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US 11,827,467 B2Granted
Debris carts and systems and methods of using same
AssigneeRichard S. Burns & Company, Inc.
InventorAllen T. Burns
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for processing debris from job sites are disclosed. Carts for receiving the debris are also disclosed. Each cart has a base, a plurality of wheels extending downwardly from the base relative to a vertical axis, and a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the base. The walls and the base of each cart cooperate to define a debris-receiving space. The carts can be engaged by a lifting apparatus that rotates along an arcuate path to position the carts in an unloading position.
Claims22
A system for processing debris, the system comprising:
- a plurality of bins capable of receiving debris, each bin comprising:
- a base assembly having a base that is configured for selective movement about and between an open position and a closed position, and an actuator operatively coupled to the base and operable to effect selective movement of the base about and between the open position and the closed position;
- and
- a plurality of walls coupled to and extending upwardly from the base, wherein the plurality of walls and the base cooperate to define an interior space;
- a downstream conveyor assembly configured to deliver debris toward the plurality of bins, wherein the downstream conveyor assembly has a top surface that is positioned in communication with at least one wall of each bin of the plurality of bins to facilitate delivery of debris into the interior space of each bin;
- a plurality of sensors, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is positioned proximate a respective bin of the plurality of bins, wherein each sensor is configured to produce an output indicative of a desired amount of debris within the respective bin;
- an indicator in communication with the sensor and configured to receive the output from the sensor, wherein, upon receipt of the output, the indicator produces an alert corresponding to the output, wherein the alert comprises an audible alert, a visual alert, a signal transmitted to a remote device, or a combination thereof;
- a remote device that receives the alert, wherein the remote device is a computer, a mobile phone, a remote control, a tablet, or a handheld device,
- wherein as the base of each bin moves from the closed position toward the open position, the base is configured to dispense debris from the interior space of the bin through the base, and
- wherein, following activation of the alert, the remote device is configured to produce an activation signal, wherein upon receipt of the activation signal by the actuator, the actuator effects movement of the base from the closed position toward the open position to permit unloading of the debris from the interior space of the respective bin of the plurality of bins.
7 more elements
A system for processing debris, the system comprising:
- a plurality of bins capable of receiving debris, each bin comprising:
- a base assembly having a base that is configured for selective movement about and between an open position and a closed position, and an actuator operatively coupled to the base and operable to effect selective movement of the base about and between the open position and the closed position;
- and
- a plurality of walls coupled to and extending upwardly from the base, wherein the plurality of walls and the base cooperate to define an interior space,
- wherein as the base of each bin moves from the closed position toward the open position, the base is configured to dispense debris from the interior space of the bin through the base;
- a downstream conveyor assembly configured to deliver debris toward the plurality of bins, wherein the downstream conveyor assembly has a top surface that is positioned in communication with at least one wall of each bin of the plurality of bins to facilitate delivery of debris into the interior space of each bin;
- at least one cart having a base, a plurality of wheels extending downwardly from the base relative to a vertical axis, and a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the base, wherein the walls and the base of each cart cooperate to define a debris-receiving space;
- a lifting apparatus having at least one arm assembly configured to engage a portion of the base of a respective cart of the at least one cart when the cart is in a resting position, wherein, following engagement between the at least one arm assembly and the cart, the at least one arm assembly of the lifting apparatus is selectively rotatable relative to a rotational axis to move the cart about and between the resting position and an unloading position, and wherein the cart reaches the unloading position following rotational movement of the at least one arm assembly of the lifting apparatus along an arcuate path having an arc length ranging from about 130 degrees to about 170 degrees,
- wherein the downstream conveyor assembly is configured to receive debris after the debris has been unloaded from the at least one cart.
6 more elements
A method of processing debris, comprising:
- positioning a plurality of bins along a downstream conveyor assembly having a top surface, each bin comprising a base assembly having a base that is configured for selective movement about and between an open position and a closed position, and an actuator operatively coupled to the base and operable to effect selective movement of the base about and between the open position and the closed position, and a plurality of walls coupled to and extending upwardly from the base, wherein the plurality of walls and the base cooperate to define an interior space, and wherein the top surface of the downstream conveyor is positioned in communication with at least one wall of each bin of the plurality of bins to facilitate delivery of debris into the interior space of each bin;
- providing at least one cart to a jobsite, each cart having a base, a plurality of wheels extending downwardly from the base relative to a vertical axis, and a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the base, wherein the walls and the base of each cart cooperate to define a debris-receiving space;
- transporting the at least one cart from the jobsite to a debris processing facility, the debris processing facility comprising a lifting apparatus and an upstream conveyor assembly;
- effecting engagement between at least one arm assembly of a lifting apparatus and a first cart of the at least one cart;
- and
- following engagement between the at least one arm assembly and the first cart, selectively rotating the at least one arm assembly of the lifting apparatus relative to a rotational axis to move the first cart from a resting position to an unloading position, wherein the first cart reaches the unloading position following rotational movement of the at least one arm assembly of the lifting apparatus along an arcuate path having an arc length ranging from about 130 degrees to about 170 degrees, wherein the downstream conveyor assembly receives debris after the debris has been unloaded from the at least one cart;
- transporting debris along the top surface of the downstream conveyor assembly relative to a conveyor axis;
- selectively moving the debris into at least one bin of the plurality of bins;
- activating the actuator to effect movement of the base of the at least one bin from the closed position toward the open position;
- and
- unloading debris from the at least one bin into at least one container positioned below the at least one bin and configured to receive the debris that is unloaded from the at least one bin.
8 more elements
The method of claim of 21, wherein the at least one cart comprises a plurality of carts, and wherein the method further comprises unloading debris from each cart of the plurality of carts, transporting the debris from each cart of the plurality of carts toward the plurality of bins, selectively distributing the debris from each cart of the plurality of carts into the plurality of bins, measuring the weight of each bin of the plurality of bins, and determining a total weight of debris within the plurality of bins.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.