GB1233285A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,233,285. Compaction apparatus for refuse. AUTO PAK CO. 9 May, 1969 [9 May, 1968], No. 23750/69. Heading B8C. A compaction apparatus for refuse &c., comprises a housing 10 with a machinery compartment 14 and a material chamber 12 having an open upper face as an inlet and an outlet O in a front wall 48 which leads to a volume reducing- snout 94 consisting of a cylindrical exit portion 98 of substantially smaller cross-section than the polygonally shaped cross-section of an entry portion 96 and a tapered transitional portion 100, a compaction blade 42, corresponding in area and profile to the polygonal cross-section of the outlet O being accommodated in the receiver chamber for reciprocal movement therein by means of a dual hydraulic ram 60 housed in the compartment 14. The forward edges of the upper three sides of the six-sided blade 42 have teeth 58 which are adapted to co-operate with reinforcement cutting bars such as 116, around the opening O. A rear wall 34 of the chamber 12 carries wiper blades 128, and the rear end of the blade has a projection C for actuating limit switches LS1 and LS2 located at the ends of the blade travel. In use the blade 42 is, in a " standby " position, forwardly located in the receiver chamber 12 and, when material from a shoot 123 falls on top of it, a light beam 124 is interrupted and a photoelectric relay is actuated to cause the blade to move rearwardly and the material to fall down into the receiver chamber 12. The blade 42 is then automatically moved forward to force the material into the snout 44. If a large obstruction is encountered the build up of pressure in the hydraulic circuit, Fig. 8, not shown, which supplies the dual ram 60 through a valve control system, actuates relays in an electrical operating circuit, Fig. 7, not shown, to cause the blade 42 to hunt back and forth in order that the teeth 58 may break the obstruction against the bars 116 whereupon the blade continues its forward movement. When the snout fills up with compacted material the latter is extruded through the outlet opening "O" and into a receptacle D which, during its fitting, moves forwardly along the snout until a limit switch LS3 is released and a warning lamp, which indicates that the receptacle is full, is switched on. If desired, release of the switch LS3 may also interrupt the electrical operating circuit. The container D may consist of a flexible bag, or, an oil drum.