved away from the dump bin 67 so that as it is lowered onto a surface, such as the floor, or the top of a sidewall 69 of the a larger dump bin 67, the WO 2004/002857 PCT/AU20031000765 - 10 swingable trap door means 15 will close. The releasable latch means 35 will then self re-latch closing the bottom 13 of the bin. The dump bin 1 can then be moved to any desired location by pushing the dump bin 1 and causing it 5 to roll on the wheels 27. Modifications may be made to the invention as would be apparent to persons skilled in the dump bin arts and/or the metal working arts. For example, instead of 10 having elongate rectangular tube sections 31 as the forklift prong engaging means 29, there may be provided simply bars or the like extending from the sidewalls 21 of the bin 1. In this case, the prongs of the forklift device can locate under the bars to lift the dump bin 1. 15 In a further variation the lip around the top of the dump bin may be used as the forklift prong engaging means. 20 Whilst the bottom of the dump bin 1 has been shown to have trap door means 15 comprising independent swingable doors 17 that have the free ends overlapping and substantially midway between the axis of swinging of the independent doors 17, there may be a single swingable 25 door. Further, there may alternatively be a transversely slidable gate door at the bottom 13 of the bin 1. Swingable doors are preferred as then the weight of the load is not bearing on a slidable trap door which may otherwise inhibit against the relatively easy opening of 30 the slidable trap door. These and other modifications may be made without departing from the ambit of the invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description. 35

Claims (19)

1. A dump bin having a top through which the dump bin can be loaded, and a bottom which can be opened and 5 closed whereby to permit a load to be discharged from the dump bin by gravity when opened.

2. A dump bin as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dump bin has the bottom of the bin formed with a swingable trap 10 door means whereby the swinging of the trap door means can open and close the bottom of the dump bin.

3. A dump bin as claimed in claim 2 wherein the swingable trap door means is provided by two independent 15 doors swingable about respective axes which extend parallel to one another and wherein free ends of the independent doors align substantially midway between the axes when the trap door means is in the closed condition. 20

4. A dump bin as claimed in claim 3 wherein the free ends of the independent doors overlap each other when the trap door means is in the closed condition.

5. A dump bin as claimed in claim 3 wherein the axes 25 of swinging of the independent doors are external of the inside walls of the dump bin, so that when the independent doors swing to an open position, they can swing to clear the width of the dump bin defined by the inside walls, whereby to provide substantially unhindered discharge of 30 the load through the bottom of the dump bin.

6. A dump bin as claimed in claim 1 and having wheels to permit it to be moved by hand. 35

7. A dump bin as claimed in claim 1 and having forklift prong engaging means to enable prongs of a forklift device to locate with the dump bin, so the dump WO 2004/002857 PCT/AU20031000765 - 12 bin can be raised by the forklift device.

8. A dump bin as claimed in claim 1 and being rectangular in horizontal cross section, and the length in 5 a depth dimension is approximately equal to the length of the prongs of the forklift device, and the length in a width direction is approximately the width of spacing apart of the prongs of the forklift device. 10

9. A dump bin as claimed in claim 7 wherein the forklift prong engaging means is provided nearer the top of the dump bin than the bottom of the dump bin.

10. A dump bin as claimed in claim 7 wherein the axis 15 of swinging of the independent doors is substantially parallel to the direction of the length of the prongs of the forklift device when the prongs are engaged with the dump bin prong engaging means. 20

11. A dump bin as claimed in claim 7 wherein the forklift prong engaging means are two elongate rectangular shaped tubular sections, one being on one side of the dump bin, and the other being on the other side of the dump bin, both sections extending the depth of the dump bin. 25

12. A dump bin as claimed in claim 3 wherein release latch means is provided to hold the independent doors in a closed condition. 30

13. A dump bin as claimed in claim 12 wherein a releasable lock means is provided to hold the releasable latch means against unintentional release.

14. A dump bin as claimed in claim 13 wherein, when 35 the releasable lock means is released, the independent doors fall to an open position by gravity. WO 2004/002857 PCT/AU2003/000765 - 13

15. A dump bin as claimed in claim 12 wherein the releasable latch means includes arm means that extend from one of the independent doors at a free end, so that when the independent doors are in a closed overlapping 5 condition, the arm means will extend from the lowermost independent door, said releasable latch means also including a swingable catch arm that can be swung to latch with the arm means. 10

16. A dump bin as claimed in claim 15 wherein said catch arm is connected with an operator handle at one side of the dump bin.

17. A dump bin as claimed in claim 16 wherein said 15 handle is movable in an upward direction to release the catch arm from said arm means to permit said independent doors to swing to the dump bin open condition.

18. A method of discharging the load of a dump bin of 20 claim 2, said method comprising moving a loaded closed bottom dump bin over a larger dump bin, opening the swingable trap door means and allowing the load to pass from the bottom of the dump bin into the larger dump bin, moving the dump bin away from the larger dump bin and 25 moving said dump onto a surface so that the swingable trap door means is caused to close as the dump bin is moved onto the surface, and latching the swingable trap door means in a closed position. 30

19. A method of discharging the load of a dump bin of claim 2, said method comprising lifting a loaded closed bottom dump bin over sidewalls of a larger dump bin, opening the swingable trap door means and allowing the 35 load to pass from the bottom of the dump bin into the larger dump bin, moving the dump bin to be directly over a sidewall of the larger dump bin, lowering the dump bin so WO 2004/002857 PCT/AU2003/000765 - 14 the swingable trap door means is caused to close as the dump bin is lowered onto the top of the side of the larger dump bin, latching the swingable trap door means in a 5 closed position and removing the dump bin away from the larger dump bin.