Waste-material collection device

Abstract

 The invention provides a waste material collection device comprising a receptacle (10) formed with a front opening (24), hinged arms (18) movable to open and at least partially close the front opening, and rotary brush/paddle assemblies (28) mounted at the free ends of the hinged arms for urging waste material into the receptacle.

Description

[0001] This invention concerns a device for mounting on a land vehicle or water vessel for collecting waste material, e.g. from waterways and adjacent banks.

[0002] A conventional waste material collection device for removing floating or submerged material from a waterway comprises a grab or basket mounted on a boat by way of a crane. The grab or basket is drawn or driven through the water for collecting the waste material and can be raised and lowered for transferring the waste material to a suitable container.

[0003] However, the conventional device has the disadvantage that it has only a limited manoeuvrability and does not collect waste material very satisfactorily from the bank of a waterway.

[0004] The present invention seeks to overcome these disadvantages.

[0005] According to the present invention, there is provided a waste-material collecting device comprising a receptacle for the waste material formed with a front opening, hinged arms movable to open and at least partially close the front opening, and rotary brush/paddle assemblies mounted on free ends of the arms and operable to urge waste material into the receptacle.

[0006] The hinged arms serve for providing a variable catchment volume for the waste material by enabling the separation of the rotary assemblies and the depth of the receptacle to be altered as required. The rotary assemblies encourage the flow of waste material into the receptacle. Hence, the present invention is both versatile and efficient.

[0007] Preferably, the device is mounted on a boat or floating platform by way of a lifting frame, such as a crane.

[0008] The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a waste material collection device according to the present invention, with parts removed and with hinged arms of the device shown at their widest separation;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the device with the hinged arms in a partially closed position;

Figure 3 is a side view of the device in operation and mounted on a boat by way of a lifting frame, and

Figure 4 is a side-view of the device at another stage of operation.

[0009] Referring to the drawings, the waste material collection device according to the present invention comprises a rigid frame 10 formed from welded bars defining a flat rectangular base 12 and rear and side panels 14 and 16 respectively. Further bars define arms 18, each hinged to a respective side panel 16 by way of hinge pin and socket assemblies 20 (see Figure 2). The interior faces of these parts are covered with a wire mesh cladding 22 as shown in Figure 2, which may be expanded or perforated and which is secured with bolts, catches or by means of direct welds for example.

[0010] The rigid frame and mesh cladding together provide a receptacle 23 for waste material formed with a front opening 24, which can be opened and at least partially closed by selective alteration of the spacing of the hinged arms 18. Piston and cylinder arrangements 26 are provided for moving the arms 18 for this purpose. Safety devices and shock-absorbers (not shown) are built in to protect the hinged parts from damage.

[0011] At the free end of each arm 18 is mounted a rotary brush assembly 28, which is formed with rows of radially extending bristles 30 and is arranged to be operated by hydraulic drive means 32. The bristles in one row are staggered or offset relative to the bristiles in each adjacent row and are held in place by any means permitting easy replacement, for example, bolts or catches (not shown). Upper and lower guards 34 protect the bristles from damage.

[0012] In operation, the waste material collection device described above is mounted on a vessel 40 by way of a lifting frame 42 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. More especially, the receptacle is connected by hinges 44 to a free end of the lifting frame 42, with a piston and cylinder arrangement 46 provided to control the relative angular positions of the receptacle and the lifting frame. A further piston and cylinder arrangement 48 is provided for determining the angle of the lifting frame 42 in relation to the vessel 40.

[0013] For collecting waste material, the collection device is partially submerged, as shown in Figure 3, and is driven forwards through the water by the vessel 40. The brush assemblies 28 are driven to rotate, thereby generating a flow of water serving to assist the waste material entering the receptacle. The hinged arms 18 are opened wide as far as space allows. The openings in the mesh cladding allow water to flow through the device without significant resistance, whilst at the same time being small enough to prevent debris which has been collected from escaping.

[0014] Once the waste material has been collected, the hinged arms 18 are brought together to retain the material in the collection device and the receptacle 23 is lifted from the water and is carried by the vessel 40 to the site of an appropriate container 50 (see Figure 4). Here, the receptacle is tilted downwards by the piston and cylinder arrangement 46 to discharge the material into the container 50.

[0015] It will be apparent that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

[0016] For example, the rotary brush assemblies could be replaced by rotary paddle assemblies, or rotary cutting blade assemblies if the device is to be employed along the banks of a waterway.

[0017] Further, the piston and cylinder arrangements 26 for controlling the separation of the arms 18 may be replaced by alternative mechanical controls. Likewise, the piston and cylinder arrangements 46 and 48 may instead comprise appropriate mechanical lifting linkages.

[0018] The collection device is versatile and easy to use in a variety of environments and may be mounted on a land vehicle just as well as on a water vessel. In either instance, the lifting frame 42 is preferably narrower in width than the collection device for ease of access in confined areas.

Claims

1. A waste-material collecting device comprising a receptacle (23) for the waste material formed with a front opening (24), and characterised by arms (18) movable to open and at least partially close the front opening, and rotary assemblies (28) mounted on free ends of side arms of the receptacle defining the front opening and operable to urge waste material into the receptacle.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the rotary assemblies comprise generally radially extending bristles (30).

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the rotary assemblies comprise paddles or cutting blades.

4. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the rotary assemblies are hydraulically operated.

5. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the receptacle comprises a mesh basket, having base and rear and side walls (12, 14, 16), the side arms being connected to the side walls.

6. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that each side arm is hinged for opening or at least partially closing the front opening, the position of each arm is controlled by a piston and cylinder arrangement (26).

7. A vessel carrying a waste-material collecting device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6.

8. A vessel as claimed in claim 7, characterised by a lifting frame (42), with the waste material collecting device being hinged to the lifting frame.

9. A vessel as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that a piston and cylinder arrangement (46) is provided for controlling the position of the receptacle in relation to the lifting frame.

10. A vessel as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the receptacle has a width greater than the corresponding span of the lifting frame.

Drawing