GB2323772A - Lifting formations for waste containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A waste container includes two spaced hoops 14, 15 encircling the body thereof, and to which a lifting formations 16 are attached. The lifting formations 16 may be "C" shaped and folded from sheet steel and having gussets 17. The formations 16 define with the container body open sockets to receive lifting forks of a refuse vehicle. The construction permits lifting loads to be distributed over the entire circumference of the body, and provides support against collision damage.

Description

WASTE CONTAINER This invention relates to waste containers, and particularly to large domestic and industrial waste containers of the kind which are emptied by upending on a refuse vehicle.

Waste containers which are upended for emptying have a volume in the range 200-5000 litres. The smaller containers are usually of plastic and are often upended by gripping a flange adjacent the container mouth. For structural reasons larger containers tend to be of metal, and may include formations on the body thereof to enable the container to be upended by forks of a refuse vehicle. These formations are designed to distribute the loading forces over a large area of the container wall, and may be in the form of trunnions or sockets fixed on opposite sides of the container body.

Larger containers may be rather heavy when loaded, and accordingly substantial reinforcement is required to avoid undue stress in the vicinity of the container lifting points. Such containers are themselves heavy due to this substantial reinforcement and they need to absorb loads as the container is dropped onto the ground after emptying.

Manufacturers have hitherto accepted that large containers will inevitably be heavy, complex to manufacture and somewhat expensive. What is required is a less heavy container which is capable of absorbing the required operational loads, has a high payload, and is relatively simple to manufacture.

According to the invention there is provided a waste container having a body comprising a base and a continuous upstanding wall, a lifting formation being provided adjacent said wall for engagement by lifting apparatus of a vehicle, wherein said container further includes two hoops about said wall, the hoops being connected and in substantially parallel spaced planes, and said lifting formation being on said hoops.

Such a construction transfers loads from the lifting formation to the encircling hoops, and can thereby distribute loads over the entire circumference of the body.

Preferably the hoops have a closed cross section, and in a preferred embodiment the hoops are bent from tubular steel.

The hoops may be fabricated in any convenient manner, for example from several sections, so long as they define a substantially continuous load bearing structure for the lifting formations. More than two hoops may be provided.

Such hoops have the additional benefit of providing support against collision damage tending to distort the container. Such containers are thus better able to withstand rough service conditions, and to maintain critical dimensions associated with refuse collection vehicles.

In the preferred embodiment lifting formation comprises members on opposite sides of the container, which together with the hoops define a substantially self supporting structure for the body.

The body may for example comprise a fabricated or pressed steel enclosure, or may be moulded in plastics material.

A hoop may be provided around the mouth of the body to reinforce the opening and comprise or be connected to the hoops of the lifting formation in any convenient manner. In a preferred embodiment two principal hoops are of steel, and a third steel hoop at the mouth is connected by upstanding sheet or tubular steel members.

Reinforcement for the base of the container may be provided by another hoop connected to the hoops of the lifting formation in any suitable manner. Feet or castor brackets of the container may be connected to a base hoop or to the hoops of the lifting formation in any suitable manner so as to relieve the container body of undue ground loads.

Additional structural members may define with the hoops and lifting formations a cage like structure adapted to receive a container body. Such a structure facilitates the replacement of the body, which is usually relatively inexpensive, without incurring the substantial costs of an entirely new container. This arrangement is especially suitable for container bodies of plastic.

Furthermore the use of body inserts of plastic permits different coloured bodies to be used for different purposes, for example the collection of glass, plastics, paper, clothing and the like. In this way a container frame can be customised to suit the colour scheme of a particular operator, whereas the insert can be of a standard type and colour to suit a particular purpose. Plastics moulded inserts can be made of complex shapes more easily than fabrication from steel, and thus many different kinds of insert may be produced for use in a standard series of frames.

Forming the hoops of tubular material is preferred, and can be accomplished with a conventional tube bender relatively quickly and inexpensively. This facilitates the manufacture of different sizes of container, reduces stockholding to a minimum, and permits a rapid change of production model at minimal expense.

Many different kinds of hooped structures are possible within the scope of the invention, the aim being to substantially separate operational forces from the loads due solely to the contents of the container. In this manner the container body need be made strong enough to support the intended load whereas operational forces due to lifting and the like are taken partly or wholly by the hooped frame.

Where the container is made of steel, the body will preferably contribute support to a steel hooped structure and be attached thereto by for example welding.

Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a container according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the container of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an isometric view on an enlarged scale of the container of Fig. 1.

With reference to the drawings a container 10 comprises a generally rectangular steel body having a base 11 and an upstanding sidewall of which the front 12 and one side 13 are illustrated. The body may be fabricated in any suitable manner from sheet steel.

Surrounding the body are two spaced tubular steel support hoops 14,15 in parallel planes, parallel to the plane of the base 10, and approximately one third and two thirds up the container sidewall. The hoops are bent from tubular stock and welded at the adjacent free ends.

Each hoop 14,15 is secured to the container body by welding at intervals.

Welded to each hoop at the side of the container are 'C' shaped lifting formations 16 folded from sheet steel and having gussets 17 as illustrated; these formations 16 define with the container body open sockets 18 to receive lifting forks of a refuse vehicle. Means to latch such forks in the sockets 18 may be provided.

An upper hoop 19 reinforces the mouth of the container and is attached by welding. Dual lids 20 are hinged to the rear edge of the container mouth as illustrated.

Castor brackets 21 are secured to the base of the container by bolts or welding, and have castors 22 which enable the container to be moved. Optional fork sockets 23 are provided on the base of the container for engagement by the forks of a conventional fork lift truck. Grab handles 24 between the upper hoop 19 and the upper support hoop 14 facilitate manoeuvring of the container, and may define, at least partly, the means by which the upper hoop is secured to the support hoops. Steel buffers 25 are welded on the front corners of the container body between the support hoops 14,15.

Construction of the preferred embodiment need not be in the order described above. For example the hoops 14,15 and lifting formations 16 could be pre-assembled to provide a frame against which the sidewall of the container can be located prior to welding.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the sidewall of the container is tapered to facilitate emptying of the container when upended. The ease of manufacture of the hoops 14,15 makes variation of the taper angle or spacing of the hoops relatively simple.

In the case of a frame to enclose a plastics container body, additional somewhat 'U' shaped tubes may extend from the lower support hoop 15 under the container to define a basket. Such tubes can be located in any desirable plane; if running from side to side, two spaced tubes can provide support for the castor brackets 21 and the fork sockets 23.

An upper frame may provide reinforcement for the mouth of the container and may be attached to the support hoops in any suitable manner, for example by welding.

In the case of a plastics body, the body and the hoops may be connected in any suitable manner, for example rivets so as to give an adequate distribution of load; reinforcement or load spreading plates may be provided to sandwich a plastic body against the support hoops.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS:

1. A waste container having a body comprising a base and a continuous upstanding wall, a lifting formation being provided adjacent said wall for engagement by lifting apparatus of a vehicle, wherein said container further includes two hoops about said wall, the hoops being connected and in substantially parallel spaced planes, and said lifting formation being on said hoops.

2. A waste container according to claim 1 wherein said hoops have a closed cross section.

3. A waste container according to claim 2 wherein said hoops are of tubular steel.

4. A waste container according to any preceding claim wherein said lifting formation comprises members on opposite sides of the container.

5. A waste container according to any preceding claim wherein said body comprises a steel enclosure.

6. A waste container according to any of claims 14 wherein said body is a plastics moulding.

7. A waste container according to any preceding claim wherein one of said hoops defines a reinforcement for the mouth of said container.

8. A waste container according to any preceding claim and further including additional structural members to define with said hoops and lifting formation a cage like structure.

9. A waste container substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.