DE29712150U1 - Plant for the underground storage of waste containers - Google Patents

Description

Utility model application

Facility for underground storage of waste containers

The invention relates to a system for the underground storage of garbage containers, in particular household garbage containers, with a housing that can be sunk into the ground, is open at the top and can be closed with a lid on its top, which encloses a lift shaft, with a lifting device for the garbage container and with a drive for the lifting device.

Common household waste containers, which are also called garbage cans and have a round or rectangular cross-section, are often stored openly in front gardens, special sheds or in so-called garbage can cabinets. The disadvantage of the first two types is their unsightly appearance and in all cases the space required for the garbage containers. For this reason, DE 85 03 055 Ul already proposed storing the garbage containers underground in a housing that can be sunk into the ground and closed with a lid. To fill it with garbage and to remove the garbage container from the housing for emptying by the garbage collector, the garbage container is lifted out of the housing at one end. For this purpose, a platform for the garbage container, a guide rail for the platform and an electric motor arranged at the bottom of the housing for raising or lowering the platform are provided.

The disadvantage of the known system is the relatively high manufacturing costs, which arise in particular from the complex lifting device. Another disadvantage is the free accessibility of the lifting device and the drive, both of which are located within the elevator shaft.

Applicant: Uwe Kramp 76-la

This can result in the user's limbs becoming trapped and other accidents occurring if the device is used improperly or incorrectly.

The invention is based on the object of developing a system of the type mentioned above which is particularly cost-effective to manufacture and considerably safer to operate than the prior art.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the lifting device has two shafts which can be rotated about their longitudinal axis and which are arranged in the area of the upper edges of the housing opening and there opposite one another, and a strip or web-shaped textile which can be wound around one or both shafts and which is firmly connected to the shafts, that the textile is in turn firmly connected to a support plate for the garbage container which is horizontal in use and that the shafts can be rotated by the drive at the same rotational speed but in the opposite direction.

The textile has a minimum length from the edge of the support plate to its attachment point on the shaft, which corresponds to the desired lifting height. Preferably, a textile is attached to two opposite edges of a rectangular support plate, with its other end connected to the corresponding shaft. However, it is also possible to use a single textile that runs partially underneath the support plate.

The design of the lifting device according to the invention can be manufactured particularly inexpensively, since it can largely be made from elements that are also used in the manufacture of roller shutters and awnings.

A complex lifting mechanism as in the known system according to DE 85 03 055 Ul is therefore not necessary.

Applicant: Uwe Kramp »&iacgr;. *.«* *·«* &iacgr; ·· ·

76-la

Garbage containers with two wheels attached to the bottom are often used. To improve safety against the garbage container slipping on the support plate, troughs and/or side guides on the support plate for the garbage container's wheels are recommended. In order to be able to use the system for different container sizes, it is also advantageous if the position of the troughs or side guides on the support plate can be changed. For example, several pre-drilled holes can be provided in the support plate so that the troughs or side guides can be screwed into the desired place.

It is also proposed that the drive be located outside the elevator shaft in order to eliminate the risk of accidents in the event of improper or improper operation of the system.

0 To ensure that the waste container is always in an upright position and the support plate is always in a horizontal position, regardless of the height of the waste container or the support plate, the two shafts are preferably mechanically coupled to one another so that they always and inevitably rotate at the same speed but in the opposite direction. In this case, only a single drive element is required for both shafts.

0 The drive is preferably designed as a manual drive. The manual drive can be a hand crank, for example. This achieves increased operational reliability. However, it is also within the scope of the invention that an electric drive, e.g. with a mains connection (220 V), is provided in a more convenient design of the system.

Applicant: Uwe Kramp 76-la

♦ ·

In a particularly environmentally friendly and mains-independent version of the invention, the drive is designed as an electric motor that is exclusively or additionally powered by a battery, which in turn is electrically connected to solar cells. In this case, a voltage of 12 V is preferably used for the battery and the motor.

To protect the motor from moisture, it is also suggested that the drive, designed as an electric motor, is arranged inside one of the hollow shafts or both hollow shafts. Such a motor is known as a "tubular motor" in roller shutter technology.

The textile used in the system can have a different shape and be made of different materials. It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the textile is a web-shaped plastic fabric, which consists in particular of polyacrylonitrile fibers. Such fibers are known under the brand name Dralon. Textile scraps that accrue during the manufacture of awnings can thus be used to advantage, since the pieces of textile required according to the invention are relatively small compared to awnings. The advantage lies on the one hand in the particularly low costs for the textile and on the other hand in the environmental friendliness of the manufacturing process of the system according to the invention produced in this way.

0 Alternatively, the textile can also consist of several straps, whereby the well-known roller shutter straps can be used in particular.

The other parts of the system according to the invention can also be manufactured in a particularly environmentally friendly manner. For this reason, it is further proposed that the housing be made of plastic, in particular of a

* IJ, ·· «··· ft ff*-*

Applicant: Uwe Kramp .&Idigr;. *..* "..* &Idigr; ··* &idigr;

76-la

recycled plastic. In terms of environmental friendliness, it is also an advantage if the housing is made of polyethylene.

To stabilize the housing against the pressure of the surrounding soil exerted on the outer walls, it is advantageous if the housing has reinforcing ribs on the inside and/or outside of the side walls.

The housing can also be made of other materials, although galvanized sheet steel is preferred.

A particularly simple and user-friendly way of loading the garbage bin is achieved if a pedal is provided that, when pressed, lifts up the lid of the housing and the garbage bin in the underground position. The entire garbage bin does not have to be raised to load the garbage bin. The foot pedal offers the additional advantage that both of the user's hands are free when loading.

In a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, safety against children folding up the housing and waste container lid, which could injure themselves while playing with the system, is achieved in that the pedal can only be actuated when a minimum force is applied, which corresponds to a weight of 20 kg, in particular 30 kg.

If, despite this safety device, a small child falls into the housing or the garbage container, he or she is protected against suffocation when the lid of the housing and/or the garbage container is folded down if, in a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, means are provided for forced ventilation of the housing and the garbage container when the system is closed.

Applicant: Uwe Kramp .I.*.** *..* I ·.* ·

76-la

In the following, several embodiments of the invention are described in more detail with reference to drawings.
5

Figure 1 is a schematic sectional view of the inventive

according to the plant in a first execution

example,

Figure 2 is a perspective schematic representation of the support plate in Figure 1,

Figure 3 shows a detail from Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention,

Figure 5 is a perspective schematic view of the

Cover area in a system according to Figure 4, 20

Figure 6 is a partial perspective view of the waste container lid in interaction with the housing cover according to Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a partial section along the line VII - VII in Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of the operation of the pedal in a system 0 according to Figure 4,

Figure 9 shows the mechanical coupling of the two shafts in the embodiment according to Figure 4 in a first version,
35

Figure 10 the coupling of the two waves in the example according to Figure 4 in a second version,

Applicant: Uwe Kramp .!.*··* "«.* · ··* ·

76-la

Figure 11 the drive of the shafts,

Figure 12 a hand crank for manual drive of the shafts and

Figure 13 is a plan view of an embodiment according to the invention with solar cell operation.

In all drawings, the same reference symbols have the same meaning and are therefore only explained once if necessary.

A housing 1 is sunk into the ground 3, with the top 2 flush with the surface of the ground 3. The open top of the housing 1 can be closed with a cover 5 that can be pivoted about a joint 4. Two elongated spaces 6, in each of which a shaft 7 is rotatably mounted, adjoin opposite upper edges 2 of the box-shaped housing 1. In this embodiment, the shafts 7 are the grooved tubes known from awning construction. The shafts can be rotated by means of a drive that is explained in more detail below.

The ends of a web-shaped textile 8 made of awning fabric, as is also known in awnings under the term "piping guide", are fastened in the longitudinal grooves of the shafts 7. The textiles 8 run along two opposite walls of the housing 1, with the edges of a support plate 9 each being connected to a textile 8 via piping guides. A household waste container 10 stands on the support plate 9.

The piping guide is shown using the example of the connection of the textile 8 with the support plate 9 in Figure 3. The textile 8 is sewn at its end, and in the

Applicant: Uwe Kramp
76-la

A stable plastic tube, the so-called piping 14, is inserted into the tubular cavity formed in this way. If this end of the textile 8 is inserted into a longitudinal groove 15 of the support plate 9, whereby the longitudinal groove 15 widens towards the interior of the support plate 9, as shown in Figure 3, a very reliable connection of the textile 8 to the support plate 9 is achieved. The other end of the textile 8 is connected to its grooved tube 7 in a corresponding manner.

Figure 1 shows the system according to the invention in the lowered state, with each textile 8 running from one shaft 7 on a side wall downwards to the edge of the support plate 9.

If the household waste container is to be emptied in the case of a motor-driven system, e.g. via a tubular motor, the user actuates a foot switch 13 built into the housing so that the drive (not shown in Figure 1) rotates both shafts 7 at the same speed but in the opposite direction. The textile 8 is wound onto the shafts 7 and the support plate 9 moves upwards together with the household waste container, while the lid 5 is opened at the same time. The thickness of the support plate 9 is designed such that the top of the support plate 9 is flush with the surface of the ground 3 when raised, so that the household waste container 10 can be rolled away from the system without difficulty, e.g. towards the edge of the road, for example to be emptied by the garbage collector.

To improve the slip resistance of the household waste container 10, two troughs or side guides 12 are screwed onto the support plate 9. The size of the troughs 12 is such that the wheels 11 of the household waste container 12 can fit in them. When the wheels 11 are in the troughs 12, particularly when the household waste container is raised,

Applicant: Uwe Kramp .i. ·..*'·.♦' I ..* 2

76-la

waste container 12, a significant improvement in safety against slipping has been achieved.

In the following, further important details of the system according to the invention are explained using Figures 4 to 13.

The housing meets the following requirements: It is stable, waterproof, resistant to aging and corrosion, cost-effective in terms of material, design and production, and it can be easily disposed of and preferably reused (recycled).

Two options are preferred as the material for the housing. In the case of the design according to Figure 1, a housing made of recycled polyethylene is used, which has a multi-layer wall structure and has been manufactured using a coextrusion blow molding process. To improve stability, vertical reinforcing ribs are provided on the side walls.

In an alternative design of the housing according to the example in Figure 4, black sheet steel with a thickness of 1.5 mm is used. The housing is manufactured by edging or, if necessary, punching, spot welding and finally hot-dip galvanizing. The seams or edges are then sealed from the outside with a permanently elastic sealing compound 53, ζ. β. silicone.

During production, the two opposite side walls of the housing 1, which have the elongated spaces 6 for accommodating the shafts 7, are folded in one piece and the other two side walls are connected to them by spot welding. The welding points 16 are indicated in Figure 4. The seams created in this way can then be welded as a result of the outwardly projecting

Applicant: Uwe Kramp

76-la

- 10 -

Side surfaces 17 are sealed from the outside with a sealing compound 53. In this way, the housing can be manufactured significantly more cost-effectively than if the seams between the four side walls were completely welded shut.

The housing cover can be made of three different materials, each option having its advantages:

1. Hot-dip galvanized and/or powder-coated sheet steel, in one or more RAL colors

2. VA stainless steel sheet

3. Recycled polyethylene.

The housing cover 5 meets the following requirements: It is pressure-resistant and in particular can be walked on, is waterproof, has ventilation for safety and remains fully functional even under adverse weather conditions, e.g. when it is icy. The cover 5 enables convenient and easy operation, meets the safety requirements, has an inconspicuous visual appearance, whereby the surface design is variable. To prevent noise pollution when it rains (droning), insulation made of polyurethane foam 18 (Figures 5 and 7) is attached to the underside.

The housing cover 5 can be opened and closed using a small foot pedal 19. For safety reasons, a pressure of about 20 kp must be applied to the pedal 19 in order for the housing cover 5 to open. The cover 5 is connected to the cover 21 of the waste container underneath via a sliding bracket 20 in such a way that both covers 5, 21 open and close simultaneously. To adapt to different sized waste containers, the sliding bracket is height-adjustable, as indicated by the reference number 22 in Figure 6. Alternatively, different sized interchangeable sliding brackets 20 can also be used.

Applicant: Uwe Kramp .!.*..* *·· · ·· ·

76-la

- 11 -

Adaptation to the different sizes of the garbage container must be provided. It is therefore not necessary to change the type and design of the lid 21 of the garbage container. When the garbage container is raised and lowered, the sliding bracket 20 is simply hooked under the lid 21.

The sliding bracket 20 also has the advantage that it ensures forced ventilation of the interior of the waste container when the housing cover 5 is closed.

The housing cover 5, which can be pivoted about a bearing 30, is secured against sudden folding down by a gas pressure damper when opened. As shown in Figure 8, a tension spring 23 or a counterweight ensures that the foot pedal 19 can only be pressed down when a force of at least 20 kp is applied in order to fold up the housing cover 5. The tension spring 23 is attached to the housing wall at one end and engages with the other end on a joint 24 of a rod mechanism connected to the foot pedal 19. The reference numerals 25 and 26 designate the cover bearing for the pedal device and the pedal bearing rotation axis. Solar cells 27 for supplying the electric motor can also be seen in Figure 8.

The surrounding sides of the housing cover 5 are beveled in such a way that rainwater cannot penetrate. The surrounding drip edge of the housing cover is designated by the reference number 29 (Figure 5). The surrounding raised edge of the housing to prevent water from easily penetrating can be clearly seen in Figure 5. The bearing 30 is preferably located outside this raised edge in order to ensure protection against rainwater in the swivel area of the housing cover 5. When installing the system according to the invention, it is also recommended to install a space of 30 cm around the side walls.

Applicant: Uwe Kramp
76-la

- 12 -

and to create a drainage layer of pebbles in the soil around the bottom wall of the housing in order to avoid waterlogging in the immediate vicinity of the housing.

Within the housing edge, narrow ventilation slots 28 are arranged in the upper area, similar to the light slots of a roller shutter slat or a roller shutter rod (Figure 5) in order to ventilate the interior of the housing even when the cover 5 is closed.

The height-adjustable (and/or replaceable) and pivoting bracket 20, in which the lid of the garbage container is hooked before it is lowered, enables both lids 5, 21 to open simultaneously when opened with the foot pedal 19, and it serves as a spacer between the lid 21 and the edge of the lid of the garbage container so that the garbage container is forced ventilated (Figures 5 and 6).

0 The raised edge of the housing 1 and the insulating layer attached underneath the housing cover 5 can be seen particularly clearly in Figure 7. The insulating and soundproofing layer can be made of polyurethane foam or Styrofoam, depending on the customer's wishes. A particular advantage of this layer is that it heats up less in summer and therefore reduces odor formation, as well as providing a soundproofing effect when it rains.

In the design of the system according to the invention according to Figure 0 5, the shafts 7 are rotated manually in order to move the support plate 9 with the household waste container 10 up or down. For this purpose, a drive crank 31 is provided, which is preferably housed in the housing 1 itself. The hand-side end of the crank is attached to clips 32 on the underside of the housing cover 5. In this way, the crank 31 is easily

Applicant: Uwe Kramp .!."..* .· · ··

76-la

- 13 -

can be grasped when the housing cover 5 is lifted with the foot pedal 19. Bending down deeply is not necessary.

The drive crank 31 is designed as a so-called articulated crank, as can be seen particularly clearly in Figure 12 in different bent positions. At the hand-side end of the crank, two handles 33 and two joints 34 arranged between them are attached. The joints 34 are designed as universal joints. The handles 33 are mounted and can therefore be rotated about their longitudinal axis. At the other end of the crank 31, a hexagon socket 35, also called a nut, is welded on, which can be placed on a hexagon 36 on the front of the housing 37. The hexagon 36 forms the output of the gear, with which the shafts 7 can be rotated.

The three illustrations in Figure 12 show the different ways of handling the folding crank 31, whereby the crank can be folded {Figure 12a), straight (Figure 12b) or also folded together with the outermost handle shell by 90° {Figure 12c).

The design details, the functionality and the advantages of the drive part between the hexagon 3 6 and the shafts 7 are now revealed using figures 9 to 11. This drive part meets high safety requirements, is easy to handle, protected from moisture and can withstand high loads. It is inexpensive in terms of material, design and manufacture and fulfils its function without any problems even in adverse weather conditions such as snow and ice.

In detail, this drive part, assuming a hand crank drive, consists of two drive tubes 7, preferably grooved tubes, made of galvanized sheet steel, which are also referred to as shafts 7 in this application.

Applicant: Uwe Kramp "· ·

76-la

- 14 -

net, from four end bearings, a mechanical gear 38 (bevel gear) with the required transmission ratio and a hexagon 3 6 to accommodate the crank rod 31, two drive pinions 40, a drive chain 41, two chain bearings 43 for the deflection and a bracket 42 for the chain bearings 43, six belt straps or two textile strips 8, which are about 60 cm wide and about 120 cm long and a hand crank 31 (articulated crank).
10

Two different advantageous designs of this drive part are possible.

In the first version, the bevel gear 38, for which a known and usual awning gear can be used and which is operated with the hand crank 31, is connected to one of the two tubular shafts 7 via a square steel bolt 39, which can be either the right or left shaft in Figure 10. On each of the two tubular shafts 7, on the side opposite the gear side, there is a chain wheel 40, which is also called a pinion (Figure 9). Both pinions 40 are drive-coupled by means of a cross-running chain 41. In the crossing area of the chain, a bearing block 42 or a bearing holder with two small bearings 43 is arranged, which guide the chain 41 and keep it at a distance from one another so that the chain 41 does not touch or rub against one another. The chain 41 is surrounded by a chain case, not shown in Figure 9, which can be opened 0 for possible maintenance work.

In a second version of the drive part, the pinions 40 and the drive chain 41 are not required (Figure 10). Here, a bevel gear 38 is attached to each of the two tubular shafts 7 in accordance with the first version. The gears 38 are coupled via a cardan shaft 44 with cardan joints 45 in such a way that the one

Applicant: Uwe Kramp

76-la

- 15 -

Shaft 7 rotates clockwise and the other shaft 7 rotates anti-clockwise. A gear deflection 46 is attached to one of the gears 38 in order to guide the drive shaft with the hexagon 36 vertically upwards. The top of the housing is indicated by the line 47 in Figure 10.

Figure 11 shows the drive part of the first version intended for manual drive in a different view. The chain case is designated by reference number 48.

Instead of a hand crank, an electric motor can also be used to drive the two tubular shafts 7. Preferably, a so-called tubular motor is used, which is installed in one of the hollow shafts 7. The other shaft is connected to the first shaft 7 via gears and a chain, in accordance with the first drive version already explained. The tubular motors, which are also used in roller shutters and awnings, have an adjustable and even a torque-dependent limit switch.

In another version, a 12 V motor can also be used, so that it is also possible to operate the system according to the invention independently of the mains in any region using solar modules. This technology is already known for external roof window roller shutters. It works with a battery and control electronics that control the process and monitor the battery's charge level. This motor can also be designed as a tubular motor and have an upper and lower limit switch.

A corresponding system is shown in plan view in Figure 13. The system, which is surrounded by a gravel bed 49, works with a tubular motor 50 inside one shaft 7. The motor is operated via a remote control with a receiver 13 that is connected to the motor's electrical system. The remote control, such as that used for

Applicant: Uwe Kramp

76-la

- 16 -

Opening and closing garage doors is known per se, the system is protected against unauthorized access. Alternatively, a key switch can also be provided. The motor 50 is supplied via a 12 V cable connection 51 from a battery 52, which in turn is charged by a solar module 27. The battery is protected from the effects of the weather in a housing. When removing the household waste container from the housing and vice versa, the container is rolled or pushed over the cover for the shaft containing the motor 50.

Applicant: Uwe Kramp 76-la

- 17 -

List of reference symbols

1 Housing 2 Top 3 soil 4 joint 5 Lid 6 Space 7 Shaft (grooved tube) 8th Textile 9 Support plate 10 Household waste container 11 wheel 12 trough 13 Reception part 14 Piping 15 Longitudinal groove 16 W elding point 17 Side surface, protruding 18 Pu foam 19 Foot pedal 20 Sliding bracket 21 Lid of the garbage container 22 Height adjustability 23 Tension spring 24 joint 25 Cover bearing 26 Pedal bearing pivot axis 27 Solar cells, solar module 28 Ventilation slot 29 Drip edge 30 camp 31 Drive crank 32 Clip 33 Handle shell

t ti

Applicant: Uwe Kramp - 1 joint 76-la Hexagon socket 34 Hexagon 35 Front panel 36 Bevel gear 37 Square steel bolts 38 Sprocket, pinion 39 Chain 40 Bearing block 41 camp 42 propeller shaft 43 Cardan joint 44 Gearbox redirection 45 Housing top 46 Chain case 47 Gravel bed 48 Tubular motor 49 Cable connection 50 accumulator 51 caulk 52 53

Claims (16)

1. System for underground storage of garbage containers, in particular household garbage containers, with a housing that can be sunk into the ground, is open at the top and can be closed with a lid on its top, which encloses a lift shaft, with a lifting device for the garbage container and with a drive for the lifting device, characterized in that the lifting device has two shafts (7) that can rotate about their longitudinal axis and are arranged in the area of the upper edges of the housing opening and there opposite one another, and a strip or web-shaped textile (8) that can be wound up on one or both shafts (7) and is firmly connected to the shafts (7), that the textile (8) is in turn firmly connected to a support plate (9) for the garbage container (10) that is horizontal in use and that the shafts (7) can be rotated by the drive at the same rotational speed, but in the opposite direction. 2. System according to the preceding claim, characterized by troughs (12) and/or side guides on the support plate (9) for the wheels (11) of the garbage container (10). 3. Plant according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the position of the troughs (12) or side guides on the support plate (9) is variable. 4. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive is arranged outside the elevator shaft. Γ; Applicant: Uwe Kramp 76-la - 20 - 5. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two shafts (7) are mechanically coupled to one another so that they always rotate at the same speed but in the opposite direction. 6. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive is designed as a manual drive. 7. Plant according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the drive is designed as an electric motor (50) which is exclusively or additionally fed by an accumulator (52) which in turn is electrically connected to solar cells (27). 8. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive is designed as an electric motor (50) which is arranged within one of the hollow shafts (7) or the two hollow shafts (7). 9. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the textile (8) is a web-shaped plastic fabric 0, which consists in particular of polyacrylonitrile fibers. 10. System according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the textile (8) consists of several belts. 11. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, Applicant: Uwe Kramp 76-la - 21 - characterized in that the housing (1) consists of plastic, in particular of a recycled plastic. 12. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the housing (l) consists of polyethylene. 13. Plant according to claim 12 or 13,
characterized in that the housing has vertically extending reinforcing ribs on the inside and/or outside of the side walls. 14. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a pedal is provided which, when actuated, folds up the lid (5) of the housing (1) and of the garbage container (10) in the underground position. 15. System according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the pedal can only be actuated when a minimum force is applied, which corresponds to a weight of 20 kg, in particular of 30 kg. 16. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means for forced ventilation of the housing (1) and the waste container (10) when the system is closed are provided.