AU715010B2

AU715010B2 - A container

Info

Publication number: AU715010B2
Application number: AU48081/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Idwall Charles Richards; Rhys William Richards
Original assignee: Firebelt Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Patents4us Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1995-03-14
Filing date: 1996-03-14
Publication date: 2000-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 2016-03-14
Also published as: AU4808196A

Description

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Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: FIREI Actual Inventor(s): Idwa Rhys Address for Service: INTE Pater Leve

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Invention Title: "A C Details of Associated Provisonal Application No: Aust BELT PTY LIMITED 11 Charles Richards and William Richards

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it Trade Mark Attorneys I D, 308 Edward Street BANE, QLD, 4000 Box 1339, BRISBANE, 4001) ontainer" ralian Patent Application No. PN1686 14 March 1995.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 11-1 i-ss; 2:15PM; INTELLPRO 51752202658 5/ 11-11-99; 2!1PMINTELLPRO E17 3 2 2 38 5 1 6 2 THIS INVENTION relates to a waste collection vehicle particularly for handling waste and collection of same and in particular but not limited to the simultaneous yet separate collection of different kinds of waste.

It has been proposed to collect recyclables and garbage in one collection vehicle where the recyclables and garbage are stored separately.

One problem with present proposals is that the amounts of waste collected can vary resulting in one section of the container being full while the other section is not.

A further problem arises when emptying the vehicle since waste in one section can become compacted and difficult to dislodge when emptying the vehicle.

It is an object of the present invention to alleviate at least to some degree the abovementioned problems associated with the prior art.

In one aspect therefore the present invention resides in a side loading waste collection vehicle including: an elongated waste holding container having a front, a rear and opposed o. sides, 9 9 a loader on one side of the vehicle and adjacent the front of the container, 20 longitudinally extending divider means dividing said waste holding container into two container sections, said divider means being movable to increase or decrease the volume of one said container section and correspondingly decrease or increase the volume of the other said container section while the container sections are holding waste, 25 waste receiving means adjacent said waste holding container, said waste 'receiving means including waste receiving sections associated with respective said container sections, Sthe loading being adapted to deposit waste into a selected said waste receiving section or sections, and 11/11 '99 THU 14:22 [TX/RX NO 5997] 11-11-99; 2:19PM; INTELLPRO 61732202838 16 11-11-99; 2!19PM;INTELLPRO ;61732202838 5/ 16 3 the receiving section or sections having means for moving waste deposited into said waste receiving sections into their associated container sections of said waste holding container.

The divider means is suitably planar and the forward end thereof is restrained with the divider means being displaceable relative to said forward end as said container sections fill with waste. In one form the divider means is adapted to float between defined limits.

The container sections may be disposed side by side on opposite sides of the divider means. Alternatively the container sections are disposed one above the other on opposite sides of the divider means- In the former arrangement, the divider means may be hingedly mounted at its forward end for movement about a substantially vertical axis. In the latter arrangement, the divider means may be hingedly mounted at its forward end for movement about a substantially horizontal axis.

Preferably the vehicle is a side loading vehicle having a cab in front of the container and having a loading mechanism operable from within the cab, the vehicle having waste receiving means between the cab and the container and section entries for passage of waste into the respective sections. Typically there is a waste receiving section for each section of the container.

Means may be provided for selectively holding the divider means in a predetermined selected position. The means for selectively holding the divider A Ameans may comprise drive means employed to move the divider means to release the load when the container is being emptied. Typically the divider drive means are preferably in the form of ram means adapted to selectively move the divider or dividers to preselected position or the ram means can be *valved for free floating operation so the divider is free floating.

in another embodiment, the divider means includes upper and lower dividers arranged for floating movement between defined upper and lower limits, and an inflatable bag sandwiched between the dividers, the bag expanding upon inflation to move the dividers relatively away from each other towards the defined limits.

11/11 '99 THU 14:22 ITX/RX NO 5997] 11-1 i-ss; ~:ispM: Ir~TELLPRO ;~17322C2838 7/ i~ 11-11-99; 2!1PMINTELLPRO ;51732202838 7/ 16 4 In a preferred form, the divider means includes a first divider dividing the container means into the two container sections and a second divider dividing one of the container sections into a pair of further container sections. The first and second dividers may be connected through a flexible connector, which may maintain a seal between the further container sections and permit movement of the first and second dividers relative to each other.

Suitably in this form the two container sections are arranged one above the other on opposite sides of the first divider and the further container sections are arranged side by side on opposite sides of the second divider.

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood and be put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate applications of the present invention to a waste collection vehicle and wherein:- Figure 1 is a schematic plan sectional view illustrating a waste collection 15 vehicle employing a container made according to the teachings of the present invention; a Figure 2 is a schematic side section view illustrating another embodiment 1 of a waste collection vehicle employing a container according to the present invention; 20 Figure 3 is a side section illustrating a still further embodiment of a waste collection vehicle employing a container made according to the teachings of the a. present invention; Figure 4 is a transverse section viewed from the front through a typical container;

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25 Figure 5 is a view illustrating a flexible connection between a pair of ea.

dividers; and Figure 6 is a schematic front view illustrating a loading mechanism and how a waste collection bin is emptied into a vehicle according to the present S"invention; and Figure 7 is a rear view of a container showing an embodiment where a horizontal divider is driven by hydraulic cylinder assemblies; and 11/11 '99 THU 14:22 [TX/RX NO 5997] 11-1 1-SS~ 218PM INTELLPRO 61732262838 8/16 11-11-99; 2!19PM;INTELLPRO ;61732202838 8/ 16 Figure 8 is a plan view illustrating the housing of the hydraulic cylinder assemblies of Figure 7.

Figures 9 to 12 are perspective views illustrating typical operation of a loading mechanism of the type illustrated in Figure 6.

Figures 13 to 18 illustrate a further embodiment of the present invention employing an inflatable bag as a divider drive means.

Referring to the drawings and initially to Figure 1 there is illustrated a waste collection vehicle 10 having a container 11 having two sections 12 and 13 separated by a mobile divider 14 hinged adjacent its front edge at 14 so that as the sections 12 and 13 are filled the divider moves as shown to accommodate differences in the load of material contained in the respective sections 12 and 13.

In Figure 1 the sections 12 and 13 are side by side whereas in the embodiment of Figure 2 the container section 17 is located above section 18 with a divider 19 between them hinged about a horizontal hinge at 20 and again able to move up or down according to the imposed load of material in the respective sections.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 there is illustrated a still further embodiment of container 21 which in this case involves three sections, an upper section 22 and two lower sections 23 and 24. Vertical divider 25 divides the sections 23 9: and 24 while a horizontal divider 26 separates the section 22 from the other two sections 23 and 24.

The two dividers 25 and 26 are connected by a flexible connector in the form of a strengthened rubber strap 27 held in place as shown in Figure 5 it being appreciated that the strap 27 allows the movement of the dividers whilst maintaining a seal between the sections 23 and 24.

*In application of the present invention to collection of domestic waste normal garbage would be stored in section 23, green garden waste in section 24 and commingled recyclables in section 22.

These could be collected in separate bins and emptied into selected S hoppers leading to each of the sections or could be collected in divided bins.

11/11 '99 THU 14:22 [TX/R-X NO 59971 11-11-99; 2n9PM: INTELLPRO :61732252838 9/15 11-11-99; 2!19PM;INTELLPRO :51732202838 9/ 16 6 Typical arrangements for collection are described in the applicant's co-pending patent applications filed concurrently herewith.

Figure 6 illustrates a typical loading mechanism 30 operable from within the cab of the vehicles described above. The loading mechanism includes a retractable means in the form of a boom 31 carrying an emptying device 32 adapted to engage a bin 33 and selectively invert it over one of the hoppers 34 or 35. The loading mechanism typically employs a lid flip mechanism such as air or water nozzle to lift the lid of the bin- A hydraulic cylinder assembly 36 raises or lowers the emptying device 32 and according to the extreme positions of the assembly 36 the emptying device will empty the contents of the bin into one or the other of the hoppers according to selection by the driver in the cab.

The emptying device is carried on a carriage so travelling in a pair of spaced generally vertical guides 51, the carriage being moveable to selected positions along the guide according to the desired emptying position of the bin relative to :115 the hoppers. Four typical emptying situations are illustrated in Figures 9 to 12 where a moveable divider is positioned in hopper 35 and single compartment or too, dual compartment bin can be emptied in any one of the selected emptying operations shown.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a container 40 having a divider 41 moveable by P.So 20 rams 42 and 43 to the positions shown in phantom. The rams are housed as shown in Figure 8 just inside the rear opening to the container and employ a sloping wall 44 so as not to inhibit flow of waste during emptying. The rear door is not shown for clarity. It will be appreciated that the rams 42 and 43 can be arranged floating so the divider floats or driven to locate the divider in a 25 preferred position. The rams can also be used to release the divider to facilitate unloading.

Figures 13 to 16 illustrate in side view an alternative embodiment employing an inflatable bag to drive the divider, Figures 1 7 and 18 are cut-away end view of the embodiment of Figures 13 to 16.

30 A waste collection vehicle 52 employs a container 53 including a divider 0 a assembly 54 separating the container into upper and lower storage sections 11/11 '99 THU 14:22 [TX/RX NO 59971 Resend11-11-39; 2:33PM; INTELLPRO ;61732202838 10/ 16 7 and 56. The divider assembly includes a pair of floating plates including an upper plate 57 and a lower plate 58 with an inflatable bag 59 sandwiched between the plates. The plates can float between limits presented by upper and lower stoper flanges 60 and 61, Figure 13 shows the assembly at a lowermost position against stoppers 61 and at an uppermost position in Figures 16 and 18.

Full inflation of the bag 59 forces the plate apart as shown in Figure 14.

It will be appreciated that this arrangement allows the payload to be controlled. The vehicle illustrated is a tipping vehicle so when the bag is deflated the load is easily discharged through the back doors.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative example of the present invention, many variations and modifications thereto will be apparent to *those skilled in the art without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

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Claims

1. A side loading waste collection vehicle including: an elongated waste holding container having a front, a rear and opposed sides, a loader on one side of the vehicle and adjacent the front of the container, longitudinally extending divider means dividing said waste holding container into two container sections, said divider means being movable to increase or decrease the volume of one said container section and correspondingly decrease or increase the volume of the other said container section while the container sections are holding waste, waste receiving means adjacent said waste holding container, said waste receiving means including waste receiving sections associated with respective said container sections, the loader being adapted to deposit waste into a selected said waste receiving section or sections, and the receiving section or sections having means for moving waste deposited into said waste receiving sections into their associated container sections of said waste holding container.

2. A waste collection vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said divider means is planar and wherein the forward end thereof is restrained with the 9 9 divider means being displaceable relative to said forward end as said container .oo sections fill with waste.

3. A waste collection vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the divider means is adapted to float between defined limits.

4. A waste collection vehicle according to claim 2 wherein said container sections are disposed side by side on opposite sides of said divider means. 9

5. A waste collection vehicle according to claim 2 wherein said container

9090.. sections are disposed one above the other on opposite sides of said divider means. 11/11 '99 THU 14:36 [TX/RX NO 5999] R~send11-11-89; 2~33PM;iNTELLPRO 61732202838 #12/15 Resendll-11-99; 2!33PM;INTELLPRO :61732202838 12/ 16 9

6. A waste collection vehicle according to claim 4 wherein said divider means is hingedly mounted at said forward end for movement about a substantially vertical axis.

7. A waste collection vehicle according to claim 5 wherein said divider means is hingedly mounted at said forward end for movement about a substantially horizontal axis.

8. A waste collection vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims and including means for selectively holding said divider means in a predetermined selected position,

9. A waste collection vehicle according to claim 8 wherein the means for selectively holding the divider means comprises drive means employed to move the divider means to release the load when the container is being emptied- A waste collection vehicle according to claim 9 wherein said drive means comprise ram means, said ram means being operable to move said divider means to a desired position or being arranged to permit said divider means to float. 11. A waste collection vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said divider a: means includes upper and lower dividers arranged for floating movement between defined upper and lower limits, and an inflatable bag sandwiched between said dividers, said bag expanding upon inflation to move said dividers relatively away from each other towards said defined limits. 12. A waste collection vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said divider means includes a first divider dividing said container means into said two container sections and a second divider dividing one of said container sections into a pair of further container sections. 13. A waste collection vehicle according to claim 12 wherein said first and second, dividers are connected through a flexible connector, said connector permitting movement of said first and second dividers relative to each other. 14. A waste collection vehicle according to claim 13 wherein said two container sections are arranged one above the other on opposite sides of said 11/11 '99 THU 14:36 [TX/RX NO 59991 Resendll-1i-99 2!33PM; INTELLPRO 6517322n2838 13/ 16 first divider and wherein said further container sections are arranged side by side on opposite sides of said second divider. A waste collection vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said vehicle is a side loading vehicle having a cab forwardly of said waste container and having a loading mechanism operable from within said cab, said waste receiving means being located between said cab and said container. 16. A waste collection vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1, Fig.2, Figs. 3 to 5, Figs. 7 and 8, or Figs. 13 to 18 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this 11Ith day of November 1999 FIREBELT PTY LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys INTELLPRO 00 0 0 11/11 '99 THU 14:36 [TX/R-X NO 5999]