[0001] The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to a waste collection
vehicle. In particular, the invention relates to waste collection vehicles having
at least one compartment in which waste material is to be transported. Such vehicles
are typically used in the collection of municipal waste.
[0002] Municipal authorities are required by regulation to recycle a certain amount of waste
material. Some waste material is more economic to recycle than others. In particular,
the waste material is collected from domestic or commercial properties and transported
to a remote waste collection site where the collected waste material is sorted for
recycling. In some cases the recycling may occur at this remote collection site.
[0003] It is a problem that in transporting certain kinds of waste material that the ratio
of mass transported to volume occupied by the waste material is not particularly high.
For example, when transporting plastics containers, most of the volume transported
is air, whether within the containers or between them.
[0004] A similar problem arises in the transportation of garden or green waste where the
ratio of mass transported to volume occupied by the waste material is not particularly
high.
[0005] It is an advantage of the present invention that it eliminates or at least substantially
reduces such problems.
[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention a municipal waste vehicle has
at least one compartment in which a waste material is to be transported, the or each
compartment having an opening in an upper region through which a volume of the waste
material enters the compartment, in which the vehicle is characterised in that the
waste material passes through a waste processing unit disposed in the opening of the
compartment to the waste processing unit, the waste processing unit being adapted
to reduce the volume of the waste material as the waste material enters the compartment.
[0007] Preferably the waste processing unit is a crusher. This is particularly advantageous
where the waste material comprises containers.
[0008] More preferably, the crusher comprises a driven roller and an endless belt. Preferably,
the roller is provided with raised portions extending along a longitudinal axis of
the roller about a peripheral region thereof, the raised portions being adapted to
correspond with corresponding gaps in the endless belt. This has the advantage that
containers collapsed by the crusher, retain their collapsed shape until the municipal
waste vehicle has returned to the remote collection site.
[0009] Preferably the opening is defined by a plurality of walls, including a first wall.
Preferably, the first wall is displaceable under the action of a ram.
[0010] Alternatively the waste processing unit is a thresher. This is particularly advantageous
where the waste material comprises garden or other green waste.
[0011] Preferably, the thresher comprises a roller having a plurality of radially extending
members disposed about a periphery thereof.
[0012] Preferably the opening is defined by a plurality of walls, including a first wall.
Preferably the first wall is preferably provided with openings through which the radially
extending members may pass. Preferably, the first wall is displaceable. More preferably,
the first wall is displaceable under the action of a ram.
[0013] Preferably, the waste processing unit is provided with means whereby when the waste
material cannot be processed the waste material may nevertheless enter the compartment.
In a preferred embodiment, the opening is defined at least in part by a displaceable
panel, the panel being displaced to enlarge the opening when the waste material cannot
be processed.
[0014] The invention has as an advantage that it allows larger masses of waste material
to be collected than hitherto. In particular it allows a relatively large mass of
plastics containers or green waste to enter a recycling stream, thereby making collection
of such waste material more economic.
[0015] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a first municipal waste vehicle in accordance
with the present invention in which the waste processing unit is adapted to process
plastics containers;
Figure 2 shows a schematic end view of the municipal waste vehicle of Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows a schematic end view of a second municipal waste vehicle incorporating
the waste processing unit shown in Figures 1 and 2;
Figure 4 shows a schematic side view of a first municipal waste vehicle in accordance
with the present invention in which the waste processing unit is adapted to process
green waste;
Figure 5 shows a schematic end view of the municipal waste vehicle of Figure 4; and
Figure 6 shows a schematic end view of a second municipal waste vehicle incorporating
the waste processing unit of Figures 4 and 5.
[0016] Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 there can be seen a first embodiment of a municipal
waste vehicle incorporating a waste processing unit 4 adapted to process containers
in accordance with the present invention. The municipal waste vehicle has two compartments
in which waste may be collected and subsequently conveyed to a remote waste collection
site; a first compartment 6 disposed towards a front end of the vehicle 2 and a second
compartment 8 disposed at a rear end of the vehicle 2.
[0017] The first compartment 6 is provided with a known lifting device 10 whereby waste
material is supplied to the first compartment. The lifting device 10 is shown in ghost
in Figure 2 in a number of operating positions.
[0018] The second compartment 8 is provided with a rear lifter 12 to raise a waste containing
receptacle to an opening 14 provided in the second compartment 8. In the illustrated
embodiment, the opening 14 is located in an upper region of the second compartment
8. In use the waste containing receptacle is lifted to a height and inclination such
that the waste material contained therein is directed through the opening 14.
[0019] The waste processing unit 4 adapted to process containers is located in the opening
14. The waste processing unit comprises a hopper 16 and a waste processing mechanism.
In the illustrated embodiment, the waste processing mechanism comprises a driven roller
18 and an endless belt 20. The roller 18 is provided with raised portions 22 about
a peripheral region thereof. The raised portions 22 extend along a longitudinal axis
of the roller. The raised portions 22 are adapted to correspond with gaps or recesses
in the endless belt 20. The endless belt 20 may conveniently comprise a number of
spaced linkages.
[0020] In use when waste material comprising containers is deposited in the hopper 16 the
roller 18 is driven for rotation. The waste material is caught between the roller
18 and the endless belt 20 and dragged therethrough. This has the effect of collapsing
the waste material thereby reducing the volume of the waste material. In the case
of a plastics container, the interaction of the raised portions 22 of the roller 18
and the corresponding gaps in the endless belt 20 imparts a ripple or wave to the
collapsed containers. In the case of plastics containers this prevents the container
from adopting a shape of greater volume until after the waste material has been delivered
to the remote collections site.
[0021] It will be understood that such a waste processing unit is particularly suitable
for processing plastics containers, tins, and/or cans.
[0022] Figure 3 shows a schematic end view of a second municipal waste vehicle incorporating
a waste processing unit 4 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this embodiment, the second
compartment 8 is provided with a rear trough 24 whereby the waste containing receptacle
is raised to the opening provided in the upper region of the second compartment 8.
[0023] Turning now to Figures 4 and 5, there can be seen a further embodiment of a municipal
waste vehicle 32 incorporating a waste processing unit 34 in accordance with the present
invention. The municipal waste vehicle 32 has two compartments in which waste may
be collected and subsequently conveyed to the remote collection site; a first compartment
36 disposed towards a front end of the vehicle and a second compartment 38 disposed
at a rear end of the vehicle.
[0024] The first compartment 36 is provided with a known lifting device 40 whereby waste
material is supplied to the first compartment. The lifting device 40 is shown in ghost
in Figure 5 in a number of operating positions.
[0025] The second compartment 38 is provided with a rear lifter 42 to raise a waste containing
receptacle to an opening 44 provided in the second compartment. In the illustrated
embodiment, the opening is located in an upper region of the second compartment 48.
In use the waste containing receptacle is lifted to a height and inclination such
that the waste material contained therein is directed through the opening 44.
[0026] The waste processing unit 34 is located in the opening 44. The waste processing unit
comprises a hopper 46 and a waste processing mechanism. In the illustrated embodiment,
the waste processing mechanism comprises a roller 48 having a plurality of radially
extending members 50 disposed about a periphery thereof. The roller 48 is adapted
to be driven for rotation.
[0027] The hopper 46 comprises a number of walls defining a throat in which the roller 48
is located. One of the walls further includes a guard portion 56 extending partially
over the roller 48.
[0028] In use, the waste material is directed down the throat towards the roller 48.
[0029] The radially extruding members 50 of the roller are spaced along a longitudinal axis
of the roller 48. The radially extending members 50 need not extend fully about a
circumference or periphery of the roller 48. Where the radially extending members
50 extend fully about the periphery of the roller at least a portion of the or each
member extends radially further than a remainder of the or each member.
[0030] A first wall 52 of the hopper is preferably provided with openings through which
the radially extending members 50 of the roller can pass. The first wall 52 is disposed
a small distance from the periphery of the roller 48 to define a space therebetween.
[0031] In use when waste material is deposited in the hopper 46 the roller 48 is driven
for rotation. The radially extruding members 50 of the roller 48 act as a flail to
break up the waste material. The broken up waste material then passes through the
space between the periphery of the roller 48 and the first wall 52 of the hopper and
into the second compartment 38.
[0032] Each of the radially extending members 50 will be understood to have a leading edge
as the roller is rotated. The leading edge may take the form of a blade to provide
a chopping action in addition to the flailing action.
[0033] On occasion an item of waste material will enter the hopper which cannot be broken
up by the action of the radially extending members 50, for example because it is too
large. In such a case, the item of waste will become wedged between the roller 48
and the first wall 52 of the hopper 46, thereby causing the roller 48 to cease rotation.
The waste processing unit is provided with a detector or sensor to recognise this
condition. When such a condition is recognised a ram 58 connected to the first wall
52 of the hopper 46 is actuated to move the first wall 52 further away from the roller
48 thereby enlarging the space therebetween. The item of waste material should then
pass through into the second container 38. The first wall 52 is then returned by the
ram 58 to its previous position. The ram 58 may be operated hydraulically, pneumatically
or by any other convenient means.
[0034] A second wall 60 of the hopper 16 may be provided with openings through which the
radially extending members 50 of the roller 48 may pass. The openings may be so shaped
or disposed so as to strip any waste material caught on or between the radially extending
members 50 from the roller 48.
[0035] Figure 6 shows a schematic end view of a second municipal waste vehicle 32 incorporating
a waste processing unit as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In this embodiment, the second
compartment 38 is provided with a rear trough 54 whereby the waste containing receptacle
is raised to the opening provided in the second compartment 38.
1. A municipal waste vehicle having at least one compartment (6,8;36,38) in which a waste
material is to be transported, the or each compartment (8;38) having an opening (14;44)
in an upper region through which a volume of the waste material enters the compartment
(8;38), in which the vehicle is characterised in that the waste material passes through a waste processing unit (4;34) disposed in the
opening (14;44) of the compartment (8;38) to the waste processing unit (4;34), the
waste processing unit (4;34) being adapted to reduce the volume of the waste material
as the waste material enters the compartment (8;3 8).
2. A waste vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that the waste processing unit (4) comprises a driven roller (18) and an endless belt
(20).
3. A waste vehicle according to claim 2, characterised in that the driven roller(18) is provided with raised portions (22) extending along a longitudinal
axis of the driven roller (18) about a peripheral region thereof, the raised portions
(22) being adapted to correspond with corresponding gaps in the endless belt (20).
4. A waste vehicle according to any previous claim, characterised in that the opening is defined by a plurality of walls, including a first wall.
5. A waste vehicle according to claim 1, characterised in that the waste processing unit (34) comprises a roller (48) having a plurality of radially
extending members (50) disposed about a periphery thereof.
6. A waste vehicle according to claim 5, characterised in that the opening is defined by a plurality of walls, including a first wall (52), in which
the first wall (52) is provided with openings through which the radially extending
members (50) may pass.
7. A waste vehicle according to either claim 4 or claim 6, characterised in that the first wall (52) is displaceable.
8. A waste vehicle according to claim 7, characterised in that first wall (52) is displaceable under the action of a ram (58).