US3869050A - Refuse collecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for collecting refuse in a residential estate with multistory buildings is characterised in that each building has a vertical refuse chute column terminating at a low level in a respective collecting receptacle and the different collecting receptacles are served by a programme-controlled collecting vehicle which circulates in a casing situated underneath these receptacles. The vehicle is discharged at a station which contains a general and displaceable collecting receptacle.

Description

rte States atent i 1 1111 3,369,056

Michel [451 Mar. 4, 1975 [54] REFUSE COLLECTING APPARATUS 1,117,777 11/1914 Brown 214/41 A 1,898,421 2/1933 Brashear... [75] Inventor: Jeen'claude 3,753,506 8/1973 Palmer et al 214/16 R Sarnt-Maur-des-Fosses, France [73] Assignee: Societe lndustrielle de Transports Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles Automobiles (societ Ano yme), Attorney, Agent, or F irmKarl W. Flocks Paris, France 22 Filed: Oct. 30, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for collecting refuse in a residential estate [21] Appl L065 with multistory buildingsis characterized in that each building has a vertical refuse chute column terminat- [52] 111.8. Cl. 214/16 R, 214/41 A ing at a low level in a respective collecting receptacle [51] Int. Cl. B66c 5/02 and the different collecting receptacles are served by a [58] Field of Search 214/ 16 R, 41 A programme-controlled collecting vehicle which circulates in a casing situated underneath these receptacles. [56] References Cited The vehicle is discharged at a station which contains a UNITED STATES PATENTS general and displaceable collecting receptacle.

648,279 4/1900 McCartney 214/16 R 22 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAB 41915 3,869u05O "suwlnrs PATENTEB HAR 41975 SHEET 2 BF 6 PATENTED 5 PATENTED 41975 sumsgge 1 REFUSE COLLECTING APPARATUS This invention concerns apparatus for collecting refuse in a group of residential houses distributed in a developed area. i

The collection of refuse in such a group of houses is usually operated in the same fashion as in urban collections which presents obvious disadvantages for the residents. Moreover the refuse dump of a residential estate is not provided or planned for the daily passage of vehicles such as refuse vans.

The present invention eliminates these disadvantages.

According to the invention each refuse chute of each building terminates at a low level in a collecting receptacle and the different receptacles are served by at least one collecting vehicle which circulates within a casing situated below the receptacles the vehicle being discharged at a station which contains a general, displaceable refuse collecting receptacle. This last receptacle advantageously includes a device for compactation.

The casing may be in the form of a closedcircuit, the collecting vehicle circulating along this circuit in the same sense always. These vehicles may for example be connected to a closed-towing cable which describes the same circuit and which is actuated from a central propulsion station.

Preferably the service path is linear and there is only a single vehicle which circulates on it; the vehicle is self propelling and covers the path reciprocatingly, being guided by the casing.

In this way one can achieve automatic control of the service relatively simply.

Advantageously this vehicle is electric and is propelled by an array of batteries automatically charged when the vehicle regains its rest position. One can employ also a trolley type vehicle or one with lateral sliding contacts so as to drive it be alternating current, preferably three-phased, to obtain a reversal of circulation by a simple change of the order of the phases.

In an advantageous embodiment the collecting receptacles of the buildings are equipped with distributors which at each manoeuvre meter the volume of refuse deposited in the collecting vehicle and this vehicle has a counting device and starts off again in reverse towards its departure point as soon as it has received a number of doses corresponding to its capacity.

The circulation casing may be formed of elements made of sheet metal or of plastics material or, in the spaces between the buildings, it can be made in the form of a masonry gutter erected on site or prefabricated. Arranged so as to best conceal the installation the upper level of this casing is preferably at ground level and is inspectable in such that within the buildings the casing can be installed under the ceiling of the basements.

When the vehicle or vehicles are equipped with tyres,

quite strong slopes are permitted without great drawbacks.

In the case of very broken terrain the casing can leave the ground where it crosses hollows in the road; their upper faces can then advantageously constitute the circulation level or apron of foot bridges or of bridges crossing these hollows.

Since the output of a rubbish chute of a building is statistically proportional to the importance of this building the programme of visits by the collecting vehicle can be established in advance and can be made subject to an automatic cycle. Without modifying the programme the cycle can be accelerated during public holiday periods and retarded during summer holiday periods.

The installation may include in. each building a stop for the vehicle carrying an access trap door for the manual charging of large objects which cannot be received by the refuse chute columns.

The attached drawings will allow a good understanding of how the invention may be carried out.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the assembly of the installation according to the invention in a vertical section,

FIG. 2 is a transverse section of a casing constructed in the form of an inspectable gutter,

FIG. 3 is a section of a casing established under the ceiling with an elevation of the vehicle which circulates there,

FIG. 4 is a transverse section of the casing of a collecting receptacle in a building,

FIG. 5 shows in section and in elevation another embodiment of such a receptacle,

FIG. 6 is an elevation of an embodiment of a station having a general collecting receptacle, corresponding FIG. 7 is a detail of the emptying mechanism of the collecting vehicle,

FIG. 8 is a simplified diagram of the electric installation. This figures includes the two parts 8a and 8b chute columns 1 each debouching into a collecting receptacle 2. All these receptacles are disposed above a casing 3 permitting the circulation of collecting vehicles.

In the part 3a and 3b of its length this casing is in the form of an inspectable gutter at ground level as shown in detail in FIG. 2, with metal covers 4.

In the part 30 the casing is constructed from masonry at the level of the foundation raft. of the building.

In the part 3d the casing with its removeable cover forms a box girder which may serve as a foot bridge to pedestrians between the buildings B and C.

Finally in the part 3e (see FIGS. 3 and 5) the casing is constituted by a bent plate 5 which is suspended from the ceiling of the basement of the building by means of stirrups 6.

Whatever is its form of construction the casing is of uniform rectangular section and has smooth walls which allows the independent rolling of a vehicle (indicated as a whole by 7) with is provided on the one hand with tyred wheels 8 which can co-operate in the casing with reinforced horizontal tracks 9 (possibly treated so as to have a high coefficient of friction) and on the other hand with guiding rollers 10 having a horizontal axis applied against the side walls of the casing. These rollers, which may have tyres, have at least rubber rims.

From FIG. 3 it will be realised that each wheel is individually driven by an electric motor 11 via reduction gears 12, each motor including at the end of a shaft an electromagnetic brake 13.

It is clear that the casing 3 shown as rectilinear in FIG. l may include rounded elbows having a curvature compatible with the vehicle 7 being able to take these curves and that in this case the independent drive of the individual wheels facilitates the negotiation of these curves.

The vehicle 7 (see FIG. 6) includes a chassis 14 made of metal sections carried directly by the wheels 8 and supporting a container 15 having an inverted pyramidal form which, in order to be emptied, can be pivoted about an axis defined by pivot pins 16 engaged in bearing blocks of the chassis 14.

In the normalsituation the container rests on the chassis with its side beams 18 in contact with elastic props 19.

In the pivoted position (position 15 on FIG. 6) the contents of the container can slide along the apron 21 integral with the vehicle 7 and on the stationary flap 22 integral with a buffer 24 of the vehicle 7 which joins with the apron in the position shown at the end of the path of the vehicle.

The contents of the container are thus brought into a fixed hopper 30 provided witha suitable tamping device for driving and compressing the refuse which has been passed into it into a box 31.

To ensure that the container 15'is emptied, the latter in the course of its pivotal movement abuts against a transverse buffer 32 carried by a girder 33 mounted on a cross beam, or connecting the walls, of a structure 34 in which the box 31 is mounted. This structure comprises a large door 32 (FIG. 1) for the periodical emptying of the box and its replacement by an empty box.

The pivotal movement of the container 15 carried by the vehicle 7 may be achieved by several automatic means e.g., that shown in detail in FIG. 7.

On both sides of the cat walk 35 on which the vehicle is received in the structure 34, there are bearing blocks 36 coaxial with the pivoting 16 in the final position of the movement of the vehicle 7.

Two shafts 37 are journalled in these bearings and carry at the side of the track 35 cranks 38 terminating in a pair of elastic buffers 38a, 38b which form a fork and are capable of coming into engagement with two edge faces 15a of the container 15. Toothed gear wheel 39 are wedged on these same shafts and are in mesh with reduction gearing 40 carried on shaft 41 also journalled for rotation on fixed bearings.

The shafts 41 are integral with cranks 42 the ends of which are articulated the piston rods 43 of rams 44 themselves articulated at their base.

At rest the two cranks 38 and 42 are generally horizontal and are oriented in mutually opposite directions such that the flanges 15a can pass between the elastic buffers 38a and 38b. Moreover the pressure supplied by the ram 34 and the resistance to pivoting by the container are initially at maximum. Progressively as the cranks pivot the torque exerted on the shafts 36 and 41 diminish.

However by virtue of the reduction gearing the crank 42 does not attain a vertical position, while the play in the gear transmission may be such that the end of the pivotal movement of the container is reached by abutting against the elastic abutment 33a when the centre of gravity of the container has just passed the vertical.

In this way the container 15 is shaken by this abutment which achieves the emptying. To return the container to its normal position the buffers 38b act in their turn against the edge of the container to return it to the vertical position after which the container falls back agains the buffers 38a.

For displacing the vehicles motors 11 are supplies by the batteries 20. At the end position of the movement of the vehicle 7 a pair of conductive brake shoes 45 carried by these vehicles come into engagement with a pair of conductive contact studs joined to a charging post 47; in this way during the rest periods of the vehicle the batteries are automatically permanently charged. It is known that certain batteries, especially the alkali ones may without disadvantages be charged fully and even over-charged without necessitating the addition of water.

The end position of the movement of the vehicle 7 is obtained by the engagement of the buffers 23 carried by it with the abutment 24 disposed at the end of the track 35 of the vehicle.

At the side remote from the buffers the vehicle carries an automatic coupling hook 25 which can be engaged with a rod 26 located between the buffers 23 of a similar vehicle for an emergency repair of the latter.

An embodiment of the collecting receptacle 2 for a building is shown in FIG. 4. The hopper like base 48 of this receptacle is closed by a metering device 49 or distributon. This latter is moveable between the position shown in full lines and the dotted line position 49 and consists of a part 49a in the form of a trough and the part 4% in the form of a cylindrical segment, the two parts being integral with one another and carried by a shaft 50, the two parts being alternately placed against the opening 48a of the hopper n this way at each reciprocating movement of the distributor an equal amount of charge from the contents of the trough falls into the container 15 of the vehicle 7.

This reciprocating movement is obtained by means of ajack 50 the piston rod 51 of which is pivoted on a lug 52 carried by one of the faces of the metering device.

One of the plain walls 53 of the bottom of the hopper is moveable about an axis 54 such that this part can be retracted, as shown at 53,, to allow the manual emptying of the collecting receptacle 2 into an auxiliary vehicle 56 in the case ofa failure or blockage of the receptacle 2.

To this end the filling station is closed at the front by an inspection door 57 which takes up the position 57 when it is maintained open by callipers 58. This inspection flap door is closed by a lock and advantageously carried a mark 59 for indicating the presence of the vehicle 7 at the filling post. The actuation of these marks is assured as shown in FIG. 8.

In normal service the wall 53 is subjected to the action of a jack 60 which moves the said wall by small reciprocating movements and prevents the formation of heaps which would prevent the descent of rubbish in the hopper-like part 48 of the receptacle 2.

In addition a fixed plate 61 connects the base of the pivoting wall 53 with the edge of the container 15 to prevent the dispersion of the rubbish falling from the distributor along the arrow 62 during the movement of the distributor.

Since, however, some scattering of dust and tiny fragments of rubbish is inevitable, a portion 63 of the rolling track of the vehicle 7, which includes hollows 63a for the accumulation of this refuse can be disengaged in the absence of this vehicle in the manner of a drawer-like ashbin, so as to be periodically cleaned.

Finally each collecting receptacle 2 comprises a motor pump 64 for feeding the jacks 50 and 60 and a box 65 which contains the automatic electric controls of the installation of which the schematic diagram is shown in FIG. 8.

As shown in FIG. 5 the filling post of a collecting receptacle may also be located practically at ground level in which case the casing 3 is arranged so as to pass under the ceiling of the basement.

The ashbox 63 must then be emptied in the basement and, if it is necessary, in the case of a blockage the flap door 53 is retracted to empty its contents at the floor level 56.

.A discharge of the distributor 49 is then effected across a hole 57 arranged in the ceiling of the basement.

Such a hole covered by a trap door 68 (see FIG. 1) may also be arranged in the floor of a ground floor room so that it may be possible to discharge directly into the container "objects which are cumbersome and which cannot be passed down the refuse chute column. In this case, as will be explained below, this locality has a call button for the vehicle 7 which brings it automatically in register with the trap door.

For obvious reasons of safety, access to the locality containing the trap door 68 must be reserved to a responsible person.

The automatic operation by eletric means of this installation is schematically shown in FIG. 8.

In this Figure the assembly I corresponds to the emptying station, the assembly II to the vehicle 7, the assembly III to the first collecting station (that of building A, for example) the assembly IV to an intermediary collecting post (building B) and finally the assembly V to a final collecting position (to secure ones thoughts, that of the assembly C).

schematically the operation is as follows: The container 15 has a useful capacity corresponding to a certain number of charges or doses supplied by the distributors, for example 3 to 5.

In addition the normal emptying of the contents of the collecting receptacles necessitates at each visit a certain number of movements of the metering device, for example from 1 to 3, which number is determined by statistical studies.

The automatic device is, organised so that when the vehicle arrives at the first station it receives doses counted by the latter and counts them itself.

If the first number is lower than the capacity of the vehicle, the latter continues on its way to the next position; otherwise as soon as it has received its fill this vehicle departs in reverse to return and then to empty the corresponding receptacle and then to pass to the next one. It should in addition be possible, e.g., to free a receptacle which has accidentally been overfilled to call the vehicle 7 to this receptacle and to fill the vehicle to its maximum capacity.

For these different ends the following are arranged at the emptying station; a time switch Mn delivering an initial pulse at the chosen time for a collection, a relay Ri controlled by this pulse and actuated by a pulse at the end of this cycle delivered by a relay GI, a counting relay Kn of which the numerical capacity (n) corresponds to the maximum number of doses that can be carried by the vehicle 7 and finally an electromagnet ED of which the plunger can move in operation between the position in full lines and the position in dotted lines.

This plunger is arranged to act on a microswitch mt, of the vehicle 7 (assembly II) to cause the latter to depart. The emptying station additionally includes a microswitch mc delaying relay RT which together with a change-over switch IVO controls the electrovalve EVO for controlling the jack 44 for the emptying of the container 15 and then its return to its normal position.

In the assembly II (vehicle 7) the microswitch mc, controls the general circuit breaker lG which allows the batteries 20 to feed the motors Ill. This supply passes via a potentio-meter or voltage regulator VU and a change-over switch INV. This latter is controlled by a counter relay K,n which has the same counting capacity as the relay Kn (n doses). The relay Kn, is reset to zero by the microswitch mc which is actuated by the arrival of the vehicle 7 against the abutment 24; it is controlled by the battery 20 (conductors 68, 69) and the number of doses received is indicated to it by the microswitch mc in a manner described below.

The vehicle 7 further comprises three other microswitches. The braking microswitch mc is supplied by the battery 20 (conductor 70 which controls the voltage of the regulator VU), the microswitch mc which controls the electromagnetic brakes l3 and a microswitch rnc which directly controls the change-over switch INV. This last microswitch is utilised for emergency repairs or at the end of a complete course to ensure the return of the vehicle 7 (see the abutment 71 at the right-hand end of FIG. 8).

Finally the vehicle carries a fixed pedal 72 which acts on the electrical control of the distributing mechanisms of the collecting stations.

The collection stations are in the main subordinated to a counting relay: Kx, Ky and K2 respectively for the assemblies III, IV and V of which the counting capacity (x,y and z) corresponds to the number of doses necessary at each passage to empty their respective collecting receptacle 2.

At the first of these stations (assembly III) the relay xx is directly fed by the relay Ri and the conductor 73.

The following relays are supplied by connections of the conductor 74 (under tension as soon as the initial relay Ri is energised) across the contacts of contact makers CT CT for the penultimate position in such a way that a following relay K cannot become activated if the preceding relays K are not activated either.

In effect as soon as a relay Kx or Ky is activated its output 75 is under tension and supplies the winding of the corresponding contact maker CT as well as the electromagnets ER and EF which cause the pedals 76 and 77 to project from the level of the track 35.

The pedals 76 and 77 are designed to act respectively on the microswitches me and me of the vehicle 7 to cause the latter to slow down and to stop. The projection formedby the pedal 77 is higher than that of pedal 76 so that the latter does not prematurely act on the braking microswitch mc As soon as a vehicle is at a collecting station its pedal 72 activates the corresponding microswitch (mcA, mcB or mcC) while the microswitch mc comes under the osillating plunger 78 mechanically actuated by the movement of the corresponding distributor 49.

The distributors also act (by the illustrated sectorshaped cams) on pairs of microswitches mcA mcA mcB mcB mcC mcC respectively, of which the first of each pair controls the change-over switch (IVA, IVB, IVC respectively); the second controls the relay (Kx, Ky, or Kz) and the relay Kn by way of the conductor 79 and its respective connection 79A, 79B and 79C. The two microswitches of each pair are supplied from the corresponding points 75 by a conductor 80 which also energises a pressure-limiting device HpZ subordinated to the prevailing pressure in the associated jack 50 to act via the conductor 81 on the changeover switch IVA IVC in the case of overload in the corresponding jack.

In addition ateach post across the microswitch mcA ntcC the point 75 feeds a contact-maker CA, CB, CC which feeds the corresponding motor pump 64 arranged to supply oil under pressure to the jacks 50 and 60 Via the conductors 82 each contact-maker CA CC energises the corresponding electric change-over switch IVA IVC across a delayed-action relay Rr. In this way at each alternation of the displacement of the distributor 49 the movement of an electric valve EVA, EVB, EVC, which is controlled by the changeover switch associated therewith, is delayed in such a way that if the vehicle 7 isfull it restarts immediately and interrupts the movement of the distributor by breaking contact with one of the microswitches mcA, mcB, mcC and in this way avoids that the contents of the distributor should be discharged into the casing 3. Finally a push button PA, PB and PC is provided at each station which allows the actuation to two pedals 76 and 77 from the permanently energised conductor 84, the contact-maker CT and the point 75 without causing the relays Kx, Ky or Kz of the corresponding position to intervene.

The operation of the device which has just been described will be clear from what has been said. For a resume it should be recalled that in the rest position the vehicle 7 is stationed at an emptying position where its batteries are recharged.

At the selected time the timer Mn initiates a cycle by sending a pulse to the relay Ri. The same pulse ensures via the line 86 the resetting to zero of all the fixed counters Kn, Kx, Ky and Kz (the counter Km having been reset to zero by the microswitch mc In addition the assembly III is energised by the conductor 73. The vehicle is set in motion by the pulse received from the electromagnet ED and arrives at the first distributor where the pedals 76 and 77 stop it.

The number x of alternations of the distributor III having been produced, if the counter K n is full the vehicle 7 directly departs to the emptying station; otherwise the counter Kx, having taken the value x, liberates the passage of the vehicle 7 which then passes to the next position where it receives its complement of doses.

The use of the contact-makers CT and CT allows that energisation of the entire circuit can be prevented.

At the end of the cycle the reclosure of contactmaker CT sends a pulse to the relay Gi which resets the relay R1 to zero via the line 86. It should be remarked that these last manoeuvres of the last distributor may be effected in the empty state until the counter K n of the vehicle counted the number n which then permits the vehicle to depart in reverse.

When one of the push buttons PA, PB and PC with delayed engagement is manually actuated, the halt of the vehicle is prepared for the position or station where this button has been manipulated and at the same time the starter electromagnet ED is excited via the line 87 which sets the vehicle 7 in motion.

When the vehicle has arrived at its destination it receives n doses which are registered in its own counter Km and then departs in reverse.

In all the cases, when engaging with the abutment ment 24 the microswitch mc is actuated and the pivoting movement of the container 15 is initiated after which the container 15 returns to its place.

Since the assembly shown in FIG. 8a and 8b is essentially electromagnetic, one can supply this assembly with alternating current having a voltage suitably reduced by a transformer.

As already indicated, the'vehicle may also be provided with asynchronous motors energised by means of a trolley or by the alternating current friction contacts, due to these conductors being accessible and extending along the length of the casing in which the vehicle circulates.

It will be understood that as described the whole installation can be realised with direct current and the scheme of FIGS. 8a and 8b can then be in part or wholly electronic.

The invention is applicable to all housing estates, that is to say, the plurality of buildings arranged on a developed terrain so as to centralise the collection of refuse in this estate so as to limit the nuisance to the inhabitants.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for collecting refuse in a residential estate with multistorey buildings, wherein each said building has a refuse chute column, a collecting receptacle in which said column terminates at a low level thereof, at least one collecting vehicle for serving the collecting receptacles of all the buildings, a hollow casing situated underneath the said collecting receptacles and formed so as to provide a service path for said at least one vehicle, and a discharge along said service path, there being a general displaceable collecting receptacle at said discharge station.

2. Collecting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the service path is linear and there is only one service vehicle which reciprocates along the said path.

3. Collecting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the said vehicle is self-propelling.

4. Collecting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein tyred wheels and lateral rollers with horizontal axes are provided on said vehicle to permit it to be guided by the walls of the casing.

5. Collecting apparatus according to claim 3 wherein means are provided for electrically propelling the vehicle.

6. Collecting apparatus according to claim 5 wherein batteries are carried by the vehicle, the discharge station and the vehicle having cooperating means for charging the batteries automatically when the vehicle is at rest at said station.

7. Collecting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the casing is arranged as an inspectable gutter between two buildings.

8. Collecting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the casing is established underneath the ceiling of the basement within the buildings.

9. Collecting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a respective distributor is provided for each of the collecting receptacles of the buildings, which distributors are adapted to move and meter the volume of refuse deposited at each movement of these distributors into the said vehicle, and a counting device in the vehicle for summing the batches of refuse received and for ini tiating the return of the vehicle in reverse when the number of batches received corresponds to the capacity of the vehicle.

10. Collecting apparatus according to claim 9 wherein there is a counter associated with each distributor for permanently determining the number of batched doses which should be supplied by the distributor for the normal emptying of the associated receptacle, the said counter controlling the arresting means for the vehicle relative to the distributor when the said number has not been reached and for freeing the path of the vehicle when the said number has been reached.

11. Collecting apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the arresting means comprises at least one track pedal arranged to act on the vehicle and an electromagnet controlled by the counter associated with the distributor controls said pedal.

12. Collecting apparatus according to claim 11 wherein, in use, each of the counters is actuated by a signal coming from the preceding counter and to the active output of each counter energises relay which interrupts through a working contact the supply of the next counter, while the first counter is energised directly by a signal coming from the starting point of the movement of the collecting vehicle.

13. Collecting apparatus according to claim 12 wherein a double action fluid pressure jack drives the metering distributors in an alternating movement through the intermediation of contact members and a change-over means, the jack acting also on the counter associated with the collecting vehicle and on the counter of the distributor itself.

14. Collecting apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the supply of the fluid pressure jack is subordinated, via a pedal contact, to the presence of the vehicle at the collection receptacle while the alternating movement of the distributor is delayed, at least in that sense of the movement which corresponds to its discharge.

15. Collecting apparatus according to claim 13 wherein a pressure limiting device in the acuating jack controls the change-over means.

16. Collecting apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the vehicle comprises, for starting, a push contact actuated by the displacement of the armature of an electromagnet rigidly fixed at the discharge station and the rest station for the said vehicle, a timing device is connected to the electromagnet to send control pulses thereto.

17. Collecting apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each collecting receptacle comprises a push button for energising directly the starting element and the arresting pedals of the vehicle.

18. Collecting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each collecting vehicle comprises a receiving container pivotable about an axis situated at the side of this container turned towards the starting point of its run, and in its return movement the said vehicle comes into abutment against appropriate means at the said end.

19. Collecting device according to claim 18 wherein in the position where the vehicle is in abutment, driving means effect the pivotal movement of the container around its pivotal axis, said driving means being coaxial with the said axis.

20. Collecting device according to claim 9 wherein each collecting receptacle comprises at its bottom part a hopper-like structure, a wall of said structure being retractable towards the outside for the manual emptying of the hopper.

2]. Collecting apparatus according to claim 20 wherein a portion of the track which receives the vehicle is arranged in the manner of a drawer-type ash bin when the vehicle is charged by the distributor.

22. Collecting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the collecting vehicle comprises at the opposite side from the starting point of its run an automatic coupling hook and towards the starting point a coupling member which cooperates with this hook and it has means for reversing its run controlled by the position of the two vehicles in the automatic coupling position.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,869,050 Dated March 4, 1975 Inventor(s) Jean-Claude MICHEL It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Title page, Item [73] should read Assignee: SOCIETE INDUSTRIELLE DE TRANSPORTS 0 AUTOMOBILES S.I.T.A. (Societe Anonyme) Signed and Salad this fourth Day of November 1975 [SEAL] A Attest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner oj'Palents and Tradema FORM PC4050 uscoMM-Dc cows-P69 LLS. GOVERNMENT PRlNTING OFFICE 1 I959 O366-334.

Claims (22)

1. Apparatus for collecting refuse in a residential estate with multistorey buildings, wherein each said building has a refuse chute column, a collecting receptacle in which said column terminates at a low level thereof, at least one collecting vehicle for serving the collecting receptacles of all the buildings, a hollow casing situated underneath the said collecting receptacles and formed so as to provide a service path for said at least one vehicle, and a discharge along said service path, there being a general displaceable collecting receptacle at said discharge station.

2. Collecting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the service path is linear and there is only one service vehicle which reciprocates along the said path.

3. Collecting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the said vehicle is self-propelling.

4. Collecting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein tyred wheels and lateral rollers with horizontal axes are provided on said vehicle to permit it to be guided by the walls of the casing.

5. Collecting apparatus according to claim 3 wherein means are provided for electrically propelling the vehicle.

6. Collecting apparatus according to claim 5 wherein batteries are carried by the vehicle, the discharge station and the vehicle having cooperating means for charging the batteries automatically when the vehicle is at rest at sAid station.

7. Collecting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the casing is arranged as an inspectable gutter between two buildings.

8. Collecting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the casing is established underneath the ceiling of the basement within the buildings.

9. Collecting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a respective distributor is provided for each of the collecting receptacles of the buildings, which distributors are adapted to move and meter the volume of refuse deposited at each movement of these distributors into the said vehicle, and a counting device in the vehicle for summing the batches of refuse received and for initiating the return of the vehicle in reverse when the number of batches received corresponds to the capacity of the vehicle.

10. Collecting apparatus according to claim 9 wherein there is a counter associated with each distributor for permanently determining the number of batched doses which should be supplied by the distributor for the normal emptying of the associated receptacle, the said counter controlling the arresting means for the vehicle relative to the distributor when the said number has not been reached and for freeing the path of the vehicle when the said number has been reached.

11. Collecting apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the arresting means comprises at least one track pedal arranged to act on the vehicle and an electromagnet controlled by the counter associated with the distributor controls said pedal.

12. Collecting apparatus according to claim 11 wherein, in use, each of the counters is actuated by a signal coming from the preceding counter and to the active output of each counter energises relay which interrupts through a working contact the supply of the next counter, while the first counter is energised directly by a signal coming from the starting point of the movement of the collecting vehicle.

13. Collecting apparatus according to claim 12 wherein a double action fluid pressure jack drives the metering distributors in an alternating movement through the intermediation of contact members and a change-over means, the jack acting also on the counter associated with the collecting vehicle and on the counter of the distributor itself.

14. Collecting apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the supply of the fluid pressure jack is subordinated, via a pedal contact, to the presence of the vehicle at the collection receptacle while the alternating movement of the distributor is delayed, at least in that sense of the movement which corresponds to its discharge.

15. Collecting apparatus according to claim 13 wherein a pressure limiting device in the acuating jack controls the change-over means.

16. Collecting apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the vehicle comprises, for starting, a push contact actuated by the displacement of the armature of an electromagnet rigidly fixed at the discharge station and the rest station for the said vehicle, a timing device is connected to the electromagnet to send control pulses thereto.

17. Collecting apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each collecting receptacle comprises a push button for energising directly the starting element and the arresting pedals of the vehicle.

18. Collecting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each collecting vehicle comprises a receiving container pivotable about an axis situated at the side of this container turned towards the starting point of its run, and in its return movement the said vehicle comes into abutment against appropriate means at the said end.

19. Collecting device according to claim 18 wherein in the position where the vehicle is in abutment, driving means effect the pivotal movement of the container around its pivotal axis, said driving means being coaxial with the said axis.

20. Collecting device according to claim 9 wherein each collecting receptacle comprises at its bottom part a hopper-like structure, a wall of said structure being retractable towards the outside for the manual emPtying of the hopper.

21. Collecting apparatus according to claim 20 wherein a portion of the track which receives the vehicle is arranged in the manner of a drawer-type ash bin when the vehicle is charged by the distributor.

22. Collecting apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the collecting vehicle comprises at the opposite side from the starting point of its run an automatic coupling hook and towards the starting point a coupling member which cooperates with this hook and it has means for reversing its run controlled by the position of the two vehicles in the automatic coupling position.

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