Waste compacting apparatus

Abstract

Waste compacting apparatus comprising a hopper; a compaction tunnel communicating with the hopper and providing an outlet for waste deposited therein; a packer located and reciprocable through successive forward and return strokes to advance waste from the hopper into and through said compaction tunnel, a ram, forming part of said packer, normally telescoped therein and retractably extendible therefrom in the direction of reciprocation of said packer, the ram having a leading end which forms a small portion of that of the packer as a whole when the ram is telescoped therein; motor means for reciprocating said packer through successive cycles of operation respectively comprising forward and return strokes, a standard cycle of operations commencing at a lead-off position with the ram telescoped in the packer and re-cycling means, responsive to mechanical stalling of the packer in the forward stroke of a standard cycle of operations, for terminating the forward stroke, returning said packer to its lead-off position, and initiating a special cycle of operations comprising forward and return strokes in which the forward stroke is effected with the ram extended.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. Waste compacting apparatus comprising: a hopper;   a compaction tunnel communicating with said hopper and providing an outlet for waste deposited therein;   a packer located and reciprocable through successive forward and return strokes to advance waste from the hopper into and through said compaction tunnel, the waste being compacted in its transit through said compaction tunnel;   a ram forming part of said packer and normally telescoped therein and retractably extendible therefrom in the direction of reciprocation of said packer; the ram having a leading end which forms a portion of that of the packer as a whole when the ram is telescoped therein;   motor means for reciprocating said packer through successive cycles of operations respectively comprising forward and return strokes, a standard cycle of operations commencing at a lead-off position with the ram telescoped as aforesaid, and   re-cycling means responsive upon mechanical stalling of the packer in the forward stroke of a standard cycle of operations, to terminate said forward stroke, return said packer to its lead-off position, and to initiate a special cycle of operations comprising forward and return strokes in which the forward stroke is effected from said lead-off position with the ram extended.   
     
     
       2. Waste compacting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said re-cycling means initiates only a single special cycle in each response to mechanical stalling of the packer.   
     
     
       3. Waste compacting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said re-cycling means procures extension of said ram during the return of said packer to its lead-off position after termination of said forward stroke.   
     
     
       4. Waste compacting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said re-cycling means includes switching means: a. for terminating the forward stroke when the packer is stalled as aforesaid;   b. for thereafter procuring return of said packer to its lead-off position;   c. for initiating extension of said ram from said packer while it is being returned to the lead-off position;   d. for thereafter initiating a forward stroke from the lead-off position with said ram extended from said packer as aforesaid, and   e. for restoring said packer to standard operation upon completion of said special cycle of operations.   
     
     
       5. Waste compacting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said packer has a scoop-shaped leading end for gathering waste from the hopper and directing it into said compaction tunnel during the forward stroke of the packer.   
     
     
       6. Waste compacting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein: said compaction tunnel has a progressively reducing cross-section over a portion of its length, its widest point being at its inlet end which communicates with said hopper and which corresponds generally in area to the area of the leading end of the packer.   
     
     
       7. Waste compacting apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said switching means includes: means for initiating retraction of said ram to its telescoped position in the packer while the packer is being returned to its lead-off position following the forward stroke of a special cycle.   
     
     
       8. Waste compacting apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein: said re-cycling means includes switching means for initiating retraction of said ram to its telescoped position in the packer while the packer is being returned to its lead-off position following the forward stroke of a special cycle;   said re-cycling means initiating only a single special cycle in each response to mechanical stalling of the packer and procures extension of said ram during the return of said packer to its lead-off position after termination of said forward stroke;   said packer has a scoop-shaped leading end for gathering waste from the hopper and directing it into said compaction tunnel during the forward stroke of the packer, and   said compaction tunnel has a progressively reducing cross-section over a portion of its length, its widest point being at its inlet end which communicates with said hopper and which corresponds generally in area to the area of the leading end of the packer. .Iadd. 9. Waste compaction apparatus, comprising   storage means for the waste,   a packer located in the storage means and movable in the storage means in a first direction to advance waste through the storage means and compact such waste during such advance of the waste through the storage means and movable in a direction opposite to the first direction;   a ram forming part of said packer and normally telescoped therein and retractably extendible therefrom in the first direction of movement of said packer, the ram having a leading end which forms a portion of that of the packer as a whole when the ram is telescoped therein;   motor means for reciprocating said packer through successive cycles of operation respectively comprising movement in the first direction for compacting the waste in the storage means and movement in the opposite direction, a standard cycle of operations commencing at a lead-off position with the ram telescoped as aforesaid and with the packer displaced from a position for compacting the waste in the storage means, and   recycling means responsive, upon mechanical stalling of the packer in the movement of a standard cycle of operations involving compacting the waste in the storage means, to initiate successive cycles of operation for advancing the waste through the storage means, said successive cycles including the termination of said movement of the packer upon the mechanical stalling of the packer; then extension of the ram from the packer in the first direction; then telescopic retraction of the ram into the packer, with the leading end of the ram forming a portion of that of the packer as a whole, upon the completion of the retractible extension of the ram from the packer or upon the exertion of a particular pressure against the ram by the waste in the storage means before the completion of the retractible extension of the ram from the packer; and then movement of the packer, with the ram in the telescoped position in the packer, in the direction for compacting the waste in the storage means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 10. Waste compacting apparatus as set forth in claim 9, including,   means included in the recycling means for sensing a particular pressure of the waste against the packer to initiate the successive cycles of the operation involving the termination of the movement of the packer in the first direction for compacting the waste in the packer, then extension of the ram from the packer, then telescopic retraction of the ram into the packer, with the leading end of the ram forming a portion of that of the packer as a whole, upon the completion of the retractible extension of the ram from the packer or upon the exertion of the particular pressure against the ram by the waste in the storage means before the completion of the retractible extension of the ram from the packer, and then movement of the packer in the direction for compacting the refuse in the packer. .Iaddend..Iadd. 11. Waste compacting apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein   the motor means includes a first piston and a first cylinder operatively coupled to the packer for producing a movement of the packer in the first direction and in the opposite direction in the storage means and a second piston and a second cylinder operatively coupled to the ram for producing an extension of the ram from the packer in the first direction or a telescopic retraction of the ram in the opposite direction into the packer. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. Waste compacting apparatus as set forth in claim 11 wherein   means are included for providing an operation of the motor for moving the packer in the opposite direction after the compaction of the waste in the storage means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 13. Waste compacting apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein   the packer has dimensions to fit snugly in the storage means and wherein the ram has dimensions to fit snugly in the packer. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. Waste compaction apparatus, comprising,   means for storing the waste, the storage means being constructed to provide for a compacting of the waste,   packer means disposed in the storage means and having a particular surface for engaging the waste and constructed and movable relative to the storage means in a first direction to provide for a compacting of the waste in the storage means by engagement of the waste by the particular surface and the exertion of force by the particular surface against the waste and retractible in an opposite direction after providing for the compacting of the waste in the storage means,   first motor means operatively coupled to the packer means for producing a movement of the packer means in the first direction relative to the storage means to provide for a compacting of the waste in the storage means by the packer means and for producing a movement of the packer means in the opposite direction to provide a retraction of the packer means in the storage means,   ram means disposed in the packer means and having a particular surface normally disposed in flush relationship with the particular surface of the packer means and provided with an area less than the area of the particular surface of the packer means, the ram means being extensible in the first direction through a particular distance from the particular surface of the packer means to displace the particular surface of the ram means from the particular surface of the packer means to provide for a further compacting of the waste in the storage means by the ram means and being movable in the opposite direction to telescope the ram means into the flush relationship with the particular surface of the packer means,   second motor means operatively coupled to the ram means for producing an extension of the ram means in the first direction through the particular surface from the packer means and a movement of the ram means in the opposite direction to telescope the ram means into the flush relationship with the particular surface of the packer means,   first control means for initiating an operation of the first motor means to produce a movement of the packer means in the first direction for a compacting of the waste by the packer means,   second control means responsive to the stalling of the first motor means during the movement of the packer means in the first direction for discontinuing the operation of the first motor means in producing a compaction of the waste by the packer means and for thereafter initiating an operation of the second motor means to obtain an extension of the ram means in the first direction from the particular surface of the packer means,   third control means responsive to the extension of the ram means through the particular distance from the particular surface of the packer means, and to the production of a particular pressure against the ram means before the extension of the ram means in the first direction through the particular distance from the particular surface of the packer means, for thereafter producing an operation of the second motor means to obtain a movement of the ram means in the opposite direction into the flush relationship with the particular surface of the packer means, and   fourth control means responsive to the movement of the ram means in the opposite direction into the flush relationship with the particular surface of the packer means for initiating an operation of the first motor means to produce a further movement of the packer means in the first direction for a compacting of the waste by the packer means and for subsequent operations of the first and second control means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 15. Waste compacting apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein   the first motor means includes a first piston and a first cylinder and the second motor means includes a second piston and a second cylinder. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. Waste compacting apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein   the first control means is responsive to a particular pressure by the waste against the particular surface of the packer means for discontinuing the operation of the first motor means in producing the movement of the packer means in the first direction for a compaction of the waste by the packer means and for thereafter initiating an operation of the second motor means in extending the ram means in the first direction. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. Waste compaction apparatus as set forth in claim 16 wherein   fifth control means are responsive to a particular compaction of the waste by the packer means to produce an operation of the first motor means to move the packer means in the storage means in the opposite direction. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 18. Waste compaction apparatus as set forth in claim 14, including,   means operatively associated with the first, second, third and fourth control means for obtaining the operation in sequence of the first, second, third and fourth control means through at least two cycles to facilitate the compaction of waste in the storage means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 19. Waste compaction apparatus as set forth in claim 18, including,   means responsive to the compacting of the waste in the storage means during the operation of the first, second, third and fourth control means through the at least two cycles to produce a movement of the packer means in the storage means in the opposite direction upon the production of a particular packing by the packer means of the waste in the storage means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 20. Waste compacting apparatus as set forth in claim 18   wherein the packer means has dimensions and a configuration to fit snugly in the storage means and wherein the ram means has dimensions and a configuration to fit snugly in the storage means. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 21. Waste compacting apparatus, comprising,   storage means for the waste,   packer means disposed in the storage means and having a particular surface for engaging the waste and constructed and movable relative to the storage means in a first direction to provide for a compaction of the waste in the storage means by engagement of the waste by the particular surface and movable in an opposite direction after providing for the compacting of the waste in the storage means,   first motor means operatively coupled to the packer means for producing a movement of the packer means in the first direction relative to the storage means to provide for a compacting of the waste in the storage means by the packer means and for producing a movement of the packer means in the opposite direction,   ram means disposed in the packer means and having a particular surface normally disposed in flush relationship with the particular surface of the packer means and provided with an area less than that of the particular surface of the packer means, the ram means being extensible in the first direction through a particular distance to displace the particular surface of the ram means through the particular distance from the particular surface of the packer means to provide for a further compacting of the waste in the storage means and being movable in the opposite direction to telescope the ram means into the flush relationship with the particular surface of the ram means,   second motor means operatively coupled to the ram means for producing an extension of the ram means in the first direction through the particular distance from the particular surface of the packer means and a movement of the ram means in the opposite direction into the flush relationship with the particular surface of the packer means,   means operatively coupled to the first motor means for initiating an operation of the first motor means to produce a movement of the packer means in the first direction for a compaction of the waste by the first motor means,   first recycling means responsive to the exertion of a first particular pressure by the waste against the particular surface of the packer means for producing an operation of the first and second motor means to obtain in sequence through at least one cycle an interruption in the operation of the first motor means in producing a movement of the packer means in the first direction for compaction of the waste by the packer means   and second recycling means responsive to the movement of the ram means in the first direction through the particular distance from the particular surface of the packer means, and also responsive to the exertion of a second particular pressure by the waste against the ram means before the movement of the ram means in the first direction through the particular distance from the particular surface of the packer means, for producing an operation of the second motor means to obtain a movement of the ram means in the opposite direction into the flush relationship with the particular surface of the packer means and then an operation of the first motor means to produce a movement of the packer means in the first direction for a   
     
     
        further compaction of the waste by the packer means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. Waste compaction apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein the first and second recycling means are operative in sequence through more than one cycle in producing an interruption in the operation of the first motor means in producing a movement of the packer means in the first direction for a compaction of the waste by the packer means, then an initiation in the operation of the second motor means to obtain an extension of the ram means in the first direction through the particular distance from the particular surface of the packer means upon the exertion of the first particular pressure by the waste against the particular surface of the packer means, then an operation of the second motor means to obtain a movement of the ram means in the opposite direction until the movement of the ram means through the particular distance from the particular surface of the packer means or until the exertion of the second particular pressure by the waste against the rams means and then an operation of the first motor means to produce a movement of the packer means in the first direction for a further compaction of the waste by the packer means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 23. Waste compaction apparatus as set forth in claim 22, wherein   the first recycling means is operative to move the packer means in the opposite direction after a particular compaction of the waste in the storage means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 24. Waste compaction apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein   the packer means has dimensions and a configuration to fit snugly in the storage means and the ram means has dimensions and a configuration to fit snugly in the packer means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 25. Waste compaction apparatus as set forth in claim 24 wherein   the first motor means includes a first piston and a first cylinder and the second motor means includes a second piston and a second cylinder. .Iaddend.