Bio-waste Loading Arm Rail and Movable Hook Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The management of bio-waste collection systems faces challenges due to the rapid biodegradation of organic waste, which can cause containers to become damaged and pose health risks if not regularly emptied and cleaned, requiring a system that optimizes container handling and cleaning processes while ensuring health safety.
Innovation Solution
A bio-waste collection system incorporating a truck with a storage tank, hopper, mechanical means for container handling, and a washing module, featuring a loading arm with a rail and retractable hooks for secure container attachment and tilting mechanisms to facilitate efficient emptying and cleaning, utilizing the weight of containers for stable connection and guided movement along a rail for hooking and unhooking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional loading arm with fixed hooks is used, then the structure is simple, but the container attachment and removal operations are complex and require multiple manual steps
Solution Approach 1:
The loading arm incorporates movable hooks that can dynamically adjust their position and orientation. The hooks are mounted on a carriage that moves along the rail, allowing the hooks to automatically align with container attachment points and move with the container during lifting, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that adapts to container handling operations
Solution Approach 2:
The rail serves as an intermediary element between the fixed loading arm structure and the movable hooks. The rail guides the carriage and provides a reference path for the hooks' movement, enabling smooth transition between different operational positions without complex mechanical linkages
2Volume of moving object
If the loading arm is made compact to fit within vehicle volume, then the vehicle size is reduced, but the arm's reaching capability and operational range are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The loading arm components are arranged in a nested configuration where the rail is positioned within the vehicle body, the carriage moves along the rail within the available space, and the hooks are contained within the carriage structure. This nesting allows the arm to achieve full operational range when extended while maintaining a compact form factor when retracted
3Productivity
If the hooks are positioned high on the loading arm, then container lifting is more efficient, but the hooks are harder to access and align with container attachment points
Solution Approach 1:
The hooks are mounted on a movable carriage that can travel along the rail to any desired position. This dynamic positioning allows the hooks to be easily accessed and aligned with container attachment points before lifting begins, eliminating the need for fixed high-positioned hooks that would be difficult to access
Solution Approach 2:
The carriage can be positioned in advance to bring the hooks into optimal alignment with the container attachment points before the lifting operation starts. This preliminary positioning action ensures that when lifting begins, the hooks are already in the correct position and orientation, combining easy access with efficient lifting
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
The system ensures reliable and efficient collection, emptying, and cleaning of bio-waste containers, maintaining container integrity and health safety by using a mechanically simple and robust mechanism that aligns with the rest of the collection vehicle's functionalities, allowing for compact operation and effective handling of containers within the vehicle's volume.
Implementation Method 1
The carriage (5) is guided and trained on the rail (4) so as to be able to hook or unhook the containers (6)
Implementation Method 2
using in particular the weight of the containers to ensure a stable connection with the trolley
Data Source
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AI summary
Bio-waste collection system comprising a truck-type vehicle (1) including, at the rear of a driver's cab (10), a chassis surmounted by a body equipped with a bio-waste storage tank (2), a hopper (7) for receiving this waste, a washing module (8) including means for washing containers (6), mechanical means for collecting bio-waste containers (6) having a loading arm (3) at the level of a side facade of the vehicle (1), said collection means being able to move each container (6) between a location on the ground and an emptying position on the vehicle (1), said container (6) including means for attaching to the loading arm (3).The loading arm (3) includes a support (30) for connection to the chassis and a rail (4) equipped with guiding and driving means for a trolley (5) supporting a container loading/unloading platform (50) equipped with means for attaching (51) and locking/unlocking (52) a container (6) consisting of at least one lifting hook (51) with an upper opening. The rail (4) has a first section extending substantially vertically, and a second upper section curving towards the interior of the vehicle (1) and located at a level higher than that of an opening in the hopper (7). The platform (50) is equipped with two lifting hooks (51) with an upper opening, the openings of the hooks (51) being horizontally aligned for loading the containers (6), each container (6) having an external horizontal lifting bar (60) for the hooks (51).