Bidirectional Auger Waste Collection Assembly for Doorless Unloading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Waste collection vehicles with auger conveyor systems face challenges due to the weight of mechanisms for opening and closing doors and tipping containers, leading to increased fuel consumption, reduced range for electric vehicles, and limited unloading environments due to operator visibility constraints.

Innovation Solution

A waste collection assembly with a conveyor system that operates in two directions, using a longitudinally extending passageway and counter-rotating augers, allowing for efficient waste loading and unloading without the need for heavy door mechanisms, with a container design that allows unloading in various environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a door mechanism and tipping mechanism are used to unload the container, then the container can be emptied, but the vehicle weight increases and fuel consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer unloading capabilityVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the door mechanism and tipping mechanism from the vehicle, extracting these heavy components entirely. Instead, a conveyor system is installed that passes through the container bottom to transfer waste directly from the container to the hopper, eliminating the need for door mechanisms and tipping mechanisms while maintaining unloading capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical door mechanism and tipping mechanism with a conveyor-based waste transfer system. The conveyor system uses a different mechanical approach - transferring waste through a passageway rather than opening doors or tipping the container - thereby eliminating the heavy door and tipping mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If a door mechanism and tipping mechanism are used to unload the container, then the container can be emptied, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer unloading capabilityVSAvoidfuel consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the door mechanism and tipping mechanism from the vehicle, extracting these energy-consuming components entirely. Instead, a conveyor system is installed that passes through the container bottom to transfer waste directly from the container to the hopper, eliminating the need for door mechanisms and tipping mechanisms while maintaining unloading capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If the door is provided at the back of the container, then waste can be unloaded, but the operator's vision is limited and unloading is restricted to controlled environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer unloading capabilityVSAvoidunloading environment flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of providing access to the container through a rear door as in conventional designs, the patent inverts the approach by installing a conveyor system that passes through the bottom of the container. The conveyor transfers waste from the container bottom to an external hopper, reversing the traditional unloading direction and providing better operator visibility and environmental adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution reduces operational costs, enhances vehicle efficiency, and improves unloading flexibility by eliminating the need for heavy door mechanisms and allowing safe unloading in controlled or uncontrolled environments.

Implementation Method 1

a conveyor system disposed at least in part in the passageway. The conveyor system is configured to operate in a first direction and in a second direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical rotation:

Implementation Method 2

the at least one auger is two counter-rotating augers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCounter-rotation:

Data Source

PatentUS20240383676A1Waste collection assembly, waste collection vehicle and method for operating same

Publication Date: 2024.11.21 BOIVIN ERIC

AI summary

A waste collection assembly has a container defining an opening; a longitudinally extending passageway extending from the container, a portion of the passageway extending from the container defining a hopper; and a conveyor system disposed at least in part in the passageway, the conveyor system being configured to operate in a first direction and in a second direction. A vehicle having the waste collection assembly and a method for operating the waste collection assembly are also disclosed.