PORTABLE ROLLER COMPACTOR

Abstract

A portable roller compactor for compacting waste located in a container, which is open on the top, has a frame-like basic structure and an articulated arm, one end of which is supported by the basic structure, and the other, free end of which supports a roller compactor that essentially can be rotated about a horizontal axis of rotation. The articulated arm of the roller compactor is pivotably attached to a sliding carriage, which is mounted on the frame-like base structure and can be moved in a longitudinal direction.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A portable roller compactor for compacting waste located in an open-top container, comprising: a frame-like basic structure; and an articulated arm supported at one end by the frame-like base structure and carries at its other, free end a compactor roller substantially rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation, wherein the articulated arm is pivotably mounted on a carriage that is mounted so as to be displaceable on the frame-like base structure in a longitudinal direction.

12. The transportable roller compactor of claim 11, wherein the frame-like base structure has longitudinal beams running on both longitudinal sides and on which the carriage is guided.

13. The transportable roller compactor of claim 11, wherein the articulated arm is pivotably mounted on the carriage via an ankle joint and a mast foot.

14. The transportable roller compactor of claim 13, wherein the ankle joint has a pivot angle of less than 90°.

15. The transportable roller compactor of claim 13, wherein the ankle joint has a pivot angle of less than 75°.

16. The transportable roller compactor of claim 11, wherein the carriage is movable on the frame-like base structure via a hydraulically or electromotively operated chain or rack drive.

17. The transportable roller compactor of claim 11, wherein the articulated arm comprises two articulated arm members that are pivotable against each other and of which a first articulated arm member, which is mounted on the carriage, is formed in a cranked manner.

18. The transportable roller compactor of claim 17, wherein in a rest position the compactor roller is positioned beneath the first articulated arm member.

19. A transportable roller compactor of claim 18, wherein in a rest position the compactor roller is deposited on the carriage.

20. The transportable roller compactor of claim 11, wherein in a rest position of the articulated arm the movable carriage is disposed at an end of the frame-like base structure that is at a front as seen in a transport direction.

21. A transportable roller compactor of claim 11, wherein in a working position of the articulated arm the movable carriage is disposed at an end of the frame-like base structure that is at a rear as seen in a transport direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0014] The invention is explained below in closer detail with reference to an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, wherein:

[0015] FIGS. 1 to 5 each show a symmetrical overall view of a transportable roller compactor in various operating states;

[0016] FIGS. 6a, 6b each show a side view of a part of the transportable roller compactor in two different states; and

[0017] FIG. 7 shows shows a further detailed view of the transportable roller compactor shown in an isometric view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] FIGS. 1 to 5 show an embodiment of a transportable roller compactor according to the application, each in isometric view.

[0019] The drawings show the roller compactor in various operating states from a respective similar viewing direction. Referring to the figures, a transition of the roller compactor is shown from a rest state, in which a transport of the roller compactor can take place, to an operating state in which waste in a container is compressed and/or crushed.

[0020] The roller compactor has a base structure 10, which corresponds in its dimensions, in particular in the dimensions of its base, to a conventional container. The base structure 10 is formed in a frame-like manner with outer longitudinal beams 11, a rear transverse beam 12 and a front transverse beam 13, which is only visible in the drawings. The directional indication at the front or the rear relates to the usual transport direction of the transportable roller compactor, if this is mounted on a truck or a trailer of a truck.

[0021] Further stabilising elements of the base structure 10 are bearers 14 in the form of T-beams or double T-beams with which the roller compactor rests on the base. Further transverse beams 15 are arranged for stabilization via the longitudinal extension of the base structure 10.

[0022] At the front end, the base structure 10 has an end wall 16 on which an eyelet 17 is arranged. Size and dimensioning of the end wall 16 as well as the position of the eyelet 17 are modeled on commercially available containers in order to be able to also use the apparatus for winding containers onto a truck for pulling on the roller compactor. On the inner side of the end wall 16 a supply cabinet 18 is arranged, which accommodates a drive unit, for example in the form of a hydraulic pump and/or control devices for the transportable roller compactor. For configurations in which an electrical drive of the roller compactor is provided, a current connection to the power supply can also be provided via the supply cabinet.

[0023] A movable carriage 20, which carries the further components of the roller compactor, is arranged on the base structure 10. The carriage 20 is guided in the longitudinal beams 11 of the base structure 10, for example, by means of wheels or rollers or sliding elements. The carriage 20 can be moved over substantially the entire length of the base structure 10. For this purpose, a displacement drive is provided, which can be operated in a hydraulically, electrically, or diesel-hydraulic manner. A drive motor, which is not shown in detail in the figures, can either be mounted on the base structure 10, wherein the transmission to the carriage 20 occurs via a chain or cable pull. Alternatively, it can be provided to mount the drive motor on the carriage 20, wherein the drive motor acts on a toothed rack or a chain with an Ω loop, which is fixed to the base structure 10.

[0024] The supply cabinet 18, which is arranged in the illustrated embodiment on the rear side of the end wall 16 on the base structure 10, can also be positioned on the movable carriage 20 in alternative embodiments. In this case, a cable drag with moved hydraulic lines and control lines can advantageously be dispensed with.

[0025] On the carriage 20, an articulated arm 23 is pivotably mounted on a mast foot 21 via a pivot joint 22, which articulated arm in the illustrated embodiment comprises two articulated arm members 23a, 23b, which are connected to each other in an articulated manner. At the free end of the articulated arm 23, a compactor roller 26 is arranged, which is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis of rotation. The compactor roller 26 can preferably be actively rotated, for example via a hydraulic motor arranged in its interior. The articulated arm 23 can be pivoted with respect to the support column 21 via a hydraulic cylinder (not shown in detail). A further hydraulic cylinder can optionally be provided with which the articulated arm member 23b can be pivoted against the articulated arm member 23a. In the illustrated embodiment, however, it is provided that the articulated arm member 23b can oscillate freely about the articulated arm member 23a and thus follows the movement of the (driven) compactor roller 26 in the container.

[0026] In the illustrated embodiment, the first articulated arm member 23a mounted on the support column 21 is cranked. As can be seen in the rest position (transport position) of the articulated arm 23 shown in FIG. 1, space for the compactor roller 26 is provided by the cranked articulated arm member 23a in conjunction with the support column 21 when the second articulated arm member 23b is folded beneath the first articulated arm member 23a, as illustrated. This results in a low height of the roller compactor in the transport state, wherein, at the same time, the compactor roller 26, which constitutes a substantial part of the weight of the roller compactor, is positioned in a front region (again relative to the direction of transport) of the base structure 10 of the roller compactor.

[0027] FIGS. 2-5 show the transition from the rest position shown in FIG. 1 to a working position of the articulated arm 23 shown in FIG. 5 in a comparable isometric view as in FIG. 1. In order to compact waste in a container, the roller compactor pulled onto a truck or trailer is initially moved rearwardly against the container so that the roller compactor rests with its rear end (in the region of the rear transverse beam 12) against an upper edge of the container.

[0028] In a first step, as shown in FIG. 2, the articulated arm 23 is set upright at first by pivoting about the ankle joint 22. The position of the swivel arm members 23a and 23b relative to each other is thereby maintained. In the case of a second articulated arm member 23b, which can be actively pivoted against the first articulated arm member 23a via a hydraulic cylinder, this can be achieved via the hydraulic cylinder. When the second articulated arm member 23b is mounted so as to oscillate freely against the first articulated arm member 23a, a hooking apparatus 24 is provided, which is shown in more detail in FIGS. 6a and 6b.

[0029] The hooking apparatus 24 comprises a bar 24a, which is mounted so as to be pivotable on an articulated arm member, in this case the first articulated arm member 23a. In a locked position, shown in FIG. 6a, the bar 24a engages with a correspondingly shaped cutout about a pin 24b, which is mounted on the second pivot arm member 23b. Correspondingly, the articulated arm members 23a, 23b are no longer pivotable relative to one another in the position of the bar 24a shown in FIG. 6a. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6b, when the bar 24a is no longer in engagement with the pin 24b, the second articulated arm member 23b can oscillate freely against the first articulated arm member 23a. In order to prevent abutment of the compactor roller 26 on the cranked portion of the first articulated arm member 23a, a stop 25, for example in the form of a rubber buffer, is arranged on one of the articulated arm members 23a, 23b.

[0030] In a next step, the carriage 20 is then moved with the raised articulated arm 23 from the front end of the base structure 10 to the rear end of the base structure 10. FIG. 3 shows the roller compactor with the carriage 20 in the corresponding position. By moving the the carriage 20 in the direction of the rear end of the roller compactor, the articulated arm 23 and thus the compactor roller 26 are moved in the direction of the container.

[0031] Subsequently, the compactor roller 26 is lowered into the container by pivoting the ankle joint 22. Finally, FIG. 5 shows the roller compactor during operation, wherein the compactor roller 26 can be actively driven back and forth in the container.

[0032] For the transition between the rest position (FIG. 1) and the working position 5 (FIG. 5), only a limited pivotability of clearly less than 90° of the articulated arm 23 is required. This is achieved in that the articulated arm 23 can be moved so that the front, second articulated arm member 23b does not have to be struck over the first articulated arm member 23a, but can be folded under it. This movement is performed with a smaller pivot angle of the ankle joint 22.

[0033] On the movable carriage 20, a cabin 27 is also provided for operating the roller compactor. The roller compactor is controlled via the supply cabinet 18, in which, among other things, a sequence control is arranged. In order to bring the compactor roller 26 from the rest position into the working position and back again, a program controller can be provided, which carries out the necessary movement sequence and the coordination between the movement of the articulated arm 23 and that of the carriage 20 upon actuation of only one operating element.

[0034] FIG. 7 shows a section of the roller compactor in the working position in a likewise isometric view from a different viewing direction than in FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG. 7 provides an insight into the cabin 27. In order to prevent an unwanted displacement between the operating position and the rest position or vice versa, electronic protective measures can be adopted. For example, a special key switch can be provided, which allows the transition between rest and working position only in a separate key position.

[0035] Moreover, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment, a mechanical lock in form of a locking slide 28 is provided. The locking slide 28 can be operated within the cabin 27. In the embodiment shown, it is formed by a vertically movable bolt, which is guided through a floor of the cabin 27 and engages in a bore in a component of the basic structure 10 in the rest position and in the working position. Movement of the movable carriage 20 is prevented purely mechanically by the locking slide 28 when it is in engagement with the base structure 10. A switch or sensor, which detects the position of the locking slide 28 and can be interrogated by the sequence control, can additionally be arranged on the locking slide 28. In this way, a movement of the movable carriage 20 can already be prevented by the controller when the locking slide 28 is in the locking position. In alternative embodiments, the locking slide 28 can also be moved automatically, also driven by the sequence control, e.g., electromechanically or hydraulically.

[0036] Further, in FIG. 7, a ladder 29 can be seen, which reaches down on the side of the truck or trailer on which the roller compactor is mounted, and allows access to the cabin 27. The ladder 29 is designed so as to be able to be folded up by a joint arranged in the lower region of the cabin 27 and can serve as a fall protection in the folded-up state for an operator of the roller compactor, who is in the cabin 27. Alternatively or additionally, for the case in which the ladder 29 is not folded up, a safety bracket that can be tilted or pivoted in front of the entrance of the cabin 27 can be provided as a fall protection. An attachable chain can also be used as an anti-fall device.

[0037] FIG. 7 further shows supporting elements (not shown in closer detail) that are fixed to the movable carriage 20 and prevent a lateral movement of the compactor roller 26 in the rest position.

[0038] In addition, bottom rollers 19 arranged on the underside of the base frame can be seen with which the roller compactor rolls over the ground with its rear end during the winding onto the truck or the trailer.

[0039] Different drive types can be provided for the roller compactor for the movement of the articulated arm 23, for the rotation of the compactor roller 26, and for the displacement of the carriage 20. All of the aforementioned movable elements can, for example, be hydraulically driven, wherein a hydraulic pressure necessary for this is provided either via a diesel generator mounted on the roller compactor or via an electrically driven hydraulic pump. Alternatively and/or additionally, a hydraulic connection to the truck can also be established and the hydraulic pressure necessary for operating the roller compactor can be provided by a hydraulic pump of the truck.

[0040] In alternative embodiments, a partly hydraulic, partly electric drive is possible. For example, the movement of the articulated arm 23 and the rotation of the compactor roller 26 can be effected hydraulically, while the displacement of the carriage 20 is carried out by means of an electric motor. An electrical drive can be operated in a network-connected manner, for example by connecting a corresponding power supply cable, preferably a three-phase power line, to the supply cabinet 18. Furthermore, the roller compactor can be provided with rechargeable batteries (accumulators), which at least temporarily enable a supply of electrical components independently of a mains power supply.

[0041] In a further embodiment, which is not shown in the drawings, hydraulically extendable supports for supporting purposes can be arranged on the base structure 10. The hydraulic supports can be pivotably attached to the base structure 10 so that they do not protrude laterally or only slightly beyond the base structure 10 when the roller compactor is transported. It is advantageous in the case of a hydraulic support that, after positioning the transportable roller compactor by means of a truck or a trailer, the hydraulic roller compactor can be supported on the supports and can also rise above the loading surface of the truck or trailer so that it can extend under the roller compactor and is not required during the operation of the roller compactor.

[0042] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0043] 10 Base structure [0044] 11 Longitudinal beam [0045] 12 Rear transverse beam [0046] 13 Front transverse beam [0047] 14 Bearer [0048] 15 Transverse beam [0049] 16 End wall [0050] 17 Eyelet [0051] 18 Supply cabinet [0052] 19 Bottom roller [0053] 20 Movable carriage [0054] 21 Support column [0055] 22 Ankle joint [0056] 23 Articulated arm [0057] 23a First articulated arm member [0058] 23b Second articulated arm member [0059] 24 Hooking apparatus [0060] 25 Stop [0061] 26 Compactor roller [0062] 27 Cabin [0063] 28 Locking slide [0064] 29 Ladder