US3913474A

US3913474A - Multi-container trash compactor

Info

Publication number: US3913474A
Application number: US466237A
Authority: US
Inventors: Michael Lewis
Original assignee: Flinchbaugh Products Inc
Current assignee: Flinchbaugh Products Inc
Priority date: 1974-05-02
Filing date: 1974-05-02
Publication date: 1975-10-21
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-21

Abstract

This application discloses an extrusion type refuse compactor in which waste is compacted and discharged in a horizontal direction and is collected in a series of conventional vertical refuse containers. The apparatus includes a deflection plate and a horizontally sliding door which acts to apply a force on the compacted refuse slug encouraging the refuse to break at natural separation points and to prevent the discharge of refuse while the refuse containers are being repositioned. The disclosure also includes a multiple container carriage positioning system such that when a container is full, the carriage system indexes a new receptacle beneath the compactor outlet door.

Description

United States Patent Lewis 1 1 Oct. 21, 1975 [54] MULTI-CONTAINER TRASH COMPACTOR 3,608,476 9/1971 Price et a1 100/49 X i 3,659,427 5/1972 Harza 100/218 X [75] lnvemor- Mchael Lew, F6110, 3,722,403 3 1973 Longo 100/218 x [73] Assignee: Flinchbaugh Products, Inc., Red

Lion, Pa. Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite [22] Filed: y 2, 1974 Attorney, Agent, or F1rm-Blum, Moscovltz, Friedman & Kaplan [211 Appl. No.: 466,237

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl 100/45; 53/124 E; 100/49; i application discioses an extrusion type refuse 2 loo/53; loo/1889 loo/218 compactor in which waste is compacted and dis- [51] Int. Cl. B30B 15/32 Charged in a horizontal direction and is coiiected in a [58] Fleld M Search loo/45 series of conventional vertical refuse containers. The

loo/49; 53/124 D1 124 124 124 T5 apparatus includes a deflection plate and a horizontally sliding door which acts to apply a force on the [56] References C'ted compacted refuse slug encouraging the refuse to break UNITED STATES PATENTS at natural separation points and to prevent the dis- 2,5s7,997 3/1952 Guettler 100/218 x Charge of refuse While the refuse Containers are being 3,134,344 5/1964 Lundell repositioned. The disclosure also includes a multiple 3,274,957 9/1966 Goolsby et a1 container carriage positioning system such that when a 0 11/1966 Peterson container is full, the carriage system indexes a new re- 3,481,268 12/1969 Price et a1 100/218 X ceptacie beneath the Compactor Outlet dooi 3,521,553 7/1970 Smolka et al. 100/218 X 3,538,844 11/1970 Howard 100/218 X 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 2 I i 1 l 46 i m f2 I J! I! S l (L I:

1 32 o 3., "L 2 h J 7- 1 I a i n o u m 7 1 I I :z, 3" 4:. 1 s ,r. x

. I l i l I 2 2!:

9f 74 72 w i a v v 9/ [p I {I 0, 22 1 an I U.S. Patent Oct. 211, 1975 Sheet 1 of2 3,913,474

FIG. l.

' 1 M9 W 62 64 54 )7 y; 22 V0! '29 FIG. 2.

US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 Sheet2of2 3,913,474

FIG. 3.

FIG. 4.

34 ZZZ 3/ 5 so: ENO/D VALVE HYDRAULIC Pksssdu mess. nv sew m I02 FULL B G ALL BAGS ALL //2 nvasx RELAY FULL P SIG/VAL MULTI-CONTAINER TRASH COMPACTOR The present invention relates to refuse compaction systems and more particularly to a refuse compactor utilizing a horizontal extrusion compactor arrangement in combination with vertical receptacles that are capable of automatic operation.

A common limitation in many prior art compaction systems incorporating the more efficient horizontal extrusion type compactor arrangement is the unavailability of multi-container or large capacity material handling systems to accommodate compacted refuse. Prior art compactors of this type have incorporated a plastic tubular membrane or sausage that is filled with compressed refuse as it leaves the compactor outlet. Periodically, this column of refuse must be cut, tied at both ends of the cut and removed. This operation involves substantial spillage of the refuse as well as difficulty in cutting the compacted material at any particular point.

Further, compactor systems of this type generally require a conveyor system to support the column of compacted refuse. Necessarily, a conveyor arrangement greatly increases the length of the compactor system. Size is a critical factor in the compactor field since it is important that these devices be usable in smaller multi-family dwellings. In many such applications, the compactor is required as a replacement for an incinerator and as such must be capable of being installed and operated in nearly the same space envelope. The sausage" arrangement, although capable of operating for substantial periods of time without supervision, cannot be conveniently emptied when necessary and requires an area larger than that normally available in many applications.

Another prior art receptacle system for use with this type of compactor is the single bag or can that is placed over the cylindrical outlet of the compactor. Although this system is neater than the sausage, it suffers from the inability to operate unattended for substantial periods of time, since once the single receptacle is filled, the machine must be stopped or recycled and a new receptacle placed in position.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a space efficient compaction system that is capable of reasonably long, unsupervised operation in spite of its compact size.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a means of utilizing a horizontal extrusion type compactor in combination with an automatic container feed system employing conventional type vertical waste receptacles.

In accomplishing these and other objects, applicants compaction system incorporates a cyclical horizontal compactor section in combination with a plurality of vertical receptacles and a receptacle handling system which automatically positions the receptacle adjacent to a compactor output port. An oblique deflection plate is positioned adjacent to the output port over the receptacle to be filled and a horizontal sliding door is provided beneath the output port under the deflection plate. Applicant has found that the output of a cyclical extrusion compactor is actually a continuous stream of separable slugs of material with the adhesion between slugs being substantially less than adhesion of material within a slug. In applicants device, these slugs are encouraged to separate by the downward force provided by impingement on the oblique deflection plate. If this fails, individual slugs are separated by action of the sliding door which applies a longitudinal force between slugs to separate them. The sliding door simultaneously provides a closing mechanism to prevent discharge of refuse during the replacement cycle of the receptacles.

The above brief description, as well as other objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partially cut away, of the refuse compaction system according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the compaction system taken substantially along line 2-2 in FIG. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view of the compaction system, taken substantially along the line 33 in FIG. 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows; and,

FIG. 4 is a pictorial schematic diagram of the hydraulic and electrical systems actuating the compaction system.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, there is shown an automatic refuse compaction system according to the present invention which is generally designated by the numeral 8. This compaction system includes a cyclical compactor 10 having a cylindrical outlet tube 12 to which is fastened a refuse guide assembly generally designated 14. This assembly is composed of a deflection plate 16 and a horizontally operative door assembly 18 beneath the deflection plate. A vertical container 20 is positioned below the deflection plate in a container feed assembly 22. The compactor apparatus 10 as shown in FIG. 1 is an hydraulic ram, extrusion-type cyclical compactor. As used herein, a cyclical compactor is one in which the refuse is compacted in a series of discrete operations which are repeated such that the output of refuse is comprised of a column of separable slugs.

The compactor 10 is located below the lower end of a refuse chute, for example, in a multiple-family dwelling, such that refuse will enter a hopper 28 and fall into the receiving chamber 30 of the compactor. A light source 32 is mounted on one outer side wall of the receiver chamber with a photoelectric relay 34 mounted on the opposite side wall, as shown in FIG. 2. When refuse interrupts the light beam, the hydraulic cylinder 36 is activated causing the ram 38 to move forward along the horizontal axis. The motion of the ram causes the refuse to pass from the receiving chamber through a transition section 40 where the refuse is extruded and consequently compressed to about 78% of its original volume. This system is described in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 3,541,949.

When the ram 38 completes its travel, the hydraulic cylinder retracts causing the ram to return to the position shown in FIG. 1. When the refuse in the receiving chamber 30 again interrupts the light beam, the ram is caused to move forward again, repeating the cycle. Eventually, the compacted refuse 42 fills the entire compactor outlet 12, and with each successive stroke of the ram, is caused to advance toward the terminus 44 of the compactor outlet.

Due to the cyclical operation of the compactor, the compacted refuse forms into slugs of diameter equal to the diameter of the outlet 12 and the thickness is just a few inches. These slugs adhere together to form an apparently continuous cyclical output. However, the adhesion between each slug is of lower magnitude than the cohesion between the material comprising each particular slug and consequently there is a natural break line 46 created between adjacent separable slugs. When the slug travels beyond the outlet terminus 44, the column of compacted refuse is cantilevered until sufflcient weight of refuse is extending beyond the outlet 12 to cause the slug to fracture along the natural break line 46 and to fall into a vertical receptacle positioned therebelow.

When the cohesion is too great, the weight of the cantilevered slug will not be enough to cause separation and the slug will advance beyond the outlet tube terminus. To break a slug of this type a deflection plate 16 is located obliquely to the horizontal axis of the outlet. When the column of separable slugs hits the deflection plate 16, the oblique surface of the deflection plate imparts a vertical force component to the refuse, which may be sufficient to cause the separation of the refuse.

The horizontally operative door assembly 18 is located beneath the deflection plate 16. The door assembly 18 slides within a track formed by angle iron pieces 19 welded to both sides of the adapter assembly 14 and forming a track. The door assembly is moved longitudinally by an hydraulic cylinder 48. This hydraulic cylinder is operatively connected with the ram actuating hydraulic cylinder 36 in such a manner that when the ram cylinder is extended, the door cylinder is retracted. Consequently, when the ram 38 moves forward in its compacting stroke, the door 18 is caused to move rearwardly, opening the bottom surface of the assembly 14 to allow refuse to fall into the container 20 below.

In some instances the adhesion between the adjacent slugs of compacted refuse in the column of refuse is too great for the separation to be caused by the combination of the weight of the cantilevered column and the vertical deflection caused by the intersection with the deflector plate. In such instance the column.0f compacted refuse will protrude beyond the bottom-most surface of the assembly 14. The leading edge 50 of the door 18 is curved downward and blunted to engage the column of compacted refuse in such a manner that the leading edge 50 of door 18 will apply a tensile load on the column of compacted refuse 52, encouraging a separation.

When the ram 38 is forced to return to its initial rearward position, the door 18 assumes its closed position. In this orientation, the outlet of the compactor is closed preventing inadvertent ejection of refuse.

A vertical container 20 located beneath the door assembly 18 receives slugs of compacted refuse that fall off due to its cantilevered weight, the deflection and separation after contact with the deflection plate or the tensile force separation of protruding refuse caused by the leading edge 50 of the closing door assembly 18.

To utilize the space most efficiently, a multiple of containers 20 are operatively connected to a mechanism for indexing the containers along a continuous elliptical path on top of the lower base plate 66. Each container 20 is serially advanced to position beneath the door 18 of the assembly 14 to receive the compacted refuse. The containers are driven by a container feed assembly 22 which is comprised of a long roller chain 78 driven by a shorter roller chain 60 powered by an electric gear motor 56. Specifically, the gear. motor 56 drives a sprocket 58, a short length of drive roller chain 60 and a driven sprocket 62keyed to a jack shaft 64. The jack shaft is located between coaxial bushings in the lower base plate 66 and the forward horizontal support plate 68 welded to the forward central support column 69. Also keyed to the jack shaft is a larger diameter sprocket 70. At the rear of the feed assembly, an idler sprocket 72'of similar diameter to the sprocket is mounted on a short shaft 74 located between coaxial bushings in the lower base plate 66 and the rear horizontal support plate 76 welded to the rear central support column 71. A length of roller chain 78 is operatively mounted upon the drive and idlersprockets such that an elliptical path is followed by the chain as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Each of the multiple containers 20 has an inner surface 20a upon which, midway between the two adjacent sides 20b to the inner surface and at a height equal to the distance of theroller chain 78 above the base plate 66, is located a connecting bracket 80 between the container .20 and the roller chain 78.

The operation of the container feed system is as follows: the signal system of the automatic compaction system, activates the motor 56. The sprocket 58 mounted on the output shaft of the motor 56 causes the short drive chain 60 to turn the jack shaft. The jack shaft turns the drive sprocket 62, keyed thereto, causing the long chain 78 to move'and the containers rotate to the next position.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show the orientation and configuration of the container feed assembly 22 relative to the width of the compactor element 10. Also, the details of the support structure are shown. The lower base plate 66 has welded to it the front and rear

central support column

69 and 71. At the top of each support column is welded a lateral support channel member 82. Between these lateral supports are welded longitudinal side rail channels 84. To the upper short leg of the two side rail channels are fastened a multitude of upright struts 86. These struts connect the compactor element l0 to the support structure. FIG. 2 also shows the access at 88 in the adapter assembly 14 which contains two heavy duty hinges 91 which allow the hatch to be readily opened to remove obstructions in the outlet area that may disrupt the operation of the compaction system. The containers 20 are provided with a door 92 on the outer wall 200 of the container. Each door is mounted by two hinges 94 which allow the removal of the compacted refuse in disposable liners 96 from within the containers without interference with the support structure directly above. The location of the door 92 on the outer wall 200 ofthe containerallows removal of the filled liner from the container 20 in any position around the elliptical path. I a

FIG. 4 picton'ally represents the control system for the automatic compaction system which includes the hydraulic ram cylinder 36, the hydraulic door cylinder 48 and the electrical container feed rhotor actuation system. When refuse breaks the light beam to the photoelectric relay 34, the solenoid valve 100 is activated causing hydraulic oil under pressure to be directed to the ram cylinder 36 and the door cylinder 48. The solenoid is interconnected to both hydraulic cylinders such that when the compactor 10 is actuated from rest, the ram cylinder 36 is caused to extend and the door cylinder 48 to retract. When the ram 38 reaches the end of its travel a pressure sensor switch 102 causes the solenoid 100 to reverse the flow of hydraulic oil so that the ram cylinder 36 will retract and the door cylinder 48 will extend closing the door 18. If the ram strikes an object in the refuse that resists the initial advance of the ram, a preset pressure limit is reached and the cycle is repeated until the cutting members in the form of triangular teeth 39 on the ram blade 38 penetrate the obstruction allowing the complete travel of the ram blade 38. Operation continues until sufficient refuse has been sent through the compactor so that the refuse remaining in the receiving chamber 30 of the compactor is below the level of the photoelectric relay 34.

A full container sensing switch comprised of switch body 104 and a sensing arm 106 is mounted on the bottom surface of the door assembly 18 at its leading edge 50 so that when the door travels horizontally in the longitudinal direction, the lever is caused to sweep the area directly above the top of the container 20 positioned below the top of the door assembly. When said container is full of refuse, the sensing arm 106 will strike the refuse, activating the switch, causing the solenoid 100 to become deactivated at the end of that cycle of the ram blade 38. The rarn blade is then at its rest position, and the door 18 is closed. When the hydraulic system is thus deactivated, the motor relay switch 107 can activate the motor 56 causing the container feed assembly 22 to index. An extension member 108 projects from the bottom surface of each container 20 approximately equidistant from the sides 20b and in close proximity to the outer surface 20c so that it will not interfere with the lower base plate 66 during the container travel around the elliptical path. When the extension member 108 strikes the arm 109 of the indexing switch 110 located on the forward edge surface of the lower base plate 66, the motor relay 107 is deactivated and the container feed assembly immediately comes to rest.

The above compaction and indexing operation continues with the containers moving in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2 until all containers are full. To determine when the all full condition is reached the control panel includes a resetable counter 112. When all or some of the containers 20 are emptied by the operator he sets the counter at the number of containers empty and available for refuse. When the preset number is reached the counter 112 activates the all full relay 114. This relay deactivates the compaction and indexing systems and causes the all full signal 116 on the control panel to become activated.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes can be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims. For example, in applications where space permits, a greater number of containers could be utilized to make the compaction system capable of automatic operation for a longer period of time before requiring emptying of the containers. Similarly, the containers themselves could be replaced with wheeled platforms or skids upon which removable drums or other containers could be placed.

What is claimed is:

l. A refuse compaction system comprising a cyclical compactor wherein the compacted refuse is emitted in a substantially continuous stream of separable slugs, a deflecting plate mounted obliquely to said stream of refuse and positioned to intersect the path of said stream of refuse; laterally operative door beneath said deflecting plate, said door being adapted to apply an axial force to said stream of refuse at one of said slugs substantially in the direction of movement of said stream such that said axial force encourages separation of said slugs.

2. A refuse compaction system in accordance with claim 1 further including a plurality of vertical containers for receiving said refuse and means for automatically positioning said containers one at a time below said door so that compacted refuse falls into said containers for storage and removal.

3. A refuse compaction system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said automatic positioning means includes a multiple of containers, said containers traveling in a continuous path beneath said door, such that said containers, throughout their travel, remain substantially within the horizontal projection of the cyclical compactor.

4. A refuse compaction system in accordance with claim 2 wherein the compactor, the laterally operative door, and the container positioning means are operatively related such that when the compactor is emitting refuse said door is in the open position and said container indexing means is stationary, and when said container positioning means is activated said door is closed and said compactor element not emitting refuse.

Claims

1. A refuse compaction system comprising a cyclical compactor wherein the compacted refuse is emitted in a substantially continuous stream of separable slugs, a deflecting plate mounted obliquely to said stream of refuse and positioned to intersect the path of said stream of refuse; laterally operative door beneath said deflecting plate, said door being adapted to apply an axial force to said stream of refuse at one of said slugs substantially in the direction of movement of said stream such that said axial force encourages separation of said slugs.