NZ549617A - Disposal column for underground refuse or garbage collection system - Google Patents

Abstract

The disposal system has a disposal section open to a vessel of the system to allow disposal of refuse into the vessel. The disposal column also has an operation section having equipment for operation of the system, which section is contained in a housing so that it is at least substantially closed to the disposal section.

Description

10052463893* ;54 96 17 ;PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Our ref: TJ506446NZPR ;NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION ;DISPOSAL COLUMN FOR UNDERGROUND COLLECTION SYSTEM ;We, SULO MGB AUSTRALIA PTY LTD an Australian company of 123 Wisemans Ferry Road, Somersby, 2250, New South Wales, Australia, hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: ;- 2 - ;DISPOSAL COLUMN FOR UNDERGROUND COLLECTION SYSTEM ;Field of the Disclosure ;5 The present invention broadly relates to underground collection systems and, more specifically, to a disposal column for an underground refuse collection system. ;Background of the Disclosure ;10 ;Underground refuse collection systems are utilised to contain and store refuse (such as waste, recyclables, reusable items such as clothing, organics including garden clippings and food scraps and the like) until the refuse 15 is removed to another location. Generally the system comprises a vessel set into a cavity lined with a watertight steel, concrete or plastic shaft. Refuse can be disposed into the underground vessel by means of a disposal column set above the vessel and open to the 20 vessel. A platform is set across the top of the underground vessel to allow traffic to proceed over the underground vessel. This platform typically forms the top surface of the vessel and the vessel is accessible for removal of the refuse therein. Typically the vessel is 25 lifted from the cavity by a lifting assembly and is moved over a refuse collection vehicle where the contents are emptied into the vehicle via an opening in the vessel base. ;30 An underground collection system is more aesthetically attractive than an ordinary garbage bin as the disposal column (which is the primary visible part of the system) can be smaller. The small size of the column ;61964 ;- 3 - ;does not impede traffic significantly in high traffic areas and produces the psychological advantage of dissuading people from dropping litter around the outside of the column. Further, the noise of throwing refuse into 5 the vessel is reduced. ;Most importantly the underground vessel has a large storage volume and allows for less frequent removal of the refuse. This decreases waste management costs and means 10 that the vessels are unlikely to overflow, causing waste management problems. ;In order to allow removal of the refuse, operation assemblies need to be included to operate component parts 15 of the vessel along with a coupling to allow lifting of the vessel from the cavity. ;Summary of the Invention ;20 In a first embodiment, disclosed is a disposal column for an underground collection system comprising a vessel removably disposed in an underground cavity, the disposal column being mounted on an upper surface of the vessel and comprising a disposal section open to the vessel to allow 25 disposal of refuse into the vessel, and an operation section having equipment for operation of the system, the operation section being contained in a housing so that the operation section is at least substantially closed to the disposal section. ;30 ;In one form, the housing includes a housing wall that projects upwardly from the upper surface of the vessel, and the disposal section incorporates a body portion ;61964 ;- 4 - ;mountable to the housing wall so that a portion of the housing wall forms a partition between the disposal section and the operation section. ;5 In a particular form, the body portion of the disposal section is removably attached to the housing wall. In use, the disposal section needs to include a peripheral wall so as to allow easy passage of refuse into the vessel. In one form, this peripheral wall is formed 10 entirely from the body portion. In another form, the peripheral wall of the disposal section is formed part by the body portion and part by the housing wall of the operation section. ;15 In a particular form, the housing incorporates an access port and in one form, the housing incorporates a cover at a distal end of the housing with the cover being removable to provide access to the access port. ;20 In use, the operation section includes equipment for operation of the underground collection system. This equipment may include a coupling for a lifting assembly to enable removal of the vessel from the cavity by the lifting assembly. In one form, the base of the vessel 25 comprises at least one base flap that is moveable relative to a side wall of the vessel to form an opening in the base. In use, the base flap is opened once the vessel is lifted out of the cavity and disposed over a refuse collection vehicle. In one form, the operation section 30 incorporates at least part of the actuation assembly for actuation of the at least one base flap. ;61964 ;- 5 - ;In yet another form, the disposal section incorporates a pedal actuated lid and the operation section incorporates at least a portion of the actuation assembly for that pedal actuated lid. ;5 ;In a second embodiment, disclosed is a disposal column for an underground collection system comprising a vessel removably disposed in an underground cavity; ;the disposal column being mounted to an upper surface 10 of the vessel and comprising a disposal section incorporating a body portion and a lid, wherein the lid is operative to move between an open and a closed position by a pedal actuated assembly. ;15 Brief Description of the Drawings ;Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within the scope of the disposal column as defined in the summary, specific embodiments of the disclosure will now 20 be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: ;Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a vessel and disposal column for a refuse collection system; ;25 ;Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the disposal column of the collection system of Fig. 1; ;Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the vessel of the 30 collection system of Fig. 1 (with wall panels removed) showing the actuator assembly of the vessel. ;Fig. 5 is a section elevation of the refuse ;61964 ;- 6 - ;collection system of Fig. 1 in its installed configuration; ;Fig. 6 is the refuse collection system of Fig. 5, 5 with the vessel partially lifted from its installed position; and ;Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of the vessel and disposal column of Fig. 1 showing the base flaps in a 10 fully open position. ;Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments ;Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, a vessel 10 and disposal 15 column 50 for use as part of an underground collection system is now described. ;The vessel 10 including a base 11, a cover 12 and a vessel wall 13. The vessel 10 is of sufficiently rigid 20 structure to be able to accommodate refuse therein and in the illustrated form the wall 13 is composed of panels, such as galvanised steel panels 15, mounted to a vessel frame 16. ;25 The vessel 10 may be any appropriate shape for containing refuse, and may be any size but is preferably between and 2m3 and 10m3. The frame 16 of vessel 10 incorporates uprights 17 which extend between the base 11 and the cover 12 and the panels 15 are secured to the 30 uprights typically be mechanical fasteners 18 such as rivets or tex screws. ;The frame 16 further incorporates a base frame 19 on ;61964 ;- 7 - ;which the uprights are mounted and the base 11 incorporates movable flaps 20 pivotally connected to the base frame 19 to form an opening 21 (see Fig. 7) to allow refuse (not illustrated) to be removed from the vessel 10 5 on removal of the vessel from the shaft. The base flaps 20 extend across the whole base 11 of the vessel 10. This ensures that minimal or no waste remains in the vessel 10 after opening the base flaps 20. ;10 An actuator assembly 22 is provided to operate the removable flaps. The operation of such an actuator assembly is disclosed in more detail below. ;As best shown in Figs.5 and 6, the vessel 10 is 15 incorporated as part of an underground refuse collection system 100 which removably disposes the vessel 10 underground. The system 100 further comprises a shaft 101 which is disposed in the ground to form a cavity 102 in which the vessel 10 locates. The shaft 101 may be 20 permanently disposed in ground. The shaft is preferably made of concrete, steel reinforced concrete or any other watertight substance which can be adapted to be fitted in the ground and to contain the vessel 10. A ground pump (not illustrated) may be disposed in the cavity 102. ;25 ;The system 100 further incorporates safety platform system 105. The safety platform system is disposed as part of a subframe 106 between the vessel 10 and the shaft 101 and incorporates a counter balanced safety platform 30 107. The platform 107 is disposed under the vessel 10 and is movable between a fully retracted position (shown in Fig. 6) to a fully active position (not shown)on removal of the vessel 10 from the cavity 102. ;61964 ;- 8 - ;The vessel cover 12 incorporates an upper surface 23 that allows thoroughfare thereover, such as pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The upper surface 23 is therefore 5 adapted to be load bearing. The rim 24 of the cover 12 is adapted to fit over the cavity 102 in which the vessel is disposed so as to leave no gap between the cavity and the rim 24. The disposal column 50 is disposed on the cover 12 and allows refuse to be disposed into the vessel whilst 10 the vessel is located underground. ;When the vessel 10 is disposed in the underground cavity 102, the upper surface 23 is in position for thoroughfare thereover. In this position, the vessel 10 15 can be utilised by people wishing to throw refuse through the disposal column 50 into the vessel 10. However, when the underground refuse vessel 10 is removed from the underground cavity 102 for collection of the refuse by a lifting assembly, such as that fitted on a refuse 20 collection vehicle, the underground cavity 102 is potentially exposed creating a danger for pedestrians and other traffic. At this time the platform is positioned in its active position adjacent the top of the cavity 102 as to prevent thoroughfare into the cavity 102. ;25 ;As best illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7, the actuator assembly 22 incorporates an actuator arm 29 that is slideably mounted to a sleeve 30 which is fixed to the cover 12. A distal end 31 of the arm incorporates a 30 coupling 32 to connect the arm 29 to an actuator of a lifting rig (not shown). A lower end 35 of the arm 29 forms part of a drive mechanism 33 of the actuator assembly 22 that imparts the required movement to the ;61964 ;- 9 - ;flaps 20. The drive mechanism further comprises rigid connecting elements 34 that are each pivotally mounted to the lower end 32 of the arm 29 and to a respective one of the flaps 20. In this way a simple linkage assembly is 5 formed. ;In operation, a downward movement of the arm 29 in the sleeve 30 imparts the necessary drive to the base flaps 20 to cause them to move from their closed position 10 shown in Fig. 3a to the fully open position in Fig. 3c. ;The reverse movement of the arm in the sleeve (i.e. in an upwards direction) enables the flaps to move from their open position to their closed position. This movement is driven typically by hydraulic actuation of the arm of the 15 lifting rig. ;A lifting coupling 34 is disposed adjacent the actuator arm and similarly projects from the cover 12. The lifting coupling enables the vessel 10 to be 20 adequately connected to the lifting rig to lift the vessel from its shaft for emptying of the vessel. In use the lifting rig is connected to both the actuator arm 29 and the lifting coupling 34 so as to provide a stable secure two point connection. ;25 ;As indicated above, the disposal column 50 is mounted on the upper surface 23 of the vessel 10 to allow refuse to be deposited into the vessel 10. In the illustrated form, the disposal column 50 is formed in two main 30 sections; being a disposal section 51 and an operation section 52. ;The operation section 52 includes an external housing ;61964 ;- 10 - ;54 including a peripheral wall 55 and cover 56. In the illustrated form, the cover 56 is hingedly connected to the peripheral wall 55 of the housing 54 to thereby provide an access port 57 to the interior of the operation 5 section 52. ;The operation section 52 is arranged to contain equipment for use in operation of the refuse collection system 100. This equipment includes the lift coupling 34 10 for the lifting assembly to enable removal of the vessel 10 from the cavity 102 and the actuator arm 29 of the actuator assembly for the actuator assembly 22 to control the movable base flaps 20. ;15 The disposal section 51 includes a body portion 59 ;that incorporates a port 60 to allow the depositing of refuse into the vessel. The disposal section is mounted - over an opening 61 in the vessel cover 12 to allow refuse to be deposited into the vessel. In an alternate form 20 (not shown), a lid is provided over the port 60 which is able to be opened by a pedal actuation assembly and part of the componentry for that actuation assembly is disposed within the operation section 52 of the disposal column 50. ;25 As a result of the construction of the disposal column, the operation section 52 and disposal section 51 are separated into two discrete compartments. In the illustrated form, the body section 59 of the disposal section 51 is mounted to one side 62 of the housing wall 30 55. With the arrangement as illustrated, the body portion 59 is open on one side with the housing wall 55 forming the remaining side of the disposal section. ;61964 ;- 11 - ;In use, the body portion 59 may be interchangeable. Therefore, the configuration of the disposal section and thereby the general appearance of the disposal column, can be reconfigured by changing the body portion 59 with a 5 body portion of different styling thereby enabling the collection system 100 to offer a range of stylings and finishings. ;A particular advantage of separating the operation 10 section from the disposal section is that it better protects the operation componentry of the collection system 100. In addition, it simplifies the sealing of the disposal column to resist water penetration into the vessel. In this regard, a peripheral lip 63 may be 15 provided on the upper surface 23 of the vessel on which the body portion 53 of the disposal section may be mounted. ;Although the present invention has been described 20 with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that numerous modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. ;25 In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, 30 i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. ;61964 *

Claims (8)

- 12 - THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A disposal column for an underground collection system comprising a vessel removably disposed in an 5 underground cavity, the disposal column being mounted on an upper surface of the vessel and comprising a disposal section open to the vessel to allow disposal of refuse into the vessel, and an operation section having equipment for operation of the system, the operation section being 10 contained in a housing so that the operation section is at least substantially closed to the disposal section.

2. A disposal column according to claim 1, wherein the housing includes a housing wall that projects upwardly 15 from the upper surface of the vessel, and the disposal section incorporates a body portion mountable to the housing wall so that a portion of the housing wall forms a partition between the disposal section and the operation section. 20

3. A disposal column according to claim 2, wherein the body portion of the disposal section is removably attached to the housing wall. 25

4. A disposal column according to any preceding claim, wherein the housing incorporates an access port.

5. A disposal column according to claim 4, wherein the housing incorporates a cover at a distal end of the 30 housing, said cover being removable to provide access to the access port. 61964 - 13 -

6. A disposal column according to either claims 4 or 5, wherein the operation section further includes a coupling for a lifting assembly to enable removal of the vessel from the cavity by said lifting assembly, wherein the 5 lifting assembly is arranged to access the lifting coupling through the access port.

7. A disposal column according to any preceding claim, wherein the base of the vessel comprises at least one base 10 flap that is movable relative to a side wall of the vessel to form an opening in the base-, and wherein the operation section incorporates at least part of the actuation assembly for actuation of the at least one base flap. 15

8. A disposal column according to any preceding claim, wherein the disposal section incorporates a foot actuated lid and wherein the operation section incorporates at least a portion of the actuation assembly for the pedal actuated lid. 20 25 9_ A disposal column for an underground collection system substantially as herein described with .reference to the accompanying drawings. SULO MGB AUSTRALIA PTY LTD By Its Attorneys BALDWINS Intellectual Property Office of N.Z. 2 8 FEB 2008 RECEIVED