EP0761568A1

EP0761568A1 - Lifting tilting device for containers

Info

Publication number: EP0761568A1
Application number: EP96202435A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jan Hendrik Versteeg
Original assignee: Terberg Machines BV
Current assignee: Terberg Machines BV
Priority date: 1995-08-31
Filing date: 1996-09-02
Publication date: 1997-03-12
Also published as: NL1001105C1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for discharging the content of a container (6), comprising: a support frame; a lifting device (4) which comprises at least one drive and is arranged on the support frame for movement from a low to a high position relative to the support frame; a tilting device which is arranged on the lifting device for tilting relative to the support frame and the lifting device round a substantially lying tilting shaft and which comprises a coupling for the purpose of coupling the container (6) releasably to the tilting device, characterized by arresting means for engaging the tilting device or the container between the high and the low position of the lifting device in order to exert on the tilting device or container a tilting force directed round the tilting shaft as a result of continued movement of the lifting device.

Description

The invention relates to a device for discharging the content of a container, comprising:

a support frame;
a lifting device which comprises at least one drive and is arranged on the support frame for movement from a low to a higher position relative to the support frame;
a tilting device which is arranged on the lifting device for tilting relative to the support frame and the lifting device round a substantially lying tilting shaft and which comprises a coupling for the purpose of coupling the container releasably to the tilting device.

Such a device is usually designated a lifting and tilting device and is for instance a lifting and tilting device for containers such as can for instance be used on refuse collection trucks.
When such a device is used on a refuse collection truck, refuse containers are herewith lifted from street level and are tipped over in a high position so that the content thereof falls into the loading space of the refuse collection truck on which the device is arranged.
Known devices have the drawback that the configuration thereof is not designed for discharging at great height, for instance 4 metres. As a result discharge takes place at a height wherein optimum loading of the truck is not possible.
It is in addition not possible to adjust the discharge height, which is particularly important in an embodiment which is not mounted on a refuse collection or other truck, but which stands alone or can be moved to load different types of refuse collection or other truck.
The invention has for its object to provide a new construction for such a device, which is distinguished by arresting means for engaging the tilting device or the container between the high and the low position of the lifting device in order to exert on the tilting device or container a tilting force directed round the tilting shaft under the influence of movement of the lifting device.
Another distinctive feature of a device according to the present invention is that the arresting means comprise an arm, one end of which is fixed to the tilting device, and stop means arranged at a fixed height on the support frame, wherein the free end of the arm strikes against the stop means on reaching this height. The stop means are herein preferably adjustable in order to adjust the fixed height.
In a preferred embodiment a device according to the present invention is embodied such that the support frame comprises a vehicle such as a truck or a refuse collection truck or wherein fixing means are arranged for releasably fixing the support frame to such a vehicle.
The device according to the invention is further described hereinafter with reference to the annexed figures.
Fig. 1 shows a partly schematic view of a lifting and tilting device according to the invention as arranged on the rear of a truck.
Fig. 2 shows a view corresponding with fig. 1 of another embodiment.
Fig. 3 shows the device of fig. 2 in another situation of use.
Fig. 4 shows a partly broken away perspective detail view of a vertically movable carriage, to which is coupled a container for emptying.
Fig. 5 is a schematic side view of the device according to arrow V in fig. 4, in which a number of positions during tilting are shown with broken lines.
Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of the device according to the invention.
Fig. 7 shows a perspective detail view of the carriage carrying the container.
Fig. 8 shows a schematic side view of the carriage of fig. 7 to elucidate the tilting movement.
Fig. 9 shows a view of a further embodiment.
Fig. 10 shows a schematic side view of the carriage of fig. 9 to elucidate the tilting movement.
Fig. 11 shows the device of fig. 9 in another situation of use.
The device 1 shown in figure 1 comprises a support frame which is designed as a truck 2 and on the rear of which two lifting and tilting devices 4 according to the invention are arranged. With these lifting and tilting devices containers 6 can be emptied via openings in the rear wall into the loading space 3 of truck 2.
The lifting and tilting devices 4 each comprise a carriage 5 which is arranged for guided vertical movement by means of guides 8. The carriages 5 can be moved up and downward by a hydraulic cylinder 7.
In the embodiment of fig. 1 the hydraulic cylinders are embodied as pulling cylinders and in the embodiment of fig. 2 and 3 the cylinders are embodied as pushing cylinders.
In fig. 1 the cylinders 7 are mounted on truck 2 by means of a support 9. Instead of a direct mounting of the lifting and tilting devices 4 on truck 2 as shown in the figures, it is also possible to arrange one or two of these lifting and tilting devices on a sub-frame which is arranged releasably on a truck. The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for suspending from the wall of a commonly used loading container open at the top.
Further connected to carriage 5 are means which enable tilting of the suspended container 6 as soon as the carriage has reached a high position. These means will be further described.
As noted above, the device 10 shown in fig. 2 makes use of pushing cylinders 16, in this case exceptionally simple cylinders which have a lower cost price than pulling cylinders as used in the device 1 of fig. 1. In this embodiment a carriage 15 is also used which is guided on the rear of the truck for vertical movement up and downward by means of guides 18. The carriage 15 is connected to a casing 17 which contains the guides co-acting with the guide rods 18.
Using the shown lifting and tilting devices two small containers can be emptied independently of one another as shown in these figures 1 and 2, but it is also possible to empty one large container using both lifting and tilting devices together. This configuration is shown in fig. 3. The large container 20 is supported on the carriages 15 of both lifting and tilting devices and is lifted up and emptied jointly thereby.
A control device enabling both carriages 15 of the lifting and tilting devices to operate synchronously is per se known and forms no part of the present invention.
Fig. 4 shows in more detail the carriage of a lifting and tilting device 4 as shown in fig. 1. The carriage 5 comprises a main frame 22 provided with bearings 23 which co-act with the above mentioned guide rods 8. These guide rods 8 are fixedly mounted in a casing 11, which in turn is connected to the truck. The cylinder 7 engages on this main frame 22.
A rod 24 protruding in transverse direction is fixed to frame 22. A carrier 25 is mounted on the end of this rod 24 such that it can pivot on the rod 24 in a manner to be further described. In an alternative embodiment the rod 24 is coupled for rotation on its longitudinal axis to the main frame 22 and the carrier 25 is fixedly mounted on the rod 24. The carrier 25 is provided at its upper end with a comb 26 which can grip under an edge of a container for lifting.
A fixed arm 29 and a swivel arm 31 are connected to the carrier 25. The swivel arm 31 is hingedly connected to carrier 25 at one end and hingedly connected to an auxiliary frame 27 at the other end. The auxiliary frame 27 can move up and downward simultaneously with the main frame 22 and is guided herein by a guide rod 28. The fixed arm 29 of carrier 25 is provided on its protruding end with a stop 30 which lies against the underside of auxiliary frame 27. As a result of the own weight of carrier 25, possibly increased by a container suspended on the comb 26 thereof, the stop 30 remains in contact with auxiliary frame 27.
Fixedly connected to auxiliary frame 27 is a stop 32 which co-acts with a protrusion 33 which is fixedly connected to the truck, or at least to the casing 11.
It will be apparent that through the action of the pulling cylinder 7, or alternatively the pushing cylinder 16, the assembly formed by main frame 22, carrier 25 and auxiliary frame 27 can be displaced up and downward, wherein the carrier 25 remains in the position shown in fig. 4.
Before the top end of the upward stroke of the carriage 5, the stop 32 comes into contact with the protrusion 33, whereby the auxiliary frame 27 moves no further upward together with the movement of carriage 5.
In fig. 5 the subsequently occurring movement of carrier 25 is further shown. The stop 33 connected pivotally to auxiliary frame 27 lies against protrusion 32 and auxiliary frame 27 thus moves no further upward. The rod 24 connected to the main frame 22 is however moved further upward by the action of cylinder 7, as indicated with the arrow 34. The arm 31 hereby pivots upward, whereby carrier 25 tilts round rod 24. The container suspended on carrier 25 is hereby tipped over and emptied into the loading space.
After emptying of the container the main frame is moved downward again wherein carrier 25 with the container suspended thereon tilts back into the position drawn with full lines in fig. 5. During the further downward movement the auxiliary frame 27 also moves downward, whereby the container is placed on the ground.
During the up and downward movement the fixed arm 29 ensures that auxiliary frame 27 moves along evenly with main frame 22. At variance with what is shown in the figures, the auxiliary frame 27 can optionally be provided with a slot-like opening into which the stop 30 engages, so that both upward and downward forces can be exerted by the stop 30 on the auxiliary frame 27 in order to obtain a good, even progress.
The lifting and tilting device 40 shown in fig. 6 is embodied as an individual unit. The device 40 comprises a frame 41 which is provided with wheels and on which a standing mast 42 is fixed. This mast forms guide means for a carriage 45, which can be guided along mast 45 for upward and downward movement.
Received in the mast is a cylinder 43 which engages on carriage 45 and can thus drive it upward and downward.
As shown in fig. 7, carriage 45 comprises a transverse rod 46 on which a container carrier 47 is mounted. As can be seen in fig. 7, a frame part of carriage 45 is guided in the interior of mast 42.
Guided round the outer periphery of mast 43 is an auxiliary frame 50 to which are connected swivel arms 48 which in turn engage hingedly on the carrier 47. The auxiliary frame 50 directly forms a stop which co-acts with a protrusion 49 fixedly arranged on mast 42.
Fig. 8 shows in a manner similar to fig. 5 the movement of carrier 47 during emptying of a container. As soon as auxiliary frame 50 comes into contact with the protrusion 49 during the upward movement, this auxiliary frame moves no further upward. The rod 46 is however driven further upward by the cylinder 43, whereby the swivel arm 48 pivots on its hinge connection with the auxiliary frame 50 and therewith tilts carrier 47 into the position shown with dashed lines. The content of the container is hereby tipped into the loading space of the truck or for instance a collection container.
When container 44 is emptied, the cylinder 43 is retracted again, whereby the movement proceeds in reverse sequence and container 44 is eventually placed on the ground again.
Shown in fig. 9 is another embodiment of a device according to the present invention which differs from the embodiment shown in fig. 2 and 4 in that it only contains guide rods 8 for the main frame 22. A separate auxiliary frame as designated with 27 in fig. 4 and a separate guide rod 28 therefor as designated with 28 in fig. 4 are therefore absent.
The stop 32 also herein comes into contact with protrusion 33, whereby protrusion 33 does not move any further upward together with the movement of the carriage 5.
The subsequently occurring movement of carrier 25 is further shown in fig. 10. The stop 33 connected pivotally with arm 31 to the carrier 25 lies against the protrusion 32 and therefore moves no further upward. The rod 24 connected to main frame 22 is however moved further upward by the action of the cylinder 7, as indicated with arrow 34. The arm 31 hereby pivots upward, whereby carrier 25 tilts round the rod 24. The container suspended on carrier 25 is hereby tipped over and emptied into the loading space. The arm 31 is mounted pivotally on carrier 25 but is supported by block 35 such that it cannot pivot downward relative to the position shown in full lines in this fig. 10.
After emptying of the container the main frame 22 is moved downward again, wherein carrier 25 with the container suspended therefrom tilts back to the position drawn in full lines in fig. 10. During the further downward movement the arm 31 also moves downward in the substantially lying position shown here with full lines.
Using the shown lifting and tilting devices two small containers can be emptied independently of one another, as shown in fig. 9 and 10, but it is also possible to empty one large container using both lifting and tilting devices together. This configuration is shown in fig. 11. The large container 20 is supported on the carriages 15 of both lifting and tilting devices and jointly lifted and emptied thereby. This situation is comparable to that described with reference to fig. 2 and 3.
Although in the foregoing only configurations are described wherein tilting movements are effected as a result of a further upward movement of the lifting device after engagement of the tilting device or the container by arresting means, it is also possible within the scope of the present invention to cause such an engagement to take place in the downward movement of the lifting device. In addition, only configurations are described above wherein tilting takes place over the tilting shaft, wherein it is also possible within the scope of the invention to realize an embodiment wherein tilting takes place under the tilting shaft.

Claims

Device for discharging the content of a container, comprising:
- a support frame;

- a lifting device which comprises at least one drive and is arranged on the support frame for movement from a low to a high position relative to the support frame;

- a tilting device which is arranged on the lifting device for tilting relative to the support frame and the lifting device round a substantially lying tilting shaft and which comprises a coupling for the purpose of coupling the container releasably to the tilting device,
characterized by arresting means for engaging the tilting device or the container between the high and the low position of the lifting device in order to exert on the tilting device or container a tilting force directed round the tilting shaft as a result of continued movement of the lifting device.
Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the arresting means comprise an arm, one end of which is fixed to the tilting device, and stop means arranged at a fixed height on the support frame, wherein the free end of the arm strikes against the stop means on reaching this height.
Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stop means are adjustable in order to adjust the fixed height.
Device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the arm is mounted for upward pivoting on the tilting device and the stop means comprise an engaging member fixedly mounted on the support frame between the high and low position.
Device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the support frame comprises a guide parallel to the direction of movement of the lifting device and having a guide element movable along said guide, wherein the free end of the arm is mounted pivotally on the guide element.
Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the drive comprises at least a hydraulic cylinder.
Device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the drive comprises at least two telescopically extensible stages.
Device as claimed in claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the stages form a telescopically extensible sleeve placed over the cylinder.
Device as claimed in either of the claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the upper of the stages comprises guide means.
Device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the guide means comprise at least one guide rod and a bearing block slidable along the guide rod in practically friction-free manner.
Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that fixing means are arranged for releasable fixing to the support frame.
Device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the support frame comprises a transport vehicle such as a truck or a refuse collection truck.
Loading device for a transport vehicle such as a truck or a refuse collection truck, characterized by at least one device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims.
Loading device as claimed in claim 13, characterized by two devices as claimed in any of the claims 1-12.