Brushing – scrubbing – and general cleaning – Machines – With air blast or suction
Patent
1994-04-28
1995-07-04
Scherbel, David A.
Brushing, scrubbing, and general cleaning
Machines
With air blast or suction
15349, 15339, 55395, 55430, B01D 2994
Patent
active
054288649
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to refuse collecting apparatus.
There already exist waste collecting machines of several types. One known type is a special purpose lorry incorporating underneath vacuum and brush equipment for cleaning the curb/gulley regions of roads. A second known type is a ride-on smaller purpose built vehicle for cleaning the floor areas of pedestrian precincts and the like. A third type is a pedestrian controlled vacuum and brush cleaning machine used for town pavements and the like. Basically, all these vehicles collect refuse within the width of the path of movement of the machine. Refuse to the side, for example trapped on road verges, in hedges, on roadway fences and the like cannot be collected by the known machines and it is necessary to resort to manual collection with spiked tools and refuse bags.
Recently there has been proposed a refuse collecting machine with a relatively long refuse collection hose, which can be wandered over the region around the machine to suck refuse into a space from which it can be compacted into a waste storage chamber by a ram.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved refuse collecting apparatus having a wander-capable collection hose.
According to the invention, there is provided refuse collecting apparatus comprising a wander-capable refuse collection hose, a prime mover, a fan driven by the prime mover, whereby refuse can be sucked inwardly through the collection hose a refuse compression screw driven by the prime mover, means whereby collected refuse is directed into the compression screw, and collecting means for receiving the collected and compressed refuse at the outlet end of the screw, wherein the fan also creates suction inwardly from the refuse collecting means, whereby refuse is compressed by the opposing actions of the inward suction and the outward drive of the compression screw.
The refuse collecting means preferably comprises a bag supporting means for carrying a bag into which the collected refuse is driven by the compression screw. Thus, the screw, while breaking up and compressing the refuse, preferably drives the refuse into ducting to which can be sealed by releasable connecting means the mouth of a bag carried by the bag supporting means. The fan thus creates suction inwardly from within the bag, whereby refuse is compressed by the opposing actions of the inward suction out of the bag and the outward drive of the compression screw. The bag may be a continuous tube which is cut and closed between successive bag loads. A bag-loaded indicator can be provided, whereby, after switching off the apparatus, a full bag can be exchanged for an empty one or a filled portion of a tubular bag can be cut and closed.
The prime mover is preferably a diesel or petrol engine. This engine has an output shaft which through a centrifugal clutch drives the fan at relatively high speed and drives the screw at relatively low speed through a speed-reducing transmission means. Said transmission means preferably includes a shaft intermediate the engine output shaft and the driving shaft for the compression screw, and speed reduction is achieved by means of a reduction gear box and pulley belt couplings between the shafts. The engine may exhaust into the air flow into the fan, which tends to reduce toxic emissions.
At least the engine, the fan, the screw and the transmission means are preferably carried by a framework accommodated in a housing to which the wander-capable collection hose is connected through a rotary bearing, for example a wire race or nylon bearing, whereby the hose can be swung through 360 degrees around the apparatus.
Preferably, within the housing, the refuse directing means includes a delivery chamber through which air is drawn by the fan to create suction at the wander-capable hose, relatively heavy refuse dropping through said chamber into the screw and relatively light refuse being separated from the air flow in which it is entrained, thereafter to fall into the screw,
REFERENCES:
patent: 2482166 (1949-09-01), Gage
patent: 3877207 (1975-04-01), Lemelson
patent: 4925467 (1990-05-01), Jordan et al.
patent: 5013343 (1991-05-01), Miyamoto
Alexander Reginald L.
Scherbel David A.
Schindler Edwin D.
Suk-cess Limited
LandOfFree
Refuse collecting apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Refuse collecting apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Refuse collecting apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-752749