Method of collecting and recording refuse

• US 5,304,744 A
• Filed: 02/17/1993
• Issued: 04/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jensen, Asger R.
• Original Assignee: Jensen, Asger R.
• Inventors: Jensen, Asger R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER JR, GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US08/018,791
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: 177/136, 177/145, 177/139, 414/21, 414/408
• US Class Current: 177/136
• CPC Class Codes: B65F 2210/184 Weighing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/08 for incorporation in vehicles

Abstract

A method of recording refuse in a container, where the refuse is poured into a container suspended in weighing cells on a refuse collection truck makes the weighing cells give an input to a computing device which calculates and records the weight of the refuse. The weighing container is then emptied, after which a new quantity of refuse can be weighed. For identification purposes each container is fitted with a transponder signalling to the computing device. The quantity of refuse in each container is hereby recorded thus permitting billing by quantity.

Claims

1. A method of collecting and recording parameters concerning refuse involving placing said refuse in a small collection container, lifting the collection container into a refuse collection truck, and dumping the refuse from the collection container into a refuse container of the truck, wherein the dumping step comprises:

leading the refuse from the collection container to a weighing container suspended in weighing cells on the truck;

weighing and recording the weight of the refuse; and

discharging the refuse from the weighing container into a compressor which moves the refuse into a storage chamber of the refuse container.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein each collection container is provided with an identification transponder and the truck is provided with a radio system for identification of the individual container, and wherein the weighing cell is a transducer which indicates the weight of the dumped refuse, and further including the step of recording in the truck the identification of the collection container as well as the weight of the contained refuse as part of the step of weighing and recording.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of lifting the collection container is accomplished by lift means on the truck.

4. A weighing container for use with a refuse container of a refuse collection truck in weighting refuse, said weighing container being suspended in the refuse container by weighing cells so that the weight of the refuse in the weighing container can be recorded, said weighing container being provided with an opening near its bottom and a slide which can be moved from a position covering the opening near the bottom so that the refuse can be emptied through the opening in the container when the slide is moved.

5. The weighing container as defined in claim 4, wherein the slide is moved by means of two hydraulic cylinders which are secured partly to the weighing container and partly to the slide.

6. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the weighing cells comprise four suspension bearings attached on the outside of the weighing container, two at the top of one side of the weighing container and two approximately in the center of an opposite side of the weighing container, and a bar transducer secured to said bearings at one end, the opposite end of which is secured to the refuse container at a stationary part thereof.

7. The weighing container as defined in claim 5, wherein each bar transducer, preferably in the suspension side, has a spherical surface, in which can rest a spherical body secured to the suspension by means of a bolt.

8. The weighing container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the weighing cells comprise four suspension bearings attached on the outside of the weighing container, two at the top of one side of the weighing container and two approximately in the center of an opposite side of the weighing container, and a bar transducer secured to said bearings at one end, the opposite end of which is secured to the refuse container at a stationary part thereof.

9. The weighing container as claimed in claim 8 wherein the bar transducer is of the strain-gauge type.

10. The weighing container as defined in claim 8, wherein each bar transducer, preferably in the suspension side, has a spherical surface, in which can rest a spherical body being secured to the suspension by means of a bolt.

11. The weighing container as defined in claim 4, wherein each bar transducer, preferably in the suspension side, has a spherical surface, in which can rest a spherical body secured to the suspension by means of a bolt.

12. The weighing container of claim 4, wherein the weighing container opening is near the bottom of the weighing container and said slide is moved upwardly to uncover the opening.

13. A system for collecting refuse located in collection containers by means of a refuse collection truck having a refuse container, and recording information about to the collected refuse, comprising

a means for lifting the collection container and dumping the refuse from the collection container into the refuse container of the truck;

a weighing container on said truck receiving the refuse dumped into said refuse container of the truck, said weighing container being suspended on said truck by weighing cells such that the weight of the refuse is weighed by the weighing cells;

means connected to the weighing cells for recording the weight of the refuse in the weighing container;

means for discharging the refuse from the weighting container;

a storage chamber for the refuse container; and

a compressor means for receiving the refuse from the weighing container and moving the refuse into said storage chamber of the refuse container.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said weighing container has an opening and a slide covering said opening, said slide being movable from the opening to allow refuse to be emptied out through the opening formed in the container.

15. A system as in claim 14 wherein the weighing container opening is near the bottom of the weighing container and said slide is moved upwardly to uncover the opening.

16. A system as claimed in claim 14 wherein said slide is movable upwardly and further including at least one hydraulic cylinder for moving the slide upwardly.

17. The system as in claim 16 wherein the slide is moved by means of two hydraulic cylinders which are secured partly to the weighing container and partly to the slide.

18. The system as claimed in claim 13 wherein said weighing cells comprise

a plurality of suspension bearings attached to the weighing container, at least one of said bearings being at the top of one side of the weighing container and at least one of said bearings being approximately in the center of an opposite side of the weighing container;

and

a bar transducer secured to said bearings at one end, opposite ends of said bar transducer being secured to the refuse container of the truck at a side member thereof.

19. The system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the suspension bearings include a spherical bearing attached to the side member of the refuse container by a bolt, said bar transducer has a spherical ball-and-socket seat for receiving the spherical bearing, and an angular clearance being provided below the spherical bearing in the direction towards the side member of the refuse container, whereby the weighing container may assume various inclinations with respect to the truck.

20. A system as claim in claim 13 wherein the collection containers contain an identification transponder and said recording means includes a radio system for receiving identification information from said transponder.

21. A system as claimed in claim 20 wherein said recording means records the identification information as well as the weight.

22. A system as in claim 13 wherein the means for lifting is lift means is the truck.