Systems and methods for deployment of a compacting head in a waste compartment
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorDarren C. McIntosh
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An example system for deployment of a compacting head in a waste compartment includes an eutectic alloy fusible link positioned within a waste compartment that breaks at or above a predetermined temperature, a spring tensioned deploy lever that is deployed based on a break of the eutectic alloy fusible link, a pivotal joint assembly that collapses based on deployment of the deploy lever, and a compacting head of a trash compactor that is deployed to compact contents of the waste compartment based on collapse of the pivotal joint assembly.
Claims20
A system for deployment of a compacting head in a waste compartment, comprising:
- an eutectic alloy fusible link positioned within a waste compartment that breaks at or above a predetermined temperature;
- a spring tensioned deploy lever that is deployed based on a break of the eutectic alloy fusible link;
- a pivotal joint assembly that collapses based on deployment of the deploy lever, wherein the pivotal joint assembly comprises:
- an upper channel coupled to a lower channel via a pivot joint and a holding joint secured by a ball detent;
- and
- a compacting head of a trash compactor that is deployed to compact contents of the waste compartment based on collapse of the pivotal joint assembly.
A waste compartment, comprising;
- a waste bin for contents;
- a manually operated trash compactor coupled to a ceiling of the waste compartment and manually operable to deploy a compacting head to compact the contents in the waste bin toward a floor of the waste bin;
- and
- a system coupled to the manually operated trash compactor, the system comprising:
- an eutectic alloy fusible link that breaks at or above a predetermined temperature;
- a spring tensioned deploy lever that is deployed based on a break of the eutectic alloy fusible link;
- and
- a pivotal joint assembly that collapses based on deployment of the deploy lever causing deployment of the compacting head, wherein the pivotal joint assembly comprises:
- an upper channel coupled to a lower channel via a pivot joint and a holding joint secured by a ball detent.
A method for deployment of a compacting head in a waste compartment, comprising:
- positioning an eutectic alloy fusible link within a waste compartment that breaks at or above a predetermined temperature;
- deploying a spring tensioned deploy lever based on a break of the eutectic alloy fusible link;
- collapsing a pivotal joint assembly based on deployment of the deploy lever, wherein the pivotal joint assembly comprises an upper channel coupled to a lower channel via a pivot joint and a holding joint secured by a ball detent and based on deployment of the deploy lever, the deploy lever applying a force to the lower channel causing the ball detent to compress and the upper channel to rotate with respect to the lower channel along the pivot joint, thus collapsing the pivotal joint assembly;
- and
- deploying a compacting head of a trash compactor to compact contents of the waste compartment based on collapse of the pivotal joint assembly.
A system for deployment of a compacting head in a waste compartment, comprising:
- an eutectic alloy fusible link positioned within a waste compartment that breaks at or above a predetermined temperature;
- a spring tensioned deploy lever that is deployed based on a break of the eutectic alloy fusible link;
- a pivotal joint assembly that collapses based on deployment of the deploy lever;
- a compacting head of a trash compactor that is deployed to compact contents of the waste compartment based on collapse of the pivotal joint assembly;
- a gas strut coupled to the pivotal joint assembly and a support rod, wherein the gas strut is in an extended configuration with the compacting head of the trash compactor in a stowed position,
- wherein based on manual retraction of the support rod, the gas strut compresses and is operated to deploy the compacting head of the trash compactor to compact contents of the waste compartment, and
- wherein based on collapse of the pivotal joint assembly, the pivotal joint assembly pulls the gas strut in the extended configuration causing retraction of the support rod to deploy the compacting head of the trash compactor to compact contents of the waste compartment.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.