AU738451B2 - Improvements relating to divided refuse vehicles - Google Patents

Description

WO 99/33718 PCT/AU98/01071 Title: IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO DIVIDED REFUSE VEHICLES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to refuse collection containers such as for mounting on vehicles. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus for selectively diverting refuse emptied from a refuse bin into a refuse vehicle into an appropriate compartment or compartments in the refuse collection vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Refuse vehicles having more than one refuse storage compartment are used where it is desired to keep different categories of refuse separate, such as to facilitate the recycling and/or disposal of different categories of refuse.

Different categories of refuse may be pre-sorted by the user into different bins or into different compartments within a single multiple-compartment bin.

It is desirable to be able to use a single multi-compartment refuse collection vehicle to collect different categories of refuse, whether stored in separate bins or in different compartments within multiple-compartment bins. In particular, in the case of a refuse collection vehicle that separately stores two categories of refuse in two separate refuse storage compartments, it is desirable to be able to collect refuse stored in bins with two compartments as well as to be able to collect refuse of both categories stored in bins with one compartment.

In one apparatus disclosed in the prior art, there is a side-loading refuse collection vehicle divided into -two side-by-side refuse storage compartments by means of a vertical partition. When the contents of a bin are to be emptied into the vehicle, the bin is partially inverted at a side of the vehicle over one of the refuse storage compartments in the vehicle. Where the bin is divided into two compartments, a bin being emptied into the vehicle is oriented so that one compartment is above the other when the bin is in a partially inverted emptying position.

In order for refuse stored in such a bin to be kept separate in the vehicle, there is provided a swinging ramp. The ramp is moved so as to be aligned with, and located in close proximity to, the divider in the bin when the bin is in the partially inverted position.

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (Rule 26) (RO/AU) WO 99/33718 PCT/AU98/01071 2.

Refuse from the top bin compartment is intended to fall onto the ramp and refuse from the bottom bin compartment is intended to fall into the vehicle compartment over which the bin is partially inverted. When the contents of a bin are to be emptied entirely into one storage compartment or the other, the ramp is moved so as to be entirely under the bin or away from the bin altogether, depending on which side of the vehicle the refuse is destined for.

This arrangement suffers from the drawback that the vehicle must be provided with a bin lid opening device so that the bin lid is open prior to the bin reaching the partially inverted position so as to not collide with the ramp. Bin lid opening devices are troublesome because they can break the bins. With a large number of bins being emptied, the cost of bin breakage is considerable. When a bin is broken, the refuse may not be properly emptied into the vehicle causing mess and uncleanliness.

Additionally, the opening of the lid must be accurately timed with respect to the movement of the ramp to avoid collision. Further it would be quite difficult to accurately locate the ramp quickly. Consequently, the mechanism is not expected to be very effective.

In another apparatus disclosed in the prior art there is provided a horizontally divided refuse vehicle where each compartment is provided with a slideable deflector. The deflectors operate to deflect refuse falling from a bin into appropriate compartments in the vehicle. If all but one deflector is positioned under falling refuse, then all the refuse is deflected into a single compartment whereas if two deflectors are positioned under falling refuse, but spaced from each other horizontally, refuse separately stored in a divided refuse bin may be maintained separate in the vehicle. While this arrangement might satisfactorily deflect the entire contents of a bin into a single refuse storage compartment in the vehicle, it appears unlikely to be effective in maintaining the separation of separate streams of waste.

The present invention accordingly overcomes or at least ameliorates at least some of the above identified deficiencies.

WO 99/33718 PCT/AU98/01071 3.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION In one embodiment the present invention provides apparatus for separately storing different categories of refuse emptied into a container from bins whether the bins have a single compartment or multiple compartments.

In another embodiment the present invention provides a container for a refuse collection vehicle, the container having multiple refuse storage compartments and having an apparatus according to the present invention for separately storing different categories of refuse emptied into the container from bins whether the bins have a single compartment or multiple compartments.

In another embodiment the present invention provides a refuse collection vehicle and bin combination where the refuse vehicle has a container according to the present invention with apparatus according to the present invention for separately storing different categories of refuse emptied into the container from bins whether the bins have a single compartment or multiple compartments.

In a further embodiment, the present invention provides a method of refuse collection with a refuse collection vehicle according to the present invention.

In a still further embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for converting a refuse vehicle with more than one refuse storage compartment into a vehicle that maintains the separation of different categories of refuse stored in bins whether the bins have a single compartment or multiple compartments.

In one aspect the invention provides a refuse collection vehicle including: a container, first and second refuse storage compartments in the container, first and second refuse entrances for facilitating entry of refuse into the respective first and second refuse storage compartments, a panel alternately movable into registry with the first and second refuse entrances, and WO 99/33718 PCT/AU98/01071 4.

valve means operable to open and close entry through at least one of the refuse entrances when the panel is in registry with the respective refuse entrance.

The panel may be pivotable. It may include drive means to pivot the panel into registry with alternative refuse entrances.

The panel may be fiat. It may have curved surfaces. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, part of the panel may be flat and part of the panel may have a curved surface. The surfaces on each side of the panel may be the same shape. They may be different shapes.

The panel may be constructed from one component or from more than one component.

The panel may include a frame. The frame may be covered with flat sheets provided on either side. The frame may include reinforcing ribs.

A panel according to the present invention may be provided with the valve means. The valve means may include a valve to allow or stop the passage of refuse through the panel.

The valve may consist of a single door. The valve may include more than one door. The valve may take the form of one or more sliding doors. The valve may include one or more doors rotatable about a hinge. A door may be moveable within the volume defined by the panel or may move out of the volume defined by the panel.

In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a panel having a frame. The frame may include rods. The panel may have a valve in the form of a sliding door. The door is preferably provided with linear bearings. The bearings may slide along the rods whereby to effect a sliding door. Preferably, the frame includes two rods and the bearings on the door are located near edges of the door.

A valve according to the present invention preferably includes drive means whereby to open and/or close the valve. Drive means may include, without limitation, one or more of the following: hydraulic cylinders, rotary actuators, electromagnets, linear springs, torsional springs, pneumatic cylinders, electric motors or the like.

In an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a panel having a valve including a sliding door. The panel may be constructed so that when the valve is open the sliding door is located at least partially within a sleeve portion of the panel. Preferably, the sliding door is moveable between a closed and an open position by means of a WO 99/33718 PCT/AU98/01071 hydraulic cylinder. Preferably, when the valve is open, the hydraulic cylinder is located at least partially within a sleeve portion of the panel.

First and second refuse entrances according to the present invention are preferably entrances to adjacent shafts or apertures. Preferably such shafts or apertures are separated by a divider. A divider may be located adjacent the entrances. A divider may be located within a shaft. Suitably the refuse entrances are provided at the same end of the container. They may be located between the storage compartments and a driver's cabin provided on the refuse collection vehicle. One of the refuse entrances may lie within the other to provide outer and inner refuse entrances. The refuse entrances may each be in the form of a bowl or hopper.

The inner refuse entrance may direct refuse into an upper refuse storage compartment with the outer refuse entrance directing refuse into a lower refuse storage compartment.

Suitably the upper and lower refuse storage compartments are separated by a horizontal longitudinally extending floor.

Moving means for moving refuse from the refuse entrances into the respective storage compartments are suitably provided in association with each storage compartment. The moving means may be located in the refuse entrances. The moving means may include a compactor for each storage compartment.

Where the panel is moveable between the first position and the second position by rotation, the axis of rotation of the panel is preferably located substantially in a plane which is substantially coplanar with a portion of a divider.

The panel accordingly may be moveable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the panel may cover the first refuse entrance. In the second position, the panel may cover the second refuse entrance. The panel is preferably moveable to one or more positions intermediate the first position and the second position. Preferably the panel is moveable by rotation. Suitably the panel lies horizontal or close to horizontal in the first and second positions.

In order to further describe the operation of a panel according to the present invention, it is convenient to refer to a bottom edge of the panel. However, it is to be understood that WO 99/33718 PCT/AU98/01071 6.

this manner of reference is for convenience only and does not in any way limit the orientation or shape of a panel according to the present invention.

Preferably, the panel is rotatable about an axis passing through the panel at or near the bottom edge of the panel. The axis of rotation may be horizontal or inclined. Preferably, the axis of rotation is slightly inclined so that refuse on the panel will be influenced by gravity to fall in a direction having a component directed parallel to the axis of rotation.

It is convenient to further describe the operation of the panel with reference to a particular orientation. As above, this manner of reference is for convenience only and does not in any way limit the orientation or shape of a panel according to the present invention or the orientation or shape of a shaft used in conjunction with the present invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the panel arrangement so described may be placed in other orientations. Preferably the axis of rotation of the panel is inclined to the horizontal. Preferably, the first and second positions of the panel are such that, in either position, the panel is inclined in such a manner that refuse on the panel will be influenced by gravity to fall in a direction which has a component directed towards the axis of rotation of the panel.

In use, when a dual compartment bin having a divider is to be emptied into the container, a panel having a valve may be located in either the first or the second position. The valve is to be in the open position. The dual compartment bin to be emptied is oriented so that the divider in the bin causes each compartment of the bin to be aligned with a different refuse entrance.

The valve may be open so that refuse stored in the bin compartment being emptied into the entrance covered by the panel, will fall through the valve and through the refuse entrance otherwise covered by the panel. Refuse in the other bin compartment will fall directly into the other entrance as it is not covered. In this way a dual compartment bin may be emptied into a dual compartment container while maintaining the separation of the refuse.

In use, when the entire contents of a bin are to be emptied into a single compartment of the container, the valve will be shut. When a bin is emptied into the container, some of the refuse will fall into one of the entrances while the remainder of the refuse will fall onto the panel which covers the other entrance. In this way, refuse is prevented from entering the covered entrance. Some of the refuse on the panel may slide off the panel WO 99/33718 PCT/AU98/01071 7.

and into the appropriate entrance. The panel may subsequently be rotated to increase its degree of inclination to the horizontal so that substantially all the refuse on the panel will fall into the appropriate entrance. It may then return to its original position ready for the next bin.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the panel may be used as a divider between the two entrances. Such a panel may or may not be provided with a valve. In this embodiment, when a bin with two compartments is to be emptied into a container, the panel is to be driven to a position so that it is substantially coplanar with the divider in the bin. In this orientation, the panel does not cover either the first entrance or the second entrance. In this orientation, when a dual compartment bin is emptied, the refuse from the first bin compartment will fall through the first entrance unobstructed by the panel and the refuse from the second bin compartment will fall through the second entrance unobstructed by the panel. Of course this arrangement presumes that any lid which has been provided on the bin does not crash into or otherwise interfere with the panel. Thus the refuse collection vehicle may be provided with means to move the bin lid out of the way or the lid may have a central split which coincides with the position of the panel so that the panel may effectively pierce the lid by protruding through the slit.

In this embodiment, when the entire contents of a bin are to be emptied into a single compartment of the container, the panel is to be located in the first position or the second position as the case may be so as to cover the appropriate entrance as previously described. Additionally, as previously described, any refuse on the panel after emptying the bin may be assisted in falling off the panel into the appropriate entrance by moving the panel so that it is further inclined to the horizontal.

Optionally, a refuse collection vehicle according to the present invention may be provided with a lid stopping means whereby to prevent the lid of a bin having its contents emptied into the container from swinging open past a predetermined position. This limitation of the position of a bin lid may be used to prevent refuse being emptied into the container from spilling to an unwanted location.

Further, a refuse collection vehicle according to the present invention may optionally be provided with a refuse barrier means whereby to prevent refuse being emptied into the container from spilling to an unwanted location.

WO 99/33718 PCT/AU98/01071 8.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a plan view of a panel for use in the present invention; Figure 1A shows an end view of the right hand side of the panel shown in Figure 1; Figure 1B shows an end view of the left hand side of the panel shown in Figure 1; Figures 1C and 1D show upper and lower plan views of the sliding door shown in Figure 1 with the panel rotated at 90'C and the door retracted; Figure 2 shows a partial plan view of a container of a refuse vehicle according to the present invention; Figure 3 shows a front elevation of the section B-B of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a side elevation of the section A-A of Figure 2 together with a full refuse vehicle configuration; and Figures 5A to 5C show a series of simplified drawings indicating refuse flows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figure 1 shows a panel 10. Panel 10 includes frame 11 having end pieces 12, 13, lower rod 14 and upper rod 15. Panel 10 has sliding door 16 which acts as a valve and sleeve portion 17. Sliding door 16 may slide between an open position and a closed position.

The closed position of sliding door 16 is shown in figure 1. In the open position, sliding door 16 is located inside sleeve portion 17.

Sliding door 16 has arms 23 and cover 24. Sliding door 16 is provided with ceramic linear bearings 19 so that it may slide between the open position and the closed position and vice versa.

Panel 10 is provided with hydraulic actuator comprising cylinder 18 and actuator rod whereby to drive door 16 between the open position and the closed position and vice versa. Cylinder 18 is attached to end piece 12 at joint 20. Actuator rod 5 is attached to the end of the sliding door at joint 21. Cylinder 18 is inside sleeve portion 17. Actuator WO 99/33718 PCT/AU98/01071 9.

rod 5 is inside cover 24. When door 16 is in the open position so that hydraulic actuator 18 is retracted, cylinder 18 is inside cover 24 and door 16 is inside sleeve portion 17.

The entire panel 10 can rotate between the first position and the second position about lower rod 14. Panel 10 may be driven between the first position and the second position and vice versa by rotary actuator 22.

Referring to figures 2, 3 and 4 there is shown a fragmentary view of a container 30 which has first refuse entrance 31 and second refuse entrance 32. In figure 2, panel 10 is shown in the second position, ie. panel 10 is over second refuse entrance 32.

With particular reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4 there is shown an assembly of refuse entrances. This fits between the container for refuse 30, which may extend for a significant distance upwardly above the page and the cab of a truck.

The container 30 is provided with a combined hopper entrance 29, a first refuse entrance 31 and a second refuse entrance 32. The first refuse entrance surrounds the second refuse entrance 32, the outer extremities of each of the refuse entrances being defined by the side walls 33 and 34 and access to both refuse entrances is via the combined hopper entrance 29.

As the refuse entrances give access to upper and lower hoppers which take the form of bowls, the side wall of the first refuse entrance 33 defines the side wall of the upper hopper and the side wall of the second refuse entrance defines the side wall of the lower hopper 34.

A roof 35 which partly covers the refuse entrances but completely covers the container is provided as well.

The upper hopper includes an upper hopper floor 40 shown in Figure 4 and the lower hopper has a lower hopper floor 41. The two hoppers are separated by the side wall 33 and upper hopper floor 40. The upper hopper floor 40 extends into the container 30 to form the divider 42 between the upper refuse storage compartment 48 and the lower refuse storage compartment 49.

The upper hopper floor is provided with oscillating compactor 50 and the lower hopper floor is provided with a compactor 51, both compactors being driven by the drive shaft WO 99/33718 PCT/AU98/01071 52. The compactors 50 and 51 apart from compacting refuse directed into each of the respective hoppers, also serve to push the refuse material into the respective refuse storage compartments 48 and 49.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a panel 10 in three possible positions. In position the panel is shown as closing off the second refuse entrance 32. It is noted that the panel may have a rubbery extension 43 which extends to the side wall of the respective refuse entrance to prevent unwanted refuse from entering the respective refuse entrance when it is closed by the panel.

In the outline shown by reference numeral 10c, the panel is shown as closing off the first refuse entrance 31. Of course, when we speak about closing off the respective refuse entrances by the panel, it is to be appreciated that the panel may in fact allow entry of refuse into the respective refuse entrance even though it is closed off by the panel if the valve described with reference to Figure 1 formed by the movable sliding door is open.

The panel is also shown in an intermediate position 10b where it is vertically directed. In this position both the first and second refuse entrances are left open. This configuration may be suitable for situations where the rubbish bins used to load rubbish into the refuse collection vehicle do not have a lid which could otherwise interfere with the vertically directed panel 10b. Alternatively, the refuse collection vehicle or bin concerned may have means to move a lid out of registry or other contact with the panel 10b. This may even involve having a split lid which has a central portion allowing the panel 10b to protrude through what would otherwise be the lid portion.

It is noted that the Section B-B of Figure 2 when translated to Figure 3 shows the panel in Figure 3 in the configuration 10b directed vertically) as per Figure 4 rather than directed horizontally in the configuration 10a as is shown in Figure 2.

The refuse collection vehicle includes a bin lifter 55 which may be provided at the side of the refuse collection vehicle. This bin lifter is arranged to pick up a bin and dump the contents into the region bounded by the first and second refuse entrances 31 and 32. The bin may have a divider in line with the dividing line 56 in order that sorted refuse contained in both sides of the bin may be initially directed to the respective refuse entrances.

WO 99/33718 PCT/AU98/01071 11.

Thus, when the valve of the panel 10 is open and refuse from a divided bin is directed by the bin lifter to the refuse collection vehicle, refuse provided in either side of the bin is directed to the first and second refuse entrances in accordance with their alignment to the compartments in the bin. However, if it is desired that all of the refuse in the bin should be directed to one or other of the compartments in the refuse storage compartment, the panel 10 may be moved to close off either the first or second refuse entrance with the valve in a closed configuration.

As there is some risk of the panel in this configuration trapping a proportion of the refuse which falls thereon, the refuse collection vehicle may include an automatic cycle which lifts the panel to something approximating the position shown in Figure 4 at location to dump the "hung up refuse" into the open refuse entrance. It may then return to its original position closing off the respective refuse entrance ready for the next bin dumping cycle.

It is noted that the lower rod 14 about which the panel pivots may be directed at a slight angle to the horizontal in order to assist refuse to fall into the opening created for entry into the respective refuse entrance when the valve constituted by the sliding door 16 is open.

Referring to Figure 5A there is shown a single bin 100 ie. a bin which is not compartmentalised, inverted above the combined hopper entrance 29 giving access to the two refuse entrances 31 and 32.

The panel 10, is shaded to indicate that the sliding door 16 or valve is closed, thus blocking entry of all refuse into the lower hopper 39. As a result all refuse from the bin 100 ultimately falls along the direction of the arrow 108 into the upper hopper 38 when the panel is located in the position illustrated in the drawing. Of course after each dump of refuse from the bin 100, the panel may be moved to a position near vertical to ensure that any refuse hung up on the panel ultimately drops into the upper hopper.

Referring to Figure 5B the panel 10 is again shown with the sliding door 16 closed, but in this configuration the panel blocks entry to the upper hopper 38 and all refuse flows to the lower hopper as shown by the arrow 105.

In Figure 5C the valve is open and refuse from the left side of the split bin 101 shown by the arrow 106 falls through the open valve into the lower hopper to be compacted by WO 99/33718 PCT/AU98/01071 12.

compactor 51 and pushed into the lower refuse storage compartment 49. The refuse from the right side of the split bin as shown by arrow 107 falls into the upper hopper to be compacted by the compactor 50 and pushed into the upper refuse storage compartment.

It can be seen from Figures 5A to 5C that the refuse vehicle of the invention is very adaptable as it can be used to pick up refuse from single bins or split bins while still being able to keep segregrated refuse from the split bins separated. Furthermore it can accommodate single bins having different types of refuse by diverting a particular refuse type to one or the other of the storage compartments. It can even be used for situations where there is no refuse segregation as the refuse can be simultaneously directed to both storage compartments, or alternately to one or the other storage compartment depending on how full they are. For example, if one storage compartment is full while the other still has further capacity, sensing means which may be associated with the paddles or the storage compartments themselves may act to divert further refuse to the unfilled compartment.

Finally, it is to be understood that the inventive concept can, be incorporated in many different constructions and with alternative components so that the generality of the preceding description is not to be superseded by the particularity of the attached drawings.

Various alterations, modifications and or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit and ambit of the invention.

Claims (2)

13. CLAIMS 1. A refuse collection vehicle including, a container, first and second refuse storage compartments in the container, first and second refuse entrances for facilitating entry of refuse into the respective first and second refuse storage compartments, a panel alternately movable into registry with the first and second refuse entrances, and valve means operable to open and close entry through at least one of the refuse entrances when the panel is in registry with the respective refuse entrance. 2. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the panel includes drive means adapted to pivot the panel about an edge of the panel to move it into registry with respective refuse entrances. 3. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the valve means include a door in the panel. 4. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the door is slidable such that when the valve is open the door is located at least partially within a sleeve portion of the panel. 5. A refuse collection, vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the panel includes a hydraulic cylinder for moving the door. 6. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the first and second refuse entrances are arranged so that the first refuse entrance lies within the second refuse entrance, the refuse entrances respectively providing access to inner and outer hoppers. WO 99/33718 PCT/AU98/01071

14. 7. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the inner and outer hoppers are each provided with a compactor for compacting refuse and pushing it into the respective refuse compartment. 8. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 7 wherein the compactors for the inner and outer hoppers each include a paddle which is connected to a common drive shaft. 9. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 1 including a bin lifter for picking up a refuse bin and inverting it above the first and second refuse entrances. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the panel is adapted to at least partially cover the refuse entrances when it is brought into registry with them, and to be slightly inclined to the horizontal when in registry. 11. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 10 wherein the panel is adapted to pivot about an axis inclined to the horizontal. 12. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the panel includes, a frame covered with sheets on either side forming a sleeve and a door slidable into and out of the sleeve to open and close the valve which is formed thereby. 13. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the first and second refuse entrances are located between the cab of the vehicle and the first and second storage compartments. 14. A refuse collection vehicle including, a cab, a container, first and second storage compartments in the container, first and second entrances between the cab and container, the refuse entrances being adapted to facilitate entry of refuse into the respective refuse storage compartments via respective hoppers, WO 99/33718 PCT/AU98/01071 a panel alternately movable into registry with the first and second refuse compartments, a slidable door provided in the panel. a compactor paddle provided in each hopper, the compactor paddles being connected to a common drive shaft, and a bin lifter arranged to lift and invert bins above the first and second refuse entrances