GB2266696A - Waste receptacle - Google Patents

Abstract

A waste receptacle (10) includes a venturi device (17) for generating a suction and having a connection (18) for applying the suction to a sealable interior volume of the receptacle, and an inlet (13) for waste material to enter the interior volume of the receptacle under the applied suction. The venturi device (17) has an inlet connectable to a separate compressed air generator, for generating said suction, a valve controlled by the level of waste in the receptacle and preferably a filter. Flaps 21, 22 can control the flow of waste. The waste can be liquid, solids or powder. Preferably the receptacle is a skip and transported for unloading on a vehicle or trailer. <IMAGE>

Description

Waste Receptacle This invention relates to a receptacle for use in waste disposal.

It has been known to provide a lorry on which a large tank and a vacuum pump are mounted. In use, the vacuum pump evacuates the interior of the tank, to draw waste material into the tank through a pipe, rather like a domestic vacuum cleaner.

These lorries are widely used in industrial cleaning and waste disposal environments. However, they are expensive owing to the type of vacuum pump required to develop a sufficient vacuum inside the large tank, to draw the waste products into the tank. Further the cost of the basic lorry is high even before the tank and pump are fitting onto it. Many lorry operators can only afford a small number of these vehicles, so that the time taken to perform cleaning and waste disposal operations is increased owing to the limited capacity of each lorry and the number available.

We have now devised an industrial waste receptacle which is cheaper than the above mentioned arrangements.

In accordance with this invention there is provided a waste receptacle comprising a venturi device for generating a suction and having a connection for applying the suction to a sealable interior volume of the receptacle, and an inlet for waste materials to enter said interior volume of the receptacle under the applied suction.

The venturi device preferably comprises an inlet for receiving compressed air from a separate compressed air generator, for generating the suction.

The waste receptacle preferably has its exterior formed from reinforced metal panels.

Preferably a valve is provided for cutting off the suction from the sealed interior volume of the receptacle when it has filled with waste materials.

The suction connection of the venturi is preferably connected to the sealable interior volume of the receptacle via a filter. The filter may be provided with means for providing a reverse air flow through the filter so as to drive off any material which has collected on its surface.

A de-watering outlet is preferably provided in the base of the receptacle for de-watering slurries which may be contained therein. The de-watering outlet is preferably provided with means for inducing a reverse flow of air into the receptacle so as to keep the de-watering outlet clear of solids which may have collected around it.

Preferably flaps are provided for closing off the inlet for waste materials and the suction connection to the venturi during transport of the waste receptacle to a waste disposal site.

It will be appreciated that the waste receptacle is self-contained and its venturi device is cheap to manufacture.

A compressed air generator may be purchased or hired for connection to the receptacle. The cost of these waste receptacles is less than one-tenth of the cost of known types of vehicle-mounted waste receptacles.

Preferably the waste receptacle is provided on its exterior with means connectable to lifting means for lifting the receptacle onto a vehicle.

Embodiments of this invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a waste receptacle in accordance with this invention, with some parts shown in section; FIGURE 2 is a schematic view of the waste receptacle of Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a filtering arrangement used in an alternative embodiment of a waste receptacle in accordance with this invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a reinforced metal receptacle or skip 10. The skip 10 comprises a generally rectangular box having a front wall 11 inclined outwardly. A hingeable closure 12 is formed between the top and the inclined front wall 11 of the skip 10. An over-centre locking arrangement (not shown) is provided for holding the closure 12 tightly closed during use of the skip 10. The skip can be emptied by tipping it onto its front wall 11 and allowing the closure 12 to swing open.

The top rear corner of the skip 10 is provided with an enclosure 27 with houses means for generating a vacuum inside the sealable main body of the skip 10.

The vacuum generating means comprises a compressed air inlet 14 connected to a control valve 16. A float and valve arrangement 19,20 are provided for closing the valve 16 when the skip 10 is full of waste. The control valve 16 controls the feed of compressed air to a venturi device 17 which uses the flow of compressed air to create a vacuum within the skip 10. The exhaust air from the venturi 17 passes to an exhaust outlet 15 via a silencer 24. The venturi device 17 comprises a suction pipe 18 having an open end within the main body of the skip 10. A waste material inlet 13 is formed in the front wall 11 of the skip 10.

In use, a compressed air generator is connected to the inlet 14, and provided the skip 10 is empty the compressed air is passed by the control valve 16 to the venturi vacuum device 17. The suction thus generated is applied to the main body of the skip 10, creating a negative pressure therein. Waste material is drawn along a suction pipe connected to the waste material inlet 13 owing to the negative pressure in the main material body of the skip 10. The waste materials entering the skip 10 fall towards the base of the skip 10 under gravity owing to the sudden drop in the velocity of air as it enters the skip 10 through the waste inlet 13.

When the skip is full, the float 20 rises to cut-off the compressed air supply to the venturi device 17 and to stop the flow of waste materials into the skip 10.

Lifting lugs e.g. 25,26 project outwardly from the sides of the skip to enable the skip to be lifted onto a vehicle for transport to a disposal site. Two flaps 21,22 are provided for sealing the ends of the suction pipe 18 and waste inlet pipe 13 during transport: these prevent waste materials from contaminating the venturi device 17 and from being spilled out of the skip, respectively. A lever 23 is moveable between OPERATE 0 and a TRANSPORT T positions to open or close the flaps 21,22.

The embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 is best suited for receiving liquid wastes, because solid wastes may be able to pass directly from the waste inlet 13 to the suction pipe 18.

Figure 3 shows a filtering arrangement which may be provided when the waste receptacle is used for collecting solids and powders. The filtering arrangement comprises one or more manifolds 30 mounted horizontally against the top wall of the skip 10. Each manifold 30 is provided with a plurality of inlet nozzles 31 connected to tubular filter bags 32 which extend transversely across the skip 10. A plurality of air pipes e.g. 33 are mounted inside each manifold. Each air pipe e.g. 33 extends past a set of inlet nozzles 31. A control valve 34 connects compressed air to each air pipe e.g. 33 so as to blow compressed air through the inlet nozzles 31 and into the filter bags 32.

The waste receptacle of Figure 3 operates in the same way as the receptacle of Figures 1 and 2, but air in the body of the receptacle is drawn through the filter bags 32 before it enters the suction pipe 18. To prevent the filter bags 32 from becoming clogged, they may be backwashed on a periodic basis by applying compressed air to the air pipes e.g. 33: this blows compressed air back through the filter bags 32 thereby driving off any matter which may have collected on their outsides. Each set of filter bags 32 is backwashed in rotation, whilst the others function in the normal manner.

We have also realised that by providing a liquids outlet (not shown) extending along the floor of the skip, the waste contained in the skip can be de-watered. This is useful when the wastes collected have a high water content. Therefore by providing a de-watering outlet the overall treatment capacity of the waste receptacle is increased. The de-watering outlet may be connected to an external pump, and a compressed air backwashing pipe may also be provided for preventing the outlet becoming blocked during use.

The waste receptacles may be transported on a commercial vehicle. Alternatively a trailer may be provided which includes an hydraulic ram which can be activated to tip the skip onto its front wall 11 at a waste disposal site in order to empty the waste.

Claims (9)

Claims

1) A waste receptacle comprising a venturi device for generating a suction and having a connection for applying the suction to a sealable interior volume of the receptacle, and an inlet for waste materials to enter said interior volume of the receptacle under the applied suction.

2) A waste receptacle as claimed in claim 1, in which said venturi device comprises an inlet for receiving compressed air from a separate compressed air generator, for generating said suction.

3) A waste receptacle as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a valve for cutting off the suction from said interior volume when it has filled with waste materials.

4) A waste receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said suction connection of said venturi device is connected to said interior volume via a filter.

5) A waste receptacle as claimed in claim 4, in which said filter includes means for providing a reverse air flow therethrough to drive off any material collected on its surface.

6) A waste receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a de-watering outlet in its base.

7) A waste receptacle as claimed in claim 6, in which said de-watering outlet includes means for inducing a reverse flow of air into said receptacle to keep said de-watering outlet clear of any solids collected around it.

8) A waste receptacle as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising flaps for closing off said inlet for waste materials and said suction connection to the venturi during transport of the waste receptacle.

9) A waste receptacle substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.