US 4,953,109 AGranted

Automated trash compactor system

AssigneeDesign Rite, LLC

InventorStephen A. Burgis

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Abstract

An automated trash compaction system having an hydraulic cylinder displacing a ram to compact trash in a mobile trash container and having an electronic control unit controlling the displacement of the ram. The electronic control unit generates a ram forward signal in response to a start signal, generates a part-full signal in response to electrical current being supplied to an electric motor driving a fluid pump exceeding a part-full value, and generates a full signal in response to the current being supplied to the electric motor exceeding a full value. After a predetermined full stroke time or upon the generation of the full signal, the electronic control unit terminates the ram forward signal and generates a ram return signal returning the ram to a retracted position. The ram return signal is terminated when the current to the electric motor exceeds a predetermined value. The electronic control also has calibration subroutines for automatically generating the predetermined full stoke time, the part-full value and the full value.

Claims48

Dependent claims

An automated trash compaction system for compacting trash in a trash compactor comprising:

compactor means connected to said trash container, said compactor means having a ram;
an hydraulic cylinder for displacing said ram in a forward direction to compact the trash in said trash container and in a reverse direction to return said ram to a retracted position;
a fluid pump for providing a pressurized fluid to said hydraulic cylinder;
a solenoid valve disposed between said fluid pump and said hydraulic cylinder, said solenoid vavle having at least at first state in response to a ram forward signal direction said pressurized fluid to a forward input of said hydraulic cylinder causing said hydralic cylinder to displace said ram in said forward direction and switchable to at least a second state in response to a ram reverse signal directing said pressurized fluid to a reverse input of said hydraulic cylinder causing said hydraulic cylinder to displace said ram in said verse direction;
and electric motor for actuating said fluid pump;
a current sensor for generating a current signal having a value corresponding to the value of the electric current being used by said electric motor;
means for generating a start signal;
and
an electronic control unit having means for generating said ram forward signal for a predetermined period of time in response to said start signal, means for generating a part-full signal in response to said ram forward signal and in response to said current signal exceeding a full value, means for generating said reverse signal in response to the expiration of said predetermined period of time, and means for terminating said reverse signal when said current signal exceeds a stop value.

6 more elements

An electronic control for a trash compaction system having a ram displaceable by an hydraulic cylinder, a pump for generating a pressurized fluid for actuating said hydraulic cylinder, a solenoid valve controlling the pressurized fluid flow to said hydraulic cylinder, said solenoid valve having a least a first state in which said pressurized fluid causes said hydraulic cylinder to displace said ram in a first direction in response to a ram forward signal and at least a second state causing said hydraulic cylinder to displace said ram in a reverse direction in response to a reverse ram signal, an electric motor for driving said pump and a start switch for generating a start signal and for applying electrical current to sasid electric motor, said electronic control comprising:

a current sensor for generating a current signal having a value corresponding to the value of the electrical current being applied to said electric motor;
means for generating said ram forward signal for a full stroke time in response to said start signal;
means for generating a part-full signal in response to said ram forward signal and said current signal exceeding a part-full value;
means for generating a full signal in response to said ram forward signal and said current signal exceeding a full value;
means for generating said ram reverse signal in response to the expiration of said full stroke time;
and
means for terminating said ram reverse signal in response to said current signal exceeding a predetermined value.

4 more elements

A method for controlling the operation of a trash compaction system having a trash container, a ram displaceable by an hydraulic cylinder for compacting said trash in said trash container, a pump for generating a pressurized fluid, a solenoid valve for controlling the application of said pressurized fluid to said hydralic cylinder, said solenoid valve having a first state in response to a ram forward signal causing said hydraulic cylinder to displace said ram in a forward direction compacting said trash in said trash container and a second state in response to a ram reverse signal causing said ram to move in a direction opposite said forward direction, an electric motor for actuating said pump, and a start switch for generating a start signal, said method comprising the steps of:

sensing the electrical current being applied to said electric motor to generate a current signal;
generating said ram forward signal for a full stroke time in response to said start signal;
generating a part-full signal in response to said ram forward signal and said current signal exceeding a part-full value;
generating a full signal in response to said ram forward signal and said current signal exceeding a full value;
generating a ram reverse signal in response to the termination of said ram forward signal;
and
terminating said ram reverse signal when said current signal exceeds a stop value.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.