Refuse-collecting Apparatus And System

Abstract

A refuse-collecting apparatus includes a movable unit comprising a wheeled trailer chassis with a refuse-receiving receptacle pivotally mounted thereon for movement between a generally horizontal position and a tilted dumping position. A loading aperture extends through a pivotally mounted tailgate assembly for alignment with a loading chamber of a stationary unit to which the movable unit can be detachably coupled and which is provided at a permanent location such as an apartment building. A loading plunger pushes refuse from within the loading chamber through the loading aperture for compaction by a vertically reciprocable compacting plunger provided in the refuse-receiving receptacle. Flexible hydraulic hoses with quick-disconnect couplings permit operation of the compacting plunger from a hydraulic system provided on the stationary unit for operating the loading plunger as well as permitting operation of a hydraulic-dumping cylinder for moving the refuse-receiving receptacle from a hydraulic system provided on a towing vehicle used for moving the movable unit from its loading location to a refuse dump.

Parent Case Text

This application is a continuation-in-part of pending application Ser. No. 703,214, filed Jan. 18, 1968 of Harold E. Smith and entitled "Refuse Collecting Apparatus."

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to refuse-collecting apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus which includes a stationary unit which can be permanently located at a desired location such as an apartment building, supermarket, hospital or the like and a movable refuse-receiving unit which can be detachably coupled to the stationary unit for the loading of refuse into the movable unit and which can be separated from that stationary unit when it is desired to transport the refuse-receiving unit to a dump or other refuse disposal site. A replacement refuse-receiving unit can then be coupled to the stationary unit for receiving refuse therefrom.

In refuse-collecting apparatus of this type, it is desirable to obtain the maximum possible compaction of the refuse in the refuse-receiving receptacle of the movable unit so as to eliminate the need for frequent emptying of that receptacle.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a refuse-collecting apparatus of the aforementioned type which apparatus is characterized by providing a high degree of refuse compaction thereby considerably eliminating the need for too frequent replacement of the refuse-receiving receptacle of such an apparatus.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a refuse-collecting apparatus of the type hereinbefore described which apparatus can be constructed and operated relatively inexpensively since it does not call for a high-cost motorized vehicle to be parked for extended periods of time at a refuse-collecting location.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a refuse-collecting apparatus incorporating a particularly effective arrangement of cooperating refuse-handling plungers for the purposes of transferring refuse into a refuse-receiving receptacle of such an apparatus and for providing compaction of such refuse in such a receptacle.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description herein proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In its broadest scope, the present invention provides a refuse-collecting apparatus including: a stationary supporting frame; a wheeled chassis; a refuse-receiving receptacle pivotally mounted on said wheeled chassis for movement between a generally horizontal loading position and a tilted dumping position and including a discharge end for the dumping of refuse from within said refuse-receiving receptacle when said receptacle is disposed in said tilted dumping position thereof; a tailgate assembly pivotally mounted on said refuse-receiving receptacle at said discharge end thereof for movement between open and closed positions; a locking means for detachably securing said wheeled chassis to said stationary supporting frame; a loading aperture through said tailgate assembly of said refuse-receiving receptacle for the transfer of refuse into said receptacle through said loading aperture when said wheeled chassis is detachably secured to said stationary supporting frame; a loading chamber mounted on said stationary supporting frame so as to be adjacent said loading aperture of said tailgate assembly of said refuse-receiving receptacle when said wheeled chassis is detachably secured to said stationary supporting frame with said refuse-receiving receptacle in said generally horizontal loading position thereof; a loading plunger disposed within said loading chamber for movement therein toward and away from said loading aperture for pushing refuse from within said loading chamber through said loading aperture into said refuse-receiving receptacle; a loading plunger drive mechanism operatively associated with said loading plunger for moving said loading plunger toward and away from said loading aperture; a refuse-compacting plunger on said wheeled chassis for movement across said loading aperture for compacting refuse against a working surface after movement of such refuse out of said loading chamber by said loading plunger; and a compacting plunger drive mechanism operatively associated with said refuse-compacting plunger for moving said refuse-compacting plunger across said loading aperture and toward and away from said working surface when said wheeled chassis is detachably secured to said stationary supporting frame.

In a refuse-collecting apparatus in accordance with the present invention, a movable closure is usefully provided for closing the loading aperture of the refuse-receiving receptacle when the wheeled chassis on which that receptacle is mounted is separate from the stationary unit comprising the loading chamber and associated components and mechanism.

In the use of a refuse-collecting apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the wheeled chassis with the refuse-receiving receptacle thereon may periodically, for example, once a week or more or less frequently, be uncoupled from the stationary unit comprising the stationary supporting frame with the loading chamber thereon and, if desired, replaced by another movable unit of the same type. The movable unit loaded with refuse is then towed by a separate towing vehicle to a refuse dump at which the refuse-receiving receptacle of the movable unit is elevated into a tilted position for dumping of compacted refuse from therewithin.

In one embodiment of a refuse-collecting apparatus in accordance with the present invention, the refuse-compacting plunger of the apparatus can be built into the aforementioned tailgate assembly. When a refuse-collecting apparatus of this type is provided, in accordance with another particularly valuable feature of the present invention, with a hydraulically operated tilting drive mechanism for effecting movement of the refuse-receiving receptacle between its generally horizontal loading position and its tilted dumping position, such a hydraulically operated mechanism is usefully provided with flexible hydraulic hoses terminating in quick-disconnect couplings so that the hoses can be coupled to a hydraulic pump or pressure system provided on the towing vehicle so that the dumping mechanism can be operated at a refuse dump by such a pump or pressure system of the towing vehicle. Similarly, if the apparatus includes a hydraulically operated tailgate mechanism for moving the tailgate assembly between its open and closed positions, such mechanism may also be adapted to be coupled to a hydraulic pump or pressure system on the towing vehicle.

In the event that the refuse-compacting plunger of a refuse-collecting apparatus of this invention is hydraulically operated and is installed in the tailgate assembly of the refuse-receiving receptacle in the manner hereinbefore mentioned, the apparatus will usefully include a refuse-compacting plunger drive mechanism having flexible hydraulic hoses terminating in quick-disconnect couplings so that the refuse-compacting plunger drive mechanism can be coupled to a stationary hydraulic system provided on the stationary unit on which the loading chamber is mounted. Usefully a single hydraulic pressure system is provided on the stationary unit for operating the loading plunger of that unit and for operating the refuse-compacting plunger of the movable unit when the latter is detachably coupled to that stationary unit. It is within the scope of this invention to utilize any appropriate drive system for operating such a stationary hydraulic drive mechanism. It is, for example, possible to utilize a stationary internal combustion engine for driving a hydraulic pump mounted on the stationary supporting frame of that unit. Alternatively, the unit may include an electrically operated pump intended to be energized from the existing electrical supply system of a building such as an apartment building at which the stationary unit is located.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description herein proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described merely by way of illustration with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of a refuse-collecting apparatus in accordance with the present invention showing certain components in phantom outline and the apparatus in its refuse-receiving disposition;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic side elevation of the refuse-collecting apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the movable refuse-collecting trailer of the apparatus about to be towed by a towing vehicle to a refuse disposal site; and

FIG. 3 is a somewhat schematic side elevation similar to that of FIG. 2 and showing a refuse-receiving receptacle of the apparatus in its tilted dumping position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

One embodiment of a refuse-collecting apparatus in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally at 10 in the accompanying drawings. The apparatus 10 includes a stationary unit generally indicated at 11 and a movable unit generally indicated at 12. The stationary unit 11 includes a stationary supporting frame 13 supported by legs 14. On the supporting frame 13, there is permanently mounted a loading chamber 15 into which a refuse-containing bin or other container (not shown) can be emptied. A loading plunger 16 is disposed within the loading chamber 15 for longitudinal reciprocation therein as indicated by the double-headed arrow A. Such longitudinal reciprocation of the loading plunger 16 is obtained by means of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 17 including a piston rod 18 on the end of which the aforementioned loading plunger 16 is suitably mounted. A housing generally indicated at 20 is usefully provided on the stationary unit 11 for guiding refuse into the loading chamber 15 and a retractable curtain or shield (not shown) usefully extends from the upper edge surface of the loading plunger 16 into the housing 20 to prevent refuse falling behind the loading plunger 16.

Locking hooks 22 are pivotally mounted on the stationary unit 11 for releasable engagement with locking pins 23 provided for this purpose on the movable unit 12 to prevent separation of the two units during operation of the aforementioned loading plunger 16.

Referring next in greater detail to the movable unit 12 of the refuse-collecting apparatus 10, it will be seen that this unit 12 includes a refuse-receiving receptacle 25 mounted on a chassis 26 supported in turn by a pair of wheels 27. At its forward end, the chassis 26 includes a tongue 28 having a trailer hitch 29 provided thereon for detachably coupling the movable unit 12 to a towing vehicle generally indicated at 30 in FIGS. 2 and 3 and not shown in FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

The aforementioned refuse-receiving receptacle 25 is pivotally mounted on the chassis 26 as shown at 32 for movement of the receptacle 25 between the generally horizontal position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and the tilted dumping position shown in FIG. 3. A double-acting hydraulic cylinder 33 is pivotally connected between the refuse-receiving receptacle 25 and the chassis 26 for moving the former between its two positions.

On its rear discharge end, the refuse-receiving receptacle 25 is provided with a tailgate assembly generally indicated at 36 and pivotally mounted at its upper forward edge on the refuse-receiving receptacle 25 as indicated at 37. Double-acting hydraulic cylinders 38 are pivotally connected to both the tailgate assembly 36 and the refuse-receiving receptacle 25 on both sides of the latter for moving the tailgate assembly 36 between a generally vertical closed position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and an open position as shown in FIG. 3. Locking hooks 40 pivotally mounted on the sides of the refuse-receiving receptacle 25 are adapted to engage locking pins 41 provided on the tailgate assembly 36 for the purpose of releasably holding the assembly 36 in its closed position.

Referring now in greater detail to the construction of the tailgate assembly 36 illustrated in FIG. 1, it is to be noted that an opening or loading aperture 44 is provided in the tailgate assembly 36 so as to be adjacent the loading chamber 15 of the stationary unit 11 when the movable unit 12 is secured thereto by the aforementioned locking hooks 22. A cover 45 is pivotally mounted at 46 on the outside of the tailgate assembly 36 for closing the loading aperture 44 when the movable unit 12 is separate from the stationary unit 11. A latch mechanism 47 is provided for holding the cover 45 in its open position while a similar latch mechanism 48 is provided for holding the door 45 in its closed position after it has been swung downwardly about the pivot 46 as indicated by the arrow B (FIG. 2).

In accordance with another important feature of the present invention, a refuse-compacting plunger 50 is provided within the tailgate assembly 36 for vertical reciprocation therein as indicated by the double-headed arrow C. The refuse-compacting plunger 50 is carried on the lower end of a piston rod 51 which extends from the lower end of a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 52 pivotally mounted at its upper end as indicated at 53 within the tailgate assembly 36. Suitable guide means (not shown) will be provided within the tailgate 36 to facilitate the aforementioned vertical reciprocation of the refuse-compacting plunger 50 therein. With further reference to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the refuse-compacting plunger 50 has a refuse-compacting undersurface 55 which is operative, on operation of the hydraulic cylinder 52, to compress refuse pushed therebelow by the loading plunger 16 against a generally horizontal base or floor 56 of the assembly 36. In accordance with another particularly useful feature of this embodiment of a refuse-collecting apparatus of the invention, the undersurface 55 of the refuse-compacting plunger 50 usefully slopes forwardly and upwardly at a small angle as actually illustrated in FIG. 1.

Before describing the manner in which the refuse-collecting apparatus of FIG. 10 is used, it should also be explained that the apparatus 10 is provided with hydraulic pressure systems for operating the hereinbefore-mentioned hydraulic cylinders. In particular, it is to be noted that the hydraulic cylinder for operating the loading plunger 16 is permanently connected to a fixed hydraulic pressure system 59 provided on the stationary unit 11 and including a reservoir 60, a pump 61 and an electric motor 62 powered, for example, through cord 63 from the existing electrical distribution system of a building, such as an apartment building, hospital, supermarket or the like, at which the stationary unit 11 is permanently installed. Although the apparatus 10 has been described as incorporating the electric motor 62, it is equally within the scope of this invention to use a stationary internal combustion engine for the same purpose.

In accordance with a particularly useful feature of the invention, the hydraulic cylinder 52 of the refuse-compacting plunger 50 is usefully provided with flexible fluid hoses 65 and 66 fitted with quick-disconnect couplings 67 for coupling to mating couplings 68 on hoses 69 and 70 extending from the aforementioned fixed hydraulic pressure system 59 so that the refuse-compacting plunger 50 can be operated by that system 59 when the movable unit 12 is coupled to the stationary unit 11 at the permanent location of the latter. An appropriate control valve 71 with operating handle 72 is provided to permit manual control of the operation of the loading plunger 16 and of the refuse-compacting plunger 50. Automatic controls, for example, in the form of pressure-responsive switches (not shown) may be provided to ensure the preferred operating sequence, namely, downward extension of the refuse-compacting plunger 50 after forward extension of the loading plunger 16.

The hydraulic cylinder 33 used for effecting movement of the refuse-receiving receptacle 25 between its generally horizontal position and its tilted dumping position is provided with hoses 73 terminating in a valve block 74 having a manual control handle 75. Similarly, in the event that the tailgate assembly 36 is adapted to be moved between its open and closed positions by hydraulic cylinders such as the cylinders 38 shown in FIG. 1, the latter cylinders will also usefully be connected to the valve block 73 by hoses 76 and 77, a control handle 78 being provided for effecting manual control of the tailgate cylinders 38. Flexible hoses 79 and 80 extending from the valve block 74 terminate in quick-disconnect couplings 81 which can be detachably coupled to mating couplings on the ends of hoses 82 and 83 of a hydraulic pressure system provided on the towing vehicle 30 and suitably powered by the primary engine of that vehicle.

In use, the stationary unit 11 is permanently installed at the desired location, such as an apartment building, for receiving refuse or garbage into its loading chamber 15. A movable unit such as the unit 12 is detachably coupled by locking hooks 22 to the stationary unit 11 after the cover 45 has been elevated after releasing the latch mechanism 48. The flexible hoses 65 and 66 from the cylinder 52 of the refuse-compacting plunger 50 are then coupled by the aforementioned couplings 67 to the mating couplings 68 of the stationary hydraulic pressure system 59 of the stationary unit 11, the pressure system 59 being permanently coupled to the hydraulic cylinder 17 of the loading plunger 16 for operation thereof. When refuse is introduced into the loading chamber 15, it is first pushed through the loading aperture 44 into the refuse-receiving receptacle 25 for compaction by the refuse-compacting plunger 50. Both the loading plunger 16 and the refuse-compacting plunger 50 are then retracted and the operating cycle continues. It should be understood that the refuse-collecting apparatus 10 may be provided with controls whereby such simultaneous operation of the loading plunger 15 and of the refuse-compacting plunger 50 takes place automatically after operating a single control switch or valve such as control handle 72. Alternatively, the apparatus 10 may be provided with a separate control for each of the plungers 16 and 50. In view of the high degree of refuse compaction obtained in this manner, a relatively small vehicle 12 can be used for receiving a considerable amount of refuse.

When it is desired to empty the refuse-receiving receptacle 25, the movable unit 12 is coupled to a towing vehicle such as the towing vehicle 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 by means of the trailer hitch 29 and the flexible hoses 79 and 80 extending from the valve block 74 are coupled to the hoses 82 and 83 respectively so that the tilting dumping cylinder 33 and the tailgate cylinders 38, if provided, are coupled to a hydraulic pressure system of that towing vehicle. The hoses 65 and 66 of the compacting plunger cylinder 52 are then uncoupled from the hoses 69 and 70 of the hydraulic pressure system 59 of the stationary unit 11 and, after moving the movable unit 12 a short distance away from that stationary unit 11, the cover 45 is swung downwardly about its pivots 46 so as to close the loading aperture 44, the latch mechanism 48 serving to hold the cover 45 in its closed position. If it is desired to operate the refuse-compacting plunger 50 while the movable unit 12 is coupled to the towing vehicle 30, the hoses 65 and 66 from the refuse-compacting plunger cylinder 50 may be detachably coupled to the hydraulic pressure system of the towing vehicle 30.

After the movable unit 12 has been towed to a refuse dump by the towing vehicle 30, controls 78 and 75 are operated respectively to cause the tailgate cylinders 38 to open the tailgate 36 and to cause the dumping cylinder 33 to elevate the refuse-receiving receptacle 25 into its tilted dumping position as actually shown in FIG. 3.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A refuse-collecting apparatus including:

a stationary unit;

a wheeled chassis;

a refuse-receiving receptacle pivotally mounted on said wheeled chassis for movement between a generally horizontal loading position and including a discharge end for the dumping of refuse from within said refuse-receiving receptacle when said receptacle is disposed in said tilted dumping position thereof;

a tailgate assembly pivotally mounted on said refuse-receiving receptacle at said discharge end thereof for movement between open and closed positions;

a locking means for detachably securing said wheeled chassis to said stationary unit;

a loading aperture through said tailgate assembly of said refuse-receiving receptacle for the transfer of refuse into said receptacle through said loading aperture when said wheeled chassis is detachably secured to said stationary unit;

a loading chamber incorporated with said stationary unit so as to be adjacent said loading aperture of said tailgate assembly of said refuse-receiving receptacle when said wheeled chassis is detachably secured to said stationary unit with said refuse-receiving receptacle in said generally horizontal loading position thereof;

a loading plunger disposed within said loading chamber for movement therein toward and away from said loading aperture for pushing refuse from within said loading chamber through said loading aperture into said refuse-receiving receptacle;

a loading plunger drive mechanism operatively associated with said loading plunger for moving said loading plunger toward and away from said loading aperture;

a refuse-compacting plunger on said wheeled chassis for movement across said loading aperture for compacting refuse against a working surface after movement of such refuse out of said loading chamber and through said loading aperture on operation of said loading plunger; and

a compacting plunger drive mechanism operatively associated with said refuse-compacting plunger for moving said refuse-compacting plunger across said loading aperture and toward and away from said working surface when said wheeled chassis is detachably secured to said stationary unit.

2. A refuse-collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which apparatus additionally includes a movable closure associated with said loading aperture of said tailgate assembly of said refuse-receiving receptacle and adapted to be moved between a closed position for closing said loading aperture when said wheeled chassis is detached from said stationary unit and an open position for the passage of refuse from said loading chamber through said loading aperture and into said refuse-receiving receptacle when said wheeled chassis is detachably secured to said stationary unit.

3. A refuse-collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said wheeled chassis forms part of a trailer having a forward end with means thereon for detachable attachment of said trailer to a towing vehicle, in which said discharge end of said refuse-receiving receptacle is disposed rearwardly thereof and in which said refuse-receiving receptacle is pivotally mounted on said wheeled chassis in proximity to said discharge end of said receptacle.

4. A refuse-collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 3 which apparatus additionally includes a hydraulic tilting drive mechanism operatively interconnecting said wheeled chassis and said refuse-receiving receptacle for moving said receptacle between said generally horizontal loading position thereof and said tilted dumping position thereof, in which both said loading plunger drive mechanism and said compacting plunger drive mechanism are adapted to be operated from a stationary hydraulic pressure system when said wheeled chassis is detachably secured to said stationary unit and in which said hydraulic tilting drive mechanism is adapted to be operated from a hydraulic pressure system of a towing vehicle when said wheeled chassis is coupled to such a towing vehicle.

5. A refuse-collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said compacting plunger drive mechanism includes hydraulic hoses terminating in quick-disconnect couplings for detachable coupling to said stationary hydraulic pressure system when said wheeled chassis is detachably secured to said stationary unit and in which said hydraulic tilting drive mechanism includes hydraulic hoses terminating in quick-disconnect couplings for detachable coupling with a hydraulic pressure system of a towing vehicle when said wheeled chassis is coupled to such a towing vehicle.

6. A refuse-collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said refuse-compacting plunger is disposed within said tailgate assembly.

7. A refuse-collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said locking means is located between said tailgate assembly and said stationary unit.

8. A refuse-collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a second locking means for releaseably securing said pivotally mounted tailgate assembly to said refuse-receiving receptacle.

9. A refuse-collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a hydraulic pivoting drive mechanism operatively associated with said tailgate assembly for moving said tailgate assembly between open and closed positions.

10. A refuse-collecting apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said hydraulic pivoting-drive mechanism is adapted to be operated from a hydraulic pressure system of a towing vehicle when said wheeled chassis is coupled to such a towing vehicle.