WO1987004686A1

WO1987004686A1 - Method and device for compressing waste

Info

Publication number: WO1987004686A1
Application number: PCT/SE1987/000045
Authority: WO
Inventors: Per Göran LARSSON
Original assignee: Mpg Konsult Ab
Priority date: 1986-02-04
Filing date: 1987-02-02
Publication date: 1987-08-13
Also published as: SE8600482L; SE8600482D0

Abstract

Method for compacting refuse in a container (10). At least a part of this container is evacuated briefly for this purpose once it has been made available for the depositing of the refuse (13) in the aforementioned part of same. During evacuation the refuse (13) is compressed by the effect of the atmospheric pressure. After evacuation air is allowed to flow into the container (10). A characteristic feature of the invention is that the walls of the container (10) are of a flexible elastic nature and consist of a bag made of plastic or paper. All-round compaction of the refuse is achieved in this way.

Description

Method and device for compressing waste

The present invention relates to a method for compacting refuse in a container, in conjunction with which at least a part of said container is evacuated briefly once it has been made available for the depositing of the refuse in the aforementioned part of same., so that the refuse is compressed during evacuation by the effect of the atmospheric pressure, and air is allowed to flow into the container after evacuation. 0

Already available on the market is an arrangement for compacting refuse with an electro-hydraulically driven piston, which, in an embodiment intended for use in a kitchen, develops a compressive force of approximately 1 ton for a period of a few seconds. It 5 will be appreciated that an arrangement of this kind is comparatively unmanageable, having regard on the one hand for the necessary technical back-up, and on the other hand for the requirement for a stable support for the piston so that the compaction is effective. In order to prevent unpleasant odours, 0 the piston must be cleaned quite frequently of any refuse adhering to it, and a not infrequent occurrence is for the bag not to stand up to the mechanical stresses and to split, when liquid refuse in particular will run out and will require to be dealt with. A further disadvantage of a previously disclosed compacting 5 arrangement of this kind is that the degree of compaction is claimed to be as high as approximately six-fold. Such a high degree of compression may at first sight appear attractive, although on closer reflection it will be appreciated that a refuse bag of normal size for household refuse will weigh between 18 and 0 24 kg, which in turn means that a conventional refuse sack will be unacceptably heavy, at Least for handling in a conventional manner.

The object of the present invention is to make available a method 5 for compacting refuse which does not suffer from the above-mentioned disadvantages, which method is made available by the walls of the container being of a flexible elastic nature and made of plastic or paper, so that all-round compaction of the refuse is achieved.

An arrangement for the execution of this method is characterized by, in combination a) a frame with an annular holder for a container with elastic flexible walls, for example a refuse bag made of plastic or paper; b) a cover arranged concentrically with the holder, which cover is so arranged that it or the holder are free to move in relation to one another, so that in an open position the bag is available for the depositing of refuse, and in a closed position the cover is in tightly sealing contact with the holder and the bag, so that the latter together with the cover defines an enclosed space; c) an air pump driven^'by an electric motor and arranged preferably in the cover, the suction side of which pump communicates with the aforementioned space.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the air pump is arranged on the cover, and its pressure side is connected to a kitchen flue or a filter, the latter in order to prevent the spread of odour from the refuse.

In accordance with another characteristic feature of the invention the electric motor is so arranged as to be influenced by the relative movement of the holder and the cover in such a way that it will start automatically and will remain in operation for a pre-determined period after the closed position has been adopted after depositing the refuse, and will stop automatically on being opened, thereby ensuring that compaction takes place automatically in conjunction with the depositing of refuse in the bag.

In order to prevent small particles of refuse and smearing refuse from entering the air pump, an at least centrally perforated, easily detachable disc arranged in an inclined plane and executed with a collection pocket arranged at least at the lowest point of the disc is present, in accordance with another characteristic feature of the invention, between the cover and the bag. The object of the pocket is that any liquid refuse which adheres to the disc shall run down into the pocket, from where it can be removed easily.

The invention is described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows schematically in plan view from the side an illustrative embodiment of an arrangement in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 shows a method, utilizing an arrangement in accordance with the invention, of making a refuse bag accessible for the depositing of refuse.

An arrangement in accordance with the invention consists of, in combination: a frame 2, which supports an annular holder 8 for a container with elastic flexible walls, for example a refuse bag 10, a cover 12 arranged concentrically with the holder 8, and an air pump arranged preferably in the cover 12, which air pump in the embodiment illustrated in the drawing consists of an impeller wheel 3 driven by an electric motor 1. The holder 8 is executed with a seal 9 so arranged as to provide a seal between the holder and the cover 12, which are capable of moving relative to one another. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing the aforementioned relative movement is achieved, as will be appreciated from Fig. 2, by the holder 8 being attached to an arm 15 which is pivotally mounted on the frame 2. The cover 12 and the holder 8 are inclined slightly relative to the frame 2, and the holder 8 can be rotated between a closed position, i.e. that illustrated in Fig. 1, in which the cover 12 is in tightly sealing contact with the holder 8 and the bag 10, so that the latter together with the cover 12 defines an enclosed space, and an open position, indicated in Fig. 2 by a broken line, in which the bag 10 is accessible for the depositing of refuse 13. The impeller wheel is arranged in the cover 12 in such a way that a suction chamber 5 and a pressure chamber 4 are formed, which are separated by a partition wall 16. The suction chamber 5 is limited in the direction of the bag 10 by a disc 6, which at least at its centre has a perforation through which air can be sucked out from and introduced into the bag 10. The disc 6, the purpose of which is to prevent solid but light particles from entering the impeller wheel 3, is easily fitted and removed and is executed with an all-round flange 17, which, due to the inclined attitude of the disc, forms a pocket for the collection of fluid 7 which has condensed onto the disc 6.

The suction side of the impeller wheel 3, i.e. the suction chamber 5, thus communicates via the aforementioned perforation in the disc 6 with the enclosed space defined by the bag 10 and the partition wall 16. The pressure chamber 4 is connected via an outlet duct 11 to a filter 14, or alternatively to a kitchen flue not shown in the drawing. The electric motor 1 is preferably so arranged as to be influenced by the movement of the holder 8 relative to the cover 12 in such a way that it will start automatically and will remain in operation for a pre-determined period after the holder 8 has been moved to the closed position, and that it will stop automatically if the holder 8 is moved to the open position when the motor 1 is in operation. Equipment suitable for such control of the electric motor 1 is already very familiar to the expert and has accordingly been omitted from the drawing.

When the motor is in operation and is driving the fan 3, the latter creates negative pressure inside the bag 10. Under the effect of the atmospheric pressure which acts on the outside of the wall of the bag and compresses it, the refuse inside the bag is compacted to approximately one-half of its original volume, which is an entirely satisfactory degree of compaction in this context. It is obvious that the invention can be modified in many ways within the scope of the idea of invention. Thus, for example, the cover 12 may be so arranged as to pivot or fold up relative to the holder 8. Alternatively, the holder 8 may be so arranged as to fold down relative to the cover 12. In order to achieve negative pressure inside the bag 10, the use of an air pump of a kind other than that specified above may be considered, for example a separately arranged source of negative pressure which is connected to the suction chamber 5 in an appropriate manner by means of a hose or similar.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. A method for compacting refuse in a container (10), in conjunction with which at least a part of said container is evacuated briefly once it has been made available for the depositing of the refuse (13) in the aforementioned part of same, so that the refuse (13) is compressed during evacuation by the effect of the atmospheric pressure, and air is allowed to flow into the container (10) after evacuation, c h a r a c t - e r i z e d in that the walls of the container (10) are of a flexible elastic nature and consist of a bag made of plastic or paper, so that all-round compaction of the refuse is achieved.

2. Arrangement for compacting refuse, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by, in combination a) a frame (2) with an annular holder (8) for a container with elastic flexible walls, for example a refuse bag (10) made of plastic or paper; b) a cover (12) arranged concentrically with the holder, which cover is so arranged that it or the holder (8) are free to move in relation to one another, so that in an open position the bag (10) is available for the depositing of refuse, and in a closed position the cover (12) is in tightly sealing contact with the holder (8) and the bag (10), so that the latter together with the cover (12) defines an enclosed space; c) an air pump (3) driven by an electric motor (1) and arranged preferably in the cover (12), the suction side of which pump communicates with the aforementioned space.

3. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the pressure side of the air pump (3) is connected to a kitchen flue or a filter (14).

4. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the electric motor is so arranged as to be influenced by the relative movement of the holder (8) and the cover (12) in such a way that it will start automatically and will remain in operation for a pre-determined period after the closed position has been adopted after depositing the refuse, and will stop automatically on being opened.

5. Arrangement according to Patent Claim 2, c ha ra c t e r i z ed in that there is present between the cover (12) and the bag (10) an at Least centrally perforated and easily detachable disc (6⁾ arranged in an inclined plane and executed with a collection pocket (7) arranged at least at the Lowest point of the disc (6).