Aircraft trash collection and compacting apparatus

Abstract

A trash collection and compacting apparatus primarily intended for use onboard an aircraft comprising a stationary compactor unit and interrelated movable trolley unit, the trolley unit having a plurality of separate trash collection chambers into which trash is deposited and compacted. The trolley unit includes wheels for moving the trolley through an aircraft for the collection of trash, and support rails for supporting the trolley unit on the compactor unit for the direct compaction of trash in the trolley. The compactor unit includes a compaction ram mounted on a carriage assembly for movement into discrete positions overlying each collection chamber of the trolley unit, and supports the trolley so that compaction forces are not transmitted to the aircraft. The trolley unit includes separable sides and dividing panels which facilitate the removal of compacted trash within the chambers, and has multiple fail safe locks and latches to ensure that the sides and panels are not inadvertently separated during trash collection and compaction. The trolley unit is also provided with fire doors to close the chambers, and removable trash bins are disposed in each trash chamber to facilitate handling of compacted trash, the bins having separable sides for emptying the compacted trash therefrom.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.