Presses – With ground-traversing wheels or guides
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-14
2001-10-23
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Presses
With ground-traversing wheels or guides
C100S22900A
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305278
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
This invention generally relates to the trash compactors. More specifically, this invention relates to a portable trash compactor for reducing the volume occupied by trash in dumpsters or similar trash bins.
2. Background
Many businesses and organizations are faced with disposing of large amounts of trash or refuse. In most cases, they are charged for disposal by both by the volume and frequency of disposal. A single organization may possess several dumpsters to reduce the frequency of pick-ups or to fit within a designated schedule of the solid waste disposal company. Other organizations install large permanent compactors that have removable bins for emptying, usually on an as needed basis. Compacting the waste within the bin greatly reduces the frequency for emptying the dumpsters as a large amount of internal space is otherwise unoccupied. Additionally, the nature of a large percentage of refuse tends to be mostly empty space. Unfortunately, large compactors are expensive to purchase and install, often requiring modifications to the facility.
What is needed is an inexpensive portable compactor that can be used with most standard dumpsters to reduce the volume of refuse and enable less frequent emptying.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One embodiment of the invention provides a portable refuse compactor having a mobile compression frame, including a trash bin bottom engagement surface; a compacting platen positioned above, and moveable with respect to, the bin bottom engagement surface; and a force generator for displacing the platen toward the bin bottom engagement surface. Here, the compression frame includes a base having three caster wheels attached thereto to facilitate mobility and an upwardly facing surface defining the bin bottom engagement surface. An upright is attached to the base opposite the engagement surface and extends upwardly from the base. A compacting lever is pivotally attached near the upper end of the upright between proximal and distal ends of the compacting lever. A compacting platen is pivotally attached to the compacting lever at its distal end. A hydraulic ram is connected between the frame and the proximal end of the compacting lever such that expansion of the ram under hydraulic pressure pivots the distal end of the compacting lever through a downward arc. The compacting platen here has an upright extending therefrom to which the distal end of the compacting lever is pivotally attached and a vertical guide lever is pivotally attached. The other end of the vertical guide lever is pivotally attached to the compression frame in parallel spaced relation to the compression lever. The vertical guide lever maintains the compacting platen upright in a vertical orientation throughout the arc of travel of the distal end of the compacting lever. The hydraulic ram may be supplied by an electrical, gasoline or manually powered hydraulic pump.
Another embodiment of the invention has the compacting platen attached to the compacting arm using a gimbaled connection to ensure that the platen maintains even pressure across its surface area.
Additional advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1852507 (1932-04-01), Davis
patent: 3280727 (1966-10-01), Jonas
patent: 3357346 (1967-12-01), Crafoord
patent: 3797382 (1974-03-01), Muzzi et al.
patent: 4700623 (1987-10-01), Durbin et al.
patent: 5619915 (1997-04-01), Wagner et al.
Huynh Louis K.
Korfanta Craig M.
Vo Peter
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