WO1994011276A1

WO1994011276A1 - Roller guide

Info

Publication number: WO1994011276A1
Application number: PCT/AU1993/000579
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen Wayne Holtom
Original assignee: Wastech Developments Pty. Limited
Priority date: 1992-11-09
Filing date: 1993-11-09
Publication date: 1994-05-26
Also published as: MX9306992A

Abstract

A roller guide (19, 20 or 30) for easing the progression of waste into a closed volume under the influence of urging means such as a compaction ram. The roller guide (19, 20 or 30) can freely rotate or can be mounted for powered rotation. The roller guide (19, 20 or 30) can be actuated by ram (31) to exert specific pressure on the waste during its progression into the closed volume.

Description

ROLLER GUIDE TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a roller guide and, more particularly, to a roller guide adapted for particular use in the refuse compaction art. BACKGROUND ART

In many bulk mobile refuse handling facilities there exists a compaction mechanism which performs a dual function of firstly propelling refuse into a closed container and secondly compacting that refuse.

The compaction mechanism typically takes the form of a relatively broad-bladed ram which moves in the direction of and at least partially into an entry passage which is in direct communication with a closed storage volume or container. At least the top leading edge of the entry passage is defined by a breaker bar. Typically, a clearance of between 10 and 20 centimetres is left between the top of the ram and the bottom of the breaker bar however, even with this clearance, refuse tends to become jammed in the gap between the breaker bar and the top leading edge of the ram as the ram passes below the breaker bar to the extent that quite a significant force must be exerted by the ram to overcome the resultant friction. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to reduce the frictional forces created at the breaker bar/refuse/ram interface of a compaction mechanism.

Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention, there is provided a roller guide for easing the progression of waste into a closed volume under the influence of urging means; said roller guide being adapted to rotate freely under the influence of refuse as the refuse passes into said closed volume.

In a preferred form of the invention, the urging means comprises a compaction ram. Preferably, said ram passes into an entry region to the closed volume. The entry region may be defined at a leading edge by a substantially rectangular aperture with said aperture being defined at a leading top edge by a breaker bar.

Preferably the roller guide comprises a substantially cylindrical roller attached to the breaker bar and mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis which is substantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the breaker bar and wherein the ram causes refuse to be urged past the roller whereby the roller is caused to rotate about the longitudinal axis.

It is preferred that a clearance of the order to 10cm- 30cm be maintained between a leading edge of said ram and the periphery of said roller at the closest point of approach between the two.

The roller may include blades protruding substantially perpendicularly from its surface. The blades may be skewed relative to said longitudinal axis of said roller. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the loading area of a refuse container incorporating roller guides according to one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a side section view of the refuse container of Fig. 1 taken through one of the roller guides, and Fig. 3 is a schematic side section view of a roller guide arrangement according to a second embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to Fig. 1 there is shown an end portion of a refuse container or closed volume 10 having an entry aperture 12. Adjacent the entry aperture 12 there is a compactor assembly comprising a bowl 11 and urging means 11 adapted to force refuse into the closed volume or container 10.

The entry aperture 12 is rectangular in shape and is defined along a top, leading edge surface 12a by a breaker bar 13. The breaker bar 13 is an elongate element adapted to resist relatively high shear forces imparted as refuse is forced by either working face 15 or 16 of ram 14 which, in this instance, constitutes the urging means 11a, to pass below the breaker bar 13 and into aperture 12. In this embodiment, two roller guides 17, 18 are fixed beneath the opposite ends of the breaker bar 13 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 1. Each roller guide 17, 18 comprises an elongate, cylindrical roller 19, 20 mounted for rotation about a central axis XX from a support assembly 21, 22 affixed to the underside of the breaker bar 13.

The axis XX is parallel to and in vertical alignment with the longitudinal axis of the breaker bar 13 and is positioned to define a gap A (as shown in Fig. 2) between a top surface 23 of the ram 14 and the lower extremity of the periphery of the respective rollers 19, 20.

The cylindrical surface of each roller 19, 20 includes a plurality of skewed blades protruding from the surface thereof which are adapted to catch against refuse material to aid in the rotation of the rollers 19, 20 as the refuse passes below the roller.

There is also a clearance space B (see Fig. 2) between the periphery of each roller 19, 20 and the underside of each support assembly 21, 22 where it attaches to the breaker bar 13.

Typical dimensions for the gap A are 2cm-3cm and for gap B are lent-2cm. The protrusion of the skewed blades 24 above the cylindrical surface of the rollers 19, 20 is of the order of half a centimetre.

In use, refuse is placed in the bowl 11 of the compactor assembly and ram 14 is then caused to rotate so that either working face 15 passes under roller guide 18 or working face 15 passes under roller guide 17. In the case of the situation where working face 15 passes under roller guide 18 as illustrated in side section in Fig. 2, the working face 15 passes entirely below roller 20 and continues until approximately half of the ram 14 protrudes into the interior of container 10.

As the working face 15 passes below roller 20 refuse being urged by face 15 in the direction of container 10 tends to pile up above top surface 23 of ram 14 into the region of gap A sufficient that at least some of the refuse is trapped between the top surface 23 and the cylindrical surface of the roller 20. In Fig. 2, the top surface 23 is shown as being in the form of a knife blade for cutting plastic but it need not be so formed.

The refuse trapped in gap A causes roller 20 to rotate about axis XX as the working face 15 of ram 14 progresses towards and into the interior of refuse container 10. In practice, it has been found that the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2 provides two differences in manner of operation as compared with arrangements which do not have a roller guide 18, 19 installed but rely entirely on the operation of breaker bar 13:

(i) for a given amount of refuse urged by ram 14 beneath breaker bar 13, the urging force is less when roller guide 17, 18 is installed than without it, and (ii) more refuse is directed upwardly into the region immediately inside container 10 (marked R in Fig. 2) than is the case without roller guides 17, 18 installed. In use, the mirror image operation of ram 14 whereby working face 16 passes below roller guide 17 is the same in operation and behaviour as has been described in respect of the passing of working face 15 below roller guide 18.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the length of each roller is 30cm and the diameter is 20cm. Generally, the length of the roller is chosen to match approximately the width of the working portion of working face 15, 16 - that is, that portion of working face 15, 16 which urges the major portion of the refuse to be passed into refuse container 10 during any one operation. In a particular form of this embodiment, a scraper blade at the top of the roller, peels off the refuse and directs it into region R.

The rollers 19, 20 can be modified to squeeze liquid from the waste product and may be powered by means of hydraulic motors. The amount of squeeze may be regulated by means of downward pressure from a hydraulic cylinder.

Fig. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention wherein roller 30 is mounted for pivotal rotation from linear ram actuator 31. The actuator 31 is attached to refuse container 10.

Entry aperture 12 is partially closed by ledge 32. Ledge 32 has a working face 33 against which refuse material is forced by extension of actuator 31 and across which the refuse material is dragged by roller 30 as roller 30 rotates under rotational force provided by a hydraulic motor 34.

Liquids squeezed from the refuse material fall back into bowl 35 from where they can be drained by appropriate means ( not shown) .

In one particular modification of the invention a ratchet and pawl mechanism can be included whereby reverse rotation of the rollers 19, 20 is prevented. In another modification, rollers 19, 20 or 30 can comprise a single roller extending the width of the refuse container 10 and mount for rotation about axis XX. With this arrangement a plate ram extending the width of the refuse container 10 would be an appropriate mechanism for urging refuse material beneath the rollers 19, 20 or 30. The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The roller guide arrangement of the invention is particularly useful with bulk mobile refuse handling facilities.

Claims

CLAIMS : -

1. A roller guide for easing the progression of waste into a closed volume under the influence of urging means; said roller guide adapted to freely rotate under the influence of refuse as the refuse passes into said closed volume.

2. The roller guide of claim 1 wherein said urging means comprises a compaction ram.

3. The roller guide of claim 2 wherein said ram passes into an entry region to said volume.

4. The roller guide of claim 3 wherein said entry region is defined at a leading edge by a substantially rectangular aperture, said aperture defined at a leading top edge by a breaker bar.

5. The roller guide of claim 4 wherein said roller guide comprises a substantially cylindrical roller attached to said breaker bar and mounted for rotation about a longitudinal axis which is substantially in alignment with the longitudinal axis of said breaker bar and wherein said ram causes refuse to be urged past said roller whereby said roller is caused to rotate about said longitudinal axis.

6. The roller guide of claim 5 wherein a clearance of the order to 10cm-30cm is maintained between a leading edge of said ram and the periphery of said roller at the closest point of approach between the two.

7. The roller guide of claim 6 wherein said roller includes blades protruding substantially perpendicularly from its surface.

8. The roller guide of claim 7 wherein said blades are skewed relative to said longitudinal axis of said roller.