U.S. patent number 3,575,103 [Application Number 04/753,582] was granted by the patent office on 1971-04-13 for refuse compaction handling equipment utilizing fluids under low pressure.
Invention is credited to Ray E. Charles.
United States Patent |
3,575,103 |
Charles |
April 13, 1971 |
REFUSE COMPACTION HANDLING EQUIPMENT UTILIZING FLUIDS UNDER LOW
PRESSURE
Abstract
A reference structure is adapted to be held in a substantially
fixed location while a movable, self supporting, fluid tight,
structure is variably positioned and expanded, at least in part, to
and from the reference structure to move a ram. The ram inturn
enters a receiving chamber to contact and compress refuse therein
and compressibly move the compacting refuse into a compaction
chamber. The ram moves as both fluid pressure generating and
regulating apparatus are operated to expand and then to retract the
self-supporting fluid tight structure. Various stages of
compression are undertaken, as necessary, when a variable position
reactive compression plate or baffle is sequentially moved away
from the receiving chamber to define different volume sizes of
temporary subcompartments within the compaction chamber which often
serves as an "on the spot" refuse container.
Inventors: |
Charles; Ray E. (Seattle,
WA) |
Family
ID: |
25031273 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/753,582 |
Filed: |
August 19, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
100/215; 92/47;
100/100; 100/244; 100/295; 100/52; 100/257; 141/73; 100/269.04;
100/229A |
Current CPC
Class: |
B30B
9/3042 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B30B
9/30 (20060101); B30B 9/00 (20060101); B30b
015/30 () |
Field of
Search: |
;92/5,34,47,86
;141/71,73,80 ;138/125 ;29/454 ;117/138.8 ;214/38,82,518,41 ;220/93
;100/51,52,100,257,295,269,244,229,112,214,215,50,53 ;53/124 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Wilhite; Billy J.
Claims
I claim:
1. A refuse compactor comprising a packer and a separable receiver,
said packer comprising a boxlike frame having a reciprocable ram
therein, a bellows-type ram actuator positioned between one wall of
said frame and said ram and connected to said wall and the back of
said ram, guide means on said frame for slidably positioning said
ram slightly above the floor of said frame, an opening in the top
of said frame for depositing refuse therein in front of said ram, a
discharge opening in a wall of said frame adjacent the front of
said ram, means to releasably connect the packer and the receiver,
said receiver having mounted therein a separable adjustably
positioned movable container, an opening in a wall of said receiver
whereby when the packer and receiver are connected refuse may be
packed from said packer through said receiver opening and into said
container.
2. A refuse compactor, as claimed in claim 1, comprising, in
addition, an air pump secured to the boxlike frame, conduits
connecting the air pump and the bellows-type ram actuator, and
control valves positioned in the conduits, and operated with the
air pump which then alternately and effectively serves as a
pressure source and as a vacuum inducer, respectively, expanding
and contracting the bellows-type ram actuator.
3. A refuse compactor, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said
opening in the wall of said receiver is selectively closed by a
door equipped with an outward projecting means to be engaged by the
ram during a final compacting cycle, whereby the door moves into
closed position and upon subsequent separation of the receiver from
the packer, all the refuse remains within the receiver until it is
intentionally emptied.
Description
BACKGROUND
The removal of wastes from production areas and multiunit living
areas has required the selective nearby placement of large
containers into which refuse is placed. Presently such containers
when full, or nearly so, are carried away by trucks etc., or lifted
over trucks and dumped into them. The truck may have its
self-contained compaction equipment.
There remains, however, a requirement for compaction to occur
sooner than the arrival of a disposal truck. If compaction occurs
earlier, containers located in these critical waste collection
areas will hold greater quantities of refuse before it becomes
necessary to dump them, and/or provide additional containers.
In industrial areas, collecting disposal trucks may be scheduled to
arrive during graveyard shifts and often also scheduled to arrive
less frequently, if compaction is undertaken where these "on the
spot" refuse containers are located.
SUMMARY
This invention provides apparatus to accomplish "on the spot"
compaction where refuse is being collected. An overall assembly of
the apparatus receives, compresses, holds and/or transports waste
materials. Within each overall assembly is a variable fluid
pressure expanding and retracting subassembly. The principal
component of each subassembly is a vinyl-coated fabric arranged as
an expandable and retractable cylindrical bellows which solely
retain fluid under pressure independently of any backup by
surrounding structures. The fluid pressure expansion energy is
harnessed by the bellows and converted to compressive energy. Such
conversion occurs as the bellows move a ram through a refuse
receiving chamber to contact and compact refuse as the ram moves on
into a refuse collection and compaction chamber.
Throughout all embodiments of the invention the purpose is always
to compact materials as soon as possible after they become waste,
in keeping within the best guidelines of: economical engineering
and manufacturing practices; handling and transporting convenience;
building management; governmental regulations and facilities; and
overall cost accounting.
DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of this solid waste disposal handling
apparatus with reference to the combination of a low pressure
refuse compactor and a refuse container is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with portions removed, showing the
combined refuse compactor and refuse container;
FIG. 2 is a side view, with portions removed, showing the combined
compactor and container of FIG. 1, using dotted lines to illustrate
the full compressing stroke of the ram as it compacts refuse;
FIG. 3 is a detailed partial side sectional view indicating the
construction and mounting of the bellows which expand and retract
to move the ram through the receiving container or hopper to and
from the refuse container in which the compaction is completed;
and
FIG. 4, is a partial sectional view, indicating how the reactive
compression plate is guided and stopped at various temporary sub
compartment volume sizes.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Separable Compactor and Container
As viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, a low pressure compactor 10 is combined
with a refuse container 12 in which the compaction is continued. As
combined in a unit 14, they are secured together by adjusting a
tensioning means 16. Compactor 10 and container 12 in this way are
conveniently joined. Yet they may be separated, as necessary, when
in an industrial plant a larger container, not shown, might be
required at a refuse collection location. Also one or the other
might require special maintenance and during its absence it may be
readily replaced. For such changes of either compactor 10 or
container 12 or their movement when combined to a new location,
both are equipped with casters 18.
If the refuse container 12 is taken temporarily to a collecting
and/or compactor truck outside of a plant, the compactor hopper
volume may be used for interim refuse storage until they are
reconnected again as a unit 14.
Compactor
Compactor 10 has an open top 20 hopper 22, with solid longitudinal
sidewalls 24, 26, with solid bottom 28 and with aligned openings
30, 32 in its transverse sidewalls 34, 36. Wall 36 abuts the refuse
container 12 and wall 34 completes a four-sided 38, 40, 42, 44
housing 46 which encompasses and thereby protects a fluid pressure
expansion and retraction subassembly 48. The aligned openings 30,
32, accommodate a ram 50 which is moved through the bottom volume
of hopper 22 to compress refuse 52 and move it into refuse
container 12 where the compaction continues.
Ram
Ram 50 is a rectangular piston 54 having a ram plate 56 whose
cross-sectional area is only slightly smaller than aligned hopper
openings 30, 32. The piston 54 is sufficiently long to extend
slightly beyond the longitudinal length of hopper 22. It is guided
by having its respective sides 58, 60 formed to follow guide tracks
62 64 secured to the inside surfaces of housing sides or walls 38
and 42. Preferably the lower edge of ram plate 56 is equipped with
a wire brush 66, which sweeps refuse ahead of ram plate 56.
Fluid Pressure Extension and Retraction Subassembly
Ram 50 is moved through hopper 22 and withdrawn from hopper 22 by
operation of its actuator 68 which is designated as having a low
fluid pressure extension and retraction subassembly 48. The
actuator 68 is completed by the addition of a pressurized fluid
supply means 70, such as a low pressure air compressor or an air
pump, associated conduit 72, and at least two airflow valves or
control valves 74, 76. The air pump 70 is designed to operate
alternately as a pressure source and as a vacuum inducer.
The overall start, stop and reverse and stop, of a compression and
return cycle of ram 50 may be automatically sequenced by electrical
switches, inclusive of limiting travel switches 78, 80 as also
suggested by the control system discussed in application Ser. No.
600,645. Included among the switches in the circuit 84 is an
overriding pressure electrical switch 82 which senses the buildup
of any pressure beyond a preset designated value that may be
reached prior to ram 50 completing its compression stroke. This
might occur if an incompressible object was inadvertently thrown
into hopper 22 and it failed to pass freely into refuse container
12.
The effective use of a low pressure fluid supply is made possible
by constructing bellows 86 using "Vinyl" coated "Nylon" materials
88 as illustrated in FIG. 3. The material is arranged in an
accordion configuration, and, as necessary resilient restraining
loop materials 90 are included to define the directional changes of
the bellows configuration 86. Loop materials 90 may not be
necessary when the material used is independently capable of being
so formed as an accordion bellows. Also where a vacuum is created
during the retraction of fluid pressure assembly 48 there is no
need for them. When used, however, loop materials 90 are surrounded
by an additional layer 92 of "Vinyl" coated "Nylon" material that
is secured to bellows 86. Each layer 92 defines a circumferential
volume 94 about each respective loop 90.
Bellows 86 must be of sufficient size or relationship to the fluid
pressure source and the compaction job to be undertaken in order to
generate the total compressive force needed. The proportions
illustrated indicate the relative sizes that result in designing
this low pressure compactor.
Also, sufficient clearance between housing 46 and bellows 86 is
necessary. The bellows 86 must expand and retract without
contacting the interior surfaces of housing 46. As indicated
previously, bellows 86 withstand completely the pressures
established within them. The housing 46, is not used to supplement
the strength of the bellows 86. The housing 46 does cover them to
protect them from damage from outside happenings. Also the walls
38, 42 of housing 46 support guides 62, 64 which direct the motion
of ram 50 and consequently the motion of bellows 86.
Anchor rings 96, as shown in FIG. 3, receive the respective ends
98, 100 of bellows 86. They are secured with fasteners 102,
respectively, to inside of compactor end wall 104 and a force
transfer plate 106. A groove 108 is provided in each anchor ring 96
to receive the respective end of the bellows 86. The "Vinyl" coated
"Nylon" material is held in a groove 108 by a resilient tensioned
ring 110 which is made of rubber or rubberlike material.
Plate 106 is secured to ram piston 54 to receive the fluid pressure
force and redistribute it to the ram piston 54. Such redistribution
or realignment of the resultant force is undertaken so ram 50 may
be positioned to pass through hopper 20 near its bottom. This
arrangement provides more room for filling of refuse and assuring
better compaction of refuse being compressibly moved into the
refuse container where compaction is continued. Yet as noted
before, the bellows must necessarily be positioned sufficiently
clear of any adjoining structure such as the housing bottom 44.
Therefore force transfer plate 106 serves as the means to
accommodate the relative positioning of bellows 86 of the fluid
pressure extension and retraction subassembly 48 and the ram
50.
To know what the pressure is in bellows 86, a pressure gauge 87 is
mounted on compactor 10 in a convenient location as illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2. Also a drain 89 is installed to remove any water
that might be carried into the bellows 86, as vapor, during
operation of fluid pressure assembly 48.
Refuse Container in Which Compaction Continues
Ram 50, when moved by the extension and retraction subassembly 48,
upon emergence from housing 46, transverse wall 34, and opening 30
contacts refuse 52 to commence and continue a compression of the
refuse 52. While ram 50 is compacting refuse, it is also moving the
refuse into container 12. The necessary reactive force is created
and maintained by utilizing tensioning means 16 to hold refuse
container 12 against compactor 10 to create this refuse handling
combination 14.
The ram entry 112 of container 12 is sized to accommodate ram 50
which projects into container 12 before retracting. Just prior to
any separation of container 12 and compactor 10, a cover plate 114,
after a ram retraction motion is completed, is pivoted about its
hinge 116 connection to container 12 to cover ram entry 112. To
facilitate moving cover 114 into a flush position with container 12
at its ram receiving end 118, a semicircular push pad 120 is
secured to cover 114. After pivoting plate 114 over ram entry 112,
fluid pressure assembly 48 is energized driving ram 50 and its ram
plate 56 into contact with push pad 120. Ram 50 continues its
compressing movements until cover 114 remains closed when ram 50 is
retracted.
During the ramming, container 12 has no other opened entry beyond
ram entry 112. Subsequently, when it has received its load of
compacted refuse, this compacted load is preferably removed from
the discharge end 122 which is opposite to its ram receiving end
118. To accommodate such straight through removal, discharge end
122 is pivotally mounted with an upper hinge 124 secured to
container 12 and it is raised to clear the way for removing
compacted refuse 52.
Removal of compacted refuse 52 may optionally be undertaken from
the top of container 12 by pivoting a lid 126 which is secured by
hinge 128. Handles 130 are provided here and elsewhere for
convenient gripping of this lid 126 and other covers 114 and 122.
Fasteners, not shown, secure lid 126 and covers 114, 122 in their
respective end travel positions.
Multiple Stages of Compression in Refuse Containers
When large refuse containers 12 are secured to compactors 10, the
continuing compression occurring in refuse container 12 is
preferably aided and undertaken by including within each large
container 12 a movable compartment subassembly 132. The principal
component is a reactive compression plate or baffle 134 which is
formed to be guided for longitudinal movement through container 12
by guides 136, 138 which are secured to the interior surfaces of
sidewalls 140, 142 of container 12.
As the compression filling of container 12 commences, reactive
compression plate 134, is located near ram entry end 118 of
container 12. It is kept there by inserting position holding
transverse locating pins 144 through complementary sized access
holes 146 in container sides 140, 142. Additional sets of access
holes are spaced throughout the length of refuse container 12 to
predetermined various positions of reactive compression plate 134
as it is moved during compressive filling stages of the overall
compaction of refuse 52 in container 12.
To insure the convenient movement of this reactive plate 134 from
stage to stage, it is made a part of an overall movable compartment
defining subassembly 148. Additional components of subassembly 148
are: a base platform or chassis 150 to which friction reducing
means 152, such as wheels, are secured; and sidewalls 154, 156
which support and position reactive compression plate or baffle
134. This subassembly 148 is sized to be readily passed through the
end opening that is cleared as discharge end 122 of container 12 is
pivoted downwardly, when compacted refuse 52 is to be withdrawn
from container 12.
General Specifications
The following specifications indicate how a specific combination 14
of a compactor 10 and refuse container 12 would be made in
accordance with invention as indicated by the preceeding
description and in the accompanying drawings. ##SPC1##
OTHER EMBODIMENTS
Although no other embodiments are shown in the drawings, several
changes are easily made if the need is present. For example, the
stages of compression are increased, decreased and/or eliminated
depending on the size of a refuse container and also what is being
compacted.
As noted previously, the fluid pressure expanding and contracting
assembly utilizes a "Vinyl" coated "Nylon" material. For use in the
illustrated embodiment, which is sized to comply with the general
specifications, a 22 ounce total weight material is used with 6
ounces of this total representing the base "nylon" material. Such a
bellows withstands 30 p.s.i., but is operated at 8 p.s.i. The
objective in selection of materials beyond the economic
considerations is to provide a self contained pressure retaining
bellows which operates completely clear of its housing. Heavier
materials, lighter materials and different materials, may be used
depending on the embodiment of the invention.
The fluid pressure source is fulfilled by operation of an air
compressor positioned in a conduit system with valves to utilize it
both in building up the compressed fluids and in extracting it
through an ejector action. In lieu of its later function
capabilities a separate vacuum pump, not shown, may be relied upon.
For the embodiment specified a 11/2 horsepower vacuum pump driven
by a 12 ampere electric motor, not shown, may be used. Where a
manufacturing plant has an industrial compressed air system,
operating, for example, with line pressures ranging from 80 to 100
p.s.i., compressed air from this air system, not shown, could be
relied upon in lieu of air compressor 70, shown in the
drawings.
* * * * *