Refuse Packer Auger With Electric Actuation for Lower Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refuse collection vehicles face high maintenance costs and inefficiencies in compacting and ejecting refuse due to the use of hydraulic cylinders, which are prone to contamination and complex ejection mechanisms that may not fully discharge refuse.
Innovation Solution
A refuse collection vehicle system featuring an auger screw for packing refuse into a storage compartment, a door actuator system to control the opening and closing of a compartment wall, and an ejector actuator to further compact or eject refuse, utilizing electric actuators for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If hydraulic cylinders are used to drive ejector panels for packing refuse, then substantial packing forces are achieved, but maintenance costs increase and reliability decreases due to fluid contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hydraulic mechanical system with an electric motor-driven system. Electric motors provide the necessary rotational force to drive the auger screw and ejector panel through direct mechanical coupling, eliminating hydraulic fluid and associated contamination risks. This substitution maintains the required packing forces while significantly improving reliability and reducing maintenance costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the hydraulic system components (hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic fluid) from the refuse packing mechanism. By taking out the problematic hydraulic system and replacing it with an electric drive system, the patent eliminates the source of contamination and maintenance issues while preserving the essential packing function.
2Ease of operation
If complex ejection mechanisms are used to discharge compacted refuse, then ejection capability is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the ejection function into the existing auger screw mechanism. The same auger screw that packs refuse into the storage compartment also performs ejection by reversing its rotation or continuing rotation to push compacted refuse out through the discharge opening. This merging of packing and ejection functions into a single mechanism simplifies the overall system while maintaining effective ejection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The auger screw is designed to perform multiple functions: it packs loose refuse into the storage compartment during loading, maintains compaction during transport, and ejects compacted refuse at the discharge location. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate ejection mechanisms, reducing device complexity and maintenance requirements.
3Ease of operation
If tilting mechanisms are used to eject refuse from the compartment, then ejection is achieved, but friction prevents complete discharge of refuse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the tilting mechanism with an electric motor-driven auger screw system. The auger screw uses rotational mechanical force to directly push and eject refuse through the discharge opening, eliminating the need for gravitational assistance through tilting. This substitution overcomes friction more effectively and ensures complete refuse discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The auger screw performs preliminary compaction and positioning of refuse before ejection. By pre-compacting and organizing the refuse mass in front of the discharge opening, the auger screw ensures that the ejection force is applied efficiently to a consolidated mass, overcoming friction and ensuring complete discharge without requiring additional tilting actions.
Data Source
AI summary
A refuse collection vehicle having a packer system, a hopper, and a storage compartment. A wall between the storage compartment and the hopper defines an opening that allows refuse to pass from the hopper to the storage compartment. The packer system includes an auger screw and a driver. The driver rotates the auger screw such that refuse is packed into the storage compartment through the opening. A door can be positioned to cover the opening in the wall to inhibit refuse from passing back through the opening. A door actuator system moves the door to selectively open and close the door on the opening. A packing actuator can push an ejector panel across the floor of the storage compartment while the door is closed on the opening in the wall to further compact refuse in the storage compartment or to eject refuse from the vehicle.