Waste disposal vehicle with a vehicle-mounted lifting device

Abstract

Waste disposal vehicle (1) with at least one vehicle-supported lifting device (7) for lifting and emptying containers (4) for residual materials, recyclable materials or the like, characterized in that the lifting device (7) is provided with at least one dispensing unit (10) for pressurized working medium.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a waste disposal vehicle with at least one vehicle-supported lifting device for lifting and emptying containers for residual materials, recyclable materials or the like according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] For aesthetic and space-saving reasons, it is now common practice, especially in large cities, to install underground waste containers. These containers are located below street or sidewalk level and are covered by one or more movable covers. Only small chutes are visible above the covers, which may be similar in size to wastebaskets, but which lead down shafts into a larger container below. To empty these larger containers, at least one cover must be opened, and the container must be lifted and emptied into a waste collection vehicle. Crane trucks are often used for this purpose, lifting the container from the ground and emptying it into an open area of ​​the vehicle. However, this type of emptying requires a lot of space, which is often unavailable in the narrow streets of large cities.The waste collection vehicle must also drive very close to the underground container's shaft from the side, meaning the shaft must be located directly at the edge of the road. The vehicle must be a special-purpose vehicle with a high unladen weight and a low payload capacity. The emptying process is also very noisy and must be carried out with the vehicle's engine running. If, however, the container needs to be raised to approximately street level for emptying, the cover must be opened and a platform on which the container rests lifted. This requires a separate power supply for the container shaft, which significantly increases the cost of such systems.

[0003] German patent DE 10 2006 053 097 A1 discloses the possibility of raising a platform below street level, on which a container rests, using an actuating unit on an external vehicle. This actuating unit comprises a downwardly extendable drive ram located in the underbody of the vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle must be positioned very precisely above a corresponding counterpart in the ground. The method by which the container is then raised and emptied is neither disclosed nor even discussed.

[0004] WO 2006 / 059896 A1 discloses a vehicle-mounted power supply that drives an underground motor and includes a coupling on an extendable arm for connection to an external column. It is evident from the single drawing that the vehicle position in which the coupling is located necessitates moving the raised container to empty it into the opening at the rear of the vehicle. This is cumbersome and inefficient.

[0005] The invention is based on the problem of achieving an improvement in this area.

[0006] The invention solves this problem by means of a waste disposal vehicle with the features of claim 1 or claim 10 and by means of a method with the features of claim 12. Regarding advantageous embodiments, reference is made to further claims 2 to 9 and 11.

[0007] The waste disposal vehicle according to claim 1, in that the vehicle-side lifting device for lifting the container is equipped with at least one dispensing unit for pressurized working fluid, enables, on the one hand, the elimination of a separate power supply for the underfloor unit, and on the other hand, allows the opening of the cover and the lifting of the underfloor container to be carried out almost silently – particularly when a storage tank for the working fluid is provided. The lifting device can also be electrically operated, so that the actual emptying process can then also be carried out quietly and without exhaust emissions, which is a great advantage, especially in inner cities. In particular, the waste disposal vehicle can use the same lifting device to grasp and lift both an underfloor container and conventional containers standing at street level.A special vehicle is therefore not required for the underground containers; maximum flexibility and high payload capacity are achieved.

[0008] If the working medium for operating a pneumatic lifting device is air, the transfer of this working medium is safe and also insensitive to moisture.

[0009] In particular, the dispensing unit is assigned to an outer end of the lifting device, which has a lifting element for containers, such as a support bar or arms that engage in the container's pockets. Positioning the dispensing unit for the working medium then simultaneously positions the lifting device for the subsequent lifting of the container. Thus, only one approach maneuver is necessary, during which the appropriate vehicle position for transferring the working medium and for lifting the container is automatically achieved.

[0010] Advantageously, the outer end comprises an upright plate unit for contact with a container side wall, with the dispensing unit positioned below and parallel to this plate unit. This design provides good protection against collisions for the dispensing unit, while still allowing it to be automatically and easily controlled by the operator to contact a fixed counterpart by extending the lifting mechanism.

[0011] Positioning is further facilitated if the dispensing unit has a tube body pointing in the direction of travel, equipped with an adjustment aid for coupling to an external counterpart. This adjustment aid can, for example, be formed by an end-end connector that widens conically.

[0012] If the dispensing unit is telescopic and an end-mounted connector can be moved longitudinally, the vehicle can first dock with the external counterpart to transfer the working medium, such as compressed air, and thereby lift the container. Subsequently, the connector can be released by retracting the telescope without moving the vehicle. In this position of the lifting device, the container can be lifted and emptied into the vehicle without requiring any repositioning of the vehicle. This allows for very fast emptying, even by a single operator.

[0013] Particularly advantageous is the dispensing unit, which includes a first line for dispensing the working medium and a second line as a control line. At least one external valve can be actuated via this control line, so that, for example, upon a second docking after emptying, a valve can be opened to release the compressed air and the container can be lowered again.

[0014] A particularly advantageous design involves a waste disposal vehicle equipped with at least one dispensing unit for pressurized working fluid and capable of using the same lifting mechanism to pick up and lift both underground containers and conventional, street-level containers. This achieves complete self-sufficiency while simultaneously enabling fast, space-saving, and quiet emptying. Furthermore, a variety of containers, both conventional and underground, can be emptied on a single route. The vehicle can be a side loader with a telescopic side arm to compensate for larger distances to containers. It can also easily lift and empty both two-wheeled and four-wheeled containers up to 3.5 cubic meters using the same lifting mechanism.

[0015] For optimal positioning, the dispensing unit projects forward in the direction of travel and, with the lifting mechanism partially extended laterally, can engage with a fixed counterpart. This geometry optimizes both the protection of the dispensing unit and the visual monitoring of the coupling process.

[0016] A method for emptying at least one underground container located below at least one movable cover by means of a disposal container, in which, in a first step, a disposal vehicle with a dispensing unit for pressure medium automatically docks to a fixed counterpart, from which the pressure medium is introduced into a lifting device in a receiving shaft of the underground container, wherein the lifting device opens the at least one cover and lifts the container via the pressure medium, and wherein, in a second step, the disposal vehicle detaches from the counterpart and, via its lifting device, lifts and empties the then raised underground container, is claimed separately.

[0017] Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention, some of which are illustrated in the drawing and described below.

[0018] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 A schematic side view of a waste disposal vehicle according to the invention - here designed as a side loader - with the possibility of emptying various types of containers, such as four- or two-wheeled containers, which stand at street level or which, as underground containers, must first be lifted, Fig. 2 a perspective view of the vehicle in emptying position next to an already raised underground container, with the dispensing unit already detached, and where, for the sake of clarity, only the lifting device and the tipping device of the disposal vehicle are drawn into the vehicle, Fig. 3 a detailed representation of the lifting device and the dispensing unit docked to a stationary column, Fig. 4. A detailed representation of the dispensing unit and the stationary column as the vehicle approaches the column and with the dispensing unit's telescope retracted. Fig. 5 a side view of the output unit in extended position, Fig. 6 A schematic view from the front when the lifting device engages the raised container at the beginning of emptying, with the driver's cab and other vehicle parts obstructing the view hidden, Fig. 7 a similar view to Fig. 6, however, after lowering the container and closing the shaft.

[0019] The in Fig. One exemplary waste disposal vehicle 1 is designed as a self-propelled vehicle. Alternatively, a towed vehicle as a trailer or semi-trailer is also possible and can be designed according to the invention.

[0020] The in Fig. 1 The waste disposal vehicle 1 includes at least one receiving container 2 for residual materials or recyclables, for example for household waste, industrial waste, residual materials that have passed through a recycling sorting plant, paper, glass, slag, biowaste or other additives or similar materials provided in particularly rigid containers.

[0021] Furthermore, the disposal vehicle 1 comprises at least one self-contained movable feed device for these substances, designated as 3, wherein the feed device 3 is designed for overhead emptying of, in particular, waste containers 4 and for conveying the collected material via a pouring opening 5 towards the vehicle-supported receiving container 2.

[0022] The receiving container 2 can be emptied, for example, by tilting it upwards to the rear on one side.

[0023] According to the schematic drawing, the waste disposal vehicle 1 is designed as a so-called side loader, so that the feed device 3 located to the side of the waste disposal vehicle 1 can reach the container 4. The feed device 3 is designed according to Fig. 1 in the direction of travel F in front of the receiving container 2, which is not mandatory.

[0024] For example, a front loader can also be used additionally or alternatively in a similar arrangement of receiving container 2 and feeding device 3 and could then be filled by a device extending over the driver's cab with containers turned upside down during emptying.

[0025] The side loader shown here comprises at least one upwardly movable lifting device 7 with an outer end 8 contacting the container, which is equipped with one or more receiving devices 9 for optionally two-wheeled and / or four-wheeled containers 4. According to the illustration Fig. 1. The receiving device 9 includes a comb bar. Diamond mounts, laterally extending arms, or similar configurations are also possible. The receiving device 9 stands flat and thus space-savingly parallel to the side of the vehicle. The in Fig. The comb or toothed strip 9 shown can engage at least one collar of a waste container 4 to be picked up – or several containers 4 side by side. By raising the swing-like lifting device 7, the waste containers 4 can then be emptied upside down into the filling opening 5 of the feed device 3.

[0026] For this purpose, the outer end 8 comprises an upright plate unit 6 for attachment to a container side wall.

[0027] The filling opening 5 can form one large opening, for example rectangular, or be divided into several smaller openings. To convey the poured material and transport it into the receiving container 2, at least one pivoting or linearly displaceable piston is provided. If the receiving container 2 is divided, two pivoting pistons can be provided for waste separation, feeding material side-by-side into different compartments.

[0028] According to the presentation Fig. 1. The lifting device 7 is provided with at least one output unit 10 for pressurized working medium, wherein the working medium is compressed air for operating an external pneumatic lifting device 11. This output unit is geometrically advantageously assigned to the outer end 8 of the lifting device 7, i.e., the end that also has the support means 9 for lifting containers 4, for example, the aforementioned support bar or arms that can engage in pockets of the container.

[0029] For example, in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the outer end 8 comprises an upright plate unit 6 for contact with a container side wall, the plate unit 6 being able to have a further contact strip 8a at its lower end. The dispensing unit can then be protected on the one hand and yet still be positioned far to the outside, obliquely below and along the length of this plate unit 6.

[0030] The details in Fig. The dispensing unit 10 shown in Figure 5 has a tubular body 12 extending in the direction of travel, with a projecting adjustment aid for coupling to the aforementioned external counterpart 19. The dispensing unit 10 is telescopically designed, so that the end connection piece 13, which forms a conically expanding adjustment aid, can be moved longitudinally in the direction of arrow 15 via a cylinder 14. The dispensing unit 10 also includes a first line for dispensing working medium and a second line as a control line. The connections of the working line and the control line (16 / 17) are visible here. The control line can be used, for example, to actuate at least one external valve in the area of ​​the fixed external column 18.

[0031] The external column 18 shown here is, for example, installed on a sidewalk G next to a road S and includes a counterpart 19 for the connector 13 of the dispensing unit 10. The counterpart 19 can also be conical to facilitate docking of the dispensing unit 10. The column 18 can include a storage tank 20 as an intermediate storage unit and conveys the compressed air supplied by the waste disposal vehicle 1 to the aforementioned lifting device 11 via a pipe system 21.

[0032] This allows for the emptying process of container 4, which is initially kept below the level of the sidewalk, as follows: In a first step, the waste disposal vehicle 1, equipped with the dispensing unit 10 for hydraulic fluid, drives close to the fixed counterpart 19 and docks with it by extending the cylinder 14. The hydraulic fluid is then introduced from the waste disposal vehicle 1, via the column 18 and the line 21, into the, for example, bellows-like lifting device 11 in a receiving shaft of the underground container 4. A lifting scissor mechanism 22 raises the base 23 on which the container 4 stands. Simultaneously, at least one cover, connected via a coupling rod 24, opens. In a second step, the waste disposal vehicle 1 uncouples from the counterpart 19, for example, by retracting the cylinder 14. From this longitudinal position of the vehicle, the lifting device 7 then raises the container to a few tens of centimeters below sidewalk level and empties it.

[0033] Subsequently, for example, connection 18-19 can be coupled again to open a blow-off valve via the control line, thus lowering the now emptied container 4 and closing the attached cover 25.

[0034] Other types of coupling and control are also possible. This is not relevant to the design according to claim 10. There, it is claimed that, regardless of the specific location and design of the dispensing unit 10 on the waste disposal vehicle 1 – manual docking and undocking is also possible – the same lifting device 7 can be used to grasp and lift both underground containers 4, as shown here, and conventional containers 4 standing at street level. This is possible because, with the compressed air transfer from the vehicle, the container 4 can be lifted sufficiently, even without its own power supply, to be lifted by the normal lifting devices 9, for example, of a side loader as shown in [reference missing]. Fig.The container can be grasped and lifted. The same vehicle can therefore empty containers located both above and below ground level on a single route without any modifications. For example, with the comb bar 9 shown here, emptying two-wheeled containers with 40 or 80 liters up to four-wheeled containers 4 with 2.3 or even 3.5 cubic meters is possible without any modifications. Due to the arrangement of the dispensing unit 10 diagonally behind the plate unit 6, emptying above-ground containers is not obstructed by the dispensing unit 10.

Claims

[1] Waste disposal vehicle (1) with at least one vehicle-mounted lifting device (7) for lifting and emptying containers (4) for residual materials, recyclables or the like, characterized by that the lifting device (7) is provided with at least one output unit (10) for pressurized working medium. [2] Waste disposal vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the working medium is air for operating a pneumatic lifting device (11). [3] Waste disposal vehicle (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by , that the output unit (10) is assigned to an outer end (8) of the lifting device (7) which has a lifting means (9) for lifting containers (4). [4] Waste disposal vehicle (1) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the outer end (8) comprises an upright plate unit (6) for attachment to a container side wall and that the dispensing unit (10) is arranged below this plate unit (6) and along its length. [5] Waste disposal vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the output unit (10) has a tube body (12) pointing in the direction of travel (F) with an adjustment aid for coupling to an external counterpart (19). [6] Waste disposal vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the output unit (10) is telescopically designed and an end-side connector (13) can thereby be moved longitudinally. [7] Waste disposal vehicle (1) according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized by , that an end-side connecting piece (13) forms a conically expanding adjustment aid. [8] Waste disposal vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , that the output unit (10) comprises a first line (16) for outputting working medium and a second line as a control line (17). [9] Waste disposal vehicle (1) according to claim 8, characterized by, that at least one external valve can be actuated by means of the control line (17). [10] Waste disposal vehicle (1) with at least one vehicle-supported lifting device for lifting and emptying containers (4) for residual materials, recyclable materials or the like, in particular according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by , that the waste disposal vehicle (1) is equipped with at least one dispensing unit (10) for pressurized working medium and is a side loader in which both an underground container (4) and conventional containers standing at street level can be picked up with the same lifting device (7). [11] Waste disposal vehicle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by , that the output unit (10) projects forward in the direction of travel (F) and can be brought into engagement with a fixed counterpart (19) when the lifting device (7) is partially extended laterally. [12] Method for emptying at least one underground container (4) located below at least one movable cover (25) by means of a waste disposal vehicle (1), characterized by , that in a first step a waste disposal vehicle (1) with a dispensing unit (10) for pressure medium docks to a fixed counterpart (19), from which the pressure medium is introduced into a lifting device (11) in a receiving shaft of the underground container (4), whereby the lifting device (11) opens the at least one cover (25) and lifts the container (4) via the pressure medium, and that in a second step the waste disposal vehicle (1) uncouples from the counterpart (19) and lifts and empties the then raised underground container (4) via its lifting device (7).

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