GB2272419A

GB2272419A - Container for waste

Info

Publication number: GB2272419A
Application number: GB9323389A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Moon
Original assignee: MAYFLY CONTAINERS Ltd
Current assignee: MAYFLY CONTAINERS Ltd
Priority date: 1992-11-13
Filing date: 1993-11-12
Publication date: 1994-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2013-11-12
Also published as: GB2272419B; GB9223822D0; GB9323389D0

Abstract

A container C for the storage of waste has an end with a generally upwardly facing opening 11 through which waste can be discharged and which is provided with means 13 for engagement with hook and lift apparatus carried by a container transport vehicle. The means for engagement 16 being generally retractable to within the general space occupied by the container so that the container may be used with the rear end lifting and tipping apparatus of a waste compaction vehicle. The container has a tailgate 24 and wheels 23 to facilitate lifting. <IMAGE>

Description

CONTAINERS FOR VASTE This invention relates to containers for waste, in particular, containers to be parked at a site where waste arises for temporary storage of the waste with subsequent lifting and removal by a vehicle for transporting the waste to a disposal site or transfer station.

One known type of waste container has at an end a generally upward facing opening through which waste within the container may be discharged and which container is adapted to be lifted by apparatus mounted at the rear end of a rear end loading waste compaction and transport vehicle, and to be tipped, e.g. rotated through about ninety degrees, by that apparatus so that the waste is discharged through the opening into the vehicle. In order to help conduct the waste within the container in to the vehicle the container at the end through which discharge is achieved is normally provided with an upwardly and outwardly inclined floor portion.

One convenient type of vehicle for transporting any of a variety of containers may be termed as a hook lift type vehicle. Such a vehicle has a deck for carrying the container; and lifting and tipping apparatus. The lifting and tipping apparatus comprises a jointed jib with a hook or upper means to engage a member at an end of the container to lift the container on to the deck for transport to another site, and subsequent tipping of the container, e.g. to discharge waste from it, and, after further transport, to lift the container off the deck and place it where required e.g. for the temporary storage of waste.

However, the known type of container referred to above is not suitable for use with known hook'lift type vehicles. Consequently waste containers have to be transported by specialised rear end loading waste compaction and transport vehicles. Clearly, this can lead to substantial cost.

The present invention is concerned with alleviating this cost requirement.

According to the present invention a container for waste has at an end a generally upward facing opening through which waste may be discharged, with an upwardly and outwardly inclined floor portion, and means for engagement with lifting and tipping apparatus of a waste compaction and transport vehicle to enable the container to be lifted and the waste in the container discharged into the vehicle and return of the container to an appropriate position, wherein at that end a member is located outwardly of the container for engagement with the hook of lifting and tipping apparatus of a hook lift type vehicle to enable transporting of the container, tipping and discharging of the waste in the container and return of the container to a suitable position, the member being retractable to a position in which it is substantially within the general space occupied by the container, and at the other end there is provided an opening through which waste may be discharged on tipping the container, and the container is built around a general sub-frame which defines the space occupied by the container.

The fact that the container of the present invention has an outwardly located member for engagement with the hook of a lifting and tipping apparatus of a hook lift type vehicle means that such vehicles, which vehicles are presently in use for other purposes, can be used with the container of the present invention. Whereas previously the engagement means at an end of known containers, intended for use with rear end loading waste compaction and transport vehicles, does not permit use of hook lift type vehicles with such containers. Consequently, specialist vehicles at the considerable expense that involves have had to be provided for removal of these containers this is overcome with the present invention.

Further, with the present invention the fact that the outwardly located member is retractable permits the use of rear end loading vehicles with containers made in accordance with the present invention: otherwise the outwardly located member, when in its outward position, would prevent the container being lifted and tipped by the lifting and tipping apparatus of rear end loading vehicles and, if such was attempted could lead to damage of the container or vehicle.

The net result of this is that containers made in accordance with the present invention can be used with either hook type lifting and tipping apparatus and associated vehicles as well as rear end lifting and tipping apparatus and associated vehicles leading to the scope of use and advantages this has.

The presence of the opening at the opposite of the container from the engagement means enables waste in the container to be discharged at that end by tipping the container, as is appropriate when the container is carried on a hook lift type vehicle. The opening is preferably closed by means of a tail-gate, or one or more other doors, and opens only when waste is to be discharged from the container at the end in question.

The container has a sub-frame which preferably renders the container suitable for use with a variety of conventional hook lift type vehicles and, in particular, helps to promote stability and proper positioning of the container on the deck of vehicles provided with such lifting and tipping apparatus. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the sub-frame is substantially of the same lengthwise extent as the container, as this further promotes stability and proper positioning of the container on the deck of a suitable vehicle.

The container of the invention has, as may be appreciated from the foregoing, the general advantage of versatility in that it is adapted to be suitable for use with the variety of vehicles so that any of a variety of vehicles may be used depending on availability and/or other relevant circumstances.

The invention will now be illustrated, by way of description of an example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a container made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an elevation of an end of the container as shown in figure 1; and Figure 3 is a top view of the container of figure 1.

Now referring to the drawings, there is shown a container C made in accordance with the present invention.

The container C comprises: - a base section 1; - a first end 2; - a second end 3; - a top section 4; and - two sides 5.

The base section 1 comprises two beams 6 each of which has an upright member 7, and which act to form a sledge on which the remainder of the container C is formed.

Basically speaking the container C is formed from a sub-frame constructed from box type steel tubing in order to provide the necessary rigidity to the container but also to provide the container with a relatively lightweight construction, and so enable easy manoeuvrability.

The sub-frame comprises two side sections 8, which are interconnected by cross members 9 and 10. The construction of the side sections is clearly shown in figure 1 of the drawings and no further detail will be given here.

Affixed to the sub-frame is steel sheeting in order to physically form the container and to hold the waste within the container C.

As is clearly apparent from the drawings the container being described herein by way of example occupies a space which is of generally cuboid geometry with the ends being generally square in overall appearance when viewed directly on and the top section and base section and sides being rectangular in overall appearance.

The first end 2 comprises an opening 11 and a surface 12 which come together in an outwardly pointing V shape with the cross member 9 running across the surface 12 immediately adjacent to the opening 11. In this fashion the cross member 9 provides a lip to the opening 11.

An engagement means 13 is provided at the first end 2 of the container and is generally secured to the surface 12 of the container. The engagement means 13 comprises: - two holding members 14 mounted parallel to one another on the surface 12 and subtending from the cross member 9; - two mounting plates 15 extending parallel to one another outwardly from the container, and being mounted to the respective holding members 14; and - a latch arrangement having a mounting bar 16 extending between two cheek plates 17, and which is pivotally mounted at 18 to the mounting plates 15.

The latch arrangement has internal strengthening plates 19 and stabilising means 20 to ensure it does not crumple or deform in operation.

In figure 1 of the accompanying drawings the latch arrangement is shown in a position suitable for use with the hook of a suitable hook type lifting an' tipping apparatus. In this position the latch means in place pins 21 a;t passed through the mounting plates 15 and the cheek plates 17.

However, the pins 21 are removable and to lock the latch arrangement in a retracted position so that it is enclosed within the general space occupied by the container, the pins 21 are removed and the latch arrangement allowed to pivot about the pivot point 18 with a pin being inserted through holes 22 in the mounting plates 15 to secure the latch arrangement under the container with a mounting bar generally at the position shown by X in figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

With the latch arrangements secured in this position the engagement means 13 is locked out of position so that the container C can be lifted and tipped by the conventional rear end lifting and tipping apparatus, without the engagement means 13 fouling this operation. At the second end of the container mounted to the base of the container there is provided two rollers 23, which assist in the moving of the container with a hook type lifting and tipping apparatus.

Further, at the second end of the container there is provided a tail-gate 24 which is hinged to the sub-frame of the top section 4 by means of hinges 25.

The tail-gate 24 is arranged to pivot outwardly of the container C to enable the discharge of waste material held within the container.

In order to prevent the premature discharge of the material within the container the tail-gate 24 is locked in the closed position (position shown in the drawings) by a locking mechanism 26. In order to release the tail-gate in order to enable discharge of the material in the container the locking mechanism is released by handle 27.

Claims

CLAYS

1. A container for waste having at an end a generally upward facing opening through which waste may be discharged, with an upwardly and outwardly inclined floor portion, and means for engagement with lifting and tipping apparatus of a waste compaction and transport vehicle to enable the container to be listed and the waste in the container discharged into the vehicle and the container returned to its previous position, wherein at that end a member is located outwardly of the container, for engagement with the hook of lifting and tipping apparatus of a hook lift type vehicle to enable transporting of the container to an appropriate place, tipping and discharging of the waste in the container and return of the container to a suitable position, the member being retractable to a position in which it is substantially within the general space occupied by the container, and at the other end there is provided an opening through which waste may be discharged on tipping the container, the container being formed about a sub-frame.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which a container is provided with rollers in order to assist with its operation.