Helical Band Actuator Packer System for Refuse Compaction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) face high maintenance costs and operational challenges due to the use of hydraulic cylinders, which are prone to contamination and result in unpredictable loads and damage from track friction and material density variations during refuse packing.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a packer system with helical band actuators that include drive cylinder bases, helical band drive cylinders, and drive cylinder receptacles, coupled to an ejector, allowing for controlled extension and retraction to compact and eject refuse, with features like cross members for maintaining squareness and resilient pads for alignment, and a control system for sensor-driven adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If hydraulic cylinders are used to drive ejector panels, then substantial packing forces can be supplied, but maintenance costs increase and reliability decreases due to fluid contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacking forceVSAvoidsystem reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces hydraulic cylinders with helical band actuators that use mechanical threading mechanisms. The helical bands convert rotational motion from electric motors into linear pushing forces, eliminating hydraulic fluid systems and their associated contamination risks while maintaining the capability to generate substantial packing forces through mechanical advantage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent eliminates the hydraulic system entirely in favor of a mechanical actuation system using helical bands and electric motors, thereby removing the source of fluid contamination that plagued previous hydraulic cylinder designs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

2Productivity

If heavy track-mounted ejector panels are used, then refuse material can be collected and pushed effectively, but unbalanced loads from track friction and material density variations cause damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefuse packing efficiencyVSAvoiddevice durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the ejector panel into multiple independent sections, each driven by its own helical band actuator. This segmentation allows each section to independently adapt to local variations in material density and track friction, preventing unbalanced loads from overwhelming the entire system and causing damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs dynamically adjustable helical band actuators that can independently modify their output forces in real-time based on sensor feedback about material density and resistance variations, allowing the system to maintain balanced operation despite uneven refuse distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12071300B2Refuse packer system with helical band actuators

Publication Date: 2024.08.27 HEIL CO

AI summary

A refuse collection vehicle includes a body having a storage compartment and a packer system. The storage compartment includes a floor. The packer system includes an ejector, two or more helical band actuators, and a driver. The helical band actuators each include a drive cylinder base, a helical band drive cylinder, and a drive cylinder receptacle coupled between the helical band drive cylinder and the ejector. The driver is commonly coupled to the helical band actuators and operable to extend and retract the helical band drive cylinders. The helical band actuators are operable to advance the ejector such that refuse is compacted in the storage compartment or ejected from the storage compartment.