IES65477B2 - Device for transfering wastes and other materials into containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A railway siding is provided with a remote controlled means for moving a train of wagons backwards and forwards along a track. Each wagon is provided with one or more turntables on which containers can be mounted in a rotatable manner enabling the containers to be rotated to allow access to the ends of the containers. A compaction device compacts loose materials such as refuse into the containers without removing the containers from the wagons.

Description

PROVISIONAL PATENTED SPECIFICATION DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING WASTES AND OTHER MATERIALS INTO CONTAINERS Waste disposal methods are becoming more complex, with a trend towards larger disposal sites, to which wastes must be transported from considerable distances. Where there are long distances rail transport becomes cost effective and where there are low density materials to be transported it is common practice to compact these materials into containers so as to maximise the loads which can be carried by the rail wagons. A considerable number of alternative compaction systems are available for compacting these wastes into containers which can be picked up by trucks fitted with special lifting attachments for transport to a railway for loading on to rail wagons. Alternatively where compactors are located at a railway station the containers can be picked up by a crane or a fork lift truck for loading on to the rail wagons.

There are known systems which enable trucks fitted with such lifting attachments, to deposit containers directly on to railway wagons which are connected together to form a train. The difficulty arises here in that the truck can not align itself with a railway wagon which is coupled up with other wagons at either end to enable the container to be deposited in the correct alignment on the wagon. There is a known system whereby the rail wagons are fitted with turntables so that the containers can be deposited on the wagon out of alignment with the wagon and then rotated into the correct position. Such systems are commonly used for wastes which have been compacted into containers or for containers holding dense materials which do not require compaction.

It is an object of the invention to enable wastes to be compacted directly into containers which are already located on wagons which may be connected together in a train, thus obviating the need for cranes or other lifting devices to lift the containers on to the rail wagons or the need for specialised vehicles to transport the loaded containers to the railway. The attached drawing Fig. I shows a plain view of such an arrangement. Fig II shows a side view of part of the same arrangement.

A railway line (1) has a spur (2) leading to a siding (3). This siding (3) has an extension (4) which is equipped with a compaction device (5) suitably aligned with the siding extension (4). A locomotive in conventional manner will deposit a number of wagons linked together in the form of a train (6) on to the siding (3) and the locomotive will then depart. A tug (7) is powered by low voltage electricity from a live rail (8) and is controlled from a remote control point (9) located close to the compaction station. Wagons (10) are fitted with turntables (11) on which are located containers (12). Each wagon is equipped with it's own hydraulic power pack (13) and control valves and hydraulic cylinders (not shown) to operate the turntable rotating mechanism, clamping arrangements (14) to clamp the container to the turntable and safety locks (15) which lock the turntable in alignment with the rail wagon during transport. Alternatively the turntable rotating mechanism can be operated pneumatically from an external source of compressed air or electrically.

The compactor (5) is mounted on slides (not shown) which allows it to move towards and away from the rail wagon (10) using a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) to provide this movement.

The siding (3) and siding extension (4) are equipped with a rack (16) . A pinion (not shown) on the tug engages with this rack to provide the traction necessary for the tug unit. Alternatively a steel cable arrangement can be used either fixed at each end with a tug unit which pulls itself along the cable or with a continuous cable arrangement powered by an electric motor drive at one end.

The tug (7) operated by remote control from the console (9) travels up the siding extension (4) and siding (3) to the train (6) to which it is coupled. The tug can then pull the train along the siding and siding extension until each wagon in turn is located in the correct position relative to the compactor. The container is then rotated on the turntable until it is in the correct alignment with the compactor and the compactor slides forward on the slides with hydraulic actuation and is clamped to the container in a conventional manner with clamps (18) .

A hopper (17) is attached to the compactor and waste material is discharged into this hopper in conventional manner to be compacted into the container. When the container is full the clamps (18) are released and the compactor is retracted away from the container allowing the container to be rotated on the turntable until it is in the correct alignment with the wagon for transport.

The above sequence is repeated for each wagon and container in turn until all the containers on the train are full. The tug (7) then pushes the train of wagons (6) with the full containers back up the siding extension (4) on to the siding (3) and after disconnection from the wagons, the tug (7) travels back down the siding and siding extension to allow access to the train of full wagons by the locomotive.

It will be appreciated that this complete system can be operated by a single operator from the control console (9).

The connection of the tug to the train of wagons may be done in conventional fashion by hand or can be operated remotely from the console (9) using a hydraulic system (not shown) attached to the tug (7) to engage and disengage the coupling connecting the tug (7) to the train (6). < An additional feature of the above system will include a device whereby an automatic sensing device at the compactor will sense the approach of the wagon with the container and will automatically stop the container in the correct position for alignment with the compactor. In this case the tug (7) can pull the wagons at a relatively high speed down the siding (3) and on to the siding extension 11 slowing down automatically prior to reaching the location point so as to progressively reduce the speed and inertia of the train prior to it's stopping at the location point.

The tug unit (7) is fitted with conventional fail-safe brakes which will operate when the power to the electric motor propelling the tug is removed. An alternative arrangement could use a mechanical linkage in proximity to the compaction device (5) which engages with the containers (12) and rotates the container (12) automatically as it approaches the compactor device (5) thus providing engagement between the container (12) and the compaction device (5).

At a position (19) in the siding (3) a rail must pass across under or through the rack (16). To enable this to take place a small gap is left in the rack (16) at this point. The tug (7) may be provided with two pinions jointly connected by a gear or chain drive and powered from the same electric power source such pinions being separated by a distance in excess of the gap in the rack (16) . In this way when one pinion passes through the gap in the rack (16) the other pinion will continue to provide traction to the tug (7).

It will be understood that variations of the described arrangement may be made to suit individual circumstances by any reasonably informed engineer and the patent is not limited to the embodiment described herein.

Claims (5)

1. A railway siding on which a train of rail wagons can » be deposited by a locomotive in conventional manner such siding being provided with a remote controlled tug which can pull or push the containers into position for loading.

2. A railway siding as described in- Claim 1 where the rail wagons are provided with turntables enabling containers on the wagons to be rotated sufficiently to allow access to the ends of the containers for loading.

3. An arrangement as described in Claims 1 and 2 whereby the containers lockably engage with a compaction device to enable loose materials to be compacted into the containers whilst the containers remain on the train of rail wagons.

4. An arrangement as described in the previous claims where the tug is provided with a plurality of pinions which engage with a stationary rack enabling the tug to maintain engagement with the rack whilst passing across gaps in the rack.

5. A railway siding as described in Claims 2 to 3 where the rail wagons are pulled down the track by a tug which pulls itself along a fixed cable or chain or by a moving cable or chain powered by a winch.