CN116923926A - Improved waste collection vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application relates to a waste collection vehicle comprising a hopper, a tank adjacent the hopper, and a transfer channel comprising an auger and extending from the hopper into the tank. The transfer channel is inclined such that the feed end is located at the base of the hopper and the discharge end is located at the top plate of the tank. The auger creates an effective seal with the bottom surface of the transfer channel and the hopper and tank are sealed to each other. Vehicles can better handle waste with high liquid content, such as food waste, because the discharge end at the roof can more completely fill the tank, an effective seal allows the auger to better transport the waste upward, and there is no path for backflow from the tank to the hopper.

Description

Improved waste collection vehicle

Technical Field

The present application relates to a waste collection vehicle. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present application relates to a waste collection vehicle adapted to collect food waste.

Background

The waste collection vehicle is the infrastructure of any living area and is the most economical way to manage waste. While waste collection vehicles have existed in various forms for many years, advances in technology (e.g., hydraulics and electronics) have allowed them to become more ergonomic and efficient. As operators collect waste at each residential and/or commercial facility, and as they unload the waste after completing their route, various loading and unloading mechanisms may be employed to reduce the work that the operators need to do.

A key performance indicator of waste collection vehicles is the volume of waste they can feasibly store and transport, as this increases the number of locations that the vehicle can access before unloading is required. To this end, some vehicles may be equipped with a compacting device, such as the vehicle shown in NZ720316a, including an auger that may compact the waste as it moves from the hopper to the storage.

While such compaction devices may be effective, vehicles incorporating them are not always well suited for treating all types of waste. For example, it is known that food waste has a high liquid content and is sometimes collected separately from general waste. When this type of waste is collected, the vehicle (e.g., NZ720316 a) is prone to leakage at the back door and the auger is not always able to completely fill the storage volume due to "back flow" through the auger at the storage point.

It is therefore desirable to find a waste collection vehicle configuration that is well suited for processing waste with high liquid content (e.g., food waste) and to utilize an automated mechanism to increase the efficiency of the vehicle to maximize the payload that can be stored in the storage volume.

In this specification, external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, are referenced, generally in order to provide a context for discussing the features of the application. Unless otherwise indicated, reference to such sources of information in any jurisdiction should not be construed as an admission that such sources of information are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

For purposes of this specification, method steps are described in a sequential order, which does not necessarily mean that the steps are ordered in time in that order, unless other logical means of the order is not explained.

It is an object of the present application to provide a waste collection vehicle which overcomes or at least partially ameliorates some of the disadvantages described above, or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect, the application broadly consists in a waste collection vehicle comprising:

a hopper configured to receive waste;

a storage tank adjacent to the hopper;

a conveying channel extending from the hopper into the tank and comprising an auger configured to convey waste from the hopper to the tank;

wherein the transfer channel is inclined such that the feed end is located at or around the base of the hopper and the discharge end is located at or towards the roof of the tank;

wherein the auger creates an effective seal with the bottom surface of the conveyor channel so that waste with a high liquid content can be conveyed upward; and

wherein the hopper and the tank are sealed from each other such that the waste filling level in the tank can rise above the feed end without waste flowing from the tank to the hopper.

According to another aspect, the discharge end of the transfer channel extends at least partially above the tank ceiling.

According to another aspect, the discharge end is located in the central third of the tank, thereby helping to increase the allowable axle load.

According to another aspect, the conveying path is inclined at 25 to 50 degrees relative to the horizontal plane.

According to another aspect, the hopper is located adjacent to the rear of the vehicle cab and the tank is located behind both the cab and the hopper.

According to another aspect, the waste collection vehicle further includes a tipping mechanism mounted on the vehicle frame below the tank and configured to tip the tank to facilitate emptying of the collected waste.

According to another aspect, the tipping mechanism may tip the tank to a maximum angle of between 60 and 90 degrees.

According to another aspect, the tipping mechanism may tip the tank to a maximum angle of between 85 and 90 degrees.

According to another aspect, the waste collection vehicle further includes a rear door that forms a rear section of the roof of the tank in the closed position, and that is movable to an open position to facilitate emptying of waste through the roof when the tank is tipped over.

According to another aspect, the tank comprises a bevel at its rear portion between 30 and 60 degrees from the horizontal.

According to another aspect, the bevel is 40 to 50 degrees from horizontal.

According to another aspect, the rear door presents lever arms on one or both sides of the tank, each lever arm being connected to a respective fixed point on the vehicle frame via a cable, so that when the tank is tipped over, the rear door is automatically pulled towards the open position via the cable acting on the lever arm.

According to another aspect, the tank is equipped with a pivotable leg below the side edges of the rear door, which leg is movable between a stowed position and a supporting position in which the leg holds the rear door in the open position when the tank is not tipped.

According to another aspect, the waste collection vehicle further includes a support roller positioned below the tipping mechanism and movable from a transport position above the ground to a ground-contacting support position, the support roller providing support during tipping of the tank, thereby reducing loading on the rear axle of the vehicle.

According to another aspect, the waste collection vehicle further includes a drain channel extending from the hopper base into the tank, the drain channel configured to drain residual liquid from the hopper when the tank is tipped.

According to another aspect, the channel extends horizontally.

According to another aspect, the inlet point of the drain channel into the tank is equipped with a valve configured to allow liquid from the drain channel into the tank without reversing flow.

According to another aspect, the valve is a flap valve.

According to another aspect, the feed end of the transfer channel is fitted with a grating above the discharge channel, which grating allows residual liquid to be discharged from the transfer channel into the discharge channel.

According to another aspect, the hopper includes one or more water jet nozzles configured to clean waste from the hopper and/or direct it into the feed end of the conveying path.

According to another aspect, the hopper, the tank and the transfer passage are sealed to prevent liquid flow.

According to another aspect, the auger is a shaftless auger.

According to another aspect, the auger scrapes the bottom surface of the conveying path.

According to another aspect, the bottom surface of the conveying channel is provided with a replaceable wear plate, which the auger can scrape.

According to another aspect, the auger has a variable pitch. According to another aspect, the auger has a constant pitch.

According to another aspect, a motor for driving the auger is mounted at the discharge end of the conveyor channel and above the top plate of the tank.

According to another aspect, the waste collection vehicle further comprises a loading mechanism mounted to a side of the hopper and comprising a trough or bin lift, wherein in the collection position the trough or bin lift is at a suitably ergonomic height for filling by an operator, and wherein in the storage position the trough or bin lift is lifted and tilted over the hopper to transfer waste.

According to another aspect, the hopper is opened from above.

According to another aspect, the waste collection vehicle is a food waste collection vehicle.

According to another aspect, the transfer channel is closed along its extent between the hopper and the tank.

Other aspects of the application will become apparent from the following description, given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As used herein, the term "and/or" means "and" or both.

As used herein, "(s)" followed by a noun refers to the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.

The term "comprising" as used in the present specification and claims means "consisting at least in part of …". When interpreting statements in this specification and claims which include that term, the features recited in each statement that begin with that term need to be present, but other features can also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "include" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

Drawings

The application will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a waste collection vehicle;

FIG. 2A shows a cross-sectional elevation view of the hopper with the loading mechanism in a collection position;

FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional elevation view of the hopper with the loading mechanism in a storage position;

FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional side view of a hopper, a reservoir and a transfer channel;

FIG. 3B shows an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the hopper base, discharge channel and valve;

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the waste collection vehicle;

FIG. 5 shows a side view of the waste collection vehicle;

FIG. 6A shows a rear perspective view of the waste collection vehicle with the body in a fill position;

FIG. 6B shows a rear perspective view of the waste collection vehicle with the body in an empty position;

FIG. 6C shows a rear perspective view of the waste collection vehicle with the body in an empty position with the struts deployed;

FIG. 6D shows a rear perspective view of the waste collection vehicle between a fill position and an empty position with the struts deployed;

FIG. 7A shows a side view of the waste collection vehicle with the struts deployed to hold the rear door in an open position;

FIG. 7B shows a side view of the waste collection vehicle with the storage body in an empty position and the mast stowed;

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the support roller in a transport position and a support position; and

fig. 9 shows a rear view of the waste collection vehicle.

Detailed Description

According to aspects of various embodiments of the present application as shown in fig. 1-9, a waste collection vehicle 1 is provided, which will now be described.

As shown in fig. 1, the waste collection vehicle 1 includes a hopper 10, a tank 20 adjacent to the hopper 10, and a conveying path 30 extending from the hopper 10 into the tank 20. Preferably, the waste collection vehicle is a truck having typical features such as a cab 2, a frame 3 and wheels 4. Preferably the vehicle has two axles, so there is only one rear axle 5, but additional rear axles 5 may also be provided.

A typical operation of the waste collection vehicle 1 is to start the collection run with an empty tank 20. During a collection run, the waste collection vehicle 1 may access a plurality of homes, commercial facilities, or other collection points, and an operator may load waste out of the cab 2 and then return to the cab 2. After the collection operation is completed, the waste collection vehicle 1 may return to a warehouse or other point of emptying and then empty the contents of the tank 20, wherein the duration of the collection operation may be limited by the maximum volume of the tank 20.

The hopper 10 is opened from above to receive waste during collection. The hopper 10 may be manually loaded by an operator, but it is preferable to mount the loading mechanism 12 to the hopper 10, which may automatically lift and tip waste into the hopper 10. The loading mechanism 12 is preferably driven by the hydraulic device 6 of the collection vehicle 1 and may be controlled by an operator, for example via an electronic controller 7 in the cab 2. An external controller may also be located near the loading mechanism 12. The electronic controller 7 within the cab 2 may preferably be used to control most or all of the power mechanisms of the vehicle 1 as will be described herein, and may have an associated display for monitoring the status of each mechanism.

The loading mechanism 12 may receive waste directly within the trough 13, or alternatively, the loading mechanism 12 may be configured as a bin elevator 14 that temporarily secures the bin when the waste-filled bin is emptied into the hopper 10. In any event, the movement of the loading mechanism 12 is identical such that the slot 13 and the cartridge lifter 14 can be provided as interchangeable attachments to the loading mechanism 12.

Preferably, the loading mechanism 12 is mounted laterally on the hopper 10 such that the waste collection vehicle 1 is loaded laterally, e.g., as opposed to being loaded rearwardly. Thus, the hopper 10 may have a shorter wall on the side where the loading mechanism 12 is mounted, which provides space for the trough 13 or the bin lift 14 to tip into the hopper 10.

Fig. 2A shows a cross section of the hopper 10 and the loading mechanism 12 in a collection position. In the collection position, the trough 13 or the bin lift 14 is lowered to the ground for filling by the operator, preferably at a suitable ergonomic height.

Fig. 2B shows a cross section of the hopper 10 and the loading mechanism 12 in a storage position in which the trough 13 or bin lift 14 is inverted or at least tipped over the hopper 10. When moved to the storage position, the loading mechanism 12 lifts and tilts the chute 13 or the bin lift 14 so that the contained waste is dumped into the hopper 10 from above. The loading mechanism 12 may then be returned to the collection position.

As also shown in fig. 2A-2B, the conveyor channel 30 includes an auger 31, the auger 31 configured to convey waste from the hopper 10 to the tank 20. The feed end 32 of the transfer channel 30 is located at the base 11 of the hopper 10 and opens directly into the auger 31. It can be seen that the auger 31 is preferably shaftless, having bearings and motor 35 at only one end. Such an auger may still have a short shaft mounted in bearings and coupled to motor 35 at one end, as the definition of a shaftless auger refers only to a central shaft that does not run along the length of auger 31.

Preferably, the hopper 10 has an inwardly inclined surface 15 which directs waste into the conveying path 30. This helps to prevent unwanted accumulation of waste within the hopper 10, alternatively ensuring that the auger 31 will receive all of the waste and deliver it into the tank 20 without excessive accumulation within the hopper 10.

The transfer channel 30 is preferably closed along its extent between the hopper 10 and the tank 20, although in alternative embodiments it may be open along the top. A closed top is preferred to avoid any risk of the auger 31 spilling waste as the auger 31 delivers the waste into the tank 20. As shown, the top of the transfer channel 30 may form part of the exterior of the vehicle 1 along its main extent, i.e. it is not inside the tank 20, but a part of the volume of the tank 20 and the roof 21 is cut away to accommodate the transfer channel 30. Alternatively, the main extent of the transfer channel 30 may be below the top plate 21 within the tank 20. The former arrangement is preferred because it helps maintain a seal between the hopper 10 and the tank 20 at all waste fill levels, however, the latter arrangement may provide a higher maximum payload volume.

As shown in fig. 3A, the transfer channel 30 is inclined such that the feed end 32 is located at or around the base 11 of the hopper 10 and the discharge end 33 is located at or towards the top plate 21 of the tank 20. Thus, the transported waste falls into the tank 20 from above, and the discharge end 33 will remain above the waste filling level of the tank 20 until the tank 20 is almost full to its roof 21. The discharge end 33 may be mounted in the top plate 21 or on the top plate 21 to facilitate this elevated height, however it should be appreciated that positioning toward the top plate 21 rather than in or on the top plate 21 may be sufficient.

The discharge end 33 may be located at least partially above the top plate 21 and the waste may rise above the level of the top plate 21 while being received in the conveyor channel 30 and then fall back into the tank 20 from the underside of the discharge end 33. Partially above the top plate 21 may help to keep the discharge end 33 stored in the tank 20 as high as possible, which is desirable to keep the discharge end 33 above the waste fill level for as long as possible during collection.

Preferably, the discharge end 33 is also located above the substantially central position of the tank 20 to facilitate uniform filling. For example, the discharge end 33 is preferably at the center third of the tank 20, which is a portion of the total volume parallel to the rear and front edges of the tank 20. To determine the position of the middle third, the front and rear edges may be considered as the respective edges of the top plate 21. Bringing the discharge end 33 closer to the rear axle 5 also helps to improve the load distribution on the road axle of the vehicle and increases the allowable load.

The angle of inclination of the transfer channel 30 may depend on the relative height and length of the tank 20, as a greater ratio of height to length will require a steeper angle to maintain the preferred central position of the discharge end 33. Preferably, the inclination angle ranges from 25 to 50 degrees.

The auger 31 creates an effective seal against the bottom surface 34 of the transfer channel 30 so that waste with a high liquid content can be transferred upward. An effective seal means that the spacing between the auger 31 and the bottom surface 34 is sufficiently small that when the auger 31 is operated to transport waste (particularly waste having a high liquid content, such as food waste), there is little leakage of the waste down the transport channel 30 back into the hopper 10. This ensures that the waste transport rate is high enough to prevent accumulation within the hopper 10.

The effective seal is preferably created by a scraping action against the bottom surface 34. The bottom surface 34 of the conveyor channel 30 may be equipped with a wear plate 37 against which the auger 31 scrapes. These wear plates 37 are replaceable so that when they wear (which reduces the effective seal of the auger 31), the wear plates 37 can be removed and replaced without the need to replace the entire transfer channel 30. Once the auger 31 is started to transport waste using the newly assembled wear plate 37, the compacted waste bag may fill its grooves or defects as the wear plate 37 wears. This helps to improve the effective seal so that most waste is transported at a suitable rate.

The preferred form of the auger 31 as a shaftless auger also assists in the effective sealing that occurs between the auger 31 and the bottom surface 34. Because the auger 31 is supported from only one end, it may be spaced less from the bottom surface 34 due to the lack of opposing bearings. For a shaft auger having two opposing bearings, some clearance from the bottom surface 34 is typically required to account for bearing alignment tolerances. The shaft may also increase the stiffness of the auger, thereby preventing bending. However, the shaftless auger 31 supported from one end will naturally scrape the bottom surface 34 and can be more easily bent to facilitate scraping. The shaftless auger 31 also has other advantages in conveying waste, for example, it prevents debris from becoming entangled on the shaft.

The auger 31 compacts the waste material being transported as it moves through the transport path 30 to some extent, thereby improving the quality of the payload that may be stored within the tank 20. Compaction may be performed with an auger 31 having a constant pitch as shown, however, variable pitches may alternatively be used to vary compaction characteristics.

The motor 35 and associated gearbox and bearings of the auger 31 are preferably arranged at the discharge end 33 of the transfer channel 30 such that they are remote from the hopper 10. This makes the sealing of the hopper 10 simpler by avoiding any mechanism around the base 11 that could be blocked or otherwise damaged by waste. Preferably, the motor 35 is also located above the top plate 21 of the tank 20 to protect the tank 20 from waste when it is filled and to increase the available payload volume by allowing the discharge end 33 to be higher within the tank 30.

The hopper 10 and the tank 20 are sealed from each other so that waste cannot flow back from the tank 20 to the hopper 10. Since the discharge end 33 is located at a high level in the tank 20, the waste material cannot flow back down the conveyor channel 30 after falling into the tank 20. Thus, the waste fill level in the tank 20 may rise above the level of the feed end 32 within the hopper 10 without waste flowing from the tank 20 to the hopper 10. The hopper 10 and the tank 20 are also preferably sealed to prevent liquid from flowing out, so that a gap is not provided that can leak waste having a high liquid content (e.g., food waste). The transfer channel 30 is also preferably sealed along its major extent so that no backflow occurs due to leakage from the tank 20 into the transfer channel 30.

The hopper 10 may include one or more water spray nozzles 17 to clean waste from the hopper 10, preferably by spraying onto an inwardly sloped surface 15. Preferably, the water injection nozzle 17 is configured to be connectable to an external water supply, which may be connected by an operator, for example, when cleaning the hopper 10 after the collection operation is completed. However, it is also possible to provide a water supply and associated pump on the vehicle 1 for post-collection cleaning purposes or to assist in directing waste into the conveying channel 30 during a collection run.

As shown in fig. 3B, the hopper 10 may include a discharge channel 16 below the transfer channel 30 that extends into the tank 20. Residual liquid accumulated in the hopper 10 and the feed end 32 of the transfer channel 30 may drain into the discharge channel 16, for example via a grid 36 fitted to the feed end 32 above the discharge channel 16. The liquid may include residual liquid content from waste or liquid from other sources, such as rainwater entering through the top of the hopper 10 or water from the water spray nozzles 17. The discharge channel 16 is preferably horizontal.

Preferably, the inlet point of the discharge channel 16 into the tank 20 is equipped with a valve 24, which valve 24 allows liquid from the discharge channel 16 into the tank 20 without reversing the flow. Once the waste fill level in the tank 20 rises to the entry point, this causes the valve 24 to seal, thereby preventing waste from returning from the tank 20 to the hopper 10 via the discharge channel 16. For this reason, once the collection operation of the vehicle 1 has started, the discharge channel 16 cannot be discharged from the hopper 10 to the tank 20, however, as will be described, the discharge channel 16 is used to provide a discharge path when the tank 20 is tipped during the emptying operation. Valve 24 is preferably a flap valve, but may alternatively be any other type of suitable valve.

As shown in fig. 4, the hopper 10 is preferably located adjacently behind the cab 2 of the vehicle 1, although there may be a gap between them. The distance between the cab 2 and the hopper 10 is preferably short in order to minimize the distance that the operator must travel during the collection operation, as the operator may need to frequently leave the cab to load the trough 13 or the bin lift 14 before activating the loading mechanism 12. The tank 20 is located behind the cab 2 and the hopper 10. Other arrangements (e.g. a rear hopper 10) are possible but less ergonomic and therefore less preferred.

As shown in fig. 5, the tank 20 preferably has an upward slope 23 toward the rear. As will be described, the upward incline 23 facilitates emptying through the roof 21 by tipping the rear door 42 outwardly, since the upward incline 23 forms a downward incline, and when the tank 20 is tipped over a sufficient angle, waste can slide downward. In the non-tipped position of the tank 20, the upward slope 23 is preferably at an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees, more preferably between 40 and 50 degrees, to the horizontal.

Preferably, the waste collection vehicle 1 empties the collected waste from the tank 20 by tipping over to the rear. For this purpose, it has a tilting mechanism 40 mounted between the tank 20 and the frame 3 of the vehicle. In fig. 5, the tilting mechanism 40 is hidden within a tilting support frame 41 that provides a pivot axis 42 for tilting the tank 20.

As shown in fig. 6A, the tank 20 preferably has a rear door 42 that forms a rear section of the top plate 21 of the tank 20. When the tank 20 is in the non-tipped filling position, the rear door 42 by default rests in the closed position as shown.

As shown in fig. 6B, the tipping mechanism 40 may tip the tank 20 to a tipped empty position. In the tipped emptying position, the rear door 42 is moved to an open position to facilitate emptying of waste through the top plate 21. Preferably, the rear door 42 is pivotally openable and pivots on either side mounting points of the tank 20. However, it may alternatively be a slide open.

The hopper 10 abuts the tank 20 and the conveyor channels 30 connect them together so that the hopper 10 and associated loading mechanism 12 are tipped together with the tank 20. This also allows the hopper 10 to be discharged during emptying, preferably via the discharge channel 16. Valve 24 is free to open when tank 20 is tipped over and the contained waste is emptied. Residual liquid in the hopper 10 may enter the discharge channel 16 and then into the tank 20 and then out the rear door 42 with other waste. This provides an efficient way of discharging while still allowing the hopper 10 and the tank 20 to be sealed to each other during the collecting operation.

In a preferred form, which is pivotably openable, the rear door 42 may present lever arms 44 on one or both sides of the tank 20, each lever arm 44 being connected to a respective fixed point 45 on the frame 3 of the vehicle 1 via a cable 46. When the tank 20 is tipped over, the rear door 42 is automatically pulled to the open position via the cable 46 acting on the lever arm 44. Preferably, lever arms 44 are provided on either side of the rear door 42 such that a pair of cables 46 are tethered to a pair of corresponding fixed points 45. The location of the fixing point 45 and the shape of the lever arm 44 may be suitably selected to form a linkage. The use of the cable 46 eliminates the need to open the rear door 42 with a more complex hydraulic or electric mechanism.

The tank 20 may be fitted with pivotable struts 47 below the side edges of the rear door 42. In fig. 6B, a stowed position within the rim of the tank 20 is shown. Each pivotable leg 47 may be held in the stowed position by a pin inserted horizontally across the edge of the tank 20.

As shown in fig. 6C, the pivotable leg 47 may be unfolded from the edge of the tank 20 to a supporting position. The support post 47 can only be deployed when the tank 20 is in the tipped empty position, such that the rear door 42 is in the open position. Each pivotable leg 47 may be self-expanding by removing the pin used to hold it in the stowed position, and the same pin may be used to hold the leg 47 in the support position.

As shown in fig. 6D, the pivotable leg 47 may hold the rear door 42 in the open position when the tank 20 begins to return to the non-tipped filling position. When the tank 20 is returned, the ends of the struts 47 will engage the side edges of the rear door 42, preventing it from returning to the closed position.

As shown in fig. 7A, the pivotable leg 47 may hold the rear door 42 in the open position when the tank 20 is in its non-tipped filling position. In this position, the cable 46 is slack. Thus, the support position of the support post 47 may provide access to the tank for maintenance or cleaning purposes after a collection run. To return the support 47 to the stowed position, the tank 20 may be tipped over again.

As shown in fig. 7B, the tilting mechanism preferably takes the form of one or more pistons which can be driven by the hydraulic means 6 and which are mounted between the vehicle frame 3 and the upwardly inclined surface 23 of the tank 20.

In order to ensure complete emptying of all waste contained in the tank 20, a high tipping angle is required. Preferably, the tilting mechanism 40 may tilt the tank 20 to a maximum angle between 60 and 90 degrees, more preferably to a maximum angle between 85 and 90 degrees. The roll-over support frame 41 at the rear of the vehicle frame 3 may provide a raised pivot 43, making such high roll-over angles feasible. However, the higher the roll angle, the higher the loading on the vehicle rear axle 5.

As shown in fig. 8, a backup roll 48 may be located below the tilt mechanism 40 and pivot 43 to help ease loading from the rear axle 5 of the vehicle 1. The support roller 48 is movable from a transport position above the ground to a support position in contact with the ground. The support roller 48 may be moved to the support position either automatically or manually prior to tipping the tank 20 to its tipped empty position. The support rollers 48 then provide support to the frame 3 during tipping of the tank 20, which reduces loading on the rear axle 5 of the vehicle 1 and allows a higher tipping angle to be achieved without the risk of damaging the rear axle 5.

The support roller 48 preferably has a pivotable mechanism which can be driven by the hydraulic device 6 of the vehicle 1. Preferably, the operator can move the support roller 48 to the support position using a controller provided in the cab 2. In the support position, the support roller 48 should ideally be aligned approximately vertically with the center of mass of the tank 20 in the tipped empty position.

As shown in fig. 9, the support roller 48 preferably does not extend beyond the outer extent of the wheel 4, so that the width envelope of the vehicle 1 is not widened by the presence of the support roller 48.

The described waste collection vehicle 1 is well suited for collecting food waste and has many benefits, particularly when dealing with this type of waste, especially when compared to prior art waste collection vehicles.

The use of the auger 31 provides for efficient compaction of the waste during the collection operation, thereby improving the quality of the payload that may be carried in the tank 20. This provides an advantage over a waste collection vehicle without any compacting means. It is a less complex and more reliable mechanism than, for example, compacting plates.

Due to the elevated discharge end 33 of the conveyor channel 30 at the top plate 21, at any waste fill level of the tank 20, waste does not clog around the discharge end 33 and does not flow back into the auger 31. For prior art waste collection vehicles having an auger (e.g., a horizontal auger) entering the tank near the bottom, clogging can be a problem because once the waste fill level reaches the level of the discharge end, waste can begin to push back from the tank into the auger. This problem is particularly evident in food waste having a high liquid content. Thus, the raised discharge end 33 allows a greater volume of waste to be stored in the tank 20, more fully utilizing the available space.

Centering the discharge end 33 in the center third of the tank 20 also results in a more uniform filling of the tank 20, which helps to prevent sporadic unused space from being present in the tank 20. Thus, the combination of the central position of the discharge end 33 within the tank 20 and the raised position (which is the result of the inclination of the conveying channel 30) allows to more fully utilize the volume of the tank 20.

The effective sealing of the auger 31 to the bottom surface 34 of the transfer channel 30 increases the rate at which waste is transferred from the hopper 10 to the tank 20. The effective seal also enables the auger 31 to be tilted while still being able to transport waste (e.g., food waste) having a high liquid content upward without excessive downward leakage. In the preferred shaftless version of the auger 31, the effective seal is further improved and the auger 31 will scrape the bottom surface 34. The effective sealing of the auger 31 is an advantage over prior art waste collection vehicles incorporating some form of auger, as there is no effective sealing in these vehicles and the augers used are typically shaft-bearing with bearings at both ends and more spaced from the bottom surface. This makes such prior art vehicles unsuitable for treating waste (e.g., food waste) having a high liquid content.

Because the rear door 42 for emptying forms part of the roof 21 of the tank 20, waste does not leak through where the rear door 42 meets the tank 20. This is an advantage over prior art waste collection vehicles because in prior art waste collection vehicles the door of the tank is rear-facing, which is particularly prone to leakage when the tank has a payload of waste with a high liquid content (e.g. food waste).

Particularly in view of the use of the rear door 42 to empty the tank 20, a high tipping angle is required to ensure that all waste is emptied. Features such as the tilt support frame 41 and the support rollers 48 allow the tilt mechanism 40 to achieve a high maximum tilt angle, preferably between 70 and 90 degrees, and more preferably between 85 and 90 degrees. In combination with the incline 23 of the tank 20 forming a downward incline in the tipped emptying position, this high angle reliably ensures that all waste can be emptied from the tank 20. While some prior art waste collection vehicles may be able to tip over to help empty the tank, they often cannot achieve such an angle and may require some labor to completely empty the tank, especially for waste types (e.g., food waste) that may stick to the interior surfaces.

The preferred arrangement of the hopper 10 is adjacent the rear of the cab 2 and has a laterally mounted loading mechanism 12, which provides better ergonomics than at least some prior art waste collection vehicles. Adjacent the hopper 10 and loading mechanism 12 to the cab 2 means that the operator only walks a short distance when loading, for example, compared to a rearwardly loaded waste collection vehicle.

Many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the application will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which the application pertains without departing from the scope of the application as defined in the appended claims.

The application may also be broadly described as comprising the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this application relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.

Claims (30)

1. A waste collection vehicle comprising:

a hopper configured to receive waste;

a storage tank adjacent to the hopper;

a conveying channel extending from the hopper into the tank and comprising an auger configured to convey waste from the hopper to the tank;

wherein the conveying channel is inclined such that the feed end is located at or around the base of the hopper and the discharge end is located at or towards the roof of the tank;

wherein the auger creates an effective seal with the bottom surface of the conveying channel so that waste with a high liquid content can be conveyed upward; and

wherein the hopper and the tank are sealed from each other such that the waste fill level in the tank can rise above the feed end without waste flowing from the tank to the hopper.

2. The waste collection vehicle of claim 1, wherein the discharge end of the conveyor channel extends at least partially above the roof of the tank.

3. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the discharge end is located in the central third of the tank to assist in increasing the allowable axle load.

4. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the conveying path is inclined at 25 to 50 degrees relative to the horizontal.

5. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the hopper is located adjacent to the rear of the vehicle's cab and the tank is located behind both the cab and the hopper.

6. The waste collection vehicle of claim 5, further comprising a tipping mechanism mounted on the vehicle frame below the tank and configured to tip the tank to facilitate emptying of collected waste.

7. The waste collection vehicle of claim 6 wherein the tipping mechanism can tip the tank to a maximum angle of between 60 and 90 degrees.

8. The waste collection vehicle of claim 7 wherein the tipping mechanism can tip the tank to a maximum angle of between 85 and 90 degrees.

9. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, further comprising a rear door which forms a rear section of the roof of the tank in a closed position and which is movable to an open position to facilitate emptying of waste through the roof when the tank is tipped over.

10. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the tank includes a ramp at its rear portion at 30 to 60 degrees to the horizontal.

11. The waste collection vehicle of claim 10, wherein the incline is 40 to 50 degrees from horizontal.

12. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the rear door presents lever arms on one or both sides of the tank, each lever arm being connected to a respective fixed point on the frame of the vehicle via a cable such that when the tank is tipped over, the rear door is automatically pulled towards the open position via the cable acting on the lever arm.

13. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the bin is fitted with a pivotable strut below a side edge of the rear door, the strut being movable between a stowed position and a supporting position in which the strut retains the rear door in the open position when the bin is not tipped.

14. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, further comprising a support roller located below the tipping mechanism and movable from a transport position above ground to a support position in contact with ground, the support roller providing support during tipping of the tank, thereby reducing loading on a rear axle of the vehicle.

15. The waste collection vehicle of any one of claims 6 to 14, further comprising a drain channel extending from a base of the hopper into the tank, the drain channel configured to drain residual liquid from the hopper when the tank is tipped.

16. The waste collection vehicle of claim 15, wherein the tunnel extends horizontally.

17. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein an inlet point of the discharge channel into the tank is fitted with a valve configured to allow liquid from the discharge channel into the tank without reversing flow.

18. The waste collection vehicle of claim 17, wherein the valve is a flap valve.

19. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 18, wherein the feed end of the transfer channel is fitted with a grille above the discharge channel, the grille allowing residual liquid to be discharged from the transfer channel into the discharge channel.

20. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the hopper comprises one or more water jet nozzles configured to clean waste from the hopper and/or direct it into the feed end of the conveying channel.

21. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the hopper, tank and transfer channel are sealed to prevent liquid outflow.

22. The waste collection vehicle of any of the preceding claims, wherein the auger is a shaftless auger.

23. The waste collection vehicle of any of the preceding claims, wherein the auger scrapes the bottom surface of the conveyor channel.

24. The waste collection vehicle of claim 23 wherein the bottom surface of the conveyor channel is provided with a replaceable wear plate against which the auger can scrape.

25. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the auger has a variable pitch.

26. The waste collection vehicle of any one of claims 1 to 24 wherein the auger has a constant pitch.

27. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a motor for driving the auger is mounted at the discharge end of the conveyor channel and above the roof of the tank.

28. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a loading mechanism mounted to a side of the hopper and comprising a trough or bin lift, wherein in a collection position the trough or bin lift is at a height that is suitably ergonomic for filling by an operator, and wherein in a storage position the trough or bin lift is lifted and tipped over the hopper to transfer waste.

29. A waste collection vehicle as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the hopper is open from above.

30. The waste collection vehicle of any of the preceding claims, wherein the waste collection vehicle is a food waste collection vehicle.