Method for discharging refuse

Abstract

A device for discharging refuse through a discharge pipe being in communication with a hopper having an outlet through which refuse is successively introduced into the discharge pipe from a vacuum transport system performs the following operations: A compactor gate is advanced into the discharge pipe in a direction perpendicular to the length dimension of the discharge pipe at a location between the hopper outlet and a discharge outlet to block the internal longitudinal passage thereof to substantially prevent air from being drawn into the vacuum transport system through discharge outlet and the hopper. Thereafter, a compactor pusher is repeatedly reciprocated in the discharge pipe from a withdrawn limit position in which communication between the hopper outlet and the discharge pipe is open, towards the lowered compactor gate to accumulate and compress successively introduced refuse between the compactor pusher and the compactor gate. While the compactor pusher is reciprocating, the compactor gate is withdrawn to clear the discharge pipe passage when the refuse compressed between the compactor pusher and the compactor gate has reached a sufficient density to form a substantially vacuum tight plug. During continued reciprocation of the compactor pusher and in timed coordination therewith, an edge of the compactor gate firmly clamps a refuse portion against the discharge pipe, while the reciprocating compactor pusher is being withdrawn to the withdrawn limit position, and the compactor gate is withdrawn from the refuse clamping position to clear the discharge pipe passage, while the reciprocating compactor pusher is moving from the withdrawn limit position into the discharge pipe to forward the refuse previously accumulated and compressed towards and through the discharge outlet of the discharge pipe.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.