US3637144A

US3637144A - Trash pulverizer

Info

Publication number: US3637144A
Application number: US49213A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dale R Smith
Original assignee: York Research & Dev Corp
Current assignee: York Research & Dev Corp; York Research & Development Corp
Priority date: 1970-06-24
Filing date: 1970-06-24
Publication date: 1972-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-25

Abstract

A trash receptacle for domestic or other use is equipped with a series of elongated bars of abrasive material. The bars, which may preferably be square in cross section, are mounted horizontally in side-by-side parallel relation, with opposite corner edges of each bar in the vertical plane of its center axis. The bars are driven in reciprocating manner in their lengthwise directions, with adjacent bars moving in opposite directions. Dry trash of all kinds, including bottles, cans, plastic containers, cardboard containers, paper products, and food remnants, are deposited in the receptacle. The trash contacts the continuously moving reciprocating abrasive bars and is gradually reduced to a pulverized state by the attrition or wearing-away action. The pulverized particles of trash are scooped up and carried by a continuously moving bucket conveyor to a collection bag which is removed from time to time, as by the housewife.

Description

United States Patent Smith [451 Mn. 25, 1972 [5 TRASH 2,593,657 4/l952 Coon ct al ..24l/267 X [72] Inventor: Dale R. Smith, York, Pa. Primary Examiner Roben L. Sprui [73] Assignee: Yon-1r Research & Development Corp, Red o-P & l

Lion, Pa.

7 [22] Filed: June 24, 11970 [5 1 ABSTRACT Appl. No.: 49,213

A trash receptacle for domestic or other use is equipped with a series of elongated bars of abrasive material. The bars, which may preferably be square in cross section, are mounted horizontally in side-by-side parallel relation, with opposite corner edges of each bar in the vertical. plane of its center axis. The bars are driven in reciprocating manner in their lengthwise directions, with adjacent b-ars moving in opposite directions. Dry trash of all kinds, including bottles, cans, plastic containers, cardboard containers, paper products, and food remnants, are deposited in the receptacle. The trash contacts the continuously moving reciprocating abrasive bars and is gradually reduced to a pulverized state by the attrition or wearing-away action. The pulverized particles of trash are scooped up and carried by a continuously moving bucket conveyor to a collection bag which is removed from time totime, as by the housewife.

9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU JAH2519T2 MEI 1 M d 16 xxxw/zdw @EEEEEEEJ INVENTOR.

Dale R. Smith ATTORNEYS PATENIEUJAN2519YZ 363K144 l sum ablr 4 INVENTOR.

g- 2 Dale R. Smith ATTOR N EYS.

PAIENIH] JANZS I972 3,637,144 MUG? INVENTOR. DuIe R. Smith Y MY M ATTORNEYS.

FATENTED M25 {972 mm? a INVENTOR.

Dale R. Smith ATTORNEYS.

rnAsn PULVIEIIIZEII BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An average household develops a considerable amount of trash and garbage which requires collection and disposal at relatively frequent intervals. The usual household trash includes such things as glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, tubes, bags, containers and sheets, metal cans, cardboard boxes and containers, and a wide variety of paper products, as well as other miscellaneous items. In addition, a considerable amount of garbage, both wet and dry, must be disposed of. The disposal of such trash and garbage has presented a continuing problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A principal object of the present invention is to provide a device which may be installed in the kitchen of the average home or apartment and used by the housewife to reduce the trash (and dry garbage) to a pulverized form which may then be easily handled for disposal through the usual trash or garbage collection agencies.

Another object is to provide a device of the character referred to above which is of sturdy construction so as to require but little maintenance, and which can be manufactured, sold and installed at reasonable prices.

Another object is to provide a device or apparatus as described above which will be relatively vibrationless and quiet.

Another object is to provide a device as described above which may be installed in the counter of the kitchen, or which may be housed and installed as a separate item, portable or fixed.

Another object is to provide a device of the type described which may be constructed on an enlarged scale to provide trash pulverizing service to users having larger demands, such as hotels, restaurants, and industry in general.

The foregoing objects are achieved by providing a trash receptacle having incorporated therein power-driven abrasive elements which, by a continuous grinding or attrition action, gradually reduce the trash to a pulverized form. In accordance with the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, the abrasive elements are a series of horizontally disposed parallel bars which, by eccentric drive means, are reciprocated back and forth along their longitudinal axes with adjacent bars being driven in out'of-phase relation. That is, when one bar is moving to the left, the adjacent bars on either side thereof are moving to the right. The length of the reciprocating stroke is relatively small, as for example, onequarter inch in each direction from the center position. While the abrasion bars may be circular in cross section (or other shapes) I prefer that the bars be of square cross section, and that the bars be so mounted in parallel side-by-side relation that opposite corner edges of each bar are in the vertical plane of the bar's center axis, with the other pair of opposite corner edges being in the horizontal plane of the bars center axis.

While other means for collecting the pulverized trash may be employed, I prefer to install, in the housing of the unit, a continuously moving bucket conveyor arranged to scoop the trash particles from a collection trough at the bottom of the housing and carry the particles upward for automatic dumping into a collection bag which may be removed from time to time by the housewife, or other person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view of a trash reducer or pulverizer according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention looking along the line 1-1 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus looking along the line 22 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view showing, among other things, the pivot shaft, rocker arm, cradle and eccentric which reciprocates the individual abrasive bar in its lengthwise direction;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view, partly in section, looking down along the line ll-d of FIG. 2 and showing two adjacent eccentrics on the drive shaft;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view in cross section along the line 55 of FIG. 2 showing the relative positions of two adjacent abrasive bars at the ends thereof;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary illustration showing how the bucket elevator functions to scoop up the pulverized trash material and carry it upward for dumping into a collection bag;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view showing a typical conveyor bucket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. I and 2, the trash pulverizer unit of the present invention may be housed in a housing I0 having front and rear walls 11 and I2, sidewalls 113 and M, a bottom 115, and atop I6. Inserted in the top 16 is a hinged lid 17 which provides access to the trash receptacle. In the drawing, the housing I0 is indicated as being made of wood, such as plywood, but any suitable material may be used.

Mounted within the housing 10 is a trash receptacle 20, which is illustrated as having no separate top or bottom, i.e., none other than the top and bottom walls of the housing It). Of course, a separate bottom and/or a separate top may be provided for the trash receptacle, if necessary or desired. The front and backwalls 211 and 22 of the receptacle extend all the way to the floor of the housing. The sidewalls 23 of the receptacle terminate just above the level of the series of abrasion bars 70, and to prevent trash material from bypassing the bars, the lower edges of the sidewalls 23 may preferably be of sawtooth configuration, as shown in FIG. I, conforming to the contour of the clamps which hold the abrasion bars.

Mounted on the floor of the housing I0, preferably in one corner thereof, is a motor 30 which drives, through a belt 31, a gear reducer or speed changer 35, which, in turn, drive an endless bucket conveyor 100. Motor 30, through a drive belt 36, also drives pulley 37 which is keyed to a shaft 40 which carries a series of eccentrics 41. The shaft 40 is journaled for rotation in a couple of pillow blocks 43 and 44 mounted on the sidewalls of the housing I0.

Fixed to the floor of the housing I0 are a pair of pillow blocks 50 in which a shaft 52 is supported. As seen in FIG. I, shaft 52 extends across most of the width of the housing just above the housing floor. Mounted free on shaft 52 are a plurality of rocker arms 54 in series along the shaft, the hubs 53 of the rocker arms abutting each other. Twelve rocker arms 54 are illustrated but this number may be increased or decreased according to the design of the particular unit.

As shown in FIG. 3, each of the rocker arms 54 terminates at its upper end in a yoke 56 the upper end of which is closed by an elongated cradle 55 which extends in both directions from the center axis of the rocker arm 54.. At each end of the cradle 55 is a seat 64 for receiving and supporting the ends of the abrasion bars.

Yoke structure 56 has a rectangular opening 57 therethrough, the longer dimension being in the vertical direction and the shorter dimension being in the horizontal direction. Fitted within the rectangular opening 57 is a bearing block 58 having a circular opening therein in which is fitted an annular bearing 59. Fitted within the annular bearing 59 is an eccentric 4i, keyed, as by a key 42, to the shaft 40 on which the pulley 37 is mounted, as seen in FIG. 1.

Referring again to FIG. 3, each cradle 55 has, at each end, an upstanding portion 62 having therein a V-notch forming the seat 64 for receiving the ends of an abrasion bar 70. The bar 70 is secured to each seat 64 by a clamp 67 which may be secured to the ends of the cradle 55 as by a pair of screws 68. Cushions 6S and as, of rubber or other suitable material, are interposed between the bar 70 and the clamp and seat.

As previously indicated, 12 rocker assemblies, each carrying an abrasive bar 70, are provided in the illustrated unit. The

structure of each of the 12 rocker assemblies is identical, but adjacent eccentrics 41 are keyed to shaft 40 180 out of phase with each other. This is illustrated in FIG. 4 where two eccentrics, identified as Ma and 41b, illustrate eccentrics in adjacent positions on the shaft 40. In FIG. 4, eccentric 41a is shown at that point in its cycle such that the yoke 56a is in its leftmost position, whereas eccentric 41b is at that point in its cycle such that the yoke 56b is in its rightmost position. As shaft 40 continues to rotate, in the clockwise direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 4, eccentric 41a will, during the next 180 of rotation, cause its bearing block 58a to rise and then return in the rectangular slot 57a, while at the same time causing the yoke 56a to move to the right, as indicated by the arrow. Simultaneously, eccentric 41b is causing its bearing block 58b to fall and then return in its rectangular slot 57b while at the same time causing the yoke 56b to move to the left, as indicated by the arrow. During the following 180, the

yokes

56a and 56b return to the positions shown in FIG. 4, to complete a cycle. The movements of adjacent yokes are repeated cyclically, and cause the abrasion bars 70, carried by the yokes, to move axially back and forth in reciprocating manner, the movement of adjacent bars being 180 out of phase with each other, while alternate bars move in phase with each other.

Since the abrasion bars 70 are mounted on the rocker arms 54 which are moved in pivotal reciprocating manner on the shaft 40, and since alternate bars 70 are moved in opposing directions, there will be a slight difference in the elevational positions of adjacent abrasive bars, particularly at the ends thereof. This is illustrated in FIGS. 1,2 and 5.

In FIG. 1, considering the leftmost bar to be the first bar, the first, third, fifth, seventh, ninth and 1 1th bars are shown at their extreme or limit positions in a direction which is out of the paper, as viewed in FIG. 1, while the even numbered bars have moved to their limit positions in a direction which is into the paper. Thus, in FIG. 1, the ends of the odd'numbered bars are lower than the ends of the even numbered bars.

In FIG. 2, the nearer bar 70b is shown in its rightmost position, while bar 70a is shown in its leftmost position. FIG. 5 is a view looking along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2 at the right ends of the

bars

70a and 70b. It will be seen that the end of bar 70a is slightly higher than the end of bar 70b. This increases slightly the spacing 80 between the adjacent corner edges of adjacent bars. It is through the spacing 80 that the pulverized trash material falls. Hence, the spacing 80 determines the size of the particles which may pass through to the collection area.

Referring again to FIG. 1, secured to the sidewalls of the housing 10, below the level of the array of abrasion bars 70, is an inclined ramp 90 for causing the trash particles which pass through the openings 80 to slide down into a collection trough 91. To allow for installation and removal, the ramp 90 is formed in two parts secured together as by screws 92. Each of the parts of the ramp terminates in a slotted edge which face each other, forming closed slots through which the rocker arms 54 pass.

While various means may be used for collecting the pulverized trash particles, I prefer to employ an endless bucket conveyor 100 which, in the illustration, is shown supported on the left wall 13 of the housing 10. Fixed mounted for rotation near each of the four comers of the sidewall 13 are sprockets 101 about which the endless conveyor is trained. Three of the sprockets 101 are idlers, but the fourth sprocket identified as 101d, is fixed to a shaft which is driven rotationally by the gear reducer 35. Buckets 102 are provided at closely spaced intervals along the conveyor 100. These buckets 102, which may be as shown enlarged in FIG. 7, function as scoops as they pass through the collection trough 91. This scooping action is illustrated in FIG. 6. The scooped up particles are carried up in the buckets 102 to the upper part of the housing and, then, as the buckets change their course from upward to lateral, the contents of the buckets are spilled out and drops down on to an inclined ledge 18 which deflects the trash particles into a collection bag 110 which is supported from a bracket 24 fixed to the sidewall of the trash receptacle 20.

The trash reducer or pulverizer just described would be allowed to run continuously, or almost continuously. The housing 10 of the unit would be provided with sound-absorbing material as may be required to make the unit unobjectionable as to noise.

Operation Each time the housewife had trash (or dry garbage) to dispose of, she would merely lift the lid 17 and drop the trash into the receptacle 20. She would know, or would soon learn, that the lighter trash such as paper napkins, paper towels, cleaning tissue, etc., are preferably dropped into the receptacle before the heavier items, such as cans and bottles, are dropped in, so that the heavier articles may hold the lighter items against the reciprocating abrasive bars. Or, she may rearrange the articles, after deposit into the receptacle, to achieve the same result. (If necessary, the receptacle 20 may readily be provided with a spring-loaded pusher plate for pushing the trash articles down into contact with the abrasion bars. A limit stop would be provided for preventing the push plate from contacting the bars). The continuous reciprocating motion of the abrasion bars 70 gradually reducesthe trash items to a finely divided or pulverized state. To reduce, for example, a can or a bottle to a pulverized state may, for example, take up to 24 hours. But at the end of that or a comparable period of time, the article will have been gradually reduced, first into relatively larger bits, then into smaller bits, then into still smaller bits, and finally into particles small enough to pass through the spacings between the reciprocating bars. At first, the trash articles are engaged only by the upper edge portions of the abrasion bars. It is not until the trash item is reduced considerably in size that contact is made with the valley portions of the V-notches formed by the adjacent bars. in the drawings, the bars 70 are square in cross section, each face being 1 inch wide. The reciprocating stroke of the bars may be small. For example, each bar may move one-eighth to one fourth inch to each side of its center position, a total movement of one-fourth to one-half inch.

The abrasion bars 70 are preferably made of low-wear highly abrasive material, such as silicon carbide. In time, the upper surfaces of the bars, particularly the apex portions, will wear. When that occurs, the bars may be inverted so that the two unworn lower faces become the upper faces.

While I have shown bars 70 to be of square cross section, and while this shape is presently preferred, the abrasion bars could take other cross-sectional shapes. For example, the bars could be polygonal, or round, or oval, in cross section.

The reciprocating motion of the bars, with adjacent bars out of phase with each other, is a preferred motion. However, reduction of the trash items to finely divided pulverized state may also be achieved by rotary motion of the abrasive material. For example, the receptacle 20 may be equipped with one or more abrasive wheels rotating on vertical axes.

lclaim:

l. A trash pulverizer comprising:

a. a housing;

b. abrasive element means mounted for movement in said housing; said abrasive element means abrasive material mounted in side-by'side parallel relation in a generally horizontal plane;

c. means for driving said abrasive element means; said drive means including means for driving said bars in their axial directions in reciprocating fashion; and

d. a trash receptacle in said housing in communication with said abrasive element means, whereby trash items deposited in said receptacle contact said driven abrasive element means, thereby to reduce said trash items gradually to small size particles.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized by the provision of:

a. a collection bag for said reduced particles supported in said housing;

b. conveyor means mounted in said housing;

c. a collection trough receiving said reduced particles;

d. means for driving said conveyor means through said collection trough for collecting said particles and carrying said particles to said collection bag.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that said drive means for said abrasive bars includes means for reciprocating some of the bars out-ofphase with others of the bars.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 characterized in that said drive means includes means for reciprocating adjacent bars 180 out of phase with each other.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 characterized in that said drive means includes means for reciprocating alternate bars in phase with each other.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2 further characterized in that said conveyor means comprises an endless bucket conveyor having the buckets pivotally mounted and adapted to function to scoop up the particles is said trough and to carry them up to said collection bag, and to deposit them in said collection bag.

7 Apparatus according to claim 3 characterized in that said drive means includes:

a. a fixed shaft;

a series of rocker arms mounted on said fixed shaft for pivotal movement;

c. means on said rocker arms supporting said abrasive bars;

d. a drive shaft e. a series of eccentrics fixed on said drive shaft for rotation therewith;

f. each of said eccentrics engaging a different rocker arm for reciprocating said rocker arm pivotally on said fixed shaft.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 characterized in that:

a. said abrasive bars are square in cross section;

b. said abrasive bars are so mounted that diagonally opposing corner edges of each bar lie in the same vertical plane, with the other two diagonally opposing corner edges lying in the same horizontal plane.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 characterized by the provision of:

a. a collection bag for said reduced particles supported in said said housing;

b. conveyor means mounted in said housing;

c. a collection trough receiving said reducing particles;

d. means for driving said conveyor means through said col lection trough for collecting said particles and carrying said particles to said collection bag.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,637,144 Dated anuary 25, 1972 Invehtofls) Dale mith It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 59, after "means" insert --comprising an array of elongated bars 015-- Signed and sealed this 15th day of August 1972 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLE'I('IIIER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCI-IALK v Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims

1. A trash pulverizer comprising: a. a housing; b. abrasive element means mounted for movement in said housing; said abrasive element means comprising an array of elongated bars of abrasive material mounted in side-by-side parallel relation in a generally horizontal plane; c. means for driving said abrasive element means; said drive means including means for driving said bars in their axial directions in reciprocating fashion; and d. a trash receptacle in said housing in communication with said abrasive element means, whereby trash items deposited in said receptacle contact said driven abrasive element means, thereby to reduce said trash items gradually to small size particles.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized by the provision of: a. a collection bag for said reduced particles supported in said housing; b. conveyor means mounted in said housing; c. a collection trough receiving said reduced particles; d. means for driving said conveyor means through said collection trough for collecting said particles and carrying said particles to said collection bag.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that said drive means for said abrasive bars includes means for reciprocating some of the bars out-of-phase with others of the bars.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 characterized in that said drive means includes means for reciprocating adjacent bars 180* out of phase with each other.

7. Apparatus according to claim 3 characterized in that said drive means includes: a. a fixed shaft; b. a series of rocker arms mounted on said fixed shaft for pivotal movement; c. means on said rocker arms supporting said abrasive bars; d. a drive shaft; e. a series of eccentrics fixed on said drive shaft for rotation therewith; f. each of said eccentrics engaging a different rocker arm for reciprocating said rocker arm pivotally on said fixed shaft.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 characterized in that: a. said abrasive bars are square in cross section; b. said abrasive bars are so mounted that diagonally opposing corner edges of each bar lie in the same vertical plane, with the other two diagonally opposing corner edges lying in the same horizontal plane.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 characterIzed by the provision of: a. a collection bag for said reduced particles supported in said housing; b. conveyor means mounted in said housing; c. a collection trough receiving said reducing particles; d. means for driving said conveyor means through said collection trough for collecting said particles and carrying said particles to said collection bag.