Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a trash compactor and methods of compacting trash. In an embodiment of the present disclosure the compactor is configured to automatically actuate an integrated hydraulic unit that is configured to both pivot a multi-sectioned crush plate and also to lower the plate into a base member. Related methods of compacting are also provided.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/268,136 filed on Jun. 8, 2009 titled Trash Compactor, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for compacting trash. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Processing trash is generally more efficient when the trash is compacted. 
         [0004]    This is especially the case when the trash is compacted near the location at which the trash is collected. Some trash compactors that are configured to compact trash near the location that the trash is collected (as opposed to at a landfill) are known. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,907 as well as compactors that are commercially available from Fountain Industries Co. of Albert Lee, Minn. (i.e., Compactor Model 1800, 2400, 3600). 
         [0005]    Improved compacting methods and apparatuses (e.g., configuration having high ratio of compaction resulting in less frequent unloading and less total trips to the landfill, improved configurations resulting in smaller/lighter units that draw less power, improved configurations having automated sensing and communication functions, etc.) are desirable. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    The present disclosure provides a trash compactor and related methods of compacting trash (the term trash as used herein is intended to mean any material to be compacted such as waste, refuse, etc.). In one embodiment of the present disclosure the compactor is configured to automatically actuate an integrated hydraulic unit that is configured to both pivot a multi-part crushing plate and also to lower the multi-part crushing plate into a base container for compacting. Related methods of compacting are also provided. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the compactor according to the present disclosure; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the compactor of  FIG. 1  with portions of the housing shown in a partially open position; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the compactor of  FIG. 1  with the housing removed showing the compacting assembly in a retracted position; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the compactor of  FIG. 1  with the housing removed showing the compacting assembly in an intermediate position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the compactor of  FIG. 1  with the housing removed showing the compacting assembly in an extended position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a portion of the compacting assembly of the compactor of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a portion of the compacting assembly of the compactor of  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a front view of a portion of the compacting assembly of the compactor of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-8  an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. In the depicted embodiment, the compactor  10  includes a housing  12 , also referred to as a cover or shroud. In the depicted embodiment the housing  12  has a door  14  that can be opened to load the compactor  10  with trash by pivoting the door  14  about a horizontal axis, and a drawer  16  that can be opened so that the compacted trash can be removed from the compactor  10  by pivoting the drawer about a vertical axis. 
         [0016]    In the depicted embodiment the compactor  10  is sized and configured so that it could be used in place of a standard trash receptacle for on-site trash collection and compacting (e.g., the compactor  10  in the depicted embodiment can be used in a fast food restaurant in place of a commonly used 50 gallons trash receptacle). However, it should be appreciated that the principles of the present invention can be applied in many other contexts as well. For example, the compactor  10  can be used to compact bags of trash collected from multiple standard trash cans that do not have integrated trash compacting functionality. 
         [0017]    Referring more particularly to  FIGS. 3-6 , the compactor  10  is shown with the housing  12  removed to expose the compacting assembly  20 . In the depicted embodiment the compacting assembly includes a frame  22 , a hydraulic device  24  connected to the frame  22 , a crushing device  26  connected to the frame  22 , a base container  28  positioned within the frame  22 , and a linkage assembly  30  connected between the crushing device  26  and the hydraulic device  24 . 
         [0018]    In the depicted embodiment, the frame  22  includes a generally horizontal upper member  32  (e.g., a piece of metal tubing having a rectangular cross-section), a base  34  for supporting the base container  28  (e.g., metal tubing covered by a metal plate), and two opposed, generally vertical, longitudinal members  38 ,  40  that connect the upper member  32  to the base  34 . In the depicted embodiment a pair of gussets  42 ,  44  are connected between the upper member  32  and the longitudinal members  38 ,  40  for auxiliary structural support. In the depicted embodiment the frame is about 43 inches tall and 24 inches wide. The depth of the frame  22  at the upper end of the frame is less than 12 inches (e.g., about 6 inches wide) and the depth of the frame  22  at the bottom end of the frame about 24 inches (depth of base  34 ). In the depicted embodiment the frame  22  is constructed of steel that has been treated to prevent corrosion (galvanized, painted, etc.). However, it should be appreciated that the frame  22  could instead be constructed of many other types of materials. 
         [0019]    In the depicted embodiment the frame  22  is configured such that the stresses and strains caused by the compacting of trash are generally contained within the frame itself and not imparted onto the housing  12 . In the depicted embodiment, the crushing action applies a force to the inside surface of the upper member  32  via the hydraulic device  24  and top surface  36  of the base  34  via the base container  28 . The crushing force results in stresses and strains in the longitudinal members  38 ,  40 , upper member  32 , base, and gussets  42 ,  44 . Since the housing  12  is not needed for structural support of the crushing assembly  20 , the housings can be of a variety of designs and constructions. For example, the housing can comprise a lightweight construction that includes multiple sheets of plastic connected together, it can be of a single molded plastic piece, and/or it can be designed to be interchangeable. The disclosed configuration results in a relatively lightweight compactor (e.g., total weight less than 300 pounds). It should be appreciated that other configurations and sizes are also possible. 
         [0020]    In the depicted embodiment, the hydraulic device  24  includes a pump, motor, and shaft  46  all of which are at least partially contained within a single enclosed housing. In the depicted embodiment the motor is a 12 volt permanent magnet type motor, the pump has a fluid capacity of 21 cubic inches, and the shaft  46  is 304 stainless steel having a stroke length of between 5-12 inches. An example of a suitable hydraulic device  24  is the commercially available Model 7050 Hydraulic Actuator available from Cook Manufacturing Corporation, which is typically used as a steering component for a motorize boat. In the depicted embodiment the hydraulic device  24  is configured to be powered via a variety of power sources (e.g., 115 alternating current-15 amp power source or a 12 direct current power source, etc.) 
         [0021]    In the depicted embodiment, the crushing device  26  includes a center member  48  slidably connected to the frame  22 , a first plate  50  pivotally connected to the center member  48 , and a second plate  52  pivotally connected to the center member  48 . In the depicted embodiment, the center member is a generally rectangular structure positioned directly below the shaft  46  and includes two opposed ends that are each slidably connected to the longitudinal members  38 ,  40  of the frame via slider  54 ,  56  (e.g., gib blocks, tongue and groove configuration, roller bearing configurations, etc.). The sliding connection between the opposed ends of the center member  48  and the frame  22  minimizes deflection of the crushing device  26  (e.g., twisting) during use. In the depicted embodiment, the plates  50 ,  52  are connected to the frame  22  via their connection to the center member  48  rather than directly to the frame  22 . 
         [0022]    In the depicted embodiment, the first plate  50  of the crushing device  26  is hinged along a longitudinal edge of the center member  48 , and the second plate  52  is hinged along a longitudinal edge of the center member  48 . In the depicted embodiment, each of the first and second plates has a pivot range of about 80-110 degrees relative to the center member  48 . In particular, the plate member when the shaft  46  is fully retracted is oriented generally vertically and when extended (when crushing) is oriented past horizontal. In other words, the plate members  50 ,  52  when in the crushing position are oriented at an angle that is less that 180 degrees relative to each other (see  FIG. 8 ). Accordingly, the trash being crushed is guided towards the center of the base container  28  by the plates  50 ,  52  which results in the crushing forces primarily being in the vertical direction and aligned with the shaft  46 . In the depicted embodiment, both of the plates  50 ,  52  move in synchronization due to the movement of the shaft  46  (extension and retraction). Accordingly, the forces applied to both plates  50 ,  52  and back from the plates  50 ,  52  are generally balanced. 
         [0023]    In the depicted embodiment, the base container  28  includes a side wall  58  and a bottom wall  60 . The base container  28  is removable from the housing  12  and includes an upper opening  62  sized and configured to receive the crushing device  26 . In the depicted embodiment, when the upper opening  62  is aligned to receive the crushing device  26 , the bottom wall  60  of the base container is positioned over the top surface  36  of the base  34  of the frame  22 . Although in the depicted embodiment the base container  28  is generally cubed shaped, it should be appreciated that many other shapes are also possible (e.g., cylindrical). In the depicted embodiment the base container  28  includes a sealed body construction. The sealed body prevents the contents (compacted trash) within the base container  28  from leaking out from the compactor  10  while avoiding the need for trash bags. It should be appreciated that many other alternative configurations are also possible. 
         [0024]    In the depicted embodiment, the linkage assembly  30  includes a first member  64  slidably connected to the end of the shaft  46  and connected to the center member  48 , a second member  66  pivotally connected to the shaft  46  and pivotally connected to the first plate  50  and, a third member  68  pivotally connected to the shaft  46  and pivotally connected to the second plate  52 . In the depicted embodiment a pin  70  that extends perpendicularly through the shaft  46  is received within a slot  72  in the first member  64  and pivotally connected to the second and third members  66 ,  68 . In the depicted embodiment, the linkage assembly  30  includes two identical halves, wherein each half includes a first member, a second member, and a third member. The pin  70  connects both sets of first members, second members, and third members to the shaft  46  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
         [0025]    In the depicted embodiment, the linkage assembly  30  is connected to the hydraulic device  24  and crushing device  26  such that the extension of the shaft  46  causes the first and second plates  50 ,  52  to pivot downwardly and also causes the crushing device  26  to move downwardly into the base container  28 . In the depicted embodiment the shaft  46  is connected to the center member  48  such that the shaft can extend and retract the length of the slot  72  without displacing the center member  48 . On the other hand, movement of the shaft  46  causes movement of the plates  50 ,  52  (either pivoting or displacing upwards/downwards). The movement of the shaft  46  that does not cause the center member  48  to move corresponds to the movement of the shaft that pivots the plates  50 ,  52 . As discussed above, the linkage assembly  30  is configured to transfer the downwardly directed force (crushing force) equally/symmetrically on the plates  50 ,  52 . The linkage assembly  30  is also configured to pivot the plates  50 ,  52  so that when the plates are in the up/raised position they are out of the path of the trash as it enters the compactor thereby avoiding the trash being caught above the crushing device  26 . The wide pivot range enabled in part by the linkage assembly  30  is also desirable as it allows for easy service and maintenance of the compactors. In the depicted embodiment the first member  64  having the slot therein is between 2.0 to 3.0 inches long and the distance between pivot points on the second and third members  66 ,  68  is each between 2.0 to 3.0 inches long. However, it should be appreciated that many other configurations are also possible. 
         [0026]    In the depicted embodiment, the compactor  10  includes a control unit  74 . The control unit  74  in the depicted embodiment is configured to actuate the hydraulic device automatically after the door is open a predetermined number of times. In the depicted embodiment the compacting ratio of the compactor can be adjusted. For example, the compacting ratio can be adjusted from 0-20, meaning that the compactor can be configured to decrease the volume of the trash by zero of its uncrushed volume (thereby functioning as a standard trash receptacle) up to one-twentieth of its uncrushed volume. 
         [0027]    In the depicted embodiment the control unit  74  automatically notifies an operator when trash in the base container exceeds a predetermined level. For example, the control unit  74  automatically emails or text messages an operator when trash in the base container exceeds a predetermined level indicating that the compactor should be unloaded. In some configurations the user can query the control unit  74  remotely and determine how much trash is in the compactor  10 . In addition, the control unit  74  is configured to automatically notify (e.g., audibly via speaker on the unit, audibly via a phone call, or via text through sending an email or text message) when the trash receptacle needs maintenance or repair and the type of maintenance or repair that is required. In the depicted embodiment the control unit  74  includes some of the hardware and software features commercially available in the XL Series Operator Control Station sold by Horner APG, LLC (www.hornerOCS.com). It should be appreciated that other components and other types of voice or data networks could also be used. 
         [0028]    In the depicted embodiment, the compactor  10  is configured such that the door  14  of the housing  12  is prevented from being open when the crushing device  26  is not in the raised position. The compactor  10  can also be configured such that when the door  12  is open, the motion of the crushing device  26  is stopped. 
         [0029]    The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.