Waste transfer system

Abstract

Apparatus for the transfer of waste material is disclosed, including a frame large enough to accommodate a removable container, and including a wall which can support the container within the frame. The container itself is also disclosed, and can include a hinged end wall for removal of waste therefrom, and a central beam extending along the container floor for structurally supporting same.

1 . Apparatus for the transfer of waste material comprising a frame having a size sufficient to accept a removable container, said frame including wall means whereby said container can be removably placed within said frame to permit said container to be loaded with said waste material directly from a truck, and container removal means for removing said filled container from said frame for transfer to a transportation system.  
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said wall means is in direct contact with said container so as to provide structural support for said container during loading thereof with said waste material  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said wall means comprises moveable wall means whereby after said container has been removably placed within said frame, said wall means can be moved into said direct contact with said container.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said wall means comprises spacer means for filling the space between said frame and said removable container.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said spacer means are disposed below the bottom of said removable container.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said spacer means are disposed between the sides of said removable container and said frame.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus to  claim 2  wherein said wall means comprises angled wall means whereby said container can be snuggly fit into said frame.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus to  claim 1  wherein said frame includes an upper end and a lower end, and is disposed below ground level, and said removable container includes a corresponding upper end and lower end.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus to  claim 1  including tire stop means adjacent to said frame for preventing said truck unloading said waste material into said removable container from traveling past said tire stop means.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus to  claim 1  wherein said container has a width of greater than about 9 feet.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said container has a height of greater than about 12½ feet.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said container has a width of about 10½ feet and a height of about 13 feet.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus to  claim 1  wherein said container is dimensioned to match the height and width clearances of a common railroad right of way.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus to  claim 13  wherein said container comprises a volume of about 2730 cubic feet.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus to  claim 8  including a scale disposed at said lower end of said frame.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 8  including an air plenum disposed at the upper end of said frame and a fan associated with said air plenum creating a negative pressure within said container whereby dust and odors are eliminated therein.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said air plenum comprises a perforated pipe.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said perforated pipe runs around said container.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16  including a filter whereby the exhaust from said fan is drawn through said filter.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus to  claim 8  including a leachate system disposed at said lower end of said frame.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus to  claim 8  including spill skirt means disposed at said upper end of said frame to assist in loading of said container from said trucks.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus to  claim 21  wherein said spill skirt means includes a flexible bottom portion whereby said spill skirt means can sit over said upper end of said container.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus to  claim 22  wherein said spill skirt means extends from the top of said tire stop means.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus to  claim 1  including a spreader for lifting said container out of said frame.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein said spreader is adapted to expand to accommodate said container.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus to  claim 21  wherein said upper end of said container includes lock means for attachment to said spreader.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus to  claim 3  wherein said moveable wall means are associated with at least two adjacent walls of said container.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus to  claim 3  wherein said moveable wall means comprise inflatable air bladder means.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus to  claim 21  wherein said spill skirt means is disposed along at least three sides of said frame, said spill skirt means including hinge means whereby said spill skirt means can be positioned on top of said upper end of said container when it is disposed in said frame.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus to  claim 1  wherein said frame is disposed above ground level, and including ramp means for permitting a truck to drive to the top of said frame for unloading said waste material.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus to  claim 1  including leveling means for applying pressure to said waste material within said container.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus to  claim 1  including material handler means for removing excess waste material from said container and transferring said excess waste material to another container to adjust the total weight thereof.  
     
     
         33 . A method for the transfer of waste material comprising providing a container including an upper end and a lower end, removably placing said container in a frame including a wall to permit said container to be loaded with said waste material directly from a truck, loading said container with said waste material, and removing said filled container from said frame for transfer to a transportation system.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  including deploying spill skirts to cover said upper end of said container during said loading thereof.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33  including moving said wall into direct contact with said container after removably placing said container in said frame.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33  including fitting cover over said container after said loading of said container with said waste material.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33  wherein said removing of said filled container from said frame includes lifting said container by means of a spreader.  
     
     
         38 . Apparatus for the transfer of waste material comprising a container for acceptance by a frame for removable replacement of said container, said container comprising a first longitudinally extending side wall, a second longitudinal extending side wall, a first rigid end wall connected to said first and second longitudinally extending side walls, a second hinged end wall hingedly attached to said first and second longitudinally extending side walls, a base, an upper end, a lower end, and hinge means attachably attaching said second hinged end wall to said upper end of said first and second longitudinally extending walls, whereby said lower end of said second end wall can swing hingedly away from said base to permit said waste material to exit therefrom, and a central beam extending longitudinally along said base of said container in an intermediate position between said first and second longitudinally extending side walls to structurally reinforce said container.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein said central beam includes a lower portion extending parallel to said base and an upwardly extending portion substantially perpendicular to said lower portion whereby said base is supportedly positioned above said lower portion of said central beam.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38  wherein said beam includes an upper portion extending parallel to said base.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40  including a protective covering for said portion of said central beam extending above said base.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41  wherein said base is divided into first and second base portions on either side of said central beam.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 42  including a pair of side longitudinally extending beams extending along the lower ends of said first and second longitudinally extending side walls.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 43  wherein said pair of longitudinally extending side beams include a lower portion extending parallel to said base and a side portion extending along each of said first and second pair of longitudinally extending side walls above said base.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 38  including a rear beam extending along said lower end of said base along said first rigid end wall and a front beam extending along said lower end of said base along said second hinged end wall.  
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 38  including a tapered floor portion disposed along said base at said second end wall for diverting said waste material from said base towards said second hinged end wall for assisting said waste material exiting from said container.