AU597392B2 - Method of refuse collection - Google Patents

Description

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j~p~ Short Title: PATENTS ACT 1962 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR QFFICE USE Int. 0, Application Number: Lodged: Coi'nplete SPeCIfication-Lodgeod: Accepted Lapsed: Publisi'ied: k

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Reo!mad Art: Name of Applicant: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT OTTO AUSTRALIA PTY. LIMITED 4 Addrs*,,- Applicant: Hill Road, North Lidcombe, NSW 2141 Actual Inventor: VERNER REICHMANN, of 12 Schuiweg, Aldingen-Aixhein 7209, West Germany, and THOMAS OTTO, of 24 Hard Str. Sinn 6344, West Germany Address for Service: HALFORD t MAXWELL Pato.nt Trade Mark Attorneys Level 20, Nat ional Mutual Centre 44 Market Streec Sydneyf NSW 2000 Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: METHOD OF REFUSE COLLECTION 'the following staternent Is a full description of tsInvention, Including tha best methol of perftl~ith it kgw to 0~o: 0.0 0 SNam= 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 Thi ineto 00lte to reue oleto 0,t~qal garag bin 07l a0ehdo mpyn ae Refus collcti. is~* a cotnun comnt problem0 not~ onl frmacleto setbtas eas h bin used for colcto ar ofte indqut to acomdt th voum ofrfs n ae iie ie Atomnvno eate t refuse collectionisnwnoprtn worlwigbae bis haslvd a ofethod poblemtyingciaed Rihmna efuse collection. sevr aaonitigoomnted prblem 0 o ny rmacollection a wrbesectcbutenalso beiaut te aacmdte he volumeaoferefusve man o raefusimiedie 0 du~~oletonatc.egaain Automated refuse collection systow incopraton collection has wis ows pobsoe whic thesde of ii itad or atct' ea an a lternat ic u pie. meanshofdrefuse the ollec tinbn rweeih oletonbntoamr Automprated refuinstioawelhe collection sytesincoprt pcllectime. binwich, is poitoed stati the ieoleatroan orn at anf apoprsiate pndis ujpoint vouseholdteor commercials proety ons re reqauoairecoa refuse to the ollec-ti bnatorewheedthe collor sbection bin toaar aprratefligdation and wheelrprtesb thea chaneto bin backtohe rodside rsr pktsupfpoint bieths omnae pick-uhetme.ho oweer ineterstatolheclection n mpymg fbn baies lfto systse tod iyste suet ito is knentothvie colndions ostois uedin autatic refs oiectionta are ofempati s noatcrel and mar thrfor subjectedntar a mougtado o ther op ertice bywherin h angsm tolt oaekon o onorporthera forgniaes grppingL meis bht rip ah naond infexbeis whih. Teve split and r fatig~~e crk at prssr pont of kh-ins apramted auoaianl by reanr~ ofaitting thcam o mon ntherero a vehicle. n h i ,i whneureint the am ofth .0 0 *0 er. C or2.

0 0 01 9 999999 9 00 9 9 09 99 9 99 9 99 @9 0 9 999 9 .9 999 9 099 99 09 9 99 *0 9 999 9.

9 9 9999 vehicle and tipped upside down, ilzimping the contents into the vehicle.

Such prior art methods of refuse collection have the disadvantage i--that, af ter a period of time, the bins become brittle, due to weathering and over-gripping by the tool, which promote cracks in the bin rendering the bin inadequate for further collection of refuse or use in the automat~ic collection system. Further, the prior art systems require the collec~tion bin to be specifically positioned at the kerbside and do not allow for collection of bins over or between parked vehicles.

it is also known to collect and empty bins by means of a pivoting arm mounted on a vehicle wherein the arm incorporates a plate-shaped, fork-shaped or bow-shaped tool, said tool being receivable in a complementary recess and locking lip, located towards the top of the bin.

However, suci\ methods of lifting the bin have proven ,znsatisfactory due to insufficient grip on the bin, considering the relative mass and, volume of a fully-loaded bin.

The present invention overcomes the problems and inadequacies of the prior art and prrvides a secure and reli,'able ;Aathd.4[of refuse collection incorporating a novel bin and tool means.

TEhe invention will now be described by way of example cNnly with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is an exploded view of one embodiment of the bin of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the bin of the invention, as shown in Fig.l; 'Fig. 3 is ai perspective view of one embodiment of a tool of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a tool of the present invention; IFig. 5 is a perspective vi-ew of a second ombodiment of the bin of the invention; 0

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9 99099* 9 99 o 09 S S 9, 9, 4~9 999 9 .9

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.99 99 9 o bq 09 g 9 9.

so *0 .4 9 9 is a cross-sectionl view angthe l,4e VI VI of Fig. 2; 1'Pig. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the line VII VII of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view along the line VIII -VIII of Fig. 4 The refuse collection vehicle (not shown) used in the ,carrying out of th~e present invention loads, lifts and empties bins by way of a hydraulic, pivotal arm 10 i-,ounted on the vehicle. The arm 10 may be sLe-cured to either side of the vehicle or at the rear of the vehicle, the positioning of the arm 10 on the vehicle being determined by the terrain usually covered, the side of the vehicle the bins are usually closest to and local road laws.

The arm 10 is known in the art and is operated by known hydraulics methods. The tool 11 is detachably mounted to the arm 10 at point 10Oa anid pivots a~4 a axis perpendicular to the axis of the arm 10 and substantially parallel to the axis of the vehicle. The pivotal connection between the arm 10 and tool 11 411ows movement of the tool 11 through nomr hnabout 34) degrees about its first axis of rotation (point Rotation of the tool 11 through more than about 340 degrees is hampered by the thickness of the arm 10 and the shape of the tool 11.

The tool 11 also pivots at point l0b along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the vehicle and perpendicular to the axis of the arm 10. Again, the tool may be rotated through i-nee- T 1 34 0 degrees about its second axis of rotation 1pin 0lb), as further rotation is hampered by the thickness of the arm 10 and the shape of the tool 11.

However, greater degrees of rotation about both axes is envisoiged.

The tool 11 consists of five separate stages. The first stage is a two-pronged projection 12 which facilitates the pivotal connection with arm 10 as referred to above. *the second stage is a cylindrical rod 13 secured, at one end, to the projection 12 and at its other 1~.

0~ end slidably engaged within and with a third stage being Onp end of a hollow cylinder 14. Substantially three quarters of the cylinder 14 including the other end of the ;cylinder 14 is received within, and secured along its length to, a fourth stage, a support 15 which is an inverted square, U-shape in cross-sectiQn. The base of the support 15 acts as a support for the fifth stage of the tool 11. The fifth stage comprises a frusto-pyramidal actuating means 16 having its base 16a resting on and secured to one end of the base 15a of the support 15. The means 16, shown in cross-'section in Fig. 8, has opposing front walls 16b and 16c which converge at an edge 16d.

oo The means 16 also has side walls 16e and 16f which are 0 0s o00 o :joined by a connecting wall 16g. The apex 17 of the actuating means 16 is slightly rounded to accommodate and provide support for the several reliefs and walls of the retainer 18. Similarly, the free end support 15 has a sloped edge to ensure easy engagement and disengagement of the tool with the retaineg 18.

*0 The slidable fit of the cylinder 14 to the rod 13 0 0 0e* allows en masse rotation of the cylinder 14, the support 15 and actuator 16 through 360 degrees, along an axis parallel with the axis of rotation of the wheels of the vehicle (not shown).

In the second embodiment of the tool 11, the shape of the actuator IC may take the form shown in perspective in Fig. 3 and in cross-section in Fig, 7, The shape of the tool 1) is designed to complement the retainer 18 and vice versa, in order to ensure an exact and stable pick up of the bin 19 by the arm 10, and to reduce or prevent accidents. The complementary fit of the tool 11 and retainer 18 is a sliding fit but is sufficiently secure to stabilize the bin 19 and prevents distortion and undue stress on the bin 5i1. This advantage is also true of the first-mentioned shape of the actuator 16 shown in Fig. 4.

The second embodiment actuator 16 is fan-like in shape and relief, havin; dwo opposing front walls 16b and 0 ft -6- 16z which converge along the edge 16d, and front panels and21,sid wals ~eand 16f and back wall 16g.

nd hetool 11 are therefore capable of manoeuvring between or over parked vehicles to safely secure the bin 19 and pivot the bin 19 over and above parked vehicles and empty the contents of the bin 19 into the vehicle.

To collect and empty the bin 19, the operator manoeuvres by known electrical means and instrumentation, the arm 10 and the tool 11 to a position just under the bottom edge of the retainer 18. The tool 10 is then pivoted to a position A and inserted into the retainer 18.

q The apex 17 of the tool 11 is then pivoted inside the retainer 18 and positioned flush to the front-wall 22 of :.the support 23. To lift the bin 19, the arm 10 and tool 04t a11 are raised, lifting the bin 19 off the ground. The .'*operator, sitting in the cabin of the vehicle, manoeuvres the arm 10 and tool 11 to lift the bin 19 over any parked 09 0 vehicles or obstructions and tips the bin 19 through an 0 #4 angle of 90 degrees relative to the ground. At a preo determined angle the refuse falls to the top of the bin 19, the weight of the refuse forcing the lid 24 of the bin 19 to open and the refuse falls into the vehicle hopper (not shown).

On pick-up, stress is transferred to the apex 25 of, 06 6 0 athe retainer 18.

The body 26 of the bin 19 comprises four walls and a base 27 and is substantially frusto-paramatel in shape.

The side walls 28, 29 and 30 are tapered, whilst the back wall 31 is at right angles to the base 27. The corners of the bin 19 are rounded and smooth to ensure a high level of hygiene and to prevent refuse lodging in the corners of the bin 19. The bin 19 may be of varying dimensions buat is usually between 120 to 240 litres capacity, which reduces the need for special collection for bulky articles.

The bin 19 includes a lip 32 around the top perimeter of the bin 19, which lip 32 acts as a means of retention 7 a of the support 22, a-id as a further peans to grip the bin 19 when the bin 19 is wheeled manually. The lidk3!s conventional and known in the art and includes hiandles 34 and is hingedk33, allowing rotation of the lid 24 through approximately 270 degrees. Wheels 35 are provided towards the base 27 of the bin 19 and are anchored through the

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side walls 2a a4- 2 9 kof the bin 19. The wheels comprise solid rubber tyres anchored to the bin 19 by rods, bolts and nuts of tempered galvanized steel (not shown).

aThe retainer 18 is secured to the top half of the back wall 31 of the bin 19 by means of a support 22 which in 0 00 **turn is bolted to the back wall 31 of the bin 19. The retainer 18 is molded with or fused to the front wall 23 of the support 22 along its back edges 36 and 37 defining 0 a retainer spaco~ 18a dimensioned to receive a complementary-proportioned actuator 16.

in use, walls 16e and 16f, panels 20 and 21 and walls 16b and 16c and edge 16d rest against corresponding inside .9 walls 38 and 39, inside panels 40 and 41,. inside walls l8b and 18c and insiae edge 18d respectively.

Ve The support 22 is bolted to the back wall 31 of the bin 19 through apeturos 42, 43, 441 45f 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52 and 53 (not shown) by corresponding bolts, nuts .*and washers 54, 55, 56, 57 (not shown) 58 and 59. The support 22 comprisees a portion 60 which is an elongated L-shape in cross-section and substantially rectangular in plan. The portion 60 has, at one end, a lip 60a which in use is positioned under the bin 19 haviiig the upper wall 6o1b jk~fthe lip 60a flush with the base 27 of the bin 1,9.

The other end of the support 22 is secured at its top edge orelief 61 which is L-shaped in cross-section. i he relief 61 comprises a panel 61a and lip 61b. The lip 61b 6 0 r_ is secured along its length to the top edge 0 said lip secured substantially at its centre. The relief 61 acts as support for a rectangular hollow beam 62 -which, in turn acts as support for a cylinde; cal hollow rod 63. In use, Pthe rod 63 is taceived behind 4ppanel 61a and hidden i>~

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fom view and the support 22 is bolted through relief 61 and 1- 6 3 to back wall 31.

It is also envisaged that the bin 19 may incorporate a handle 64 positioned on the back wall 31 of the bin 19 wherein that handle c4 will extend down approximately 3/4 of the height of the back wall 31. The handle 64 tay assist in more steady manual movement of the bin 19 or in the case of automatic refuse collection the bin 19 may be lifted by a claw-like tool (not shown) and arm 10. The claw-like tool is designed to grip the bin 19 by the handle 64 at any point along the handle 64. The handle 64 ois secured to the bi, 19 in a similar manner as support 2T2- Sexcept that in this vxample the support 66 is much a narrower, although substantially rectangular in shape and an elongated L-shape in cross-section. In this latter example, one end 70 of the handle 64 is secured by known means, to the relief 61. The support 66 is secured to the back wall 31 of the bin 19 by three bolts 67, 68 and 69.

Bolts 67 and 68 are located above and below end 71 whilst a bolt 69 is located under end 70 and above bolt 68, "a The heiqht of the bin from lid 24 to base 27 may vary but is uuaally between 935 and 1080 mm. The height of the bin from the top edge of the lip 32 to the base again may vary but ia usually between 870 and 1000 mm.

The distance from the front wall to the back wall 31 of the bin 19 is usually between 474 and 640 mm whilst the distance from the front W4i to the full extent of the retainer 18 may be between 550 and 730 mm.

The bins 19 of the present invention ore usually coloured green to compliment the environment but may be manufactured in any appropriate colour without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is envisaged that the tool 11, bin 19 and retainer 18 may be of any appropriate materials and manufactured by any appropriate method without departing from the ambit or scope of the invention. It is also envisaged that the retainer 18 and handle 64 may be secured directly on to the back wall 31 without the need of i L: I_~ AUPPorts 22 and Securing of -the retainer 18 and/or handlv -64 to the back wall 31 may be executed in any suitable manner.

While the invention has been described herein in relation to a particular embodiment, it will be apprecitated that its principles may be applied in other ways* and tne scope of the invention should not be regaffied as limited by the particularity of the prucedifl9 description.

al 000

Claims (10)

1. A refuse receptacle having an outer surface, and a lifting frame secured to said outer surface, for supporting the weight of said receptacle and bracing said receptacle when it is lifted by said frame, said frame further including a support means for securing said frame to said receptacle, and retainer means fixed to and projecting trom said support means, said retainer means including a space covered on three sides which converge to an apex from an opening, said space being shaped to receive a complementarily shaped tool through said opening by which to lift the receptacle so as to allow discharge of its contents.

2. A refuse receptacle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said three sides of said retainer means include a pair of side walls projecting from said lifting frame and a covering wall joining said oide walls, said covering wall extending generally in a plane parallel to said frame, and a further side of said retainer means providing said opening for access by said tool,

3. A refuse receptacle as claimed in claim 2 wherein said rNt!Iiner means further includes a peaked projectio'ii extending from said covering wall nd symmetrically located thereon, converging with said side and covering walls to said apex. 4 4 44 44 0 o #4 4* a

4. 44 4C a 49 44 44 0 i44 0499

6. A syst or 4 w articu remova the ot co-ope

7. A syst furthe frusto

8. A syst member fan-li substa

9. A lift secure when I gecuri fixed retain which being throug to all secure 444,r a .4 )44 4444 4. 4 44 4 4444 4 4 .4 44 .4 44 4 4 .r"T r r; 4. A refuse receptacle as claimed in clalm 3 wherein said projection is substantially triangular ii, shape and relief. A System for the collection of refuse comprising a vehicle, at least one refuse receptaclo as claimed in any fI *4cr~CX 0 U l ~l~I .C 44 4 4 44i 44

10. A refu descri and 6. ~C1~ .01. 11 one of claims 1-4, and tool means attached to said vehicle to lift said at least one receptacle by its retainer means to allow discharge of the contents of said receptacle into said vehicle. 6. A system as claimed in claim 5 when appended to claims 3, or 4 wherein said tool means includes a plurality of articulated segments with one end of said tool being removably connected to an actuator arm of said vehicle and the other end of said tool being a member shaped for co-operation with said retainer means. 7. A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said tool means further includes said co-operating member of a generally frusto-pyramidal shape. 8. A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein said co-operating member of said tool means comprises a male member, fan-like in shape and relief, complementarily shaped to 0, substantially fill said retainer means. S 9. A lifting frame for a refuse receptacle which in use is o t secured to said receptacle to brace and support its weight when lifted by said frame including a support means for securing said frame to said receptacle, and retainer means 0 fixed to and projecting from said support means, said 9 0 0r4* retainer means including a space covered on three sides which converge to an apex from an opening, said space being shaped to receive a complementarily shaped tool through said opening by which to lift the receptacle so as to allow discharge of its contents when said frame is secured to said receptacle, A refuse receptacle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and is shown in figures 1, 2 and 6. rF U I 12 A system substantially as hereinbefore descqribed with reference to and as shown in figures 1-4, and figures 6-8.

12. A lifting frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in figures 1, 2 and 6. Dated this 1st day of 1v4arch 1990 94 OF 4 *0 i 1000, OTIITO AUSTRAIA PTY LIMTTED 'PMENT ATTORNEYS FOR "HE APPLICAN~T HALFORD M,~ 21 9& t 0* It I 'I I 0* 9* S Iq