GB2092094A - Apparatus for tipping bins and refuse containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Bin tipping apparatus for refuse collecting vehicles comprises a ram- actuated bin-securing foot which raises a bin into engagement with bin- securing hook 50. The bin-securing hooks have internal ramps 68 to guide the bin edge 62 against the hook structure 70 so that refuse trapping is minimised. Two sets of bin hooks are provided and are interchangeable for accommodating different bin sizes. The hooks are pivotally mounted and move in unison between their working and non-working positions in association with cover members and guide plates which avoid dropping refuse into the street. The bin support foot is in the form of a fork comprising central fork elements and outer fork elements which engage and support bins edge-on and accommodate bin support wheels and bin delivery forks. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for tipping bins and refuse containers This invention relates to apparatus for tipping bins, refuse containers and the like, and to a refuse collecting vehicle having such apparatus mounted thereon. An example of such apparatus is a socalled "bin lift" for refuse collecting vehicles of the rear loading kind used for door to door collection of domestic refuse from dustbins, and from larger bulk refuse containers -- such as the 956 litre capacity cylindrical container currently used in the United Kingdom.

Such apparatus for tipping bins comprises a securing mechanism for securing the bin or the like to the apparatus, and a tipping mechanism for tipping the secured bin so as to empty its contents into, for example, the refuse receiving tailgate of a refuse collecting vehicle.

The securing mechanism of such apparatus may comprise a bin support member and a lift mechanism to raise the bin support member from a bin-released position to a bin-secured position.

In the latter position, the upper edge of the bin engages a bin securing member whereupon the bin becomes secured to the apparatus.

Apparatus for tipping bins, of the kind described above, is disclosed and claimed in our co-pending United Kingdom patent application GB 2,053,135 A.

The present invention is concerned with providing improvements in relation to bin-tipping apparatus of the kind discussed above with a view generally to improving its performance in relation to trapping or catching refuse tipped from a bin, and in relation to the associated question of accommodating bins of different sizes and shapes.

The bin support member may be in the form of a foot which extends below the bin to be lifted.

The bin securing member may comprise a hook engageable with the upper edge of the bin and having an inner side portion which enters the bin so as to securely retain the bin during use.

Thus, the inner side portion of the hook is located a short distance within the upper edge of the bin and is therefore positioned in the path of refuse which is discharged from the bin during the tipping operation. This inner side portion of the hook may have a characteristic pointed profile, and this fact taken together with the requirement for the hook to have a fairly wide mouth portion (between the inner and outer sides of the hook) so as to give easy and reliable engagement with the top edges of bins regardless of whether the bins are mis-shaped or not precisely positioned, has the result that refuse material tipped from the bin tends to become trapped or caught by the inner side portion of the hook.

An object of one aspect of the present inventior is to provide apparatus for tipping bins, refuse containers and the like having an improved securing mechanism whereby the above problem is mitigated or overcome.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for tipping bins, refuse containers and the like as defined in claim 1 of the accompanying claims.

The related question of accommodating bins of different shapes and sizes has further implications in relation to the bin securing mechanism in that such a mechanism obviously has limits to its capacity to accommodate bins of different crosssections, depths and widths. In view of the extremely wide range of bin shapes and sizes currently in use, there is a need to improve the versatility of bin lift mechanisms in order to avoid the possibility that certain large bins encountered by a refuse collecting team have to be left unemptied.

This requirement for improved versatility has implications also in relation to the bin support member or foot which passes underneath the pin prior to clamping the latter on the bin-tipping apparatus.

Due to non-standardization of bin design and transport arrangements, some bins are provided with their own castor wheels, while others are adapted to be manoeuvred on trolleys, while still others are moved to the bin lift mechanism on a fork assembly. As a result, the pencil-type bin support foot disclosed in GB 2,053,1 35 A cannot accommodate this array of bin delivery arrangements, and improvements are needed in relation to its versatility.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for tipping bins, refuse containers and the like as claimed in claims 12 and 27 of the accompanying claims.

The invention also provides a refuse collecting vehicle having mounted thereon apparatus for tipping bins, refuse containers and the like, as defined above.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of apparatus for tipping bins mounted at the rear of a refuse collecting vehicle. The bin-tipping apparatus is shown with a bin support member thereof in its lowered, bin-receiving position, and with a pair of generally hook-shaped bin-securing members in their corresponding positions; Figure 2 shows, on a larger scale, a generally hook-shaped securing member forming part of the bin-tipping apparatus of Figure 1.The securing member is shown co-operating with the upper edge of a refuse bin; Figure 3 shows, in a view similar to that of Figure 2, a bin securing member constructed according to previous proposals; Figure 4 shows a side elevation view of a second embodiment of the invention, showing bin-tipping apparatus mounted on a refuse collecting vehicle; Figure 5 shows a rear elevation view of the apparatus of Figure 4, viewed in the direction of forward travel F of the apparatus, as indicated by arrow V in Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a plan view of the bin securing mechanism of the apparatus of Figure 4, the direction of viewing being indicated by arrow VI in Figure 4; and Figure 7 shows a plan view of a bin support member of the apparatus of Figure 4, the direction of viewing being indicated by arrow VII in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 1, a refuse collecting vehicle 10 comprises a refuse-receiving tailgate 12 mounted on a refuse hopper (not shown) and having a packing mechanism (not shown) to peck received refuse into the hopper. Tailgate 12 has a refuse-receiving hopper, and refuse deposited therein is engaged by a packer plate operated by hydraulic rams 22, which periodically collects the refuse from the tailgate hopper and forces it into the refuse hopper.

Refuse collecting vehicle 10 is more fully described in our co-pending UK patent applications: GB 2,024,148 A GB 2,024,149 A GB 2,024,150 A To enable the refuse collecting vehicle 10 to be supplied with refuse from bulk refuse containers, apparatus 24 for tipping such bins, containers and the like is mounted on tailgate 12.

Tipping apparatus 24 comprises an upright main body 26 secured to the tailgate 12, the main body having fixed and movable body portions 28 and 30 defining a tipping axis 34.

Fixed body portion 28 is rigidly secured to brackets 36 at the underside of the tailgate hopper, thereby securing the tipping apparatus 24 itself to the hopper. The fixed and movable body portions 28 and 30 are fabricated metal structures, the fixed body portion being shaped and proportioned to fit round the relevant portion of the tailgate hopper.

Movable body portion 30 is mounted alongside the fixed body portion 28 and is connected thereto by pivot 32 and comprises a bin support member in the form of a foot 38 mounted on a shank 40 for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis 42 so that the foot can be folded from the extended working position shown in Figure 1, upwards to a retracted transport position (not shown).

Also mounted on movable body portion 30 of tipping apparatus 24, are a pair of mounting plates 46, 48 each having a generally hook-shaped downwardly facing securing member 50 for engagement with the upper edge of a refuse bin (not shown). Each mounting plate 46, 48 is connected to the movable body portion 30 by its own hinge 52, so that the mounting plates can be folded forwards (in the direction of forward travel of vehicle 10) to a stowed position (not shown) in which the mounting plates provide a minimum of obstruction to the manual deposition of refuse in the tailgate hopper. A latch mechanism 54 is provided for holding the mounting plates in either of these positions.

Mounted within movable body portion 30 is a hydraulic securing ram (not shown) connected between sliding shank 40 and movable body portion 30 to cause the shank and foot 38 to be raised and lowered between the bin released and bin secured positions.

Likewise, within fixed body portion 28 there is provided a hydraulic tipping ram (not shown) acting between the fixed and movable body portions 28 and 30, to effect angular movement of the movable body portion about tipping axis 34.

In use of the tipping apparatus, a bin standing over foot 38 is raised when the securing ram is retracted, and the hook-shaped securing members 50 engage over the upper edge of the bin thereby securing the bin between the foot and the securing members, whereupon the bin is tipped about axis 34 by extension of the tipping ram which causes anti-clockwise movement of the movable body portion and the bin about axis 34 until the bin is well beyond a horizontal position, with its open end over the tailgate hopper. The bin is returned to the ground by the' reverse of the above sequence of operations.

The structure and form of the hook-shaped securing members 50 will now be described in detail with reference to Figure 2 of the drawings.

Figure 2 shows the generally hook-shaped form of each securing member 50. The securing members are substantially identical in structure and only one of them will therefore be described.

Each securing member is welded to its respective mounting plate 48 and projects laterally therefrom so that when the moutning plate contacts a refuse bin the securing member is well positioned to engage over the upper edge of the bin as the bin is raised by foot 38.

Each securing member 50 has an outer or shank side portion 56 welded to or formed integrally with its mounting plate 48, a bridge portion 58 extending over the outer edge 60 of a bin 62, and an inner side portion 64 which enters the bin.

Securing member 50 is constructed and arranged so that its generally hook-shaped structure provides no significant trap, in the area indicated by arrow 66 for the collection or trapping of refuse. Likewise, the generally wedgeshaped inner side portion 64 of securing member 50 itself provides no projection around which plastic sheet material and the like can become snagged.

Significant features of the structure of each securing member 50 are the provision of a ramp or cam surface 68 at the inner side of bridge portion 58 of the securing member, together with the provision of an inner side portion 64 of the securing member, the inner side portion contacting, or nearly contacting, during use the inner side surface of a bin 62 so as to provide no significant refuse trapping in the area 66. Ramp 68 serves to guide the upper edge 60 of a bin 62 upwards and outwards to the position shown in Figure 2 which is the working position of the bin.

In the drawing, for clarity, the edge of the bin is shown just clear of the surface of the securing member 50. Of course, when the bin is clamped these surfaces are in firm contact. Thus ramp 68 guides the bin edge outwards and towards inner side portion 64 of the securing member.

The inner side portion 64 of securing member 50 has a linear bin-contacting surface 70 towards which the bin edge is guided by ramp 68 and which co-operates with the inside surface of the bin during use to provide a firm trap-free securing action.

Ramp 68 has the function not only of guiding the bin edge towards its clamped position, but also of allowing the provision of a relatively wide "mouth" for securing member 50 so that even mis-shapen and badly positioned bins are automatically correctly located and securely attached to the bin tipping mechanism.

Additionally, it is to be noted that inner side portion 64 of securing member 50 has a ramped inner edge profile 72 which serves to guide refuse being discharged from the bin away from zone 66, thereby reducing refuse trapping and snagging.

For a better appreciation of the advantages provided by this embodiment of the invention, reference is now directed to the previously proposed securing member 80 shown in Figure 3, in which the profile of the securing member is such that the edge of the bin 82 adopts the position shown when the bin is in its secured position.

In this secured position there is a large wedgeshaped zone 84 available for trapping refuse, and the inner side portion 86 of securing member 80 projects inwards and away from the bin edge and thereby rapidly becomes entangled with plastic sheet material, string and the like during use. Such refuse trapping action can interfere with proper operation of the mechanism, and also has implications for the safety and work output of the operator in the event that he is obliged to clear away the trapped material.

Thus, the principal advantages provided by the embodiment of the invention described above relate to the provision in a simple robust mechanism of means whereby refuse trapping is minimised or avoided while retaining a generally hook-shaped securing member having a mouth wide enough to accommodate mis-shapen and poorly positioned bins.

Among modifications which could be made in the embodiment of the invention described above are modifications to the general and detailed form of the bin tipping mechanism shown in Figure 1.

The present invention is widely applicable to many different forms of mechanism of this sort. Also, the exact profile of securing member 50 as shown in Figure 2 is not essential. Ramp 68 could be modified as regards its angle of slope, or indeed a slightly arcuate ramp could be provided. Inner side portion 64 of the securing member preferably makes contact, or nearly makes contact, with the bin at zone 66, but it is not essential for edge 70 to be linear or indeed to make contact throughout its length with the inner surface of the bin.

Likewise, the profile of ramped edge 72 could be modified. The securing mechanism may be modified by moving the securing member or members 50 downwards towards the support member 38 instead of vice-versa, in order to secure a bin. The latch mechanism for holding the mounting plates 46, 48 may be adjustable to accommodate rectangular bins and cylindrical bins of various widths and diameters.

In the embodiment of Figures 4 to 7, bin tipping apparatus 110 is constructed and arranged to operate as described above, but with the modifications described below.

Apparatus 110 is mounted on the tailgate 112 of a refuse collecting vehicle and comprises an upright main body 11 4 secured to the tailgate and having fixed and movable body portions 116 and 11 8 respectively, which are interconnected by a pivot 120 defining a tipping axis, as in the previous embodiment.

A vertical internal ram (not shown) is provided to raise and lower a bin support member in the form of a foot 122 mounted on a shank 124. An inclined ram 126 is provided to effect tipping.

The securing mechanism of apparatus 110 comprises foot 122 and first and second pairs of securing members 128, 130 and 132, 134 respectively.

The securing members 128 to 134 are mounted on mounting and guide plates 136. 138 as in the previous embodiment, these latter plates being pivotable about upwardly extending axes 140, 142 for movement between the extended working position shown in Figure 6, and a retracted non-working position in which loading of refuse into the refuse collecting vehicle can be carried out manually on either side of the bin tipping apparatus 110.

The first and second pairs of securing members 128 to 134 are positioned at the outer edges of the mounting and guide plates 136, 138 and positioned to engage bins of differing dimensions.

The first pair of securing members 128, 130 are positioned as in the preceding embodiment for engagement with tall cylindrical bins, whereas the second pair of securing members 132, 134 are positioned lower for engagement with shorter bins, for example square-section high capacity bins. The bin securing members can accommodate bins of differing widths as well as bins of differing depths.

The bin securing members are mounted for pivotal movement about pivot axes 144, 146 for movement between their working positions, and respective non-working stowed positions in which they are located on the side of mounting and guide plates 136, 138 remote from the bin so that they do not trap refuse being tipped.

The bin securing members of each of the mounting and guide plates 136, 138 are connected together for movement in unison about their pivot axes 144, 146 between their working and non-working positions. In order to move between these positions, apertures 1 48, 1 50 are provided in mounting and guide plates 136, 138 respectively to allow the first pair of securing members 1 28, 1 30 to pass through the apertures.

In order that the apertures do not allow refuse to pass through the plates and thus to be dropped in the street, a pair of cover members 1 52, 1 54 are likewise pivotally mounted about axes 140, 142 for movement with the securing members and positioned so as to close the apertures in the working position of the second pair of securing members 132, 134.

Figure 6 shows, for illustration purposes, securing member 128 of the first pair of securing members, in its working position with cover member 152 extended and securing member 132 (of the second pair) in its non working position, and Figure 6 also shows securing member 134 (of the second pair) in its working position, with securing member 130, cover member 1 54 and supplementary guide plate 168 in their corresponding positions.

Also mounted for pivotal movement about axes 144, 146 at the outer edges of mounting and guide plates 136,138 are a pair of supplementary guide plates i 56, 158 which are pivotally connected to their respective securing members for movement therewith and positioned so as to move between an extended working position (adopted when the second securing members are in their working position) and a retracted nonworking position (adopted when the first pair of securing members are in their working positions).

Figure 6 shows, for illustration purposes, the two alternative settings of the securing members and their associated cover members and guide plates. At one side of Figure 6, one of the first pair of securing members 128, 130 is in its working position, and the associated cover member 152, supplementary guide plate 156 and second securing member 132 are all in their non-working positions. The cover members extends laterally outwardly from the mounting and guide plate 136.

In order to move the first securing member to its non-working position and to bring the second securing member to its working position, the assembly is rotated clockwise as seen in Figure 6, so that securing member 128 passes through plate 136 and second securing member 132 adopts its working position with its associated supplementary guide plate 1 56 in its corresponding extended working position. This latter configuration of the securing members and their associated components is shown at the other side of Figure 6.

A releasable holding mechanism (not shown) is provided to hold the securing members and associated parts in either of their working positions, as required. The holding mechanism may permit additional positions of the securing members to be adopted to suit the requirements of differing sizes of bins. The holding mechanism may be in the form of a simple spring-loaded detent arranged to enter recesses or notches corresponding to the desired positions of the securing members.

The form of the first pair of securing members 128, 1 30 is, as shown, substantially as described above in the first embodiment The second pair of securing members are of a somewhat similar form, as shown in Figure 4, but operate and guide the bin edges to their clamped position in substantially the same way by virtue of an inclined ramp or cam member 160.

As shown in Figure 7, support member or foot 122 is in the form of a fork member having a pair of spaced fork elements 162,164 which are arranged so as to engage and support a bin edgeon, with a central gap 166 between their inner side faces lying in the range of 10 to 22 centimetres, and preferably being about 16 centimetres so as to comfortably accommodate a castor wheel 1 72 of a wheeled bin.

The spacing 174 between the outer side faces 176,178 of fork elements 162,164 lies in the range of 14 to 26 centimetres and preferably is about 20 centimetres so as to easily enter the gap between the fork members 180, 182 of a bindelivery truck.

In order to provide additional support for large wide bins, as may be carried by means of the securing members described above, a pair of additional fork elements 184, 186 are mounted on foot 122 and positioned to engage and support bins in an edge-on configuration. The spacing 188 between the inwardly facing surfaces 1 90 and 192 of additional fork elements 184, 186 lies in the range of 60 to 100 centimetres and preferably is approximately 80 centimetres.

Each of the additional fork elements 184,186 is formed with a stop 194 to limit inward movement of bins towards the main body 114.

For elements 184, 186 are cantilevered on respective box-section members extending outwardly and rearwardly from the central fork element assembly. The whole assembly of foot 122 is a steel fabrication and pivots upwardly to a rion-working position about an axis 196 as described in one of our above-mentioned copending applications.

Among the advantages provided by the above embodiment of the invention are the facility to accommodate a wide range of bin sizes and shapes, the simple manner in which this is achieved and the provision of means for avoiding loss of refuse during the tipping operation.

Claims (37)

1. Apparatus for tipping bins, refuse containers and the like comprising: a securing mechanism for securing a bin or the like to the apparatus; and a tipping mechanism for tipping a secured bin; the securing mechanism comprising a bin support member, a generally hook-shaped bin securing member, and a mechanism to effect relative movement of the bin support member and the bin securing member from a bin-released position to a bin-secured position in which the bin is secured between the bin support member and the bin securing member; characterised in that the bin securing member comprises an inner side portion which enters the bin, the inner side portion being constructed and arranged so as to provide no significant trap for refuse discharged from the bin.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the generally hook-shaped securing member has a bridge portion between its inner and outer side portions, and the bin-engageable side of the bridge portion is formed with a ramp or cam surface to guide an edge of the bin towards the inner side portion of the securing member.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the inner side portion of the securing member is positioned to contact or nearly make contact with the inner surfaceof the bin in the bin-secured position of the apparatus.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the inner side portion of the securing member is formed with a generally linear side face for faceto-face engagement with the inner surface of the bin adjacent the upper edge of the bin.

5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to.4 4 wherein the profile of the inner side portion of the securing member comprises a ramped portion to guide tipped refuse away from the upper edge of the bin.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a pair of bin securing members are provided.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein each of said pair of bin securing members is mounted on its own mounting plate.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said mounting plates are pivotally mounted for movement between a working position and an unobtrusive stowed position.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein a latch mechanism is provided for holding the hook plates in their working and stowed positions.

10. Apparatus for tipping bins, refuse containers and the like substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A refuse collecting vehicle having mounted thereon apparatus for tipping bins, refuse containers and the like, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

12. Apparatus for tipping bins, refuse containers and the like comprising: a securing mechanism for securing a bin or the like to the apparatus; and a tipping mechanism for tipping a secured bin; the securing mechanism comprising a bin support member, a bin securing member, and a mechanism to effect relative movement of the bin securing member and the bin support member from a bin-released position to a bin-secured position in which a bin is secured between the bin securing member and the bin support member; characterised in that first and second bin securing members are provided and positioned at different locations with respect to the bin support member for engagement respectively with bins of a first dimension and a second dimension.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein a set of two first securing members is provided together with a set of two second securing members, the two securing members of each set being spaced apart for engagement with a bin at spaced positions thereon.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1 2 or claim 13 wherein said first and second securing members are positioned at different heights above the bin support member so as to accommodate bins of different depths.

15. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said first and second securing members are provided at different lateral spacings to accommodate bins of different widths.

1 6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 1 5 wherein at least one of said securing members is movable to a stowed or non-working positiOn.

1 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 6 wherein said stowed or non-working position is such that the securing member is positioned so as to provide no significant trap for refuse discharged from a bin.

18. Apparatus according to claim 16 or claim 1 7 wherein said first and second securing members are connected so as to move together between their working and stowed positions.

19. Apparatus according to claim 1 8 wherein said securing members are pivotally mounted for movement between their working and stowed positions.

20. Apparatus according to claim 1 9 wherein said securing members are pivotally mounted on support plates, the support plates being formed with apertures to permit movement of said securing members through the plate.

21. Apparatus according to claim 20 wherein cover members are provided to close the apertures in said support plates.

22. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 9 to 21 wherein a guide plate is connected to at least one of said securing members for movemen therewith to a guiding position when the securing member is in its working position.

23. Apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 22 wherein at least one of said securing members is movable between at least two working positions for accommodating bins of different dimensions.

24. Apparatus according to claim 23 wherein a releaseable holding mechanism is provided to hold said securing member in each of its working positions.

25. Apparatus according to claim 12 substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

26. A refuse collecting vehicle having mounted thereon apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 25.

27. Apparatus for tipping bins, refuse containers and the like comprising: a securing mechanism for securing a bin or the like to the apparatus; and a tipping mechanism for tipping a secured bin; the securing mechanism comprising a bin support member, a bin securing member, and a mechanism for effecting relative movement of the bin support member and the bin securing member between a bin-released position and a bin-secured position; characterised in that the bin support member is in the form of a fork member.

28. Apparatus according to claim 27 wherein said fork member comprises two laterally-spaced fork elements.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28 wherein said fork elements are mounted for engagement edge-on with a bin supported thereon.

30. Apparatus according to claim 28 or claim 29 wherein the central gap between said twospaced fork elements is of width from ten centimetres to twenty two centimetres.

31. Apparatus according to any one of claims 28 to 30 wherein the spacing between the outer edges of said fork elements is from fourteen centimetres to twenty six centimetres.

32. Apparatus according to any one of claims 28 to 31 comprising two additional fork elements mounted one on each side of said two spaced fork elements and laterally spaced therefrom so as to support wide bins.

33. Apparatus according to claim 32 wherein said additional fork elements are mounted for engagement edge-on with a bin supported thereon.

34. Apparatus according to claim 32 or claim 33 wherein the spacing between the inner edges of said additional fork elements lies in the range from sixty centimetres to one hundred and ten centimetres.

35. Apparatus according to any one of claims 32 to 34 wherein said additional fork elements are formed with a stop to limit inward movement of a bin towards the apparatus.

36. Apparatus according to claim 27 substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

37. A refuse collecting vehicle having mounted thereon apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 27 to 36.