Patent ID: 8113565

Claim:
A device for increasing a volume or capacity of a container, said container ( 24 ) being provided with an upper opening ( 32 ) having an upper edge ( 31 ), wherein said device comprises a plurality of extension elements ( 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ) pivotally mounted on the upper edge ( 31 ) of the upper opening ( 32 ) so as to form a cover at least partially closing the upper opening ( 32 ) when each of the extension elements ( 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ) is in a flat closed position and an enlarging extension ( 27 ) for the container when each of the extension elements is in a raised filling position, and wherein neighboring ones of said extension elements are pivotally connected with each other, said enlarging extension ( 27 ) comprising at least two opposing one-piece elements ( 37 , 38 ) and at least two opposing multi-piece elements ( 39 , 40 ), said multi-piece elements ( 39 , 40 ) each comprising two folding triangular elements ( 42 ) and a trapezoidal-shaped center element ( 43 ) arranged between the triangular elements ( 42 ), and wherein the folding triangular elements ( 42 ) are pivotally connected with the center element ( 43 ) by respective hinges ( 44 ); and at least one driving pivoting device, which pivots or swings each of said extension elements ( 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ) from said flat closed position into said raised filling position ( 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 ) out beyond a vertical position thereof in a pivoting direction toward an exterior of the container, or from said raised filling position into said flat closed position; wherein said at least one driving pivoting device ( 53 ) comprises at least one pivot mechanism ( 54 , 55 ), said at least one pivot mechanism includes a plurality of pivot axles ( 60 , 61 , 80 , 81 ), raising levers ( 58 , 79 ) attached to the pivot axles ( 60 , 61 , 80 , 81 ), pendulum supports ( 57 , 78 ), said pendulum supports being connected with the extension elements ( 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ) and with the raising levers; at least one coupling rod ( 69 , 84 ) connecting the pivot axles ( 60 , 61 , 80 , 81 ) with each other; and at least one positioning member ( 74 , 89 ) for rotating or pivoting the pivot axles ( 60 , 61 , 80 , 81 ), which are connected with each other by the at least one coupling rod ( 69 , 84 ); wherein said at least one positioning member ( 74 , 89 ) comprises two double-acting hydraulic cylinders ( 73 , 88 ) that are acted on with equal pressures when said extension elements are pivoted; wherein said hydraulic cylinders ( 73 , 88 ) have respective piston rods ( 75 , 90 ) and said piston rods ( 75 , 90 ) move in directions opposite to each other when said extension elements are pivoted.