Abstract:
A packing device is disclosed and comprises a hopper and a packer mechanism. The hopper is for receiving waste and has a substantially arcuate interior bottom surface and an aperture opening into the interior of the hopper. The aperture has a base towards which the interior bottom surface extends. The packer mechanism is mounted in the hopper for reciprocating movement along an arcuate path defined at least in part by the bottom&#39;surface. In use, waste introduced into the hopper deposits on the interior surface when the packer is retracted and is swept by the packer mechanism through the aperture during an extension stroke of the packer. The packer mechanism has a blade portion with a bottom engaging and resting on the bottom surface of the hopper, this surface supporting the packer in the hopper. At least one hydraulic cylinder drive is connected to the packer mechanism for moving this mechanism from its retracted position to an extended position and back again. A guide system is mounted on the hopper and the packer to guide the packer along the arcuate path. A vehicle incorporating the packing device, that collects, compacts, temporarily stores and transports waste, is also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a waste packing apparatus and refuse collection vehicle that collects and transport waste. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Side-loading waste collection vehicles, for curbside pickup of household waste or the like, are well known in the art. Generally, such vehicles have a housing including a hopper into which waste is deposited through a side opening. The waste can be transferred to a hold within the housing for temporary storage. Compaction is typically provided, either within the hold, or as part of the transfer process, so as to increase the capacity of the hold. Once the hold has reached its capacity, the waste can be ejected from the hold by tilting the housing upwards or by an ejecting blade or similar mechanism. 
   Prior art transfer/compaction mechanisms in vehicles of this type often suffer from mechanical complexity, relatively high weight or relatively large bulk. Mechanical complexity is disadvantageous, as it makes these mechanisms prone to failure, expensive to maintain and/or slow in operation. High weight is disadvantageous, as it reduces the payload that could otherwise be accommodated by the vehicle and thereby increases operating costs. Bulkiness reduces the volume that could otherwise be made available within the hold and thereby increases operating costs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   According to one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for packing waste into a storage container includes a hopper for receiving the waste, this hopper including an interior space for waste, a substantially arcuate interior bottom surface, a first aperture for depositing waste into the interior space, and a second aperture for passage of the waste from the interior space to the storage container. The second aperture has a base towards which the bottom surface extends. A packer mechanism has a waste pushing face at one end thereof and is mounted in the hopper for reciprocating movement between a retracted position away from the second aperture and an extended position where the waste pushing face is in or adjacent to the second aperture. The reciprocating movement is along an arcuate path defined at least in part by the interior bottom surface of the hopper. The packer mechanism has a blade portion with the bottom engaging and resting on the interior bottom surface of the hopper. This bottom surface supports the packer mechanism in the hopper. At least one power drive mechanism is connected to the packer mechanism for moving the packer mechanism from the retracted position to the extended position in order to sweep deposited waste from the interior space of the hopper through the second aperture and into the storage container and for moving the packer mechanism back to the retracted position during use of the apparatus. 
   In one particular embodiment of this packing apparatus, the packing mechanism includes a pair of spaced-apart rollers rotatably mounted on a trailing end section of the packer mechanism and the apparatus includes an arcuate guide rail for each of the rollers disposed inside and secured to the hopper. These rollers and guide rails guide movement of the trailing end section of the packer. 
   According to another embodiment of the invention, a refuse collection vehicle includes a vehicle chassis having front and rear sets of wheels and engine means for driving at least one of the sets of wheels and a vehicle cab mounted on the chassis. A refuse storage container is mounted at a rear of the vehicle chassis, this container having a rear door that can be opened to permit egress of refuse and an interior storage space. A refuse receiving hopper is mounted on the chassis between the cab and the storage container and has an interior space for refuse. A vertically extending divider separates the interior space of the hopper from the storage space of the container. The hopper also includes a substantially arcuate interior bottom surface, a first aperture for depositing refuse or waste into the interior space and a second aperture in or adjacent the divider for passage of refuse from the interior space to the storage space. The interior bottom surface curves in a front to rear direction to a rearmost location adjacent the base of the second aperture. The vehicle further includes a packer mechanism having a waste pushing face at one end thereof, this mechanism being mounted in the hopper for reciprocating movement between a retracted position away from the second aperture and an extended position where the waste pushing face is in or adjacent to the second aperture. The reciprocating movement is along an arcuate path defined at least in part by the interior bottom surface. The packer mechanism has a blade portion with a bottom engaging and resting on the interior bottom surface which supports the packer mechanism in the hopper. At least one power drive mechanism is connected to the packer mechanism for moving the packer mechanism from the retracted position to the extended position in order to sweep deposited refuse from the interior space through the second aperture and into the container and for moving the packer mechanism back to the retracted position during use of the vehicle. 
   In a further embodiment of the invention, there is provided a refuse collection and transport system that includes a refuse vehicle having a vehicle chassis and a refuse storage container mounted on the chassis and having an interior storage space. The container includes a gate mechanism for opening the container for egress of refuse. A refuse receiving hopper is mounted on the chassis adjacent the storage container and has an interior hopper space for at least initially holding refuse and a substantially concave interior bottom surface arrangement on which refuse can be deposited. The hopper has a first aperture for insertion of refuse into the hopper space and a second aperture for passage of refuse from the hopper space into the storage space. The concave bottom surface curves in a vertical plane perpendicular to the second aperture and extends at least to a point close to a base of the second aperture. A substantially arcuate packing member is slidably mounted within the hopper for movement along an arcuate path at least in part defined by the bottom surface arrangement and is supported by the bottom surface arrangement. The packing member has a refuse engaging face at a first end thereof and is adapted for movement from a retracted position to an extended position, thereby transferring refuse to the storage space through the second aperture. A power drive arrangement is connected to the packer member for providing reciprocating movement of the packer member between the retracted position and the extended position. A guide system is mounted on the hopper and the packer member to guide the packer member along the arcuate path during the reciprocating movement. 
   In a particular embodiment of the aforementioned collection and transport system, the packing member has a top surface which forms a concave curve extending from the first end thereof to an opposite trailing second end and has a blade portion at the first end and a shield portion at the second end. The shield portion covers and protects at least a portion of the power drive arrangement when the packer member is in the extended position. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a partially cut away, side elevational view of an improved waste collection vehicle and system constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, with portions shown in phantom outline for clarity; 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged view of a portion of a packer mechanism shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear, side perspective view of the packer mechanism of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of encircled area  5  in  FIG. 4 , this view showing an adjustable roller for guiding movement of the packer mechanism; 
       FIG. 6  is a transverse cross-sectional view of the packer mechanism taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 7A  is an enlarged side view of the interior of the hopper shown in  FIG. 1 , showing the packer in a deposit position at the end of its rearward extension stroke; 
       FIG. 7B  is view similar to  FIG. 7A , showing the packer partially retracted and disposed forwardly from its position in  FIG. 7A , 
       FIG. 7C  is a view similar to  FIG. 7A , showing the packer retracted further from its position in  FIG. 7B ; 
       FIG. 7D  is a view similar to  FIG. 7A , showing the packer at a rest or fully retracted position thereof, at the end of its retraction stroke; 
       FIG. 8  is a front, side perspective view of a portion of the hopper structure of  FIG. 1 , with the packer shown at the rest position; and 
       FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the power drive mechanism and a portion of the structure of  FIG. 8 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   In the following description, similar features in the drawings have been given similar reference numerals. 
   An improved waste or refuse collection vehicle  10 , for collecting, compacting, temporarily storing and transporting waste or refuse, such as household waste, is shown in  FIG. 1 . The illustrated side loading vehicle facilitates curbside pickup of the waste. The vehicle  10  will be seen to have a cab  14 , chassis  16 , front and rear sets of wheels  18  and a housing  20 . The cab  14  is mounted on the chassis  16 . The housing is mounted at the rear of the vehicle behind the cab. The vehicle includes engine means (not shown) for driving at least one set of the wheels. 
   The housing  20  comprises a top wall  22 , a floor portion  24 , a front wall  26 , a first side wall  28 , a second side wall  29  and a further wall or a divider  34 , which separates the housing  20  into a hopper  30  and a hold or storage container  32 . The refuse storage container  32  is mounted at a rear of the vehicle chassis  16 . This container forms an interior storage space for holding and transporting refuse. A first aperture  31  is provided in at least one of the side walls for depositing waste or refuse into an interior space  33  of the hopper  30 . Preferably a door (not shown) is provided to permit the aperture  31  to be closed. A second aperture  45  opens into each of the hold  32  and the hopper  30  and has a base  52 . The housing  20  is attached to the vehicle  10  by hinge  40  which permits the housing to be pivoted upwardly about the hinge for unloading purposes. A rear door or gate  36  contiguous with the hold  32  is pivotably attached to the housing  20  by a hinge  38 , so as to permit the door  36  to be opened when the housing  20  is tipped, in a conventional manner, to empty the hold  32 . Thus the gate  36  provides gate means for opening the storage container or hold  32  for egress of refuse. 
   The floor of the hopper  30  is at least partially sheathed by a pair of arcuate wear plates  58 , which straddle a drive shaft tunnel  91  of the vehicle  10 . A tunnel cover  93  and the wear plates form portions of an interior arcuate, concave bottom surface  35  of the hopper  30  which curves in a front to rear direction. The wear plates  58  are removably secured to the hopper floor and can be secured by conventional fasteners such as screws or nuts and bolts. A version of these wear plates is constructed out of nickel chromium alloy which is wear resistant. As illustrated, the bottom surface  35  extends through the base  52  of the aperture  45  and defines an arcuate path P-P. The hopper  30  is also provided with a pair of arcuate containment rails  44  spaced above the interior bottom surface  35  and projecting inwardly from the first  28  and second  29  sidewalls of the hopper (see  FIGS. 7A to 7C ). 
   Inside the hopper  30 , a packer mechanism  46  is provided. As best seen in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 ,  4 , the packer mechanism  46  includes an arcuate packer member extending through a concave curve and having a blade portion  48  which includes a leading end section  46 A of the packer  46  and a shield portion  50  which forms a trailing end section  46 B. A leading waste pushing face  51  is provided at the leading end of the packer member. The packer  46  defines a central cavity or channel  66  which extends around and accommodates the tunnel cover  93  of the hopper bottom. An underside or bottom of the packer  46  is provided with replaceable wear pads or plates  82 ,  84  which are constructed out of wear resistant nickel chromium alloy or other suitable wear resistant material. The width w of the packer  46  is slightly less than the distance between the first side wall  28  and the second side wall  29  of the hopper  30 . Stiffening webs  49  and triangular connecting plate  151  provide rigidity to the packer  46 . 
   A pair of arcuate guide rails  65  and a pair of rollers  70  are also provided interiorly of the hopper  30 . These rails and rollers provide at least part of a guide system to guide the packer member along its arcuate path during its reciprocating movement. The guide rails  65  are rigidly mounted on the inside of respective side walls  28  and  29  of the hopper. The rollers  70  are provided one for each rail  65 , and are mounted on the trailing end section  46 B of the packer  46 , between the rails  65  and horizontally-spaced from one another. The rollers are adjacent opposite sides of the packer member. The rollers  70  are provided with grooves  72  to retain the rails  65  and these grooves can be semi-circular in cross-section as shown in  FIG. 5 . Each roller  70  is mounted for rotation about a respective rotation axis R 1 -R 1 , R 2 -R 2  that is disposed normal to the arcuate path P-P and lies in a respective vertical plane Y 1 -Y 1 , Y 2 -Y 2 . Each roller  70  is adjustably mounted for movement of its rotation axis in a transverse direction away from or closer to a longitudinal centerline of the packer member. Each roller is mounted by a guide roller bearing  74  which is mounted to the packer  46  by a guide roller bearing nut  85 . A bearing shaft  83  extends through a slot  79  formed in the packer  46  adjacent the trailing end  46 B. A threaded rod  78  and connecting plate  77  attached to the rod are used to adjust the horizontal position of the bearing  74 . The rod  78  is adjustably mounted in a support bracket  80  by means of two nuts  81 . The brackets  80  are welded to the packer member  46 . A locking bolt  76  can be used to fix the connecting plate in the selected position (see  FIG. 5 ). The connecting plate  77  is fixedly connected to the bearing shaft  83 . 
   The containment rails  44 , the guide rails  65  and the rollers  70  permit the packer  46  to be reciprocable along the arcuate path P-P between a deposit position, shown in  FIG. 7A , at the end of a rearward extension stroke of the packer mechanism  46 , and a rest position, shown in  FIG. 7D , at the end of a frontward, retraction stroke of the packer  46 . During this reciprocating movement, the wear plates  82 ,  84  on the underside of the packer mechanism  46  slide along the wear plates  58  in the hopper  30 . The bottom of the blade portion  48  forms at least one convex surface  154  (and as illustrated two such surfaces) as seen from a longitudinal side  156  of the packer mechanism. The at least one convex surface has a curvature matching the curvature of the bottom surface  35 . The concave wear plates  58  can extend the length of the arcuate movement of the packer member between its fully retracted position and its fully extended position. As shown in  FIG. 6 , they can be the same width as and aligned with the respective wear pads  82 ,  84 . The rollers  70  and guide rails  65  guide the trailing end  46 B of the packer mechanism  46  along the arcuate path P-P during the reciprocating movement, and the containment rails  44  retain the leading end section  46 A against the interior bottom surface  35 . Any lateral movement of the packer member  46  is limited by the proximity of the packer member  46  to the first side wall  28  and the second side wall  29 . The lateral movement of the packer member  46  within the hopper  30  is also limited by the engagement of the drive shaft tunnel cover  93  in the cavity  66 , this cover including vertical side walls  93 A and  93 B. This arrangement provides for a relatively compact and durable mount of the packer mechanism  46  in the hopper  30 . Wear, of course, will occur. Periodic replacement of the wear plates  82 ,  84 ,  58  will be required. Similarly, as the roller grooves  72  enlarge through wear, periodic adjustment of the threaded rods  78  will be required, so as to ensure a smooth engagement between the guide rails  65  and the roller grooves  72 . Ultimately, once the rollers  70  have worn-out, roller replacement will be required. 
   A suitable power drive arrangement such as the illustrated dual hydraulic press or drive mechanism  110  is attached to the packer member  46  as shown in  FIGS. 8 ,  9  and is substantially below an arcuate top of the packer member. In  FIG. 9 , the mechanism  110  is shown in normal outline as it appears when the packer  46  is in the rest position and is shown in stippled outline as it appears when packer  46  is in the deposit or extended position. The dual hydraulic press mechanism  110  has a first hydraulic cylinder press  112 , a second hydraulic cylinder press  114  and brackets  116 ,  118  and  120 . Both the first hydraulic press  112  and the second hydraulic press  114  have a ram and a cylinder. The cylinders of the first hydraulic press  112  and the second hydraulic press  114  are pivotably attached to support brackets  116  and  118  respectively near the front wall  26  of housing  20 . Each support bracket includes two horizontal arms  150 ,  152  which converge to and are joined by a right angled corner member  154 . The inner arms  150  are joined to each other by vertical center plate  156 . The outer arms  152  are rigidly mounted on the bottom plate of the hopper which forms the bottom surface  35 . The rams of the first hydraulic press  112  and the second hydraulic press  11  are pivotably attached to central bracket  120  which is also pivotably attached to the packer mechanism  46 . The central bracket is constructed to permit the two rams to pivot both horizontally and vertically relative to the packer member. The hydraulic cylinders  112 A and  114 A are mounted to their respective brackets  116 ,  118  using spherical bearings to allow pivotal movement of each cylinder both horizontally and vertically. Routine maintenance and occasional replacement of the bearings and hydraulic cylinders  112 ,  114  is contemplated, 
   In operation, waste collection commences with the packer in the rest position, as shown in  FIG. 7D . In this position, waste, such as household waste, may be introduced into the hopper  30 , whereupon it collects on the interior bottom surface  35 . To move refuse received within the hopper  30  to the hold  32 , the dual hydraulic drive mechanism  110  is activated so as to extend the ram of the first hydraulic press  112  and the ram of the second hydraulic press  114 . As seen in  FIGS. 7C ,  7 B and  7 A, the packer  46  is thus displaced from the rest position through the hopper  30  along the generally arcuate path P-P to the deposit or extended position. 
   As the packer  46  advances through the hopper  10 , the underside of the blade portion  48  remains flush with the surface  35  such that refuse across the width of the hopper  30  is collected against the leading face  51  of the packer  46  and swept to the aperture  45 , for collection in the hold  32 . As the packer  46  displaces the refuse from the hopper  30  to the hold  32 , the shield portion  50  prevents refuse from falling onto the dual hydraulic drive mechanism  110 . In other words, the shield portion acts to protect the power drive mechanism and to prevent refuse from entering the space in front of the packer mechanism. As the packer mechanism  46  reaches the end of its extension stroke, the leading end section  46 A of the packer  46  passes beneath the divider  34 , and deposits waste into the hold  32 . At the end of its extension stroke, the leading end section  46 A of the packer  46  of this embodiment has an upward trajectory component, and extends into the storage container beneath the mass of any waste retained in the hold  32 . This movement tends to cause compression of the hold  32  contents, so as to maximize its capacity. 
   The spherical bearings which are used to mount the hydraulic cylinders  112 ,  114  serve to prevent misalignment of cylinder forces during packing of unbalanced loads. Thereafter, the rams of first hydraulic press  112  and second hydraulic press  114  retract, such that the packer mechanism  46  returns to the rest position, for subsequent cycling, 
   It will be understood that the hopper  30  according to one embodiment of the invention includes the front wall  26 , portions of the two sidewalls  28  and  29 , and the further wall or divider  34 . The second aperture  45  is provided at a bottom end of the further wall. 
   Numerous modifications may be made to the embodiments as described above without departing from the scope of the invention. For example. whereas the illustration depicts a vehicle adapted to tip dump its load, other modifications are contemplated. An internal hydraulically operated pusher plate, for example, could be utilized to eject the load. Further, whereas the wear plates described are manufactured from nickel chromium alloy, any other material that is relatively resistant to wear, and that provides relatively low sliding resistance, could be employed. Although the entire bottom surface of the hopper could be formed with wear resistant material if desired, this is not essential and it can be only partially covered as indicated in  FIG. 6 , for example, only where this material engaged by the wear pads or plates  82 ,  84  of the packer mechanism. As well, whereas dual hydraulic cylinder drives are described, more cylinder drives or only one cylinder drive could be employed. Indeed, hydraulic cylinder drives might be omitted altogether, in favor of pneumatic actuation. Further, whereas the arcuate interior surface of the hopper is described herein to extend through the aperture, this is not necessary in all embodiments. As well, whereas the aperture is indicating to have a base, towards which the arcuate interior surface extends, it is not necessary that the actual lower extent of the aperture through which the hold and hopper communicate coincide with the lower surface upon which the packer slides The packer could, for example, have a projection which extends through the aperture in the deposit position, with the lower interior surface upon which the packer slides stopping somewhat short. Accordingly, the invention should be understood as being limited only by the accompanying claims, purposively construed.