Abstract:
A mobile unit for compacting and baling waste, including a transport vehicle, and a waste collection and handling assembly attached to the transport vehicle. The waste collection and handling assembly has a loader, a hopper, and a compactor. The loader is configured to pick up and carry the waste, the hopper receives the waste from the loader, and the compactor is attached to the hopper, is configured to receive waste from the hopper, and to compact the waste into bales.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Appln. No. 61/529,689, filed Aug. 31, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates in general the field of solid waste material collection and handling. In particular, this technology relates to a mobile solid waste material collection and handling assembly. 
         [0004]    2. Brief Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Many worksites, such as, for example, oil rig sites, generate waste. For example, many oil rig sites have plastic drums, barricades, and other products that are periodically scrapped and replaced. In addition, many oil rig sites have fluid retention pits having plastic liners that line the insides of the pit, and prevent fluids within the pit from contacting the soils around the pit. These plastic liners are periodically removed and scrapped, such as to replace aging liners, or when a pit is drained of fluid. 
         [0006]    Typically, waste produced at an oil rig site is trucked away from the site to a remote waste disposal or recycling facility. At some rig sites, because of the volume of waste generated, it may be necessary for many trucks to travel to the site to remove the waste. If the number of required trucks is great enough, the truck traffic to and from the site may be problematic. For example, many oil rig sites are accessible only by small roads, which are susceptible to degradation, and may be ruined by heavy truck traffic. 
         [0007]    In addition, in instances where a rig owner would like to recycle waste plastic, some oil rig site waste should be compacted/baled before it will be accepted by a recycling facility. For example, many recyclers require baling or compaction of fluid retention pit liners because otherwise they are large and difficult to handle and process. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Disclosed herein is a mobile unit for compacting and baling waste. The mobile unit is configured for transport on a vehicle, such as, for example, a truck. In addition, the mobile unit is capable of collecting and handling waste. For example, the mobile unit may include a loader and a compactor with a hopper. The loader is configured to pick up and carry the waste to the hopper. The hopper is attached to the top of the compactor and directs the waste into the compactor. Inside the compactor, the waste is compacted into bales that can be tied and expelled from the compactor. The compact bales of solid waste may then be stored at a worksite until enough bales are accumulated to justify entry of a waste disposal truck to remove the bales. 
         [0009]    The mobile unit may also be equipped with additional components. For example, the mobile unit may include a fluid storage tank positioned to capture any liquids that may be contained in the solid waste and that are removed from the solid waste during the compaction process. In addition, the mobile device may include a generator, and/or a power take-off from the vehicle engine, to provide power to the components of the mobile unit, such as the loader and the compactor. Furthermore, the mobile device may include safety features, such as guardrails and wire mesh. 
         [0010]    Also disclosed herein is a method of compacting and baling waste using a portable waste compactor. The method includes transporting a waste compactor to a worksite on a vehicle, picking up the waste with a loader, and delivering the waste to the waste compactor using the loader. Thereafter, the waste compactor compacts and bales the waste and expels the bales of waste from the compactor. Because the compactor is attached to a vehicle, it can be easily moved from one worksite to another. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    So that the manner in which the features and benefits of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent, may be understood in more detail, a more particular description of the invention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings, which form a part of this specification. It is also to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only various embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention&#39;s scope as it may include other effective embodiments as well. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a mobile solid waste material collection and handling device in accordance with this invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a partial right side view of the mobile solid waste material collection and handling device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2B  is a partial right side view of the mobile solid waste material collection and handling device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is a partial left side view of the mobile solid waste material collection and handling device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  is a partial left side view of the mobile solid waste material collection and handling device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of the mobile solid waste material collection and handling device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5A  is a rear perspective view of the mobile solid waste material collection and handling device of  FIG. 1 , showing a claw in the closed position attached to the loader; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5B  is a is a rear perspective view of the mobile solid waste material collection and handling device of  FIG. 1  showing, a claw in the open position attached to the loader; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a bale produced by a mobile solid waste material collection and handling device of the present technology. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. 
         [0022]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , in an embodiment, the mobile solid waste material handling and collection device  9  has a transport vehicle  11  with a waste collection and handling assembly  13  mounted thereon. In this embodiment, the transport vehicle  11  may be a truck that may have three or more axles. The truck may be powered by a diesel engine. Alternatively, the truck may be powered by a gasoline, or other type of engine. An A-frame style knuckleboom loader  15  is mounted to the truck frame  17 , and may be mounted just behind a cab portion  19  of the vehicle  11 . In the embodiment shown, a support frame  21  is mounted to the truck frame  17 , behind the cab  19  and optionally behind the knuckleboom loader  15 . A compactor/baler  23  may also be mounted to the support frame  21 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 2B , the compactor/baler  23  may have a hopper  25  positioned atop its upper surface that allows solid waste material to be deposited into the hopper  25  for compaction and baling by the compactor/baler  23 . Referring to  FIGS. 2B ,  3 B, and  4 , a hydraulic bale door  27  is preferably positioned on the end of the compactor/bailer  23 , opposite the truck cab  19 , and opens to allow the solid waste material to be removed from the compactor/baler  23  once it has been compacted and baled. 
         [0024]    A generator  29  may be mounted to the support frame  21 , and, in the embodiment shown, may be positioned between the knuckleboom loader  15  and the compactor/baler  23 . In the embodiment shown, the generator  29  is connected to and powers the compactor/baler  23 , although it may power other devices as well, such as the loader  15 . Also in the embodiment shown, the knuckleboom loader  15  is hydraulically powered via a power take-off (PTO) connected to the engine of the transport vehicle  11 . As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 4 , an auxiliary hydraulic cooler/heat exchanger  31  may be used to control the temperature of the hydraulics of the knuckleboom loader  15 . In the embodiment shown in the figures, the auxiliary hydraulic cooler/heat exchanger  31  may be mounted below the support frame  21 , and behind the driver side of the truck cab  19 . 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 2B and 3B , guard rails  33  extend upward from, and extend along the length of, the driver and passenger sides of the support frame  21 . On the passenger side of the vehicle  11 , the guard rail  33  may extend from the generator to the rear of the support frame  21 . On the driver side of the vehicle  11 , access steps  35  may be connected to the support frame  21 , just in front of the second axle of the vehicle  11 . The steps  35  allow for access to the upper surface of the support frame  21 . The guard rail  33  on the driver side may extend from the opening for the steps  35  to the rear of the support frame  21 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 2A , a headache bar/rack  37  may extend upwards from and along the width of the support frame  21 , just in front of the generator  29 . The height of the headache bar/rack  37  may be substantially equal to the height of the truck cab  19 . In this embodiment, wire mesh (not visible) may be connected to and extend across the upper surface of the support frame  21  to allow the user to move about the perimeter of the compactor/baler  23 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIGS. 2B ,  3 B, and  4 , a guard rail  39  may be connected to, and extend upwards from, the baler/compactor  23 , just above the hydraulic bale door  27 . Wire mesh  41  optionally extends between the guard rails  39 . The guard rail  39  and wire mesh  41  allows a user to stand atop the compactor/bailer  23 , and control and monitor a drive ram (not shown) within the compactor/bailer  23 , by viewing its activity through the hopper  25 . One purpose of the drive ram is to compact the waste within the compactor/baler  23 . A knuckleboom support bracket  43  may be connected to the support frame  21 . The support bracket  43  consists of two vertical members  45  that extend from opposite sides of the support frame  21 . A horizontal member  47  may be connected to and extend between the two vertical members  45 , just above the compactor/baler  23 . A U-shaped member  49  may be connected to a medial portion of the horizontal member  47 , and may be configured to allow the arm of the knuckleboom loader  15  to rest thereon during transport of the vehicle  11 . 
         [0028]    In certain embodiments, a fluid waste tank  51  may be mounted to the support frame  21 , below the compactor/baler  23 , and just behind the rear-most axle of the vehicle  11 . The fluid waste tank  51  preferably allows any fluid waste produced from compaction of the solid waste materials in the compactor/baler  23  to be collected. The fluid waste tank  51  is advantageous, for example, in oil field applications, where the solid waste may have some fluids containing chemicals or other elements that could potentially be harmful to the environment. Preferably, the fluid waste tank  51  is positioned so that any fluids are collected in the waste tank  51  without coming into contact with the environment. For example, the fluid waste tank  51  may be located directly below the compactor/baler  23  so that fluids drain from the compactor/baler  23  into the fluid waste tank  51  by gravity. In one example embodiment, the fluid waste tank may have a length of about eight feet, a width of about six feet, and a height of about three feet, although other dimensions are possible depending on the configuration of other components of the device  9 . Referring to  FIGS. 3B and 4 , there is shown a valve  53  that may be connected to and extend from the fluid waste tank  51  at the rear of the vehicle  11 . The valve  53  allows fluid to be removed from fluid waste tank  51 . For example, the valve may allow connection of the fluid waste tank  51  to a vacuum tanker truck that can remove the fluid from the fluid waste tank  51  through a fluid line, or hose (not shown). 
         [0029]    In operation, the mobile solid waste material collection and handling device  9  is transported, i.e., the transport vehicle  11  is driven to a worksite where solid waste material is to be collected. Once the vehicle  11  is transported to a worksite, a user operates the knuckleboom loader  15  to collect solid waste material and to deliver it to the hopper  25  of the compactor/baler  23 . To accomplish this, the knuckleboom loader  15  may be equipped with a claw  55 , as shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B . The claw is configured to alternate between a closed position (shown in  FIG. 5A ) and an open position (shown in  FIG. 5B ). In addition, the claw may be capable of twisting or rotating relative to the knuckleboom loader  15 . To collect the solid waste material, the claw  55  opens to the position shown in  FIG. 5B . The knuckleboom operator then positions the claw around the waste material to be compacted/baled. Once in position, the claw doses around and grips the waste material. It is then able to pick up the waste material and deliver it to the hopper  25 . If the waste material is too large to fit into the hopper  25 , the claw  55  may rotate as it pushes the waste into the hopper  25  to help force the waste into the hopper  25 . In practice, it may be necessary to prepare the waste material for loading. For example, fluid retention pit liners may be cut into smaller sections prior to loading. In one example embodiment, the liners are cut into about 50 square foot sections. 
         [0030]    A user, positioned atop the compactor/baler  23  and within the guard rails  39  and wire mesh  41 , may monitor the drive ram of the compactor/baler  23  to ensure that it is in retracted position while the hopper  25  is loaded with solid waste materials. Once the hopper  25  is filled with solid waste materials, the user actuates the drive ram within the compactor/baler  23 , which expands and compacts the solid waste materials. This process is repeated until the compactor/baler  23  has created a full bale  57  of solid waste materials. A full bale is shown in  FIG. 6 . As discussed above, fluid waste that may have been present in the solid waste materials compacted in the compactor/baler  23  is collected in the fluid waste tank  51 , which may be positioned below the compactor/baler  23 . 
         [0031]    Once a bale  57  has been created, it may then be tied with wire  59 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . The tying of the bale  57  with wire  59  may be accomplished through an automated process, or may be accomplished by a user. Once the bale  57  is tied, the hydraulic door  27  of the compactor/baler  23  may be opened and the bale of solid waste materials may be unloaded from the compactor/baler  23 . In some embodiments, the drive ram (not shown) can be extended to push the bale out from the compactor/baler  23 . The bale may be pushed onto another loading/unloading device. For example, a skid-steer loader may be used to unload the bail from the compactor/baler  23 . Thereafter the bale  57  may be stored on site, and/or it may be loaded onto another vehicle for transport to a waste disposal/recycling facility. This process is repeated until all solid waste materials have been collected, compacted, and baled. 
         [0032]    When desired, such as, for example, when the fluid waste tank  51  is filled, or the vehicle  11  is to be transported to another location, a fluid line (not shown) can be connected to the valve  53  on the fluid waste tank  51  and the fluid waste can be drained from the fluid waste tank  51 . For example, a vacuum truck may be connected to the fluid waste tank  51  through the valve  53 , and the contents of the fluid waste tank  51  may be transferred from the fluid waste tank  51  to the vacuum truck. Once collection, compacting, and baling of solid waste materials is complete, the knuckleboom loader  15  may be positioned resting upon the support bar  43 , with the loader claw  55  positioned within the hopper  25  of the compactor/baler  23 . The mobile solid waste material collection and handling device  9  can then be transported to the next work site. 
         [0033]    One advantage of the mobile solid waste material handling and collection device  9  disclosed herein, it that it allows for a reduction in truck traffic to and from an oil rig site. This is because a constant stream of waste removal trucks is not required to retrieve uncompacted waste. Rather, as the solid waste is compacted and baled, it becomes fit for storage at the site until enough bales are generated to justify entry of a waste removal truck to remove the bales. Thus, the number of waste removal trucks, and the frequency of their visits, is reduced. This decreased truck traffic helps to preserve roads leading to and from an oil rig site. 
         [0034]    In addition, the mobile solid waste material handling and collection device  9  is advantageous because otherwise bulky and voluminous waste, such as fluid retention pit liners, is compacted into a more manageable size. Thus, it is easier for recycling facilities to accept the waste. 
         [0035]    In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed a typical preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed, the terms are used in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. The invention has been described in considerable detail with specific reference to these illustrated embodiments. It will be apparent, however, that various modifications and changes can be made within the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the foregoing specification.