GB2168317A

GB2168317A - Emptying refuse bins

Info

Publication number: GB2168317A
Application number: GB08531213A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cristina Longaretti
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-12-18
Filing date: 1985-12-18
Publication date: 1986-06-18
Also published as: IT8424170V0; FR2574764B3; GB8531213D0; ES291106Y; ES291106U; DE8534391U1; FR2574764A3; GB2168317B

Abstract

A refuse bin 1 has an inverted V-shaped channel 4 on its side wall 3 intended to face a road, which when the bin is to be emptied is engaged by a lifting carriage 15 of a collection vehicle having an inverted V-shaped element 14 with its contained angle substantially equal to that of said channel and arranged to engage this latter and to lock it during the overturning of the bin. During the lifting of the carriage and the bin pawls 18 are caused by cam followers 20 leaving cams 17 to engage surfaces 7 of locking elements 6 on the channel 4 and hence secure the bin when overturned and emptied. The bin lid has two parts, one 10 intended for the introduction of the refuse and the other 12 arranged to open by gravity during the overturning and emptying stage. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Refuse bin and an inverted V device for gripping, locking and releasing it for its emptying into the body of a collection vehicle This invention relates to a refuse bin and the relative device for gripping, locking and releasing it, for its emptying into the body of a collection vehicle.

Various devices are currently used for enabling refuse bins to be gripped and released by the vehicle which collects them along the roadway. These conventional devices are all based on the use of forks or similar means designed to engage lugs generally provided on the sides of the bin, thus requiring the vehicle to be positioned correctly alongside the bin, which cannot always be done because of the presence of possible obstacles.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refuse bin and the relative gripping, locking and release device which allows the bin to be gripped without the collection vehicle having to be positioned to within excessively narrow limits.

A further object of the invention is to provide a special lid which enables the user to easily introduce the refuse, while at the same time allowing the refuse to be emptied into the body of the collection vehicle without the need for mechanical means for opening the lid during its emptying, as in the case of conventional bins, such means being subject to soiling and thus to jamming and wear.

These and further objects of the invention will be apparent to experts of the art from reading the description and claims given hereinafter.

The refuse bin is of box shape and is essentially characterised by comprising an inverted V-shaped channel on the side facing the road, the gripping and release means associated with the lifting carriage of the collection vehicle consisting of an inverted V-shaped element with its contained angle substantially equal to that of said channel and arranged to engage this latter and to lock it during the overturning of the bin, the lid of this latter being constituted by two parts, of which one is intended for the introduction of the refuse and the other is arranged to open by gravity during the overturning and emptying stage.

The invention is illustrated diagrammatically by way of example in the accompanying figures, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of the bin; Figure 2 is a front view of the gripping device associated with the lifting carriage of the gripping vehicle; Figure 3 is a section on the line Ill-Ill (enlarged) of Figure l; Figure 4 is a side view of the lid; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, with the bin undergoing overturning; Figure 6shows the locking means for retaining the bin during its overturning.

With reference to said figures, the bin, indicated overall by 1, is in the form of a substantially parallelepiped box structure. On that side 3 of the bin 1 which faces the road there is provided an inverted V channel 4 comprising a curved lead-in lip 5. On the channel 4there are provided two locking elements 6, each comprising a flat horizontal surface 7.

The lid of the bin 1 (Figures 4 and 5) is constituted by a first element 10 facing that side of the bin opposite the side 3, ie the pavement side, and hinged at 11 to the apex of a second element 12 hinged at 13 to the upper edge of the bin on the side opposite the side 3, ie on the pavement side.

The gripping element (Figure 2) is constituted by an inverted V-shaped bar 14 forming an angle a equal to the angle a' of the channel 4 and carried by a lifting carriage 15 which is made to slide in the indicated directions along guides 16 forming part of the collection vehicle, not shown. As can be seen in particular from Figure 6, each guide 16 comprises a cam contour 17 designed to cooperate with locking pawls 18 pivoted at 19 to the sides of the carriage 15.

Each pawl 18 comprises a cam following roller 20 and a return spring 21.

In operation, the collection vehicle draws alongside the bin 1, and the carriage 15 is moved in a conventional manner (see other patents of the present applicant) into proximity with said bin so as to bring the gripping element 14 into engagement with the channel 4. Because of the special V configuration both of the channel 4 and of the element 14, and aided by the lead-in lip 5 of said channel, the element 14 becomes automatically centered relative to the channel 4 as the carriage 15 is raised, with consequent correct gripping of the bin 1, even if the positioning of the vehicle is not perfectly exact. It should be noted that the lead-in lip 5 cooperates in ensuring gripping even if the element 14 is insufficiently close to the channel 4.

During the initial stage of the lifting of the carriage 15, the pawls 18 remain disposed vertically (lower part of Figure 6) by virtue of the engagement of the cam follower 20 with the flat contour of the cam 17.

As lifting continues, the cam follower 20 abandons the cam 17 (upper part of Figure 6), and the action of the spring 21 causes the relative pawl 18 to become disposed in an inclined position so as to make contact with the flat horizontal surface 7 of the locking elements 6. The engagement of the two pawls 18 with the elements 6 serves to prevent separation of the element 14 from the channel 4 during the overturning of the bin 1 for emptying its contents into the body of the collection vehicle.

The lid comprising the two elements 10 and 12 is particularly advantageous, in that it allows the user to introduce the refuse (Figure 4) while remaining on the pavement, and at the same time allows the element 12 to open by simple gravity during the overturning of the bin (Figure 5), thus eliminating the conventional currently used mechanical opening devices, which are subject to wear and maintenance.

1. A refuse bin and a device for gripping, locking and releasing it for its emptying, characterised by comprising an inverted V-shaped channel on the side facing the road, the gripping and release means associated with the lifting carriage of the collection

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Refuse bin and an inverted V device for gripping, locking and releasing it for its emptying into the body of a collection vehicle This invention relates to a refuse bin and the relative device for gripping, locking and releasing it, for its emptying into the body of a collection vehicle. Various devices are currently used for enabling refuse bins to be gripped and released by the vehicle which collects them along the roadway. These conventional devices are all based on the use of forks or similar means designed to engage lugs generally provided on the sides of the bin, thus requiring the vehicle to be positioned correctly alongside the bin, which cannot always be done because of the presence of possible obstacles. An object of the present invention is to provide a refuse bin and the relative gripping, locking and release device which allows the bin to be gripped without the collection vehicle having to be positioned to within excessively narrow limits. A further object of the invention is to provide a special lid which enables the user to easily introduce the refuse, while at the same time allowing the refuse to be emptied into the body of the collection vehicle without the need for mechanical means for opening the lid during its emptying, as in the case of conventional bins, such means being subject to soiling and thus to jamming and wear. These and further objects of the invention will be apparent to experts of the art from reading the description and claims given hereinafter. The refuse bin is of box shape and is essentially characterised by comprising an inverted V-shaped channel on the side facing the road, the gripping and release means associated with the lifting carriage of the collection vehicle consisting of an inverted V-shaped element with its contained angle substantially equal to that of said channel and arranged to engage this latter and to lock it during the overturning of the bin, the lid of this latter being constituted by two parts, of which one is intended for the introduction of the refuse and the other is arranged to open by gravity during the overturning and emptying stage. The invention is illustrated diagrammatically by way of example in the accompanying figures, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of the bin; Figure 2 is a front view of the gripping device associated with the lifting carriage of the gripping vehicle; Figure 3 is a section on the line Ill-Ill (enlarged) of Figure l; Figure 4 is a side view of the lid; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, with the bin undergoing overturning; Figure 6shows the locking means for retaining the bin during its overturning. With reference to said figures, the bin, indicated overall by 1, is in the form of a substantially parallelepiped box structure. On that side 3 of the bin 1 which faces the road there is provided an inverted V channel 4 comprising a curved lead-in lip 5. On the channel 4there are provided two locking elements 6, each comprising a flat horizontal surface 7. The lid of the bin 1 (Figures 4 and 5) is constituted by a first element 10 facing that side of the bin opposite the side 3, ie the pavement side, and hinged at 11 to the apex of a second element 12 hinged at 13 to the upper edge of the bin on the side opposite the side 3, ie on the pavement side. The gripping element (Figure 2) is constituted by an inverted V-shaped bar 14 forming an angle a equal to the angle a' of the channel 4 and carried by a lifting carriage 15 which is made to slide in the indicated directions along guides 16 forming part of the collection vehicle, not shown. As can be seen in particular from Figure 6, each guide 16 comprises a cam contour 17 designed to cooperate with locking pawls 18 pivoted at 19 to the sides of the carriage 15. Each pawl 18 comprises a cam following roller 20 and a return spring 21. In operation, the collection vehicle draws alongside the bin 1, and the carriage 15 is moved in a conventional manner (see other patents of the present applicant) into proximity with said bin so as to bring the gripping element 14 into engagement with the channel 4. Because of the special V configuration both of the channel 4 and of the element 14, and aided by the lead-in lip 5 of said channel, the element 14 becomes automatically centered relative to the channel 4 as the carriage 15 is raised, with consequent correct gripping of the bin 1, even if the positioning of the vehicle is not perfectly exact. It should be noted that the lead-in lip 5 cooperates in ensuring gripping even if the element 14 is insufficiently close to the channel 4. During the initial stage of the lifting of the carriage 15, the pawls 18 remain disposed vertically (lower part of Figure 6) by virtue of the engagement of the cam follower 20 with the flat contour of the cam 17. As lifting continues, the cam follower 20 abandons the cam 17 (upper part of Figure 6), and the action of the spring 21 causes the relative pawl 18 to become disposed in an inclined position so as to make contact with the flat horizontal surface 7 of the locking elements 6. The engagement of the two pawls 18 with the elements 6 serves to prevent separation of the element 14 from the channel 4 during the overturning of the bin 1 for emptying its contents into the body of the collection vehicle. The lid comprising the two elements 10 and 12 is particularly advantageous, in that it allows the user to introduce the refuse (Figure 4) while remaining on the pavement, and at the same time allows the element 12 to open by simple gravity during the overturning of the bin (Figure 5), thus eliminating the conventional currently used mechanical opening devices, which are subject to wear and maintenance. CLAIMS

1. A refuse bin and a device for gripping, locking and releasing it for its emptying, characterised by comprising an inverted V-shaped channel on the side facing the road, the gripping and release means associated with the lifting carriage of the collection vehicle consisting of an inverted V-shaped element with its contained angle substantially equal to that of said channel and arranged to engage this latter and to lock it during the overturning of the bin, the lid of this latter being constituted by two parts, of which one is intended for the introduction of the refuse and the other is arranged to open by gravity during the overturning and emptying stage.

2. A bin as claimed in claim 1, characterised by comprising, on said channel, locking means arranged to cooperate with locking means provided on said lifting carriage andlor on said gripping means.

3. A bin as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that said channel comprises a lead-in lip.

4. A bin as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the lid comprises a first part hinged to the apex of the second part, this latter being hinged to that side of the bin opposite the side carrying said channel.

5. A refuse disposal arrangement comprising at least one refuse bin and conveying apparatus mounted on a refuse vehicle, said conveying apparatus incorporating a lifting carriage which can pick up such a refuse bin by means of interengageable members associated with the lifting carriage and a wall of the refuse bin respectively, wherein at least one of said interengageable members has an inclined glide surface which enables a refuse bin displaced appreciably from an ideal pick-up location to be picked up by and to settle to a secure position on said lifting carriage.

6. A refuse disposal arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least one of said interengageable members has two oppositely inclined glide surfaces.

7. A refuse bin suitable for being picked up from the roadside by a refuse vehicle, said refuse bin incorporating a first lid which can be opened at the roadside to enable refuse to be deposited in the refuse bin and a second lid, wherein the second lid opens when the refuse bin is picked up by and tipped into the refuse vehicle.

8. An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 incorporating a refuse bin as claimed in claim 7.

9. A refuse bin substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A refuse disposal arrangement substantially as described hereinabove with reference to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.