US3543676A - Refuse compactor control circuit - Google Patents

Description

United States Patent 3,045,164 7/1962 Russell Inventor Gordon H. Brown St. Joseph, Michigan Appl. No. 725,072 Filed April 29, 1968 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Assignee Whirlpool Corporation a corporation of Delaware REFUSE COMPACTOR CONTROL CIRCUIT 12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 100/52, 100/290: 318/286, 318/290 Int. Cl 33% 15/14 Field ofSearch 318/282, 286, 290; 100/52 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,240,484 3/1966 Klamp 3,427,521 '2/1969 Goldstein Primary Examiner-Gris L. Rader Assistant Examiner-K. L. Crosson Attorneys-James S. Nettleton, Thomas E. Turcotte, Gene A.

I-Ieth, Burton H. Baker, Donald W. Thomas, Frank C. l-Iarter and Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman and Mc Cord ABSTRACT: A refuse compactor having a ram driven by an electric motor for compacting refuse in a receptacle. The operation of the motor is controlled by an electric control circuit including manually operable pushbutton switches and switches responsive to the arrangement of the compactor elements for automatically controlling a compacting cycle. The control includes a signal lamp for indicating to the user energization of the motor. The manual pushbuttons and lamp are provided in one form ofthe compactor in a plug adapted to be connected to the compactor with a special plug.

Patented Dec. 1, 1970 3,543,676-

23 29 26 FIG! 27 33 39 INVENTOR GORDON H. BROWN ,T M, ATTORNEYS.

REFUSE COMPACTOR CONTROL CIRCUIT This invention relates to electrical control circuits and in particular to electrical control circuits for use in a refuse compactor and the like.

In copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 725,058, filed April 29, 1968, now U.S.Pat. No. 3,527,161, and owned by the assignee hereof, a refuse compactor is shown and described to include a ram selectively driven by an electric motor to compress refuse and the like in a receptacle into which the refuse is delivered by a user, such as a housewife. The compactor is arranged for compacting the refuse to a small percentage of its original volume, thereby permitting the collection of a substantial amount of refuse before it is necessary to transfer the compacted refuse to a storage area for collection.

The present invention comprehends an improved compactor such as disclosed in said copending application provided with improved control means for automatically controlling the operation of the compactor.

Thus, a principal feature of the present invention is the provision of new and improved refuse compactor control means.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of such a refuse compactor control means including means for controlling the movement of a ram of the compactor from a retracted position into compacting engagement with refuse placed in a compacting receptacle and back to the retracted position.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a refuse compactor control means wherein means are provided for effecting reversal of the ram when the forward movement thereof is stopped.

Stillanother feature of the invention is the provision of such a refuse compactor control means including improved electrical control circuitry for effecting such control of the ram movement.

A yet further feature of the invention is the provision of such a refuse compactor control means including means for indicating the energization of the ram motor.

Still another feature-of the invention is the provision of such a refuse compactor control means including new and improved controi circuitry for preventing movement of the ram in the compacting direction whenever the receptacle is moved from the preselected compacting position.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of such a refuse compactor control means wherein manual control means are provided in a plug adapted to be connected to the compactor with a special plug.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a compactor apparatus provided with control means embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the electrical wiring ofthe control means;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the wiring of a modified form of control means-embodying the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the wiring of another form of control means embodying the invention.

' In the exemplaryembodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, a compactor apparatus generally designated is shown to comprise a base 11 on which a receptacle, or drawer, 12 is removably disposed. A ram 13 is carried on a pair of upright members 14 and 15 which are, in turn, connected respectively to a pair of screws 16 and 17 upstanding from base 11. More specifically, upright members 14 and 15 are connected to the screws 16 and 17 by spring and nut means 18, as disclosed more fully in said copending application, and in copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 724,959, filed April 29, 1968, and owned by the assignee hereof. The screws 16 and 17 are driven by an electric motor 19 through a suitable drive 20 to be concurrently rotated about the respective axes thereof on journals 21 carried on base 11 and journals 22 carried on a top plate 23. The

ram 13 is connected to the upper ends of the upright members 14 and 15 by a crossmember 24, whereby the ram structure effectively bridges the receptacle 12 when it is disposed in the compacting position of FIG. 1. Thus, when the screws 16 and 17 are rotated, the nut means 18 are correspondingly lowered or raised depending on the direction of rotation of the screws, whereby the upright members 14 and 15 and ram 13 are correspondingly lowered or raised.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ram is adapted to fit into the top portion of the receptacle 12 so as to compact refuse delivered thereinto. As shown in FIG. 1, the receptacle is movable to a compacting position overlying base 11 by means of roller track structures 25.

As indicated above, the above discussed structure is disclosed more specifically in said copending applications and reference may be had thereto for a full disclosure of the compactor structure 10.The present invention comprehends a control circuit means 26 for controlling the operation of the drive motor 19 as illustrated schematically in FIG. 2. The control may be energized from a conventional power supply having leads L, and L The control 26 may include manual operating means mounted superjacent plate 23. As shown in FIG. 1, the control 26 may include a Start" pushbutton 27, an "Up pushbutton 28 and a signal lamp 29. As shown in FIG. 2, the control 26 for the motor 19 includes a relay coil 32a, a normally open switch 32b, a normally closed switch 320, and a normally open switch 32d. The switches 32b, 32c, and 32d are controlled by relay coil 32a as indicated in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the motor 19 includes a first winding 30 and a second winding 31. Either ofthe windings 30 and 31 may be connected, via control 26, in series relation with a capacitor 34 (shown in FIG. 2), and in parallel with the other winding. At any given time, one of the motor windings 30 and 31, depending upon the state of energization of coil 32a, will be connected in series with the capacitor 34, with the other motor winding being connected in parallel across the line. Rotation of the motor 19 in the reverse direction is then accomplished by operating control 26 to connect the capacitor 34 in series with the other winding, with both windings being connected in parallel across L, and L As illustrated, in order to move the ram downward toward the receptacle, the coil 32a is energized causing normally closed switch 32c to open and normally open switch 32b to close. The motor is then energized across L, and L through connections in which capacitor 34 is connected in series with motor winding 31 and in parallel with winding 30. In order to return the ram to the retracted position, the coil 32a is deenergized establishing connections in which switch 32b is open and switch 32c is closed, connecting motor 19 across L, and L with capacitor 34 in series with winding 30 and in parallel with winding 31.

A normally closed limit switch 33 opens interrupting energization when the ram is. at the upper limit of its travel, as shown in FIG. 1.

The signal lamp 29 is connected across the capacitor 34 and, thus, is illuminated whenever the motor 19 is energized to operate in either direction to indicate energization of the motor. The lamp 29 may comprise a conventional 230 volt neon pilot lamp. The Start pushbutton 27 comprises a normally open pushbutton, and is connected in series with relay coil 32a through a pair of normally closed load limit switches 35 carried on the upright members 14 and 15 to be engaged by actuators 36 on the nut means 18 when the back force on the ram reaches a preselected maximum value, such as 1,500 pounds, a normally closed safety limit switch 37 mounted on base 11 to be engaged by an actuator 38 on the upright member 14, and a normally open interlock switch 39 mounted rearwardly of the receptacle 12 to be closed when the receptacle is in the compacting position of FIG. 1 and to open upon movement thereof away from the compacting position. As shown in FIG. 2, switches 37 and 39 are connected in series with switches 35 to the relay coil 320 so that when the ram is in the upper position of FIG. 1, closing of pushbutton 27 completes a circuit from power supply lead L, to power supply lead L to energize relay coil 32:; and thereby close switch 32b to energize motor winding 30 and winding 3lthrough capacitor 34 causing downward movement of the ram.

The Up" pushbutton 28 comprises a normally closed pushbutton connected in series with normally open switch 32d controlled by relay coil 32a to complete a holding circuit around the pushbutton 27 once the coil 32a is energized permitting the pushbutton 27 to reopen while maintaining energization of motor 19.

When the back pressure acting against the ram by the compaction of refuse in receptacle 12 reaches the preselected upper limit, one or both of switches 35 open to break the circuit to the relay coil 32a, thereby opening switch 32d to break the holding circuit, opening switch 32b to deenergize the forward connection of motor 19, and closing switch 32c to energize the reverse connection of motor 19. Thus, movement of the ram is automatically reversed to bring the ram back to the upper retracted position of FIG. 1. When the ram reaches this position, the switch 33 is opened to deenergize the motor, thereby completing the cycle of operation of the compactor.

The signal lamp29 is energized in either direction of opera-' tion of motor 19 to indicate to the user the operation of the compactor either in a compacting or retracting cycle. In the event that the receptacle is moved from the compacting position illustrated in FIG. 1 at any time during the compacting operation, the ram will be brought back immediately to the retracted position by the opening of switch 39 to effect the automatic reversal of the motor 19 discussed above.

In FIG. 3, a modified control 126 for compactor is shown to include a plug 40 carrying the manual pushbuttons 27 and 28 and the pilot lamp 29. The plug 40 is adapted to be connected to the remainder of control 126 by a suitable multiconductor cable 41. The control 126 is similar to and functions similarly to control 26 in all other respects.

Referring now to FIG. 4, still another control, generally designated 226, for controlling operation of compactor 10 is shown to be generally similar'to control 26, but arranged to stop operation of the ram whenever the receptacle 12 is moved from the compacting position. Thus, in the event that the receptacle is moved while the ram is moving downwardly, interlock switch 39 will open, interrupting movement of the ram. Upon repositioning of the receptacle in the position of FIG. 1, switch 39 will close permitting energization of motor 19.

As shown in FIG. 4, the Start" pushbutton 27 is connected from one power supply lead L through the normally closed lower limit switch 37 and load limit switches 35 and relay coil 32a to the other power supply lead L; The receptacle interlock switch 39 is connected between power supply lead L; and the common lead of motor 19.

Relay coil 142d controls the moving contact 142a of a double-throw switch 142e for selective engagement with a fixed contact 14% or a fixed contact 1420 of the switch 1422. The moving contact is connected to power supply lead Li and fixed contact 142b is connected to the reverse connection of the motor 19 through the normally closed top limit switch 33. Fixed contact 1420 is connected to the forward connection of motor 19. The pilot lamp 29 and capacitor 34 are connected in parallel. The "Up pushbutton 28 is connected from power supply lead 1.: through a normally open switch 142f which is closed by energization of relay coil 142d to provide a holding circuit around Start" pushbutton 27 when the coil 142d is energized.

Thus, when pushbutton 27 is closed with the ram in the upper position of FIG. 1, coil 142d is energized to throw moving contact 142a into engagement with fixed contact 1420 to initiate downward movement of the ram by energization of the forward connection of motor 19. The circuit is held in by the resultant closing of switch 142f.

In the event that the receptacle 12 is moved so as to permit opening of switch 39, energization of motor 19 is prevented in either direction while the holding circuit through switch 142f is maintained as the switch 39 is in themotor circuit and not in the holding circuit. When the receptacle 12 is restored to the compacting position of FIG. 1 to reclose switch 39, the motor 19 will continue its operation, and if it were running forwardly at the time of stoppage, it will resume the down rotation operation until automatically reversed by the opening of one or both of load switches 35, or the opening of lower limit switch 37. The reverse connection of the motor 19 will then be energized through the now-closed top limit switch 33 by the engagement of moving contact 142a with fixed contact l42b. Upward movement of the ram continues until limit switch 33 is again opened, as shown in FIG. 1, to complete the cycle of operation of the compactor.

Thus, each of the controls 26, 126 and 226 provides for improved operation of a compactor, such as compactor 10, to effect automatic operation of the ram from the retracted position into compressing engagement with the refuse placed in the receptacle and back to the retracted position, The cycle is initiated'by the user by operation of the Start pushbutton. In the event that the user at anytime wishes to return the ram to the retracted position while the ram is being lowered, he may effect such reversal of the ram operation by simply pressing the Up pushbutton. In the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, the ram automatically returns to the retracted position anytime the current to the motor is interrupted, while in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the ram may be permitted to continue its downward movement in the event that the movement is stopped during compaction. Each of the controls is extremely simple and economical of construction, while yet providing the highly desirable features as discussed above.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes. therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In a domestic refuse compactor having a receptacle for holding refuse, a movable ram, and means including a fixedly mounted electric drive motor and drive means including a plurality of parallel screws, and cooperating thread means carried by the ram for connecting said fixedly mounted motor to said movable ram, said motor being operable in a forward direction to move said ram toward said receptacle to compact refuse in the receptacle, and in a reverse direction to move said ram away from said receptacle to a preselected retracted position wherein said ram is outwardly of said receptacle to permit manual movement of said receptacle for filling and emptying of the receptacle when desired, means for controlling the drive motor to provide as the result of a single manual operation a compacting cycle wherein said motor is operated seriatim initially in said forward direction to compact the refuse and automatically reversed to restore the ram to said retracted position in terminating each compacting cycle, said controlling means being arranged to effect said reversal while permitting said screws to be in said parallel relationship.

2. The domestic refuse compactor means of claim 1 wherein said controlling means includes switch means and means responsive to a preselected reaction force developed by the refuse against the ram for operating said switch means to reverse the drive motor.

3. The domestic refuse compactor means of claim 2 wherein said switch means includes a pair of switches responsive to reaction forces developed by the refuse at first and second spaced portions of the ram.

4. The domestic refuse compactor means of claim 1 wherein said controlling means includes a switch responsive to movement of the ram to the preselected retracted position to deenergize the drive motor.

5. The domestic refuse compactor means of claim 1 wherein said controlling means includes switch means responsive to a movement of the ram to a preselected position of maximum travel toward said receptacle to reverse the drive motor.

6. In a domestic refuse compactor having a receptacle for holding refuse, a ram, and means including an electric drive motor operable in a forward direction to move said ram toward said receptacle to compact refuse in the receptacle, and in a reverse direction to move said ram away from said receptacle to a preselected retracted position, means for controlling the drive motor to reverse the same to move the ram to said retracted position whenever electrical power is available to said controlling means for operating the drive motor in the reverse direction, said controlling means including a start switch, a normally closed load switch responsive to a preselected reaction force developed by the refuse against the ram to open the switch, a relay having a coil, a normally closed switch and a normally open switch controlled by said coil, said drive motor including a first winding and a second winding, said normally closed switch being connected in series with said first winding and said normally open switch being connected in series with said second winding, and a capacitor connected from between said normally closed switch and said first winding to between said normally open switch and said second winding for reversible energization of said windings, said relay coil on energization thereof causing said normally closed switch to open and normally open switch to close to connect said capacitor in series with said second winding and in parallel with said first winding to energize the motor to move the ram toward the receptacle, and said relay coil upon deenergization thereof permitting said normally closed switch to close and said normally open switch to open thereby connecting said capacitor in series with said first winding and in parallel with said second winding to energize the motor to return the ram to the retracted position, said start switch and said load switch being connected in series with said coil to energize the coil to effect said movement of the ram toward the receptacle until the reaction force of the ram against the refuse in said receptacle becomes sufficient to open said load switch and thereby deenergize said coil and cause said opening of the normally open switch and closing of the normally closed switch to energize the motor via the series connected capacitor and first winding to return the ram to the retracted position.

7. The domestic refuse compactor means of claim 1 including an electric power cord including a plug at one end for delivering electrical power to said motor, said controlling means including manually operable switch means carried by said plug for manually initiating operation of said compactor.

8. The domestic refuse compactor means of claim 7 wherein said controlling means further includes a signal light carried by said plug for indicating energization of said motor.

9. The domestic refuse compactor means of claim 7 wherein said controlling means further includes manually operable switch means carried by said plug for manually reversing operation of said compactor for reversing the motor when the motor is operating in a forward direction to restore the ram to the retracted position.

10. The domestic refuse compactor means of claim 1 wherein said controlling means includes signal light means for indicating energization of said motor.

11. The domestic refuse compactor means of claim 1 further including means for movably supporting said receptacle in a preselected compacting position, and means for controlling the drive motor to stop movement thereof whenever the receptacle is moved from said preselected compacting position.

12. The domestic refuse compactor means of claim 1 further including means for reversing the drive motor when a preselected reaction force is developed by the refuse against the ram.

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