SHOVEL DEVICE FOR REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLES, AND RELATIVE METHOD OF HANDLING REFUSE COLLECTED

Abstract: Shovel device for refuse collection vehicles, of the type fitted to a mobile bin (30), operating in conjunction with a loading trough (12), and comprising an assembly (16) with at least one shovel (18), rotatable about a hinge (19) through a given angle and operated by actuator means (20), and a system of plates (22, 24) slidable one in relation to the other and operated by other corresponding actuator means (23). The device is characterized in that it comprises at least one further actuator means (26) the purpose of which is to swing the entire assembly (16) about an axis of rotation (21) such that refuse gathered up by the shovel (18) will be transferred toward, deposited in, and compacted into the mobile bin (30).

Description: il£ . i_^£Xi££_.£££_£££H.S. _££ii ® .£__.£ϊl_X£^.i£i .£-_ Il^- £l i *iY. _πi _._.£^._£-_l Il^UD.S_ £H. _££U £i ^.-ι The invention described herein relates to a shovel device for refuse collection vehicles, and to a re¬ lative method of handling refuse collected by such vehicles . In conventional refuse collection vehicles, devices of the type referred to are fitted to a container, or bin, and operate in conjunction with a loading trough from which the refuse collected is drawn into the bin; such a device comprises a shovel mechanism, rotatable through a given angle determined by its actuator means, and a system of plates slidable one in relation to the other and operated by other cor¬ responding actuator means. Operation of conventional devices is such that the only movement produced in filling the bin is that of the shovel, which turns about its axis, and that of the plates, which slide one relative to the other; refuse is thus gathered by the shovel, transferred into the bin, and deposited therein without any com¬ paction taking place. It can happen during the sub¬ sequent work stroke that refuse previously deposited in the bin will spill back and obstruct the shovel's operation. What is more, the shovel must remain in contact with the walls of the trough if efficient operation is to be ensured, the result being that early wear is occasioned by the friction produced. Lastly, strain on the device as a whole is consider¬ able . The object of the invention described herein is that of embodying a shovel device for refuse collection vehicles, and providing a method for handling refuse collected, whereby refuse gathered up and transfer¬ red into the bin will be compacted in the process; according to the invention, a larger working surface area is obtained for loading purposes, high operat¬ ing speed is achieved generally, and excessive fric¬ tion between working parts is avoided. In a device of the type aforementioned, such an ob¬ ject is achieved by embodying the entire assembly, which consists of a rotatable shovel and a system of sliding plates, so as to rotate bodily about a given axis when operated by actuator means, thereby pro¬ ducing an action such as will compact refuse toward and into the bin. In a preferred embodiment of the device, the various actuators are hydraulic rams. The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which: -fig 1 is the perspective of a shovel device for re¬ fuse collection vehicles according to the invention; -fig 2 is a side elevation of the device, fitted to the bin of a refuse collection vehicle comprising a loading trough; -figs 3, 4, 5 and 6 depict successive stages of the operation of a device according to the invention. With reference to figs 1 and 2, which illustrate a shovel device according to the invention, 16 denotes an assembly comprising a system of plates 22 and 24, arranged such that the plate denoted 22 may slide on appropriate means 22a in relation to the remaining plate 24, which is fixed, when operated by hydraulic rams 23, and a shovel 18, rotatable about a hinge 19 integral with the bottom end of the sliding plate 22 and operated likewise by a hydraulic ram 20. The assembly 16 of components thus constituting the shovel device rotates bodily about a given axis 21, when operated by hydraulic rams 26. In the embodiment illustrated, there are two slide rams 23, two forcing rams 26 and one shovel ram 20. The device is fitted to the rear end of a mobile bin 30 as illustrated in fig 2, in which 12 denotes the trough that accommodates refuse collected, prior to its transfer into the bin. Fig 2 illustrates the position in which the device is at rest, ready to commence a work cycle. The subsequent position is that illustrated in fig 3 in which it may be observed that the shovel 18 has been swung through a given angle in the direction denoted A by operation of the shovel ram 20, and the sliding plate 22 extended downward relative to the fixed plate 24, through the direction denoted B, by operation of the slide rams 23; also, the device 16 as a whole has been swung bodily about its axis of rotation 21 in the direction denoted C, by the forc¬ ing rams 26. Once the sliding plate 22 has reached its maximum extension, the shovel 18 will enter into operation, swinging back through the opposite direction to that denoted A and thus gathering up refuse collected in the trough 12; the position of the shovel 18 on com¬ pletion of this stage is illustrated in fig 4. Once returned to the angle assumed when at rest (a posit¬ ion which will be dictated by the ram stroke limit) the shovel 18 triggers an enabling signal for upward movement of the sliding plate 22 which, drawn by the rams 23, brings both shovel 18 and refuse up onto a level with the floor of the bin 30 (the position as illustrated in fig 5). At this juncture, the forcing rams 26 will be caused to operate, so as to thrust the entire shovel device 16 in the direction of the arrow in fig 5, compact¬ ing the refuse. The final position of the work cycle is that illustrated in fig 6. Thus, according to the invention, one achieves opti¬ mum compaction of refuse into the bin 30. It will be appreciated from the description that the refuse handling method implemented by the device is original and simple, and guarantees an efficient and trouble-free work cycle. The invention pursues and achieves the object of providing a refuse loading mechanism in which early wear and damage to working parts is avoided, signifying avoidance of frequent and costly servicing.

Claims: Claims 1) A shovel device for refuse collection vehicles, of the type fitted to a mobile bin (30), operating in conjunction with a loading trough (12), and compris¬ ing an assembly (16) with at least one shovel (18) , rotatable about a hinge (19) through a given angle and operated by actuator means (20), and a system of plates (22, 24) slidable one in relation to the other and operated by other corresponding actuator means ( 23 ) , characterized in that it comprises at least one further actuator means (26) the purpose of which is to swing the en¬ tire assembly (16) about an axis of rotation (21) such that refuse gathered up by the shovel (18) will be transferred toward, deposited in, and compacted into the mobile bin (30). 2) A device as in claim 1, wherein actuator means (26) swinging the entire assembly about its axis of rota¬ tion consist of a hydraulic ram fastened to at least one of the two plates of the assembly. 3) A method of handling collected refuse, whereby a bin (30) is associated with a shovel assembly (16) the shovel (18) of which is rotated about a hinge (19) through a given angle and a system of sliding plates (22, 24) is operated such as to extend the plate (22) associated with the shovel (18) into a position adjacent to a collection trough, thereby enabling the shovel to turn through a given angle and gather up refuse collected in the trough, the sliding plate (22) thereafter being moved into a position whereby the assembly (18) is brought level with the bin (30), characterized in that the entire shovel assembly (16) is then swung bodily about a given axis of rotation (21) through a given angle, toward the bin (30), such that refuse gathered up is directed thereinto and compacted, whereupon the assembly (16) swings about the same axis in the reverse direction, in readiness for a fresh work cycle.

Inventors: ZUCCOLIN ANGELO, ZUCCOLIN, ANGELO
Applicants: GEN SAMAT SA, GENERAL SAMAT S.A.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B65F3
IPC codes: B65F3