Refuse bin washing apparatus

Abstract

 A refuse bin washing apparatus comprises a elevated, inclined support (14) for a refuse bin (W) to be washed, and a lifting assembly for lifting a refuse bin from the ground and onto the support. The lifting assembly comprises a structure (20) for pivoting about a horizontal axis, and having means (24-26) for engaging and supporting the refuse bin. The lifting assembly is arranged so that, upon turning the structure about its axis of pivoting, the bin is lifted and turned until its rear wall lies on the support and its top faces outwardly.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for washing refuse bins.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] I have developed an apparatus for washing refuse bins, of the type commonly used in domestic households and comprising an upright, generally square-section container mounted on a pair of wheels adjacent its bottom, rear edge and having a lid hinged to its upper, rear edge. My washing apparatus is built into the covered rear of a road truck or van and includes an elevated slide which is inclined rearwardly and positioned to one side of the van body. In use, each bin is inverted and placed on the slide, with its front wall facing downwardly and supported on the slide and its top end facing outwardly and downwardly, towards the rear of the van. In this position, the lid is folded upwardly and rearwardly onto the rear wall of the bin. A water jet and a water brush are provided, fed via a pump with washing water from an on-board tank, for washing the inside of the bin. Thereafter, the bin is slid sidewardly off the inclined slide, to stand upright on a deck, where its outside is washed. Finally, the bin is lifted onto the ground and a fresh bin liner is fitted into it. The waste water, from the washing operation, drains into a reservoir, for disposal at a later time.

[0003] At present, each bin is lifted manually into the rear of the van and onto the slide. This is quite strenuous work, because the bin is relatively large and cumbersome and the apparatus is designed for cleaning a large number of the bins in a day, so that the operator is required to handle a correspondingly large number of bins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] I have now devised a lifting assembly for lifting each refuse bin from the ground and into position within the bin washing apparatus.

[0005] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a refuse bin washing apparatus which comprises an elevated, inclined support for a refuse bin to be washed, and a lifting assembly for lifting a refuse bin from the ground and onto said inclined support, the lifting assembly comprising a structure mounted for pivoting about a horizontal axis, transverse to said inclined support, said structure having means for engaging and supporting the refuse bin, the lifting assembly being arranged so that upon turning said structure about its axis of pivoting, the bin is lifted and turned until its rear wall lies on said support and its top faces outwardly.

[0006] In one embodiment, the supporting means of the lifting assembly may be arranged to engage the refuse bin at or adjacent the bottom rear edge of the bin. Preferably the supporting means comprises a pair of rearwardly-projecting elements which have recesses to receive the axles of two rear wheels of the refuse bin.

[0007] Preferably the pivoted structure comprises an upright arm having a horizontally-projecting member which carries the supporting means for engaging the refuse bin at or adjacent its bottom rear edge.

[0008] Preferably the upright arm of the pivoted structure has a horizontally-projecting shaft at or adjacent its upper end, engaged in bearing means which provide for the pivoting action of the arm.

[0009] In a modified lifting assembly, the means for supporting the bin may be arranged to engage the pivot pins of the lid of the bin. These means may be in the form of hooks carried by a member positioned parallel to but spaced from the axis of pivoting of the pivoted structure.

[0010] Preferably the inclined support or support slide for the refuse bin is positioned above a horizontal deck and adjacent one side of this deck. Preferably the side edge of the slide is angled such that the slide is narrower at its lower end, so facilitating the sliding of the refuse bin off the slide over one of its sides and onto the deck, so that the bin comes to rest in an upright position alongside the slide.

[0011] Preferably a water-spraying nozzle is provided adjacent the top of the support slide, for washing the bottom of the refuse bin. Preferably a switch is provided adjacent the top of the support slide and is depressible upon sliding the bin up the slide, to operate the water spray.

[0012] Preferably a trough is provided at the lower end of the support slide, to receive waste water when washing the interior of the refuse bin.

[0013] Preferably the waste water in this trough drains into a reservoir. Preferably waste water is also able to drain through the horizontal deck and into the reservoir.

[0014] The pivoted structure of the lifting assembly may be arranged for pivoting upwardly in manual manner. Alternatively, a pulley arrangement may be provided to assist in pivoting this structure upwardly. Instead, a powered drive unit may be provided for pivoting this structure.

[0015] It is often a problem to ensure that a refuse bin washing apparatus will have a sufficiently plentiful supply of water, because there is a limit to the amount of fresh water which can be stores in the supply tank of the apparatus. I have now devised arrangements which alleviate this problem.

[0016] Thus, also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a refuse bin washing apparatus which comprises a tank for storing a supply of water, means for drawing water from said tank for washing successive refuse bins, means for collecting the water used to wash the bins, and means for recycling at least part of the used water back to the supply tank.

[0017] Preferably the water collecting means is arranged to collect the water which has been used to wash the interior of the bin separately from the water which has been used to wash the exterior of the bin. I have realised that the waste water from the outsides of the bins is only moderately dirty and can be recycled, preferably via one or more filtering stages. The waste water from the insides of the bins, on the other hand, is often particularly dirty: preferably therefore, the collecting means is arranged to store the waste water from the insides of the bins, for dumping at a subsequent time. Preferably, however, means are provided to enable the waste water from the insides of the bins to be recycled, if desired. For example, a barrier may be provided which can be removed to allow the waste water from the insides of the bins to flow to a pump chamber which is arranged for recycling the waste water from the outsides of the bins.

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic sectional view of a bin washing apparatus built into the open rear of a van;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic plan view of part of the bin washing apparatus;

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the lifting assembly of the bin washing apparatus of Figures 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view, similar to Figure 3, of a modified embodiment of the lifting assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic sectional view of a modified embodiment of the bin washing apparatus, shown being used to wash the interior of a bin; and

FIGURE 6 is a similar view of the apparatus of Figure 5, shown being used to wash the exterior of the bin.

[0019] Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a bin washing apparatus built into the open rear of a covered truck or van: the van has a roof R and its open rear end (indicated by line E in Figure 1) is provided with a roller shutter closure (not shown). The van is formed with a low-level platform 10 at its rear and, inwardly of this, a deck 12 at a higher level. Adjacent the right hand side of the van, there is a slide 14 which is inclined downwardly and rearwardly, for supporting a refuse bin. The slide 14 is made up of a series of metal bars extending from front to rear, the metal bar 14a at the left hand edge of the slide extending along an angled line such that the slide 14 is narrower at its rear end than at its front end. The rear end of slide 14 is at a level above the deck 12: a trough 16 extends across the van in front of the slide 14 and its rear wall 16a is perforated to form a filter. The deck 12 is also perforated to form a filter and the space below the deck 12 is enclosed to form a reservoir 18 for waste water: this reservoir 18 is provided with a dump valve 19.

[0020] In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 is fitted with a lifting assembly for lifting a refuse bin from the ground and onto the slide 14. The lifting assembly is shown in Figures 1 and 3 and comprises an arm 20 mounted for pivoting about its upper end: thus, the arm 20 has a shaft 21 projecting at right angles from its upper end and engaged in bearing brackets 22 which are fixed to the top of the rear wall 16b of the trough 16. Adjacent its lower end, the pivoted arm 20 has a rod 24 extending from it at right angles, the rod 24 carrying a pair of rearwardly-projecting claws 25 in the form of flat plates having recesses 26 open to their rear edges.

[0021] For lifting a refuse bin W from the ground G and onto the slide 14, the lifting arm 20 is initially in its lowered position, shown in Figure 1. The refuse bin is wheeled rearwardly towards the lifting assembly, and then tilted slightly forwardly to engage the axles of its wheels into the recesses 26 of the claws 25. The refuse bin W is then tilted rearwardly, pivoting about its axles engaged with the claws 25, to rest its rear against the top of the wall 16b.

[0022] Then the operator turns the arm 20 upwardly about the rotational axis formed by its shaft 21: to achieve this, the operator may grip the projecting lower end of the arm 20 and lift it; alternatively, a pulley arrangement may be provided, including a line attached to the projecting lower end of the arm 20 via a hole 20a. The arm 20 is rotated until the bin W is lifted and turned right over until its rear rests on the slide 14, its top facing rearwardly: the arm 20 is returned to its lowered position, the claws 25 being disengaged from the bin W when the bin is in an intermediate position, inverted and projecting more or less vertically upwards. Once the bin is in position flat on the slide 14, its lid is hinged open, to rest against the rear wall of the bin, which rear wall is now facing upwardly and rearwardly of the van. Any waste material within the bin slides out of it and into a bag (not shown) which is supported on hooks on the front and rear walls 16a,16b of the trough 16. This bag is then removed.

[0023] Next, the bin W is pushed up the slide 14 so that its bottom bears against a trigger lever 26 to open a valve for washing water to be sprayed onto the bottom of the bin W from a nozzle 27. The apparatus also includes a wash jet (not shown) fitted to a flexible hose and a washing brush fitted to another flexible water hose: both hoses are fed, by means of a pump, with waste water from an on-board water tank. The wash jet and washing brush are used to wash the interior of the bin W.

[0024] Thereafter, the bin is slid bottom-first towards the right and over the left-hand edge of the slide 14, so that it comes to rest in upright position on the deck 12, to the right of the slide 14. The wash jet and washing brush are now used to wash the exterior of the bin, the bin being turned around on the deck 12 as necessary.

[0025] Finally, the bin is lifted out of the van and lowered to the ground, where it is fitted with a fresh bin liner.

[0026] It will be appreciated that all of the waste water flows through the filters (perforated front wall 16a of the trough 16 and/or the perforated floor of the deck 12) into the reservoir 18, from which it is released, via dump valve 19, into a storm-water drain in the street at a convenient time.

[0027] It will be appreciated that the lifting assembly for the refuse bin greatly facilitates the transfer of each bin from the ground and into the required position on the slide 12.

[0028] Figure 4 shows a modified lifting assembly, in which the arm 20 is formed in two parts, a relatively short upper part 20b and a relatively long lower part 20c, which are coupled together end-to-end. A bar 28 projects at right angles from the upper part 20b, adjacent its lower end, and parallel to the pivot shaft 21: the bar 28 has a pair of spaced-apart hooks 29 fixed to it. The modified lifting assembly of Figure 4 may be used in exactly the same way as described above for the lifting assembly shown in Figures 1 and 3: however, it may instead be used in the following manner. Thus, the lower part 20c of the arm may be detached: then a refuse bin can be wheeled up to the assembly and the pivot pins of its lid engaged onto the hooks 29; then the user can lift the bin and turn the bin, together with the lifting assembly, around the axis of the pivot shaft 21, so that the bin comes to rest with its rear flat on the slide 14 of the washing apparatus.

[0029] In each of the forms of the lifting assembly which have been described, a powered motor may be installed for turning the assembly about its pivot axis.

[0030] Figures 5 and 6 show a modified embodiment of the bin washing apparatus. The perforated deck 12 has a compartment 18 below it, communicating via a perforated end wall 30 with a tank 32. A compartment 34 is provided under the compartment 18, to receive wash water from the trough 16 via a perforated lower portion of the rear wall 16a of the trough. As shown in Figure 5, the lower compartment 34 received water which has been used to wash to interior of the bin W when rested on the slide 14: the compartment 34 includes an agitator 36 in the form of a box having perforated walls, fixed to the floor of the compartment; in use, the agitator 36 serves to separate solid waste matter from the water. A dump valve 37 is provided in the floor of the lower compartment 34, to discharge waste at a convenient time.

[0031] The tank 32 includes a chamber 38 into which water passes, from the upper compartment 18, via a filter 39. A closure plate 40 separates the lower compartment 34 from the chamber 38 but may be removed to allow water to flow from the compartment 34 into the chamber 38, via the filter 39. A pump chamber 42 is positioned below the chamber 38: a stand pipe 41 on the floor of the chamber 38 forms the inlet to the pump chamber 42 and acts to trap silt within the chamber 38 and prevent it entering the pump chamber 42. An outlet pipe 44 from the pump chamber 42 returns the filtered water to the on-board water tank 46 of the vehicle.

[0032] It will be appreciated that the waste water from washing the interior of the bin may be particularly dirty and therefore preferably retained in the lower compartment 34 for subsequent dumping (Figure 5). However, the waste water from washing the exterior of the bin may be only moderately dirty and therefore capable of being filtered and recycled to the on-board water tank (Figure 6).

Claims

1. A refuse bin washing apparatus which comprises an elevated, inclined support for a refuse bin to be washed, and a lifting assembly for lifting a refuse bin from the ground and onto said inclined support, the lifting assembly comprising a structure mounted for pivoting about a horizontal axis which is transverse to said inclined support, said structure comprising means for engaging and supporting the refuse bin, the lifting assembly being arranged so that upon turning said structure about its axis of pivoting, the bin is lifted and turned until its rear wall lies on said support and its top faces outwardly.

2. A washing assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said supporting means of the lifting assembly is arranged to engage the refuse bin at or adjacent the bottom, rear edge of said bin.

3. A washing assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which said supporting means comprises a pair of rearwardly-projecting elements which are formed with recesses to receive the axles of two rear wheels of the refuse bin.

4. A washing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said pivoted structure comprises an upright arm having a horizontally-projecting member which carries said supporting means for engaging the refuse bin at or adjacent its bottom rear edge.

5. A washing assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which said upright arm comprises a horizontally-projecting shaft at or adjacent its upper end, said shaft being engaged in bearing means which provide for the pivoting action of said arm.

6. A washing assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said supporting means of the lifting assembly is arranged to engage the pivot pins of the lid of the bin.

7. A washing assembly as claimed in claim 6, in which said supporting means comprises hooks carried by a member positioned parallel to but spaced from said axis of pivoting of said pivoted structure.

8. A washing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said inclined support for the refuse bin is positioned above a horizontal deck and adjacent one side of said deck.

9. A washing assembly as claimed in claim 8, in which a side edge of said inclined support is angled such that said support is narrower at its lower end.

10. A washing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a water-spraying nozzle positioned adjacent the top of the support slide, for washing the bottom of the refuse bin.

11. A washing assembly as claimed in claim 10, comprising a switch which is engaged upon sliding the bin up the inclined support, to operate the water spray.

12. A washing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a trough provided at the lower end of said inclined support, to receive waste water when washing the interior of the bin.

13. A washing assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising a reservoir into which waste water, used in washing the bin, drains.

14. A refuse bin washing assembly which comprises a tank for storing a supply of water, means for drawing water from said tank for washing successive refuse bins, means for collecting the water used to wash the bins, and means for recycling at least part of the used water back to the supply tank.

15. A washing assembly as claimed in claim 14, in which said water collecting means is arranged to collect water which has been used to wash the interior of the bin separately from the water which has been used to wash the exterior of the bin.

16. A washing assembly as claimed in claim 15, in which said water collecting means is arranged to recycle, back to the supply tank, the water which has been used to wash the exterior of the bins.

Drawing