Waste collection device

Abstract: The waste collection device comprises a structure (1) having a base (2) and a cover (3) which are suitable for delimiting a portion of space for the accommodation of a container (4). The structure (1) is connected to lifting means (9,10) suitable for providing movement between a position in which the structure (1) is concealed within a pit (11) and a position in which it protrudes completely from the pit (11). A hollow column (15) is rigidly associated with the cover (3) and is connected to the container (4) for the insertion of waste.

Description: The present invention relates to a waste collection device. It is known that the collection of solid urban waste is currently performed in an unsatisfactory manner: not only the method of leaving bags filled with rubbish in front of the door of houses, but also the method of inserting said bags and anything which must be disposed into bins arranged along roadways proximate to the sidewalks, in fact create inconvenience for the population from a both aesthetic and hygienic point of view. In particular, bins furthermore create hindrances to traffic and barriers for the passage of handicapped people, and are also a target for vandalism. Known collection methods have the further disadvantageous characteristic of entailing a considerable use of labor of the assigned operators. It should be furthermore added that the problem of collection and pre-storage affects not only solid urban waste but also hospital and industrial waste in general, both liquid and solid. Known from EP-A-0 240 748 is a waste collection device as defined in the preamble of claim 1. Also known from DE-A-2 416 426 is a waste collection device comprising a bin support structure provided with a ceiling and delimiting a space for accommodating a bin having a cover. A lifting device is provided for moving the support structure and a bin placed thereon between a first position, whereat the bin and cover are located within a pit and the support structure ceiling is aligned with the pavement surface surrounding the pit, and a second position, whereat the support structure and the bin with the cover placed thereon protrude from the pit. The aim of the present invention is therefore to provide a waste collection device which provides the concealment of every element which entails a considerable bulk on the roadway and negatively affects aesthetics, and which furthermore ensures both the maximum protection of the users from the hygienic point of view and a reduction in the labor of the assigned operators. This aim is achieved by a waste collection device, as defined in the appended claims. Further characteristics and advantages will become apparent from the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention with the container accommodation structure, which is indicated in dot-and-dash lines by way of reference in the position in which it protrudes completely from the pit; figure 2 is a sectional view, taken along a median longitudinal plane, of the invention illustrated in figure 1, with the structure in a concealed position within the pit, and; figure 3 is a view of the detail III of figure 2. With reference to the above figures 1, 2, 3, the reference numeral 1 generally indicates the structure which comprises the base 2 and the cover 3, which are adapted for delimiting a portion of space for the accommodation of the container 4, which has a bottom and rests on the base 1 possibly at sliding guides not illustrated in the figure; the connection between the base 2 and the cover 3 is ensured by the telescopic columns 5, 6, 7, 8, which are illustrated in figures 1 and 2 in the maximum and minimum elongation conditions respectively. The reference numerals 9 and 10 furthermore indicate two hydraulic cylinders which are accommodated within the pit 11; the ends of their stems 9a, 10a are connected to the cover 3, and said cylinders move the described structure between the position in which it is concealed within the pit 11, illustrated in figure 2, with the cover 3 aligned with the pavement surface which surrounds the pit, and the position in which it protrudes completely from said pit, illustrated in figure 1, with the base 2 substantially aligned with said pavement surface. The lifting of the cover 3 with respect to the base 2, which occurs in this last position by virtue of the connection therebetween provided by means of the described telescopic columns, allows to easily move the container 4. The container 4 can be removed from the structure, after inclining it, to empty it periodically. A hollow column 15 is provided on the cover 3, which comprises a paving or pavement surface 12, that is identical to that which surrounds the pit. The cover 3 also has an underlying condensation-proofing panel 13, which is coated by the bituminous linings 14a, 14b. Said column 15 is connected to the container 4 by means of the orientatable chute 16 for the insertion of waste on the part of users. The hollow column 15 has smooth walls and a downward-folded upper edge, so as to discourage animals from attempting to penetrate inside it, and is provided with the lid 17, which is kept in closed position by elastic means, schematically indicated by the reference numeral 18, to prevent escape of gasses or odours from the container. The metallic profiled element generally indicated by the reference numeral 19 is provided along the entire perimeter of the cover 3 and comprises the ridge 19a which is adapted for being immersed, in the maximum lowering position of the cover, in water contained inside the channel 20 which runs around the entire pit 11, so as to prevent the escape of gasses or odours from said pit, and furthermore comprises the edge 19b for covering said channel. The channel 20, which is fed with water from the public water system by means of the duct 21, is kept at the required level by means of the floater device schematically indicated by the reference numeral 22, but may also be filled periodically by assigned personnel. In the described embodiment, a trap 23 is provided for collecting the water for washing the container 4; said water reaches said trap by falling through corresponding holes defined respectively in the bottom of the container 4 and in the base 2; said last hole is indicated by the refernce numeral 2a, and the numeral 24 indicates a duct for drawing water from said trap, which leads to an outlet section 24a which exits at the pavement surface proximate to the pit 11 and through which the water can be drawn in order to empty the trap. Finally, the reference numeral 25 indicates the space for accommodating the control unit of the hydraulic cylinders 9 and 10, and 11a indicates a vent duct which appears to be interrupted in the drawing but actually extends vertically to vent at a high level, following for example the wall of a building. From the foregoing, it is clear that the invention provides a device which, by virtue of the possibility of providing the containers inserted in pits with considerable dimensions without affecting the roadways with bulky items except for the irrelevant bulk of the waste insertion columns, allows widely spaced emptying interventions, with a considerable saving in labor with respect to known methods. It should furthermore be noted that the invention also completely solves the problems posed from the aesthetic and hygienic point of view. The described invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variations within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims: thus, for example, the pit 11 can be provided with inspection tunnels. In the practical embodiment of the invention, the materials employed, as well as the shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: Waste collection device comprising a structure (1) having a base (2) and a cover (3) adapted for delimiting a portion of space for the accommodation of an extractable container (4), said structure (1) being connected to lifting means (9,10) suitable for moving it between a first position, whereat said structure (1) is concealed inside a pit (11), and a second position, whereat said structure (1) protrudes completely from said pit (11), with the base (2) substantially aligned with said pavement surface, a hollow column (15) being rigidly associated with said cover (3) and being connected to the container (4) for the manual insertion of waste, characterized in that said cover (3) is aligned with the pavement surface which surrounds said pit (11) when said structure is in said first position, and in that said base (2) is connected to said cover (3) by means of telescopic columns (5-8), the lifting means (9-10) of said structure (1) comprising hydraulic cylinders (9,10) accommodated within said pit (11) and connected to said cover (3). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said hydraulic cylinders (9, 10) have a control unit. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hollow column (15) connected to the container (4) has smooth walls with a downward-folded upper edge and has a lid (17) which is kept in closed position by elastic means. Device according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that it comprises an orientatable chute (16) rigidly associated with the cover (3) at a hole provided at the base of said hollow column (15). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a channel (20) which contains water and is arranged along the entire perimeter of the pit (11), said channel (20) receiving, inside it, in the position of maximum lowering of the cover (3), a ridge (19a) which is rigidly associated with said cover (3), so as to prevent escape of exhalations from the pit (11), and is surmounted, in said position, by an edge (19b) of said cover (3). Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said channel (20) is supplied with water by the public water system, a floater device (22) being provided for maintaining its level, said channel (20) being provided with means for possible connection to a sewage system to allow its emptying. Device according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that it comprises, within said pit (11), a trap (23) for collecting the washing water of the container (4), which reaches said trap (23) by falling through corresponding holes (2a) provided in the bottom of the container (4) and in the base (2), a duct (24) being provided for drawing water from said trap (23), said duct (24) leading outside at the walking surface proximate to said pit (11). Device according to claim 1, 5 or 7, characterized in that it comprises a vent duct (11a) which extends from the pit (11) and ends at a high level.

Inventors: FUSARO ANGELO, GALEAZZI GIANCARLO, FUSARO, ANGELO, GALEAZZI, GIANCARLO
Applicants: FUSARO ANGELO, GALEAZZI GIANCARLO, FUSARO, ANGELO, GALEAZZI, GIANCARLO
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65F1
IPC codes: B65F1