[0001] The invention is related to a refuse collection system comprising a chamber which
is permanently located in the ground, and which opens at ground level or above ground
level at the top, a cover for opening and closing off the chamber, a container, open
at the top, supports by means of which the container is supported in the chamber for
collecting refuse via a deposit opening in the cover, as well as a vehicle that is
provided with lifting gear for lifting said container out of the chamber respectively
lowering the container into the chamber, which container and lifting gear are provided
with coupling means for coupling the lifting gear to the container when the cover
is open, a ground placement location being provided for placing the vehicle next to
a vehicle placement side of the chamber which faces the ground placement location
with the aim of lifting respectively lowering the container with respect to the chamber.
[0002] Such a refuse collection system is disclosed in European patent application
1679271. By means of this prior art refuse collection system, the process of emptying a loaded
container can be carried out under automatic control through the refuse collection
vehicle. The lifting gear of said refuse collection vehicle is operated in such a
manner that the container is lifted in a virtually vertical direction outer of the
chamber, after the cover has been opened. Subsequently, the lifting gear is able to
tilt the container so as to empty the contents thereof in the refuse collection hold
of the vehicle. After the process of emptying the container has been completed, the
lifting gear is able to swing back the container to a vertical position, and to finally
reposition the container within the chamber. After the cover has been closed again,
the cycle of collecting refuse is complete.
[0003] The prior art refuse collection system provides satisfying and reliable results,
even in case the vehicle is not placed in an optimal position with respect to the
chamber and container. Thus, the prior art refuse collection system allows for some
misalignment of the refuse collection vehicle, that is to say an angled position instead
of the perfect position parallel to the placement side of the chamber, or an angled
position as a result of some small slope of the ground level, etc.
[0004] However, in general the ground level should be virtually horizontal, or exhibit only
small deviations from the horizontal. In the areas however which have a hilly character,
the application of the prior art refuse collection system is less feasible. Under
those circumstances, it appears to be difficult to make the lifting gear contact and
couple the container. The object of the invention is therefore to provide a refuse
collection system of the type described before which can also be used in combination
with sloping ground surfaces. T his object is achieved in that the supports are located
at opposite sides of the chamber in such a way that the container it is pivotable
with respect to the chamber according to a pivot axis defined by said supports. In
particular, the supports may located at the placement side and an opposite side of
the chamber. The other sides of the chamber and the container are lacking such supports.
[0005] In the refuse collection system according to the invention, the support is provided
with the possibility to orient the container vertically, even in case the chamber
would be positioned at an angle as a result of the sloping surface thereof. The top
of the container would thus be in the plane of the sloping ground surface, in particular
along a sloping road next to which the chamber is located.
[0006] Although the system according to the invention is particularly fit for appl ication
in circumstances where the surface is sloping, said system has also benefits in horizontally
oriented surfaces. In both cases, the container may adapt its orientation, for instance
in dependence of the distribution of the refuse in the container. In case for whatever
reason the refuse is collected unevenly, the container will tilt with respect to the
vertical. Upon retrieving the container from the chamber, the lifting apparatus can
be adjusted to the position of the container, which makes the subsequent process of
lifting the container easier as no unbalance will occur when removing the container
from its supports.
[0007] The container may comprise attachments which cooperate with support elements of the
chamber, in such a way that the container is pivotable with respect to the chamber
according to a pivot axis defined by said support elements. The supports are located
at two and only two opposite sides, so as to enable the pivoting movement of the container.
According to a preferred embodiment, the supports are arranged in such a way that
the pivot axis is oriented transverse with respect to the length of the axis of a
sloping road along which the chamber has been positioned. It is an advantage that
the top surface of the chamber is in the same plane as the sloping surface of the
road, having regard to the fact that under such conditions no obstructions or elevated
parts of the chamber protrude upwardly with respect to the road surface. In particular
this represents an important advantage for pedestrians, rolled vehicles such as children's
trolleys etc.
[0008] Thus, in case the ground level runs at a nonzero angle with respect to the horizontal
when seen in a direction transverse with respect to the pivot axis, the height direction
of the chamber runs at a similar nonzero angle with respect to the vertical as well.
As mentioned before, the container, which has a bottom and a height direction defined
between said bottom and the open top, may have its height direction running vertical.
[0009] Alternatively, the pivot axis may be oriented in the same direction of the longitudinal
axis of a road.
[0010] The lifting gear and the container can be connected to each other by means of bayonet
couplings which comprise a rotary member that can be rotated about an axis of rotation
and has a shape that is not revolutionally symmetrical with respect to said axis of
rotation, as well as a pick-up member into which the rotary member can be inserted
in a first rotational position and with respect to which the rotary member is locked
in a second rotational position. Preferably, the rotary member has two projections
protruding diametrically with respect to the axis of rotation and the pick-up member
comprises an undercut slot (twist lock). These slots may be curved somewhat in the
plane of the top of the container, in order to promote guiding of the rotary members
into the correct position thereof with respect to said slots.
[0011] The container can have at least two flanged edges at the top, each of which is provided
with a pick-up member. In this case the lifting means have two correspondingly positioned
rotary members. Furthermore, the lifting means can have a head with respect to which
the rotary members protrude. Stable coupling between the lifting gear and the container
can be achieved with the aid of this head. This can be achieved in particular if the
head has at least one stop surface with respect to which the rotary members protrude,
which stop surface(s) can be brought into contact with the flanged edges. In the coupled
position the flanges bear on the stop surfaces of the head in a stable manner, such
that the container and the lifting gear form a rigid whole that can be controlled
well when lifting and tilting the container.
[0012] In this connection, the lifting gear can, in a known manner, comprise an articulated
arm as well as control means for manipulating the arm such that the container can
be moved along an essentially straight, vertical path with respect to the chamber.
[0013] The vehicle can also have safety barriers that can be moved between a rest position
on the vehicle and a safety position in which they extend with respect to the vehicle
in order to screen off the chamber when the cover is open.
[0014] The container is provided at the top with at least two flanged edges in each of which
there is a curved slot for twist lock couplings of a lifting gear.
[0015] The invention is also related to the combination of a chamber to be located in the
ground, which has a bottom and a top, a cover for opening and closing off the chamber,
said cover being provided with a deposit opening, the height direction extending between
the bottom and the top, and a container open at the top, said container being supportable
with respect to the chamber by means of supports for collecting refuse via said deposit
opening in the cover. Said supports are located at opposite sides of the chamber in
such a way that the container is pivotable with respect to the chamber according to
a pivot axis defined by said supports.
[0016] Finally, the invention relates to a method for operating a refuse collection system
as described before, comprising the steps of:
- positioning the refuse collection vehicle along the placement side of the chamber,
- opening the cover,
- making the lifting gear approach the container in the chamber,
- influencing the container by means of the lifting gear so as to make the container
tilt until the height direction thereof is oriented and an angle equal to the angle
of the height direction of the chamber,
- connecting the lifting gear to the container,
- lifting the container from the chamber while maintaining the tilted position of said
container.
[0017] The method according to the invention a further comprise the steps of:
- emptying the container in the refuse collection device while maintaining the tilted
position of said container,
- repositioning the container in the chamber while maintaining the tilted position of
said container,
- disconnecting the lifting gear from the container,
- lifting the lifting gear away from the container by the same time allowing the container
to move from the tilted position to the vertical position.
[0018] The container is thus handled and emptied while the refuse collection vehicle is
in a position in at an angle, similar to the angle of the slanting ground surface.
The vehicle can either be positioned in climbing direction, or in descending direction
along the surface. After the container has been tilted according to a similar angle
with respect to the vertical, all subsequent actions can take place while maintaining
said tilted position, although it is not absolutely necessary to maintain this slanting
position during the subsequent stages of emptying the container. As the angle of the
road surface is usually limited, the forces exerted as a result of the tilted orientation
of the container on the lifting gear and on the a vehicle are maintained within acceptable
magnitudes. Also, after the container has been turned upside down, the refuse still
can easily slide out of the container into the hold of the refuse collection device.
[0019] The process of obtaining a tilted angle of the container under the influence of the
lifting gear, can take several forms. According to a preferred process, this entails
the step of pressing the lifting gear on the top side of the container so as to make
said container tilt.
[0020] Alternatively, the method according to the invention comprise the steps of:
- making the container obtain a tilted orientation as a result of asymmetric filling
thereof with refuse,
- positioning the refuse collection vehicle along the vehicle placement side of the
chamber,
- opening the cover,
- making the lifting gear approach the container in the chamber,
- influencing the lifting gear so as to adjust its orientation to the orientation of
the container,
- connecting the lifting gear to the container,
- lifting the container from the chamber while at least initially maintaining the tilted
orientation of said container.
[0021] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an illustrative
embodiment shown in the figures.
[0022] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the refuse collection system according to the
prior art where the container has been lifted out of the chamber by a vehicle.
[0023] Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the heads of the lifting gear of the vehicle in the
system according to figure 1.
[0024] Figure 3 shows a side view of a head in the system according to figure 1.
[0025] Figure 4 shows a view in perspective, partly in broken lines, of the top side of
the refuse collection device for the refuse collection system according to the invention.
[0026] Figure 5 shows the chamber and the somewhat lifted container (in broken lines) of
the refuse collection device according to figure 4.
[0027] Figure 6 shows a cross sectional view of the refuse collection device according to
figure 4.
[0028] Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the refuse collection system according to the invention,
installed on a sloping surface.
[0029] Figure 8 shows the step in the retrieval of the container of the refuse collection
system as shown in figure 7.
[0030] Figure 9 shows a further step in the retrieval of the container.
[0031] Figure 10 shows a further state of the refuse collection system according to the
invention.
[0032] Figure 1 shows the refuse collection system according to the prior art. It comprises
a refuse collection vehicle 18, which is placed at a ground placement location 44.
Furthermore, the refuse collection vehicle 18 has a refuse collection hold 19 as well
as lifting means 20. Also, the refuse collection system comprises a refuse collection
device consisting of the chamber 1 and the container 14. The lifting means 20 lift
the container 14 out of the chamber 1 as shown in Figure 1. In addition, the container
14 can be tilted in a known manner by means of the lifting means 20 until it is above
the hold 19, such that the container 14 can be emptied.
[0033] The lifting means 20 have a set of arms 21 that can be controlled by means of hydraulic
piston/cylinder assembly 22 in such a way that the container 14 can initially be lifted
essentially vertically upwards out of the bunker 1. Furthermore, the set of arms 21
is suitable for the tilting and emptying of the container mentioned above. The set
of arms 21 bears, by means of joints 29, the heads indicated in their entirety by
23, the bottom of which is shown in Figure 2 and the side view of which is shown in
Figure 3. This bottom has two hydraulic rams 24, 25, the function of which will be
described below. The rotary members 26 protrude downwardly with respect to these rams
24, 25. These rotary members 26 are constructed as so-called "twistlocks" and comprise
a rotary pin 27 at the end of which an elongated locking piece 28 is fitted. The rotary
members 26 can each be driven by means of their own hydraulic motor.
[0034] During the process of coupling, the elongated locking pieces 28 are introduced into
the openings 17 in the collar 16 of the container 14. The locking pieces 28 are then
turned through approximately 90°, such that they hook underneath the collar 16. In
this position the rams 24, 25 are actuated, which as a result are each pressed into
contact with the relevant edge of the collar 16. A rigid, stable coupling between
the lifting means 20 and the container 14 is obtained in this way. Although a sunken
chamber is shown in the figures, the invention can also be used with a chamber installed
partly or fully above ground.
[0035] As a safety feature for the open chamber 1, arms 32 are fitted on the refuse collection
vehicle 18 which can be folded out on either side of the chamber. These arms 32 are
provided with acoustic and/or visual warning elements 31.
[0036] The refuse collection device according to the invention as shown in Figures 4-6 comprises
a chamber 1 permanently installed below ground 2, which opens at the top at ground
level. Said chamber 1 has a vehicle placement side 45, along which the refuse collection
vehicle 18 is positioned at the ground placement location 44. The cover 3 is mounted
on the chamber 1 such that it can hinge. Said cover has a deposit shaft 4 with a deposit
opening 5 that is closed off by a spring-loaded lid 6. It is possible to use an electromechanical
actuator 46, for example a screw spindle driven by an electric motor control the lid
6. Power can be supplied to this by a rechargeable battery, connected to solar cells
that are mounted on the filler lid. It is also possible to supply the actuator with
power from the refuse collection vehicle 18. In the latter case, said vehicle is equipped
with an extendable/retractable energy contact point 48, which can contact the stationary
energy contact point 47 which is connected to the actuator 46, e.g. an electro-spindle.
Said spindle can thus be supplied with electrical power from the vehicle.
[0037] As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the container 14 has a container body 15 that is delimited
at the top by a collar 16. This collar 16, which points outwards, is provided in a
known manner with openings 17 in which the lifting gear of a refuse collection vehicle
18 can engage. Furthermore, the chamber 1 has side walls 33, a front wall 34 and a
back wall 35. The chamber 1 furthermore as a bottom 9 which is carried out as a unity
with said walls 33-35.
[0038] According to the invention, the front wall 34 and the back wall 35 are each provided
with depressions 36 which consist, seen from above, of a V-shaped introduction part
37, a prismatic part 38 and a fitting part 39 within which weighing cells 30 can be
accommodated. Furthermore, signal lines 40 are accommodated within the front wall
34 and back wall 35. As is further clear from figure 5, each V-shaped introduction
part opens out in an uncovered top section 10, at the top of the walls 34, 35. The
outer top section 11 borders the uncovered top section 10; said outer top section
11 is covered by a frame 12, onto which the cover 3 is pivotably connected.
[0039] The container 14 is provided with protrusions 13 on opposite side walls, which protrusions
fit within the depressions 36 of the front wall 34 and the back wall 35 of the chamber
1. In particular the protrusions 13 comprise a ball-shaped lower end 29, a prismatic
part 42 and a V-shaped an upper part 41. The ball-shaped lower end 29 comes to rest
on a weighing cell 16, the prismatic part 21 is received in a prismatic part 38 of
the depression 36, and the V-shaped upper part 41 is received in the V-shaped introduction
part 37 of said depression 36. The dimensions of these parts is selected in such a
way that the container 8 is able to carry out a pivoting movements about the pivot
axis 43 which is shown schematically in figure 5.
[0040] Now turning to the figures 7-8, the process of emptying the container 8 according
to the invention is shown. Said container 8 is accommodated in a chamber 1 which is
positioned slantingly, in accordance with the slanting ground surface 2. In contrast,
the container 8 obtains a vertical position under the influence of gravity, having
regard to the fact that the supports 13, 36 allows a pivotal movement according to
the pivot axis 43 shown in figure 5. After the cover (not shown in figure 7-8 for
reasons of clarity) has been opened, the lifting gear 20 is lowered, which makes that
the lifting heads approach the top side of the container 8. In the condition shown
in figure 7, the lifting head 23 which is the lowest in comparison to the other lifting
head 23, as a result of the slanting position of the refuse collection vehicle 18
on the ground surface 2, begins to touch the top side of the container 8.
[0041] Upon further pressing the lifting gear 20, and thus the lifting heads 23, downwardly,
the container 8 is urged to swing about the supports 13, 36 towards the condition
shown in figure 8. The container 8 is then aligned with respect to the lifting gear
20, and the uppermost lifting head 23 comes into contact with the top side of the
container 8 as well. Subsequently, the connection as described before between the
lifting gear 20 and the container 8 can be obtained by means of the twist locks. Thereafter,
the container 8 can be lifted by means of the lifting gear 20 while maintaining the
slanting position, as shown in figure 9. Finally, the container 8 is turned over above
the hold 19 of the refuse collection device 18 (which phase is not shown). The process
can be terminated by returning the refuse collection container 8, while still maintaining
its tilting position, into the chamber 1. The connection between the lifting gear
and the container 8 is uncoupled, and as soon as the lifting gear is moved away in
upward direction, the container resumes its vertical position under the influence
of gravity as shown in figure 7.
[0042] Figure 10 shows a state of the refuse collection device according to the invention,
in which the refuse 8 is collected eccentrically with respect to the supports of the
container 14. As a result, said container 14 has obtained the somewhat tilted position,
around the supports 13, 36, with respect to the chamber 1. This eccentrically loading
of the container 14 may occur incidentally. Upon coupling the lifting gear 20 to the
container 14, the lifting heads 23 can be adapted in such a way that the obtain the
same somewhat tilted position as the container 14. In the position, the lifting heads
23 subsequently connected to the container 14. This has the advantage that, upon lifting
the container 14 from the chamber, no unbalance will occur as soon as the container
14 is lifted free from the supports 13, 36.
List of reference numerals
[0043]
- 1.
- Chamber
- 2.
- Ground
- 3.
- Cover
- 4.
- Column
- 5.
- Opening
- 6.
- Lid
- 7.
- Container bottom
- 8.
- Refuse
- 9.
- Chamber bottom
- 10.
- Uncovered top section
- 11.
- Top outer section
- 12.
- Frame
- 13.
- Protrusions
- 14.
- Container
- 15.
- Container body
- 16.
- Container collar
- 17.
- Coupling openings
- 18.
- Refuse collection vehicle
- 19.
- Refuse collection hold
- 20.
- Lifting gear
- 21.
- Lifting arms
- 22.
- Hydraulic piston-cylinder assembly
- 23.
- Lifting heads
- 24.
- Hydraulic ram
- 25.
- Hydraulic ram
- 26.
- Rotary members
- 27.
- Rotary pin
- 28.
- Locking piece
- 29.
- Ball-shaped lower end
- 30.
- Weighing cell
- 31.
- Warning elements
- 32.
- Safety elements
- 33.
- Side walls
- 34.
- Front wall
- 35.
- Back wall
- 36.
- Depression
- 37.
- V-shaped introduction part
- 38.
- Prismatic part
- 39.
- Fitting part
- 40.
- Signal lines
- 41.
- V- shaped upper part
- 42.
- Prismatic part
- 43.
- Pivot axis
- 44.
- Ground placement location
- 45.
- Vehicle placement side
- 46.
- Electric spindle
- 47.
- Stationary energy contact point
- 48.
- Energy contact point on vehicle
1. Refuse collection system comprising a chamber (1) which is permanently located in
the ground (2), and which opens at ground level or above ground level at the top,
a cover (3) for opening and closing off the chamber (1), a container (14), open at
the top, supports (36) by means of which the container (14) is supported in the chamber
(1) for collecting refuse via a deposit opening (5) in the cover (3), as well as a
vehicle (18) that is provided with lifting gear (20) for lifting said container (14)
out of the chamber (1) respectively lowering the container (14) into the chamber (1),
which container (14) and lifting gear (20) are provided with coupling means (17, 23)
for coupling the lifting gear to the container (14) when the cover (3) is open, a
ground placement (44) location being provided for placing the vehicle (18) next to
a vehicle placement side (45) of the chamber (1) which faces the ground placement
location with the aim of lifting respectively lowering the container (14) with respect
to the chamber (1), characterised in that the supports (36) are located at opposite sides of the chamber (1) in such a way
that the container (14) is pivotable with respect to the chamber (1) according to
a pivot axis (43) defined by said supports (36).
2. System according claim 1, wherein the supports (36) are located at the vehicle placement
side (45) and an opposite side of the chamber (1).
3. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the container (14) comprises attachments
(13) which cooperate with support elements (36) of the chamber (1),
4. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ground level runs at
a nonzero angle with respect to the horizontal when seen in a direction transverse
with respect to the pivot axis (43), the height direction of the chamber (1) running
at a similar nonzero angle with respect to the vertical.
5. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container (1) has a
bottom (7) and a height direction defined between said bottom (7) and its open top,
said height direction of the container (14) being oriented vertically at least in
case the container (14) is empty.
6. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein opposite walls (34, 35)
of the chamber (1) which e.g. are on the vehicle placement side (45) and an opposite
side of said chamber (1), comprise facing internal depressions (36) which open out
at the top of said opposite walls, the container (14) comprising protrusions (13)
fitting in said internal depressions.
7. System according to claim 6, within the depressions (36) are diverging in upward
direction.
8. System according to claim 7, wherein the depressions (36), when seen in vertical
direction, have a generally V-shaped introduction part (37) as well as a weighing
cell (3 0) beneath for cooperation with the protrusions (13) of the container (14)
9. System according to claim 10, wherein the top of the chamber (1) comprises an uncovered
inner section (10) and a bordering outer section (11) covered by a frame (12), the
depressions (36) emanating in the uncovered inner section (10) of the chamber (1).
10. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover (3) is hingeably
supported at the side of the chamber (1) opposite the vehicle placement side (45).
11. System according to claim 9 and 10, wherein the cover (3) is hingedly connected to
the frame (4) at the side of the frame (12) opposite the vehicle placement side (45).
12. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling means (17,
23) comprise at least a bayonet coupling (17, 26) provided with a rotary member (26)
that can be rotated about an axis of rotation and has a shape that is not revolutionally
symmetrical with respect to said axis of rotation, as well as a pick-up member (16,
17) in which the rotary member can be inserted in a first rotational position and
with respect to which the rotary member is locked in a second rotational position.
13. System according to Claim 12, wherein the rotary member (26) has two projections
(28) protruding diametrically with respect to the axis of rotation.
14. System according to one of Claim 12 or 13, wherein the container (14) has at least
two flanged edges (16) at the top, each of which is provided with a pick-up member
(17) and the lifting gear (20) has two correspondingly positioned rotary members (26).
15. System according to Claim 14, wherein the lifting gear (20) has heads (23) with respect
to which the rotary members (26) protrude.
16. System according to Claim 15, wherein each head (23) has at least one ram (24, 25)
with respect to which the rotary members (27) protrude, which rams (24, 25) can be
brought into contact with the flanged edges (17).
18. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lifting gear (20) comprises
an articulated arm (21) as well as control means for manipulating the arm such that
the container (14) can be moved along an essentially straight, vertical path with
respect to the chamber (1).
19. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the chamber (1) comprises
a concrete material.
20. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle (18) has safety
barriers (33) that can be moved between a rest position on the vehicle (18) and a
safety position in which they extend with respect to the vehicle (18) in order to
screen off the chamber (1) when the cover (3) is open.
21. Method for operating a refuse collection system according to any of the preceding
claims, comprising the steps of:
- positioning the refuse collection vehicle (18) along the vehicle placement side
(45) of the chamber (1),
- opening the cover (3),
- making the lifting gear (20) approach the container (14) in the chamber (1),
- influencing the container (14) by means of the lifting gear (20) so as to make the
container (14) tilt until the height direction thereof is oriented and an angle equal
to the angle of the height direction of the chamber (1),
- connecting the lifting gear to the container (14),
- lifting the container (14) from the chamber (1) while maintaining the tilted position
of said container (14).
22. Method according to claim 21, comprising the steps of:
- emptying the container (14) in the refuse collection vehicle (18) while maintaining
the tilted position of said container (14),
- repositioning the container (14) in the chamber (1) while maintaining the tilted
position of said container (14),
- disconnecting the lifting gear (20) from the container (14),
- lifting the lifting gear (20) away from the container (14) by the same time allowing
the container (14) to move from the tilted position to the vertical position.
23. Method according to claim 21 or 22, comprising the step of:
- pressing the lifting gear (20) on the top side of the container (14) so as to make
said container (14) tilt.
24. Method for operating a refuse collection system according to any of claims 1-20,
comprising the steps of:
- making the container (14) obtain a tilted orientation as a result of asymmetric
filling thereof with refuse(8),
- positioning the refuse collection vehicle (18) along the vehicle placement side
(45) of the chamber (1),
- opening the cover (3),
- making the lifting gear (20) approach the container (14) in the chamber (1),
- influencing the lifting gear (20) so as to adjust its orientation to the orientation
of the container (14),
- connecting the lifting (20) gear to the container (14),
- lifting the container (14) from the chamber (1) while at least initially maintaining
the tilted orientation of said container (14).
25. In combination, a chamber (1) to be located in the ground (2), which has a bottom
(9) and a top, a cover (3) for opening and closing off the chamber (1), said cover
(30) being provided with a deposit opening, the height direction extending between
the bottom (9) and the top, and a container (14) open at the top, said container (14)
being supportable with respect to the chamber (1) by means of supports (13, 36) for
collecting refuse (8) via said deposit opening in the cover (3), characterised in that the supports (13, 36) are located at opposite sides of the chamber (1) in such a
way that the container (14) it is pivotable with respect to the chamber (1) according
to a pivot axis (43) defined by said supports (13, 36).