Patent Application
20150096391
The invention is related to a lifting gear and a specially designed container (retractable wheelie-bin).
Due to urban development in recent decades, there is less and less useable space in city living, which leads to a crowded living space in home life and in most inner city streets. In the other hand, owing to improving efficiency and consciousness of protecting environment, wheelie bins are used universally, that worsens visual pollution because of one or a few huge dustbins squeezed in a small front yard for each household. At present, there are some technologies which try to solve this problem, but none of them can provide a practical, economical, and useable design suitable for domestic usage.
The Chinese patent 200620097663.0 reveals a sinkable hydraulic dustbin. It consists of dustbin case, scissor linkage mechanism, hydraulic system, electrical controlling system and underground pit. At the front of the side case, there are front door shutter bold and opening lever, at the back there is a pushing board with a hydraulic pump, a photosensor is near the rubbish entrance on top and it is connected with PLC of the electronic control system. One end of the scissor linkage mechanism is fixed on one side of the underground pit, the other end glides along a groove; a hydraulic pump is fixed within the scissor linkage mechanism on the bottom of the pit. One end on the top of the scissor linkage mechanism is fixed on the side of the dustbin case and the other end also glides along a groove.
Chinese Patent 200410046941.5 reveals a balancing underground rubbish storage station which consists of dustbin case, hydraulic pumps, pulling cables, a set of pulleys and balancers. The hydraulic pumps are installed under the dustbin case; one end of the pulling cables is connected with the dustbin case, the other with balancers, it bypasses a set of pulleys, which are fixed on the ground.
Chinese Patent 02274879.2 reveals a sinkable dustbin, which has a top hung door on the top of the case for throwing in rubbish; there is a bottomless drawer within the outer rubbish case, a pushing board at the back inside the case, with a scissors linkage mechanism operated by a hydraulic pump for compressing or pushing out rubbish. The dustbin is sunk inside the ground with a hydraulic pump lifting system underneath to control its up and down.
Chinese Patent 200920008428.5 reveals a sinkable dustbin with pedal operating lid. Its lid is hinged to the top part of the outer case; there is a linkage bar within the outer and inner dustbin case, one end of which connects to the lid and the other to a pedal in the front. The lid will open when pressing the pedal.
Most of the above patents are for disguising dustbins in public places, so they are often combined with a hydraulic, electrical power, using power in the garbage truck or even use man-power to lift the bin up; some of them are only focus on the mechanism of the lid-opening, the others leave a large part of the devices above ground, therefore, they are not space-saving, convenient, practical and universally adaptable solutions.
To overcome this, through applying principles of Ergonomics, such as, lifting 30 kg weight is hard, but it is very easy to produce 20-30 kg downwards force by using both hand and a bit of your own body weight, and 8-10 kg if using one hand; one can even produce a couple of dozen kilogram downward force or even you own body weight by using your foot, etc., and combining this with the principle of balancer, a mechanism is ingeniously designed. The device can use a series incoherent and light action to accumulate energy to raise the loads when it is needed, and provide a whole set of solutions for underground storage, and achieve the goal of lifting loading without electrical or hydraulic power sources. When using the device for disguising dustbins, it gives a special design, namely, a retractable dustbin. This retractable dustbin idea comes from the fact that rubbish is usually accumulated daily; the extendable dustbin body can be adjusted according to the capacity need, and the dustbin can be partly or wholly buried underground, thus achieve the purpose of transfiguring the city environment but also reducing dig-depth of the device.
Furthermore, the device can be used for creating storage space, fulfill the needs of storing sundries, DIY or gardening tool, setting up a receiving box for internet shopping, etc. For this reason, we call the dustbin on the base board as loading, contents etc. in this description, in order that the design can be used for varied household storage purposes.
To achieve the above goal, this device provides a lifting gear, which includes:
To implement the idea, it also includes:
The device is classified into 3 standalone but also associated systems which can be used on its own or combined optionally, detailed as below:
1st Balancer System:
(Please refer to
By using the principle that a normal person can easily press out 20-30 kg downward force with both hands, this system provides a mechanism to accumulate energy for pulling up loading. Due to the fact that the system is connected direct to the baseboard, it is the main skeleton of the whole design (so when we use other system(s) mentioned below without this system, the basic structure still needs to be retained for passing on actions to lift up baseboard.)
It contains 1st-axle (3), 1st-balancer (1), baseboard (5); on 1st-axle, a 1st direction-controlling ratchet wheel switch is attached, as well as a set of 1st-fixed-pulleys (2a-2f); 1st-balancer is on one side of 1st-chains (4) and/or ropes of a set of 1st-fixed-pulleys, and baseboard is on the other side and move in reverse direction of the former.
The 1st-balancer which is a certain shaped weight preferably use high density material such as iron or lead etc. with a cuboid shape in order to reduce the volume of the device; the function of it is to cancel out part or all of the loading weight. In other words, the 1st balancer's descending causes the baseboard's ascending. When deciding the weight of the balancer, a 20-30 kg weight of a normal person's easy downward force should be considered, but 50-70 kg of a normal person weight can also be considered for some special applications. Another factor to be considered is whether there is an original weight on the loading side in its application, for example, for an application device of storing 30 kg tools or sundries, 30+20(downward force)=50 kg of a balancer can be used; but for sinkable dustbin application device, a 50 kg balancer will make pushing down a light, empty bin underground a bit over the comfort zone. Please refer to more examples in the Example Applications section.
In this system, there are 2 combinations of the 1st-fixed-pulley sets: 1. a pair of toothed wheels (2a, 2b) with another set of toothed wheels (2c, 2d, 2e, 2f); 2. a pair of toothed wheels (2a, 2b) with a set of rope wheels (2c,2d,2e,2f). Both combinations are pulling the 4 corners of the baseboard, keeping them level. In the actual application, a cheaper option of using rope wheels can be used, but there should be at least a pair of toothed wheels being applied symmetrically in order to keep the baseboard level and eliminate offset when going up or down.
Depending on the different applications, the baseboard can be separated with the container above or can be combined the bottom of the container with the baseboard and chains/ropes can be fixed to the bottom of the container (refer to the Example Application 2).
In this system, the 1st direction-controlling ratchet (called 1st-switch below), which is a controllable 2 direction ratchet wheel, is used to set the 1st-Axle's allowing turning direction, which can be achieved with other existing technology.
2nd Balancer System:
Another system of the device, it includes: a 2nd-Axle (14), a pair of 2nd-fixed-pulleys (12); a 2nd-balancer (10) which is hung under the 1st-balancer by a pair of 2nd-chains (11) through holes (24) in the 1st-balancer (a pair of plummets are on the other end of the 2nd-chains), it also includes a clutch device (21) which can clamp onto the 1st-balancer when it touches its bottom. Furthermore, it has a 2nd stepping gear for pulling up the 2nd-balancer, which includes: a 2nd-press-lever (20) (or surface) connected with the top lid, a gliding bar underneath, a large driving wheel (17), a small driving wheel (16) on the same driving axle (25), a driven wheel (15) on the 2nd axle and a direction-controlling ratchet (18) (called 2nd-switch below, is the same type as the 1st-switch) on the driving axle (25). Other methods of lifting the 2nd-balancer can be used.
This system is an auxiliary to complement the 1st balancer system. Through the lever principle, the 2nd-balancer's lifting is designed to use one-hand operation to accumulate energy of position by unaware daily operating. When the 2nd-balancer ascends and touches the bottom of the 1st-balancer, its clutch clamps and hangs on to the 1st-balancer, thus the total weight is used to lift the loading on the baseboard through the 1st balancer system. Its material and shape selection follows the same requirement of the 1st-balancer. Part of the reduced torque is obtained through the ratio of the diameters of the large and small driving wheels, the other is gained through the arm lengths ratio of the pressing point and the gliding bar position on the 2nd-press-lever (refer to
The 2nd-switch is the same as the 1st-switch, for example, is a 2-way controlling ratchet (refer to
The reason placing the 2nd switch on the driving wheel axle but not the 2nd-axle is, that the turning direction of the driving wheels is opposite to the 2nd-axle, therefore the toggle direction of the 2nd-switch to control a related turning direction is matched the controlling direction of separating gliding bar and large driving wheel, and it is easier to impose a device controlling both action at the same time. Refer to
In this system, the function of the clutch in the 2nd-balancer is to connect 2 balancers when they ascend and touch each other, and the 2nd-balancer's weight will be added on to the 1st-balancer in order to raise heavier loadings. There is a groove or lug(s) (26) on the bottom of the 1st-balancer for the clutch to clamp on. The requirement for designing the clutch is firstly, to set it in an inactive mode when the 2nd-balancer is on the bottom of the device, therefore when operate the 1st-balancer System to store up some energy by pushing down the baseboard, only the 1st balancer is lifted up. Secondly, when it leaves the bottom, it is in an Active Mode, so when 2nd-balancer ascends and touches the bottom of the 1st-balance, the clutch then clamps on to the groove or lug(s). There are varied methods to achieve this requirement.
1st Applying System of Auxiliary Lifting:
Refer to
It is the 3rd system of this device. When the 1st and 2nd balancers total weight cannot lift up the loadings, this system can be applied to assist its lifting by providing extra force through the foot-pedal; other situations that this system need to be used are that when the 2nd-balancer system is out of order or the 1st-balancer's weight cannot outdo the loading, or when this system is chosen as the only lifting method due to the cost consideration.
This system includes a pressure surface (6, the pedal), a 1st-gliding-bar (7) underneath and a 1st-driven-ratchet-wheel (8, fly wheel). The fly wheel (8) is connect with the 1st-axle (3). This 1st-force drives the fly wheel (8) to turn the 1st-axle and lifts up the baseboard. Before the pedal is pulled up for its operation, the gliding bar is in a separated position with the fly wheel, therefore, it will not obstruct the operation of the base board's ascending or descending; when pressing button (refer to
The three systems of this device is a complete and convenient solution when adopted fully; it can also be applied with any combinations or even a single system according to an actual application or budget.
When using a combination or a single one without the 1st Balancer System, a necessary adjustment is needed. For example, using only 2nd balancer system, that basic structure, namely, the clutch device (the groove or lugs feature), 1st-axle and its fixed pulleys and its 1st-switch needs to be retained in order the 2nd balancer system to connect and operate. Using only 1st Applying System of Auxiliary Lifting, the 1st axle and its 1st-switch as well as chain and pulley structure needs to be in place for the driving mechanism to connect and take effect. To be more accurate, not using 1st balancer system is actually just taking off the 1st balancer itself. And using or not using a system will make the device have different features. For example, when not using the 1st balancing system, the content on base board will be able to sink to the device bottom without pressing it down; when using only the 2nd balancer system, you can adopt a very heavy balancer theoretically, and use the 2nd-lever to pull up the balancer with repeating actions; using only the 1st applying gear of auxiliary lifting is also able to lift up heavy loadings with a matching level mechanism; and using only the 1st balancer system, giving a balancer of a weight, of which the positive/negative differentials with the loading weight is less than the maximum pulling/pressing force of a normal person, will make the system useable, i.e., with the help of the 1st-balancer, using the maximum lifting/pressing force to operate the system, a person can pull up or push down the loading. Combining the systems would combine their features, please refer to the Application Example 1 for explanation of varied system(s) and combinations.
The device is placed within a double layer case (considering the requirement of anticorrosion and cost, plastic is preferred), namely, the outer case (contacted with earth) and the inner case which is for the container or contents of the base board moving within, and the double layer walls of the case also support the parts of the device. The container or content on the base board can be designated for different type of usage, such as a cupboard or shelves for storing sundries and tools, a container for carrying solid/liquid or a dustbin.
The Important Application (the Original Inspiration of the Invention)—Retractable Wheelie Bin:
This retractable wheelie bin consists of 2 similar height sections, the upper barrel (40) is wider, the lower barrel (41) is narrower.
The idea of the retracting device comes from the fact that the quantity of rubbish accumulated is increased day by day, its usage can match the adjustable volume, and can be hidden partly or wholly underground in order to transfigure the street view with less digging depth of the device. More specifically, after each dustbin collection, a user retracts the bin, press down into an underground device with half of the normal dustbin height. Afterwards, by lifting and closing the top-lid of device (there is a connecting bolt (46) to hold the wheelie bin lid which makes them open at the same time, refer
The measurement of the top edge of the dustbin follows the standard wheelie bin, but is set as thin as possible in order to make the recess of the device top shallower for easy design of the 2nd defense of waterproof. And the lid design, besides the functionality, tries to break through its traditional appearance; its hinge (43,
Below is the outline of all the figures:
This example presents a device to hide away the standard wheelie bin or retractable wheelie bin described earlier, to transfigure city streets and increase useable space of households.
The lifting device uses the 3 systems mentioned above. The 1st-balancer is a 30 kg cast iron block, which weighs up normal person's 20 kg+pressing force, plus 10 kg empty bin and base board's own weight, makes it easy to press into the ground. The 2nd-balancer is a 25 kg cast iron block, making the total balancers' weight 55 kg, which satisfies the requirement of normal household weekly rubbish weight's lifting need. An Applying Gear of Auxiliary Lifting is for assisting lifting the rubbish load when occasionally rubbish weight exceeds total balancers' weight, so if rubbish loading is 60 kg (including base board and dust bin's own weight etc.), the difference between the load and the balancers is 60−55=5 kg, so applying 5 kg on to the pulling chains through the pedal can lift up the dustbin load.
All components and devices describe earlier are applicable here. More explanation of the design is as below:
As describe earlier, when taking back the empty dustbin from a collection, press ‘Descend’ button and press the empty dustbin into the ground; in the meantime, set the gliding bar connecting to the top lid (pull to the front) into working mode, and the clip on the connecting bolt (46) between the top lid and the dustbin lid. Then in everyday use, accumulate 2nd-balancer's position energy by opening and closing the lid when throwing rubbish.
Be aware that when raising the dustbin, firstly the top lid has to be set in 90° position. However, if the 2nd balancer is not in the highest position connected with the 1st-balancer, press a few more times to make them connect before setting the gliding bar resting on the open lip. Failing to do so will trigger the linkage sleeve (28) pulling the toggle bar of the 2nd-switch and the 2nd-balancer will sink into the bottom of the device, therefore the 2nd-balancer loses its effect in this process cycle.
When raising the dustbin to the ground level, disconnect the connecting bolt (46), set the top lid in 90° position and the gliding bar resting on the opening lip edge, then press ‘Ascend’ soft rubber button on the pedal, the 1st-switch underneath will be pushed to allow the device to ascend. At this moment, if the total balancers' weight can pull up the load, the dustbin will gradually raise up to the ground level; otherwise, giving a little push via the pedal will lift it up, too.
The pedal's design also considers combined operations to simplify the application. When putting down the pedal, pull back and press down to lock into the fixing bolt under the pedal, the gliding bar under it will come off the fly wheel at the same time. So when the dustbin needs to be pushed into the ground, only need press the ‘Descend’ soft rubber button will set the 1st switch to allow descending, no need to think about separating the 1st-gliding-bar and the fly wheel (otherwise pressing down dustbin will flick up the pedal and obstructed by it, causing the dustbin cannot push down), and reduce the complication of the application. Placing the ‘Ascend’ and ‘Descend’ buttons on the pedal is a simplified design which is also an advantage for water proof.
This application not only can use standard wheelie bin, but also use the retractable wheelie bin described earlier. Please refer to the early description of the 2nd Stepping Apply Gear of the 2nd balancer system and the illustration in
Use ø as diameter (component 15's diameter is ø15, etc.), assume ø15=ø12, then the peripheral linear forces of 15 and 12 are equal; assume ø17 and ø16 are 130 mm and 38 mm respectively, then the ratio of these 2 wheels is:
ø17/ø16=130 mm/38 mm=3.4/1
Set the arms of forces on 2nd-press-lever (20) as 900 mm and 760 mm respectively, the ratio of them is:
L1/L2=900 mm/760 mm=1.184/1
The total ratio of the moment from the pressing point to the 2nd-balancer is the accumulation of these two applied moments, which is:
3.4×1.184=4.0
In other words, P1 (pressing force) is ¼ of the 2nd balancer, 25 kg×¼=6.25 kg
As mentioned earlier, moving distance ratio is the reverse ratio of the forces, the 2nd-balancer raising height is ¼ of the press distance. Assuming each time lift up the top lid and press down 600 mm distance, then the 2nd-balancer will be raised 600×¼=150 mm, 7 days operations would raise 7×150=1050 mm, it is about the height of a standard wheelie bin's lifting device. Actual opening times and height may vary, but device is matching our design which set weekly routine operation to accumulate 2nd-balancer's energy, plus the 1st-balancer weight, it can fulfil the requirement of lifting weekly rubbish weight. When using retractable wheelie bin, balancers and all other components remain the same, only the height of the lifting device is half of the standard one, thus the lifting height of the balancers is also half, that means the pressing times of lifting operation of 2nd-balancer is half of the standard one, in other words, when extending the bin in the mid-week, there is most probably no need to press extra times before erecting the top lid (in 90° position; and cannot press the top lid afterwards) as 2 balancers are connected.
Using 3 systems together in this example is an ideal combination, which provides a solution for processing the maximum loading, so this combination can be used in commercial field like commercial dustbin, or other heavy applications such as garden rainwater collection device, compost container, etc. In specific usage of the application, the lifting device can adopt any 1 or 2 of these 3 systems to suit different using habit or different budget requirements, details as below (these are also general characteristic portraits of different systems and combinations):
In all the solutions describe above, users can use extra lifting force to lift up dustbin load, so as long as its lifting force plus the balancer weight (when using the 1st Applying Gear of Auxiliary Lifting system, the balancer weight is 0) greater than the load, the dustbin can be lifted up.
This example can be used as varied domestic sundries storage solutions. Because there is no regular opening/closing top lid movement, the 2nd balancer system can be omitted, let use the cheapest low cost 1st balancer system. Its balancer weight can be set with weight of potential item(s) storing, and considering operating pressing and lifting force, say 20 kg, therefore, the difference of the minimum and maximum nominal loadings is 40 kg. So, if storage for gardening or DIY tool is heavy, 80-120 kg nominal loads (including the container's weight) can be chosen, and 100 kg mid-value balancer weight can be set. Therefore, a user can easily press or lift 20 kg force to operate the storage device. As there is no need of pulling the cabinet away for this device, we combine the cabinet with the base board, set some shelves for sorting items; the top lid is also not needed and can be designed with the waterproof requirement. If it is for light objects, say, a sinkable receiving cabinet of internet grocery shopping, or a sinkable storage facilities for households with ground floor (such as a sinkable chest of drawers, etc.), 20 kg balancer is possibly enough, for this kind of application, this single 1st balancer system like this would be very easily handled and flexible.
If use different combination of 1st and (or) 2nd balancer systems (a lever arm needed to be added for separate operation of lifting 2nd-balancer) and (or) 1st applying gear of auxiliary lifting system, its cost would be higher, but for heavy loading handling, it would save a lot of strength and increase the level of convenience.
Although the invention is revealed with a few applicable examples, it is not restricted with its extent of usage by them. A slight alteration upon this invention by anyone in the field will be forbidden as it would still fall into the claimed rights of it.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201210165177.8 | May 2012 | CN | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/CN13/76191 | 5/24/2013 | WO | 00 |
