Patent Publication Number: US-2023136266-A1

Title: Underground waste collection system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention falls within the scope of underground waste collection systems, more specifically related to a solid waste collection system for urban environment, comprising a lid that serves as a pedestrian platform and, externally to the same, the deposition top bins. 
     STATE OF THE ART OF THE INVENTION 
     The state of the art which is the closest to this invention concerns the patent document EP2344403, wherein a system for waste collection is disclosed, comprising a pedestrian platform that also functions as the lid of a tank into which a container is inserted and wherein the waste is deposited through a deposition top bin. The lid is opened by means of gas cylinders/springs which make the process very simple and balance the weight of the lid, in addition to allowing it to be manually opened/closed by a single operator. The opening angle of the lid is set to close to 90° and is imposed by the upper limit of travel of the gas springs. The problem associated to this system is that the opening of the lid has a strong impact at the end of its opening movement, which can cause damage to the gas springs and to the whole mechanical structure of the collection system. 
     TECHNICAL PROBLEMS SOLVED 
     This invention solves the problem concerning the impact created at the end of the lid ( 1 ) opening, by placing at least one sliding bracket ( 6 ) on the inside of the lid ( 1 ), which allows the lid to be rotated ( 1 ) until it is fully opened. The aim of this invention is to protect against the impact of the lid ( 1 ) at the end of its opening as a result of the inertia of rotational movement of the lid ( 1 ). The said impact presents high potential to cause damage to the gas cylinders/springs ( 7 ) and to the entire mechanical structure of the collection system, an issue which is thus eliminated through this device. 
     At the same time, the use of at least one sliding bracket ( 6 ) allows using less force upon manually closing of the lid ( 1 ), making this operation incomparably easier. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIGS.  1  and  2   —representation and sectional view of a waste collection system with a ( 1 ), which serves as a pedestrian platform, of a tank ( 3 ), the said lid ( 1 ) provided with a deposition top bin ( 2 ) for placing waste. 
         FIG.  3   —representation of the inner surface of the lid ( 1 ), i.e. internally to the tank ( 3 ) and where both brackets that help opening the lid ( 1 ) can be observed: the common bracket ( 5 ) and the sliding bracket ( 6 ). Also illustrated in this figure is the latch ( 8 ) of the lid ( 1 ). 
         FIG.  4   —isolated representation of the common bracket ( 5 ). 
         FIG.  5   —isolated representation of the sliding bracket ( 6 ), where a pin or a key can be observed, which serves to prevent the axis from tending to one side and disassembling. 
         FIG.  6   —representation of the waste collection system, with a detail view of the components in the area defined by A. 
         FIG.  7   —detail representation of the area A of  FIG.  6   , wherein a lid ( 1 ) is identified, with a common bracket ( 5 ) provided for the movement of one of the gas cylinders ( 7 ) and with a sliding bracket ( 6 ) provided for the other gas cylinder ( 7 ). Also illustrated is the container ( 4 ), which is inserted into the tank ( 3 ). 
         FIGS.  8  and  9   —detailed representation of the sliding bracket ( 6 ) attached to the lid ( 1 ) and hooked up to a gas cylinder ( 7 ). 
         FIG.  10   —representation of the system with the lid ( 1 ) in the closing position, where the sliding bracket ( 6 ) is at rest and the container ( 4 ) is inside the tank ( 3 ). 
         FIG.  11   —representation of the collection system with the lid ( 1 ) in the opening position, where the sliding bracket ( 6 ) is positioned at its end limit of travel, so that it is possible to remove the container with the empty tank ( 3 ). 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a waste collection system with a pedestrian platform which also functions as the lid ( 1 ) of a tank ( 3 ) into which a container ( 4 ) can be inserted and wherein the waste is deposited through a deposition top bin ( 2 ), which is external and attached to the lid ( 1 ). This deposition top bin ( 2 ) also has a lid, and it is through this deposition top bin ( 2 ) that the waste is discharged to the container ( 4 ), since the lid ( 1 ) comprises an opening suitable for that purpose. 
     The lid is opened by means of gas cylinders/springs, which make the opening process simple and balance the weight of the lid, in addition to allowing it to be manually opened/closed by a single operator. 
     In order that the impact of the opening limit of the lid ( 1 ) is as small as possible, given the inertia of the collection system, and does not cause damage to the gas cylinders ( 7 ), the lid ( 1 ) comprises two brackets ( 5 ) ( 6 ) perpendicularly to the axis of rotation of the lid ( 1 ), which are connected to gas cylinders ( 7 ) and wherein at least one of the brackets ( 5 ) ( 6 ) is a sliding bracket ( 6 ), promoting an opening angle of the lid that is approximately 90° relative to the ground and which is imposed by the upper limit of travel of the gas cylinders ( 7 ). 
     When the lid ( 1 ) is in the closed position, the gas springs ( 7 ) are compressed and the lid ( 1 ) is locked in the latch ( 8 ). When the lid ( 1 ) is in the open position, the latch ( 8 ) is unlocked by the operator and, with a simple, slight manual aid, the lid ( 1 ) opens until the gas spring connected to the sliding bracket ( 6 ) reaches its end limit of travel. 
     For this to be possible, the brackets ( 5 ) ( 6 ) must not only be perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the lid ( 1 ), but must also be parallel to each other, with the extensions of the gas cylinders ( 7 ) being unlevelled during opening by imposition of the brackets ( 5 ) ( 6 ). 
     When the gas cylinder ( 7 ) connected to the sliding bracket ( 6 ) reaches its limit of travel, the lid ( 1 ) is not fully opened. However, the sliding bracket ( 6 ) allows it to continue to open, counting on the opposite gas cylinder ( 7 ) connected to the common bracket ( 5 ). 
     The fact that the lid is prevented from reaching its maximum opening with only one movement has a damping effect and provides mechanical protection. 
     As soon as the lid ( 1 ) is positioned in the opening position, but not in its maximum, a second slight help from the operator is enough to cause the lid to reach its maximum opening, which is close to an angle of 90° relative to the ground. At this stage, both the gas springs have performed their entire travel, being levelled and preventing the lid ( 1 ) from opening beyond the pre-set angle. Finally, after discharging the container ( 4 ), the lid ( 1 ) is closed in the reverse order of the steps listed above.