Abstract:
The present document describes a kit for installation in a collection body, comprising a material receiver, for installation between the upper wall and the lower wall of the collection body, a tamping mechanism to allow the translation of materials disposed on the receptor and their discharge in the body, a packing mechanism to push the materials disposed in the body and compacting them.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/319,908 filed on Apr. 1, 2010 and Canadian patent application No. N/A filed on Nov. 25, 2010, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    (a) Field 
         [0003]    The subject matter disclosed generally relates to a vehicle for the collection, the transportation and the compaction of materials. 
         [0004]    (b) Related Prior Art 
         [0005]    At this point, different types of collection bins allow the collection, the transportation and the compaction of recyclable or non-recyclable materials. In general, these bins include a cargo bed of prismatic shape and three loading options: 1) opening allowing lateral loading, 2) opening allowing rear loading, and 3) opening allowing front loading. Typically, these bins also allow a mechanism for loading and discharging of containers to the inside of the waste bin collection. These bins are also equipped with a press mechanism for the compaction of refuse and waste, allowing them to be ejected out of the dumpster. 
         [0006]    In addition, the bins for collection and compaction of waste material currently have the option to allow the loading of waste material through smaller containers parked in the streets. This specific function allows the lifting and unloading of the recyclable and non-recyclable materials in a proper compartment of the cargo bed. 
         [0007]    In fact, after the analysis of the different models of bins for collection and compaction of waste materials, it is possible to identify several areas that could be significantly improved. First, recycled or non-recycled materials, which are collected in the municipalities, are most of the time excessively heavy. Hence, the forces applied on the waste body by the waste materials falling from a waste bin during collection, but also the forces applied on the bin during the compaction of the waste materials, increase obviously the damage on the main equipment. To compensate for this deficiency, the waste collection equipments of the prior art are mostly built from strong and very heavy materials, which greatly increases the total weight of the waste material collection bin. Such an increase in the total mass of the vehicle results in an increase of the fuel consumption of the vehicle and in a reduction of the payload. 
         [0008]    On the other hand, after analyzing the different models of collection and compaction waste material bins, there is shown in the prior art compaction mechanisms using a large hydraulic power supply given a limited volume of the bin which requires a greater compaction. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    According to an embodiment, there is provided a kit for installation in a collection body, comprising a material receiver, for installation between the upper wall and the lower wall of the collection body, a tamping mechanism to allow the translation of materials disposed on the receptor and their discharge in the body, a packing mechanism to push the disposed materials in the body and compact them. 
         [0010]    According to another embodiment, there is provided a collection body comprising a material receiver, for installation between the upper wall and the lower wall of the collection body, a tamping mechanism to allow the translation of materials disposed on the receptor and their discharge in the body, a packing mechanism to push the disposed materials in the body and compact them. 
         [0011]    According to another embodiment, there is provided a material collection vehicle comprising a body fixed to a vehicle frame, the body comprising a material receiver, for installation between the upper wall and the lower wall of the collection body, a tamping mechanism to allow the translation of materials disposed on the receptor and their discharge in the body, a packing mechanism to push the disposed materials in the body and compact them. 
         [0012]    According to another embodiment, there is provided a cylindrical collection body comprising a cylindrical body including an opening for the discharge of the materials and an articulated arm associated with the body to capture a container of the material and to dispose them in said body by the opening. 
         [0013]    According to another embodiment, the material receiver is a platform. 
         [0014]    According to another embodiment, the tamping mechanism comprises a tamping ram. 
         [0015]    According to another embodiment, the packing mechanism comprises a packing ram. 
         [0016]    According to another embodiment, the packing ram allow the removal of said materials from said body without lifting said body. 
         [0017]    According to another embodiment, the kit further comprises guides for the tamping mechanism and the packing mechanism. 
         [0018]    According to another embodiment, the guides are one-piece guides. 
         [0019]    According to another embodiment, the guides are extruded. 
         [0020]    According to another embodiment, the collection body is of cylindrical shape. 
         [0021]    According to another embodiment, the articulated arm unfolds and matches with the outer surface of said body when said materials are discharged. 
         [0022]    According to another embodiment, the opening is for back loading, front loading or side loading of said materials. 
         [0023]    According to another embodiment, the arm is fixed to a support, and the support is fixed to the vehicle frame. 
         [0024]    According to another embodiment, the arm is fixed to the body. 
         [0025]    According to another embodiment, the collection body further comprises an hydraulic reservoir juxtaposed to said body. 
         [0026]    According to another embodiment, there is provided a method for compacting materials into a collection body having an opening and a drop point below the opening, comprising the steps of: 
         [0027]    a) tamping materials disposed in the body for distancing them from the drop point to avoid a piling up at the drop point; and 
         [0028]    b) compacting the materials packed in the body. 
         [0029]    Features and advantages of the subject matter hereof will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of selected embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying figures. As will be realized, the subject matter disclosed and claimed is capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive and the full scope of the subject matter is set forth in the claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which: 
           [0031]      FIGS. 1A and 1B  illustrate a schematic front view of a material collection body according to an embodiment, where the body is having an articulated arm for transporting a material container trough the collection body. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view of the collection body of  FIG. 1B , where the articulated arm unfolds for discharging the materials from the material container. 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a tridimensional view that illustrates the tamping mechanism and the packing mechanism of the two stages mechanism according to an embodiment, at the resting position. 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is a similar view of  FIG. 3  when the tamping mechanism is in position of tamping and the packing mechanism is in position of packing. 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a tridimensional view of the tamping ram. 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a tridimensional view of the packing ram. 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  is a tridimensional view of the cylindrical collection body showing the internal guides of the tamping and the compacting ram. 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the collection body showing the material evacuation door in a closed position. 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  is a view of the material evacuation door in an opened position. 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  is a side view of an hydraulic reservoir juxtaposed to the collection body. 
           [0041]    It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0042]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  2 , the collection body  30  is of a cylindrical shape and is provided with an articulated arm  40  for transporting a material container  35  to the collection body  30 . The collection body  30  is disposed with well known techniques on the chassis  31  of a vehicle. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the collection body  30  may include an upper wall  32  and a lower wall  34 . The collection body  30 , illustrated as being cylindrical on  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  2 , may be made, without limitations, of steel, aluminum, or any suitable materials as it is well known by those skilled in the art. 
         [0043]    The articulated arm  40  of the collection body  30  is fixed to be deployed from a closed position, illustrated in  FIG. 1A , to a position for capturing a container, illustrated in  FIG. 1B , to a discharge position, illustrated in  FIG. 2 , to allow the passage of materials from the material container  35  to the collection body  30  through the opening  50  ( FIG. 3 ) for unloading or discharging materials into the collection body  30 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the articulated arm  40  matches intimately, although this is not absolutely essential, with the cylindrical portion of the collection body  30 . Obviously, the three positions of the articulated arm  40 , illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  2 , correspond to useful positions. When the articulated arm  40  is completely at a resting position, the articulated arm  40  is completely folded over the support  25 , as shown in  FIG. 1A . The positioning of the support  25  of the articulated arm  40 , which is under the chassis  31  of the vehicle, prevents from the sway of the vehicle and the collection body  30  during the operation. 
         [0044]    Still referring to  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  2 , there is shown the articulated arm  40 . More specifically, the articulated arm  40  may include a triangular member  41  on a support  25 , as shown in  FIGS. 1B and 2 , and a slightly curved link  43 , attached to a hooking member  44 , which is intended to capture the material container  35 . It will be expected that the curvature of the curved link  43  is obviously intended to match closely along the outer wall of the cylindrical collection body  30 , as it is clearly shown in  FIG. 2  in a discharging position. 
         [0045]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the collection body  30  may include a material tamping mechanism  51  and a material packing mechanism  52 , which will now be described in details. As shown in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B and  2 , the collection body  30  is of a cylindrical shape, but it is understood that those skilled in the art may adapt the tamping and the packing mechanisms  51  and  52  to any other forms, including prismatic, elliptical and the like. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the materials are discharged through the opening  50 , located on the upper wall  32  of the collection body  30  and more specifically, the opening  50  may be located on the front side of the collection body  30 . The opening  50  may also be located at various locations between the upper wall  32  and the lower wall  34  as at the back side, on top or side of the collection body  30 . 
         [0046]    To avoid excessive forces associated with the materials falling on the lower wall  34  of the collection body  30 , there is provided a receiving plate  56 , which is an horizontal plate for receiving materials discharged from the material container  35  via the opening  50  of the collection body  30  ( FIG. 3 ). 
         [0047]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the fixed receiving plate  56  may be positioned between the upper wall  32  and the lower wall  34 . The tamping mechanism  51  will now be described in details. Referring to  FIG. 5 , the tamping mechanism  51  includes a tamping ram  55  and a bearing seat  60 , arranged to move back and forth on the material receiving plate  56  ( FIG. 3 ). For a preferred embodiment, although this is not essential, the tamping ram  55  is semi-circular as shown in  FIG. 5 , and includes a vertical upper portion  57  and a lower portion  58 , which is slightly forwardly inclined, as can shown in both  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In this sense, tamping materials beyond the receiving plate  56  is preferably realized with the tamping ram  55  as shown in  FIG. 4 . However, those skilled in the art can obviously conceive any other structure tamping ram  55 , without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
         [0048]    On the basis of bearing seats  60 , it moves on the axial rollers  75 , mounted with well-known techniques, and more details will be later available in this description. 
         [0049]    On the other hand,  FIG. 3  illustrates a packing mechanism  52 . Indeed, when the materials have been packed on the lower wall  34  of the collection body  30  by the tamping mechanism  51 , the packing mechanism  52  will compress those materials. 
         [0050]    The packing mechanism  52  may include a packing ram  65  and the bearing seats  70  ( FIG. 6 ). The packing ram  65  must be able to move back and forth along the lower wall  34  of the collection body  30 , as it will be shown later. 
         [0051]    Particularly referring to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  6 , it will be shown that because of the cylindrical structure of the collection body  30 , the packing ram  65  is of a generally semi-circular shape ( FIG. 6 ). Referring to  FIG. 6 , the packing ram  65  has a top horizontal plate  81 , a vertical shielding plate  85 , as well as axial rollers  76 , allowing movement of the packing ram  65  along the lower wall  34  of the collection body  30 . There is provided a top horizontal plate  81  to avoid the materials, when in the tamping mechanism  51  and in the packing mechanism simultaneously, to fall behind the packing ram  65 . In addition, scrappers or a sealing joint  80  are also installed in the interstices between the different parts. 
         [0052]    As regards to the movement of the packing mechanism  52 , reference is primarily made to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , and to  FIG. 7  for the internal guides  95  of the packing mechanism  52 , which are not shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0053]    To ensure efficient movement of the tamping mechanism  51  and the packing mechanism  52 , along a portion of the receiving plate  56  and the lower wall  34  of the collection body  30 , there is provided internal guides  90  for the tamping mechanism  51 , and more particularly for the tamping ram  55 . There is also provided internal guides  95  for the packing mechanism  52 , and more particularly for the packing ram  65 , as it is shown in  FIG. 7 . Still referring to  FIG. 7 , it is shown that the internal guides  90  may be U-shaped and directed both inward for forming the rails. On the other hand, the internal guides  95 , by their location on the lower wall  34  of the collection body  30 , have a particular structure illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Of course, this structure may vary depending on the choice of those skilled in the art, and will obviously be part of the present invention. 
         [0054]    In operation, as an example, the tamping mechanism  51  is activated as required for each material discharge through the opening  50 . The tamping of material by tamping ram  55  is effected by rolling through the axial rollers  75  in the internal guides  90  allowing the optimization of the translational motion. The two rams  55  and  65  move by rolling rather than by friction, as in the prior art, thereby reducing friction. 
         [0055]    Having firstly a tamping mechanism  51  minimizes the use of the packing mechanism  52 . This reduces the demand on the operation of an hydraulic equipment to avoid the unnecessary stress on the structure, the unnecessary expenditure of energy and thereby, the amount of discharge of carbon dioxide in the air. 
         [0056]    On the other hand, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the packing mechanism  52  is at a resting position under the receiving plate  56 , allowing the reception of materials. More particularly, the packing mechanism  52  is activated as required, for example, every five cycles processed by the tamping mechanism  51 . The packing of material by the packing ram  65  is effected by rolling the packing mechanism through the axial rollers  76  in the internal guides  95  allowing an optimized translation movement. 
         [0057]    In sum, referring to  FIG. 3 , it is shown that, in general, the translational movement of the tamping ram  55  is possible using the internal guides  90 , thus tamping the material into the collection body  30 . On the other hand, the translational movement of the packing ram  65  is possible by using the internal guides  95 , thus allowing the compaction of materials ( FIG. 4 ). In addition, the receiving plate  56  may include openings holes behind the tamping ram  55 , than avoiding the accumulation of materials behind the tamping ram  55 , allowing a translation movement of materials, towards the lower wall  34  of the collection body  30  to the two cleaning doors  125 . 
         [0058]    Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown the door  110  of the collection body  30  in the closed position. The door  110  still, may have the shape of a container that can contain materials. This feature adds to the volume of the collection body  30 . As discussed in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the opening and the closing of the door  110  is done in a manner known by those skilled in the art. 
         [0059]    The collection body  30  may include an hydraulic reservoir  130  ( FIG. 10 ) next to the collection body  30 . 
         [0060]    The cylindrical structure simplifies the construction of the collection body  30  and increases its effective volume, decreases the weight of the collection body  30  and thereby increases its payload. The cylindrical structure of the collection body  30  has a greater volume of cargo (42 cubic yards) over the prior art (37 cubic yards) to thereby reduce the rate of compaction necessary to achieve the permissible load. Having a larger volume requires less compaction to achieve the payload and allow more loading of low density materials difficult to compact. 
         [0061]    Having a two stages packing mode including a tamping mechanism  51  and a packing mechanism  52  reduces the dimensions of the loading compartment for a greater payload volume and reduces the need for powerful compaction, resulting in energy savings. Furthermore, the tamping mechanism  51  and the packing mechanism  52  prevent the damages to the collection body  30  during the discharge of the materials and reduce the potential structural and mechanical failures. 
         [0062]    While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from this disclosure. Such modifications are considered as possible variants comprised in the scope of the disclosure.