WO1994005569A1

WO1994005569A1 - A device for collection and removal of household refuse

Info

Publication number: WO1994005569A1
Application number: PCT/DK1993/000287
Authority: WO
Inventors: Poul Henning SØRENSEN
Original assignee: Arkitektfirmaet Kjær & Richter A/S; Renobil V/Asger Jensen
Priority date: 1992-09-08
Filing date: 1993-09-08
Publication date: 1994-03-17
Also published as: AU4945293A; DK111192D0

Abstract

Refuse containers, the bottoms of which are supplied with special means interact with catch means which are fitted to the emptying devices of a refuse collection vehicle. The particular means are depressions or girders with support surfaces for parts which may be extended from the catch means for locking the containers during the emptying operation. The re-deposition of the containers is precise and manual handling is obviated. A disposition of batteries of containers along driveways is preferred.

Description

A device for collection and removal of household refuse.

The invention concerns a system for collection and removal of household refuse comprising refuse containers and at least one refuse collection vehicle fitted with a mechanical unit for lifting and emptying containers into the hold of the vehicle.

For emptying refuse containers it is well known to use special refuse collection vehicles which are fitted with an elevator platform for lifting a refuse container. This elevator interacts with protrusions on the containers in such a manner that the container in its upper position is firmly held during pouring so that the contents fall into the hold of the refuse collection vehicle. The lid for a refuse container may be fixed or loose. After emptying, possibly after a shaking of the container to loosen lodged refuse, the container is lowered again. Modern types of elevator additionally use other forms of lifting mechanism than a traditional _^elevator platform. It has e.g. been proposed to use a hydraulically activated articulated arm which has gripping arms at the end which may grip the peripheral parts of a refuse container and retain it securely during lifting and emptying. This mechanism renders superfluous the lifting of the refuse container onto an elevator platform because the gripping arms may grip directly around a refuse container provided it is placed on the street in a suitable place in relation to the refuse collection vehicle. A large number of containers are used and they must in all cases be brought manually to the elevator and back again. To this end they are often supplied with at least two wheels.

There is a growing wish to reduce the load on the persons who take care of the emptying of refuse containers and for this reason refuse containers are now placed in clusters close to a driveway instead of being put in a shelter, e.g. in the courtyard of a house form where they have to be rolled for emptying inthe refuse collection vehicle. Such a clustered arrangement on a public road must appear aesthetically pleasing but on the other hand must not invite vandalism. For this reason it is desired that there is no appreciable distance between neighbouring refuse containers in which there might be wedged a crowbar or the like. However, a tight clustering of refuse containers provide reduced possibilities for gripping an individual refuse container for emtying, quite simply space is required for letting the gripping arms get access.

It is the purpose of the invention to avoid the said disadvantages while obtaining an advantageous cooperation between the components which constitute a refuse collection system. This is obtained by a construction as given in the characterizing part of Claim 1.

In Claim 2 means are prescribed for rataining the refuse container during emptying. In Claim 3 an advantageous construction of a refuse container is indicated.

In Claim 4 there are indicated advantageous means for retaining the refuse container.

In Claim 5 there is indicated an advantageous construction of a refuse container according to the invention which allows a slighter construction.

In Claim 6 there is indicated an advantageous construction of a refusecontainer for use in the system which consists of an assembly of separate container and bottom parts.

In Claim 7 are indicated advantageous means which when fitted to the refuse collection vehicle cooperate with refuse containers.

In Claim 8 advantageous means are indicated which cause the retaining of a refuse container during emptying.

In Claim 9 further advantageous means for retaining are indicated.

In Claim 10 further advantageous means are indicated for retaining, in particular in relation to a construction according to Claim 5. The invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the drawing, in which

Fig. 1 from the side shows the closest possible disposition of refuse containers of truncated cone shape, Fig. 2 similarly shows a disposition of refuse containers according to the invention,

Fig. 3 shows a refuse collection vehicle from the side cooperating with a refuse container,

Fig. 4 shows the same situation as Fig. 3 in a rearward direction from the diviving line II shown in Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 shows the cooperation between a refuse collection vehicle with elevator and a refuse container. , Fig. 6 shows a number of embodiments of the bottom part of a refuse container,

Fig. 7 shows examples of gripping means which correspond thereto, and

Fig. 8 shows a detail in a lifting unit corresponding to the embodiments shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3.

In Fig. 1 is seen three refuse containers 1, 2, 3 of the type according to the state of the art discussed above. They are placed as closely as possible to each other with regard to the requirement that well known gripping arms must be able to reach between them in order to grip around the container. It will be seen that they are literally free standing, wherefore they may be comparatively easy to overturn, and it is difficult to integrate such container in a street environment.

In Fig. 2 is shown three refuse container 4, 5, 6 as an embodiment according to the invention (Claim 5) which are placed as close to each other as is possible. It will be seen that this embodiment causes the possibility of building a block in the street environment and that they mutually support each other so that they are more difficult to overturn. These refuse containers have a through hole H at the bottom and they are meant for e.g. interacting with a refuse collection vehicle as shown in the Figs. 3, 4, and 5. These refuse collection vehicles are able to lift refuse containers directly from their fixed location and to a position in relationship to the hold so that they are emptied, following which they are replaced.

In Fig. 3 a refuse collection vehicle is seen, with a cabin 7, a chute 8a, a rear hatch 9 which is opened when the hold is tilted for emptying by cativation of hydraulic cylinders 10. A hydraulic unit 11 for lifting is shown directly behind the cabin 7, and in this embodiment it does not follow the hold in its movements. A refuse container 6 is shown placed at street level with a catching part 12 engaging the opening H, in that the catching part is fitted at the end of the lifting unit 11.

In Fig. 4 a part of the same refuse collection vehicle is shown in the direction II-II indicated on Fig. 3. It will be seen that the hydraulic unit 11 is a combination of a number of levers and hydraulic cylinders in order to perform the complex lifting and emptying movement which is shown by a curved arrow U. In a first movement the catching part 12 is folded down about a hinge 13 which is fitted to a vertical beam 14 The vertical beam may by hydraulic means be adjusted in height with respect to the unit 11. Following this the catching part 12 is introduced into the hollow H in the container 6, and the catching part is tilted somewhat towards the refuse collection vehicle. Then follows the lifting along the curve U during simultaneous tilting of the container 6 which is ended by emptying of the refuse into the hold 8. It might be considered superfluous in this embodiment to lock the catching part 12 to the hollow H, because the movement is such that gravity will retain the refuse container. However, only a slightly more complex construction of the unit 11 would make possible the gripping of a refuse container from the fra side F of the hollow H, whereby locking becomes imperative. After the emptying is over, the unit 11 performs the opposite movement, and the refuse container is put down in exactly the same spot from which it was lifted. After the last refuse container in a group has been emptied, the catching part 12 is again swung up to its transport position just like the unit 11, and the refuse collection vehicle may proceed to the next group. In Fig. 5 is shown an embodiment where the emptying of refuse occurs at the rear end of a refuse collection vehicle. A catching part 15 is fitted extendably in a frame 16 which is fitted at the lower end of an elevator platform 17. Emptying is performed by placing the refuse collection vehicle in front of the refuse container 6, whereupon the elevator platform 17 is adjusted in level and the catching part 15 is extended from the frame 16 by hydraulic or pneumatic means which are not shown. Subsequently the the elvator platform is lifted with its load, and because of the disposition of the rails 18 the refuse container tilts forward, and the refuse is emtpied into the hold 8 of the refuse collection vehicle. After this the elevator is lowered again. The refuse container 6 is placed in its place again, and the catching part 15 is withdrawn.

The whole set of rails 18 is shifted sideways corresponding to the widht of a refuse container, whereupon the catching part 15 is extended into the opening H in the neighbouring refuse container, and the emptying process is repeated. A set of rails 18 may typically be shifted corresponding to a total width of 4 refuse containers which may hence be emptied in succession whithout moving the refuse collection vehicle. It is similarly possible to let two sets of elevators 17 work in parallel and by means of two catching parts to empty two refuse containers simultaneously, so that the set of rails 18 need only be shifted once for every group of 4 refuse containers.

In Fig. 6 is shown a number of embodiments of the bottom region of a refuse container, such that they are adapted for being part of a system for collection and removal of household refuse according to the invention. Only one side of the respective bottom parts is shown. At 6a) it is shown that the hollow which has until now been described as having a full surround may be disposed as rails or girders 19 along parallel edges of the bottom. The edges are preferably made in one piece with the refuse container, and with a view to interlocking they are supplied with depressions 20 which do not reach the ends of the rails. Parts which are extended into the depressions from the inside of the catching part will effectively lock the refuse container to the catching part.

At 6b) there is similarly shown an embodiment with a full surround. This embodiment does not need a depression corresponding to 20, since the locking to the catching part may occur by pressing the extendable parts of the catching part against opposite sides of the hole H. Correspondingly extendable parts may press up and down in order to obtain a similar locking.

At 6c) is shown an embodiment which is suitable in connection with large containers, e.g. above 0.4 cubic metres. Apart form the edge rail 21 there is a support 22 midway. In this case a catching part may consist of arms which are pushed into the hollows HI and H2 and which squeeze the center rail 22. Hereby the tensions in the material are reduced quite appreciably.

At 6d) there is shown an embodiment which may have advantages in manufacture because it combines a high strenght with a simple manufacture of dies. Furthermore it may be more practical on an uneven surface than a construction having a plane bottom. The rail 23 is fastened to the bottom of the refuse container itself, and it need not be made of the same material. In certain cases it may be sufficient with just four legs for a container part.

On Fig. 7 is shown typical examples of the construction of catching parts according to the invention. On Fig. 7a) the catching part 12 is seen in section from above. Parts 24 and 24a may be extended by means of the hydraulic double piston cylinder 25 which is connected by a hydraulic pressure line to the hydraulic system of the refuse collection vehicle. Guide rods 27 ensure the parallel movement. In those constructions according to the invention which require a positive interlocking af the refuse container and the catching part 12 one will use constructions of this or similar type. As an example of a mechanical construction which performs the same as shown in Fig. 7a) it is in Fig. 7b) shown, how two oppositely directed movements are brought about by rotation of a cogged roller 28. In another construction the catching part comprises two sideways moveable right-angled wedge elements on the sides, with an intermediate lenghtwise moveable V-shaped wedge element for extending the two first-mentioned elements for contact with the abutment surfaces in the bottom part of the container. Catching parts may in a simple way be adapted to the desired refuse containers in a system according to the invention.

On Fig. 8 is shown a detail from Figs. 3 and 4, i.e. the fixing of the catching part 12 to the hydraulic unit 11 which is fitted to a refuse collection vehicle. As mentioned above, the catching part 12 may be folded up or down with respect to the U-shaped beam 14 about a strong hinge 13. This is performed by means of the hydraulic cylinder 29. Correspondingly the level of the beam 14 may be adjusted by means of another cylinder 30. Extension of the locking means 24 occurs by supplying the hydraulic cylinder in the catching part (not shown) with pressure via the pressure line 26.

When reducing the invention to practice the person skilled in the art will be able to combine the various embodiment to complete systems which will by and large eliminate the manual handling of refuse containers, at the same time as the capacity corresponding to a given visual impression in the street environment is maximized. The mechanical emptying and correct replacement mean shorter dwell time for a refuse collection vehicle which has an advantageous influence on the air pollution, in particular in built-up areas.

Claims

P A T E N T C L A I M S

1. A system for collection and removal of household refuse, comprising household refuse containers and at least one refuse collection vehicle fitted with a mechanical unit for picking up and emptying the containers into the hold of the vehicle, c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i n that the mechanical unit is designed to grip the containers below the bottom or in the bottom region, a catching part being fitted to the unit, and in that the bottom or bottom region of a refuse container is shaped such that the catching part may be introduced below the bottom or into a recess in the bottom region and retain the container in an emptying position with the container opening facing downwards.

2. A system according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i n that in connection with an opening for the catching part the bottom of the container is formed with sideways facing abutment surfaces for cooperation with sideways extendable elements of the catching part.

3. A system according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i n that the abutment surfaces of the containers is constituted by supports such as girders or legs below the container bottom.

4. A system according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i n that the supports are provided with protruding parts below the catching part and facing towards it.

5. A system according to claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i n that the abutment surfaces of the containers is constituted by the sides in a hollow in the bottom region.

6. A system according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i n that the container part and the bottom part of the containers are made as separate pieces which are joined to provide units.

7. A system according to claim l, c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i n that the mechanical unit is disposed as a hydraulic arm with the catching part mounted at the end of the arm.

8. A system according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i n that the catching part has parts which are sideways extendable by means of pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders for engagement with the abutment surfaces of the container.

9. A system according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i n that the catching part has parts which are sideways displaceable towards each other for engagement with the abutment surfaces of the container.

10. A system according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i n that the catching part meant to be introduced into a hollow in the bottom region of the container is disposed such that it may press itself against the roof and floor of the hollow.