Solar-powered waste compactor and method of operation thereof

A method of powering a compactor ram of a waste compactor, comprising the steps of:

• providing a motor/pump assembly including first and second pumps for providing pressurized hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly associated with the compactor ram, and a directional control valve in fluid communication with both said motor/pump assembly and said hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly for selectively controlling the hydraulic fluid flow to/from said hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly for extending and retracting said compactor ram;
• providing said hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly with hydraulic fluid generated by both first and second pumps when an operating pressure of the pump assembly is less than a predetermined threshold;
• and
• providing said hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly with hydraulic fluid generated only the first pump when the operating pressure of the pump assembly is greater than the predetermined threshold;
• controlling said directional control valve to selectively operate said hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly in extending and retracting modes of operation.

A method of powering a compactor ram of a waste compactor, comprising the steps of:

• providing a waste container for housing waste;
• providing a compactor ram actuated by a hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly for compacting the waste in said waste container;
• and
• providing a hydraulic power unit operably associated with said hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly for powering said compactor ram, said hydraulic power unit comprising:
• a motor/pump assembly including a pump unit, a single-phase electric motor driving said pump unit for selectively providing hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly and a flow control valve operating said motor/pump assembly at a first flow rate of the hydraulic fluid when an operating pressure of said pump unit is less than a predetermined threshold value and operating said motor/pump assembly at a second flow rate of the hydraulic fluid when the operating pressure of said pump unit is greater than the predetermined threshold value;
• a battery unit for storing electrical energy and for providing the electrical energy to said single-phase electric motor;
• a solar panel for converting solar energy to electrical energy to charge said battery unit;
• providing a DC-to-AC inverter converting a direct current from said battery unit into a single-phase alternating current;
• providing a single-phase AC power inlet connectable to a source of a single-phase electrical power grid;
• and
• providing a reversing contactor including first contactor provided between said DC-to-AC inverter and said single-phase electric motor and a second contactor provided between said single-phase AC power inlet and said single-phase electric motor, said reversing contactor preventing said first and second contactors from closing connections thereof at the same time so as to provide the electric current only from one of said DC-to-AC inverter and said single-phase AC power inlet at any given time and to prevent backflow of electrical current to either said DC-to-AC inverter or to the electrical power grid.