EP4227242A1

EP4227242A1 - Waste container loading device on a bin-washer motor vehicle, and bin-washer motor vehicle equipped with said device

Info

Publication number: EP4227242A1
Application number: EP23153792.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ermanno Pilenghi
Original assignee: Pilenghi Enterprise Srl
Current assignee: Pilenghi Enterprise Srl
Priority date: 2022-02-14
Filing date: 2023-01-27
Publication date: 2023-08-16

Abstract

The washing unit (2) of a bin-washer motor vehicle (3) is supported by a chassis (7) having an upper surface lying in a geometric reference plane (P) spaced parallel to a road surface (T). A loading device (1) comprises two lifting arms (8) each having a proximal end (11) and a distal end (12) carrying a gripping terminal (12a). A rotational drive assembly (9) operates to rotate the lifting arms (8) around a rotation axis (X) towards a gripping position in which the gripping terminal (12a) is moved away from the washing unit (2). Each lifting arm (8) has a first portion (8a) extending from the proximal end (11), and a second portion (8b) engaged to the first portion (8a) and sliding radially with respect to the rotation axis (X) towards an extracted position in which the gripping terminal (12a) is moved away from the rotation axis (X).

Description

The subject of the present invention is a waste container loading device on a bin-washer motor vehicle, and a bin-washer motor vehicle provided with said device.
More particularly, the invention may be adopted on vehicles intended for the automated washing of containers of the so-called skip-bin type.
The use of waste containers, herein also referred to as "bins" for ease of description, generally made of metal or synthetic material, of the type suitable to be placed on the ground, usually on a pavement and/or at the roadside, to allow citizens to dispose of their waste, and to be periodically emptied by means of a lifting and tipping action by a gripping device installed on a suitably equipped motor vehicle, is well known in the urban waste collection.
In order to prevent bacterial flora from proliferating, with the consequent deterioration of hygienic conditions and the spread of unpleasant smells, bins must be thoroughly washed at certain intervals. The washing operation is carried out with the aid of special bin-washer motor vehicles, equipped with a washing unit served by loading devices capable of picking up the bin from the ground, lifting and tipping it inside a washing chamber, in which one or more assemblies of nozzles delivering water, or other pressurised washing liquid, operate.
Currently known loading devices, usually having a construction design very similar to the gripping devices typically used on motor vehicles intended for waste collection, essentially comprise a pair of lifting arms installed laterally to the washing unit, on the side of the motor vehicle, as for example disclosed in EP 1454848 A1 . Appropriate kinematic mechanisms make it possible to move the lifting arms from a rest position in which they are approached with respect to the washing unit so as to take as little space as possible within the contour of the motor vehicle, towards a gripping position in which they protrude laterally with respect to the side to reach suitable hooking elements arranged on the bin to be treated. The lifting arms are then suitable to pick up the bin from the ground and, in a lifting and tipping manner, support it in an upside-down position in the washing chamber to submit it to the treatment. Once the operation is complete, the bin is placed back on the ground and the arms of the lifting device may be returned to their rest position to allow the motor vehicle to resume its travel.
The Applicant believes that in the loading devices of the type described above, it is important to ensure that in the rest condition the lower ends of the lifting arms do not protrude significantly below the body in order not to interfere with areas generally intended to house other service equipment generally installed on the vehicle, so as to facilitate the installation of the loading device without having to make modifications to the vehicle to reposition such equipment.
Document EP 1454848 A1 discloses an embodiment of the aforementioned loading devices for use on both bin-washer motor vehicles and waste collection motor vehicles, where the problem described above is addressed by installing the lifting arms on a mobile carriage along a telescopic structure provided with a first guide frame hinged above the vehicle and a second guide frame sliding along the first frame between a lowered position and a raised position. The structure as a whole may be moved away from and towards the side of the vehicle around its upper hinging axis to let the lifting arms engage the bin, which must be lifted from the ground. In the rest condition, the second frame is retracted in a raised position with respect to the first frame with the entire structure placed close to the side of the vehicle, and the carriage is positioned at the top of the second frame so that the ends of the arms do not protrude below the lower edge of the body.
However, it has been found that the known technical solutions are structurally complex and do not allow to actually keep the arms entirely outside the space areas dedicated to service equipment, while at the same time retaining satisfactory operability for the purpose of gripping, lifting and tipping the container.
The object of the present invention is to overcome the limitations of the state of the art by proposing a loading device that is particularly suitable to be installed on bin-washer motor vehicles, the lifting arms of which can be easily placed in a rest condition with their lower ends outside the space in the lower area of the chassis, typically dedicated to the installation of service equipment.
A further object of the invention is to offer a structurally simplified loading device that can be manufactured cost-effectively and that can be easily installed on bin-washer motor vehicles.
In this regard, it was found that by making each of the lifting arms in two parts that are telescopically sliding with respect to each other, it is possible to provide them with an extensibility suitable for reaching the bin on the ground in order to grip it, while maintaining, at rest, a compact arrangement such as to remain entirely above the areas of the vehicle dedicated to service equipment. It is also possible to significantly simplify the overall structure of the loading device, to the benefit of production and maintenance costs as well as of the overall reliability of the system.
More particularly, a subject of the present invention is a waste container loading device on a bin-washer motor vehicle, according to claim 1.
In accordance with a further aspect, the invention relates to a bin-washer motor vehicle equipped with the device herein described and claimed.
In at least one preferred embodiment, the invention may also have one or more of the following preferred features.
Preferably, in the rest position said at least one lifting arm has a longitudinal descending development from the respective proximal end towards the distal end.
Preferably, in the rest position said at least one lifting arm has a longitudinal development arranged according to a substantially vertical orientation.
Preferably, in the retracted position, the gripping terminal is positioned above said geometric reference plane.
Preferably, at least one extension actuator operating between the first and second portion of the lifting arm to move the second portion between the retracted and the extracted positions is further provided.
Preferably, in the retracted position, the gripping terminal is spaced from the road surface according to an extent greater than a minimum distance between the road surface and said geometric reference plane.
Preferably, the rotational drive assembly comprises a rotary actuator operating on at least one drive shaft engaged to the first portion of the lifting arm.
Preferably, the drive shaft comprises at least one polygonal section segment slidably crossing the proximal end of the lifting arm.
Preferably, an extractor assembly carrying the lifting arm and the rotational drive assembly, and movable parallel to the geometric reference plane away from and towards the washing unit, is also provided.
Preferably, the extractor assembly is movable perpendicular to a longitudinal extension direction of the chassis.
Preferably, the extractor assembly is movable along a horizontal direction. Preferably, the extractor assembly is movable between an approach position where the lifting arm is approached to the washing unit, and an exit position wherein the lifting arm is moved away from the washing unit. Preferably, the extractor assembly comprises: a pair of guides integral with the chassis; a pair of extraction beams engaged to the guides and sliding longitudinally with respect to them; and at least one extraction actuator operating on the extraction beams to move them between the approach position and exit position.
Preferably, an elevator assembly carrying the lifting arm and the rotational drive assembly, and movable in a direction perpendicular to the geometric reference plane, is also provided.
Preferably, the elevator assembly is movable between a raised position in which the gripping terminal is positioned above the geometric reference plane and a lowered position in which the gripping terminal is positioned below the geometric reference plane.
Preferably, the elevator assembly comprises: a pair of uprights;
a carriage slidably guided along the uprights; and at least one lifting actuator that can be selectively activated to move the carriage between the raised position and the lowered position.
Preferably, the uprights are integral with the extraction beams.
Preferably, the carriage is integral with the rotary actuator of the rotational drive assembly.
Preferably, said upper surface is defined by two chassis longitudinal members extending along one direction of travel of the motor vehicle.
Further features and advantages will better appear from the detailed description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a waste container loading device on a bin-washer motor vehicle, and of a motor vehicle equipped with such a device, in accordance with the present invention.
Such description will be set forth hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided for merely indicative and therefore nonlimiting purposes, wherein:

Figure 1 schematically shows, in a perspective view, the loading device installed in a rest condition on a bin-washer motor vehicle;
Figure 2 is a cross-section of the motor vehicle of Figure 1;
Figure 3 highlights, in a perspective view, the device during the movement of the lifting arms to a gripping position;
Figure 4 highlights, in a perspective view, one of the lifting arms with a distal portion thereof in a retracted position;
Figure 5 shows, from a different angle, the lifting arm of Figure 4 during the movement of its distal portion towards an extracted position;
Figure 6 highlights the loading device with an elevator assembly in the lowered position, while an extractor assembly moves to an exit position to have the lifting arms engage a waste container or bin;
Figure 7 shows from a different angle the device when tipping the bin over a washing chamber.

With reference to the above-mentioned figures, a waste container loading device on a bin-washer motor vehicle in accordance with the present invention is globally referred to as 1. The device 1 is suitable to be installed in combination with a washing unit 2 on a bin-washer motor vehicle globally referred to as 3.
As known, the washing unit 2 comprises a body 4 within which one or more tanks may be housed for the supply and/or collection of water or other washing liquid. A washing chamber 6 is defined between the body 4 and a driver's cab 5 of the motor vehicle, wherein a set of suitably distributed nozzles 6a delivers the washing liquid.
The washing unit 2 is supported by a load-bearing chassis 7, typically comprising two chassis longitudinal members 7a extending behind the driver's cab 5 parallel to the direction of travel of the motor vehicle 3. More specifically, the washing unit 2 is preferably fixed to be supported on the longitudinal members 7a, at an upper surface thereof which lies in a geometric reference plane P spaced parallel to the road surface T on which the motor vehicle 3 rests.
The loading device 1, located adjacent to one of the sides of the motor vehicle 3 and longitudinally positioned near the washing chamber 6, comprises at least one lifting arm 8 carried by a rotational drive assembly 9. In a preferred embodiment, two lifting arms 8 are provided, parallel to each other and mutually spaced along at least one drive shaft 10 forming part of the rotational drive assembly 9.
Each one of the lifting arms 8 has a first portion 8a and a second portion 8b telescopically engaged with respect to each other. The first portion 8a extends from a proximal end 11 of the lifting arm 8 arranged above, and slidably engages the second portion 8b which in turn carries a gripping terminal 12a located at a distal end 12 opposite the proximal end 11. At least one extension actuator 13, for example in the form of a fluid-dynamic cylinder, operates between the first and second portions 8b of each of the lifting arms 8, to move the second portion 8b between a retracted position and an extracted position.
The rotational drive assembly 9 comprises a rotary actuator 14 preferably located in a symmetrically centred position with respect to the lifting arms 8 and operating on the drive shaft 10 to rotate it about its own rotation axis X. The drive shaft 10 may comprise one or more segments with a polygonal section, such as a square section, slidably crossing the proximal end 11 of each of the lifting arms 8. The rotation of the drive shaft 10 is transmitted to each one of the lifting arms 8 by their respective proximal end 11, so as to impose an angular rotation to the lifting arms themselves from a rest position in which, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the gripping terminal 12a is approached with respect to the washing unit 2.
It may be conveniently provided that the lifting arms 8 are movable along the drive shaft 10 upon the action of one or more adjustment actuators 10a, each one operating between the rotational drive assembly 9 and the first portion 8a of the respective arm 8, in order to adapt the distance between the lifting arms 8 to the dimensions of a bin 15 to be submitted to the washing treatment.
The rotational drive assembly 9, and consequently the lifting arms 8, are carried by an elevator assembly 16 preferably movable in a vertical direction, perpendicular to the geometric reference plane P. The elevator assembly 16 has a carriage 17 integral with the rotary actuator 14 of the rotational drive assembly 9. The carriage 17 is slidably guided along a pair of vertical uprights 18 and movable along the latter between a raised position and a lowered position upon control of at least one lifting actuator 19 selectively activated for this purpose.
The elevator assembly 16 is in turn carried, together with the rotational drive assembly 9 and the lifting arms 8, by a movable extractor assembly 20 moving away from and towards the washing unit 2, along a horizontal direction parallel to the geometric reference plane P and perpendicular to the direction of longitudinal development of the chassis 7.
Preferably, the extractor assembly 20 comprises a pair of guides 21 integral with the chassis 7, for example fixed above the longitudinal members 7a. A pair of extraction beams 22, sliding longitudinally with respect to the guides, rigidly supporting the uprights 18 of the elevator assembly 16, is slidably engaged to the guides 21. At least one extraction actuator 23 operates on the extraction beams 22 to move them between an approach position and an exit position, in which the lifting arms 8 are respectively moved closer to and away from the washing unit 2.
A typical operating sequence of the loading device 1 will now be described.
While the motor vehicle 3 is travelling, the loading device maintains a rest condition wherein, as visible in Figure 1, the extractor assembly 20 is in the approach position and the elevator assembly 16 keeps the carriage 17 in the raised position, while the rotational drive assembly 9 keeps the lifting arms 8 in the rest position, vertically oriented downwards. The substantially vertical orientation of the lifting arms 8 approaching the washing unit 2 makes it possible to keep the loading device 1 substantially within the contour of the motor vehicle 3, avoiding protrusions that may represent a danger to road traffic.
At the same time, the second portions 8b of the lifting arms 8 each maintain a retracted position, wherein the respective gripping terminal 12a is close to the rotation axis X of the drive shaft 10. As better shown in Figure 2, in such a retracted position, the gripping terminal 12a of each lifting arm 8 is spaced from the road surface T according to an extent H (Figure 2) greater than a minimum distance Hm between the road surface and the geometric reference plane P. In other words, each gripping terminal 12a is positioned above the geometric reference plane P, so that the loading device 1 does not invade a service space S underlying the latter, typically intended for the installation of service equipment for the operation of the motor vehicle 3, such as, for example, fuel tanks or compressed fluids, braking systems, or other.
The motor vehicle 3 is suitable for being stopped at the side near the bin 15 or another type of waste container that must be submitted to the washing treatment. The bin 15 has one or more hooking elements 24 operatively engageable by the gripping terminals to allow the lifting arms 8 to pick up the bin 15 from the ground and lift it in a tipping manner to position it upside down on the washing chamber 6, as shown in Figure 7. In the example shown, the hooking elements 24 consist of pins protruding from opposite side walls of the bin 15. However, different types of bin 15 with different configurations of hooking elements 24 may be provided, corresponding to respective different configurations of gripping terminals 12a and/or lifting arms 8, all falling within the innovative scope of the present invention.
When the motor vehicle 3 is stopped next to the bin 15, the rotational drive assembly 9 causes the movement of the lifting arms 8 towards a gripping position, shown in Figure 3, in which each of them has a downward sloping orientation with the respective gripping terminal 12a moved away from the washing unit 2 and protruding laterally outside the contour of the motor vehicle 3.
The action of the extension actuators 13 can then be controlled, upon the action of which the second portions 8b of the lifting arms 8 are displaced, with respect to the respective first portions 8a, radially to the rotation axis X, towards an extracted position in which each gripping terminal 12a is moved away from the rotation axis X as shown in Figure 5.
The gripping terminals 12a in the extracted position are suitably spaced from the rotation axis X according to an extent suitable to easily reach the hooking elements 24 on the bin 15, and to allow tipping it over the washing chamber 6.
Concurrently with the extraction of the second portions 8b of the lifting arms 8, the elevator assembly 16 can be actuated, bringing the carriage 17 together with the lifting arms 8 from a raised position in which, as in Figures 1 to 5, the gripping terminals 12b are arranged above the geometric reference plane P, to a lowered position (Figure 6) in which the gripping terminals 12b are positioned below the geometric reference plane P in order to facilitate the engagement of the hooking elements 24 with a movement from below.
If the distance between the bin 15 and the motor vehicle 3 requires it, the extractor assembly 20 can also be operated to move the gripping arms closer to the bin 15 and to allow the operating engagement of the hooking elements 24, as shown in Figure 6.
Once hooked, the rotational drive assembly 9 causes a further rotation of the lifting arms 8 away from the rest position, in order to determine the lifting and tipping action of the bin 15. At the same time, the extractor assembly 20 can be returned to the approach position while the elevator assembly 16 returns the carriage 17 together with the lifting arms 8 to the raised position, so that the bin 15 can be tipped over the washing chamber 6 with a further angular excursion of the lifting arms 8 upon the action of the rotational drive assembly 9, as shown in Figure 7.
Once completed the washing treatment, a sequence of movement opposite to that described above makes it possible to reposition the bin 15 on the ground, preferably in the same previously occupied position, and return the entire loading device to its rest condition with the lifting arms 8 vertically approached to the washing unit 2 and the gripping terminals 12b above the geometric reference plane P.

Claims

Waste container loading device on a bin-washer motor vehicle (3), configured for installation on a bin-washer motor vehicle (3) comprising a washing unit (2) supported by a chassis (7) having an upper surface lying in a geometric reference plane (P) spaced parallel from the road surface (T);
wherein the loading device (1) comprises:
at least one lifting arm (8) having a proximal end (11) disposed above and a distal end (12) opposite the proximal end (11) and carrying a gripping terminal (12a) operatively coupled with at least one hooking element (24) carried by a waste container (15);

a rotational drive assembly (9) operating on the proximal end (11) of the lifting arm (8) to move it around a rotation axis (X) from a rest position in which the gripping terminal (12a) is approached with respect to the washing unit (2) towards a gripping position in which the gripping terminal (12a) is moved away from the washing unit (2);

wherein said at least one lifting arm (8) has a first portion (8a) extending from the proximal end (11) radially to the rotation axis (X), and a second portion (8b) carrying the distal end (12), slidably engaged with the first portion (8a) and movable radially with respect to the rotation axis (X) from a retracted position in which the gripping terminal (12a) is approached with respect to the rotation axis (X), towards an extracted position in which the gripping terminal (12a) is moved away from the rotation axis (X).
Device according to claim 1, wherein in the retracted position the gripping terminal (12a) is positioned above said geometric reference plane (P).
Device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising at least one extension actuator (13) operating between the first and second portion (8a, 8b) of the lifting arm (8) to move the second portion (8b) between the retracted position and the extracted position.
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein in the retracted position the gripping terminal (12a) is spaced from the road surface (T) according to a greater extent than a minimum distance between the road surface (T) and said geometric reference plane (P).
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the rotational drive assembly (9) comprises a rotary actuator (14) operating on at least one drive shaft (10) engaged to the first portion (8a) of said at least one lifting arm (8).
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the drive shaft (10) comprises at least a polygonal section segment slidably crossing the proximal end (11) of said at least one lifting arm (8).
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising an extractor assembly (20) carrying said at least one lifting arm (8) and the rotational drive assembly (9), and movable parallel to the geometric reference plane (P) away from and towards the washing unit (2).
Device according to claim 7, wherein the extractor assembly (20) is movable between an approach position wherein said at least one lifting arm (8) is approached to the washing unit (2), and an outlet position wherein the lifting arm (8) is moved away from the washing unit (2).
Device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the extractor assembly (20) comprises:
a pair of guides (21) integral with the chassis (7);

a pair of extraction beams (22) engaged with the guides (21) and sliding longitudinally with respect to them;

at least one extraction actuator (23) operating on the extraction beams (22) to move them between the approach position and the exit position.
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, further comprising an elevator assembly (16) carrying said at least one lifting arm (8) and the rotational drive assembly (9), and movable in a direction perpendicular to the geometric reference plane (P).
Device according to claim 10, wherein the elevator assembly (16) is movable between a raised position in which the gripping terminal (12a) is arranged above the geometric reference plane (P) and a lowered position in which the gripping terminal (12a) is arranged below the geometric reference plane (P).
Device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the elevator assembly (16) comprises:
a pair of uprights (18) preferably integral with the extraction beams (22);

a carriage (17) slidably guided along the uprights (18), and preferably integral with the rotary actuator (14) of the rotational drive assembly (9); and

at least one lifting actuator (19) which can be selectively activated to move the carriage (17) between the raised position and the lowered position.
Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said upper surface is defined by two longitudinal members (7a) of the chassis (7), extending along a direction of travel of the motor vehicle (3).
Bin-washer motor vehicle (3), comprising:
a washing unit (2) supported by a chassis (7) having an upper surface arranged according to a geometric reference plane (P) spaced parallel from a road surface (T);

a container loading device (1) made according to one or more of the preceding claims, associated with the washing unit (2) at a side of the motor vehicle (3).