AU683691B2 - Improvements relating to refuse truck split bin loading systems - Google Patents

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO REFUSE TRUCK SPLIT BIN LOADING SYSTEMS The present invention relates to a refuse vehicle for use in refuse collection systems particularly involving separation of recyclable materials using split bins of the wheely bin type.

Waste collection systems have been disclosed in Australian specifications Nos. 15277/92 and 22410/92, the first relating to a refuse container of the wheely bin type having a plurality of discrete compartments and the latter to a collection vehicle for handling such multi-compartment bins in which the compartment of the vehicle extends across the vehicle at different levels for even weight distribution.

A divisional petty patent No. 647724 relates to a collection vehicle for recyclable elements held in two or more compartments in a bin. The petty patent specification discloses two or more chutes which are aligned with the bin S 15 compartments, each chute communicating with one of a plurality of storage zones in the vehicle. The storage zones are located on different horizontal planes one above the other.

•Australian specification No. 74229/91 discloses a multi-compartment bin having separate access openings.

20 European specification No. 0356833 discloses a refuse collection vehicle with several vertical shafts having an adjustable guide baffle for the incoming refuse.

German specification No. 3510700 discloses a vehicle having separate chambers for different kinds of refuse.

German specification No. 3537546 discloses a refuse collection vehicle with a container divided by horizontal partitions.

German specification No. 3703557 discloses a collection vehicle with collecting shafts for refuse controlled by a movable flap diverting flow of refuse to different shafts.

US patent No. 5176488 discloses a rear loading refuse vehicle which collects, compacts and separates recyclable materials.

Other patents of which we arc aware are US patent No. 5123801, 5078567, 5035564, W090/11952 and US patent No. 5035563.

One of the problems perceived with the collection and separation of different types of refuse in the refuse collection vehicle is the differing volumes of refuse and the possibility of inadequate utilization of refuse vehicle storage volume Sin the collection of such refuse. Furthermore different types of refuse usually require differing levels of compaction in the loading compartment of the refuse vehicle. For example it is advantageous if glass is not broken and therefore relatively low compaction forces are desirable for glass bottles and similar recyclable materials.

It is difficult to maintain low levels of compaction where the vehicle body is made longer to achieve greater volumes. It has been found difficult to achieve adequate compaction in long body volumes and similar problems occur in achieving removal or discharge of the compacted material from the divided container.

The present invention has as an objective the provision of a split refuse bin loading apparatus in:which refuse of different types including recyclable refuse is loaded into separate compartments. The provision of a computer controlled compaction system in which differing compaction forces may be applied to the refuse of different types in each compartment. The provision of a raking system to ensure even filling of at least one of the compartments. The provision of a selectively variable volume of the separate compartments. The provision of means to avoid overcompaction and promote easier unloading of the separate compartments.

15 It is a prime objective of the present invention to provide a split compartment refuse vehicle incorporating at least one or some of the above features in a simple and effective manner to maximize effective use of compartment volumes in the refuse collection vehicle.

Single paddle systems are well known having been disclosed in our patent application No. 60230/90 and German patent specification No. 1196122.

Furthermore, double paddle systems are known to applicant, for example as disclosed by the Geesink refuse collection machinery.

*Other examples of paddle type compactor systems are disclosed in British patent No. 651156 and Australian patent No. 552878, All of these patents relate to means of controlling and actuating a single reciprocating paddle for compacting a. refuse into a refuse vehicle compartment.

.According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a refuse collection vehicle having at least two separate refuse storage compartments, at least two of the refuse storage compartments each having a compactor device including a paddle that is adapted to move refuse from a refuse ,entry portion into the respective refuse storage compartment, each paddle being connected to a common drive shaft, the paddle associated with one of the refuse storage compartments having a different length to at least one paddle associated with another refuse storage compartment so that paddles of different length exert different compaction forces on refuse by virtue of their different lengths.

In a more specific aspect of the invention, the common drive shaft of the refuse collection vehicle may be driven by a pair of hydraulic cylinders. The paddles may be adapted to pivot through an arc that extends over an angle of approximately 180'. Computer control of the paddle operation to achieve safe operation of the paddle has been disclosed in our earlier application No. 60230/9C to accommodate precise hydraulic actuation and paddle movement.

One of the refuse storage compartments of the refuse storage vehicle may be partly or wholly above another one of the refuse storage compartments. The paddle associated with the upper refuse storage compartment may be shorter than the paddle associated with the lower refuse storage compartment. Conveniently the compaction force applied to recyclable refuse such as glass bottles may be lower than other types of refuse such as paper and plastics material.

It is an additional feature of the present invention to incorporate computer control which enables "on demand" automatic operation of the paddle during a refuse loading operation. Thus any tendency to over-compaction is avoided or at least minimized.

The computer can be programmed to initiate operation on differing cycles S 15 and after predetermined time delays, and has the facility to sense actual compaction o .pressures at different points of travel of the paddles to enable accurate pressure Csensing and therefore to provide control over the degree of compaction in each compartment.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a refuse collection vehicle having at least two separate refuse storage compartments, at least two of the refuse storage compartments each having a compactor device that is adapted to move refuse from a refuse entry portion into the respective refuse storage compartment, sensor means associated with the compactor device and control means for controlling the compactor device responsive to said sensor means whereby to provide different degrees of compaction of refuse in said at least two refuse storage "compartments.

At least one of the refuse storage compartments of the refuse collection vehicle may include a first and second region, said at least one refuse storage compartment may be provided with a door, the door being arranged such that when thi one compartment is empty the door is in an initial position and separates the first region from the second region, the door being a.dapted to move from its initial position to allow entry of refuse into said second region when the first region fills.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a refuse collection vehicle wherein at least one refuse storage compartment in addition to the refuse movement device includes a rake adapted to move refuse in a direction away from the refuse entry part of the refuse storage compartment. The rake may be mounted for reciprocating movement.

The rake may include refuse engaging means with a rake blade, said refuse engaging means being mounted in such a way as to push refuse along said at least one refuse storage compartment when travelling in one direction but to pivot or flex out of pushing engagement with the refuse when travelling in the opposite direction.

Thus the rake means is effective in moving refuse material lying loosely in the compartment in order to lessen the load on the compaction means at least during initial filling stages of the refuse compartment, There is also provided according to a further aspect of the present invention in a multi-compartment refuse collection vehicle having at least two refuse receiving compartments extending parallel to one another, a refuse input means at one end and refuse unloading means at the other end, wherein the unloading means comprises an overload area into which excess refuse material can be selectively transferred depending upon the filling rate of each refuse compartment.

Conveniently the selection is based upon sensor means in each compartment sensing the rate of filling of each compartment and allowing the most 5 rapidly filling compartment to overflow into the overload area, .The refuse collection vehicle may be provided with an overflow region and g at least two of the refuse storage compartments may be provided with a door which may be opened to allow entry of refuse into said overflow region, any one of said doors being selectively openable to allow refuse from the refuse storage compartment associated with that door to enter the overflow region.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a refuse collection vehicle including chute means having a mouth with divider adapted to interengage with a divider of a refuse bin to direct refuse from different parts of the storage bin into separate refuse compartments in the vehicle. This arrangment may avoid or minimize spillage of refuse material as the open end of the refuse bin as is raised to an emptying position.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation'al view of a double compartmented refuse vehicle made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an intake head for engaging a refuse bin; Figure 3 is a side view showing an unloading process of a refuse bin; Figure 4 is a sectional side view of a paddle compactor taken on line V-V; and SFigure 5 is a plan view of the paddle compactor shown in Figure 4.

II- With reference to Figure 1 the refuse collection vehicle incorporates a multi-compartmented container 10 as viewed from the side having a dividing floor with the left hand end of the compartment being fed from separate chutes and compacted by an upper and lower paddle 12 and 13.

Refuse is collected through the intake mouth which will be described in greater detail later.

The upper compartment at least is preferably provided with a rake means 14 which is adapted to reciprocate along the length of the upper compartment to draw refuse from the compaction end to the rear end of the vehicle. The rake means includes tines 15 pivotally mounted on support means which are moved by a power cylinder 16 to and fro along the length of the container. The tines 15 may be simple spring tines to apply a larger force when travelling to the rear end of the vehicle as compared to the force applied when travelling towards the compaction end of the vehicle brought about by the configuration of the tines It has been found that the rake means 14 is particularly suitable for pushing the loose recyclable material such as glass bottles etc., which is best not subjected to high compaction forces. Thus the rake 14 achieves movement of the material along the length of the compartment to fully utilise the volume therein.

The rear end of the vehicle includes a pair of doors which may be sliding doors or swing doors on the upper and lower compartments which are selectively off openable to provide an overflow of material into the unloading volume at the rear of the vehicle in the event of one of the compartments overfilling prior to the other compartment. The doors are selectively openable such that either of the compartments can overfill into the rear compartment 17. The doors 18 and 19 are mounted on pivots however alternative means such as sliding doors 20 may be provided to control movement of the refuse material out of the compartments. The doors 18 and 19 mav be automatically controlled to open when one or the other compartments first fills, so that additional refuse can be filled into the rear part of the compartment until both compartments are filled or virtually filled.

With reference to Figure 2 there is a shown an intake mouth 8 which is pivotally mounted on shaft 9 and controlled by power cylinder 21 to move in an arcuate manner during an unloading operation to meet the open mouth of a refuse bin prior to it being tipped vertically during an unloading operation. This will minimize spillage of the contents of the bin prior to it being tipped over into the intake mouth.

The intake mouth includes a cushion edge 22 which is adapted to interengage with the edge of the refuse bin together with its central divider. The central divider may be directed in a north-south or east-west direction as desired.

The upper and lower paddles 12,13 best shown in figures 4 and 5 are commonly mounted on a vertical shaft 30 driven by a hydraulic motor or the like 31.

The upper paddle is of shorter dimension and therefore applies less forces during compaction of the upper .ompartment which may contain fragile material such as glass bottles. The lower compartment destined to collect crushable and compressible general household and pu'-escible refuse has a larger dimension paddle 13 adapted to apply a greater comp:tation force to the refuse material and therefore achieve greater compression of thi' refuse material which is usually putrescible household refuse in the lower comp::.tment.

The upper and lower paddles 12,13 are removably bolted to the drive shaft This allows for the u;.s of paddles of selected dimensions for specific purposes depending upon the nature of material to be handled by the collection vehicle. Thus if the predominant matrial to be carried is recyclable, small dimension low compaction pressure padlces would be used and large dimension paddles for high pressure compaction systcnis would be used.

The paddles arc preferably driven by a hydraulic motor 31 which lends 15 itself to electronic control means (not shown). The control means may include pressure sensors associ.,'J with the paddle drive operating so that the paddle movement through its aruilar arc of approximately 1800 senses any impact upon material in the chamber '.hereby the panel drive is controlled to move the paddles upon demand as the collecon vehicle is loaded with material.

The dividing flo. r 11 extends horizontally in a horizontal plane along the compartment of the vehic'.. To avoid difficulty in unloading, the compacted refuse that has accumulated in ti; lower chamber the floor 11 is adapted to be pivotal at the loading end to alloy the floor to move upwardly at the unloading end and thereby release pressure 'n the load for easy tipping at a tip site. This is a 25 particularly useful featu'. when the chamber is very long as is conventional in modern refuse vehicles. The floor will tilt approximately 6° to allow the floor to lift approximately 30 centim.. .cs at the discharge end. The floor may be manually or hydraulically lifted to achi ve this result.

I II

Claims (14)

1. A refuse collection vehicle having at least two separate refuse storage compartments, at least two of the refuse storage compartments each having a compactor device including a paddle that is adapted to move refuse from a refuse entry portion into the respective refuse storage compartment, each paddle being connected to a common drive shaft, the paddle associated with one:of the refuse storage compartments having a different length to at least one paddle associated with another refuse storage compartment so that paddles of different length exert different compaction forces on refuse by virtue of their different lengths.

2. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the said common drive shaft is driven by a pair of hydraulic cylinders.

3. A refuse collection vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein each of the said paddles is adapted to pivot through an arc that extends over an angle of approximately 180°.

4. A refuse collection vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein one of said at least two refuse storage compartments is partly or wholly above another one of said at least two refuse storage compartments, 20 the paddle associated with the upper refuse storage compartment being •shorter than the paddle associated with the lower refuse storage compartment.

A refuse collection vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims 25 with control means arranged to control the operation of the paddles, the control means having one mode of operation wherein the paddles continuously pivot back and forth through an arc and another mode of operation wherein the paddles pivot through an arc for a given number of cycles when a specific signal is given.

6. A refuse collection vehicle according to .any one of the preceeding claims including sensor means associated with the compactor device and control means for controlling the compactor device responsive to the sensor means whereby to provide different degrees of compaction of refuse in said at least two storage compartments.

7. A refuse collection vehicle having at least two separate refuse storage compartments, at least two of the refuse storage compartments each having a compactor device that is adapted to move refuse from a refuse entry portion into the respective refuse storage compartment, sensor means associated with the compactor device and control means for controlling the compactor device responsive to said sensor means whereby to provide different degrees of compaction of refuse in said at least two refuse storage compartments.

8. A refuse collection vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the refuse storage compartments includes a first and second region, there being provided a door, the door being arranged such that when the one compartment is empty the door is in an initial position and separates the first region from the second region, the door being adapted to move from its initial position to allow entry of refuse into said second region when the first region fills.

9. A refuse collection vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims S" wherein there is provided an overflow region, at least two of the refuse storage compartments being provided with a door which may be opened to allow entry of refuse into said overflow region, any one of said doors being selectively openable to allow refuse from the refuse storage compartment 20 associated with that door to enter the overflow region.

10. A refuse collection vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one refuse storage compartment in addition to the refuse "movement device includes a rake adapted to move refuse in a direction 25 away from the refuse entry part of the refuse storage compartment.

11. A refuse collection vehicle according to claim 10 wherein said rake is mounted for reciprocating movement.

12. A refuse collection vehicle according to,claim 10 or 11 wherein said rake includes refuse engaging means with a .rake blade, said refuse engaging means being mounted in such a way as to push refuse along said at least one refuse storage compartment when travelling in one direction but to pivot or flex out of pushing engagement with the refuse when travelling in Sthe opposite direction.

13. A refuse collection vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims including chute means having a mouth with divider adapted to interengage with a divider of a refuse bin to direct refuse from different parts of the storage bin into separate refuse compartments in the vehicle.

14. A refuse collection vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims substantially as hereinbefore described. eS 00 4