WO2003093143A1

WO2003093143A1 - Underground ecological island with garbage collection containers

Info

Publication number: WO2003093143A1
Application number: PCT/IB2003/001489
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Saverio Oscar Nuzzo
Original assignee: Antonio Saverio Oscar Nuzzo
Priority date: 2002-05-03
Filing date: 2003-04-22
Publication date: 2003-11-13
Also published as: ITBA20020018A0; ITBA20020018A1; EP1501751A1

Abstract

Ecological island, with garbage collection containers, being a multi-function system for eliminating residential solid wastes, comprising at least one container (2) of any shape placed into an underground pit, at least one movable frame (6) allowing the lifting of said containers out of the pit, at least one loading hopper (1) for the garbage bags and characterized in that said hopper (1) is asymmetric with respect to the container (2), and by a drawer-like system to bring said container (2) out of the frame. In such a way, the empty space inside the container (2) is automatically filled by the garbage bags during the drawing phase.

Description

UNDERGROUND ECOLOGICAL ISLAND WITH GARBAGE COLLECTION CONTAINERS

Applicant: Antonio Oscar Saveiio NUZZO

Technical field

The present invention relates to an ecologic island, hidden the underground, with garbage containers collection, comprising a multi-function system for the elimination of residential solid wastes.

Currently, plastic bags for storage of solid wastes are collected in garbage containers, placed at the pavement edge. Besides a certainly negative environmental impact, this system presents other drawbacks: the lack of anti-odour barriers, the need of a daily removal and, consequently, a very extensive use of transportation means which produce discomfort to traffic during pick-up. A partial solution to these drawbacks is offered by the adoption of garbage containers placed in underground pits. These containers will be filled from above through a hollow column; and emptied (not daily anymore) by pulling such containers out from the underground pit to the pavement. Regrettably, also these systems have strong drawbacks: the filling and emptying of containers are not optimal, because the hollow column does not allow complete filling of the container. In fact, around the hollow column base, within the container, some empty space is created. On the other side, these columns, filled with garbage bags, make difficult also the emptying of contamers. Also, the container handling is quite complex, for it has to take the container outside of the underground pit, at a certain level from the ground, to allow its emptying in the loading hoppers. As an alternative, to avoid the Hfting up of the container, an opening systems at the container bottom could be provided together with conveyor belts and elevators to bring the garbage bags out of the underground pit. All these disadvantages and their resulting difficult management are limiting the use of such methods for the collection and removal of residential solid wastes.

Disclosure of the invention

The invention solves the above mentioned drawbacks because it is an underground ecologic island with garbage containers collection, being a multi-function system for eliminating residential solid wastes, comprising at least one container of any shape placed into an underground pit; at least one movable frame, at least one loading hopper for die garbage bags; and characterised by the fact that said hopper is asymmetric with respect to the container, and by a drawer-like panel lifting system to bring said container out of the pit. In such a way, the empty space inside the container is automatically filled by the garbage bags during the lifting phase, and there is no more need to fhrther lift the container over the ground floor: therefore, the whole process of collection and removal residential solid wastes has been optimised and simplified. Another aim of the invention is to simplify also the container handling process thanks to a simple worm screw acted by a gearmotor or, as an alternative, by a couple of oildynamic cylinders governed by a control unit. These and other advantages will be pointed out in the detailed description of the invention that will refer to the figures of the tables 1/1 in which a scheme of the whole ecologic island (Fig. 1) and a detailed view of the frame (Fig. 2) are shown. Both are exampli-rying and not restrictive.

Way of carrying out the invention

The described system for the removal of residential solid wastes allows the underground placement and transfer of any kind of container for residential solid wastes, e.g. containers (2) (Figs, la and lb), in size up to 4000 litres; moreover, it allows both manual and robotised handling. Finally, it allows the use of any kind of removable compactors. The loading hopper (1) is made in accompliance with regulations regarding the architectural barriers removal; it comprises a suitable protection (3), is fixed on the pavement or at the upper cover (8) of the frame. As already mentioned, the hoppers are located asimetrically with respect to the centre of the container, so creating an empty space in the container, equal to that of the hopper volume. Once the container is filled, the bags inside the hopper go automatically into the empty space, during the lifting phase. Moreover, the ecologic island comprises a frame (6) for the lifting and removal of the containeres, a drive (4) for the lifting of the frame, a drive (5) for the removal of the containers and a pump (7) for the water extraction. In Fig. 2 a scheme of die movable frame is shown. It comprises at least one frame (11), a gearmotor (12), a worm screw (13), which transmits the motion to the brackets (14) and then to the beam (17), an electric panel (16). The frame is protected by an accident-prevention device (15). The frame (11), made of electro welded steel, holds the brackets (14), and is lifted by trapezoidal worm screws (13). A beam (17) is placed on top of the brackets. The up/down operation is given to the trapezoidal screws acted by a three-phase electrical gearmotor (12). According to a preferential embodiment, the trapezoidal screws are two and located sideways of the pit; one of them is a motive screw, the other one is driven by an angular motion transmission. The worm screws can be also replaced by lead screws, according to the adopted design criteria.

The motion acted by means of worm screws can be replaced by a o ynamic cylinders connected to the frame by a chain transmission. In this case, the motion is controlled by an oil- dynamic control unit (single or three-phase). The oil-dynamic cylinders can be also of double effect type, directly connected to the frame.

As already mentioned, the containers removal from their location is accomphshed by a drawer-like panel, once the frame is on the fround outside the pit. The panel can be pulled out by any mechanism: e.g. rack, screw, chain, oil-dynamic or pneumatic cylinder.

Moreover, the ecologic island has a hermetic cover of the pit, made of flexible foils, which come between the pavement level and the pit rims. Park benches and/or flowerpots, fixed to the pavement, complete the ecologic island making it a pleasant piece of street furniture.

Claims

1) Ecological island with garbage containers collection, being a multi-function system for eliminating residential solid wastes, comprising at least one container (2) of any shape placed into an underground pit, at least one movable frame (6) allowing the hfting of said containers, means allowing the handling of said frame, means allowing the removal of said containers, at least one loading hopper (1) for the garbage bags, means to protect and ornament said loading hopper and characterised by the fact that said hopper is asymmetric with respect to the container, so creating, inside the container itself, an empty space equal to the hopper volume.

2) Ecological island according to the claim 1 characterized by the fact that the removal of said containers is realized by means of a drawer-like panel lifting system to bring said container out of the pit, once said movable frame is completely over the pavement.

3) Ecological island according to claim 1 or 2 characterized by the fact that it allows the underground placement and transfer of any kind of container for residential solid wastes; moreover, it allows both manual and robotised handling; finally, it allows the use of any kind of removable compactors.

4) Ecological island according to one of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that said loading hopper for residential solid wastes, compring a suitable protection (3), is fixed on the pavement or on the upper cover (8) of the frame.

5) Ecological island according to one of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that said movable frame structure (6) is composed of at least one frame (11), a gearmotor (12), at least one worm screw (13), at least one bracket (14), a beam

(17) above said brackets, an electrical panel (16), an accident- prevention device (15).

6) Ecological island according to the claim 5 characterized by the fact that said frame (11) is made of electro-welded steel and holds the brackets (14), moved by trapezoidal worm screws

(13).

7) Ecological island according to at least one of the claims 1, 5 or 6, characterized by the fact that said means to handle the frame are worm screws acted by a three-phase electrical gearmotor (12).

8) Ecological island according to the claim 7 characterized by the fact that said worm screws are trapezoidal, in numer of two and located sideways of the pit; one of tliem is a motive screw, the other one is driven by an angular motion transmission.

9) Ecological island according to at least one of the claims 1, 5 or 6, characterized by the fact that said means to handle the frame are lead screws acted by a three-phase electrical gearmotor (12). 10) Ecological island according to at least one of the claims 1, 5 or 6, characterized by the fact that said means to handle the frame are oil-dynamic cylinders connected to the frame by a chain transmission and the motion is controlled by a oil- dynamic control unit (single or three-phase). 11) Ecological island according to the claim 7 characterized by the fact that said oil-dynamic cylinders are of double effect type, directly connected to the frame.

12) Ecological island according to one of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that said means for the containers removal can be any mechanism, like rack, screw, chain, oil- dynamic or pneumatic cylinder and other suitable mechanisms.

13) Ecological island according to one of the previous claims, characterized by the fact that said hermetic cover of the pit is made of flexible foils, which come between the pavement level and the pit rims.

14) Ecological island according to one of the previous claims, characterized by die fact that said protective and ornamental means are park benches and/or flowerpots, fixed to the pavement.