GB2101570A - Collection container - Google Patents

Abstract

A collection container (1) has a base which comprises two operable flaps (5), the flaps (5) each having a trough (10) facing inwardly and being connected by cable (7) to a rod, tube or pipe (8) mounted in a sleeve (9) at the top of the container (1), the rod, tube or pipe (8) being longitudinally displaceable in the sleeve (9) and secured against rotation relative thereto, the rod, tube or pipe (8) having a ring or handle (13) outside the container for operation of the flaps (5). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A collection container The invention relates to a collection container emptied from its base for solids, such as scrap glass comprising lateral and upper walls, preferably lateral cylinder walls with an integral dome portion, with at least one opening for the insertion of the material to be collected and two openable flaps on the base which form the support surface of the collection container. When the collection container is raised, these openable flaps can be pivoted about an axis arranged in the plane of the base of the container with the aid of an actuating device, which is operable from outside, into a position which allows the container to be emptied.

Known collection containers preferably comprise a cylindrical side wall which is provided in one piece with an upper and approximately hemispherical dome portion. The openable flaps on the base are connected to the ends of a cable which passes through the inside of the collection container, is guided outwards by two guides in the dome portion of the collection container and is guided into a kind of loop shape. By tightening this cable the openable flaps on the base are closed and these openable flaps can be opened by releasing the cable line slowly and in controlled manner if the collection container is lifted.

A disposal vehicle with a suitable crane mechanism is designed to empty a collection container filled with solids of this type and its supporting hook engages into a lifting ring connected to the collection container while a further releasable hook of the crane grips the cable of the collection container. When the container is lifted, the cable must be tight in order to prevent the openable flaps on the base from opening prematurely. As soon as the collection container is arranged over the load area of the disposal vehicle, the releasable hook of the crane lowers the cable and therefore the openable flaps on the base of the collection container are also lowered so that the contents fall onto the loading surface of the disposal vehicle. By lifting the cable the openable flaps on the base are closed again so that the collection container can be replaced in its location.Since the openable flaps on the base form the support surface of the collection container, the cable can be released as soon as the collection container rests on the ground.

In order to prevent the openable flaps from freezing solid on the base in the case of a frost, a clearance is provided between the openable flaps and the side walls of the collection container when the flaps are closed. As a result there is the disadvantage that the finer solids are able to escape out through this clearance around the periphery of the collection container when the openable flaps on the base are closed. As a result there is not only undesirable contamination in the area where the container is located but there is also the danger of an accident as the finer solids may, if they should escape in an uncontrolled manner, comprise splinters of glass or similar sharp objects.Furthermore, there is the problem with the known collection containers that the cable is susceptible to friction in the guides and is also subject to considerable wear due to twisting externally of the collection container and as a result the service life of the collection container is restricted.

The invention seeks to improve a collection container of the type stated in the introduction so that it is possible for the container to operate more perfectly.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a solids collection container with an operable base comprising two operable flaps at the base of the container which form the support surface for the collection container and which when the container is raised, pivotable into a position for emptying the container by means of an actuating device operable from outside the container wherein the operable flaps are formed as troughs on their face towards the inside of the collection container.

The solution of the object is achieved in accordance with the invention by providing the openable flaps as troughs on their face towards the inside of the collection container.

Since the openable flaps can extend over the whole of the base of the collection container and since the troughs can extend to the edge of the openable flaps, the troughs provide a large space or chamber in which the finer solids can accumulate. Therefore, the finer solids do not reach the area of the clearance between the outer edge of the openable flaps and the side walls of the collection container so that the area surrounding the collection container is not contaminated by the finer solids.

It is advisable for the troughs to extend from the peripheral edge to the centre of the collection container in an inclined plane with respect to the plain of the base. As a result the finer solids slide towards the centre of the collection container so that the edge near the clearance is kept clear.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a solids collection container with an operable base comprising two operable flaps at the base of the container, these flaps being connected to a tensioned cable such that when the collection container is raised these flaps can be moved into an open position for emptying or a closed position for closure, wherein the cable is connected inside the container to a rod, tube or pipe which is mounted in a sleeve in the upper walls of the collection container so as to be longitudinally displaceable therein and secured against rotation relative thereto, the tube or pipe being provided at its upper end outside the collection container, with a ring, handle or the like.

The lower end of the rod, tube or pipe may be connected to the cable. As a result it is possible to guide the cable from one openable flap through an eyelet etc on the lower free end of the rod, tube or pipe and to connect the other end of the cable to the second openable flap. However, independent cables for each of the openable flaps may be connected to the lower free end of the rod, tube or pipe. The openable flaps are actuated by longitudinal displacement of the rod, tube or pipe in the guide sleeve. Part of the rod tube or pipe may be pulled towards the outside in order to close the openable flaps, whereas the rod, tube or pipe is moved into the collection container in order to open the flaps on the base. As is the case with the known collection containers, the cable may be released in this instance too, when the collection container is on a firm base.Thus the cable may be arranged exclusively inside the collection container and it will thus be unnecessary to move them outwardly by means of guides. Only one guide is required for the rod, tube or pipe and this is mounted so as to be longitudinally displaceable and to have low friction since the forces transferred from the cable to the rod, tube or pipe are predominantly longitudinal of the rod, tube or pipe. In addition, by arranging the rod, tube or pipe so as to be secure against to rotation in the guide sleeve, the cable is prevented from being damaged by twisting or torsion.

Preferably the rod tube or pipe and the guide sleeve have a rectangular cross-section. This makes it easy to make the tube secure in the guide sleeve against rotation.

In an advantageous embodiment, the guide sleeve may be connected to a reinforcement plate adapted to the shape of the walls of the container.

As a result, the forces transferred from the rod tube or pipe to the guide sleeve are distributed over a fairly large area of the dome portion of the collection container, so that the collection container can also be manufactured with the same wall thickness in its dome portion. In addition, the reinforcment plate makes it possible to fix the lifting ring by which the collection container is carried by the crane.

Furthermore, it is preferable if the openable flaps form a support surface for the collection container in the area around the peripheral edge of the collection container. If the openable flaps on the base extend to the edge of the collection container, the support surface is at the outermost edge of the collection container. As a result the collection container can be made stable.

It is advisable for the support surface of the collection container to be approximately annular.

Such a support surface, which is only interrupted in the region of the pivot axis, facilitates a particularly stable arrangement of the collection container so that constant stability can be provided regardless of the direction of the tipping force.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example with reference to the schematic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a collection container with two openable flaps on the base in their open positions.

Fig.2 shows a side view of an openable flap with a trough.

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of an openable flap accoidiiig to Fiy.2.

Fig. 4 shows a side view of a part of the actuating device for the openable flaps on the base.

Fig. 5 shows a plan view of a part of the actuating device according to Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 shows a side view of a collection container with closed openable flaps on the base.

Collection container 1 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a side wall 2 in the shape of a circular cylinder and an integral upper dome portion 3. In order to fill the collection container 1, it is provided with openings 4 for insertion of, e.g.

scrap glass, in its upper dome portion 3. The base of the collection container 1 comprises two openable flaps 5 which are provided with an eyelet 6 at their outer edge. The eyelet 6 is connected to a cable 7 which extends on the inside of the collection container 1 to the lower free end 8a of a rod, pipe or tube 8. The rod, pipe or tube 8 is longitudinally displaceable in a guide sleeve 9 arranged at the centre of the dome portion 3 of the collection container 1. The upper free end 8b of the rod, pipe or tube 8 is provided with a ring 9 in which a crane hook is able to engage in order to actuate the openable flaps 5 by raising or lowering the rod, pipe or tube 8.

The openable flap 5 show in Fig.2 is provided as a trough shaped member 1 on its side facing the inside of the collection container 1. The trough 10 extends from the peripheral edge 5a to the centre of the collection container 1 and is downwardly inclined as compared to the plane of the base of the container. The finer solids can collect in the trough shape 10 of the openable flaps 5. The inclined angle of the trough 10 causes the finer solids to slide from the edge of the openable flap 5 towards the centre in the deepest part 1 Oa of the trough 10. As a result, the finer solids cannot escape out through the clearance formed by the openable flaps 5 and the side walls 2 of the collection container 1 when these flaps are closed. Fig. 3 clearly shows that the trough 10 extends over the entire area of the openable flap 5 as far as its pivot axis 11.

In order to guide the cable free of torsion and wear it is operated by means of the actuating device essentially comprising a tube 8 and a guide sleeve 9 as can be seen from Fig. 1. This actuating device is shown on a large scale in Figs. 4 and 5.

The tube 8 is arranged so as to be longitudinally displaceable and secure against rotation in the sleeve 9 and this may be achieved by making both the rod, pipe or tube 8 and the guide sleeve 9 with a rectangular cross-section. A plate 12 is welded onto the upper end Sb of the rod, pipe or tube 8 and is also welded to an annular handle 1 3 into which the hook of the crane is able to engage in order to actuate the openable flaps 5 by means of cables 7.The guide sleeve 9 is connected to a reinforcing plate 14 and its shape is adapted to the shape of the upper dome portion 3 of the collection container 1.The reinforcing plate 14 lies outside the dome portion 3 of the collection container 1 and is mounted on the inside of the dome portion 3 by a suitably shaped reinforcing plate 1 5 which is connected to the reinforcing plate 14 by a locking screw 1 6 and a collar type screw 1 7. The walls of the upper dome part 3 (not shown in Fig. 4) are arranged between the reinforcing plate 14 and 1 5. Both the locking screw 1 6 and the collar type screw 1 7 are screwed through nuts. The hook of a crane is able to engage into the lifting ring 1 8 of the collar type screw 1 7 in order to raise the whole collection container 1.

In the area around the periphery of the collection container 1 or the peripheral edge of the openable flap 5, the flap 5 is provided with a support surface 1 9 as can be seen from Figs. 2,3 and 6. This support surface is approximately annular. The support surface 19 is recessed only in the region around the pivot axis 11 of the openable flap 5. The provision of a support surface 1 9 which extends over the peripheral edge gives the collection container 1 a high degree of stability.

Claims (8)

1. A solids collection container with an operable base comprising two operable flaps at the base of the container which form the support surface for the collection container and which when the container is raised, pivotable into a position for emptying the container by means of an actuating device operable from outside the container, wherein the openable flaps are formed as troughs on their face towards the inside of the collection container.

2. A collection container according to claim 1 wherein the troughs are downwardly inclined, as compared to the plane of the base of the container, from the peripheral edge to the centre of the collection container.

3. A solids collection container with an operable base comprising two operable flaps at the base of the container, these flaps being connected to a tensioned cable such that when the collection container is raised these flaps can be moved into an open position for emptying or a closed position for closure, wherein the cable is connected inside the container to a rod, tube or pipe which is mounted in a sleeve in the upper walls of the collection container so as to be longitudinally displaceable therein and secured against rotation relative thereto, the tube or pipe being provided at its upper end, outside the collection container, with a ring, handle or the like.

4. A collection container according to claim 3, wherein the rod, tube or pipe and the sleeve has a rectangular cross section.

5. A collection container according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the sleeve is connected to a reinforcement plate which is matched or adapted to the shape of the walls of the collection container.

6. A collection container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the openable flaps form a support surface for the collection container in the region around the peripheral edge of the collection container.

7. A collection container according to claim 6, wherein the support surface of the collection container is approximately annular.

8. A collection container substantially as described herein with preference to the drawings.