GB2470592A

GB2470592A - Refuse bin with smoke or fire alarm

Info

Publication number: GB2470592A
Application number: GB0909200A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Krikkis Dimitrios; Simon Scott-Harden; Adam Walker
Original assignee: Helesi UK Ltd
Current assignee: Helesi UK Ltd
Priority date: 2009-05-28
Filing date: 2009-05-28
Publication date: 2010-12-01
Also published as: GB0909200D0

Abstract

A refuse bin 1, such as a mobile wheeled bin suitable for use with a refuse collection vehicle, is provided with a smoke or fire alarm 8 means providing a warning of a fire. The alarm may be an audible signal or a visual signal or both. The alarm may transmit an RF signal to a remote audible of visual signalling means. The alarm is preferably provided inside a lidded waste containers (fig 3)with a lock to secure the lid to the bin close to the hinges 4, 7 that connect the lid to the container, the location may allow the bins to be stacked. The locking lid may be provided with means so that the lock disengages when the bin is tilted, such as when used with a refuse vehicle. The bin may be made from a flame retarded plastic.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO WASTE CONTAINERS

The present invention relates to mobile waste containers and in particular to waste containers provided with an alarm system to indicate if there is a fire inside the container. The invention is concerned with any type of mobile waste container and is particularly adapted for use with wheeled refuse bins intended to collect industrial or domestic materials for the eventual disposal thereof usually by transfer of the contents into a refuse collection vehicle.

Recently there have been changes in the pattern of waste disposal and collection with the provision of several refuse bins at single locations for different categories of waste such as compostable waste, non-compostable waste, separate bins for paper, glass and plastic etc. These developments have applied to domestic and industrial waste providing bins of different sizes according to the nature and volume of the waste created. The bins are easily moved and maybe provided with wheels to allow easy movement or they may be smaller and light enough to be carried when full.

Domestic wheeled bins tend to have two wheels whereas industrial wheeled bins tend to have four wheels. In many instances the bins are lidded and are emptied into *.S.

: the refuse collection vehicle by tilting around the side of the bin remote from the attachment of the lid which is usually a hinge. * **

One problem encountered with waste is that it can be readily flammable and the storage of waste can present a fire hazard. Another problem encountered with mobile waste containers is that they can provide the opportunity for vandalism and *.*S.* * 5 arson and there has been an increased tendency to set waste containers and/or their ****** * contents on fire perhaps simply for the pleasure of watching a fire or more seriously to place the burning container against a property with the aim of causing a fire to damage the property and put life at risk.

The usual recorded pattern indicates that the arsonist will put a burning object such as a phone book, which they set on fire, and throw inside the waste container or they use the contents of the waste container for the ignition of the actual waste container.

It is more difficult to set fire to a waste container from the outside than it is from the inside as the confined space of the inside of the container allows the more rapid development of an intense heat sufficient to ignite the container and/or its content.

Accordingly, the arsonist very rarely attempts to ignite the waste container from the outside as it is almost impossible unless they create a very strong constant source of heat, something that they usually do not have the time for. Usually they also leave the lid of the waste container open in order to provide the fire with enough oxygen and for them to be able to monitor the result of their attempt.

This activity has resulted in properties getting significantly damaged, people loosing their life not to mention the numerous times that the fire and rescue service has to develop its forces to fight the fire.

The present invention therefore provides a mobile waste container provided with a smoke or fire detector.

The term mobile includes waste containers that can be carried by a human and also container that are provided with wheels. The number of wheels on the bin depending upon the size of the bin and the nature of the waste. For example, most domestic bins are provided with two wheels whereas larger commercial bins are typically provided with four or more wheels.

The waste containers may be made of any material although the majority of mobile S...

: waste containers are made from thermoplastic and/or elastomeric materials such as S...

....20 acrylonitrile/styrene/butadiene copolymers or olefine polymers and copolymers such * ** as polypropylene and other polyolefins such as low and high density polyethylene may be used. In a preferred embodiment a flame retardant such as a bromine complex. is included in the formulation to retard the development of any fire. The : waste containers are usually produced by injection moulding of the thermoplastic or * 5 elastomeric material. The lid of the container whether detachable or an integral part * S. .*.

* of the container may be made from the same or different material. In most domestic and industrial containers the lid is attached at one side of the container by means of a hinge, The alarm system is preferably a smoke alarm and the type of alarm may be selected according to the nature and location of the use of the bin. For example, it may be a simple battery operated smoke alarm which emits an audible and/or visible signal when activated. Alternatively or in addition it can emit a radio signal to activate an audible and/or visible signal within the premises to which the container is associated.

The alarm is preferably as compact as possible consistent with the ability to detect smoke and emit the desired warning signal. It is preferably mounted on the interior of the bin at a position which does not restrict stacking of bins for transportation and the position is such that the alarm is unlikely to be damaged by the emptying of the bin or the introduction of waste into the bin. Bins are sometimes provided with an inwardly or upwardly facing lip around the upper rim of the bin and where such a lip is present, the alarm may be attached to the up and/or is preferably provided directly beneath the lip at the backside of the bin. The backside of the bin is the side opposite the side which is closest to the introduction of waste which is also side along which the waste naturally passes under gravity when the bin is tilted for emptying, the lid is usually hinged to the top of the backside of the bin so that the bin is opened by the tilting operation.

In the domestic "wheeliebins" currently in use for domestic waste disposal which are provided with a hinged lid, the alarm is preferably provided at the backside of the bin that is provided with the hinges for the lid and preferably directly under any inward facing lip provided around the upper rim of the container. These bins are emptied by rotation around the side remote from the hinges, so that the lid opens and the content flows over the front side of the bin into the refuse collection vehicle. In this way any contact between the refuse and the alarm during emptying of the bin is minimal.

Similarly with large, perhaps four wheeled, commercial bins the alarm is preferably .. : mounted on the side of the bin to which the lid is attached and preferably towards or S** * ....0 at the top of that side of the bin. The alarm may be mounted elsewhere such as * ** attached to the underside of the lid of the bin but this is not preferred as the lids are often left open when set alight and so fire detection is more difficult. The alarm may be attached to the bin in any suitable manner and we have found that a simple screw attachment will be sufficiently durable. A locking attachment may however be 11...

* 5 employed to prevent a determined arsonist from removing the alarm. * *

In a further embodiment the bins of the present invention may, in addition, be provided with a lock for securing the lid to the bin. Providing a lock has the added advantage that it is more difficult for the arsonist to open the lid of the bin to initiate a fire. One such lock is described in PCT Application Publication Number WO 2008/090009. The locking device described in WO 2008/090009 which can be locked and unlocked in the filling position and unlocked due to the force of gravity in certain positions are easy to connect and install in the bin by the end user if required.

Furthermore, the devices which do not need to change in design when they are connected to either commercial or domestic bins and their locking and unlocking mechanisms are connected to the main part of the bin as opposed to the lid. In a further embodiment the locking device, like the fire alarm, is sufficiently compact that it allows the bins to be stacked for distribution without damaging the locking device.

The present invention therefore, further provides a waste disposal bin provided with a smoke alarm and a locking system wherein the locking system can be operated to manually secure the lid of a bin in a filling position and can be operated under gravity to release the lock and enable the bin to be emptied when tilted and the lock can be re-engaged when returned to the filling position. The locking system may be one which uses a common locking mechanism for the locking and unlocking in the filling position and for locking and unlocking under gravity.

The present invention therefore provides a lidded waste container system provided internally with a smoke alarm wherein the lid may be locked to the container wherein the lock may be engaged and released manually and may also be engaged and released under gravity by tilting of the container.

The preferred locking system is described in WO 2008/090009 and preferably comprises a lock comprising a locking pin adapted to engage a toggle plate to form : the lock wherein the toggle plate can be engaged and disengaged from the locking s.

* .. .20 pin by both a manual action when the lock is static and by tilting of the lock to engage * *. and disengage the locking pin under gravity. The manual action preferably comprises the turning of a key in the barrel of a locking device to rotate the toggle plate to engage or disengage from the locking pin. *

**�..* * 5 In a further embodiment a lock is provided with a lock plate adapted to be driven by * the turning of the key to cause the toggle plate to rotate and engage or release the lock pin. Preferably the lock is provided with a weight attached to the toggle plate which causes the toggle plate to move under gravity when the lock is titled to engage or release the locking pin. The weight may be varied according to the size and weight of the container. The weight is preferably a pendulum plate.

The locking device is preferably provided on the upper external surface of the bin and is connected to the toggle plate whereby the locking device can be activated to rotate the toggle plate to engage or disengage with the locking pin. The lock system is preferably mounted in a housing at the upper internal surface of the container. And preferably the container is of tapered cross section with a greater cross section at the top than at the bottom and the housing is of a size that allows the bins to be stacked.

When the bin is in the locked position, the user can place an appropriately shaped key into a Lock Device'. The user can then turn the key in the Lock Device' in either direction but we prefer anti clockwise. This movement can then be transmitted through to the Lock Plate' which may in turn engage directly with the Pendulum Plate'. The Pendulum Plate' upon engagement can rotate upwards against gravity. Although varying degrees are possible, we prefer after 5 of movement the pendulum plate to come in contact with the Toggle Plate'. The Pendulum Plate' can continue to rotate through the action of the Lock Plate' controlled by the user's rotation of the key. Again varying degrees are possible but we prefer, when the Pendulum Plate' has rotated over 10, the corresponding position of the Toggle Plate' will have rotated 7.5. Once it has got to this position, the Toggle Spring' can hold the Toggle Plate' in this equilibrium position. A further degree of movement, preferably 1, from the Pendulum Plate' can move the Toggle Plate' past this equilibrium position and Toggle Plate' can be pulled, preferably a further 7.5. As the Toggle Plate' moves through this final degree of movement, the Lid Pin' will be released and forced out of the Toggle Plate'. The Lid Pin' that is *:::: connected to the lid by the Lid Bracket' may then allow the user to open the lid. *.S.

0 The bin containing the locking system of the present invention can be turned upside * *. down for emptying the container. By way of example, the refuse lorry picks the bin up and it is inverted to empty the contents across the front side of the bin remote from the fire alarm. This action reverses the forces of gravity normally applied on : the Pendulum Plate' which now rotates or moves downwards or the same direction * 25 as if opening the system with a key. After a degree of movement, the Pendulum ****** * Plate' can come into contact with the Toggle Plate' which is held in position by the Toggle Spring'. The Pendulum Plate' can continue to rotate due to the reversed forces of gravity. It has got to this position, the Toggle Spring' will hold the Toggle Plate' in this equilibrium position. A further of movement from the Pendulum Plate' can move the Toggle Plate' past this equilibrium position and Toggle Plate' can be pulled into position by the Toggle Spring'. As the Toggle Plate' moves through this final movement, the Lid Pin' will be released and forced out of the Toggle Plate', this action is preferably assisted by gravity acting on the weight of the lid as well.

The Lid Pin' that is connected to the lid by the Lid Bracket' may then release the lid and the container can empty.

During transport from manufacture to third parties for distribution, bins are typically stacked with the containers inside each other with lids open to save space. Many of the present designs of containers provide a tapered shape, wider at the top than at the bottom. Preferably, the alarm should be mounted in a position that does not impede stacking. Where a lock is also provided it is preferable that the housing for the internal mechanism of the locking system of the present invention does not protrude beyond this tapered distance still allowing bins to be stacked in transit.

The present invention is illustrated by reference to the accompany drawings in which Figure 1 shows a smoke alarm attached to the inner side of the upper part of the backside wall of a container provided with hinges for the attachment of a lid.

Figure 2 is a top elevation of the structure of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows how the alarm may be designed to be installed over the inner edge of the upper rim of the bin and Figure 4 is an expanded view showing how the alarm may be attached to the bin by a screw. S... * S * ** . S...

*....2o Figure 1 shows a part of each of two sides of a bin (1), the backside (2) and one of * *. the side walls (3); the backside is provided with hinges (4), (5) and (6) for the attachment of a lid and a lip (7) is formed around the circumference in the opening at the top of the bin. A smoke alarm (8) is attached to the lip (7).

*.*S.* * 25 Figure 2 is a top view of Figure 1 and like numerals are used in both Figures.

*.a*.* * S Figure 3 shows in more detail the mounting of the alarm of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an expanded view of an alarm comprising a back plate (9), a housing (10), a battery (11), a smoke detector (12) and an alarm device (13).

Figure 4 also shows how the device can be provided with a cavity (14) for receipt of a screw (15) which can be used to secure the alarm to the inner surface of the bin.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A mobile waste container provided with a smoke or fire detector.
2. A mobile waste container according to Claim 1 that can be carried by a human.
3. A mobile waste container according to Claim I provided with wheels.
4. A mobile waste container according to any of the preceding claims made from thermoplastic and/or elastomeric material.
5. A mobile waste container according to Claim 4 in which the thermoplastic and/or elastomeric material is an acrylonitrilelstyrene/butadiene copolymer or an olefine polymer or copolymer such as polypropylene and other polyolefins such as low and high density polyethylene.
6. A mobile waste container according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 in which the *.. : thermoplastic or elastomeric material contains a flame retardant. *.

* *. . * *.
7. A mobile waste container according to any of the preceding claims in which the smoke alarm emits an audible andlor visible signal when activated.
8. A mobile waste container according to any of the preceding claims wherein the alarm emits a radio signal to activate a remote audible and/or visible S.....* signal.
9. A waste container according to any of the preceding claims in which the alarm is mounted on the interior of the bin at a position which does not restrict stacking of bins for transportation.
10. A mobile waste container according to any of the preceding claims provided with a hinged lid wherein the alarms provided at the backside of the bin that is the side provided with the hinges for the lid.
11. A mobile waste container according to Claim 9 wherein the alarm is mounted directly under an inward or upward facing lip around the upper rim of the container.
12. A mobile waste container according to any of the preceding claims wherein a locking attachment is provided to secure the fire alarm to the container.
13. A mobile waste container according to any of the preceding claims provided with a lid and a lock for securing the lid to the bin.
14. A mobile waste container according to Claim 13 in which the lock can be locked and unlocked in the filling position and unlocked due to the force of gravity when tilted.
15. A lidded waste container provided with a smoke or fire alarm and a lock to secure the lid to the container.
16. A lidded waste container provided with a smoke or fire alarm and a locking system wherein the locking system can be operated to manually to secure the lid of the container when in a filling position and can be operated under : ** gravity to release the lock and enable the container to be emptied when tilted S...and the lock can be re-engaged when returned to the filling position.
17. A lidded waste container system provided internally with a smoke or fire alarm wherein the lid may be locked to the container wherein the lock may be * engaged and released manually and may also be engaged and released under gravity by tilting of the container.
18. A lidded waste container according to any of Claims 15 to 17 wherein the smoke or fire alarm is mounted inside the container on the upper part of the backside of the container.