GB2132552A - Waste compactor - Google Patents

Abstract

A waste compactor comprises a base frame (1) surmounted at one end by a superstructure (2) housing a vertically movable compacting piston operable from above by a hydraulic ram (12, 13). The superstructure (2) is also provided with a side opening closeable by a door (9) for loading of waste. A carriage (22) is movable along the base frame (1) between a first position underlying the piston and a second position clear of the superstructure (2). The carriage (22) is adapted to carry a bin (27) to receive waste either directly or within a bag lining the bin (27) and to have such waste compacted within it by the piston when the carriage (22) is in the first position. The floor of the piston has hinged thereto a flap movable being a horizontal compacting position and an inclined loading position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Waste compactor This invention relates to a waste compactor.

According to the invention there is provided a waste compactor comprising a base frame surmounted at one end by a superstructure housing a vertically movable compacting piston operabie from above by a hydraulic ram, and also provided with a side opening for loading of waste, and a carriage movable along the base frame between a first position underlying the piston and a second position clear of the superstructure, the carriage being adapted to carry a bin to receive waste and to have such waste compacted within it by the piston when the carriage is in the first position.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows a waste compactor according to the invention with parts broken away; and Fig. 2 shows a compacting piston forming part of the waste compactor shown in Fig. 1.

In the drawing, a waste compactor comprises a rectangular base frame 1 having a superstructure 2 at one end supported on four legs 3 (only three of which are shown). The superstructure 2 comprises cross-members 4 and plates 5 forming an open-bottomed box. Within the box is mounted a cylindrical guide 6 for a compacting piston 7. The guide 6 is interrupted at a loading doorway in the plate 5 overlying an intermediate region of the base frame 1, the doorway having a sliding door 9 which is suspended from a line 8 which is trained about pulley means and carries a counter weight (not shown). The piston 7 is operated by a double-acting hydraulic ram comprising a cylinder 12 mounted under the top plate 5 via suitable reinforcement (not shown) and a piston rod 13.A floor 10 of the piston 7 has hinged thereto at 1 Oa a flap 11 and the axis of the hinge intersects the axis of the piston 7 at right angles. The piston rod 1 3 (not shown in Fig. 2) is articulated to the flap 11 at 11 a on the axis of the hinge. In the side of the piston 7 is a cut-out 14 which aligns with the doorway when the piston 7 is at the upper-end of its stroke. The flap 11 is designed to be movable between its horizontal compacting position as shown in Fig. 2 where it complements the floor 10 of the piston 7 and an inclined loading position where it cooperates with the cut-our 14 to facilitate loading.Within the piston 7 there is an over-centre locking mechanism comprising two arms, one of which is shown at 11 articulated to the flap 11 at 11 c. The locking mechanism also comprises a conterbalanced arm (not shown) which tends to lock the flap 11 in the horizontal position but which is tripped by a projection (not shown) depending from suitable reinforcement under the top plate 5 as the piston 7 is raised in order that the flap 11 adopts its inclined position. A jib 1 5 is hinged above a vertical axis 1 6 above and to one side of the doorway and is also pivoted about a horizontal axis 1 7 under the control of a hydraulic ram 1 8. Hoisting eyes 1 9 are secured to two opposed cross members 4.

Mounted within the base frame 1 and longitudinally thereof is a double-acting hydraulic ram (not shown) comprising a cylinder under the superstructure 2 and a piston rod secured at 20 to a tray-like sump 22 mounted on wheels 23 running on side members 24 of the base frame 1.

The base frame 1 is covered by a plate 26 except for a slot 21 to accommodate the movement of the means 20 interconnecting the piston rod and the sump 22. A cylindrical bin 27 is releasably carried by the sump 22 and has a perforated bottom (not shown) to al!ow liquid from compacted waste to pass into the sump 22 for disposal via a hose (not shown). The bin 27 may receive a heavy duty woven refuse bag which after loading with waste and compacting can be handled by means of the jib 1 5. The upper edge of the bin 27 and the lower edge of the cylindrical guide 6 are correspondingly slightly inclined from the horizontal in planes directed downwards and towards the one end of the base frame 1.This is so that the upper edge of the bag folded over the upper edge of the bin 27 is not snagged by movement of the bin into and out from under the guide 6 but is securely gripped by the lower edge of the guide 6 when the bin is located directly under the guide 6.

In operation, the bin 27 and the sump 22 are located under the piston 7. With the piston 7 in its uppermost position, the door 9 opened and the flap 11 in its inclined position, waste is loaded into the refuse bag within the bin 27 via the doorway and the cut-out 14 in the piston 7 and after the door 9 is closed the piston 7 is lowered by means of the ram 12, 13. As the piston 7 is lowered the counterbalanced over centre locking mechanism is released so that the flap is lowered and locked in its horizontal position to compact the charge of waste. The piston 7 is then raised again to its uppermost position and the cycle is repeated until the bag within the bin 27 is full of compacted waste. At this time the piston 7 is raised again to its uppermost position.By operating the ram within the base frame 1, the sump 22, the bin 27 and the refuse bag loaded with compacted waste are moved clear of the superstructure 2. By swinging out the jub 1 5 and raising it by means of the ram 18 the loaded bag is lifted out of the bin 27 and swung clear of the base frame 1 for disposal. When the waste is such that it cannot be loaded through the doorway 8 the loading can be done while the bin 27 is clear of the superstructure 2 and compacting is effected after moving the bin 27 under the piston 7. Alternatively, the bin 27 may be a replacable item within which compacted waste is disposed of.

The waste compactor may also incorporate safety means preventing compaction while the door 9 is open and/or the bin 27 is not correctly positioned under the piston 7. An automatic deodoriser/disinfectant applicator may also be provided to operate at the end of each compaction.

Claims (6)

Claims

1. A waste compactor comprising a base frame surmounted at one end by a superstructure housing a vertically movable compacting piston operable from above by a hydraulic ram, and also provided with a side opening for loading of waste, and a carriage movable along the base frame between a first position underlying the piston and a second position clear of the superstructure, the carriage being adapted to carry a bin to receive waste and to have such waste compacted within it by the piston when the carriage is in the first position.

2. A waste compactor according to claim 1, wherein the superstructure has a loading opening in one side thereof so that a bin carried by the carriage can be loaded when the carriage is in the first position.

3. A waste compactor according to claim 2, wherein the piston as cut-out in its side which aligns with the opening when the piston is raised.

4. A waste compactor according to claim 3, wherein a floor of the piston has hinged thereto a flap movable between a horizontal position where it complements the floor of the piston for compacting, and an inclined position where it cooperates with the cut-out to facilitate loading.

5. A waste compactor according to any preceding claims, comprising a jib mounted on the superstructure for lifting loaded bags from a bin.

6. A waste compactor substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.