EP1061011A1 - Installation for concealable storage of receptacles - Google Patents

Abstract

An installation has a pneumatic actuator with coaxial telescopic tubes moving a platform vertically within a pit between two positions. In the lower position a container on the platform is completely hidden below ground. In the upper position the bottom of the container is at ground level. One end of each tube has an inflatable pad and a ring forming a seal with the adjacent tube. The ring is inflated by air or a fluid supplied independently of the fluid used to operate the actuator. The pad may be elastomeric.

Description

The invention relates to an installation intended to allow retractable storage of container, i.e. the storage of such containers in buried form within the roads, and in general, at a lower level compared to a so-called surface operation.

In order to protect the environment, the public authorities wish reduce or even eradicate waste collection containers of all origins and waste. To this end, installations have been proposed using containers likely to be buried in the ground at the level of pits, the actual collection being provided by a chute emerging from the ground and communicating with the receptacle thus constituted, thus guaranteeing good integration of the whole into the environment local.

The container emptying operation is carried out by lifting, generally most often carried out using a crane truck. However, the implementation of such a crane truck sometimes proves to be unsuitable when the deflection location is reduced, in particular at level of narrow streets of the municipalities concerned. Furthermore, it requires adaptation to these vehicles with appropriate means, capable of ensuring, in addition to the lifting function, also the drain function.

We then proposed, for example in document EP-A-0 576 405, the implementation a tilting system actuated by cylinders, positioned at truck level specifically adapted for this purpose. However, the implementation of such an installation is relatively expensive, and furthermore, taking into account the possibilities for action, limits the volume of containers thus likely to be buried.

Document FR-A-2 759 682 has also proposed the principle of a platform lifting, capable of being moved in vertical translation between the high and low positions within a pit, and intended to receive a container on wheels. In this way, it becomes possible to use the standard containers currently available on the market, and for which, collection vehicles are already equipped with the means adapted to emptying them. However, the proposed installation implements a platform not motorized, mounted on a scissor member, and actuated from the outside by means including an electric motor.

Experience shows that if, in this case, it is no longer necessary to do use of specially equipped trucks, the translational member of said platform lifting is relatively complex to implement, comes up against forces of significant friction, and further requires a mechanical transmission assembly which should be integrated beforehand at the level of the pit.

The object of the invention is to overcome these various drawbacks.

It is indeed aimed at an installation of this type, in which the vertical translation of the lifting platform intended to receive the container or any technical room and more generally of arrangement or storage, is ensured by means of a jack telescopic tire supplied by a source of fluid, in particular gaseous, external or internal.

In doing so, this translational operation is considerably simplified and, moreover, the actual activation member ensuring the driving force and therefore the translation, can consist of a simple bottle of compressed air.

According to the invention, the installation is provided with blocking means, actuable or disengageable by the user, in order to allow the translation of the platform.

According to the invention, the telescopic pneumatic cylinder comprises a plurality of tubes coaxial capable of fitting into each other, and comprising means for conveying the air or the activation fluid within said tubes, and means for seal against said fluid a tube relative to the adjacent tube.

The means of conveying the air or the activation fluid within the tubes are formed by a spiral and flexible pipe, extending from the upper end of the tube intended to ensure the greatest stroke up to the level of the upper end of the tube base, said pipe being capable of communicating with the interior of the tubes in question with the exception of said base tube.

Furthermore, the sealing means consist of a torus made of a material inflatable, arranged at the periphery of the tubes, said torus being intended to be filled with air or of fluid, also conveyed by a spiral and flexible hose independent of the means for conveying air or activation fluid within the tubes, said torus being intended to cooperate with a guide and friction pad, extending radially and peripheral manner with respect to said torus, and intended to come into contact with the face lateral of the tube consecutive to the tube carrying the torus, under the action of said torus.

Advantageously, the pads are made of a material chosen from the group including neoprenes, polyamide 6/6, polytetrafluoroethylene.

The sealing means are inflated by means of a network mounted in series, and comprising a first pipe, capable of extending within the upper tube between an inlet and a first transfer member secured to the intermediate tube and communicating with the first sealing torus, then a second pipe extending between said transfer member, within the intermediate tube to a second transfer member transfer integral with the base tube, and communicating with the second torus sealing.

The manner in which the invention can be implemented and the advantages derived therefrom will emerge better from the example of embodiment which follows given by way of indication and not limiting in support of the appended figures.

Figure 1 is a schematic sectional representation of the installation according to the invention, respectively of the platform in the retracted position and of the platform in the extended position.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a detailed view of the installation according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a representation of the installation of Figure 2 seen from above. Figure 4 is a view in which the telescopic pneumatic cylinder used in within the installation is shown in the unfolded position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing said cylinder in position unfolded.

Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a detail area representing more particularly the means ensuring the sealing between two consecutive tubes.

An installation for retractable containers will be described below, more particularly intended for storing all types of waste, in particular domestic waste. It is of course the container installed could be replaced by the local technique of a more general installation that one wishes to retract on the one hand, in a aim of security, and of not immediate accessibility to the public, and on the other hand, in a second environmental protection goal, more directly related to the objective than seeks to achieve the present invention. In the same way, it could be considered a place of storage or arrangement, which one wishes to retract for the same purpose.

This installation basically comprises a pit (25) dug in the ground and the bottom of which is, of course, located at a level lower than the ground level (26) of the place considered, which can, for example, be constituted by a road network, see a land private.

This pit (25) receives a tank, for example made of galvanized steel, of shape corresponding, provided with means of evacuation (not shown) of rainwater, runoff and others.

This tank receives a pneumatic telescopic cylinder (1, 2, 3), connected to an air source tablet constituted in the present case by a bottle (33).

The upper part of the end tube (3) of the jack is secured to a platform lift (27), intended to receive a container (30) of a type known per se, mounted on casters and capacity suitable for the intended application.

This container is provided with adequate means to allow, in addition to its handling, also its management by traditional garbage emptying vehicles, especially housewives.

Advantageously, this platform is provided with lateral partitions (31), made in aluminum, in order to limit the movement of the container on said platform (27).

In addition, the platform (27) is surmounted by an upper wall (28), resting on said side partitions (31), and parallel to the platform (27), and intended when the platform is in the retracted position, as shown in Figure 1, to be flush with the ground (26), and therefore to ensure continuity therewith. This upper wall (28) further receives a chute for receiving the waste to be collected, pierced with an orifice through to allow communication with the underlying container (30), and therefore positioned directly above it, as can be seen on the figure 1.

Advantageously, and when required, the upper face of the wall (28) can be covered with the same coating as that of the road network at which level is placed places the installation concerned.

Also shown in this figure is the air routing pipe. compressed between the bottle (33) and the cylinder. Typically, this bottle is connectable at a socket (34), access to which is closed by a hatch (35). A pipeline access (32) is provided in the vicinity of the pit, to allow the passage of the pipe conveying compressed air to the cylinder. This pipeline is also intended for allow the passage of cables or a linkage system (40), operable from the hatch (35), and intended to actuate or disengage translation blocking members vertical of the platform.

Indeed, and as can be seen in Figures 2 and 3, we equip the installation security latches (38), mounted on the structure of the installation, and in particular at inside the side walls of the tank (25), and in the example described so diametral with respect to the platform. These locks can be operated mechanically or electrically, and are intended to cooperate with indentations or cutouts (39) formed within the side walls of the platform (27). So when these locks are activated, they penetrate within one of these notches, thus opposing the translation of the platform.

These blocking devices essentially provide a safety function in order to avoid any risk of untimely detachment of said platform, either when it is in position maximum maximum, i.e. in the event of sudden acceleration, in particular within the framework of a cylinder failure.

According to another embodiment of the invention, more particularly described in connection with Figures 2 and 3, the compressed air bottle (33) is placed at the level of the lifting platform (27), and becomes accessible by the same principle of a hatch (not shown) formed within the upper wall (28).

As can be seen in Figure 1, when the lifting platform (27) is in the high position, and therefore when the jack (1, 2, 3) is at its maximum stroke, the platform proper is located below the ground (26), so as to allow the translation by pushing or pulling the container (27) out of said platform, and thus allow handling and emptying. This is also clearly observable in the figure 2.

Advantageously, and taking into account the relatively large travel of the translation vertical of the platform, the tank is provided with guide means (36, 37), typically made of metal blades with a certain elasticity.

The operating mode of the jack will now be described in more detail. according to the invention.

The pneumatic telescopic cylinder used in connection with FIG. 4 has been described. within the installation according to the invention. In the example described, this cylinder comprises three coaxial tubes (1, 2, 3), respectively a base tube (1), an intermediate tube (2) and an upper tube (3).

As can be seen in Figure 4, these three tubes are likely to be fitted one into the other in the folded position, the tube (1) resting on a seat, and especially on the ground.

In the example described, the tube (3) has a diameter slightly greater than the tube (2), itself also slightly larger in diameter than the tube (1).

These tubes are typically made of stainless steel. They define a closed volume in order to allow the storage and especially the pressure transmission generated by, in particular, air introduced at the arrow (4) in FIG. 4 by means of a pipe (6). This pipe is typically a spiral pipe, made of plastic, by example in polyamide 11, as marketed under the registered trademark RILSAN

As can be seen in Figure 4, when the cylinder is in the folded position, the pipe (6) is folded in the form of a coil (17) which is housed within a compartment (16) formed at the base of the upper tube (3).

As can be better seen in Figure 5 in particular, this tube (6) has in addition to the compressed air inlet inlet (4), also of two outlets, respectively (9), opening at the intermediate tube (2), and (8), opening at the tube upper (3). In this way, when the inlet (4) of the pipe (6) is connected to an air source tablet (not shown), and for example consisting of a hyperbaric bottle, air is routed at the level of the two volumes thus defined.

In parallel and according to another characteristic of the invention, the actuator has means sealing one tube with respect to the other, which has been shown in more detail in level of figure 6.

More specifically, there is in the illustrated case, consisting of three tubes, two sealing systems reference (12) and (14) in Figure 5.

This sealing system basically consists of a toroid (20) shown in Figure 6 at rest. This torus, typically made of rubber and in particular in a inflatable elastic structure, is intended to be inflated by means of an air inlet (5), level of two transfer members (11) and (13) via a pipe (7) of a type similar to the pipe (6) described above. More specifically, the inflation of this sealing system is carried out by means of a network mounted in series, and comprising a first pipe (7), capable of extending within the upper tube (3) between a inlet (5) and a first transfer member (11) integral with the intermediate tube (2) and communicating with the first sealing torus, then a second pipe (22) extending between said transfer member (11), within the intermediate tube (2) up to a second transfer member (13) integral with the base tube (1), and communicating with the second sealing toroid.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the first transfer member (11), rigid, allows the pipes (7) and (22), thus mounted in series, to communicate, and in addition to route the air towards the torus entering the constitution of the first means sealing.

Furthermore, and like what happens for the pipe (6), the pipes (7) and (22) are stored in the reel state, respectively (18) and (19) when the cylinder is in position folded, at the bases (9) and (15) respectively of the upper tube (3) and the tube intermediate (2).

The torus (20) comes into contact with a guide and friction shoe (21), extending radially and peripherally with respect to said torus, and interposed between the torus and the inner surface of the adjacent tube.

This shoe (21) is made of elastomer, or even of polyamide 6/6, as sold under the well-known brand NYLON ®. On the one hand, it is intended to guide the upper tube with respect to the intermediate tube, respectively of the intermediate type by compared to the lower tube, and on the other hand, to be conferred by the friction force generated by the torus (20), in particular the air tightness between each of these tubes.

Furthermore, this pad also plays a function of adapting the shape of the tubes, and in particular any ovalization defects likely to be encountered, especially for large tubes, and therefore allows to accept relatively tolerances important in terms of geometric characteristics of said tubes.

The mode of operation of this jack will be described in more detail.

When in the folded position, air is simultaneously introduced at the inlets (4) and (5) from different sources, or from the same source, one of the outputs of which is fitted with a pressure limiter. The pressure introduced at the level of the toroids (20) is voluntarily limited to 500 g, so as not to generate excessive friction forces between the tubes, while providing the required seal between the tubes (1) and (2) and respectively (2) and (3).

At the same time, compressed air is introduced through the inlet (4), for example from a compressed air bottle which, as mentioned above, will respectively be stored at the volume level defined within the tube (2) and the tube (3) through the inputs (9) and (8).

As can be seen in Figure 4, the base (16) of the upper tube (3) comes to nest in the base (15) of the intermediate tube (2), so that when air is introduced into the volume defined at the base (15), there is a progressive upward displacement of the assembly constituted by the intermediate tube (2) and the upper tube (3), then when the tube (2) is completely removed from the tube (1), movement up the tube (3) by relative to the intermediate tube (2).

Of course, the respective travel of the tubes (2) and (3) is structurally limited to by means of a lower stop, so as to avoid any risk of dismantling the tubes together compared to others.

Once the cylinder in the developed position, to obtain the unfolded position, simply allow the release of the air contained in the tubes (2) and (3) in order to achieve gradually to their respective sliding within the lower tubes (2) and (1)

We therefore understand the great simplicity of use of the installation according to the invention, which independently of the environmental protection aspects sought, to use standard containers, and from garbage emptying vehicles also standard, requiring only a single bottle as an activation source compressed air, therefore very particularly compact.

Furthermore, by the use of a telescopic pneumatic cylinder, it is soundproofed significantly the implementation of the installation, that is to say in particular during the translation phases of the platform, thereby reducing the nuisance caused by container emptying operations.

Finally, given the multiplicity of possible applications at the level of container, including technical room, storage and storage area, container mobile or not, the installation is particularly interesting, as soon as one wish to have the retract function.

Claims (7)

Installation for the retractable storage of a container, in particular intended to collect waste, to act as a technical room or to serve as a place of storage and / or arrangement, comprising a pit (25) made from the upper surface of the ground ( 26), intended to receive an elevating platform (27) capable of being moved in vertical translation by means of a telescopic pneumatic cylinder (1, 2, 3) supplied by an external or internal fluid source, between two positions extremes, respectively a lower position, in which the container (30) is completely retracted, and an upper position, in which the base of the container (30) is located at the same level as the ground (26), characterized: in that the telescopic pneumatic cylinder comprises a plurality of coaxial tubes (1 - 3) capable of fitting into each other, and comprising means for conveying the air or the activation fluid within said tubes, and means for sealing against said fluid a tube with respect to the adjacent tube, and in that the sealing means consist of a torus made of an inflatable material, formed at the periphery of the tubes, said torus being intended to be filled with air or fluid, also conveyed by an independent spiral and flexible pipe means for conveying air or activating fluid within the tubes, said torus being intended to cooperate with a guide and friction pad, extending radially and peripherally relative to said torus, and intended to come into contact with the lateral face of the tube consecutive to the tube carrying the torus, under the action of said torus. Installation for the retractable storage of container according to claim 1, characterized in that it is provided with locking means (38), actuated automatically or by the user, and intended to cooperate with cutouts or notches (39) formed along the side walls of the platform (27), in order to oppose, when they are actuated, the translation of said platform as soon as the translation stops, in particular when the platform (27) reaches the upper position, or in the event of a failure of the pneumatic system during the descent or ascent of said platform within the pit. Installation for the retractable storage of container according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the lifting platform (27) is provided with lateral partitions (31), intended to limit the movement of the container (30). Installation for the retractable storage of container according to claim 3, characterized in that the lateral partitions (31) are surmounted by an upper wall (28), parallel to the platform (37), and intended to receive a chute reception (29), suitable for allowing the collection of waste and its transfer within the underlying container (30). Installation for the retractable storage of container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the means for conveying the air or the activation fluid within the tubes are constituted by a spiral and flexible pipe, s 'extending from the upper end of the tube intended to ensure the greatest stroke up to the level of the upper end of the base tube, said tube being capable of communicating with the interior of the tubes in question with the exception of said tube basic. Installation for the retractable storage of container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pads are made of a material chosen from the group comprising neoprenes, polyamide 6/6, polytetrafluoroethylene. Installation for the retractable storage of container according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the inflation of the sealing means is effected by means of a network mounted in series, and comprising a first pipe, capable of s' extend within the upper tube between an inlet and a first transfer member secured to the intermediate tube and communicating with the first sealing toroid, then a second pipe extending between said transfer member, within the intermediate tube to a second transfer member secured to the base tube, and communicating with the second sealing toroid.

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