WO2011144868A1

WO2011144868A1 - Waste collection container for easy cleaning

Info

Publication number: WO2011144868A1
Application number: PCT/FR2011/051125
Authority: WO
Inventors: Denis Barral; Loïc Martinot; Jérôme Fillon; Stéphane LANDRY
Original assignee: Compagnie Plastic Omnium
Priority date: 2010-05-19
Filing date: 2011-05-18
Publication date: 2011-11-24
Also published as: EP2571790A1; FR2960226B1; FR2960226A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a waste collection container (10), comprising a tank having an end wall and an upper structure (12) comprising an upper wall, the tank defining a storage volume for waste. At least one tube (32) is provided in the container such that a first end (34) of the tube is arranged on the upper structure, the tube being dimensioned such that a second end (44) of the tube can be arranged close to the end wall of the container.

Description

Waste collection container for easy cleaning

The present invention relates to a waste collection container, in particular a buried or semi-buried collection container.

In the state of the art, there is known a buried waste collection container disposed in a concrete casing provided at least partially under the public road. The container is generally shaped so that it comprises an upper structure, including in particular lifting means of the container, a lower structure comprising mobile emptying doors of the container, and side walls connecting the upper and lower structures, so that to delimit a closed storage volume of waste.

Often, in the case of the collection of glass in particular, there is a little liquid in the containers deposited in a container and a "juice" from the accumulation of liquids is formed in the bottom of the container. It is therefore necessary to regularly wash the inside of the containers in order to avoid problems of hygiene and odors. This problem may also arise for other types of collection, when the introduction of waste introduction allows the entry of rainwater for example.

To clean such a container, it is generally used a glass collection container washing truck, which is possibly also able to perform the collection of waste stored in the container. The truck includes a crane, a glass collection compartment and a washing chamber. The container is lifted, emptied above the collection compartment, then positioned above the truck wash chamber, in which it is lowered vertically, empty doors open. It is then washed in the washing chamber, in particular using a head throwing water inside the container.

It is found that the costs of washing a container according to the state of the art are relatively high and require the use of fairly complex equipment.

The present invention aims to facilitate and improve the cleaning operations of the waste collection container, so that they are particularly less expensive.

To this end, the invention relates to a waste collection container, comprising a vessel having a bottom wall and an upper structure comprising an upper wall, the vessel defining a waste storage volume. At least one pipe is formed in the container so that a first end of the pipe is arranged on the upper structure, the pipe being dimensioned so that a second end of the pipe is adapted to be arranged in the vicinity of the bottom wall of the container.

Thus, an operator is likely to clean the container, in particular to suck the juice located at the bottom thereof, without the need to remove the container from the concrete casing.

The suction of the juice is relatively simple since it can be performed without having to bring close to the container complex material. It is indeed not necessary to use an expensive element able to lift the container. For example, it is sufficient to connect the hose of the container to an external pumping system, which allows the suction of the juice in a simple way. A container according to the invention therefore saves maintenance costs. The additional cost of the implementation of the invention is low because it requires a pipe simply adapted to be connected to a suction system, and possibly to a pressure injection system. In particular, the pipe is devoid of integrated pumping system.

In addition, since the juice suction operation is inexpensive, it can be performed more frequently. This avoids, when the container is made of metal, the corrosion of the bottom wall. It has been found that the liquid from the waste is extremely aggressive and that the frequent suction thereof could significantly increase the life of the container by protecting the bottom wall against corrosion. This also reduces the odors odor escaping from the container due to the presence in it of the residual juice.

In addition, thanks to the container according to the invention, the safety of operators and pedestrians passing in the vicinity of the container is improved. Indeed, as the container is not removed from the casing during the cleaning operation, the risk of falling into the casing housing is eliminated.

The container according to the invention may also include one or more of the features of the following list:

- The pipe is arranged on the container so that its first end is accessible from outside the container, in particular that it opens on the upper face of the container. This facilitates the access of the operator to the pipe located in the tank,

the container comprises at least two pipes. It is thus possible to introduce a cleaning fluid into the container through one of the pipes and to suck up the juices and / or this liquid (once it has circulated in the container) with the aid of the second pipe. Distinguishing the pipe by which the cleaning fluid of the suction pipe is injected saves time and also an improvement in the quality of the cleaning operations, the vessel of the container comprises at least one side wall on which are arranged means for fixing at least one pipe. Thus, the positioning of the pipe is performed accurately, which improves the quality of cleaning. This can be particularly useful if the bottom wall includes a depression to accommodate the juices. The pipe is then guided preferably so that its second end is at the right of this depression,

the container comprises at least one hatch formed in the upper wall of the container, the hatch being mobile, in particular rotatable, between an open position and a closed position, in which it covers the first end of the pipe. The container may also include locking means of the hatch. In this way, access to the pipe is restricted and vandalism is avoided. In addition, the aesthetic appearance of the outside of the container is improved since the pipe is not visible from the public road, the first end of at least one pipe is able to be connected to another pipe, preferably comprises connecting means to another pipe, to further generate a saving in time relating to the cleaning operations,

the first end of at least one pipe is connected to a pumping system and / or to a container containing, for example, cleaning liquid. The system and / or the container is in particular also arranged on the upper structure of the container. In this way, it may not be necessary to intervene from outside the container, the cleaning operation can be performed remotely or without special tools. The pumping system may for example be connected to the sewer or to a receptacle for collecting the sucked up juice, also put in place on the upper structure. An element storing a cleaning liquid for diffusion by one of the pipes can also be put in place on the upper structure,

the container comprises at least one sensor capable of determining that the level of liquid in the container is greater than a predetermined level,

the container includes means for transmitting a warning signal to a remote entity, it also comprises means for activating the transmission means and / or the pumping system when the sensor determines that the level is higher than the predetermined level. This makes it possible to determine when it is necessary to clean the container, particularly in the event of an unforeseeable event, such as a storm during which a large quantity of liquid has entered the container due to rainwater runoff,

the container comprises at least one hatch formed in the bottom wall thereof, the hatch being movable in rotation between an open position and a closed position in which it forms at least a portion of the bottom wall. The hatch comprises an edge connected to the container and an opposite free edge, the pipe being arranged in the container so that the second end opens in the vicinity of the free edge of the hatch when it is in the closed position. In this way, the casing of the container can also be cleaned using the pipe.

Currently, to clean the casing, one proceeds in the following way. Once the container extracted from the casing, pressurized water is thrown into the casing using a lance. A long pipe connected to a suction device is also introduced from the outside of the casing in order to pump the wastewater present at the bottom of the casing. However, it is difficult to manipulate the pipe because of its length and, consequently, to position it correctly at the bottom of the casing. This is made all the more difficult when, when the container is removed from the casing, a safety floor is put in place, thus blocking access to the mouth of the casing and thus obliging the operator to take postures slightly ergonomic or even dangerous to guide the suction pipe. In addition, in view of the difficulty of handling the sewage suction pipe, the operator can not guide at the same time the sewage suction pipe and the lance projecting water under high pressure into the container.

However, because of the positioning of the pipe on the container according to the invention, which allows access to the casing by the gap between the door and the rest of the container, it is possible to clean the casing without lifting the container, in using the pipes of the container and using the equipment also allowing the cleaning of the container. This is very advantageous because the cleaning of the casing, quite complex, can be simplified, - The container is a buried or semi-buried container, that is to say that the tank is at least partially under the public road. The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a container according to a first embodiment of the invention,

- Figure 2 is a view of an upper wall of a container according to a second embodiment of the invention.

There is shown in Figure 1 a container 10 for collecting waste. This container is a semi-buried container installed in a casing (not shown) formed under the public road. It is made of metal. The container comprises an upper structure 12 protruding from the public road when the container is placed in the casing, a lower structure 14, and eight side walls 16 substantially vertical and connecting the upper structures 12 and lower 14 between them. The upper structure 12, lower 14 and the side walls 16 form a hexagonal section tank and define a waste storage volume in the container.

The upper structure 12 comprises a peripheral frame 18 along the upper edge of the side walls 16 and shaped so that it comprises two crests 20 projecting upwards from the upper edges of two opposite side walls 16 of the container. Transverse bars 22 connect the ridges together.

The upper structure 12 carries a waste introduction terminal 24 including a conduit 26 opening into the vessel and whose upper mouth forms a waste introduction port. A door 28 movable in rotation is arranged on the terminal 24. It is movable between an open position and a closed position in which it covers the waste introduction port.

The bars 22 of the structure 12 also carry a hook 30 allowing the lifting of the tank for emptying, and two pipes 32 located on each side of the lifting hook 30 in the vicinity of the side walls and that will be detailed by the after.

The upper structure 12 comprises an upper wall (not shown for the sake of clarity) forming a floor and covering the frame 18 so as to also cover the bars 22 and the conduit 26. This wall is shaped so that the door 28 of the waste introduction terminal, the hook 30 and an upper end 34 of the pipes 32 are accessible from outside the container. The floor therefore generally comprises openings for the passage of these elements.

The lower structure 14 also includes a peripheral frame 36 along the lower edge of the side walls 16. It further comprises a bottom wall formed by two hatches 38 movable in rotation between an open position shown in Figure 1 in which they extend essentially vertically and downward, and a closed position in which they extend essentially horizontally to close the waste storage volume.

The hatches 38 each comprise an edge 40 bonded to opposite side walls 16 of the container and an opposite free edge 42. The linked edges of the hatches 38 are connected to the side walls 16 of the container via a substantially horizontal axis of rotation . In addition, the hatches 38 are shaped to cover half of the bottom wall, so that the free edges 42 meet approximately in the middle of the bottom wall, in a portion located to the right of the transverse bars 22 of the structure 12.

The hatches are connected via a structure not shown to the lifting hook 30 of the upper structure 12, so that the opening of the hatches 38 can be activated by means of the lifting hook 30.

The pipes 32 and the cleaning process associated therewith will now be described more precisely.

As seen in Figure 1, the pipes 32 have an upper end accessible from the outside of the container, passing through the upper wall of the container. They also include a lower end 44 extending in the vicinity of the bottom wall. Each pipe is indeed sized to extend essentially over the entire height of the tank.

Each pipe is attached to a side wall 16 of the container by means 46 including in particular at least one metal ring attached to the wall 16 and wherein the pipe is engaged. Such means allow guiding the pipe to the desired location at the bottom of the tank. In the embodiment of Figure 1, the lower end of the pipe is located at the right of the free edges 42 of the doors 38, so as to be positioned above the gap between these free edges and to have access to the casing in which is arranged the tank.

Each pipe is made of a flexible material and is dimensioned so that a liquid under high pressure can pass into it.

At its upper end 34, the pipe 32 comprises means for connection to another pipe, in particular a quick-clamping tip 48. With these hoses, the container can be cleaned as follows. Firstly, each pipe is connected to another pipe connected to a washing device, by means of the connection means 48. Such a washing device may be placed on a small vehicle. One of the pipes 32 is connected in particular to a pumping system while the other pipe is connected to a container containing cleaning liquid, especially composed of a mixture of water and antibacterial products.

Firstly, the juices in the tank are sucked up using the pipe connected to the pumping system. The cleaning liquid is then dispensed through the pipe connected to the container of the washing device and this liquid is sucked once it has circulated in the tank, also by means of the pipe connected to the pumping system. The casing can also be cleaned by this method because, in view of the position of the pipes, they allow the cleaning liquid to be dispensed and the juices in the casing sucked up. Cleaning can also be provided in a container having a single pipe, connecting this single pipe alternately to the pumping system and the cleaning agent injection system.

We will now describe a container 50 according to a second embodiment of the invention. Only the upper wall 52 of the container is visible in the figure. It shows the visible part of the container from the public road. The container comprises of course a tank comprising a lower structure and side walls, but this tank is buried under the public road.

The upper wall 52 is a safety floor allowing the passage of a pedestrian on the container safely. This safety floor 52 is placed on an upper structure 54 that can be seen in FIG. 2. The upper structure 54 consists essentially of a peripheral frame and bars visible in FIG. 2 and connecting two opposite sides of the frame. .

The container comprises a hatch 56 formed in the upper wall of the container. This hatch is movable in rotation between a closed position shown in Figure 2 and an open position in which it releases access to an orifice giving access to the tank and covers it in the closed position. This hatch 56 forms a hatch large producers to facilitate the introduction of waste in the container by large producers.

The container 50 also comprises a lifting hook 58 located in the center of the upper wall, arranged on the central bars of the upper structure 54, and two pipes 60 also arranged on the central bars of the upper structure, on each side of the hook of 58, in the vicinity of side walls of the container. These pipes are identical to those of Figure 1 and comprise an upper end provided with connection means to another pipe.

The upper wall of the container also comprises a hatch 62 movable in rotation about a horizontal axis. This hatch is shaped to be movable between an open position and a closed position. It covers in the closed position the central bars of the structure 54 as well as the lifting hook 58 and the two pipes 60.

The hatch 62 is provided with a lock that can be activated when the hatch is in the closed position. In this way, the aesthetic appearance of the container is improved and access to the pipes is maintained while preventing vandalism. It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. First, the containers are not limited to the forms described above. They can take any form. The containers may also be made of other materials than those described in the examples above.

In addition, a container may comprise a single pipe or more than two pipes. This or these pipes can also be located at another place on the container that described.

For example, they may not be accessible from outside the container. One of the pipes may in particular be connected to a pumping system, for example also set up in the upper structure of the container.

The container may also include a level sensor placed in the tank near the bottom thereof. This sensor is able to detect that the level of the liquid in the tank is greater than a predetermined level.

The container may also comprise means of communication with a remote entity, for example via an Internet or GSM network, making it possible to send a warning signal to this entity, for example by means of a message, such as an SMS, or a call to a particular number.

This warning signal can be triggered when the sensor has detected that the level is above the predetermined level. The cleaning of the tank is then performed only when necessary. This device is particularly useful in cases where significant rainfall has occurred as it allows for quick action. In the case where the container comprises a pumping system, the level sensor can trigger the pumping of the stagnant liquid at the bottom of the tank instead of or in addition to the emission of the warning signal.

Claims

1. Container (10; 50) for collecting waste, characterized in that it comprises a tank having a bottom wall and an upper structure (12; 54) comprising an upper wall (52), the tank defining a storage space for waste, at least one pipe (32; 60) being formed in the container so that a first end (34) of the pipe is arranged on the upper structure, the pipe being dimensioned so that a second end (44) of the pipe is adapted to be arranged in the vicinity of the bottom wall of the container.

2. waste collection container according to the preceding claim, wherein the pipe (32; 60) is arranged on the container so that its first end (34) is accessible from outside the container, in particular that it opens on the upper face of the container.

3. waste collection container according to the preceding claim, comprising at least two pipes (32; 60).

4. waste collection container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tank of the container comprises at least one side wall (16) on which are arranged means (46) for fixing at least one pipe (32). ).

5. Waste collection container according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one hatch formed in the upper wall of the container, the hatch being movable, in particular rotatable, between an open position and a closed position. and covering the first end of the pipe in the closed position.

The waste collection container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first end (34) of at least one pipe (32; 60) is adapted to be connected to another pipe, preferably comprises means connecting (48) to another pipe.

7. waste collection container according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one sensor capable of determining that the liquid level in the container is greater than a predetermined level.

8. waste collection container according to the preceding claim, comprising means for transmitting a warning signal to a remote entity.

A waste collection container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first end of at least one pipe is connected to a pumping system and / or a container, the system and / or container being in particular also arranged on the upper structure of the container.

The waste collection container according to claim 7 in combination with claim 8 or 9, comprising means for activating the transmitting means and / or the pumping system when the sensor determines that the level is above the predetermined level. .

11. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one hatch (38) formed in the bottom wall thereof, the hatch being movable in rotation between an open position and a closed position in which it forms at least a portion of the bottom wall and including an edge (40) bound to the container and an opposite free edge (42), the pipe (32) being arranged in the container so that its second end (44) opens into the vicinity the free edge of the hatch when in the closed position.