U.S. patent application number 12/579704 was filed with the patent office on 2010-08-26 for waste discharge valve for vacuum-conveyance waste collection system.
This patent application is currently assigned to KOLON CONSTRUCTION., LTD.. Invention is credited to Sang-Bong Chang, Jong-Kyu Hwang, Yun-Ho Jung, Seung-Hyun Kang.
Application Number | 20100212103 12/579704 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41355440 |
Filed Date | 2010-08-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100212103 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kang; Seung-Hyun ; et
al. |
August 26, 2010 |
WASTE DISCHARGE VALVE FOR VACUUM-CONVEYANCE WASTE COLLECTION
SYSTEM
Abstract
There is provided a waste discharge valve for a
vacuum-conveyance waste collection system in which waste put in a
waste receiving device is automatically conveyed to a central waste
collection station through a conveying line. In the
vacuum-conveyance waste collection system in which a housing
includes an upper end on which a waste receiving opening is formed
and a lower end which is connected to a conveying line connected to
a central waste collection station, and a chute is installed in the
housing, temporality stores waste and guides the waste to the
conveying line, the waste discharge valve is installed at a lower
end of the chute and comprises: an air cylinder; a first link plate
connected to one end of a cylinder rod of the air cylinder; a
damper arm for opening/closing the waste discharge valve by pivot;
and a second link plate pivotally connected to the first link plate
and the damper arm so that the opening/closing of the waste
discharge valve is controlled, and wherein the chute includes an
airline with an upper air inlet, a middle air outlet and a lower
air outlet.
Inventors: |
Kang; Seung-Hyun;
(Yongin-si, KR) ; Hwang; Jong-Kyu; (Anyang-si,
KR) ; Jung; Yun-Ho; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Chang;
Sang-Bong; (Seoul, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LAW OFFICES OF ALBERT WAI-KIT CHAN, PLLC
141-07 20TH AVENUE, WORLD PLAZA, SUITE 604
WHITESTONE
NY
11357
US
|
Assignee: |
KOLON CONSTRUCTION., LTD.
Gwachun-si
KR
EUNSUNG PLANT CO., LTD.
Siheung-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
41355440 |
Appl. No.: |
12/579704 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
15/301 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65F 5/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
15/301 |
International
Class: |
A47L 5/38 20060101
A47L005/38 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 24, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0015147 |
Claims
1. A waste discharge valve for a vacuum-conveyance waste collection
system in which a housing includes an upper end on which a waste
receiving opening is formed and a lower end which is connected to a
conveying line connected to a central waste collection station, and
a chute is installed in the housing, temporality stores waste and
guides the waste to the conveying line, the waste discharge valve
is installed at a lower end of the chute, the waste discharge valve
comprising: an air cylinder; a first link plate connected to one
end of a cylinder rod of the air cylinder; a damper arm for
opening/closing the waste discharge valve by pivot; and, a second
link plate pivotally connected to the first link plate and the
damper arm, so that the opening/closing of the waste discharge
valve is controlled, wherein the chute includes an airline with an
upper air inlet, a middle air outlet and a lower air outlet.
2. The waste discharge valve according to claim 1, wherein the
first link plate in a triangle shape is pivotally connected to a
link bracket about the apexes of the triangle, the link bracket
fixed with the cylinder rod of the air cylinder, the second link
plate and a chute bracket in a single unit, and the first link
plate includes a slot in an arc shape formed proximately to the
position on which the first link plate is pivotally connected to
the link bracket, wherein as the first link plate pivots, a pin
fixedly installed at the link bracket is guided within the
slot.
3. The waste discharge valve according to claim 1, wherein both
ends of the second link plate are pivotally connected to the first
link plate and the damper arm, respectively.
4. The waste discharge valve according to claim 1, wherein, as the
air cylinder operates, the damper arm pivots, together with the
first link plate and the second link plate, thereby opening/closing
the waste discharge valve.
5. The waste discharge valve according to claim 1, wherein the
housing is formed with a manhole for inspection in a single unit,
and the manhole includes an inspection opening formed at an upper
part of the manhole, a conveying line inspection opening formed at
a lower part thereof, and a waste discharge valve inspection gate
formed at an inner side thereof.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2009-0015147, filed February 24, 2009, the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a waste discharge valve for
a vacuum-conveyance waste collection system (i.e., waste transfer
system), and more particularly, to a waste discharge valve
installed in a vacuum-conveyance waste collection system in which
waste being put into a waste receiving device is automatically
conveyed to a central waste collection station, along a conveying
line.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, a vacuum-conveyance waste collection system
(i.e., a waste transfer system) is installed in a housing
development area. In this system using the same principle as that
of a vacuum cleaner used at home, when waste is put into a waste
receiving device installed at a certain place, the waste is
conveyed from the waste receiving device to a central waste
collection station through an underground line, by a computer
control system. This system has a waste discharge valve to
discharge the waste put into the waste receiving devices installed
at a number of places to a waste conveying line connected to the
central waste collection station.
[0006] In a generally used conventional hinge-type waste discharge
valve using a cantilever, when an operation means including an air
cylinder or the like is operated, the waste discharge valve is
opened/closed by rotating around a hinge shaft (a shaft of a damper
arm). However, when a part to connect the operation means (air
cylinder) and a compressed air supply pipe is missed or separated,
compressed air is not supplied to the operation means (air
cylinder), thus failing to keep the close state of the waste
discharge valve. When the waste put into the waste receiving device
is placed on the waste discharge valve, the waste is to be
temporarily stored on the waste discharge valve. However, since the
waste discharge valve is open due to the aforementioned
malfunction, the waste vertically drops into the conveying line and
thus it may not be conveyed.
[0007] In the case where the waste drops into the convey line, the
waste convey line is blocked. To fix this problem, the operation of
the system has to be stopped and repaired and additionally people
need to take out the waste which is not conveyed. Furthermore, the
system cannot be used until the repair work is finished and the
system repairing cost and service fees are increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a waste discharge valve for a vacuum-conveyance waste
collection system (waste transfer system), in which the waste
discharge valve is not randomly opened even if an operation means
(air cylinder) for opening/closing a hinge-type waste discharge
valve using a cantilever malfunctions.
[0009] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
there is provided a waste discharge valve for a vacuum-conveyance
waste collection system (waste transfer system) in which a housing
includes an upper end on which a waste receiving opening is formed
and a lower end which is connected to a conveying line connected to
a central waste collection station, and a chute is installed in the
housing, temporality stores waste and guides the waste to the
conveying line, the waste discharge valve is installed at a lower
end of the chute and comprises: an air cylinder; a first link plate
connected to one end of a cylinder rod of the air cylinder; a
damper arm for opening/closing the waste discharge valve by pivot;
and a second link plate pivotally connected to the first link plate
and the damper arm so that the opening/closing of the waste
discharge valve is controlled, and wherein the chute includes an
airline with an upper air inlet, a middle air outlet and a lower
air outlet.
[0010] Preferably, the first link plate is in a triangle shape. At
the apexes of the triangle, the first link plate is pivotally
connected to a link bracket which is operatively fixed with the
cylinder rod of the air cylinder, the second link plate and a chute
bracket in a single body. A slot in an arc shape is formed
proximately to the position on which the first link plate is
pivotally connected to the link bracket. Therefore, as the first
link plate pivots, a pin fixedly installed at the link bracket is
guided within the slot. Both ends of the second link plate are
pivotally connected to the first link plate and the damper arm,
respectively.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The above and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in
the art by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with
reference to the attached drawings in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is an entire sectional view illustrating a waste
collection system including a waste discharge valve according to
the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the waste discharge
valve being closed;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating the waste discharge
valve being open;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a side view illustrating a first link plate in the
waste discharge valve; and
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating a damper arm in the waste
discharge valve.
TABLE-US-00001 [Description of reference numbers of major elements]
1: waste receiving device 2: waste receiving opening 10: housing
20: chute 201: airline 202: upper air inlet 203: middle air outlet
204: lower air outlet 205: flange 206: rubber packing 30: discharge
valve 301: damper arm 302: under damper 301a: upward protrusion
301b: first connection shaft 301c: second connection shaft 301d:
third connection shaft 401: second link plate 402: first link plate
402a: first connection part 402b: second connection part 402c:
third connection part 402d: slot 41: link bracket 41a: pin 42:
chute bracket 411, 421: pin holes 43: air cylinder 431: cylinder
rod 432, 433: compressed air supply valves 44: cylinder bracket 50:
conveying line 60: manhole for inspection 601: inspection opening
602: conveying line inspection opening 603: inspection gate
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] The present invention will now be described more fully
hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. However, it is to
be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the
disclosed embodiments.
[0018] A waste discharge valve for a vacuum-conveyance waste
collection system according to the present invention will be
described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5.
[0019] In general, a vacuum-conveyance waste collection system
(i.e., a waste transfer system) is installed in a housing
development area. In this system using the same principle as that
of a vacuum cleaner used at home, when waste is put into a waste
receiving opening 2 of a waste receiving device 1 installed at a
certain place, the waste is conveyed from the waste receiving
device to a central waste collection station through a conveying
line 50 buried underground, by a computer control system. This
system has a waste discharge valve 30 to discharge the waste put
into the waste receiving openings 2 of the waste receiving devices
1 installed at a number of places to the waste conveying line 50
connected to the central waste collection station.
[0020] In a vacuum-conveyance waste collection system according to
the present invention, a housing 10 includes an upper end on which
a waste receiving opening 2 is formed and a lower end which is
connected to a conveying line 50 connected to a central waste
collection station, and a chute 20 is installed in the housing 10,
temporality stores waste and guides the waste to the conveying line
50. A waste discharge valve 30 for the vacuum-conveyance waste
collection system according to the present invention, which is
installed at a lower end of the chute 20, comprises: an air
cylinder 43; a first link plate 402 connected to one end of a
cylinder rod 431 of the air cylinder 43; a damper arm 301 for
opening/closing the waste discharge valve 30 by pivot; and a second
link plate 401 pivotally connected to the first link plate 402 and
the damper arm 301 so that the opening/closing of the waste
discharge valve 30 is controlled, and wherein the chute 20 includes
an airline 201 with an upper air inlet 202, a middle air outlet 203
and a lower air outlet 204.
[0021] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the housing 10 and a manhole 60
for inspection are formed together in a single unit. An inspection
opening 601 is formed at an upper end of the manhole 60, a
conveying line inspection opening 602 is formed at a lower end of
the manhole 60, and a waste discharge valve inspection gate 603 is
installed at an inner side surface of the manhole 60. The
inspection opening 601, the conveying line inspection opening 602
and the waste discharge valve inspection gate 603 make it easy to
maintain, manage and inspect the waste discharge valve 30 and the
conveying line 50. These are closed when the waste collection
system is normal and these are opened when management and
inspection are needed.
[0022] The chute 20 including the airline 201 with the upper air
inlet 202, the middle air outlet 203 and the lower air outlet 204
further includes a flange 205 with a rubber packing 206 fixedly
installed at its lower end. When the chute 20 is closed by the
waste discharge valve 30 including the damper arm 301 and an under
damper 302, the chute 20 and the under damper 302 come into contact
with each other and are closed up tight. Then, the rubber packing
206 enhances airtightness. When the waste discharge valve 30 is
closed, the under damper 302 closely comes into side-contact with
the rubber packing 206 at a lower end of the chute 20 and is closed
up tight, as illustrated in FIG. 2. When the waste discharge valve
30 is opened, the waste is allowed to freely pass from the chute 30
to the waste conveying line 50, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0023] The upper air inlet 202 is formed at an outer side of an
upper end of the chute 20. The middle air outlet 203 is formed at
an outer side of a middle part of the chute 20. The lower air
outlet 204 is formed at an outer side of a lower end of the chute
20. The upper air inlet 202, the middle air outlet 203 and the
lower air outlet 204 are formed at a passage formed by the outer
side of the chute 20 and the airline 201. When the hinge-type waste
discharge valve 30 using the cantilever is opened, the air admitted
to the upper air inlet 202 flows out to the middle air outlet 203
and the lower air outlet 204 through the passage formed by the
outer side of the chute 20 and the airline 201, thereby more
effectively discharging the waste present in the chute 20 to the
conveying line 50.
[0024] Preferably, the lower air outlet 204 formed at the outer
side of the lower end of the chute 20 includes six apertures which
are each about 30 mm in diameter, to expedite the discharge of the
waste compressed by the weight of the waste accumulated inside the
chute 20. The middle air outlet 203 formed at the outer side of the
middle part of the chute 20 includes twenty-four apertures which
are each about 5 mm in diameter, to expedite the discharge of the
waste in contact with the inner side of the middle part of the
chute 20.
[0025] The first link plate 402 is in the triangle shape. Around
each apex of the triangle, the first link plate 402 is pivotally
connected to the cylinder rod 431 of the air cylinder 43, the
second link plate 401 and a link bracket 41. A slot 402d in an arc
shape is formed proximately to the position where the first link
plate 402 is pivotally connected to the link bracket 41. Therefore,
as the first link plate 402 pivots, a pin 41 a fixedly installed at
the link bracket 41 is guided within the slot 402d. Both ends of
the second link plate 401 are pivotally connected to the first link
plate 402 and the damper arm 301, respectively. Preferably, the
shape of the second link plate 401 may be straight-shaped. The pin
4a positioned at the link bracket 41 moves within the slot 402d in
the arc shape and regularly limits the angle at which the first
link plate 402 is opened/closed.
[0026] In this detailed description of the present invention, the
position where the first link plate 402 is connected to the link
bracket 41 around one apex of the first link plate 402 is called a
first connection part 402a, the position where the first link plate
402 is connected to the cylinder rod 431 of the air cylinder 43 at
another apex of the first link plate 402 is called a second
connection part 402b, and the position where the first link plate
402 is connected to the second link plate 401 at the other apex of
the first link plate 402 is called a third connection part
402c.
[0027] In the hinge-type waste discharge valve 30 using the
cantilever and comprising the damper arm 301 and the under damper
302, an upward protrusion 301a formed at the damper arm 301 is
pivotally connected to the link bracket 41. As the air cylinder 43
operates, the damper arm 301, the first link plate 402 and the
second link plate 401 pivot, thereby opening/closing the waste
discharge valve 30.
[0028] The under damper 302 is connected to the damper arm 301 by a
third connection shaft 301d. One end of the damper arm 301 is
connected to the second link plate 401 by a first connection shaft
301b. The upward protrusion 301a is pivotally connected to the link
bracket 41 by a second connection shaft 301c as a connection means.
As the second connection shaft 301c pivots, the under damper 302 of
the waste discharge valve 30 closes or opens the chute 20.
[0029] A chute bracket 42 is fixedly connected to the outer side of
the chute 20 by welding or the like. The chute bracket 42 includes
three pin holes 421. These pin holes 421 are positioned to be
slightly misaligned with three pin holes 411 formed on the link
bracket 41. The pin 41a is fixedly inserted into one selected from
these pin holes 411 and 421. Therefore, this structure of the pin
41a and the pin holes 411 and 421 has the function of correcting an
error in manufacturing and assembling the link bracket 41 and the
chute bracket 42 when the link bracket 41 is fixed to the chute
bracket 42 by a bolt and it further has the function of an wedge to
firmly fix the link bracket 41 to the chute bracket 42. Preferably,
the number of the pin holes 411 and 412 may not need to be limited
to three, respectively.
[0030] An upper end of the air cylinder 43 is connected to a
cylinder bracket 44 and a lower end of the cylinder rod 431 of the
air cylinder 43 is connected to the first link plate 402 in the
triangle shape.
[0031] The air cylinder 43 is driven by the compressed air supplied
to a compressed air pipe (not shown). When the cylinder rod 431
performs a straight-line motion downwardly as the air cylinder 43
is driven, the first link plate 402 connected to the cylinder rod
431 pivots on the first connection part 402a counterclockwise.
Then, the damper arm 301 connected to the one end of the second
link plate 401 connected to the first link plate 402 pivots on the
second connection shaft 301c clockwise, so that the waste discharge
valve 30 with the damper arm 301 and the under damper 302 closes
the chute 20.
[0032] In the embodiment of the present invention, compressed air
supply valves 432 and 433 connected to the compressed air pipe are
controlled by any program to operate the opening/closing cycle of
the waste discharge valve 30. Compressed air applying and
pressurizing time is controlled.
[0033] When the connection of the compressed air pipe to the air
cylinder 43 is bad, the compression air pipe is separated from the
air cylinder 43, or the air cylinder 43 malfunctions, the waste
temporarily placed on the closed waste discharge valve 30 falls by
its weight. Then, the waste discharge valve 30 in a close state is
about to be opened by the weight of the falling waste. When the
waste discharge valve 30 is opened, the center of the third
connection part 402c of the first link plate 402 in the triangle
shape connected to the second link plate 401 in the straight-line
shape moves to the left (or counterclockwise), compared to the
center line which connects the first connection part 402a of the
first link plate 402 and the first connection shaft 301b of the
damper arm 301 in a straight line.
[0034] Therefore, an alternate angle is formed at the center line
of a force applied to the first connection shaft 301b of the damper
arm 301 which pivots on the second connection shaft 301c of the
damper arm 301 counterclockwise, thereby preventing the second link
plate 401 from bending and thus performing the locking function to
prevent the waste discharge valve 30 from being open.
[0035] The pin 41a moving within the slot 402d of the first link
plate 402 has the functions of regularly limiting the
opening/closing angle of the first link plate 402 and limiting the
bending angle of the second link plate 401 connected to the first
link plate 402, thereby limiting the maximum point of the alternate
angle in the structure that the waste discharge valve 30 is closed.
Based on the functions of the pin 41a including the function of
limiting the alternate angle, the locking function is performed in
the structure of closing the waste discharge valve 30. With the
suction pressure of negative pressure (-0.5 kgf/cm.sup.2) in the
conveying line 50, this locking function is performed even when a
suction force in an opening direction which is applied to the waste
discharge valve 30 is about 980 kgf and the weight of the waste
present inside the chute 20 is about 264 kgf to the maximum).
[0036] The locking function is released by the operation of the
cylinder rod 431 performing the straight-line motion as the air
cylinder 43 is driven.
[0037] When the waste discharge valve 30 is normally closed, the
locking function prevents the waste discharge valve 30 from being
randomly opened.
[0038] The operation of the waste discharge valve 30 will be
described below:
[0039] To discharge the waste put into the chute 20 to the
conveying line 50 when the waste discharge valve 30 is closed, the
compressed air supply valve 433 is opened to supply the compressed
air into the lower end of the air cylinder 43, so that the air
cylinder 43 is driven. As the air cylinder 43 is driven, the
cylinder rod 431 performs the straight-line motion and thus is
inserted into the air cylinder 43. Then, the first link plate 402
in the triangle shape pivots on the first connection part 402a of
the first link plate 402 clockwise, simultaneously the second link
plate 401 connected to the third connection part 402c of the first
link plate 402 bends, simultaneously the damper arm 301 connected
to the first connection shaft 301b of the second link plate 401
pivots on the second connection shaft 301c of the damper arm 301
counterclockwise, and simultaneously the under damper 302 connected
to the third connection shaft 301d of the damper arm 301 pivots on
the second connection shaft 301c of the damper arm 301
counterclockwise. Then, the waste discharge valve 30 at the lower
end of the chute 20 is opened.
[0040] When the waste discharge valve 30 is opened, the waste
placed on the waste discharge valve 30 inside the lower end of the
chute 20 drops into the conveying line 50 by its weight. The waste
dropped into the conveying line 50 is conveyed to the central waste
collection station of the waste collection system (waste transfer
system) by the high-speed air flow inside the conveying line
50.
[0041] After the waste is discharged, the waste discharge valve 30
closes the lower end of the chute 20 by opening the compressed air
supply valve 432 of the air cylinder 43 to supply the compressed
air into the upper end of the air cylinder 43, thereby driving the
air cylinder 43. As the air cylinder 43 is driven, the cylinder rod
431 performs the straight-line motion and thus is pushed outside
the air cylinder 43. Then, the operation of the relevant
constituents is opposite to that when opening the waste discharge
valve 30. That is, the first link plate 402 pivots on the first
connection part 402a counterclockwise, simultaneously the second
link plate 401 connected to the third connection part 402c of the
first link plate 402 bends, simultaneously the damper arm 301
connected to the first connection shaft 301 b of the second link
plate 401 pivots on the second connection shaft 301c clockwise, and
simultaneously the under damper 302 connected to the third
connection shaft 301d of the damper arm 301 pivots on the second
connection shaft 301c of the damper arm 301 clockwise. Then, the
waste discharge valve 30 closes the lower end of the chute 20.
[0042] in the waste discharge valve 30 in the waste collection
system (waste transfer system), the outer side of the chute 30 and
the air cylinder 43 are maximally closely in contact with each
other, to maximize the space therebetween. Accordingly, the
capacity size of the system is minimized and thus the capacity size
of the housing 10 is minimized.
[0043] As described above, in the waste discharge valve for the
vacuum-conveyance waste collection system (waste transfer system)
according to the present invention, even if the operation means to
open/close the waste discharge valve malfunctions, the waste
discharge valve is controlled so as not to be randomly open.
Therefore, since the waste temporarily stored on the waste
discharge valve is prevented from dropping into the waste conveying
line by its weight, it is possible to prevent the inside of the
waste conveying line from being blocked. Consequently, the waste
collection system (waste transfer system) is correctly operated and
the system repairing cost and operation load caused when the system
is blocked by the waste are reduced. Furthermore, since the chute
of the waste collection system (waste transfer system) includes the
airline with the upper air inlet, middle air outlet and lower air
outlet, the waste present in the chute is more effectively
discharged to the conveying line.
[0044] The invention has been described using preferred exemplary
embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the scope of the
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the
contrary, the scope of the invention is intended to include various
modifications and alternative arrangements within the capabilities
of persons skilled in the art using presently known or future
technologies and equivalents. The scope of the claims, therefore,
should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass
all such modifications and similar arrangements.
* * * * *