CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC
Not Applicable.
TECHNICAL FIELD
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.
BACKGROUND
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 a labor intensive. Automated processes may be employed, such as through the use of tank trucks equipped with a hoisting device and a 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 as the tank truck and hoisting device are usually limited to garbage bins of a particular size, thereby leaving a large amount of garbage bins of differing sizes unattended. Conventional automated processes for washing and disinfecting garbage bins can also leave many interior areas of a garbage bin being 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 waste water into the environment, which can be damaging.
Furthermore, some of the conventional automated processes lack the ability to efficiently clean a garbage bin at the curb and return it to the curb. Such conventional automated processes require moving the garbage bin to a desired spot, such as the rear of the vehicle for cleaning. Such conventional automated processes require a great amount of physical labor and lack the efficiency required for a proper cleaning and disinfecting regimen.
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.
SUMMARY
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 first pair of arms configured for lifting a first garbage bin, the first pair of arms rotatably coupled to a mount on the vehicle, a hopper configured for accepting the first garbage bin when the first pair of arms lifts the first garbage bin into the hopper, at least three spray rods extending upwards from the hopper, each spray rod including at least one high-pressure, rotating water nozzle that sprays a water jet, wherein when the first pair of arms lifts the first garbage bin into the hopper, the at least three spray rods are situated within the first garbage bin, and, a second pair of arms configured for grabbing and lifting a second garbage bin smaller than the first garbage bin, the second pair of arms rotatably coupled to the mount on the vehicle in between the first pair of arms, wherein when the second pair of arms lifts the second garbage bin into the hopper, one or more of the at least three spray rods is situated within the second garbage bin. In another embodiment, the vehicle mounted garbage bin cleaning system further includes an electrically activated system that moves each of the at least three spray rods along a corresponding axis to optimally position the spray rods within a garbage bin.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this disclosure, illustrate various example embodiments. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a drawing depicting a side view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system, showing the small arms and large arms in the down position, according to an example embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a drawing depicting a side view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system, showing the small arms and large arms in the down position, and a small garbage bin in the small arms, according to an example embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a drawing depicting a side view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system, showing the large arms in the up position and the small arms in the up position emptying the small garbage bin, according to an example embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a drawing depicting a side view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system, showing the small arms and large arms in the down position, and a large garbage bin in the large arms, according to an example embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a drawing depicting a side view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system, showing the small arms in the down position and the large arms in the up position emptying the large garbage bin, according to an example embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a drawing depicting a perspective rear view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system, showing the small arms and large arms in the down position, according to an example embodiment;
FIG. 7 is a drawing depicting a perspective rear view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system, showing the large arms in the up position and the small arms in the up position emptying the small garbage bin, according to an example embodiment;
FIG. 8 is a drawing depicting a perspective rear view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system, showing the small arms in the down position and the large arms in the up position emptying the large garbage bin, according to an example embodiment;
FIG. 9 is a drawing depicting a perspective view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system, according to an example embodiment;
FIG. 10 is a drawing depicting another perspective view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system, according to an example embodiment; and
FIG. 11 is a drawing depicting a side view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system, showing the small arms and large arms in the down position, according to an example embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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 dumpsters 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 claimed subject matter improves over the prior art by using a simple automated process that is large in scope as garbage bins of a variety of sizes may be cleaned by the claimed system without requiring adapters or other adjustment of the 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 no cause runoff of the waste water 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.
FIG. 1 is a drawing depicting a side view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150, showing the small arms 154 and large arms 153 in the down position, according to an example embodiment. In FIG. 1, the small arms 154 are obstructed by the large arms 153. The vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150 may be coupled to the trailer element 110 of a vehicle, such as an industrial truck. The vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150 includes a first pair of arms 153 (otherwise referred to as the large arms 153) configured for lifting a first garbage bin 402 (otherwise referred to as a large garbage bin 402), such as a dumpster. 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.
The large arms 153 may be coupled to a pair of piston-activated levers 152 that are themselves rotatably coupled to a mount 160 on the vehicle via a hinge 155. The mount 160 may comprise a pair of triangular elements located on either side of the trailer bed 110. The top most vertex of the triangular elements comprise the hinge 155. The triangular elements may be coupled via a cross bar 917 that extends horizontally to connect the pair of triangular elements. The mount 160 may also comprise further structure between the two triangular elements, to which the levers 152, large arms 153 and small arms 154 are attached. The large arms 153 may be placed in the up position while the vehicle is moving, for safety purposes.
The pair of piston-activated levers 152 are moved up and down into the up position and down position via a pair of hydraulic pistons 163. The pair of piston-activated levers 152 comprise a hinge point 517, to which a piton is attached. The hinge point 517 is located below a fulcrum of the levers 152, which is the hinge 155. When the pistons 163 are extended, they push the hinge point 517 forward, which forces the levers 152 to pivot or rotate around the fulcrum (i.e., the hinge 155). This action rotates the levers substantially 90 to 180 degrees into the up position, so as to turn the garbage bin 202 or 402 substantially upside down or nearly upside down. When the pistons 163 are retracted, the hinge point falls back down, which forces the levers 152 to pivot or rotate around the fulcrum (i.e., the hinge 155), back to the down position.
The vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150 further comprises a hopper 180 configured for accepting the large garbage bin 402 when the large arms 153 lift the large garbage bin into the hopper 180.
The vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150 further comprises a second pair of arms 154 (otherwise referred to as the small arms 154) configured for lifting a second garbage bin 202 (otherwise referred to as a small garbage bin 202), such as a 35-95-gallon recycling bin. Said small garbage bin 202 may measure approximately 35-95 gallons in volume, 20-29 inches wide, 38-45 inches high and 23-34 inches deep. Note that said small garbage bin 202 is smaller than the large garbage bin 402.
The small arms 154 may be rotatably coupled to the mount 160 on the vehicle via the hinge 155. Note that the small arms 154 are mounted to the pair of levers 152 in between the large arms 153. This allows the small arms 154 to operate while the large arms 153 are in either the up or down position, since the small arms may move up and down in between the large arms without being obstructed by the large arms. Note also that in FIG. 1, the small arms 154 and the large arms 153 are in the down position, meaning that the small arms 154 and the large arms 153 are extended as far downwards as possible. In the down position, small arms 154 and the large arms 153 are ready and prepared to take hold or grab a garbage bin, as explained in greater detail below.
Similar to FIG. 1, FIG. 6 is a drawing depicting a perspective rear view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150, showing the small arms 154 and large arms 153 in the down position, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 6 shows that in the down position, the small arms 154 are coupled to the levers 152 in between the large arms 153, which allows the small arms 154 to operate while the large arms 153 are in either the up or down position. FIG. 6 also shows at least three spray rods 602, 604, 606 extending upwards from the hopper 180, each spray rod including at least one high-pressure, rotating water nozzle 612, 614, 616 that sprays a water jet. In another embodiment, each spray rod includes a plurality of high-pressure, rotating water nozzles that spray water jets.
FIG. 2 is a drawing depicting a side view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150, showing the small arms 154 and large arms 153 in the down position, and a small garbage bin 202 in the small arms, according to an example embodiment. In FIG. 2, the small arms 154 are obstructed by the large arms 153. Recall that in the down position, the small arms 154 and the large arms 153 are ready and prepared to take hold or grab a garbage bin. FIG. 2 shows that in the down position, the small arms 154 have opened and grabbed the small garbage bin 202.
FIG. 3 is a drawing depicting a side view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150, showing the large arms 153 in the up position and the small arms 154 in the up position emptying the small garbage bin 202, according to an example embodiment. In the up position, small arms 154 have turned the garbage bin 202 substantially upside down, so as to make it easier to clean the interior of the garbage bin, as explained in greater detail below. In the up position, the small arms 154 have rotated substantially 90 to 180 degrees, so as to turn the garbage bin 202 substantially upside down or nearly upside down. Note that the levers 152 have also rotated substantially 90 to 180 degrees about hinge 155. Note that the small arms 154 can move between the up and down positions while being situated between the large arms 153, since the small arms may move up and down in between the large arms without being obstructed by the large arms.
Similar to FIG. 3, FIG. 7 is a drawing depicting a perspective rear view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150, showing the large arms 153 in the up position and the small arms 154 in the up position emptying the small garbage bin 202, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 7 shows that in the up position, the small arms 154 are still located in between the large arms 153, which allows the small arms 154 to operate between the large arms 153. The small arms 154 can change between the up and down positions while the large arms 153 remain in the up position. FIG. 7 also shows the hopper 180 configured for accepting the small garbage bin 202 when the small arms 154 lift the small garbage bin 202 into the hopper 180. The hopper 180 is configured to catch substantially all water that is sprayed into the small garbage bin 202 by the at least three spray rods, described in greater detail below. FIG. 7 also shows that when the small arms 154 lift the small garbage bin 202 into the hopper 180, one or more of the at least three spray rods 602, 604, 606 may be situated within the small garbage bin 202 (or near the opening of the small garbage bin) so as to wash and clean the interior thereof with the corresponding rotating water nozzles 612, 614, 616 that spray water jets.
FIG. 4 is a drawing depicting a side view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150, showing the small arms 154 and large arms 153 in the down position, and a large garbage bin 402 in the large arms, according to an example embodiment. Recall that in the down position, the small arms 154 and the large arms 153 are ready and prepared to take hold or grab a garbage bin. FIG. 4 shows that in the down position, the large arms 153 have opened and grabbed the large garbage bin 402. This may comprise the large arms being inserted into brackets 403 that are located on the side of the large garbage bin 402.
FIG. 5 is a drawing depicting a side view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150, showing the small arms 154 in the down position and the large arms 153 in the up position emptying the large garbage bin 402, according to an example embodiment. In the up position, large arms 153 have turned the garbage bin 402 substantially upside down or nearly upside down, so as to make it easier to clean the interior of the garbage bin, as explained in greater detail below. In the up position, the large arms 153 have rotated substantially 90 to 180 degrees, so as to turn the garbage bin 402 substantially upside down or nearly upside down. Note that the levers 152 have also rotated substantially 90 to 180 degrees about hinge 155. Further note that the large arms 153 can move between the up and down positions regardless of whether the small arms 154 are in the up or down position. Note also that the large arms 153 can move between the up and down positions without obstructing or interfering with the small arms 154, and the large arms may move up and down around the small arms without being obstructed by the small arms.
Similar to FIG. 5, FIG. 8 is a drawing depicting a perspective rear view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150, showing the small arms 154 in the down position and the large arms 153 in the up position emptying the large garbage bin 402, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 8 shows that in the up position, the large arms 153 are still located around the small arms 154, which allows the large arms 153 to operate while the small arms 154 are in the down position. FIG. 8 also shows the hopper 180 configured for accepting the large garbage bin 402 when the large arms 153 lift the large garbage bin 402 into the hopper 180. The hopper 180 is configured to catch substantially all water that is sprayed into the large garbage bin 402 by the at least three spray rods 602, 604, 606, described in greater detail below. FIG. 8 also shows that when the large arms 153 lift the large garbage bin 402 into the hopper 180, the at least three spray rods 602, 604, 606 are situated within the large garbage bin 402 so as to wash and clean the interior thereof with the corresponding rotating water nozzles 612, 614, 616 that spray water jets.
FIG. 9 is a drawing depicting a perspective view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 9 shows that each arm of the large arms 153 is configured for insertion into brackets 403 in the large garbage bin 402. Specifically, the end of each arm 153 includes a hook element 952 that prevents the bracket 403 from sliding off the arm 153, when the arm 153 is inserted fully into the bracket 403 (see FIG. 4). The hook element includes an element that extends perpendicularly from the main longitudinal axis of the arm, so as to provide an obstruction for the bracket 403 sliding off the arm 153.
FIG. 9 also shows that each arm 153 is attached to a base 910 that may slide along a lever 152. FIG. 9 includes arrows that indicate the direction in which the arms 153 move along the levers 152, and also includes partial drawings of the arms 153 that show the arms in different locations along the axis of the levers 152. In one embodiment, the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150 includes a hydraulic based system that moves the base 910 along the lever 152, so as to move the arm 153 up and down the lever 152. Thus, both of the large arms 153 are slidably connected to the lever 152. In one embodiment, when the large arms 153 lift the large garbage bin 402 into the hopper 180, the large arms 153 slidably move the large garbage bin 402 towards the hopper by moving the arms 153 down the lever 152 toward the hopper. This allows for better access of the spraying rods to the interior of the garbage bin. Thus, when the large arms 153 lift the large garbage bin 402 into the hopper 180, and the arms 153 move along the lever 152 to bring the garbage bin closer to the hopper, the at least three spray rods 602, 604, 606 are situated within the large garbage bin 402 so as to wash and clean the interior thereof with the corresponding rotating water nozzles 612, 614, 616 that spray water jets.
FIG. 10 is a drawing depicting another perspective view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150, according to an example embodiment. FIG. 10 shows that the water jet system includes an electrically activated system that moves each spray rod 602, 604, 606 along a corresponding axis 902, 904, 906 to optimally position the spray rod within a garbage bin. Each axis 902, 904, 906 is a straight bar or beam that extends from one end of the interior of the hopper to the other end of the hopper. FIG. 10 includes arrows that indicate the direction in which the spray rods move along the axes, and also includes partial drawings of the spray rods that show the spray rods in different locations along the axes. Not that each spray rod may move individually and separately from all other spray rods.
FIG. 10 shows that the spray rods 602, 604, 606 extend upwards from the hopper 180 and include a high-pressure, rotating water nozzles 612, 614, 616. In one embodiment, each spray rod includes a plurality of high-pressure, rotating water nozzles that spray water jets. FIG. 10 shows that each spray rod 602, 604, 606 is attached to a base (such as 984, 986) that may slide along a corresponding axis (such as 904, 906, respectively). In one embodiment, the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150 includes an electrical based system that moves the base (such as 984, 986) along the axis, so as to move the corresponding spray rod along the axis, and optimally position the spray rod within the garbage bin for maximum cleaning effect. Each of the at least three spray rods 602, 604, 606 are coupled to a base (such as 984, 986), which are slidably connected to a corresponding axis (such as axes 902, 904, 906).
When the large arms 153 lift the large garbage bin 402 into the hopper 180, the at least three spray rods 602, 604, 606 are situated within the large garbage bin 402, and each of the at least three spray rods are moved by the electrical based system along a corresponding axis (such as axes 902, 904, 906) to be optimally positioned within the large garbage bin 402 for maximum cleaning effect. When the small arms 154 lift the small garbage bin 202 into the hopper 180, one or more of the at least three spray rods 602, 604, 606 are situated within the small garbage bin 202, and each of said one or more spray rods are moved along a corresponding axis by the electrical based system to be optimally positioned within the small garbage bin for maximum cleaning effect.
In one embodiment, the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150 may further include an electrically activated system configured for spraying a liquid disinfectant into the large or small garbage bins 202, 402 when the garbage bin is in the hopper 180. Disinfectants are antimicrobial agents that are applied to the interior of the large or small garbage bins 202, 402 to destroy microorganisms that are living in the large or small garbage bins 202, 402.
In another embodiment, the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150 may further include a control panel for controlling the large arms 153, the small arms 154, the water jets sprayed by the at least three spray rods 602, 604, 606, and the electrically activated system that moves each of the at least three spray rods 602, 604, 606. The control panel may be a flat and/or vertical area where control or monitoring instruments 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 large arms 153, the up and down positions of the small arms 154, whether and when the water jets are sprayed by the at least three spray rods 602, 604, 606, and whether and when the electrically activated system moves each of the at least three spray rods 602, 604, 606 so as to place them in the optimal location within a garbage bin the hopper 180, for optimal cleaning effect.
FIG. 11 is a drawing depicting a side view of the vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150, showing the large arms 153 in the down position, according to an example embodiment. The vehicle-mounted garbage bin cleaning system 150 may be coupled to the trailer 110 of a vehicle 1100, such as an industrial truck.
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.
Patent Grant
10926949
