WO1994005568A1

WO1994005568A1 - Refuse/recyclables truck

Info

Publication number: WO1994005568A1
Application number: PCT/AU1993/000445
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen John Guest
Original assignee: Stevelift Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Stevelift Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1992-08-31
Filing date: 1993-08-31
Publication date: 1994-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 1995-02-28

Abstract

A garbage truck (10) comprises a container (11) typically formed of sheet metal material. Container (11) is divided by a dividing wall (15) into first and second compartments (12 and 13) respectively. A lifting device is attached to the side of the truck (10) and is adapted to lift refuse to an opening (24) in container (11). A chute (17) is adapted to transfer material to the first compartment (12). Whereas material to be delivered to the second compartment (13) simply passes through opening (24). A pushing block (18) is activated to transfer the material in either of the first and second compartments (12, 13) toward the rear of the vehicle.

Description

REFUSE/RECYCLABLES TRUCK Field of the Invention The following invention relates to a garbage or refuse truck to collect waste or recyclable materials. More particularly, though not exclusively, the invention relates to a garbage or refuse truck having discrete compartments and entry means thereto for the storage of different categories of material.

Where recycling is becoming more prevalent, separate means of collection are often provided for specific types of waste material. For example, waste paper, glass, aluminium, steel and garden refuse are often collected in separate pickup operations to enable the specific material types to be transferred to appropriate recycling or dumping sites.

It would be desirable to collect all sorts of recyclable and waste material in a single collection truck provided with specific means for separating the various classes of material.

Disclosure of the Invention There is disclosed herein a refuse collection vehicle comprising: a plurality of discrete compartments, each assigned to a particular type of material , transfer means to selectively deliver the material to each of said compartments, and lifting means to lift a container of material to selectively deliver the material to said transfer means.

Preferably, the discrete compartments are divided by partition means, which partition means extend longitudinally of the vehicle.

Preferably, the transfer means comprises a conveyor chute upon which material may slide from its point of exit from the delivery means to a particular compartment.

Alternatively, rather than a chute, a conveyor belt structure may be provided.

For example, where two compartments are provided, i.e. one for say recyclable materials and the other for garbage, a single chute may be provided extending transversely past the garbage compartment to the recyclable compartment. Alternatively a conveyor belt could be employed. Where three compartments are provided say, for example, for garden refuse, recyclable aluminium, and garbage, at least two chutes may be provided. That is, one chute may deliver material to the garden refuse compartment, and another chute to the recyclable aluminium compartment. Although a third chute for the garbage compartment may be provided, it may not be necessary.

Preferably, the lifting means is of the type disclosed in the applicant's application PCT/AU90/00488 entitled "Lifting Apparatus". Preferably, a pushing block is provided, which block is adapted to longitudinally transfer material delivered by or nearby the transfer means toward a storage position within each storage compartment.

Preferably the pushing block is moved by one or more hydraulic cylinders. Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a schematic elevational view of a garbage truck, Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of the truck of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a schematic plan view of a bin, and

Fig. 4 is a schematic elevational view of a bearing arrangement for a pushing block.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment In Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a garbage truck 10. Truck 10 comprises a container 11 typically formed of sheet metal material. Container 11 is divided by a dividing wall 15 into first and second compartments 12 and 13 respectively. Although more (typically up to 5) compartments may be provided across the container 11, the embodiment illustrated herein is limited to two for clarity.

A lifting device, typically of the type, the subject of the applicant's application PCT/AU90/00488 is attached to the side of the truck 10 and is adapted to lift refuse to an opening 24 in container 11. Opening 24 is defined as the area left open upon sliding of door 23. The lifter may be adapted to lift for example 240. 140. or 120 litre mobile garbage bins. Such bins may be divided by partitions into a plurality of discrete compartments into which specific types of material are received. For example, and as depicted in Fig. 3, a bin 25 may be divided into a number of separate compartments 26 by parallel dividing walls 27.

Each compartment 26 might typically be 250 millimetres or 260 millimetres wide. Each compartment might be adapted to receive glass, paper, garden refuse or aluminium and steel for example. However, where only two separate compartments 12, 13 are provided, it is envisaged that only two corresponding compartments would be provided in the bin 25. Alternatively, the lifting apparatus 14 might lift a standard garbage bin containing household waste. It would then be up to the single operator of the vehicle to determine which chute 17 to invert the bin toward. That is, the lifting apparatus may be provided with sliding means to allow sliding of the same in a longitudinal direction of the truck 10. In one longitudinal position, the bin may be aligned with a chute 17 whereas in another position, the bin may be aligned with another chute or loading area.

In the embodiment depicted, only a single chute 17 is provided. Such a chute is adapted to transfer recyclable material to the first compartment 12. To this end, an opening 16 is provided in dividing wall 15, through which chute 17 passes. Material to be delivered to the second compartment 13 (i.e. a garbage compartment) might simply pass through opening 24 to the appropriate side of dividing wall 15. Once having been delivered thereto, a pushing block 18 may be activated to transfer the material toward the rear of container 11. To this end, hydraulic rams 19 are provided, one attached to each transversely opposed side of the pushing block 18. To provide easy transfer of pushing block 18, a number of Teflon or other smooth bearing strips 21 may be provided. For detail of the bearing arrangement of the pushing block, reference should be made to Fig. 4. The cycle is repeated upon the emptying of each bin to container 11. Upon delivery to a collection site, tipping ram 22 may be activated to lift the forward end of container 11. As container 11 is provided with a separately operable rear door 20 for each compartment 12, 13, such may be individually activated for delivery of a particular type of material to a designated dumping or delivery zone.

It should be appreciated that modifications and alterations obvious to those skilled in the art are not to be considered as beyond the scope of the present invention. For example, any form of chute or conveyor belt structure may be provided as an alternative to the specific chute 17 depicted.

Claims

CLAIMS The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A refuse collection vehicle comprising: a plurality of discrete compartments, each assigned to a particular type of material , transfer means to selectively deliver the material to each of said compartments, and lifting means to lift a container of material to selectively deliver the material to said transfer means.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the discrete compartments are divided by partition means, which partition means extend longitudinally of the vehicle.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the transfer means comprises a conveyor chute upon which material may slide from its point of exit from the delivery means to a particular compartment.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the transfer means comprises a conveyor belt structure upon which material may be transferred from its point of exit from the delivery means to a particular compartment.

5. The vehicle of any one of the preceding claims further comprising a pushing block adapted to longitudinally transfer material delivered by or nearby the transfer means toward a storage position within each storage compartment.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the pushing block is moved by one or more hydraulic cylinders.