GB2147876A

GB2147876A - Improvements in or relating to refuse collection vehicles and compactors therefor

Info

Publication number: GB2147876A
Application number: GB08425303A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Trafford Boughton
Original assignee: TT Boughton and Sons Ltd
Current assignee: TT Boughton and Sons Ltd
Priority date: 1983-10-11
Filing date: 1984-10-08
Publication date: 1985-05-22
Also published as: GB8425303D0; GB8327152D0; GB2147876B

Abstract

The invention relates to refuse collection vehicles and compactors therefor, and includes a demountable container (3) and a compactor (4). The compactor may be fixed to the vehicle, and located at the front of the vehicle, while the container is at the rear (Figures 3-8). Alternatively the compactor may be demountable and located at the rear of the container (Figures 1-11). A special compactor is described which compactor includes a hingedly-mounted door (42) covering an opening (41) in the rear of the container (3). The compactor includes a blade (31) carried on a frame (32) which is itself supported by the rams of four hydraulic cylinders (34-37). The compactor also includes two hydraulic cylinders (50 and 51) designed to open and close the door (42). Furthermore, mechanical locking means (53-57) are provided to hold the door (42) in the closed position when the compactor is removed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to refuse collection vehicles and compactors therefor This invention relates to refuse collection vehicles and compactors for use with such vehicles.

It is known to provide refuse collection vehicles with compactors or packing apparatus to enable the refuse loaded into the vehicle to be compressed in order to increase the amount of refuse that can be loaded into a particular volume. Normally when the vehicle is full, it is driven to a transfer station where the refuse is unloaded and repacked into a transportable container. The container is then closed and lifted on to a vehicle for transportation of the refuse to its final destination.

It is an object of one aspect of the present invention to eliminate the steps of emptying the refuse from the vehicle and repacking it into a transportable container.

From this aspect the invention consists in a refuse collection vehicle including a demountable container and a compactor adapted to receive refuse and pack it into said container.

It is to be understood that, with a vehicle in accordance with this aspect of the invention, the refuse is packed directly into the transportable container and, accordingly, when the container is full, the vehicle may be driven to the transfer station where the container is demounted and lifted directly on to the vehicle that will transport it to its final destination. It is to be understood that this vehicle may be a road vehicle, a train, or a ship.

The compactor may be a fixed part of the vehicle or it may be demountable from the vehicle. The compactor may be located behind the container at the rear of the vehicle. However, in an alternative arrangement, the compactor may be located at the front of the vehicle with the container at the rear.

This latter arrangement has the advantage that the container may be easily removed from the rear of the vehicle. However, it has the disadvantage that it cannot be used with normal, presently available, vehicles because the cab occupies some of the space required for the compactor, or for an elevator leading to the compactor. Normally, if the compactor is mounted at the rear of the vehicle, it will be demountable, whereas, if it is mounted at the front of the vehicle, it will be a fixed part of the vehicle. However, particularly with relatively small containers, it may be convenient to have a rearmounted compactor which is a fixed part of the vehicle and to remove the container from one side of the vehicle, for example, by means of a fork-lift truck.

It will be understood that a vehicle in accordance with the invention consists basically of three parts.

The first part may be a standard wheeled vehicle chassis with its engine and cab; the second part will be a demountable iSO-type container; and the third part may be a compactor of the type used as the rear end of a conventional refuse cart. The compactor may be provided with pockets to fit the tines of a fork-lift truck. The container may also be provided with fork-lift pockets but, preferably, it includes four or more telescopically-arranged tubes and roller assemblies.

A vehicle of the kind described, may be used to collect refuse in the normal way. When the container is full, the vehicle returns to its base where it backs on to the tines of a fork-lift truck. The compactor is then hydraulically lifted out of its guides and separated from the container. The vehicle, with its container, then moves away and reverses towards a set of ramps. The tubes carrying the rollers are then drawn from their sockets, and the locks holding the container on the vehicle are released. The vehicle then reverses between the ramps, and the container is separated from the vehicle as it runs up and along the ramps on the rollers. The vehicle moves away and reverses between another set of ramps on which is an empty container. The container is pulled off the ramps by the vehicle, and the locks are then secured.The vehicle with its empty container reverses towards the removed compactor, and the fork-lift truck lowers the compactor into its guides on the container and the complete unit is once again ready for use.

In some circumstances, a conventional compactor is not suitable for use with a vehicle in accordance with the first aspect of the invention and, accordingly, it is an object of a second aspect of the invention to provide a vehicle with a compactor which is particularly suitable for this purpose.

From this aspect the invention consists in a refuse collection vehicle including a demountable container and a compactor adapted to be secured to said container, wherein said container includes an opening and a hingedly mounted door for closing said opening, wherein said compactor includes an opening for the receipt of rubbish, a blade, and first hydraulic mechanism for moving said blade along a path to take rubbish from said opening towards the opening in the container, and wherein the compactor also includes second hydraulic mechanism for opening and closing the door of the container, the arrangement being such that closure of said door moves rubbish, which has been taken towards the opening in the container by the blade, through the opening in the container.

Preferably the first hydraulic mechanism includes two first hydraulic cylinders and two second hydraulic cylinders, the rams of all of which are pivotally connected to a framework carrying the blade, the arrangement being such that, when rubbish is to be received through the opening in the compactor, the rams of the two first cylinders are extended, while the rams of the two second cylinders are retracted so that the blade is located above the opening in the compactor. When the rubbish has been received, a door is closed to cover the opening in the compactor and the rams of said second cylinders are extended to move the blade along a first circular path centered on the pivotal connections between the framework and the rams of the second cylinders.Thereafter the rams of said first cylinders are retracted to move the blade along a second circular path centered on the pivotal connections between the framework and the rams of said second cylinders.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure l is a side view of a first embodiment of a vehicle in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a part of a modified form of the vehicle illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a side view of a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a plan view of a modification of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5; Figure 7 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 is a plan view of a modification of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5; Figure 9 is a rear view of the compactor used in the vehicle illustrated in Figure 1;; Figure 10 is a side view of the compactor illustrated in Figure 9 showing the compactor blade in its two end positions; and Figure 11 is a side view of the compactor illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 showing the compactor blade in an intermediate position.

The vehicle illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a standard cargo chassis 1 fitted with ISO twist locks, one of which is shown at 2. The vehicle is provided with a demountable ISO container 3 and a demountable compactor 4. The container 3 is secured to the vehicle chassis by means of the ISO twist locks which engage in ISO corner fittings, two of which are indicated at 5 and 6. The compactor 4 is secured to the rear of the container 3, again making use of the ISO corner fittings, including a corner fitting 6 and a further pair of corner fittings at the top of the container, one of which is indicated at 7. The rear of the compactor is provided with pockets (not shown) to enable the compactor to be demounted on the tines of a fork lift truck.The container 3 is also provided with fork lift pockets, and in addition is provided with telescopically-arranged tubes and rollers designed to cooperate with ramps to remove the container from the vehicle chassis. The compactor includes a door 8 through which rubbish may be inserted, and the rear of the container 3 is provided with an opening having a further door (not shown). After rubbish has been passed through the open door 8, that door is closed and the compactor then operates to transfer the rubbish into the container 3 through the door associated with that opening. Hydraulic means are also provided as part of the compactor to close the door of the container and thus pack the rubbish into the container. In addition, mechanical locks are provided to maintain the door in the closed position when the compactor 4 has been removed.

The compactor 4 is of special design which will be described hereinafter with reference to Figures 9-11. However, in certain circumstances, it is possible to use a conventional compactor of the kind which is built into known rubbish collecting vehicles. Such a compactor is illustrated in the scrap view of Figure 2. A compactor of this kind includes a hydraulically-operated sliding shutter, and refuse may be placed in the opening at the rear of the compactor by means of a bin lift attachment.

The vehicle illustrated in Figure 3 includes a purpose-built chassis having a cab 9 for the driver and crew. The cab is mounted to one side of the front of the vehicle, while the other side of the front is occupied by a conveyor 10 and a compactor 11. In this embodiment the container 3 is mounted at the rear of the vehicle and the opening through which rubbish is packed into the container is located at the front. Rubbish is loaded on to the conveyor 10 and carried to a position above the top of the compactor blade 11 which is shown in the open position. Rubbish falls down to the blade 11 and when the space between the blade and the opening in the container 3 is full, a hydraulic ram 12 is extended to rotate the blade 11 about a pivot axis located at the bottom of the blade 11.When it is desired to remove the container 3 from the vehicle, the opening in the front of the container is closed by means of a sliding door 13.

The vehicle illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 is generally similar to that shown in Figure 3, except that the pivotally-mounted compactor blade 11 is replaced by a conventional compactor ram 14. The conveyor 10 carries the rubbish to a chute located above, and in front of, the retracted ram 14 and when the space in front of the ram is full, the ram is moved hydraulically to pack the rubbish into the opening at the front of the container. Once again, the opening at the front of the container is closed by means of a sliding door 13 when the container is full.

The embodiment illustrated in Figure 6 is generally similar to that illustrated in Figure 3, except that the compactor blade 15 is mounted to pivot about a vertical axis under the control of the hydraulic ram 16.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, the conveyor 17 is pivotally mounted at the forward end so that the rearward end can move up or down according to the amount of refuse passing through it at any one time. A further conveyor belt 18 is provided in this embodiment and the two conveyors 17 and 18 serve as the compacting mechanism. Once again, a door 19 is provided to close off the container prior to removal.

Figure 8 illustrates a modification of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 in which the conveyor 10 and the ram 14 are centrally located between two cabs 20 and 21 for the driver and crew. This embodiment is also provided with two storage areas 22 and 23.

The compactor illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11 includes a compactor blade 31 mounted on a framework including two generally triangular end pieces 32 and 33. The framework is supported by four hydraulic rams 34, 35, 36 and 37, the cylinders of which are all mounted on the compactor frame to pivot about a common axis 38. If the rams 35 and 36 are retracted, and the rams 34 and 47 are extended, the blade 31 will be in the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 10. If all four rams are extended, the blade 31 will be in the position shown in Figure 11. If the rams 34 and 37 are retracted and the rams 35 and 36 are extended, the blade 31 will be in the position shown in Figure 9, and in full lines in Figure 10.

The compactor includes an opening at the rear which is closable by means of a door 39. When rubbish is to be packed into the container, the door 39 is opened and the rubbish is inserted through the opening. At this stage the blade 31 is located above the opening as shown in dotted lines in Figure 10. When the door 39 is closed, the ram 35 is extended to move the blade 31 into the position shown in Figure 11. The rubbish is indicated in this Figure at 40 and it can be seen that it has been moved from the opening along a circular path.

Thereafter the ram 34 is retracted to move the blade 31 into the position shown in Figure 9, and in full lines in Figure 10. This causes the rubbish to be moved from the position shown in Figure 11 along a circular path into an opening 41 provided in the container 3.

A door 42 is provided to close the opening 41.

This door is mounted on the container to pivot about an axis 43. The three hinges supporting the door 42 can be seen in Figure 9 at 44, 45 and 46.

Secured to the door 42 are two pairs of trunions 47 and 48. Each of these pairs of trunions supports a transverse pin 49. Two hydraulic cylinders 50 and 51 are mounted on the framework of the compactor. The ram of each of these cylinders carries at its end a C-shaped member 52. In the retracted position of the rams shown in Figure 11, the bottom portions of the two members 52 engage the corresponding lateral pins to rotate the door 42 in an anti-clockwise direction, as seen in Figures 10 and 11, to open the door. When the rams are extended, the upper portions of the two members 52 engage the corresponding lateral pins 49 to rotate the door anti-clockwise into the closed position illustrated in Figure 10.

When it is desired to remove the compactor, it is necessary to lock the door 42 in the closed position because the cylinders 50 and 51, together with their respective rams and members 52, will be removed with the compactor. The locking means provided for this purpose include a pair of stepped projections 53 fitted to the front face of the door.

Two locking plates 54 are mounted on a shaft 55 which is rotatable in bearings secured to the container. A lever 56 is fitted to the outer end of the shaft 55 and a turnbuckle 57 has one end secured to the container wall and the other end secured to the end of the lever 56, remote from the shaft 55.

Thus shortening of the turnbuckle 57 rotates the shaft 55 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Figures 9 and 10. Similarly lengthening of the turnbuckle rotates the shaft 55 in an anti-clockwise direction.

Rotation of the shaft in a clockwise direction urges the lower ends 58 of the two locking plates 54 into engagement with the steps at the tops of the respective stepped members 52. The particular step engaged in each case will depend on the tightness with which the door can be closed.

Claims

1. A refuse collection vehicle including a demountable container and a compactor adapted to receive refuse and pack it into said container.

2. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the compactor is a fixed part of the vehicle.

3. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the compactor is demountable from the vehicle.

4. A vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the ccompactor is located behind the container at the rear of the vehicle.

5. A vehicle as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the compactor is located at the front of the vehicle, with the container at the rear.

6. A vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the container is an ISO container.

7. A vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the compactor is provided with pockets to fit the tines of a fork lift truck.

8. A vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the container is provided with pockets to fit the tines of a fork lift truck.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding Claims, wherein the container is provided with four or more telescopically-arranged lateral tubes, each having a roller assembly on the outer end thereof.

10. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the vehicle chassis is provided with ISO twist locks and wherein the container is removably secured to the vehicle chassis by means of the ISO twist locks which engage in ISO corner fittings on the container.

11. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the compactor is secured to the rear of the container by means of ISO twist locks on the compactor which engage in ISO corner fittings on the container.

12. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 3 and Claim 4, wherein the container includes an opening at the rear provided with a hingedly-mounted door to cover the opening, and wherein means are provided in the compactor for closing the door of the container and thus packing rubbish into the container.

13. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 12, wherein mechanical locks are provided on the container to maintain the door in the closed position when the compactor is removed.

14. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 2 and Claim 5, wherein a conveyor is provided to carry rubbish from the front of the vehicle to the compactor.

15. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the compactor comprises a rotatable blade, controlled by a hydraulic ram, which serves to move rubbish from the rear end of the conveyor into an opening in the front of the container.

16. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the compactor comprises a ram, movable hydraulically, from a retracted forward position below the rear end of the conveyor to an extended rearward position adjacent to, or within, an opening in the front of the container.

17. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 15 or Claim 16, wherein a sliding door is provided on the container to close the opening in the front thereof when the container is removed from the vehicle.

18. A vehicle as claimed in any of Claims 14 to 17, wherein a cab for the driver and crew of the vehicle is provided at one side of the front of the vehicle, and the conveyor is provided at the other side of the front of the vehicle.

19. A vehicle as claimed in any of Claims 14 to 17, wherein the conveyor is centrally located at the front of the vehicle between two cabs for the driver and crew.

20. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the conveyor is pivotally mounted at the forward end so that the rearward end can move up or down, and wherein a further conveyor belt is provided above the rearward end of the first mentioned conveyor to serve as the compacting mechanism.

21. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the container includes an opening and a hingedlymounted door for closing said opening, wherein said compactor includes an opening for the receipt of rubbish, a blade, and first hydraulic mechanism for moving said blade along a path to take rubbish from said opening towards the opening in the container, and wherein the compactor also includes second hydraulic mechanism for opening and closing the door of the container, the arrangement being such that closure of said door moves rubbish, which has been taken towards the opening in the container by the blade, through the opening in the container.

22. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the first hydraulic mechanism includes two first hydraulic cylinders and two second hydraulic cylinders, the rams of all of which are pivotally connected to a framework carrying the blade.

23. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 22, including a hingedly-mounted door for closing the opening in the compactor, wherein the arrangement is such that, when the compactor door is open, the rams of the two first cylinders are extended, whereas the rams of the two second cylinders are retracted so that the blade is located above the opening in the compactor.

24. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 23, wherein, when the compactor door is closed, the rams of the second cylinders are extended to move the blade along a first circular path centered on the pivotal connections between the framework and the rams of the second cylinders, whereafter the rams of the first cylinders are retracted to move the blade along a second circular path centered on the pivotal connections between the framework and the rams of the second cylinders.

25. A vehicle as claimed in any of the Claims 21 to 24, wherein the second hydraulic r. mechanism includes two hydraulic cylinders mount j on the framework of the compactor with their longitudinal axes vertical, the ram of each of these cylinders carrying at its lower end a generally C-shaped member adapted to engage respective lateral pins mounted on the door of the container, the arrangement being such that, when the rams are extended, the upper portions of the two members engage the corresponding lateral pins to close the door, whereas, when the rams are retracted, the lower portions of the members engage the lateral pins to open the door.

26. A vehicle as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 25, wherein mechanical means are provided to lock the container door in the closed position when the compactor is removed, said locking means comprising a pair of stepped projections fixed to the front face of the door and two locking plates mounted on a rotatable shaft controlled by a lever to cause the lower ends of the two locking plates to engage steps at the top of the respective stepped members.

27. A refuse collection vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, any of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

28. Any features of novelty, taken singly or in combination, of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.