GB2114089A

GB2114089A - Refuse vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2114089A
Application number: GB08234281A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold Henry George Enefer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-01-29
Filing date: 1982-12-01
Publication date: 1983-08-17
Also published as: EP0085216A2; EP0085216A3

Abstract

A refuse collection and compaction vehicle has a chassis of a standard type of less than 2.25 metres in width, and carries a refuse compaction and collection body (13) having a pivotally mounted tailgate assembly. The tailgate incorporates a sliding member (20) driven by power means (22) and carrying a compactor (23) driven by second power means (24) to pivot relative to the sliding member. The weight and capacity of the body are selected so that the maximum laden weight of the vehicle does not exceed 7,500 kilograms. <IMAGE>

Description

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GB 2 114 089 A 1

SPECIFICATION Refuse compactor vehicle

This invention relates to refuse collection and compaction vehicles.

5 Such vehicles include a body and a tailgate assembly mounted on the vehicle chassis and housing a compaction mechanism to compact refuse received by the tailgate and a discharging mechanism to discharge the refuse at for example 10 a tip or incinerator.

Such vehicles have hitherto been large and heavy in weigth so as to enable as must refuse as possible to be packed into the vehicle between unloading trips.

1 5 For some applications, however, the existing vehicles are unsuitable by reason of their large size and small non-compacting vehicles have had to be used instead. For example disposal of waste from small villages in remote and inaccessible country 20 districts; disposal of litter at scenic areas open to the public but not accessible on metalled roads and disposal of litter in pedestrian shopping areas all pose this problem.

It is an object of the present invention to 25 provide a refuse collection and compaction vehicle reducing or overcoming this problem.

According to the invention there is provided a refuse collection and compaction vehicle comprising a chassis of relatively narrow width of 30 less than 2.25 metres, and a body adapted to store compacted refuse and a tailgate assembly including compaction mechanism to compact refuse and store it in the body, the weight of the vehicle and the capacity of the body being such 35 that the total weight of the vehicle fully-laden does not exceed 7,500 kilograms.

The weight of 7,500 kilograms or 7.38 tons is the upper gross vehicle weight limit of a Medium Goods Vehicle. Above this limit a vehicle is 40 classified as a Heavy Goods Vehicle and a special HGV driving licence is required to drive it.

The compaction mechanism may comprise a sliding member adapted to be slid upwardly and forwardly, or downwardly and rearwardly within 45 the tailgate by first power means, and a compactor pivotally mounted relative to the sliding member for forward and rearward pivoting movement about an axis disposed laterally of the vehicle and operable by second power means, the 50 compactor co-operating with an interior surface of the tailgate to compact refuse placed in the tailgate.

The compaction mechanism may be controlled by electric or electro-mechanical means and the 55 first and second power means may by hydraulically or pneumatically powered.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:— 60 FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle which embodies the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of part of the vehicle, showing the compaction and discharge mechanisms,

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the compaction mechanism in a first position,

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3, but showing a further position of the compaction mechanism,

FIGURE 5 is a further view of the compaction mechanism.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a refuse collection and compaction vehicle is generally illustrated at 10. It comprises a conventional, mass-produced chassis and cab 11 and 12, which are less than 2.25 (e.g. 2.15) metres wide. A refuse-receiving body 13 is mounted on the chassis and a tailgate assembly 14 closes off the body. The tailgate 14 has an opening 1 5 at its rear end to receive refuse to be disposed of. This is then compacted by means to be described later and packed into the body 13. The compacted refuse is taken to a suitable tip or incinerator and discharged by opening the rear of the body and pushing the refuse out using the discharging mechanism inside the body and shown in Figure 2 at 16. The tailgate is lifted to open the rear of the body, by firstly releasing a hook mechanism 17 which is operated by piston and cylinder means 18, controlled from the body nearside, and then operating a further piston and cylinder assembly 19 to lift the tailgate.

The compactor mechanism of the tailgate comprises a sliding member 20, which is mounted in guides in the tailgate wall at 21, and which is capable of sliding movement either in a forward and upward direction or in downward and rearward direction, under the control of power means comprising a piston and cylinder assembly 22. A compactor 23 is pivotally mounted on the foot of the sliding member about an axis which extends transversely of the vehicle axis. It is pivoted by second power means comprising a piston and cylinder assembly 24.

The sequence of operations of the compactor mechanism is shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5. The sliding member 20 starts in the uppermost position as shown in Figure 2, with the compactor swung forwardly as illustrated. When refuse has been deposited in the tailgate, the compactor is swung rearwardly to the position shown in Figure 3 and the sliding member 20 is then lowered to the position shown in Figure 4. The compactor is swung forwardly, as shown in Figure 5, crushing and compacting the refuse against a fixed internal wall of the tailgate at 25. The compacted refuse is fed into the body of the vehicle. Further refuse can continue to be packed into the body until it is full, after which the vehicle is driven to a tip or incinerator and the refuse ejected, as described above.

The size of the vehicle chassis and the body capacity are chosen so that the total or gross vehicle weight of the vehicle fully laden does not exceed 7,500 kilograms. This is achieved partly by the simple and relatively light operating mechanism described above and partly by confining the width of the chassis to less than 2.25 metres.

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GB 2 114 089 A 2

The control system for operating the compaction and other mechanisms described may be electrical or electromechanical. For example, electrical limit switches may be used to stop and 5 start movement of the various parts as required, by detecting their presence at appropriate parts of their travel. Alternatively, mechanical detectors may be used to control the electrical circuitry which in turn controls the power means operating 10 the various parts.

Power means of an hydraulic type are preferred, but could be substituted by pneumatic means if desired. The hydraulic power means are operated, in generally-known manner from the 15 vehicle hydraulic system, via a power take-off, controlled from the cab.

In a vehicle embodying the invention, the size of the body may, for example, be approximately 2.6 metres long and 1.5 metres high, considered 20 from the chassis. The tailgate may be an additional 1.5 metres in length and of the same height approximately.

It will be found that, allowing for an empty weight of about 4999 kilograms, a payload of 25 25000 kilograms of refuse can be accommodated without exceeding the limit of 7,5000 kilograms allowed for a medium Goods Vehicle. This is equivalent to packing the body full of refuse, with the dimensions given so that the vehicle will at all 30 times be operating within the limit.

Claims

1. A refuse collection and compaction vehicle comprising a chassis of relatively narrow width less than 2.25 metres, a body mounted on the 35 chassis and adapted to store compacted refuse and a tailgate assembly associated with the body and comprising a tailgate and a compaction mechanism operable to compact refuse and store it in the body, the weight and internal capacity of

40 the body being such that the total weight of the vehicle fully-laden does not exceed 7,5000 kilograms.

2. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the compaction mechanism comprises a sliding 45 member adapted to be slid upwardly and forwardly, or downwardly and rearwardly within the tailgate by first power means, and a compactor pivotally mounted relative to the sliding member for forward and rearward pivoting 50 movement about an axis disposed laterally of the vehicle, the compactor being operable by second power means, and the compactor co-operating with an interior surface of the tailgate to compact refuse placed in the tailgate.

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3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein sensing means are provided to detect the position of the compacting mechanism during operation.

4. A vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the 60 sensing means are electrically operated.

5. A vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the sensing means are mechanically operated.

6. A vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the first and second power means are

65 hydraulic.

7. A vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein in the first and second power means are pneumatic.

8. A vehicle according to any preceding claim 70 wherein the body contains a power-operated refuse discharging mechanism.

9. A vehicle according to any preceding claim wherein the tailgate is pivotally mounted relative to the body and includes power operated

75 unlocking means.

10. A refuse collection and compaction vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1983. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.