Patent Grant
12240693
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The technical field relates generally to garbage bin cleaning systems and, more specifically, to vehicle mounted garbage bin cleaning systems for thoroughly cleaning and deodorizing garbage bins in a highly automated manner.
Sanitation is a critical feature in any society, as it is a requirement for providing desirable living conditions. Sanitation being improperly performed can and does lead to sickness and even death on a massive scale. To this end, the disposal of garbage from commercial establishments, residential homes and apartment houses is generally handled by garbage trucks equipped to handle garbage bins. These trucks have the capability of lifting the bins and dumping the contents thereof into a compactor from where the compacted trash is pushed by a ram into the back of the truck for dumping. Particularly in the case of restaurants and apartment houses where the trash contains a considerable amount of organic material, the garbage bins may become unpleasantly odorous, even after having been emptied, and can present a health problem.
The current solutions for washing and disinfecting garbage bins are largely unacceptable. Manually washing and disinfecting garbage bins can be time consuming and tedious for a person to perform, as well as labor intensive. Automated processes may be employed, such as through the use of tank trucks equipped with a hoisting device and a separate pump unit adapted to provide water jets for sprinkling the interior walls of the garbage bin, with the bin being suspended from the hoisting device. The automated processes, however, are usually limited in scope and extent, requiring multiple passes for a complete cleaning. Conventional automated processes for washing and disinfecting garbage bins can also leave many interior areas of a garbage bin untouched, with a large proportion of the dirt stubbornly adhering on the garbage bin walls. The known automated processes may also use exorbitant amounts of water per garbage bin, thereby resulting in large amounts of water waste. Conventional automated processes for washing and disinfecting garbage bins may further cause runoff of the wastewater into the environment, which can be damaging.
One of the significant challenges in implementing a mobile bin cleaning system is the difficulty of powering multiple pressure washer pumps on a vehicle. Pressure washer pumps require a substantial amount of power to operate effectively, especially when tasked with thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting garbage or recycling bins, which often contain stubborn dirt and grime. In a mobile setup, the power source is typically the vehicle's engine, which is already burdened with the primary task of transportation. Adding multiple high-powered pressure washer pumps puts an additional load on the engine, leading to increased fuel consumption and potential wear and tear. Moreover, the need for a consistent and robust power supply to operate these pumps at optimal performance further complicates the design. The integration of such equipment into a standard vehicle poses significant engineering challenges, not only in terms of power management but also considering the space and weight constraints of the vehicle.
Furthermore, the deployment of multiple pressure washer pumps in a mobile setting raises concerns regarding energy efficiency and environmental impact. While these pumps are necessary for effective cleaning, their energy demands can be substantial, leading to higher emissions from the vehicle. This is particularly problematic in urban settings where pollution control is crucial. The challenge, therefore, lies in balancing the need for effective cleaning power with the imperative of minimizing environmental impact. This balance requires innovative solutions, in order to make the mobile bin cleaning process both effective and sustainable.
Therefore, a need exists for improvements over the prior art, and more particularly for improved systems and apparatuses for quickly and efficiently performing a proper cleaning and disinfecting regimen for garbage bins.
A vehicle mounted garbage bin cleaning system is provided. This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of disclosed concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description including the drawings provided. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter. Nor is this Summary intended to be used to limit the claimed subject matter's scope.
In one embodiment, the vehicle mounted garbage bin cleaning system includes a pair of arms configured for lifting a garbage bin, the pair of arms rotatably coupled to a mount on a vehicle, a hopper configured for accepting the garbage bin when the pair of arms lifts the garbage bin into the hopper, at least two spray rods extending upwards from the hopper and configured to wash an interior of the garbage bin, each of the at least two spray rods including at least one high-pressure, rotating water nozzle that sprays a water jet, wherein when the pair of arms lifts the garbage bin into the hopper, the at least two spray rods are situated within the garbage bin, and a gas powered motor coupled to the vehicle, a mechanical means coupled with the gas powered motor such that the gas powered motor drives the mechanical means, a first pressure washer pump mechanically coupled to the mechanical means such that the mechanical means drives the first pressure washer pump, a second pressure washer pump mechanically coupled to the mechanical means such that the mechanical means drives the second pressure washer pump, the at least two spray rods are both fluidically coupled with the first and second pressure washer pumps, respectively, such that the first and second pressure washer pumps provide pressurized water the at least two spray rods, respectively.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various example embodiments. In the drawings:
The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the following description to refer to the same or similar elements. While embodiments may be described, modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosed methods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limit the claimed subject matter. Instead, the proper scope of the claimed subject matter is defined by the appended claims.
The claimed subject matter improves over the prior art by providing a simple, cost-effective, and efficient vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system configured for cleaning both large and small garbage bins, such as waste, compost and recycling bins. The claimed subject matter improves sanitation by allowing for larger number of large and small garbage bins to be cleaned at the curbside in smaller amounts of time, using a minimum of labor or manual user involvement. The claimed subject matter is particularly useful in the case of restaurants and apartment houses where the trash contains a considerable amount of organic material.
The improvement in the prior art is significantly attributed to the integration of a gas-powered engine that directly powers two pressure washer pumps, a design choice that brings multiple benefits to the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system. This direct powering method enhances the efficiency of the system by providing a dedicated and robust energy source, specifically tailored for the high demands of pressure washing. Unlike systems that rely on the vehicle's primary engine, this approach minimizes the strain on the vehicle's overall power system, leading to better fuel efficiency and reduced wear and tear. Furthermore, by having a dedicated gas-powered engine for the pressure washers, the system ensures consistent performance, regardless of the vehicle's operational state, whether idling or in transit. This specialization not only enhances the cleaning capabilities, especially for stubborn organic waste commonly found in restaurant and apartment house bins, but also streamlines the cleaning process, allowing for a larger number of bins to be cleaned in a shorter time frame. The direct power approach, thus, significantly improves the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the cleaning system, making it a substantial advancement over previous methods.
The claimed subject matter also improves over the prior art by using a simple automated process that allows for garbage bins to be cleaned thoroughly by the claimed system. The claimed subject matter also thoroughly washes and disinfects garbage bins without using exorbitant amounts of water per garbage bin, thereby resulting in a reduction of water waste. The claimed subject matter also does not cause runoff of the wastewater into the environment, which is environmentally friendly. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter also efficiently cleans garbage bins at the curb and returns it to the curb, thereby increasing throughput and reducing physical labor.
Additionally, the claimed subject matter utilizes a computerized system that automates the process of lifting the garbage bins into place within the hopper, activating the washing system, and resting the garbage bins into place on the ground, while reducing intervention and input by a human driver or operator. This leads to a time saving and a reduction in operator errors. The claimed subject matter also improves over the prior art by using an automated process that allows for garbage bins to be cleaned in a cautious manner that increases safety for operators and users.
Note that although
The vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 200 may be coupled to the trailer element 202 of a vehicle, such as an industrial truck. The vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system includes two pairs of arms 231, 232 configured for lifting garbage bins, such as a trash can, recycling container, dumpster, rubbish bin, etc. Said dumpster may measure approximately 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 cubic yards in volume, 70-85 inches wide, 45-95 inches high and 39-75 inches deep. Said bin may be a 35-95-gallon recycling bin and may measure approximately 35-95 gallons in volume, 20-29 inches wide, 38-45 inches high and 23-34 inches deep.
The two pairs of arms 231, 232 may be coupled to piston-activated levers that are themselves rotatably coupled to an L-shaped member 210 which is itself rotatably coupled to a mount 206 on the vehicle via a pivot point 208. The mount 206 may comprise one or more triangular elements located on either side of the trailer bed 202. The topmost vertex of the triangular elements comprise the pivot point 208. The mount 206 may also comprise further structure between the two triangular elements, to which the L-shaped element is attached.
The L-shaped element is moved up and down into the up position and down position via a hydraulic element at the pivot point 208. The hydraulic element at the pivot point 208 moves the L-shaped element to pivot or rotate around the pivot point. This action rotates the L-shaped element substantially 90 to 180 degrees into the up position, so as to turn the garbage bins 802, 804 substantially upside down or nearly upside down. The opposite action rotates the L-shaped element substantially 90 to 180 degrees into the down position, so as to turn the garbage bins 802, 804 substantially right side up.
The vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 200 further comprises a hopper 204 configured for accepting garbage bins when the pairs of arms lift the garbage bins into the hopper. The vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system further comprises two pairs of arms 231, 232, each pair of arms is configured to allow for garbage bins to be raised and lifted into the hopper for pressure cleaning at the same time.
The hopper is configured to catch substantially all water that is sprayed into the garbage bins by the at least two spray rods.
In another embodiment, the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 200 may further include a control panel for controlling the two pairs of arms 231, 232, the water jets sprayed by the at least two spray rods 302, 304. The control panel may be a flat and/or vertical area where control (buttons, sliders, dials, etc.) or monitoring instruments (monitor, display, digital readout, etc.) are displayed and located in an area that users can access. The control panel may be equipped with push buttons and analog instruments, or, alternatively, touchscreens, used for monitoring and control purposes. A user can utilize the control panel to control the up and down positions of the two pairs of arms 231, 232, whether and when the water jets are sprayed by the at least two spray rods, when the bins are in the optimal location within the hopper, for optimal cleaning effect. In one embodiment, the control panel is connected to one or more of the PLCs 1250, 1270 and 1290 and the control panel is configured to interface with any such one or more PLCs to automatically activate the first and second pair of arms to simultaneously lift the first and second garbage bins into the hopper, automatically activate the pressure washing system to spray water jets, etc.
Similar to
Similarly, washing system 1240, which comprises the system 100 of
In one embodiment, the lifting system 1260 is controlled by a programmable logic controller 1270, and the washing system 1240 is controlled by a programmable logic controller 1250. Programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are industrial computers that have been ruggedized and specifically designed or adapted for the control of machines and processes by providing instructions to the aforementioned machines. The programmable logic controllers may come in the form of single board computers, application-specific integrated circuits, or printed circuit board assemblies. In another embodiment, the programmable logic controllers 1270, 1250 are all controlled by a master programmable logic controller 1290. In yet another embodiment, the lifting system 1260, the washing system 1240 are all directly controlled by the master programmable logic controller 1290.
The claimed subject matter utilizes said computerized system of
Then, a PLC may be programmed to automatically activate the washing system 1240 for a set period of time to clean the garbage bins while in the hopper, and then deactivate the washing system 1240. The washing system may be activated by engaging the pressure washer pump(s) 128, 138 via the power provided by the motor 125, thereby spraying water out of the spray rods 129, 139. Said activation may occur immediately after the deactivation of the lifting system above. The washing system may be automatically deactivated by disengaging the pressure washer pump(s) 128, 138 from the power provided by the motor 125.
Then, a PLC may be programmed to activate lifting system 1260 to lower the garbage bins into place on the ground. Said activation may occur immediately after the deactivation of the deodorizing system above. A PLC may be programmed to automatically activate the lifting system 1260 for a set period of time to lower the garbage bins onto the ground, and then deactivate the lifting system 1260. The lifting system may be activated by providing power to the piston-activated levers that are rotatably coupled to the pairs of arms, which is itself rotatably coupled to a mount 206 on the vehicle via a pivot point 208, thereby lowering the pair of arms. The lifting system may be deactivated by ceasing providing the power provided above. In one embodiment, the control panel is connected to one or more of the PLCs 1250, 1270 and 1290 and the control panel is configured to interface with any such one or more PLCs to automatically activate the first and second pair of arms to simultaneously lift the first and second garbage bins into the hopper, and automatically activate the pressure washing system to spray water jets.
With reference to
Computing device 1300 may have additional features or functionality. For example, computing device 1300 may also include additional data storage devices (removable and/or non-removable) such as, for example, magnetic disks, optical disks, or tape. Such additional storage is illustrated in
Computing device 1300 may also contain a network connection device 1315 that may allow device 1300 to communicate with other computing devices 1318, such as over a network in a distributed computing environment, for example, an intranet or the Internet. Device 1315 may be a wired or wireless network interface controller, a network interface card, a network interface device, a network adapter or a LAN adapter. Device 1315 allows for a communication connection 1316 for communicating with other computing devices 1318. Communication connection 1316 is one example of communication media. Communication media may typically be embodied by computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery media. The term “modulated data signal” may describe a signal that has one or more characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media may include wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), infrared, and other wireless media. The term computer readable media as used herein may include both computer storage media and communication media.
As stated above, a number of program modules and data files may be stored in system memory 13013, including operating system 1305. While executing on processing unit 1302, programming modules 1306 (e.g. program module 1307) may perform processes including, for example, one or more of the stages of the process 300 as described above. The aforementioned processes are examples, and processing unit 1302 may perform other processes. Other programming modules that may be used in accordance with embodiments herein may include electronic mail and contacts applications, word processing applications, spreadsheet applications, database applications, slide presentation applications, drawing or computer-aided application programs, etc.
Generally, consistent with embodiments herein, program modules may include routines, programs, components, data structures, and other types of structures that may perform particular tasks or that may implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, embodiments herein may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Embodiments herein may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.
Furthermore, embodiments herein may be practiced in an electrical circuit comprising discrete electronic elements, packaged or integrated electronic chips containing logic gates, a circuit utilizing a microprocessor, or on a single chip (such as a System on Chip) containing electronic elements or microprocessors. Embodiments herein may also be practiced using other technologies capable of performing logical operations such as, for example, AND, OR, and NOT, including but not limited to mechanical, optical, fluidic, and quantum technologies. In addition, embodiments herein may be practiced within a general-purpose computer or in any other circuits or systems.
Embodiments herein, for example, are described above with reference to block diagrams and/or operational illustrations of methods, systems, and computer program products according to said embodiments. The functions/acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order as shown in any flowchart. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
While certain embodiments have been described, other embodiments may exist. Furthermore, although embodiments herein have been described as being associated with data stored in memory and other storage mediums, data can also be stored on or read from other types of computer-readable media, such as secondary storage devices, like hard disks, floppy disks, or a CD-ROM, or other forms of RAM or ROM. Further, the disclosed methods' stages may be modified in any manner, including by reordering stages and/or inserting or deleting stages, without departing from the claimed subject matter.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
This patent application is a continuation in part of, and claims priority to, patent application Ser. No. 18/518,009 filed Nov. 22, 2023 and titled “Side-Mounted Garbage Bin Cleaning System. The subject matter of patent application Ser. No. 18/518,009 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5391039 | Holtom | Feb 1995 | A |
| 10661317 | Conway | May 2020 | B1 |
| 10864561 | Conway | Dec 2020 | B2 |
| 11185899 | Conway | Nov 2021 | B2 |
| 11338334 | Conway | May 2022 | B2 |
| 11358187 | Conway | Jun 2022 | B2 |
| 20210008608 | Conway | Jan 2021 | A1 |
| 20220118489 | Conway | Apr 2022 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 18518009 | Nov 2023 | US |
| Child | 18581920 | US |
