Method of collecting wastes and system therefor

• US 4,995,765 A
• Filed: 04/18/1988
• Issued: 02/26/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shimizu Construction Co. Ltd. (Shimizu Corporation), Shinmeiwa Industy Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Shimizu Construction Co. Ltd. (Shimizu Corporation), Shinmeiwa Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Yamashiro, Kunio, Hirokawa, Jun, Tokuhiro, Tomoya, Watanabe, Ippei, Nishizuka, Sakae, Tsutsui, Yohichiro, Kikuchi, Koshin, Miyauchi, Teruhiko, Ishikawa, Sadahito, Maruo, Shozo, Koibuchi, Nobutaka
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KANNOFSKY, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US07/207,041
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 406/108, 406/117, 406/147-151, 406/176, 406/180, 406/110, 406/192, 406/195, 406/83, 406/84, 406/1, 406/3, 406/4, 406/11, 406/13, 406/181-183, 406/52, 406/62, 406/63, 406/68 , 406/37, 406/29, 406/82, 406/31, 406/184, 406/28, 406/188-190, 193/31 R, 193/31 A, 198/360, 198/349, 198/524, 198/463.6, 209/580, 209/930, 209/644, 209/925, 209/908
• US Class Current: 406/117
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 5/005 by pneumatic means, e.g. by suction conveying materials in bulk pneumatically in general B65G53/04
• CPC Class Codes: E04F 17/10 Arrangements in buildings for the disposal of refuse refuse bins, gathering or removal of refuse B65F
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/93 Municipal solid waste sorting

Abstract

A sanitary waste collection system and a method therefor which enable the free disposal of waste at various places in a building, and saves labor required for carrying and collecting the waste. The waste collection system includes charge ports provided at every floor of the building into which are thrown waste stored in waste containers of a certain configuration, vertical transport tubes connected to each floor of the building as well as charge ports, horizontal transport tubes connected to the lower ends of the vertical transport tubes and extending to a waste accumulation area, and an air blowing mechanism for force-feeding air in the horizontal transport tubes, with the diameters of the vertical and horizontal transport tubes and being a little larger than the outer diameter of the waste container in section. The method of collecting the waste includes the steps of storing the waste in the waste containers, throwing the waste containers into the charge ports, sending the waste containers through the vertical transport tubes, and force-feeding them through the horizontal transport tube to the waste accumulation area.

Claims

1. A waste collection system for transporting wastes from various positions in a building to a predetermined waste accumulation area, the waste being contained in a waste container of a tapered configuration which includes a cap, said waste collection system comprising:

(a) a horizontal transport tube having an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of said waste container, being laid in an approximately same horizontal plane as said waste accumulation area, and having one end thereof openable at said waste accumulation area;

(b) a blower connected to said horizontal transport tube and which generates an air flow through said horizontal transport tube thereby transporting the waste container through the horizontal transport tube;

(c) a vertical transport tube whose inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of said waste container, said vertical transport tube being provided in an approximately vertical direction so as to communicate with floors of the building, and being connected to said horizontal transport tube at its lower end, so that said waste container descends therethrough to said horizontal transport tube, the vertical transport tube having means for cooperating with said waste container for slowing down the speed of descent of the waste container therethrough, the means for slowing down speed of descent including means for providing upward braking force to the waste container by virtue of pressurized air in the vertical transport tube beneath the waste container; and

(d) an input port having an opening which opens toward the inside of the building at a first end thereof, said input port being connected to said vertical transport tube at a second end thereof, so that said waste container thrown in said opening is moved from said opening to said vertical transport tube.

2. A waste collection system according to claim 1 which comprises a storage device for receiving, holding, and dropping said waste container provided at a lower end of the vertical transport tube.

3. A waste collection system according to claim 1 which comprises holding means for receiving, holding, and dropping said waste container provided at a junction of the input port and the vertical transport tube.

4. A waste collection system according to claim 1, wherein said horizontal transport tube includes a vertical portion through which said waste container is carried downward.

5. A waste collection system according to claim 6, wherein said vertical portion comprises a main pipe for transporting said waste container and a bypass pipe connected to said main pipe at upper and lower ends of said vertical portion so as to bypass the air flow therethrough.

6. A waste collection system according to claim 1, wherein, located in the vicinity of the end of said horizontal transport tube near the waste accumulation area, is a vertical vertically extending portion, and a curvature portion for connecting the horizontal transport tube and said vertical portion, said curvature portion being provided with outlet openings spaced from one another along the length of, the curvature portion said outlet openings being connected to suction means for sucking and discharging the air in the horizontal transport tube.

7. A waste collection system according to claim 6, wherein, in the vicinity of a lower end of said vertical portion, is provided an outlet pipe for communicating a hollow space of the vertical portion to outside, and an outlet valve for controlling the air flow in the outlet pipe.

8. A waste collection system for transporting wastes from various positions in a building to a predetermined waste accumulation area, the waste being contained in a waste container of a predetermined configuration, said waste collection system comprising:

(a) a horizontal transport tube having an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of said waste container, being laid in an approximately same horizontal plane as said waste accumulation area, and having one end thereof openable at said waste accumulation area;

(b) a blower connected to said horizontal transport tube and which generates an air flow through said horizontal transport tube thereby transporting the waste container through the horizontal transport tube;

(c) a vertical transport tube whose inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of said waste container, said vertical transport tube being provided in an approximately vertical direction so as to communicate with floors of the building, and being connected to said horizontal transport tube at its lower end, so that said waste container descends therethrough to said horizontal transport tube, the vertical transport tube having means for slowing down the speed of descent of the waste container therethrough, the means for slowing down speed of descent including means for providing upward braking force to the waste container by virtue of pressurized air in the vertical transport tube beneath the waste container; and

(d) an input port having an opening which opens toward the inside of the building at a first end thereof, said input port being connected to said vertical transport tube at a second end thereof, so that said waste container thrown in said opening is moved from said opening to said vertical transport tube and which comprises, at the connection of said horizontal transport tube and said vertical transport tube, a chamber for receiving the waste container, and a rotary valve having a stock passage positioned at a junction of said horizontal transport tube and said vertical transport tube wherein said rotary valve is rotatable between a first position and a second position, said stock passage being connected with said vertical transport tube when the rotary valve is at said first position, and said stock passage being coaxial with said horizontal transport tube when the rotary valve is at said second position.

9. A waste collection system according to claim 8, wherein said stock passage includes means for accommodating a plurality of waste containers at a same time.

10. A waste collection system for transporting wastes from various positions in a building to a predetermined waste accumulation area, the waste being contained in a waste container of a predetermined configuration, said waste collection system comprising:

(a) a horizontal transport tube having an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of said waste container, being laid in an approximately same horizontal plane as said waste accumulation area, and having one end thereof openable at said waste accumulation area;

(b) a blower connected to said horizontal transport tube and which generates an air flow through said horizontal transport tube thereby transporting the waste container through the horizontal transport tube;

(c) a vertical transport tube whose inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of said waste container, said vertical transport tube being provided in an approximately vertical direction so as to communicate with floors of the building, and being connected to said horizontal transport tube at its lower end, so that said waste container descends therethrough to said horizontal transport tube, the vertical transport tube having means for slowing down the speed of descent of the waste container therethrough, the means for slowing down speed of descent including means for providing upward braking force to the waste container by virtue of pressurized air in the vertical transport tube beneath the waste container;

(d) an input port having an opening which opens towards the inside of the building at a first end thereof, said input port being connected to said vertical transport tube at a second end thereof, so that said waste container thrown in said opening is moved from said opening to said vertical transport tube;

(e) a shutter provided in said horizontal transport tube in the vicinity of the waste accumulation area, for opening/closing an end of the horizontal transport tube;

(f) classification means for identifying and classifying said waste container as it is stopped by said shutter and sending a classification signal; and

(g) moving means for receiving said waste container and selectively carrying the waste containers to plural positions according to said classification signals.

11. A waste collection system according to claim 10, wherein said classification means includes means for identifying the kind of said waste container.

12. A waste collection system for transporting wastes from various positions in a building to a predetermined waste accumulation area, the waste being contained in a waste container of a predetermined configuration, said waste collection system comprising:

(a) a horizontal transport tube having an inner diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of said waste container, being laid in an approximately same horizontal plane as said waste accumulation area, and having one end thereof openable at said waste accumulation area;

(b) a blower connected to said horizontal transport tube and which generates an air flow through said horizontal transport tube thereby transporting the waste container through the horizontal transport tube;

(c) a vertical transport tube whose inner diameter is slightly larger than the outer diameter of said waste container, said vertical transport tube being provided in an approximately vertical direction so as to communicate with floors of the building, and being connected to said horizontal transport tube at its lower end, so that said waste container descends therethrough to said horizontal transport tube, the vertical transport tube having means for slowing down the speed of descent of the waste container therethrough, the means for slowing down speed of descent including means for providing upward braking force to the waste container by virtue of pressurized air in the vertical transport tube beneath the waste container;

(d) an input port having an opening which opens toward the inside of the building at a first end thereof, said input port being connected to said vertical transport tube at a second end thereof, so that said waste container thrown in said opening is moved from said opening to said vertical transport tube; and

(e) means for rotating said blower in both forward and backward directions so that said blower can transport said waste container in said horizontal transport tube toward and away from said waste accumulation area.

13. A method for collection waste such that waste from various locations in a building is transported to a predetermined waste accumulation area, said method of collection waste comprising the steps of:

storing said waste in a waste container of a tapered configuration and which includes a cap;

depositing said waste container in an input port disposed in the building;

transporting said waste container approximately vertically through a vertical transport tube connected to said input port and provided approximately in a vertical direction communicating with each floor of the building;

slowing the speed of descent of the waste container at a lower part of the vertical transport tube by means of air generally confined in the tube beneath the waste container; and

receiving the waste container at a bottom portion of the vertical transport tube and transporting said waste container substantially horizontally through a horizontal transport tube to said waste accumulation area.

14. A method for collection wastes according to claim 13, wherein the method further includes a step of catching, holding, and dropping said waste container when said waste container reaches the vicinity of the lower end of a vertical transport tube.

15. A method for collection wastes according to claim 13, wherein the method comprises a step of catching, holding, and dropping said waste container when said waste container reaches the bottom portion of said vertical transport tube.

16. A method for collection waste such that waste from various locations in a building is transported to a predetermined waste accumulation area, said method of collecting waste comprising the steps of:

storing said waste in a waste container of a predetermined configuration;

depositing said waste container in an input port disposed in the building;

transporting said waste container approximately vertically through a vertical transport tube connected to said input port and provided approximately in a vertical direction communicating with each floor of the building;

slowing the speed of descent of the waste container at a lower part of the vertical transport tube by means of air generally confined in the tube beneath the waste container; and

receiving the waste container at a bottom portion of the vertical transport tube and transporting said waste container substantially horizontally through a horizontal transport tube to said waste accumulation area which comprises receiving and transferring said waste container, which has been carried through said vertical transport tube, to the horizontal transport tube by a rotary valve at a junction of the horizontal transport tube and said vertical transport tube, said rotary valve including a stock passage for accommodating the waste container, and rotating said rotary valve between a first position where said stock passage meets the vertical transport tube, and a second position where said stock passage meets the horizontal transport tube.

17. A method for collecting wastes according to claim 16, which comprises storing a plurality of waste containers in said stock passage at the same time, and transferring said waste containers to the horizontal transport tube.

18. A method for collecting waste such that waste from various locations in a building is transported to a predetermined waste accumulation area, said method of collecting waste comprising the steps of:

storing said waste in a waste container of a predetermined configuration;

depositing said waste container in an input port disposed in the building;

transporting said waste container approximately vertically through a vertical transport tube connected to said input port and provided approximately in a vertical direction communicating with each floor of the building;

slowing the speed of descent of the waste container at a lower part of the vertical transport tube by means of air generally confined in the tube beneath the waste container;

receiving the waste container at a bottom portion of the vertical transport tube and transporting said waste container substantially horizontally through a horizontal transport tube to said waste accumulation area; and

bypassing an air flow for transporting said waste container at a vertical portion of the horizontal transport tube in which waste container is moved downward.

19. A method for collecting waste such that waste from various locations in a building is transported from the locations to a predetermined waste accumulation area, said method of collecting waste comprising the steps of:

storing said waste in a waste container of a tapered configuration and which includes a cap;

depositing said waste container in an input port disposed in the building;

transporting said waste container approximately vertically through a vertical transport tube connected to said input port and provided approximately in a vertical direction communicating with each floor of the building;

slowing the speed of descent of the waste container at a lower part of the vertical transport tube by means of air generally confined in the tube beneath the waste container;

receiving the waste container at a bottom portion of the vertical transport tube and transporting said waste container substantially horizontally through a horizontal transport tube to said waste accumulation area; and

decelerating said waste container by suction of air in the horizontal transport tube in the vicinity of an end thereof near the waste accumulation area.

20. A method for collecting waste such that waste from various locations in a building is transported to a predetermined waste accumulation area, said method of collecting waste comprising the steps of:

storing said waste in a waste container of a predetermined configuration;

depositing said waste container in an input port disposed in the building;

transporting said waste container approximately vertically through a vertical transport tube connected to said input port and provided approximately in a vertical direction communicating with each floor of the building;

slowing the speed of descent of the waste container at a lower part of the vertical transport tube by means of air generally confined in the tube beneath the waste container;

receiving the waste container at a bottom portion of the vertical transport tube and transporting said waste container substantially horizontally through a horizontal transport tube to said waste accumulation area; and

classifying the kinds of said waste container, and selectively moving the waste container to one of a plurality of positions according to the classification thereof in said horizontal transport tube near the waste accumulation area.

21. A method for collection wastes according to claim 20, which comprises classifying said waste container based on a color of said waste container.

22. A method for collecting waste such that waste from various locations in a building is transported to a predetermined waste accumulation area, said method of collecting waste comprising the steps of:

storing said waste in a waste container of a predetermined configuration;

depositing said waste container in an input port disposed in the building;

transporting said waste container approximately vertically through a vertical transport tube connected to said input port and provided approximately in a vertical direction communicating with each floor of the building;

slowing the speed of descent of the waste container at a lower part of the vertical transport tube by means of air generally confined in the tube beneath the waste container;

receiving the waste container at a bottom portion of the vertical transport tube and transporting said waste container substantially horizontally through a horizontal transport tube to said waste accumulation area; and

supplying air in a reverse direction when said waste container blocks said horizontal transport tube, so as to release the blockage.