GB1270613A - A compacting device - Google Patents

Abstract

1,270,613. Device for automatically compacting waste material. INTERNATIONAL DYNETICS CORP. 4 May, 1970 [8 May, 1969], No. 21388/70. Heading B8C. Apparatus for automatically compacting waste material comprises a tubular steel chamber 11 of square cross-section which is closed at its rear end 17 and has, at its forward end, a discharge opening 18 closable by a gate 37 and which accommodates a ram piston 32 which has an upper row of teeth 34 and normally rests in position A, Fig. 7, where a gate defining plate 33 carried by the ram 32 closes a rectangular feed opening in the upper plate 33 of the chamber 11. A shoot 23, coupled to a flange 22 around the opening 21 and leading to one or more rubbish depositing openings, has a vertically adjustable photo-electric sensor 60. A bank of seven position-sensing microswitches S1A, S1B, S2-S6, each carrying a cam follower roller, are transversely-spaced across the top of a ram cylinder 29 and co-operate with corresponding switch actuating cams C1A, C1B, C 2 - C 6 , Fig. 2A, which are variously axially located in corresponding transverse relationships to the micro switches beneath the gate plate 33. The switch arrangement is incorporated in an electrical control circuit, Fig. 9 (not shown), which includes a fluid reservoir (57) and a high-pressure, variable displacement, pump (58) which supplies either normal, or high, pressure to one end of the hydraulic cylinder (29) through a four-way valve (56) actuated by solenoids (VR, VF). The control unit functions so that, with the gate 37 closed and a time delay of about 10 seconds after sufficient waste has accumulated on the gate plate 33 in the shoot 23, the ram 32 reciprocates backward and forward between positions A and C, Fig. 7, to pack material in a compression chamber 19 behind the gate 37. When the density of the material reaches a certain value the corresponding rise in hydraulic ram pressure stops the ram 32. Additional compression cycles of the ram 32 can be obtained, at this stage, by pressing a switch (S9). Unloading is carried out by unlatching the gate 37 and swinging it downwardly, and then placing an empty bag 65 over the discharge opening 18 whereupon the switch (S9) is pressed and the ram 32 is advanced to position D to displace the compacted mass 66 into the bag 65 which is then removed. The ram 32 is then returned to its original position A and the gate is closed for the compacting cycles to be repeated. If, during the ejection stroke of the piston 32 up to position D, the gate 37 is raised from its open position, the ram 32 is returned to its intermediate stand-by position. Also, if due to an obstruction, the ram 32 jams the rise in hydraulic pressure causes a switch (HS) to be actuated so that reciprocation of the ram 32 takes place at a higher pressure. In a modification, Fig. 13 (not shown), the gate (37) is mounted about a vertical hinge pin to swing horizontally. Fig. 10 shows the latching mechanism for the gate 37.