GB2304334A - Transportable Skips - Google Patents

Abstract

A skip, for the delivery of free-flowing bulk solids, comprises a robust frame 3-6, a lightweight hopper 2 disposed within and supported by the frame, discharge means 12 at the bottom of the hopper and lifting lugs 11. The skip is designed to be transportable on the vehicles used to carry conventional refuse disposal skips using the vehicles' handling means. Adjustable legs 7 are provided which can be extended and locked in position so that, when standing on the ground, the discharge means at the bottom of the hopper is sufficiently high above the ground for a wheelbarrow and/or dumper truck to be placed underneath and filled with all/part of the contents of the hopper. Security for the contents of the skip is provided via a lockable lid and a locking means to retain e.g. a slide device 7 in the closed position. Load spreading feet 8 are provided on the legs. Skips according to the disclosure may be loaded at depots, transported to site and unloaded there and remain in that position until the contents have been used. Hoppers may be interchangeable between skips. Fork lifting slots 4 may be provided.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SKIPS This invention relates to skips, which are commonly used for the removal of domestic and/or building rubbish but which can also be used for delivering bulk materials. It is particularly concerned with delivery of free-flowing bulk materials to both the commercial and do-it-yourself markets.

Free-flowing bulk materials, such as sand, chippings, garden topsoil, etc. are usually delivered by lorry and tipped on site. This leaves the materials exposed to the elements and accessible to passers-by. This results in wetting when it rains, occasional theft and/or vandalism, and, in the case of sand, animals, particularly cats, defecating in it.

Finally, there is always a loss when the pile is used up, as some of the material in contact with the ground is contaminated and so unusable. Strong winds can also blow fine sand away and such particles can cause eye irritation. Total losses often exceed 20% of the delivery. While these losses may not be too serious where the material is low value builder's sand or chippings, it can become a significant cost where the material is high cost specially coloured sand used for ornamental or architectural purposes.

In the case of animal feeds, many farms have automated systems with deliveries into hoppers from special lorries, but there is often a need for deliveries of specialised rations. In this case, relatively small quantities are delivered and have to be handled and, in particular, kept dry; as with most things, bully deliveries tend to be at a cheaper rate than in sacks, which have to be handled individually.

There is thus a need for a means to deliver free-flowing bulk materials to sites and store them there under secure conditions which facilitate their subsequent use.

According to the invention, there is provided a skip comprising a robust frame, a lightweight hopper disposed within and supported by said frame, discharge means at the bottom of said hopper and lifting attachments provided on said frame; characterised in that: said skip is transportable by conventional skip transporting vehicles; said skip is handleable, via said lifting attachments on said frame, by the handling means provided on conventional skip transporting vehicles; and adjustable legs are provided within said frame so that said skip may be located at different heights above the ground.

According to a first variation of the invention, a means of covering said hopper is provided.

According to a second variation of the invention said means of covering is lockable to said skip.

In a preferred design, the skip is rectangular and designed to fit one ofthe standard ranges of skip transporting vehicles. Different sized skips having different capacities, fitting different sized skip transporting vehicles are equally possible. The skip consists of a sturdy frame into which a lightweight hopper is fitted; sheet metal or glass reinforced plastic are suitable materials from which to construct the hopper. At the lower end of the hopper is a discharge means. The skip is intended for the transport of free-flowing materials, such as sand, so that a simple hand-operated discharge means is preferred.

Legs, adjustable in length, are provided so that the height above ground level of the discharge means at the lower end of the hopper can be adjusted. Thus, for transport on the skip transporting vehicle, the legs would be set to their minimum length so that the position of the discharge means was as low as possible to give the lowest centre of gravity. When the skip is transferred off the lorry, it would be suspended in free air while the legs are lengthened to raise the height of the discharge means above the ground so that, when standing on the legs, a wheelbarrow or other means could be placed underneath the discharge point.

Ideally, a means of covering the hopper is provided. This could either be a rigid lid or a tarpaulin. Covering is preferred as it keeps the contents of the hopper dry in wet weather, stops fines being blown away and discourages vandalism and theft. The cover may be either a rigid one which could be lockable to the skip. Alternatively, it could be a flexible tarpaulin secured by cords to hooks on the skip.

According to a third variation of the invention, part of the frame consists of hollow rectangular members placed apart and aligned across the skip so that the forks of a forklift vehicle may be engaged therewith to lift said skip.

It is frequently a requirement on building sites, as the work progresses, to move items, such as the skips containing raw materials, around the site and a forklift vehicle is a suitable means to accomplish this. Consequently, the frame is adapted for use with forklift vehicles.

According to a fourth variation ofthe invention, feet are provided on said legs.

It is preferred that feet are used on the legs of the skip to spread the load over the ground and stop the legs sinking in, especially in wet weather. A further reason for the use of feet is that the skips may frequently be left in the road or on driveways when feet will prevent damage to the road surface.

According to a fifth variation ofthe invention, said discharge means is a simple slide moving within a guide channel.

According to a sixth variation ofthe invention, said discharge means is lockable to said skip.

Ideally, the discharge means is a simple slide which may be pushed backwards and forwards in a guide channel to open and close the discharge aperture at the base of the hopper. It is preferred that the discharge aperture is offset towards one side or one end of the skip so that a wheelbarrow, or dumper truck, etc. may be placed underneath and filled by operation of the slide. A lock may be provided to secure the slide in the closed position to prevent unauthorised usage, including vandalism.

According to a seventh variation of the invention, a plurality of hoppers may be provided within said frame, each of said hoppers having its own discharge means.

For certain applications where only small quantities of materials are required, two smaller hoppers, incorporated within the space envelope of the skip and supported by the frame, are preferred. This variation is particularly applicable to the 'do-it-yourself market where, for example, small quantities of sand and chippings may be required for a concreting job.

According to an eighth variation ofthe invention, said hopper, or plurality of hoppers, disposed within and supported by said frame is interchangeable.

Preferably, the hopper is not fixed rigidly into the frame so that a damaged hopper can be replaced easily. Another option is that the owners may carry spare hoppers which are interchangeable for specific requirements, e.g. a single large hopper may be exchanged for a double unit consisting of two smaller hoppers. Ideally, the hoppers may be lifted vertically out ofthe frame and a new one lowered into its place.

For a clearer understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one design of skip according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the skip shown in figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a second design of skip according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the skip shown in figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of the discharge means from the skips shown in the previous figures.

In the following description, the same reference numeral is used for identical components or similar components fulfillling identical functions.

Referring to figure 1, a skip I consists of a hopper 2 formed from angled sides 2A and a funnel shaped bottom 2B. The joins 2C between adjacent panels are shown by dashed lines in figure 2. The hopper is formed of suitable sheet material, e.g.

galvanised steel, and is supported in a sturdy frame. The frame consists of four vertical members 5, cross members 3 and 4 and a top member 6, forming the rectangular circumference of hopper 2. The frame members 3, 4, 5 and 6 are welded together, as shown in figures 1 and 2, to provide a sturdy construction suitable for use on building sites. The skips 1 are designed to fit on the standard vehicles used to transport conventional rubbish skips; lifting lugs 11 are provided on the vertical members 5 for use with the standard lifting means on these vehicles. A range of sizes of skip are provided to fit the range of standard skip-handling vehicles available; skip capacities from 5 - 25 Te are typical of customer requirements and vehicle capabilities.

Telescopic legs 7 are provided to slide in the internal spaces in vertical members 5 and holes 16, 17 are provided in legs 7 to be aligned with holes 19 in members 5 so that legs 7 can be locked at a variety of heights. Locking means (not shown) are provided to lock the legs 7 in position. A preferred locking means is a simple pin to pass through aligned holes 16,19 or 17,19; ideally, the locking pins are held captive to members 5, e.g. by short flexible members, such as chains (not shown). Ideally legs 7 are captive in members 5. This could be either via an arrangement of internal flanges or an internal chain or flexible wire link to stop the leg 7 actually falling out of member 5.

For transport on skip lorries, the legs are set with locking pins through holes 16 and 19, i.e. as shown dashed on the right hand leg in figure 1. Thus, the skip and its contents are at a low height directly above the deck of the skip lorry to maximise its stability. When the skip is swung off the lorry, using the lorry's hydraulic delivery system, the legs can be lowered and the locking rods (not shown) put through holes 17, 19 so that the whole skip, and in particular exit 12 from hopper 2, will be at a predetermined height above ground level 9. When all four legs have been so adjusted, the lorry's hydraulic system is reactivated to complete the lowering of the skip on to ground 9. Feet 8 are provided at the end of legs 7 to spread the load on ground 9.

Feet 8 are important if the skip is to be placed on soft ground or finished driveways so that the load is adequately spread. Handles 8A are provided on feet 8 to help to lower and raise legs 7 and align holes 17,19 or 16,19 to insert locking pins (not shown).

Referring to figure 2, it will be seen that the exit 12 from hopper 2 is offset towards one ofthe longer sides of skip 1. This will make it easier to place a barrow 21 (Fig. 5) underneath the skip so that the handles 24 are more accessible to a person to move it when it has been filled. Offset exits 12 may be used where the bulk material being handled is light, e.g. grass seed, but where the material is dense, e.g. sand, a centrally located exit 12 is preferred as the asymmetrical shape of hopper 2 would cause the lorry carrying skip 1 to be unbalanced. Exits 12 may also be offset to one end of skip 1 and hoppers may be designed with two exits 12, one at each end.

Figures 3 and 4 show a second design of hopper in which an internal vertical member 15 divides the skip into two separate hoppers 2D and 2E, each with their own side 2A and bottom 2B panels and exits 12. As shown, the exits are offset in each hopper and the barrow access would be from the shorter sides of skip 1 rather than from the longer side, as shown in Figs. 1, 2. If internal vertical member 15 is removable, e.g. slidably located in a groove (not shown), it could be removed to create the single hopper with double exits 12 referred to hereinbefore.

Cross members 4 (Figs. 1 and 3), are shown as hollow rectangular tubes. These tubes have internal dimensions which can accept the forks of a forklift vehicle and are spaced, as shown, at either side of the centre of gravity of skip 1 and a suitable distance apart for use by a conventional forklift vehicle. This provision allows the skip to be moved from one location to another on a larger building site where such trucks are commonly used. Because cross members 4 are in the form of tubes, the forks will engage positively and stop the skip overbalancing if it is loaded unevenly or if the forks are not fully pushed home. Conventional pallets do not have such a positive location for the forks as provided by the rectangular section of tubes 4, but positive location is desirable here due to the width of skip 1 compared to the length of the forks on some forklift vehicles.

A lid 10 is provided which slips over the circumference oftop members 6. Lid 10 may be a rigid structure, e.g. glass fibre or sheet metal, and may be lockable to skip 1 so that the contents are protected from the weather and inaccessible. Lid 10 may be hingeably mounted on skip 1. Alternatively, lid 10 may be in the form of a tarpaulin and merely hooked onto clips (not shown) on the skip 1.

The use of the skip 1 will now be described. Ideally, a large number of skips 1 would be owned by builders' merchants and, when an order is received, a skip would be filled with the requisite material, e.g. sand, chippings 23, using a hydraulic digger with a front loading bucket, e.g. a J.C.B. Different sizes of skips would be used for different quantities of material e.g. 5 - 25 Te loads. The skip 1 is then loaded onto a skip lorry using the lorry's hydraulic handling system, via lifting means attached to lifting lugs 11. For transport, legs 7 are set at their lowest point i.e. with locking pins (not shown) through holes 16 and 19. The lorry is then driven to the customer's site and reversed to the required location.

The skip lorry then commences to unload the skip, but the hydraulics are held so that the skip 1 is suspended behind the lorry and some distance above the ground 9. The four legs 7 are then adjusted in height by removing the locking pins (not shown), lowering legs 7 using handles 8A and replacing the locking pins through holes 17 and 19. A number of holes 17 are provided so that the skip may be placed at different heights above ground level 9. When all four legs 7 have been adjusted, the hydraulic system is reactivated and skip 1 lowered gently onto ground 9. The lifting means are removed from lugs 11 and the skip lorry driven away, possibly to collect an empty skip from another part of the same site and return it to the builders' merchants.

In use on the site, a barrow 21 is placed underneath exit 12 (fig. 5). Handle 20 is used to operate a slide 13 which moves in grooved members 14. By pulling the slide to the left 22 via handle 20, a worker can open exit 12, wholly or partly, as required, to discharge the contents 23 of hopper 2 into barrow 21. When the barrow is nearly full, the worker pushes 22 slide 13 back into grooved members 14 to close exit 12. He/she then pulls barrow 21 backwards via handles 24 and wheels it to the point of use on the site. A lock (not shown) may be used to secure slide 13 in the closed position to guard against unauthorised access to the contents 23 of skip 2. If lid 10 is similarly lockable, the contents of the skip 1 will be protected from the elements and potential theft.

Operation of slide 13 in grooved members 14 requires physical effort, i.e. pulling and pushing. The frame, formed of members 3,4,5 and 6, and legs 7 are made of.members having substantial scantlings to give adequate support to sheet metal hopper 2, cope with the loading of hopper 2, e.g. by tipping in bucketfUls from the J.C.B., withstand lateral forces from operators opening and closing slide 13 and generally withstand the robust usage on a building site.

The variation of the design shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is ideally suited for the do-it yourself(D.I.Y.) market where there might be a requirement for both sand and chippings, e.g. to make a short concrete path. In this case, the requisite masses are placed in the two hoppers 2D and 2E respectively. The skip 1 is placed in a suitable location to allow access to both ends to reach both discharge slides 13.

The applications instanced so far have been in the building industry but the skips 1 are equally of use in other situations. The provision of topsoil for landscape gardening, or of bulk fertilisers are obvious examples. On farms, special foodstuffs may be conveniently delivered in skips 1 of either the Fig. 1 or Fig. 3 designs. Here a rigid lid 10 is preferred to keep the food dry and free from any contamination.

Because skips 1 may be used for both the commercial and the DIY markets, it would be desirable if hoppers 2 could be interchangeable within frames 3,4,5,6. This could be done if hoppers 2 had a lip, or channel to fit over top circumferential frame member 6 and one hopper (e.g of Fig. 1 design) could simply be lifted out with a crane and replaced by a second hopper (e.g. of Fig. 3 design). This option will reduce the capital outlay for the owner of the skips.

Though lightweight skips 1 are preferred, they will be sufficiently strong for the duty required. This duty would not include loading of rocks or builders rubble or tipping at dumps so that hoppers 2 do not have to be as robust as those used for waste disposal.

The skips 1 disclosed herein are intended for use with free-flowing materials as instanced. They are not intended for use with large irregular materials such as building rubble though coarse gravel or hardcore may be possible. Other applications for skips 1 will be apparent to the man skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of this disclosure.

Claims (16)

What I claim is:

1. A skip comprising a robust frame, a lightweight hopper disposed within and supported by said frame, discharge means at the bottom of said hopper and lifting attachments provided on said frame; characterised in that: said skip is transportable by conventional skip transporting vehicles; said skip is handleable, via said lifting attachments on said frame, by the handling means provided on conventional skip transporting vehicles; and adjustable legs are provided within said frame so that said skip may be located at different heights above the ground.

2. A skip, as claimed in claim 1, including a means to cover the top of said hopper.

3. A skip, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means to cover the top of said hopper is lockable to said skip.

4. A skip, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said adjustable legs are telescopic with the extendible sections slidably mounted within appropriate members of said robust frame

5. A skip, as claimed in claim 4, wherein said adjustable legs are lockable at a plurality of preset lengths.

6. A skip, as claimed in claim 5, wherein said adjustable legs are sufficiently long to support said skip at a height adequate to allow unhindered access to said discharge means at the bottom of said hopper and to collect materials discharged therefrom.

7. A skip, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said frame includes members adapted to accept the forks of a forklift vehicle so that said skip may be lifted and transported by said forklift vehicle.

8. A skip, as claimed in any pervious claim, wherein feet are included on said legs.

9. A skip, as claimed in any previous claim, wherein said discharge means is a slide moveable in a guide channel.

10. A skip, as claimed in claim 9, wherein said discharge means is manually operable.

11. A skip, as claimed in claim 10, wherein said discharge means is lockable in the closed position.

12, A skip, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said discharge means is offset to one side of said skip.

13. A skip, as claimed in claim 11, wherein said discharge means is offset to one end of said skip.

14. A skip, as claimed in any previous claim, wherein a plurality of hoppers is included within said frame, each of said hoppers having its own discharge means.

15. A skip, as claimed in any previous claim, wherein said hopper or plurality of hoppers are interchangeable within said frame.

16. A skip, as claimed in any previous claim, for use with free-fiowing bulk solids.