EP1236656A1

EP1236656A1 - Subterranean storage system for a container

Info

Publication number: EP1236656A1
Application number: EP02388017A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Poul H. Poulsen
Original assignee: Invissible ApS
Current assignee: Invissible ApS
Priority date: 2001-03-01
Filing date: 2002-02-28
Publication date: 2002-09-04

Abstract

The invention relates to a subterranean storage system (2) for a container, preferably a waste disposal container, wherein opening and closing of a lid (6) that covers the system is not to be performed manually and separately when the system is operated. Opening and closing of the lid (6) can be performed by the same drive unit as is used for driving the platform. The lifting means comprise at least four straps (10), in which the platform (8) is suspended, said straps (10) being, via rollers (16,28) at their one end, connected to the platform (8) and synchronised by means of rollers (16,54) and a shaft (32), wherein rotational energy can be supplied to the shaft (32); and wherein the straps (10) are, at their other end, conveyed over reversing rollers (24) and are directly or indirectly connected to elastic means (11) and to the lid (6); wherein the weight of the platform (8) has such magnitude while being located in its lower position with the straps (10) unloaded, that rotation of the shaft (32) for winding the straps will initially deform the elastic means (11), and thereby move the lid (6) towards its open position until a stop is reached, following which further rotation of the shaft (32) for winding of the straps (10) will elevate the platform (8) towards its upper position.

Description

The invention relates to a storage system for a container, preferably a waste disposal container, said storage system comprising a well portion, at least one lid that is preferably a two-part lid and movable between an open and a closed position, a platform on which the container is located, and lifting means for operating the platform between a lower and an upper position.
It is known to have containers that are suitable for automatic emptying by means of eg a renovation vehicle. Usually such containers do not contribute to the embellishment of an area, such as a driveway or a residential area in general. Therefore it is often the case that such containers are hidden behind screens or the like. In case of large collection sites where a number of containers are located in the same place, they are often located in a small shed built to purpose. Such measures are necessary if such containers are not to be out in the open and disfigure the surroundings.
It is a further problem that, eg during periods of summer, odour nuisances will occur from the containers, their contents starting to decompose due to warm weather. A further problem may be that the lid of the containers, which are often located on the outside during the winter, freeze fast due to water or snow that sits thereon. There are also problems with wildlife, eg foxes as well as stray dogs and cats, often trying to obtain access to the contents of the containers, typically by overturning them.
German Patent Publication No DE 41005901 A1 teaches a subterranean storage system. The system comprises a well within which a platform can be moved up and down by means of four straps. It is the object of that technique to provide a system that takes into consideration safety aspects while simultaneously being inexpensive. It is therefore stated that energy to drive the movement is supplied by means of a manually pulled strap or a weak motor without further specifying, however, how the motorised version is intended to be accomplished. Securing of the platform in its upper position is accomplished by the manually pulled strap having an opening that can be caused to engage with a mandrel that is located peripherally in the well. In order to access the well and also the manually pulled strap for moving the platform to its upper position, the lid that covers the opening down-well must initially be opened. As featured in the disclosure, it is noted that it would be cumbersome to have to bend over to open the lid with one's hand. However, one still needs to bend over to seize the manually pulled strap. However, the disclosure teaches that opening of the lid can be facilitated by the provision of a spring-biased opening mechanism that is biased when the lid is closed. In order to be able to maintain the lid in its closed position it is therefore necessary to have a lock that has been configured to be operated by foot to facilitate its operation. It is a fact, however, that the user will, in all circumstances, have to bend over to seize the manually pulled strap in order to be able to pull up the platform. With the platform in its upper position, the user must simultaneously cause the opening in the manually pulled strap to engage with the mandrel, which is also cumbersome since it is necessary to simultaneously pull the strap and hold up the platform as well as the load located on the platform.
It is the object of the invention to provide a concealed storage system, wherein opening and closing of the lid that covers the system is not to be carried out manually and separately when the system is operated. It is yet an object that opening and closing of the lid can be performed by the same drive unit that is used for driving the platform. It is yet a further object to provide a storage system that is simple and user-friendly.
Novel and characterising aspects of the invention comprise that the lifting means comprises at least four straps in which the platform is suspended, which straps are, via rollers in their one end, connected to the platform and synchronized by means of rollers and a shaft, where rotational energy can be supplied to the shaft; and wherein the straps are, at their other end, conveyed over reversing rollers and are directly or indirectly connected to elastic means and to the lid, wherein the weight of the platform is of such magnitude that, when located in its lower position with the straps unloaded, rotation of the shaft for winding up the straps will initially deform the elastic means and thereby move the lid towards its open position until a stop is reached, following which further rotation of the shaft for winding up the straps elevates the platform towards its upper position.
By the novel and characterising aspects it is obtained that the rotation of the shaft for winding up the straps will both open the lid and elevate the platform. Thereby the system can be driven by only one location. Also, manual and separate opening of the lid can be avoided without presupposing further means for the supply of energy, which makes the system simple and user-friendly. It is also obtained that the lid remains open due to the weight of the platform, until the platform is yet again lowered to its lower position, in which the straps can be slackened, since the platform will then rest eg against the bottom of the well portion. Thereby it is avoided that the lid grazes a container deposited on the container during elevation and lowering of same.
According to a convenient embodiment the lid may, on its outside, be hinged to the well portion and at least one strap after the reversing roller will have been conveyed downwards and connected to a brace, said brace being - via a fitting - connected to the lid, and the brace may - via an elastic means - be substantially vertically connected to the inside of the well portion. Thereby it is obtained that the elastic means is first stretched, whereby the brace is displaced upwards and via the fitting pushes the lid, which is thereby opened.
According to a second convenient embodiment the lid can be two-part and each strap can be connected to the underside of the lid in proximity of where it is divided; and each of the two parts of the lid can be located in a guide wherein the lid portions can be moved away from each other and each of the lid portions can be connected to elastic means. Thereby it is obtained that each of the portions of the lid can be displaced away from each other, while the elastic means are deformed until the lid portions can reach a given open position in which the portions abut on a stop, following which the platform can be elevated.
Lifting of the platform and opening of lid can be driven via at least one gear, which gear is connected to the shaft. Thereby a suitable exchange ratio can be obtained, which enables use of a means for the supply of energy that can settle for a reduced moment of force. This enables both manual operation as well as operation by means of a small-power battery motor.
Energy for lifting the platform and opening the lid can be supplied by means of a motor, thereby avoiding to make physical requirements to the user of the system.
The motor may comprise a brake that is deactivated by the motor being started and activated by the motor being stopped. Such motors are commonly commercially available and it is avoided to have to supply the system with complex additional measures for locking the platform in its upper position.
The gear can be of a self-braking type, ie that it is not possible to turn the input shaft around by turning the output shaft. Thereby it is avoided to have to provide the system with complex additional measures for locking the platform in its upper position. And a motor both with and without brake can be used.
According to a convenient embodiment an on/off switch can operate the motor, and the system may comprise means for interrupting the motor, which means are activated when the platform is in an upper as well as a lower position, respectively. Thereby it is achieved that the platform stops automatically in the desired positions, which eliminates the need for the user to do so.
The system may conveniently comprise a remote control for operating the motor. This is both user-friendly and also serves to ensure the system against other people than the user accessing the system. It is further obtained that the system can be made ready eg for receiving material to be stored when the user approaches the storage system, thereby eliminating the need to wait. The remote control can also be of a type that emits a constant signal that involves that all storage systems in a given state are activated to open and elevate the platform when the signal is received. When the signal of the transmitter is again reduced or stopped, the platform can once again be lowered and the lid closed.
The motor for operating the system can be located underneath the platform. Hereby a convenient location is obtained, wherein the motor is protected and conveniently arranged. Presenting the same advantages, a control box can also be located underneath the platform.
In the following, embodiments of the invention are described by means of drawings that are explanatory and drawings that show possible embodiments, wherein
Figure 1 shows a storage system in closed state;
Figure 2 shows the same storage system, but wherein the lid is open and the platform is at the bottom of the well portion;
Figure 3 shows again the same storage system with the lid open and the platform elevated;
Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a storage system with the lid open and the platform partially elevated.
Figure 1 shows a storage system 2 in closed state, wherein the lid 6 is two-part, and wherein the platform 8 is seen in the lower position suspended in four lifting straps 10 in the underground well portion 12. Such system will be suitable as storage system 2, wherein eg a waste disposal container can be concealed in a well 12 and thereby does not disfigure the surroundings. The straps 10 are secured underneath the platform 8 on the winding up coils 16. The second end of the straps 10 is conveyed vertically upwards along the inner side 20 of the well portion and around a reversing roller 22 to subsequently extend again a distance downwards into the well portion 12, where they are connected to braces 42. The braces 42 are connected to elastic means 11, in this case shown as an elastic strap, eg a rubber strap, that is secured to the inside 20 of the well portion. The braces 42 are also connected to the lid 6. Said reversing rollers 22 are arranged in each their bracket 24 that is secured to the inside 20 of the well portion, eg immediately underneath the upper edge 26 of the well portion.
To the one side of the platform 8, the straps 10 are conveyed directly by the winding up coils 16, while the straps 10 on the other side are conveyed by two rollers 28 that are passive and merely serve redirect the orientation of the strap from horizontal to a vertical direction. Both winding-up coils 16 and rollers 28 are located in each their corner 30 of the platform 8. The winding-up coils 16 are fixed on a shaft 32 that is, via a gear 34, in connection with a motor 36 that is able to drive the lifting process.
The motor 36 is built integrally with the one side of the platform 8, and in the other side of the platform 8 there is, in this variety, a built-in control box 38 for the system 2. These built-in elements are performed on the underside 18 of the platform in protrusions that serve the additional purpose of guiding a container that is located on the platform 8 in place. This facility is shown more clearly in Figure 3.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 show braces 42 and fittings 44 that will, when the straps 10 are tightened and the elastic means 11 are thus stretched due to the weight of the platform, press the braces 42 via the fittings 44 up towards the lid 6. In this variety the braces 42 are hinged in a fitting 44 that is secured on the underside of the lid 6. When the elastic means 11 pulled by the strap 10 has stretched suitably, the braces 42 are caused to contact the bracket 24 of the reversing rollers that is, as mentioned, mounted on the inside 20 of the well portion. Thus the bracket 24 serves as a stop. Hereby the pulling forces in the straps 10 are transferred to the brackets 24 and the platform 8 is elevated. This situation is shown in Figure 2, wherein the storage system 2 is seen with open covers 6 and with the platform 8 at the bottom of the well portion 12.
The elastic means 11 are, while the platform 8 is being lifted, thus only loaded by the force used to open the lids 6. The large force, viz the force necessary to lifting the platform 8, optionally including a container filled with waste, is carried exclusively by the straps 10. The straps 10 can be of a material that will, in rough outline, resemble safety straps as known from cars, but they may also be steel bands or a suitable kind of wire.
Figure 3 shows yet again the same storage system 2, but now with the lids 6 open and with the platform 8 elevated. This figure clearly shows, as mentioned above, the protrusions 46 underneath which motor 36 and guide box 38 is located and that serve as guide 46 for a loose container during its positioning. The lifting movement can be stopped automatically when the winding coils 16 and rollers 28 are in level with the reversing rollers 22, around which the lifting straps 10 turn at the upper edge 26 of the well portion. The position can be recorded eg by means of inductive sensors and the like that are able to signal to a control unit. During lowering of the platform 8, its weight, the construction of the fittings 44 and the elastic means are thus in tune that the lids 6 will remain open until the platform 8 reaches the bottom of the well portion 12. Not until the platform 8 reaches the bottom of the well portion 12 will the elastic means 11 be slackened, thereby causing them to pull the braces 42, and the lids 6 will close.
Figure 4 shows a storage system 2 with a well portion 12. Inside the well portion, a platform 8 is located that can be elevated and lowered in straps 10.
At the one end, each strap 10 is secured in a ring 48 that may be eg of round iron, following which it is conveyed over a reversing roller 22, which reversing roller is located in a fitting 24 that is secured to the well portion 12. Further downwardly straps 10 are conveyed over rollers 28 and about a central winding roller 54 that is journalled underneath the bottom of the platform 8. The winding roller 54 is driven via a shaft 32 by means of a gear motor 36, wherein the gear is preferably of the worm gear type that is self-braking. Elastic means 11 are at the one end connected to the ring 48 and at the other end to the well portion 12. The ring 48 is, by means of fittings 50 via bars 52, connected to fittings 44 that are secured to a lid 6. The weight of the ring 48 contributes to closing the lid when it has been open. When the platform 8 rests on the bottom of the well portion 12 and the straps 10 are slackened 10, the lid is closed. When the gear motor 36 is activated, the winding of the strap 10 is initiated. Due to the weight of platform 8, etc, the elastic means 11 are stretched first and the ring 48 is lifted before the platform moves up. Thereby, via fittings 50 and rods 52 and fittings 44, the ring 48 pushes the lid 6 that is opened and kept open. When the ring 48 abuts on fitting/brackets 24 this movement is stopped. At this point in time the platform will travel up along the straps 10. When the platform 8 is lowered the lid 6 is kept open until the platform reaches the bottom of the well portion 12, whereby the straps 10 are slackened. Thereby the elastic means 11 will pull the ring 48 - and likewise gravity on the ring - whereby the lid 6 is closed.
The well portion 12 is preferably subterranean, its upper edge 26 being flush with the surrounding terrain.
The well portion 12 can be configured with bracing ribs and is conveniently manufactured by casting in a suitable plastics material or as a fibre-reinforced plastics laminate.
Drive motor 36 and control box 38 are preferably built integrally with the previously described protrusions/guides 46.
A further variety of the invention may comprise that the lid 6 comprises two portions that are intended for displacement substantially horizontally for opening and closing. The two portions are then located in guides/conveyors with spring-bias for return movement to closed position. In that case the straps 10 should be conveyed in the opposite direction around reversing rollers 22, see Figure 1, and attached to the underside of the lid portions, a distance inwards close to the edges of the lid portion, that face towards each other when the lid 6 is closed. The lifting movement of the platform 8 will thus start when the two portions of the lid 6 are displaced to each their side and stopped, eg by abutting on a permanent stop.
Energy for driving the storage system can be supplied by means of a battery or by the system being connected to network power supply. Alternatively the system can be driven by means of a crank that is connected, via a long shaft, down to the gear 34, thereby enabling the system to be driven without a motor. The gear should preferably be of a self-braking type, eg a worm gear. Otherwise the system 2 should be provided with means for locking the platform 8 in its upper position.

Claims

A storage system for a container, preferably a waste disposal container, said storage system comprising a well portion (12), at least one lid (6) that is preferably two-part and movable between an open and a closed position, a platform (8) on which the container is located, and lifting means for driving the platform (8) between a lower and an upper position, characterised in that the lifting means comprise at least four straps (10), in which the platform (8) is suspended, said straps (10) being, via rollers (16, 28) at their one end, connected to the platform (8) and synchronised by means of rollers (16) and a shaft (32), wherein rotational energy can be supplied to the shaft (32); and wherein the straps (10) are, at their other end, conveyed over reversing rollers (24) and are directly or indirectly connected to elastic means (11) and to the lid (6); wherein the weight of the platform (8) has such magnitude, while located in its lower position with the straps (10) unloaded, that rotation of the shaft (32) for winding the straps will initially deform the elastic means (11), and thereby move the lid (6) towards its open position until a stop is reached, following which further rotation of the shaft (32) for winding of the straps (10) will elevate the platform (8) towards its upper position.
A storage system according to claim 1, characterised in that the lid (6) is, at its outer end, hinged to the well portion (12); and that at least one strap (10) after the reversing roller (24) is conveyed downwards and connected to a brace (42), which brace is, via a fitting (44), connected to the lid (6); and that the brace (42) is, via an elastic means (11), substantially vertically connected to the inside (20) of the well portion.
A storage system according to claim 1, characterised in that the lid (6) is two-part; and wherein each strap (10) is connected to the underside of the lid (6) in proximity of where it is divided; and that each of the two portions of the lid (6) is located in a guide, in which the portions of the lid (6) can be moved away from each other; and that each of the portions of the lid (6) is connected to elastic means (11).
A storage system according to claims 1-3, characterised in that lifting of platform (8) and opening of lid (6) is driven via at least one gear (34), which gear is connected to the shaft (32).
A storage system according to claims 1-4, characterised in that energy for lifting the platform (8) and opening the lid (6) is supplied by means of a motor (36).
A storage system according to claims 1-5, characterised in that the motor (36) comprises a brake that is deactivated by the motor (36) being started and activated by the motor (36) being stopped.
A storage system according to claims 4-6, characterised in that the gear (34) is self-braking.
A storage system according to claims 5-7, characterised in that the motor (36) is operated by means of an on/off switch; and that the system (2) comprises means for interrupting the motor (36), said means being activated when the platform (8) is in its upper as well as its lower position, respectively.
A storage system according to claims 5-8, characterised in that the system (2) comprises a remote control for operating the motor (36).