1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to space saving trash compactors and bailers, and in particular to a compactor/bailer combination sharing a common ram.
2. Prior Art
In the offshore environment, environmental concerns have lead to efforts to recycle materials instead of land filling. However, an additional driving concern in the offshore environment is the efficient utilization of space. Space is at a premium in this environment, and equipment is designed to conserve space yet still efficiently perform the task. For these reasons, space efficient compaction systems have become prevalent offshore. One such system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,121 to Zimmer, hereby incorporated by reference. As disclosed, this design utilizes a ram which is moveable both vertically to compress as well as horizontally to allow access to the crushed materials. The ram is horizontally movable on tracks which extend outwardly from the upper edge of the compactor container.
A particular type of recyclable material prevalent in the offshore environment is cardboard boxes and similar paper type storage containers and packaging products. For recycling purposes, it is more efficient to separate such cardboard materials from other materials at the offshore location of use, rather than shipping unseparated materials for later processing. Bailing cardboard materials at the offshore location also keeps such materials secure from being blown off location by wind or other environmental factors. Cardboard packaging materials are usually compressed and wrapped for storage for later disposal or recycling in a bailer, such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,873 to Zimmer, hereby incorporated by reference. Both a compactor and bailer are desired equipment, however, both take up valuable space. It is desired to utilize both in a space saving configuration.
It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus containing a bailer and compactor.
It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus containing a bailer and compactor utilizing a common ram.
It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus containing a bailer and compactor which efficiently utilizes space.
It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus containing a bailer and compactor which minimizes pinch points.
The invention is a structure with two adjacent compartments with—a bailer compartment and a compactor compartment. Each compartment has an access opening, and the two access openings are located on adjacent sidewalls of the structure. Positioned near the top of the structure is a track with a ram moveable on the track to be positioned for vertical ramming through the open tops in each of the two compartments.
As seen in
Located near the top of sidewalls 18 and 20, respectively, are protruding horizontal guide channels 90 and 91, best seen in
As seen in
When installed, the hydraulic frame 44 is trapped between the two sidewalls 18 and 20 behind the upstanding lip 92 and ties these two sidewalls together. In operation, the forces exerted by the compactor or bailer will tend to cause the sidewalls to “bow out,” which movement is resisted by the hydraulic frame 44. The hydraulic frame 44 and guide channels with upstanding lip 92 cooperate to create a means for resisting sidewall bow out, and hence maintains the structural integrity of the device during use.
Positioned between the two support frames 80 and 81 is a carrying plate 85 having a guide sleeve 86 for guiding the hydraulic ram 105 supported by the carrying plate. Hydraulic ram 105 includes ramming plate 106 (positioned below the carrying plate 85), guide rod 8 and piston collar 9. As shown, the underside of the ramming plate 106 (the contact side) has a series of parallel slots 109 running from one side of the plate to the opposing side (see
Positioned below the track 93 is a vertically orientated interior partition or sidewall 15 located between sidewalls 18 and 20. Interior partition 15 divides the interior of the structure into two adjacent compartments, a bailer compartment B and a compactor compartment C. Each interior compartment could be formed with separate interior partitions, instead of a common interior partition, however, a single interior partition is favored, as such reduces the weight of the structure. The interior partition 15 is extends from the floor 22 to a height sufficiently below the guide channels 93 to allow the ramming plate 106, when retracted, to clear the partition 15 when the hydraulic frame 44 is slid from one compartment to the other compartment. The carrying plate 85, and hence the ramming plate 106, is positionable above the bailer compartment B and the compactor compartment B to perform crushing operations.
Safety features are provided on the device to prevent the hydraulic ram from operating unless properly positioned within either the bailer compartment B or compactor compartment C. Two limit switches (not shown) are positioned on or near the guide tracks 93 which, when tripped, allow the hydraulic cylinder 102 to operate. The limit switches are tripped by the hydraulic frame 44 when moved into the proper position either centered above the compactor compartment C or above the bailer compartment B. Additionally, another limit switch can be provided to prevent the hydraulic frame 44 from moving when the hydraulic piston 101 is extended, that is, when the device is operating.
Also located on the device is motor plate 999, shown located above the bailer compartment B, connecting sidewalls 18, 16 and 20. Motor plate 999 is positioned above the guide channels, and the hydraulic frame 44 partially slides underneath the motor plate when the hydraulic frame 44 is centered in the bailer compartment B. Motor plate 999 provides space for the placement of the hydraulic reservoir 1000 and the pump 1001 which drives the hydraulic devices of the system. Details of the interior of the compartments and sidewalls follow.
Sidewall 16 is solid wall that may include reinforcing fins. Sidewalls 20 and 18 are essentially mirror images of each other, with opening to accommodate features of the bailer (see
The floor of the bailer compartment B has a series of raised platforms 97 (as shown in
The front of the bailer compartment B has a solid bottom access door 35 occupying about ½ of the height of the opening in the sidewall 18 above the floor portion, and a top screened access door 24, occupying the top ½ of the opening in the sidewall 18. The two doors are independent of each other, and both are latchable, as is shown in
Another feature of the bailer compartment B is the shape of the compartment. It may be desirable to have the interior compartment tapered toward the front (that is, wider in the rear than the front). Such a taper can assist in removing materials from the chamber.
The bailing chamber may contain a bailed material removal means to assist removal of the bailed material. One such removal means is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,873 to Zimmer, herein incorporated by reference. A second removal means includes a removable slidable top panel 97A positioned on at least one of the floor raised platforms 97, and a series of teeth 96 positioned on the slidable top panel. As shown in
Another removal means includes a hydraulically driven screw drive positioned the hollow of at least one of the raised platforms 97 in the bailer compartment B. These raised platforms would also have a panel slidable on the top of the raised platform with a gear surface (such as a gear rack) positioned on the underside of the top slidable panel. The gear surface would intermesh with the screw drive thereby allowing the slidable panels to be moved forward and rearward by operation of the screw drive. The rear of these top panel may have an “L” shape or have a raised lip. Upon activation of the motor, the screw drive turns, sliding the top panel outward, along with the bailed materials which would catch on the raised lip. When the removal operation is complete, the screw drive would reverse, re-positioning the panel top within the bailer compartment B.
The removal means may include a series of upstanding forward facing teeth 96 positioned on the raised platforms of the floor. The teeth 96 are designed with protrusions facing the front of the bailer chamber to “catch” materials located on the floor to assist in sliding the materials out of the chamber, but resist sliding of materials into the chamber (see
The remaining sidewall of the structure forms the front of the compactor compartment C, and consists essentially of two access doors into the compactor compartment C and a fixed bottom panel 31 (about 12 inches in height) joining sidewalls 18 and 20. The two access doors include a bottom solid door 33 and a top screened door 32. See
As can be seen in
In operation of the compactor, a tear resistant plastic bag (or other storage device) can be placed in the interior of the compaction compartment. To maintain the bag in an open presentation, the bags are attached to the sidewalls 18 and 20 through generally four webbing loops sewn to the “corners” of the bag (see
Shown in
Operation of the Compactor
In operation, a bag is inserted into the interior of the compactor compartment and the four webbing loops are threaded through the associated slot to be looped over the associated pin on the pivoting arm. Materials are loaded into the compactor compartment through the screened access door. The screened access door is closed, and the ram positioned in the center of the compactor compartment by suitable motion of the hydraulic frame. The ramming plate descends, operated by the hydraulic cylinder/piston, compacting the materials, and then is retracted upon completion. This sequence is repeated until the bag is full or the compartment is to be emptied.
To remove the bag, the access doors are opened and the webbing is released from the pins on the adjacent sidewalls. To release the webbing from the pins, the handle is used to rotate the pivoting arm (a slight upward movement of the arm may be required). The released webbing is then threaded back through the wall slots. A crane or similar lifting device is then attached to the webbing, and the bag lifted from the interior. It is preferred that the bag be provided with flaps to close the bag. If a single flap is provided as an extension of the bag's sidewall, four openings in the bag's sidewall should be provided to allow the straps to be threaded through the flap for attachment to the sidewalls of the frame.
Operation of the Bailer
In operation, cardboard or boxes are placed in the interior of the container. Generally, only the top access door is opened to allow materials to be placed in the interior. When the container is about ½ “full,” the top access door is closed, the hydraulic ram is moved into position in the center of the bailer compartment (by movement of the hydraulic frame), and the hydraulic cylinder is activated allowing the piston to extend and the ramming plate to crush/compresses the materials in the interior of the bailer chamber. The piston is then retracted to its resting position immediately below the hydraulic frame. By compressing the materials, additional room is provided for disposal of more cardboard materials, either at this time or later.
This sequence is repeated until the compressed materials fill approximately the lower ½ of the interior of the bailer, indicating the bailer is “full” and ready for emptying. When ready for emptying, the materials are again compressed, but the hydraulic piston is not retracted. The front doors are opened, providing access to the compressed materials. Bailing wire, bailing tape or other wrapping material is threaded through the slots on the bottom floor to the back of the compartment. From the outside rear of the device, the wire is redirected (using the aligned wall slots) up the side of the compressed materials, and back across the top of the compressed materials through the aligned slots on the ramming plate. The user then returns to the front of the bailer, and attaches the two ends of the bailing wire to “wrap” the compressed materials in a compressed state. The ramming plate is then retracted. The final step is to activate the bailed material removal means to empty the bailer chamber. For instance, by activating the pumping cycle of the hydraulic device located in the floor of the bailing compartment to initiate removal of the bailed material. If the removal means includes the hydraulic cylinder and teeth, upon activation, this cylinder causes the top plate to move forward about 1 foot, pushing the bailed material forward about 1 foot (the teeth on the plate grips the materials for forward movement). The piston in the cylinder then retracts, drawing the top plate rearward about 1 foot. However, the materials are not drawn rearward by this action as the teeth are forward facing and slidable rearward without grabbing. The piston cycle is repeated several times until the compressed bailed materials are pushed out of the interior of the bailing compartment. At this time, the compressed bailed package can be moved by crane, forklift or other suitable means.
As shown, the combination bailer/compactor has interior facing guide tracks 93 upon which the hydraulic frame travels. The interior facing tracks are utilized to help eliminate pinch points. A channel or guide with is accessible from the exterior could also be utilized, such as the guide/channel shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,121 to Zimmer, herein incorporated by reference, which utilizes a hydraulic cylinder to move the hydraulic frame from one position to the other.
Finally, the operational power source has been described as hydraulics. Electric motors/pumps could also be utilized.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3687068 | Loughran | Aug 1972 | A |
3808967 | Fair et al. | May 1974 | A |
3863561 | Karls | Feb 1975 | A |
3910181 | Andrews et al. | Oct 1975 | A |
4002115 | Nanoia | Jan 1977 | A |
4232599 | Ulrich | Nov 1980 | A |
4777873 | Zimmer | Oct 1988 | A |
5255982 | Zimmer | Oct 1993 | A |
5361692 | Zimmer | Nov 1994 | A |
5746121 | Zimmer | May 1998 | A |