IES980127A2 - Lifting and tilting device for emptying a container into a refuse collecter - Google Patents

Abstract

A lifting and tilting device (10) for emptying a container (56) into a refuse collector (12) comprising a carrier bracket (14) securable to the refuse collector (12) and a generally L - shaped lifting arm (16, 18) for lifting the container (12) in a arcuate motion from a rest position to an emptying position. The lifting arm (46) has a lifting member (520 for engaging the container and a clamp bracket (38) for clamping the container between the lifting arm (46) and the lifting member (52). Link members (36, 44) associated with the lifting member *52) and the clamp member (32) clamp the container between the lifting arm (46) and the lifting member (52) at the commencement of the ascending motion of the lifting arm, or maintain the clamping action during the lifting, tilting, dumping and lowering actions of the lifting arm, and release the clamp at the end of the descent of the lifting arm (46, 18). A single hydraulic arm (26) to operate the device.

Description

LIFTING AND TILTING DEVICE FOR EMPTYING A CONTAINER INTO A REFUSE COLLECTOR The invention relates to a lifting and tilting device for emptying a container into a refuse collector, in particular a lifting and tilting device for emptying domestic waste containers into a waste compactor.

OPEN TO Ηί·Μ’· sNSHfcOIKJW UNUfcR SECTION 28 AND RULE 23 'SO , Most of the present lifting and tilting devices for emptying containers into garbage collectors incorporate a quadrangle of joints with an upper and lower guide bar connected 10 to a lifting and tilting frame. The lifting and tilting frames are powered by various drive mechanisms usually connected between the upper guide bar and the collector. The most common type of drive mechanism provides the swivel motion by the use of a swivel arm rotating about a horizontal axis and the lifting motion of the frame by incorporating a cylinder and piston arrangement. This type of arrangement is costly due to the number of 15 moving parts and drive mechanisms and a simpler system which incorporates only one drive mechanism is preferred. In this type of apparatus, the cylinder and piston arrangement provides both the lifting and tilting necessary to empty the container. However with this less complex apparatus a means of clamping the garbage container is not provided and a presser plate is required on the compactor to hold the container in place when inverted on the tilting device. ΓΝ The invention seeks to provide a simple lifting and tilting apparatus for dumping domestic waste into a collector, but which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art.

The present invention provides a lifting and tilting device for emptying a container into a efuse collector comprising a carrier bracket securable to the collector, a generally Lshaped lifting arm for lifting the container in an arcuate motion from a rest position to an emptying position, the arm having a lifting member for engaging the container, a clamp bracket for clamping the container between it and the lifting member, link members 30 associated with the lifting member and the clamp member to clamp the container between them at the commencement of the ascending motion of the lifting arm, maintaining the INT CL IE 980127 clamping action during the lifting, tilting, dumping and lowering actions of the lifting arm and releasing the clamp at the end of the descent of the lifting arm, the device being operated by a single hydraulic ram.

The invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a lifting device according to the invention and a domestic waste container; Figure 2 shows a front view of the lifting device of Figure 1; and Figure 3 shows a side view of the lifting device of Figure 1 In Figure 1 numeral 10 generally denotes a lifting device according to the invention. The lifting device 10 is mounted on the edge of a container, hopper, compactor 12 or the like, in which domestic waste is to be collected. In the present embodiment a waste compactor is used.

A carrier bracket 14 comprising two L-shaped metal portions 16, 18 is attached to the waste compactor side or end section. The two L-shaped portions 16, 18 are connected with a pin or shaft 20 at the upper end of the carrier bracket 14 and a shaft 22 at the bend in the L-shaped portions. The shafts 20 and 22 have a circular cross-section.

Shaft 22 defines a pivot axis 23, which can be seen in Figure 3 and about which it is freely rotatable. Shaft 22 extends the distance between the L-shaped portions 16, 18 on either side. An L-shaped lifting arm 24 is connected at its bend to the thereby formed endportions of the shaft 22. The lifting arm 24 is fixed to the shaft 22 in such a way, that the lifting arm 24 is rotatable about pivot axis 23. A hydraulic ram 26 is connected to shaft 20 and a shaft 28 connects the ends of the portions of the lifting arms 24.

IE 980127 A clamp bracket 30 is connected to the lower end of the lifting arm 24 by means of a rotatable shaft which defines a second pivoting axis 34 as can be seen in Figure 3. A clamp bracket connecting link 36 is attached to the carrier bracket 14 and the clamp bracket 30. The clamp bracket 30 comprises a horizontal bar 38 connecting the two portions 40 and 42 as shown in Figure 1.

A connecting link 44 is rotatably attached to the carrier bracket 14 and to a lifting bracket 46. The lifting bracket 46 comprises two portions 48 and 50, that are bent around bar 38 as can be seen in Figures 1 and 3. The ends of the portions 48 and 50 carry a comb-shaped portion 52. The lifting bracket 46 is also rotatably connected to shaft 32, thereby having the same pivot axis as the clamp bracket 30.

In order to operate the lifting device hydraulic ram 26 is activated, to move the shaft 28 backwards and thereby causing lifting arm 24 to rotate about axis 23. The lower end of the lifting arm 24 is elevated which causes the lifting bracket 46 and the clamp bracket 30 to rotate about axis 34 as shown in Figure 3.

After engaging comb 52 with a lip 54 of a domestic waste container 56 from below, the container 56 can be lifted by activating hydraulic ram 26. At a certain point, which is illustrated in Figure 3 by arrow 60, the separate rotations of the lifting bracket 46 and the clamp bracket 30 cause the bar to be shifted closer to the comb 52 and thereby hold the container 56 in a fixed position relative to the lifting device 10. The lifting arm 24 can then be further lifted into a position, designated by numeral 62 in Figure 3 in which the container lid 64 opens and the waste falls out of the container into the waste compactor 12.

When lowering the container 56 back into its original position, the clamp bracket 30 opens and the container lip 54 is released.

Using the invention it is possible to lock the domestic waste container by a positive clamping action activated by a push link which creates a positive locking action without the use of counter weights and only one hydraulic ram.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

MACLACHLAN & DONALDSON, Applicants’ Agents, 47 Merrion Square,

Claims (5)

1. A lifting and tilting device for emptying a container into a refuse collector comprising: a carrier bracket securable to the refuse collector; a generally L-shaped lifting arm for lifting the container in a arcuate motion from a rest position to an emptying position; the lifting arm having a lifting member for engaging the container; a clamp bracket for clamping the container between the lifting arm and the lifting member; link members associated with the lifting member and the clamp member to clamp the container between the lifting arm and the lifting member at the commencement of the ascending motion of the lifting arm, for maintaining the clamping action during the lifting, tilting, dumping and lowering actions of the lifting arm, and for releasing the clamp at the end of the descent of the lifting arm; and a single hydraulic arm to operate the device.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, in which the carrier bracket comprises two L-shaped portions attachable to the refuse collector, the two L-shaped portions being connected with a pin or first shaft at the upper end of the carrier bracket and with a second shaft at the bend in the L-shaped portions.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the clamp bracket is connected to the lower end of the lifting arm by means of a third shaft defining a pivoting axis and a clamp bracket connecting link is attached between the carrier bracket and the clamp bracket. IE 980127

4. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a connecting link rotatably attached to the carrier bracket and to a lifting bracket to which is attached a comb-shaped portion which in use is engagable with a lip of a domestic waste container from underneath.

5. A lifting and tilting device substantially as described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.