Patent GB-1086136-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for compacting material
IPC: B65F3/28
Filed: 1965-06-29
Abstract: 1,086,136. Refuse vehicles. LODAL Inc. June 29, 1965 [June 29, 1964], No. 27553/65. Heading B8E. Apparatus for handling refuse comprises a body 2, Fig. 2, forming a chamber 3 having a material storage space 33 and a material receiving space 32 disposed under a loading hopper 8, a compaction plate 23 being mounted for movement through the space 32 to push the refuse received therein into the space 33, the plate 23 having associated with it a cover plate 25 for closing the hopper outlet 11. The refuse is eventually ejected from the chamber 3 through a rear opening having a pivoted tail gate 4, by the plate 23 in association with the hopper rear wall 10 which forms part of an ejection frame 15. The latter comprises runners 16 adapted to slide on the floor of the chamber 3, and a framework 18 having an opening through which the plate 23 pushes the refuse into the space 33. The compaction plate 23 and the cover plate 25 are slidably supported on track members 22 and 24 of the frame 15, respectively, and the plate 25 has members 26, 27 which are engageable by a projection 28 on the plate 23. The latter is moved by a telescoping hydraulic ram 31 mounted on the front wall 13 of the body 2. The frame 15 has a cover member 30 which closes the hopper outlet 11 when the frame is moved to eject the refuse from the chamber 3. In operation the frame 15 is locked to the body 2 when the plate 23 is reciprocated through the space 32 during filling of the space 33, and is unlocked to be moved by continued movement of the plate 23 to eject the refuse; the frame 15 is moved by the plate 23 engaging stops 35 and 36, Fig. 3 (not shown), provided on the frame. A combined hydraulic and electrical control system is provided for operating the ram 31, Fig. 5 (not shown), which comprises a pump 40 supplying hydraulic pressure through a four-way normally neutral spool-type double solenoid control valve 39 to the ram 31, and through a valve 64 to hydraulically retractable locking pins 50 which are mounted on the body 2 and are spring-urged into engagement with the frame 15, and to a piston 57 for opening the tail gate 4. The valve 54 is operated manually or by a tail gate locking lever 56. The system is controlled by manual operation of a master control switch 58 and, when required, an eject control switch 74. The advance and retract motion of the ram 31 is automatically controlled by a double-throw limit switch 66 operated by movement of the cover plate 25, hydraulic pressure actuated switches 47, 49 and a microswitch 76 operated by the frame 15. In operaation closing of the switch 58 causes shortstroke reciprocation of the plate 23 to compact refuse in the space 33. If an obstruction is met by forward movement of the plate 23 it is automatically retracted. Operation of the lever 56 will unlock the frame 15 from the body 2 and open the gate 4, and opening of the switch 74 causes continued movement of the plate 23 and consequential movement of the frame 15. Automatic retraction of the plate 23 and the frame 15 is provided upon completion of the ejection movement or if an obstruction is met. The switch 74 may be replaced by a micro-switch 79 which is opened by operation of the lever 56. The ram 31 may be replaced by two rams, one mounted between the frame 15 and the plate 23 and the other mounted between the body 2 and the frame 15.