Abstract:
A compactor system ( 10 ) for compacting loose refuse or solids at a transfer station that provided consolidation of waste and transfer to specialised vehicles which take the compacted waste on to a final disposal site. The compactor system comprises a refuse receiving volume or compartment ( 16 ) for receipt or filling of loose refuse ( 25 ), a compacting device ( 11 ) to provide a vertical compacting force by ram operated movable base ( 19 ) and/or top ( 20 ) walls acting on the refuse within the volume ( 16 ) to form a compacted refuse load, and a compacted load transfer device ( 12 ) having a ram operated movable vertical surface ( 22 ) to move the load horizontally and into a refuse transport means or vehicle ( 15 ) via the end ( 13 ) closed with a movable end surface ( 21 ). The top wall ( 20 ) can be pivotally opened upwards to allow refuse to be tipped into the volume ( 16 ) along the entire length.

Description:
[0001]    The present invention relates to a compactor system and, more particularly, to such a system suited for use in a transfer station and more particularly for use in association with compactable solids such as but not limited to solids waste material.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    It is vital to the good health of people in any urban setting that household, commercial and industrial refuse including putrescable waste be periodically collected and removed to a disposal site which, typically, can comprise a landfill. Given that the disposal sites are often located geographically distant from the initial points of collection of the refuse it is typically the case that local transfer stations are established where refuse is brought for consolidation and transfer to specialized transport vehicles which take the waste on to the final disposal site.  
           [0003]    In many current transfer stations attempts are made to compact the consolidated refuse for the purposes of achieving volumetric efficiency of storage in the specialized vehicles used for transporting the refuse to its final disposal site.  
           [0004]    One current system involves linear, iterative horizontal compaction in conjunction with the urging of the waste into the specialized transport vehicle.  
           [0005]    This particular arrangement requires powerful hydraulic rams and also tends to cause unbalanced loading including very high peak loads on various portions of the associated structures.  
           [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate the above mentioned disadvantages.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION  
         [0007]    Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided a compactor system for use in a refuse transfer station; said compactor comprising a refuse receiving volume for receipt of loose refuse; a refuse compacting device for compacting the loose refuse within said refuse receiving volume and wherein said compacting device is adapted to apply compacting force to said refuse in a vertical direction from below so as to form a compacted refuse load; a compacted refuse load transfer device for transferring the compacted refuse load to a refuse transport means.  
           [0008]    Preferably said refuse compacting device applies compacting force in a substantially vertical direction to said loose refuse within said refuse receiving volume.  
           [0009]    Preferably said refuse compacting device applies compacting force in a substantially vertical direction throughout the length and width of said refuse receiving volume.  
           [0010]    Preferably said substantially vertical direction is a downward vertical direction from above said loose refuse.  
           [0011]    Preferably said compacting force is released from said refuse sufficient to permit transferring the compacted refuse load to said refuse transport means.  
           [0012]    Preferably said compacting force is applied to said loose refuse alternately in a downward vertical direction and an upward vertical direction.  
           [0013]    Preferably said compacted refuse load transfer device transfers said compacted refuse load in a substantially horizontal direction.  
           [0014]    Preferably said compacted refuse load transfer device transfers said compacted refuse load in one continuous movement.  
           [0015]    Preferably said compacted refuse load transfer device transfers said compacted refuse load to said refuse transport means by urging of said compacted refuse load in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of operation of said refuse compacting device.  
           [0016]    In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a refuse compacting device for use with the compactor system outlined above, said refuse compacting device incorporating compacting means which acts substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a refuse receiving volume defined within said refuse compacting device.  
           [0017]    In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of compacting loose refuse at a refuse transfer station prior to transferring said refuse to a refuse transport means; said method comprising the steps of:  
           [0018]    (a) loading up to a predetermined quantity of loose refuse into a refuse receiving volume;  
           [0019]    (b) compacting said loose refuse so as to form a compacted refuse load by application of a compacting force to said loose refuse in a substantially vertical direction;  
           [0020]    (c) releasing said compacting force from said refuse sufficient to permit transfer without further compaction of said compacted refuse load in a direction substantially perpendicular to said vertical direction from said refuse receiving volume into a refuse transport means.  
           [0021]    In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a compactor system for use in a solids transfer station; said compactor system comprising a solids receiving volume for receipt of loose solids; a solids compacting device which acts substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said refuse receiving volume for compacting the loose solids within said solids receiving volume so as to form a compacted solids load; a compacted solids load transfer device for transferring the compacted solids load to a solids transport means; wherein said solids compacting device is adapted to the releasing of the compacting force sufficient to allow transfer of said compacted solids load.  
           [0022]    Preferably said solids compacting device applies compacting force in a substantially vertical direction to said loose solids within said solids receiving volume.  
           [0023]    Preferably said solids compacting device applies compacting force in a substantially vertical direction throughout the length and width of said solids receiving volume.  
           [0024]    Preferably said substantially vertical direction is a downward vertical direction from above said loose solids.  
           [0025]    Preferably said substantially vertical direction is an upward vertical direction from below said loose solids.  
           [0026]    Preferably said compacting force is applied to said loose solids alternately in a downward vertical direction and an upward vertical direction.  
           [0027]    Preferably said compacted solids load transfer device transfers said compacted solids load in a substantially horizontal direction.  
           [0028]    Preferably said compacted solids load transfer device transfers said compacted solids load in one continuous movement.  
           [0029]    Preferably said compacted solids load transfer device transfers said compacted solids load to said solids transport means by urging of said compacted solids load in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of operation of said solids compacting device.  
           [0030]    In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a solids compacting device for use with the compactor system outlined above, said solids compacting device incorporating compacting means which acts substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a solids receiving volume defined within said solids compacting device. ( 21 )  
           [0031]    Preferably said compacted refuse load transfer device is independent of the operation of said refuse compacting devices. ( 22 )  
           [0032]    In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of compacting loose refuse at a refuse transfer station as outlined above; said method further including the step of transferring said compacted refuse load in a transfer step independent of said step of compacting. ( 23 )  
           [0033]    In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of compacting loose solids at a solids transfer station prior to transferring said solids to a solids transport means; said method comprising the steps of:  
           [0034]    (a) loading up to a predetermined quantity of loose solids into a solids receiving volume;  
           [0035]    (b) compacting said loose solids so as to form a compacted solids load by application of a compacting force to said loose solids in a substantially vertical direction;  
           [0036]    (c) releasing said compacting force from said solids sufficient to permit transfer of said compacted solids load from said solids receiving volume to a refuse transport means. ( 24 )  
           [0037]    In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a compactor system for retrofitting to a transfer station; said compactor system comprising a moveable top surface adapted to move between a loading position and a compacting position; said compactor system further including a longitudinal transfer device; said top surface adopting a loading position during loading of solids into a pre-existing receiving volume; said moveable top surface adopting a compacting position located substantially over said receiving volume during compacting of said solids material; said longitudinal transfer device adapted to urge compacted solids material in a horizontal direction from said receiving volume following compaction of solids material therewithin.  
           [0038]    Preferably said longitudinal transfer device is operable independently of said moveable top surface.  
           [0039]    Preferably said transfer device urges compact material in one movement along the entire length of said top surface.  
           [0040]    In yet a further broad form of the invention there is provided a method of retrofitting a pre-existing transfer station having a pre-existing volume therein; said method comprising adding to said transfer station a compactor system as outlined above.  
           [0041]    Preferably said longitudinal transfer device is operable independently of said moveable top surface. ( 29 )  
           [0042]    Preferably said transfer device urges compact material in one movement along the entire length of said top surface. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0043]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 1A is a side view of a compactor system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 1C is an end section view of a compactor portion of the compactor system of FIG. 1A in a refuse receiving position;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 1D is an end section view of the compactor portion of FIG. 1C in a discharge position;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 2 is a side, partially cut away view of the compactor system of FIG. 1A with a trailer in a loading position;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 3 is a side, partially cut away view of the compactor system and trailer of FIG. 2 with compacted refuse transferred to the trailer;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 4 is a side, partially cut away view of the compactor system of FIG. 1A with the compacting portion closed ready for compaction;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 5 is a side, partially cut away view of the compactor system of FIG. 4 showing the compacting portion in an unloading or discharge position;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 6 is a side, partially cut away view of the compactor system of FIG. 4 immediately after unloading or discharge;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 7 is an end section view of the compacting portion of the compactor system of FIG. 4 in a loading position;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 8 is an end section view of the compacting portion of the compactor system of FIG. 4 in a lock down position;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 9 is an end section view of the compacting portion of the compactor system of FIG. 4 in a first stage compaction position;  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 10 is an end section view of the compacting portion of the compactor system of FIG. 4 in a second stage compaction position;  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 11 is an end section view of the compacting portion of the compactor system of FIG. 4 in a discharge position;  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 12A is a side, partly sectioned view of a compactor system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 12B is an end, partly sectioned view of the compactor system of FIG. 12A;  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 13 is a side section view of a compactor system according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 14 is a side section view of the compactor of FIG. 13 in a fully compacting position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0061]    A first preferred embodiment of a compactor system  10  will be described with initial reference to FIGS.  1  through to  3 . Detailed operation of the compactor system  10  will then be described in more detail with reference to FIGS.  4  to  11  inclusive.  
         [0062]    With initial reference to FIG. 1, the compactor system  10  of the first preferred embodiment comprises a compacting portion  11  or refuse compacting device  11  operatively associated, in this instance, with a compacted refuse load transfer device  12 .  
         [0063]    The compactor system  10  is adapted to receive at a discharge end  13  thereof, in this instance, the rear end  14  of a trailer  15 .  
         [0064]    The refuse compacting device  11  comprises an elongate receiving volume  16  defined by first and second, substantially parallel spaced apart walls  17 ,  18  respectively and further bounded and defined by moveable surfaces comprising, in this instance, moveable base surface  19 , moveable top surface  20 , moveable discharge end surface  21  and moveable unloader surface  22  located at a working end  23  of compacted refuse load transfer device  12 .  
         [0065]    In use, as will be described in greater detail below, a top surface support unit  24  initially adopts an open position as illustrated in FIG. 1C thereby to allow loose refuse  25  to be tipped into receiving volume  16  along the entire length thereof defined between discharge end  13  and working end  23 .  
         [0066]    Once the filling operation has been completed the top surface support unit  24  is moved to a closed position as shown in FIG. 1D and FIGS. 2 and 3. Compaction of the loose refuse  25  then takes place by first lowering top surface  20  with respect to top surface support unit  24  whereby the surface moves in a substantially downward vertical direction causing an initial decrease in the volume of receiving volume  16 . In this instance the downward vertical movement is effected by a set of distributed upper rams  26 .  
         [0067]    Receiving volume  16  is then caused to further contract by the raising of base surface  19  by use of a set of distributed lower rams  27 . The compaction of the loose refuse  25  thereby takes place, in this instance, in a two stage process. Specifically, in this instance, compaction pressure is applied by vertical movement, in the first stage in a downward direction and in a second stage in an upward direction relative to the loose refuse  25  within receiving volume  16 .  
         [0068]    It will be further observed that the downward movement is effected across an entire top surface of the loose refuse  25  within receiving volume  16  and, similarly, the upward compaction movement is also effected across an entire base surface of the loose refuse  25  within the receiving volume  16 .  
         [0069]    Once the first and second stages of compaction are completed the refuse compacting device  11  adopts a discharge position as seen in FIG. 3 where lower rams  27  remain at their extended (compacting) position whilst upper rams  26  retract substantially and sufficient to define an end cross section to receiving volume  16  which permits passage there through along a longitudinal axis thereof of unloader surface  22  when urged there through by urging means in the form, in this instance, of discharge rams  28 .  
         [0070]    As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge rams  28  extend sufficiently to urge unloader surface  22  along a longitudinal axis of receiving volume  16  and all the way through the volume  16  so as to adopt an end discharge position  29  located beyond discharge end  13  of compacting device  11  and at least partially within the interior of trailer  15 . The compacted refuse load  30  is thereby transferred in a single linear, continuous motion from receiving volume  16  entirely into trailer  15 .  
         [0071]    Preparatory to accepting a new load of loose refuse  25  the moveable surfaces  19 ,  20 ,  21 ,  22  return to their starting positions.  
         [0072]    The process adopted by the compaction system  10  will now be described in additional detail with reference to FIGS.  4  to  11  inclusive and wherein like components are numbered as for FIGS.  1  to  3  inclusive.  
         [0073]    [0073]FIG. 4 illustrates the compactor system  10  in the position shown in FIG. 1A. FIG. 5 illustrates the compactor system  10  in the position illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 6 illustrates the compactor system  10  in the discharge position of FIG. 3.  
         [0074]    FIGS.  7  to  11  inclusive illustrate end section views of the refuse compacting device  11  moving from FIG. 7 which illustrates the loading position analogous to FIG. 1C through to FIG. 11 which illustrates the discharge position analogous to the position shown in FIG. 1D and FIG. 3.  
         [0075]    With reference to FIG. 7 the refuse compacting device  11  includes a receiving volume  16  which, in its loading position for this example is defined as 100 cubic metres. Moveable top surface  20  is supported with respect to locking plate  31  by way of upper rams  26 . The locking plate  31  is moveable from its open, loading position as illustrated in FIG. 7 by pivoting about pivot  32  to a lock down position illustrated in FIG. 8. The locking plate  31  is moved between the two positions by the action of locking plate ram  33 . Once in the lock down position illustrated in FIG. 2 the locking plate  31  is locked in place by lock arm  34  which itself is moved between an unlocked and locked position by lock ram  35  which pivots lock arm  34  about lock arm pivot  36 . In this example, once locking plate  31  is in the lock down position of FIG. 8 the volume defined within receiving volume  16  is 87 cubic metres.  
         [0076]    With reference to FIG. 9 a first stage of compaction of the loose refuse  25  within volume  16  is achieved by extending rams  26  whereby top surface  20  moves in a vertically downward direction relative to receiving volume  16  whereby the volume of receiving volume  16  is reduced, in this example, to 61 cubic metres.  
         [0077]    A second stage of compaction is then effected as illustrated in FIG. 4 by the extending of lower rams  27  whereby base surface  19  is moved vertically upwardly relative to volume  16  thereby to further reduce the volume of receiving volume  16 , in this example to a volume of 38 cubic metres.  
         [0078]    Having achieved maximum compaction of the previously loose refuse  25  within volume  16  the compacting pressure is relieved by raising of upper rams  26  so as to raise vertically top surface  20  thereby to define a discharge position for the compacted refuse load  30  which, in this example, now occupies a volume of 60 cubic metres.  
         [0079]    In particular the arrangement and relative spacing of moveable surfaces  19 ,  20 ,  21 ,  22  is adjusted so as to permit passage through volume  16  along a longitudinal axis thereof of unloader surface  22  acting, in this instance, as a push head whereby, in one contiguous, linear movement the entire compacted refuse load  30  is moved, as previously illustrated with particular reference to FIG. 3, from within volume  16  to entirely exterior of volume  16 , in this instance to trailer  15 .  
         [0080]    It will be observed, in this embodiment, that compaction takes place in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of volume  16  thereby permitting use of an array of relatively small capacity rams  26 ,  27 .  
         [0081]    It will be noted that whilst rams  28  require the ability to extend along the full longitudinal length of volume  16  and must overcome any frictional load imposed between compacted refuse load  30  and surfaces  19 ,  20 ,  21 ,  22  the ram  28  is not required to perform any compacting function.  
         [0082]    With reference to FIGS. 12A, 12B a second embodiment of a compactor system  40  will now be described. The compactor system  40  of the second embodiment is particularly suited to retrofitting to an existing transfer station  41  and more particularly to such transfer stations where headroom can be a problem.  
         [0083]    The existing transfer station  41  can be of the type where rudimentary compaction is performed by a tamping down machine  42 . The tamping down machine  42  comes into operation after loose solids material such as waste has been urged into a receiving volume  43  by, in this instance, front-end loader  44 .  
         [0084]    In this embodiment like components are numbered as for the first embodiment and include moveable base surface  19  urgable vertically upwardly by distributed lower rams  27  subtended by side walls  17 ,  18  thereby to define a receiving volume  43  there within which is subtended at a working end  23  by a moveable unloader surface  22 . The moveable unloader surface  22  is urgable in a horizontal direction by discharge rams  28  forming the working part of longitudinal transfer device  45  analogous to compacted load transfer device  12  of the first embodiment.  
         [0085]    At least during a filling operation of volume  43 . discharge end  13  is closed by discharge end surface  21 .  
         [0086]    In this embodiment volume  43  is closable by means of a horizontally moveable top surface  46 .  
         [0087]    Whilst volume  43  is being filled with loose solids material  47  the top surface  46  is located at loading position  48  which, in this instance, overlays the longitudinal transfer device  45 .  
         [0088]    Once sufficient loose solids material  47  is located within volume  43  the top surface  46  is moved along rails  49  in a horizontal direction to the point where it adopts a compacting position  50  overlaying volume  43  and thus closing volume  43  and so as to provide a reaction surface against compacting forces then caused by raising of base surface  19  by the upward vertical urging of lower rams  27  so as to cause volume  43  to become reduced to a volume of cross section as shown hatched in FIG. 12B.  
         [0089]    The horizontally moveable top surface  46  can include cam lock means  52  which moves with the top surface  46  and which adopts a locking position when top surface  46  is in its compacting position  50  thereby to latch top surface  46  to side walls  17 ,  18  or other restraint whereby top surface  46  can better resist the upward urging forces derived from the raising of base surface  19  during a compaction operation.  
         [0090]    On completion of the compaction step the compacted solids load  51  is then urged in a substantially horizontal direction and along the longitudinal axis of volume  43  by means of horizontal movement of unloader surface  22  under the influence of discharge rams  28  and into solids transport means (not shown).  
         [0091]    In a particular form longitudinal transfer device  45  together with rails  49  and horizontally moveable top surface  46  can be retrofitted to existing transfer station  41  and, in particular forms, the action of the tamping down machine  42  retained.  
         [0092]    With reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 there is illustrated a compactor system  60  in accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0093]    In this embodiment the distributed upper rams  26  of earlier embodiments are replaced by external side cylinders  61 ,  62  operating through respective linkages  63 ,  64  to urge top surface  65  between the raised position of FIG. 13 and the lowered position of FIG. 14.  
         [0094]    Functionally the arrangement of the second embodiment otherwise operates substantially in accordance with the manner of operation of the earlier described embodiments in this specification.  
         [0095]    The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.  
         [0096]    In particular it is to be noted that whilst embodiments of the invention have been described by way of example utilizing solids refuse it will be understood that embodiments of the invention will work equally well for the compaction of other solids materials such as, but not limited to, rice hulls, bio fuels, certain types of wood chip and other compactable solids materials.