Solid waste compacting device

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a solid waste compacting device (1) such as urban or industrial waste.
Such device comprises containment means (2) of the solid waste, compacting means (4, 6) for example ram (4), screw (6) or single blade, operatively connected to the containment means (2) to reduce the volume occupied by the solid waste, where the compacting means (4, 6) are powered electrically or electrically-hydraulically by alternate current.
The device further comprises electric power supply means (8) of the compacting means (4, 6), comprising means of conversion (10) suitable for receiving electricity in continuous current at least from renewable sources, and for converting it to alternate current.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a compacting device of solid waste such as urban or industrial waste.

[0002] In the related sector, several types of compacting devices suitable for collecting and rationalising space for discards or waste, of urban or industrial provenance, are known of.

[0003] The main purpose of the technological development of these machines is to improve the performance of the same, aimed mainly at increasing the quantity of material which can be transported inside the collection containers, and the efficiency in reducing the volume of the waste, e.g. in terms of optimising the speed or power required in relation to the energy consumed in performing such operations.

[0004] However, the need to use devices which are energetically autonomous, in other words not dependent on the use of fossil fuels, even if indirectly, and which are therefore powered by renewable energy sources is increasingly felt.

[0005] The present invention therefore sets itself up as an important act of responsible and voluntary discontinuance of use of traditional energy sources, both for environmental and economic reasons.

[0006] Such purpose is achieved by a device according to claim 1. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiment variations.

[0007] The object of the present invention will now be described in detail, with the help of the attached tables, wherein:

[0008] - figure 1 shows a diagram of the device which the present invention relates to, according to a first embodiment;

[0009] - figure 2 shows a perspective view of a compacting module utilisable in the device in figure 1, according to an alternative variation;

[0010] - figure 3 shows the plumbing system of the ram compactor shown in figure 1;

[0011] - figure 4 shows a wiring circuit comprising an inverter device, according to a possible embodiment.

[0012] With reference to the aforesaid drawings, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a compacting device of solid waste such as urban or industrial waste.

[0013] The device 1 comprises containment means 2 of the solid waste.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the containment means 2 comprise a container, which identifies at least one aperture 34 for the entrance of the solid waste.

[0015] Consequently, the solid waste is pushed or moved through the aperture 34 and collected in the containment means 2, that is in the container, until the loading degree of the latter corresponds to the desired level, e.g. until the container is full.

[0016] The device 1 further comprises compacting means 4, 6 operatively connected to the containment means 2 to reduce the volume occupied by the solid waste.

[0017] Preferably, the compacting means comprise a ram compacter 4 (shown in figure 1), an auger compacter 6 (shown in figure 2) or a single blade compacter (not shown).

[0018] Consequently, the compacting means are preferably located in a position suitable for receiving the solid waste to be subjected to compacting, for example at a loading hopper 36, and are suitable for pushing or moving such waste in the containment means 2.

[0019] According to one embodiment variation, a preliminary step of reducing the volume of the solid waste occurs at the same time as this pushing or moving step.

[0020] According to a further variation, the step of reducing the volume of the solid waste takes place exclusively inside the containment means 2.

[0021] Consequently, according to such embodiment, the solid waste is initially moved towards the inside of the containment means 2. Progressively, as new waste is introduced, the containment means 2 begin to fill up and the further input of such material causes the crushing both of the waste already inside and the incoming waste, accomplishing the aforesaid volume reduction operation.

[0022] The compacting means 4, 6 are powered electrically or electrically-hydraulically with alternate current, so that they can also be connected to an external electricity supply 24.

[0023] Preferably, the containment 2 and/or compacting means 4, 6 are roll-on and roll-off, i.e. are suitable for being transported by a dedicated motorised vehicle, e.g. a vehicle designed for such transport, and for being deposited in a place of use, such as a waste disposal island, separately from the vehicle transporting them.

[0024] Consequently, the roll-on and roll-off containment 2 and/or compacting means 4, 6 are suitable for being reversibly coupled to a motorised vehicle for their transport.

[0025] The device 1 further comprises electric power supply means 8 of the compacting means 4, 6.

[0026] Consequently, the electric power supply means 8 are suitable for supplying the compacting means 4, 6 with the electricity needed for them to function or, in other words, are responsible for the energy requirement of the compacting means 4, 6.

[0027] According to one variation, the electric power supply means 8 comprise electricity storage means 22, such as a battery.

[0028] Preferably, the electric power supply means 8 can be detachably coupled to the compacting means 4, 6 so that various compacting means 4, 6 can be coupled to the same electric power supply means 8.

[0029] For example, such connection is made via an electric connector, preferably snap-wired.

[0030] Consequently, for the embodiments further envisaging roll-on and roll-off containment 2 and/or compacting means 4, 6, the power supply means 8 can be positioned in a determined site and can be reversibly coupled to different containment 2 and/or compacting means 4, 6, which are for example alternated as they reach their maximum containment capacity of compacted solid waste.

[0031] Consequently, advantageously, the power supply means 8 do not need to be transported each time with the other means 2, 4, 6 with a consequent saving in transport costs of the device.

[0032] Even more preferably, the power supply means 8 are suitable for simultaneously powering at least two compacting means 4, 6 preferably a plurality of thereof.

[0033] In other words, the power supply means 8 can be adapted so as to act as an electricity supply for numerous compacting means 4, 6 contemporaneously, for example connected in series or in parallel.

[0034] Moreover, the electric power supply means 8 comprise conversion means 10 0 suitable for receiving electricity in continuous current at least from renewable sources, and for converting it to alternate current.

[0035] In other words, innovatively, the device which the present invention relates to makes it possible to receive electricity in continuous current from at least one renewable source, and to transform it into alternate current which can be used by the compacting means 4, 6.

[0036] Consequently, by virtue of the conversion from continuous current to alternate current, the device 1 enables powering of the compacting means 4, 6 by renewable energy sources.

[0037] According to an advantageous variation, the device 1 further comprises at least one renewable electricity source 12, 14, 16, 18 suitable for providing continuous current to the electric power supply means 8.

[0038] According to a further variation, the renewable source 12, 14, 16, 18 is a geothermic generator 16 and/or a biomass system 18, but preferably a wind generator 12 and/or a photovoltaic panel 14.

[0039] According to a possible variation, at least one photovoltaic panel 14 is positioned on the containment means 2 so that, for example, it covers the top surface of the container.

[0040] Preferably, the conversion means 10 comprise an inverter device.

[0041] According to one advantageous embodiment, the compacting means 4, 6 comprise motorised means M, M', powered in low voltage, to move the aforementioned auger 6, the aforementioned ram 4 or the aforementioned blade.

[0042] Preferably, the motorised means M, M' are single-phased and even more preferably, are four-poled.

[0043] Such type of motor, combined with the special fitting which will be described below, has proved particularly suitable for the present application, in that it makes it possible to achieve the power required for compacting, without however requiring an unreasonable expenditure for the purchase of many of the aforesaid sources 12, 14, 16, 18.

[0044] Consequently, it has been observed that the aforesaid motorised means M,M' make it possible for example to reduce the number of photovoltaic panels needed for correct functioning of the device 1 to one-third compared to the other types of motor.

[0045] Advantageously, in fact, each motor M, M' develops a power of 3 kW and absorbs a current intensity of about 17.8 Ampere.

[0046] Preferably, the device 1 comprises a pair of motors M, M' operating in parallel, as illustrated for example in the diagram in figure 3.

[0047] According to a preferred variation, the compacting means 4, 6 further comprise hydraulic means 26, 28, 30, 32 for example at least one pump, operatively connected to the motor means M, M'.

[0048] Preferably, a pair of hydraulic pumps 26, 28, 30, 32, preferably generating different flows, is connected to each motor M, M'.

[0049] For example, the pumps 26, 32 have a capacity of 11,2 cm³, while the pumps 28, 30 of 6,3 cm³.

[0050] Consequently, according to such variation schematically illustrated in figure 3, the pumps having a greater capacity mainly serve lower pressure values. In fact, once a predefined pressure value has been reached, such pumps 26, 32 are suitable for deactivating themselves or for discharging the liquid moved by them outside the circuit supplying the pair of cylinder-piston groups 38, 40. Such pair of cylinder-piston groups 38, 40 is in fact delegated to moving the ram 4.

[0051] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the device 1 comprises control means 20, for example electronic means, operatively connected to the power supply means 8.

[0052] According to one embodiment, the control means 20 comprise a microprocessor.

[0053] Advantageously, when the quantity of electricity supplied by the renewable electricity source 12, 14, 16, 18 exceeds that required by the compacting means 4, 6, the control means 20 are suitable for recharging the electricity storage means 22, such as a battery, for the functioning of the compacting means 4, 6 and/or for supplying the electricity mains 24 and/or a further electric utility.

[0054] Advantageously, moreover, when the quantity of electricity supplied by the renewable electricity source 12, 14, 16, 18 is less than that required by the compacting means 4, 6, the control means 20 are suitable for withdrawing current from the electricity storage means 22, i.e. from the battery, and/or from the external electricity supply 24.

[0055] According to such embodiments, the power supply means 8 optionally comprise at least one switching station 42 suitable for making a connection between the power supply means 8 and the external electricity mains 24. E.g. the switching station 42 is connected to a main metering device belonging to the latter 24.

[0056] Preferably, the compacting means 4, 6, comprise auxiliary motor means which can be powered in continuous current, for example at 48 volts.

[0057] According to such variation, the auxiliary motor means are therefore powered directly by the renewable electricity source; the latter thereby supplies energy to both the conversion means and to the auxiliary motor means.

[0058] According to a further variation, the device 1 for compacting waste has no conversion means, so that the renewable electricity source or plurality of the same directly power the auxiliary motors in continuous current.

[0059] Innovatively, the device which the present invention relates to therefore sets itself up as an important act of responsible and voluntary discontinuance of use of traditional energy sources, both for environmental and economic reasons.

[0060] In fact, the use of renewable energy sources has been prevented up to today for this type of device on account of the impossibility of conciliating elevated compacting power with low energy consumption.

[0061] . Advantageously, the device which the present invention relates to makes it possible to achieve significant economies in functioning and in transport of its components.

[0062] Advantageously, the device which the present invention relates to makes it possible to achieve a net profit for its owner, given the possibility of selling excess electricity back to the mains, or of using the extra electricity produced in other utilities.

[0063] Advantageously, the device which the present invention relates to makes it possible to rationalise energy consumption, and to use the energy resources of the power supply means separately.

[0064] Advantageously, the device which the present invention relates to has components in proportion to the available costs and spaces.

[0065] A person skilled in the art may make modifications or replacements of elements with other functionally equivalent, to the aforesaid embodiments of the device in order to satisfy specific requirements.

[0066] Such variations also fall within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.

[0067] Moreover, each variation described as belonging to a possible embodiment may be realised independently of the other variations described.

Claims

1. Solid waste compacting device (1), e.g. urban or industrial waste, comprising:

- containment means (2) of the solid waste;

- compacting means (4, 6) for example ram (4), auger (6) or single-bladed, operatively connected to the containment means (2) to reduce the volume occupied by the solid waste;
wherein the compacting means (4, 6) are powered electrically or electrically-hydraulically by alternate current; and

- electric power supply means (8) of the compacting means (4, 6);
wherein the electric power supply means (8) comprise means of conversion (10) suitable for receiving electrical energy in continuous current at least from renewable sources, and for converting it to alternate current.

2. Device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one renewable electricity source (12, 14, 16, 18), preferably a wind generator (12), a photovoltaic panel (14), a geothermic generator (16) and/or a biomass system (18), suitable for providing continuous current to the electric power supply means 8.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conversion means (10) comprise an inverter device.

4. Device according to any of the previous claims, further comprising control means (20), e.g. electronic, operatively connected to the power supply means (8).

5. Device according to claims 2 or 3 when dependent on claim 4, wherein, when the quantity of electricity supplied by the renewable electricity source (12, 14, 16, 18) exceeds that required by the compacting means (4, 6), the control means (20) are suitable for recharging electricity storage means (22), e.g. a battery for the functioning of the compacting means (4, 6) and/or for supplying an electricity mains (24) and/or a further electric utility.

6. Device according to claims 2 or 3 when dependent on claim 4, or according to claim 5, wherein, when the quantity of electricity supplied by the renewable electricity source (12, 14, 16, 18) is smaller than that required by the compacting means (4,), the control means (20) are suitable for withdrawing current from the electricity storage means (22), e.g. from a battery, and/or from the external electricity mains (24).

7. Device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the compacting means (4, 6) comprise motorised means (M, M'), powered in low voltage, for moving said auger (6), said ram (4) or said blade.

8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the motor means (M, M') are single-phase, preferably four-poled.

9. Device according to claims 7 or 8, comprising a pair of motors (M, M') operating in parallel.

10. Device according to claim 9, wherein each motor (M, M') has 3 kW of power and absorbs a current intensity of about 17,8 Ampere.

11. Device according to any of the claims from 7 to 10, wherein the compacting means (4, 6) further comprise hydraulic means (26, 28, 30, 32), e.g. at least one pump, operatively connected to the motor means (M, M').

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein a pair of hydraulic pumps (26, 28; 30, 32) generating different flows is connected to each motor (M, M').

13. Device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the compacting means (4, 6) comprise auxiliary motor means suitable for being powered in continuous current.

14. Device according to any of the previous claims, comprising roll-on and roll-off containment (2) and/or compacting (4, 6) means.

15. Device according to any of the previous claims, wherein the electric power supply means (8) can be detachably coupled to the compacting means (4, 6) so that the same electric power supply means (8) are suitable for being coupled to various compacting means (4, 6).

Drawing