EP3795498B1 - Container with improved structure for transmitting forces - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the field of containers, in particular that of voluntary waste collection containers.

By voluntary waste collection containers we mean those placed on public roads in specific locations where users bring sorted or unsorted waste. Such containers can be overhead, buried or semi-buried.

These are more particularly waste containers whose structure is delimited by at least one or more side walls and a bottom wall. The side wall and the bottom wall define a useful volume of the tank. The container generally also includes a lid covering the useful volume, in which an opening for introducing waste is generally made, which can also be made in one of the side walls.

The bottom wall of such a tank has at least one door, generally two hatches, which can be opened to empty the container into a collection truck.

For this purpose, the container is provided with a gripping member for lifting the container, which is connected to the tank by a force transmission structure. Most often, a lifting crane is attached to the gripping device so as to lift the container above the collection truck, then the hatches are activated so that the waste contained in the volume of the tank falls by gravity. in the truck bed. The technique is already known in the state, illustrated in figure 1 , a waste collection container having a force transmission structure 30 comprising reinforcing elements 32, here in the form of beams, but which can also be in the form of hoops, directly connecting the gripping member 18 to the wall of bottom 16 extending into the volume of the tank 12 substantially in the same plane.

When collecting waste, a mechanical gripper connected to the lifting crane grips the gripping member 18. This gripper generally has two functions: keep the container secured to the crane while preventing its movement via a fixed gripping disc 24 and act on a hatch opening device 17 by acting on a mobile gripping element 26, also called a mushroom, in translation along a vertical axis of the tank 12.

During the first stage of collection, namely the stage of lifting the container above the truck, the clamp pulls on the mushroom 26, which makes it possible to act on tie rods 28a, 28b themselves pulling the hatches 16a , 16b towards the top of container 10, keeping them closed.

In principle, the lifting stroke of the truck is planned so that the mushroom 26 does not exert pressure on the roof of the container (not shown on the figure 1 ). However, in certain cases, if the lifting stroke of the truck is incorrectly adjusted, or if the tie rods become stuck during lifting, the mushroom 26 is pulled beyond its programmed stroke and the lid (or roof) of the container is found subjected to the forces exerted on the mushroom 26 on the one hand and the fixed gripping disc 24 on the other hand. There is therefore a risk that the container cover will be damaged by the crushing force it is subjected to.

To avoid this problem, in the prior art, the tank is reinforced using reinforcing elements 32 extending from an axis of symmetry X-X of the tank 12, along which the gripping member is generally placed. 18, towards the edges of the bottom wall 16. However, such a force transmission structure 30 poses numerous drawbacks.

Firstly, the beams 32 extending in the useful volume V of the tank, shown in dotted lines in the figure, they encumber the volume available for storing waste. If their dimensions can be reduced, the fact that they extend from the axis of symmetry X-X of the tank 12 towards the edges of the bottom wall 16, therefore towards the walls of the tank 12, has the consequence that they pass through a large part of the useful volume V. They thus disrupt the placement of the waste, generally not very malleable due to the fact that they are collected in bags or due to their own rigidity (cans, bottles, etc.), in the tank 12 .

In addition, this geometry means that the structural elements 32 are very close to certain side walls 14 of the tank. These walls, here on the left and right of the figure, cannot therefore accommodate the waste introduction orifice without risking the congestion of the tank 12 near the orifice, in other words preventing the introduction of waste then that the entire useful volume V is not occupied. In other words, the configuration of the prior art limits the possibilities of arranging the waste introduction orifice on other walls.

Finally, the fact that the structural elements 32 are arranged in substantially the same plane limits the robustness of the force transmission structure 30 and therefore imposes a limiting load when lifting the container.

The document FR 2978960 A1 discloses a waste container according to the preamble of claim 1.

The invention aims in particular to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a container whose force transmission structure allowing its lifting and emptying limits the bulk of the tank while being very robust.

For this purpose the invention relates to a container according to claim 1 .

Thanks to the presence of the base fixed to the gripping member and to the arms connected to the side walls, the forces during lifting and actuation of the hatches (in particular their maintenance in the closed position) exerted on the gripping member gripping can be transmitted to the bottom wall via the side walls, which makes it possible to dispense with the presence of reinforcing elements in the useful volume. In other words, we make the best use of the inherent structure of the tank, without even having to modify it, by passing the forces through the pre-existing elements of the tank, namely the side walls.

Thus, since no reinforcing element is present in the useful volume of the tank, it can be entirely devoted to the storage of waste, which is also not constrained in its placement.

Consequently, the invention makes it possible to offer greater freedom in the design of the tank, not only in its shape but also in the possibilities of positioning the waste introduction orifices.

Finally, the force transmission arms potentially extend in several directions without being limited to a plane, the force transmission structure is more robust and the payload of the tank is increased.

Preferably, the tank having a central axis being the union of two planes of symmetry of the tank or an axis of revolution of the tank, the base is provided substantially along this axis. This configuration allows better balancing of the container when lifting it, in other words to ensure that it does not lean during this operation.

According to a preferred embodiment, the tank being delimited by a plurality of contiguous side walls, the distal end of each arm is fixed to a junction zone between two contiguous walls of the tank. This makes it possible to transfer the forces from the gripping member to the zone of the walls presenting the greatest mechanical resistance and thus to obtain an efficient distribution of the forces and giving the assembly greater robustness.

Advantageously the distal end of each arm is fixed to an edge of the wall opposite the bottom wall, called the upper edge, of said at least one side wall. This makes it possible to further avoid the clutter of the useful volume by the force transmission structure.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the distal end of each arm is provided with a bracket, each branch of the bracket being connected to one of the two contiguous side walls of the tank. This constitutes a means of reinforcing the force transmission structure by distributing the forces between two contiguous walls.

Preferably, the arms extend from the base in a star configuration. Such a cross structure configuration allows both good balancing of the container when lifting it and confers good mechanical resistance to the whole.

According to a preferred embodiment, the tank being delimited by four side walls opposed in pairs, the force transmission arms are arranged in a cross, the transmission arms crossing at the level of the base.

According to a particular embodiment, the gripping member comprises a guide tube, the guide tube being connected at one of its ends to the base. This configuration allows direct transmission of forces from the gripping member to the base and therefore to the walls of the tank.

Preferably, the tank being provided with a cover, the force transmission structure is arranged in the cover. This makes it possible to hide the force transmission structure.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the bottom wall is provided with hatches whose opening allows access to the useful volume of the tank.

In order not to clutter the tank and allow its volume to be entirely devoted to the insertion of waste, the transverse beam is located outside the useful volume of the tank.

In order to limit the bulk of the trap actuation device, in particular in the tank, the transverse beam being connected to the gripping member via a chain, the base includes an opening allowing the passage of the chain. The trap actuation device is therefore advantageously integrated into the force transmission structure so as to limit the bulk of the tank.

In order to further limit the bulk of the hatch actuation device, the base includes a housing to accommodate the transverse beam.

Preferably, the container according to the invention is configured to contain waste.

Brief description of the figures

• [Fig. 1] la figure 1 (art antérieur) est une vue en perspective d'une structure de transmission des efforts d'un dispositif d'actionnement des trappes d'un conteneur de l'art antérieur ;
• [Fig. 2] la figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un conteneur selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention.
• [Fig. 3] la figure 3 est une vue en perspective d'un détail d'un conteneur selon un mode de réalisation exemplaire ne faisant pas partie de l'invention.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• [ Fig. 1 ] there figure 1 (prior art) is a perspective view of a structure for transmitting the forces of a device for actuating the hatches of a container of the prior art;
• [ Fig. 2 ] there figure 2 is a perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• [ Fig. 3 ] there Figure 3 is a perspective view of a detail of a container according to an exemplary embodiment not forming part of the invention.

detailed description

We represented on the figure 2 a container 10, more particularly a waste collection container. For reasons of clarity, some elements of the container have been omitted from the figure 2 , such as its cover and the waste introduction orifices.

The container 10 is provided with a tank 12, delimited by at least one side wall 14 and a bottom wall 16.

In the embodiment shown in figure 2 , the tank 12 is delimited by four side walls 14 opposed in pairs. The four side walls 14 are contiguous. Thus, the tank 12 delimits a useful volume V which is substantially parallelepiped.

It will be noted that in other embodiments not shown, the tank 12 can be delimited by a single side wall 14, which can for example be in the shape of a cylinder of revolution and a bottom wall 16.

In the case of a tank 12 delimited by a plurality of side walls 14, these can be arranged contiguous so as to delimit, with the bottom wall 16, useful volumes V of different shapes than a parallelepiped. For example, the tank could have a triangular, hexagonal, octagonal section, etc.

Preferably in fact, the tank 12 is provided with a central axis X-X which is either the union of two planes of symmetry, or an axis of symmetry of revolution. This X-X axis is parallel to the vertical when the container 10 is placed on the ground.

The bottom wall 16 is provided with hatches 16a; 16b whose opening allows access to the useful volume V of the tank. For this purpose, the container 10 includes a device for actuating the hatches 17, the mode of operation of which will be described later.

The container 10 is also provided with a gripping member 18 for lifting the container. In a manner known per se, and in particular from the document FR 3039141 ; this gripping member 18 is for example a “mushroom” type commonly called the subject of patents EP 0399280 And EP 0462629 issued in the name of the company Kinshofer Greiftechnik.

The gripping member 18 thus comprises a guide tube 20, here hollow and extending in a vertical direction, which is here parallel to the central axis X-X.

The gripping member 18 supports, at one of its ends, in this case the end closest to the tank 12, a fixing plate 22, and at its opposite end, a fixed gripping disc 24. The plate fixing 22 extends along a plane normal to the direction in which the guide tube 20 extends.

The guide tube 20 preferably extends the central axis X-X in order to balance the tank 12 and therefore the container 10 according to its lifting. Indeed, during an operation of emptying the container 10, the container 10 is first lifted using a lifting machine which includes a member which grips, generally grips, the guide tube 20, the fixed gripping disc 24 serving as a stop.

In this type of “mushroom” system, the gripping member 18 is part of the trap actuation device 17.

The trap actuation device 17 comprises a movable bar (of which only one end is seen in the figures), movable in translation inside the guide tube 20. The movable bar supports, at its end opposite the tank 12, a movable gripping element, also called mushroom 26, which projects out of the guide tube 20.

According to one embodiment of the invention shown in figure 2 , at its end closest to the tank 12, which is located inside the guide tube 20, the movable bar is connected to a transverse beam 29 connected to the hatches 16a, 16b to activate their opening as will be explained more far.

More precisely, the transverse beam 29 is connected, at each of its ends, respectively to two pairs of tie rods 28a, 28b, which are themselves respectively connected to the two hatches 16a, 16b. The tie rods are here in the form of longitudinal bars. The tie rods 28a, 28b are here arranged closest to the walls 14 in order to prevent them from taking up space in the center of the tank V and thus constituting an obstacle to the passage of waste from the top of the container to its bottom, which would prevent their evacuation when opening the hatches 16a, 16b.

The transverse beam 29 is also connected to the movable bar, therefore to the gripping member 18, via a chain 31 so as to be movable in translation along the vertical axis X-X. The transverse beam 29, which extends substantially in a direction perpendicular to the axis located above the tank 12, therefore outside its useful volume V, and extends substantially from a side wall 14 to the opposite wall.

The gripping member 18 is configured so that the hatches 16a, 16b are kept closed when the mushroom 26 is in the raised position, which keeps the chain 31 under tension and therefore the transverse beam 29 in the high position (position of the figure 2 ). Thus, the tie rods 28a, 28b pull the hatches 16a, 16b towards the top of the container 10, keeping them closed. To open the tank 12, the mushroom 26 is lowered, which has the effect of relaxing the chain 31 and moving the transverse beam 29 downwards. The tie rods 28a, 28b therefore no longer hold the hatches 16a, 16b which open under the effect of their weight and that of the waste contained in the tank 12.

During an operation of emptying the container 10, the container 10 is first lifted using a lifting machine which comprises a first member which grips, generally grips, the guide tube 24, the disc gripping device 24 serving as a stop. Then, once the container 10 has been moved above the bucket of a collection truck, a second member of the lifting machine presses on the mushroom 26 to open the hatches 16a, 16b.

The gripping member 18 is connected to the tank 12 by a force transmission structure 30.

In the embodiment as shown in the figure 2 , the gripping member 18 is connected to the force transmission structure 30 via the fixing plate 22, which is fixed directly to a base 34 of the transmission structure forces 30. The fixing plate 22 is for example held on the base 34 by a set of bolts and nuts (not shown).

The force transmission structure 30 comprises a base 34 fixed to the gripping member 18 at least two force transmission arms 36.

Each transmission arm 36 is connected, at one end, called the proximal end 36P, to the base 34, and at the opposite end, called the distal end 36D, to a side wall 14.

Thanks to the presence of the base 34 fixed to the gripping member 18 and to the force transmission arms 36 connected to the side walls 14, the forces during lifting exerted on the gripping member 18 are transmitted, in particular the guide tube 20, to the bottom wall 16 via the side walls 14, which makes it possible to do without the presence of reinforcing elements in the useful volume V. The latter can thus be entirely devoted to the storage of waste, which are also not constrained in their placement.

Preferably, the useful volume V of the tank being of revolution around the axis of revolution X-X, the base 34 is provided substantially along this axis. This configuration allows better balancing of the container 10 during its lifting, in other words to ensure that it does not lean during this operation.

The guide tube 20 is connected, at its proximal end, that is to say the closest to the tank 12, to the base 34. This configuration allows direct transmission of forces from the gripping member towards the base 34 and therefore towards the walls 14, 16 of the tank.

More precisely, in the embodiment illustrated in figure 2 , the fixing plate 22 is fixed to the base 34, for example by means of bolts and nuts (not shown) or other fixing means known per se.

Furthermore, as can be seen in the figure, the transverse beam 29 is located below the base 34. In particular, the base 34 comprises a housing 35 making it possible to accommodate the transverse beam 29. This housing 35 is occupied by the transverse beam 29 when it is in the high position, which corresponds to the configuration of the device for actuating the hatches 17 in which the hatches 16a, 16b are closed.

Furthermore, the base 34 preferably comprises an opening (not visible on the figure 2 ) allowing the passage of the chain 31 connected to the gripping member 26.

The actuating device 17 of the hatches is therefore advantageously integrated into the force transmission structure 30 so as to limit its bulk, in particular so as not to encroach on the available volume V of the tank.

The distal end 36D of each arm is fixed to an edge of the wall opposite the bottom wall, called upper edge 14B. This makes it possible to avoid taking up the useful volume by the force transmission structure.

The tank 12 being delimited by a plurality of contiguous side walls 14, each arm 36 is fixed to a junction zone J between two contiguous side walls 14 of the tank 12. The distal end 36D being fixed to an upper edge 14B of a wall, the junction zone J is in this particular embodiment the zone where the upper edges 14B of two contiguous walls 14 meet, in other words a “corner” of the tank 12.

Placing the distal end 36D in a junction zone J makes it possible to transfer the forces from the gripping member 18 to the zone of the side walls 14 having the greatest mechanical resistance and thus to obtain an effective distribution of forces and giving the whole greater robustness.

To better distribute the forces between two contiguous walls 14, the distal end 36D of each arm is provided with a bracket 38, each branch 40 of the bracket being connected to one of the two contiguous side walls 14 of the tank. Conventionally, the branches of the bracket 40 are for example fixed to the walls 14 using bolts and nuts (not visible in the figure).

The force transmission arms 36 extend from the base (34) in a star configuration. Indeed, a star structure allows both good balancing of the container during lifting and confers good mechanical resistance to the whole.

The tank 12 presenting, in the embodiment shown in figure 2 , four side walls 14 opposite each other, the force transmission arms 36 are arranged in a cross, and intersect at the level of the base 34.

This “spider” or “star” configuration, in other words in which a plurality of force transmission arms 36 extend from the base 34 in different directions, preferably in a symmetrical manner of revolution, can be Apply to different tank shapes. Thus, in the case where the latter comprises for example six walls arranged so as to define a hexagonal volume V, the force transmission structure 20 would be provided with six transmission arms 36 extending from the base 34 towards the junction zones J of adjoining walls.

In the case of a single side wall 14, for example cylindrical, we could provide for example at least three arms extending from the base 34 towards three points of the side wall 14, preferably distributed uniformly over the upper edge of the side wall 14.

The tank 12 being most often provided with a cover, not shown in the figures, the force transmission structure 30 is preferably arranged in the cover. This allows it to be hidden by occupying a space that is not dedicated to waste storage.

According to an exemplary embodiment not forming part of the invention, the container 10, the upper part of which is shown in the Figure 3 , differs from the invention only by its device for actuating the hatches 17. Indeed, in this embodiment, the assembly formed by the transverse beam 19 and the tie rods 28a, 28b are replaced by two chains 41a, 41b . The chains 41a, 41b are connected, at one of their ends, to the chain 31, and at their opposite ends (not visible on the Figure 3 ), respectively to the hatches 16a, 16b.

This embodiment has the advantage of being less expensive and less heavy than the previous one due to the elimination of the transverse beam in particular. It can thus be intended for containers intended to receive compact waste, such as for example glass bottles, for which the presence of the chains in the central part of the tank 12 is not an obstacle to their journey towards the bottom of the container. the tank and their evacuation after opening the hatches 16a, 16b. In this embodiment, the presence of the force transmission structure 30 is all the more necessary to take up the lifting forces linked to the operation of the hatch actuation device 17, because the transverse beam 19 is no longer present.

The scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

The invention could in particular be applied, in addition to waste collection containers, to all types of containers suitable for lifting, such as goods storage containers for example.

Reference list

• 10: Waste container
• 12: Tank
• 14: Side walls
• 14B: Upper edge of the walls
• 16: Back wall
• 16a, 16b: Trapdoors
• 17: Trap actuation device
• 18: Gripping organ
• 20: Guide tube
• 22: Fixing plate
• 24: Fixed gripping disc
• 26: Mushroom
• 28a, 28b: Tie rods
• 29: Transverse beam
• 30: Force transmission structure
• 31: Chain
• 32: Reinforcement elements (prior art)
• 34: Base
• 35: Housing
• 36: Force transmission arm
• 36D: Distal end of the arm
• 36P: Proximal end of the arm
• 38: Square
• 40: Branches of the brackets
• V: Useful volume of the tank
• J: Junction zone between two walls

Claims (13)

1. Container (10) provided with a vessel (12) delimited by at least one side wall (14) and a bottom wall (16), the side wall (14) and the bottom wall (16) defining a usable volume (V) of the vessel, the container (10) being provided with a gripping member (18) for lifting the container (10), the gripping member (18) being connected to the vessel (12) by a force transmission structure comprising a base (34) attached to the gripping member (18) and at least two force transmission arms (36), each arm (36) being connected, at one end, referred to as the proximal end (36P), to the base (34) and, at the opposite end, referred to as the distal end (36D), to said at least one side wall (14), the container (10) further comprising a trapdoor actuating device (17), the gripping member (18) forming part of the trapdoor actuating device (17), the trapdoor actuating device (17) comprising a transverse beam (29) which slides in a vertical direction of the vessel (12) and is attached to the gripping member (18), the transverse beam (29) being connected to at least two connecting elements (28a, 28b) such that lowering the transverse beam (29) opens trapdoors (16a, 16b) and raising the transverse beam (29) closes the trapdoors (16a, 16b),
   characterized in that
   the transverse beam (29) is connected to the gripping member via a chain, and in that the base comprises an opening through which the chain can pass.
2. Container (10) according to claim 1, wherein, the vessel (12) having a central axis (X-X) being the union of two planes of symmetry of the vessel (12) or an axis of revolution of the vessel (12), the base (34) is provided substantially along this axis (X-X).
3. Container (10) according to either of the preceding claims, wherein, the vessel (12) being delimited by a plurality of adjoining side walls (14), the distal end (36D) of each arm is attached to a junction zone (J) between two adjoining walls (14) of the vessel.
4. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the distal end (36D) of each arm is attached to an edge of the wall opposite the bottom wall, referred to as the top edge (14B), of said at least one side wall (14).
5. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the distal end (36D) of each arm is provided with a bracket (38), each leg (40) of the bracket being connected to one of the two adjoining side walls (14) of the vessel.
6. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the arms (36) extend from the base (34) in a star configuration.
7. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, the vessel (12) being delimited by four side walls (14) opposite one another in pairs, the force transmission arms (36) are arranged in a cross, the transmission arms (36) crossing one another at the base (34).
8. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the gripping member (18) comprises a guide tube (20), the guide tube (20) being connected, at one of its ends, to the base (34).
9. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein, the vessel (12) being provided with a lid, the force transmission structure (30) is arranged in the lid.
10. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom wall (16) is provided with trapdoors (16a, 16b), the opening of which allows access to the usable volume (V) of the vessel.
11. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the transverse beam (29) is located outside the usable volume (V) of the vessel.
12. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base (34) comprises a cavity (35) for accommodating the transverse beam (29).
13. Container (10) according to any of the preceding claims, designed to contain waste.

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