[0001] The invention relates to a method of compacting waste, such as loose or bulk domestic
refuse, waste matter from nursing homes, hospitals, offices, industry, etc., the waste
to be compacted being supplied through an opening into the confined space designed
for the compacting process, which compacting space houses a reciprocating, close-fitting
displacement member, under the action of which displacement member the refuse supplied
is forced further into the compacting space during each cycle, as a result of which
the refuse is compressed.
[0002] Acoording to prior-art methods, the motion of a displacement member for compacting
waste is used in only one direction. This entails the drawback of a relatively low
efficiency of the travelling cycle of the displacement member.
[0003] The systems allowing prior-art methods to be applied can be divided into two types:
one type where the compacting space, on the one hand, and the displacement member
with the driving means thereof, on the other hand, constitute system components which
must be fastened together, and the other type where the displacement member with the
driving means thereof are integrally incorporated into the compacting space.
[0004] Drawbacks inherent in the first type are, first, that valuable and often scarcely
available space is taken up not only by the compacting space but by the other components
as wali, and, secondly, that a coupling mechanism is required for fastening these
system components to the compacting space. A third drawback is that liquids contained
in the waste are forced out of this waste as a result of the compaction, causing leakage
to develop espacially at the junction of the aforementioned system components and
the compacting space. Packings provided on such waste-processing installations have
been found to be overly vulnerable and thus to necessitate a great deal of maintenance,
while leakage in fact continues to taken place. When the compacting space is full,
i.e., when the displacement member is no longer capable of forcing additional waste
inwardly, as determined by the available capacity and power, the aformentioned system
components must be disconnected from the compacting space. After this uncoupling operation,
the junction opening of the compacting space is exposed, and the waste which has last
been pressed inwardly is forced outwardly again by the other waste which is under
pressure, thus bringing about undesired pollution of the environment. Satisfactory
sealing constructions are not yet available.
[0005] A drawback inherent in the aforementioned second type, the integrated system, is
that the compacting space is emptied through one of the sides, which for this purpose,
must be equipped with a door or flap, but in this case, too, the packing or seal is
so vulnerable as to make it necessary at all times to allow for the possibility of
leakage.
[0006] Another drawback which the two aforementioned types have in common is that the continuous
dumping of waste is only possible when the filling opening of the system is screened
during the cycle of motion, either by the displacement member itself or by an added
mechanism, so as to prevent waste from accumulating on the side where the displacement
member is driven. It has been found in practice, however, that it is never possible
to screen the filling opening and to seal the space around the displacement member
in an optimal manner, so that waste accumulation takes place at all times on the driven
side of the displacement member. This results in added maintenance and trouble.
[0007] The invention aims at providing a solution with the use of which the aforementioned
drawbacks are obviated.
[0008] To this end, the invention proposes a method according to which the waste to be compacted
is introduced alternately on the one side and on the other side of the displacement
member, in such a way as to allow the waste to be compacted on both sides of the displacement
member in the compacting space.
[0009] The invention furthermore relates to an apparatus for implementing the method. Such
an apparatus consists of a box-like housing which encloses a compacting space which
houses in a close fit a reciprocating displacement member and comprises a supply opening
in a wall of the housing for supplying the waste to be compacted to the compacting
space, which apparatus is characterized by a displacement member in the central area
of the compacting space, in such a way as to allow the displacement of the waste to
be compacted to take place on both sides of the displacement member.
[0010] The reciprocating motion of the displacement member is preferably a swivel motion.
[0011] It should be noted in this connection that maximum compacting efficiency is attained
when the ratio of the distance between the middle position of the reciprocating motion
and the one end wall to the distance between the middle position and the other end
wall is proportional to the resultant of forces in the one and in the other direction
of travel, respectively. In the case of equal resultants of forces in the two directions
of travel, the ideal position for the pivot of the reciprocal motion evidently is
the centre of the compacting space. For practical reasons, the centre of the longitudinal
dimension of the compacting space has been selected for the position of the pivot
of the reciprocal motion for the apparatus according to the invention.
[0012] The principal advantage of the method and apparatus according to the invention is
that the displacement member continuously performs compacting work during its entire
cycle of motion, thus allowing continuous dumping of waste into the filling opening
of the apparatus without any need of making technically complicated or vulnerable
provisions, while there is furthermore no need whatever for sealing the space around
the displacement member.
[0013] According to a further development of the invention, the supply opening of the compacting
space can be closed with two swing covers, which, in the open position, are maintained
with the use of stops in an inclined position so as to form a chute for the waste
supplied.
[0014] According to the invention, the housing of the apparatus can furthermore be equipped
with a hinged wall, in such a way to allow the compacted waste to be discharged from
an entire opened wall. The supply opening is preferably provided in the hinged wall.
[0015] The invention is particularly suitable for designing the apparatus in such a way
that the housing is additionally constructed in the form of a mobile container which
can also be subjected to further transportation. To this end, the housing is equipped
with wheels. It furthermore is an advantage for the driving means to be readily disconnectable.
[0016] In order to explain the invention, a preferred embodiment of an apparatus with the
use of which the method according to the invention can be implemented is described
hereinafter, reference being made to the drawing.
[0017] In the drawing,
Fig: 1 is a lateral view of such an apparatus;
Fig. 2 is a front view along the arrow II in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a top view along the arrow III in Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a schematic view of an auxiliary installation.
[0018] The apparatus comprises a housing 1 constituting the compacting space proper, a cover
structure 2 for closing the compacting space, two swing covers 3 for closing the filling
opening 13 as well as for forming a chute when they occupy the opened position, for
which purpose use is made of stops 12, a displacement member 4, here provided in the
form of a plate, the lower end of which is hinged to the bottom of the compacting
space, a set of hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders 5 for driving the displacement member
4, a set of slides 6 for sealing the slot in the side wall of the compacting space,
a set of sleeves 7 within which the cylinders 5 are movably suspended and which are
mounted on both sides of the compacting space, a locking mechanism 8 for fixing the
cover 2, a unit 9 which provides the hydraulic or pneumatic energy, the coupling of
the unit to the apparatus preferably being accomplished with the aid of quick-detachable
couplings, a set of road wheels 10 for making the apparatus mobile, and a control
unit 11 comprising such components as valves, switches, pilot lamps, relays and the
like.
[0019] The operation of the apparatus is as follows when the starting signal has been imparted
to the control unit, the displacement member 4 starts performing its motion cycles.
This means that it reciprocates a number of times between the positions 20 and 30.
The number of cycles to be performed is adjustable. The waste which is being dumped
into the filling opening is forced to the left or to the right, depending on the position
of the displacement member 4 at the moment of entry of the waste. Upon completion
of the adjusted number of cycles, the displacement member 4 stops in its rest position
40. When the displacement member 4 approaches its turning point 20 or 30, and upon
exceeding during this motion a pre-adjusted pressure in the pressure system, it does
not continue on its path but reverses its direction of travel and moves towards the
other turning point. These motions will be repeated until the adjusted operating time
has expired, whereupon the displacement member 4 resumes its rest position 40. The
fact of the high pressure in the pressure system being reached is the effect of the
counterpressure produced by the waste which has been compressed by the displacement
member 4. Once the high pressure is reached in both directions of travel, the apparatus
can be said to be "full". When the filling opening and the covers 3 have been closed,
the waste is contained in a fully confined space, and the apparatus can be transported.
The Quick-detachable couplings (not shown) of the energizing lines are then disconnected,
so that the apparatus can be freely moved. ThE apparatus is emptied by unlocking the
locking mechanism 8, whereupon the entire apparatus is tilted about its longitudinal
axis, in such a way that the cover 2 comes to lie undermost. The hinged cover 2 turns
to its opened position under its own weight, and the waste falls out of the apparatus.
When the apparatus has been tilted back to its original position and the locking mechanism
8 has been locked, the apparatus can be returned to its usual or its desired location.
1. Method of compacting waste, the waste to be compacted being conveyed through an
opening into the confined space designed for the compacting process, which compacting
space houses a reciprocating, close-fitting displacement member, under the action
of which displacement member the waste supplied is forced further into the compacting
space during each cycle, as a result of which the waste is compacted, characterized
in that the waste to be compacted is introduced alternately on the one side and on
the other side of the displacement member, in such a way as to allow the waste to
be compressed on both sides of the displacement member in the compacting space.
2. Apparatus for implementing the method according to claim 1, consisting of a box-like
housing which encloses a compacting space which houses in a close fit a reciprocating
displacement member, driving means for moving the displacement member and comprising
a supply opening in a wall of the housing for supplying the waste to be compacted
to the compacting space, characterized in that the displacement member (4) is located
in the central area of the compacting space, in such a way as to allow compacting
of the waste to take place on both sides of the displacement member (4).
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the displacement member is
plate-shaped and that the reciprocating motion of the displacement member (4) is a
swivel motion.
4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the supply opening (13)
is closed with two swing covers (3), which, in the open position, are maintained with
the use of stops (12) in an inclined position so as to form a chute for the waste
supplied.
5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the
housing has a hinged wall (2), in such a way that the compacted waste can be discharged
along an entirely opened side.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the supply opening (13) is
provided in the hinged wall (2).
7. Apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6 inclusive, characterized in that
its is equipped with road wheels (10).