Waste Compactor Blade Angle Control via Articulated Slider

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional waste compactors experience a loss of optimal thrust angle due to blade rotation when contacting waste, leading to decreased compaction efficiency due to natural yielding and resistance, resulting in a 'slipping' effect.

Innovation Solution

A waste compactor design featuring a slider with articulated means connected to a blade via extendible cylinder mechanisms, allowing the blade to maintain an optimal right-angle position relative to the sliding plane throughout the compaction stroke, utilizing pivoted connections and cylinder extensions to manage resistance and increase specific pressure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conventional slider-and-blade configuration is used, then the compactor can perform translational movement to compact waste, but the blade rotates upon contact with waste causing loss of optimal thrust angle and decreased compaction efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompaction efficiencyVSAvoidblade angle stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The blade is made dynamically adjustable through articulation means that allow it to rotate relative to the slider. This enables the blade to maintain an optimal angle (substantially perpendicular) to the sliding plane during compaction, adapting to the forces encountered during operation rather than being fixed in a rigid configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The articulation means are pre-configured to counteract the natural rotation tendency of the blade when it contacts waste. By providing a pivot connection that resists unwanted rotation while allowing controlled adjustment, the system prevents the loss of thrust angle before it occurs, maintaining optimal compaction geometry throughout the stroke.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Productivity

If the blade is made rigidly connected to the slider, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the blade cannot adapt to waste resistance causing angle change and reduced compaction performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecific pressure on wasteVSAvoidblade connection mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between slider and blade is changed from rigid to articulated, introducing a single degree of freedom (rotation at the pivot). This dynamic connection allows the blade to adapt its angle while maintaining structural integrity, providing the necessary flexibility without significantly increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The blade assembly is segmented into distinct components: the slider, the articulation means (pivot connection), and the blade itself. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, with the articulation means serving as a flexible joint that enables angle adjustment while keeping the overall mechanism relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If the blade angle changes during compaction stroke, then the structure can yield naturally to waste resistance, but the optimal thrust angle is lost causing a slipping effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveblade contact stabilityVSAvoidcompaction thrust effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The articulation means are designed to counteract the harmful rotation that causes angle deviation. By providing a pivot connection with appropriate friction characteristics and geometric constraints, the system prevents the blade from rotating away from the optimal angle while still allowing controlled adjustment if needed, thereby maintaining stable and effective thrust throughout the compaction stroke.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The blade connection is made dynamic through the articulation means, allowing the blade to maintain stable contact with waste at the optimal angle. The pivot connection provides just enough flexibility to accommodate waste deformation while preventing the blade from slipping or rotating away from the perpendicular position, ensuring both reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 design maintains optimal blade angle during compaction, enhancing compaction efficiency by reducing the compaction surface and increasing specific pressure, suitable for use on satellite vehicles with high reliability and low implementation costs.

Implementation Method 1

extendible means, for example cylinder means 8

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic or pneumatic actuation: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

the blade 5 which enables the compacting of waste

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical compression: Compression

Implementation Method 3

when it comes into contact with the waste, encounters a resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP2384999B1Waste compactor, particularly for waste collection containers of vehicles and the like
Publication Date: 2017.07.19 NOVARINI
  • EP2384999B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2384999B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2384999B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A waste compactor (1) for waste collection containers, particularly for vehicles and the like, which comprises a slider (3) that is adapted to produce the translational motion of a compaction blade (5). According to the invention, the blade (5) is connected to the slider (3) by way of the interposition of articulated means (6), which are pivoted to the slider (3) and are connected to one end of the slider (3) by extendible means (8, 9), and to the blade (5) by way of additional extendible means (11).