Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: WASTE PIPE BRANCHING
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention generally concerns vacuum operated waste collection and
specifically
relates to piping for transporting waste in such systems and being provided
with one or several
branchings that are diverted therefrom to conduct air and waste flow in and/or
to the piping.
BACKGROUND
In vacuum operated waste collection systems, whether of the stationary or the
mobile type, it is
common that transport piping of the system contains a number of branchings
connected to or
diverted from a main pipe. Such branchings may be provided either for dividing
a pipe system
(piping) into several branches or sections or for directly connecting a waste
deposit and/or
collection point, such as a free-standing waste inlet or a waste chute, to a
transport pipe through
a waste discharge valve. In the traditional waste pipe system such branchings
form potential
causes of disturbance to the operation of the system. By any branching
provided in a waste pipe
system, waste transported in an active branch or main pipe will, due to
pressure variations, have
a tendency toward backwardly entering a branched off pipe or waste deposit
unit as it passes the
latter. In system sectioning branchings these types of problems may at least
partly be solved by
using comparatively expensive sectioning valves. In the case of connections
for waste deposit or
waste collection points sufficient branching area is required below the
discharge valves since
they are mostly of the flap type requiring considerable space for their
opening movement.
In such vacuum operated waste transport pipe systems, each branching in itself
and/or the area
below each sectioning or discharge valve inevitably leads to a local widening
of the pipe
cross-sectional area, with a resulting demand for an increased overall vacuum
capacity that in
turn causes an increased energy consumption of the system. Specifically, the
branching and/or
waste collection unit connections cause general turbulence and pressure
variation problems
with substantial pressure drops and general air speed reduction problems,
which all affect the
required system vacuum capacity.
In view of the above, there is a general demand within this technical field
for improvements
providing cost effective and thereby environmentally favourable waste
transport.
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SUMMARY
It is a general object of the present invention to provide improved waste
transport in transpor-t
piping of a vacuum operated waste collection system.
A specific object of the invention is to suggest a cost effective and
environmentally favourable
method of transporting waste in transport piping of a vacuum operated waste
collection system
containing branchings for sectioning the piping and/or for connecting waste
collection units.
Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved branching
connector for
enabling cost effective and environmentally favourable waste transport in
waste transport
piping of a vacuum operated waste collection system containing piping having
sectioning
branchings and/or branchings for connecting waste collection units.
These and other objects are met by the invention as defined by the
accompanying patent claims.
The invention generally concerns the transport of deposited waste by means of
vacuum in
waste transport piping of a waste collection system that is sectioned and/or
contains waste
collection units communicating with the piping. In such a system branch pipes
and/or waste
collection units are connected to the piping through branching connections
with branching
orifices in the waste transport pipe, for introducing waste into the transport
pipe during an
active phase of an associated branch pipe and/or waste collection unit. A
basic idea of the
invention is to achieve the above stated objects by providing essentially
improved transport
conditions in the system transport piping. Briefly, this is done by completing
substantially the
full, uninterrupted circumferential surface of said transport pipe in the area
of the associated
branch pipe and waste collection unit, respectively, in an inactive phase of
the latter.
In an embodiment of the invention, branch pipe or collection unit
communication with the
waste transport pipe through the orifices is controlled by causing a
respective valve to be
extended into the waste transport pipe during active phases of associated
branch pipes or
waste collection units and by causing the valve to be extended flush with the
surface of tlie
waste transport pipe during inactive phases of the respective branching or
collection unit,
thereby closing the orifice.
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In accordance with another aspect of the invention efficient waste transport
is achieved in
transport piping of vacuum operated waste collection systems by including
improved branching
connectors therein, for connecting branch pipes and/or waste collection units
in communication
with waste transport pipes through branching orifices. A basic idea of this
aspect of the invention
is to provide a branching connector having a connector valve supported near
the orifice for
movement between a position covering the orifice in an inactive phase of an
associated branch
pipe and/or waste collection unit and a position exposing the orifice and
partially blocking the
waste transport pipe in an active phase of said branch pipe and/or waste
collection unit.
In one embodiment of this aspect of the invention the branching connector
comprises a first
connector portion having first and second open ends and in an installed
condition forming part of
a waste transport pipe, a second connector portion having an upper end and a
bottom end being
attached to and opening into an orifice in the first connector portion and
extending generally at
an angle to the first portion. In practical further developments of this
embodiment, the first and
second connector portions may each have a right-angular cross-section at least
in an area of
mutual attachment, the connector valve may consist of a single lid that in the
inactive phase of
the branch pipe and/or waste collection unit provides an at least
substantially fluid tight seal for
the orifice and the single lid may be pivotal or alternatively slideable
between positions
covering and exposing the orifice.
In another embodiment of this aspect of the invention the branching connector
comprises a
connector portion that with an upper end communicates with a waste collection
unit of the
waste collection system and that with a bottom end is attached to a waste
transport pipe,
enclosing a branching orifice in the transport pipe, and a connector valve
consisting of two
lids each being supported by the waste transport pipe close to an edge of the
branching orifice.
In practical further developments of this embodiment the valve lids are
pivotal in opposite
directions around a respective hinge, between open downwardly pivoted and
closed upwardly
pivoted positions.
In yet another aspect of the invention a branching connector of the invention
is used to divide
waste flows, whereby different waste fractions that at separate times are
transported in the
system are routed into different waste fraction storing or collecting members.
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Advantages offered by the present invention, in addition to those described
above, will be readily
appreciated upon reading the below detailed description of embodiments of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be
best understood by
reference to the following description taken together with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a schematical illustration of exemplary vacuum waste collection
systems
wherein the invention may be applied;
Fig. 2 is a partial, schematical side view of a waste transport pipe branching
area with
a first embodiment of a branching connector of the invention installed;
Fig. 3 is a partial, schematical end view of the waste pipe branching area of
Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is a top view of a branching connector of Figs. 2 and 3;
Fig. 5 is a partly schematical longitudinal section through the branching
connector of Fig.
4, along line A-A in Fig. 4;
Fig. 6 is a schematical perspective view of a longitudinal section through the
branching connector of Figs. 4 and 5, in a first operating mode;
Fig. 7 is a schematical perspective view of a longitudinal section, like in
Fig. 6,
through the branching connector of Figs. 4 and 5, in a second operating mode;
Fig. 8 is a side view of a variation of the branching connector of Figs. 4 and
5, having
an exemplary valve actuator therefore;
Fig. 9 is a schematical side view of a second embodiment of a branching
connector of
the invention, installed in a branching area;
Fig. 10 is a schematical perspective view of a tlurd embodiment of a branching
connector according to the invention, installed in a branching area;
Figs. 11-13 are cross-sections through the branching connector of Fig. 10,
illustrating
different operating modes thereof,
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Figs. 14A-B are schematical views illustrating the use of the branching
connector of the
invention for alternative purposes, and
Figs. 15A-B illustrate an alternative valve lid support configuration in
schematical side and
5 end views, respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The invention will be explained below with reference to exemplifying
embodiments and
applications of inventive branching connectors, which are illustrated in the
accompanying
drawing figures 2-15B. A first embodiment of a branching connector of the
invention is
illustrated in Figs. 2-8, and relates to an application of the inventive
solution to a partially and
schematically outlined waste transport pipe containing a branching used for
sectioning waste
transport piping of a vacuum operated waste collection system. Second and
third embodiments
of installations of branching connectors of the invention are illustrated in
Figs. 9 and 10-13,
respectively, and relate to applications of the inventive solution to
partially and schematically
outlined waste transport pipes containing a branching used for connecting a
waste deposit
and/or collection unit of a vacuum operated waste collection system. It shall
be emphasized,
though, that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing preferred
embodiments of the in-
vention and are not intended to limit the invention to the details thereof
It shall be clarified at this stage, that the term "waste receiving pipe" is
used throughout the
specification to denote any pipe to which is connected a branch pipe or a
waste collection unit
forming a pipe branching therewith, For any such pipe branching the pipe
denoted the "waste
receiving pipe" is therefore in each case the most downstream pipe of the
waste transport
branching and the term "waste supply pipe" on the other hand denotes the most
upstream pipe of
such a branching. To exemplify this, a piping main transport pipe is always a
"waste receiving
pipe" whereas a branch pipe may either be a "waste supply pipe" when
interconnecting to such a
main transport pipe or may in itself be a "waste receiving pipe" in relation
to a waste collection
unit interconnecting therewith at another pipe branching.
In existing vacuum operated systems for the collection and handling of waste
from residential,
office or hospital areas, transport piping of the systems is, at least in all
larger systems, provided
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with pipe branchings that are used either for directly connecting waste
collection units or for
sectioning the piping in several pipe branches. Fig. 1 illustrates typical
examples of such prior
vacuum operated waste systems used for collecting and managing waste. In this
drawing figure is
illustrated a waste system 1 that may be either a stationary type system SS
where waste is
transported to a central station or terminal by means of vacuum generated at
said station, a mobile
type system MS where waste is transported to a waste truck by vacuum generated
onboard the
truck or alternatively a combination of such systems, as disclosed in our
earlier Inteinational
Patent Application PCT/SE2008/050569). The systems 1 typically contain waste
transport piping
2 through which waste is transported from waste deposit or collection units in
the form of free-
standing waste inserts WI, waste chutes WC extending through multi-story
buildings and/or waste
tanks WT and to the waste truck or waste station, respectively. Such system
piping 2 comprises a
main waste receiving transport pipe 2A to which said waste collection units
WI, WC, WT may be
connected either directly or through several waste supply pipe branches 2B-2D.
In each case, a
pipe branching 3 is provided, serving either to connect a waste deposit or
collection unit WI, WC,
WT directly to the waste receiving transport pipe 2A, 2B or to section the
piping 2 by inter-
connecting one or several pipe branches 2B-2D with the main pipe 2A. In both
cases the
collection units/branchings communicate with a receiving transport pipe
through a branching
aperture or orifice (not illustrated in. Fig. 1; refer to Figs. 4, 6, 7, 10)
that forms a discontinuity in
the circumferential surface of the waste receiving transport pipe and through
which waste is
introduced into said waste receiving transport pipe during an active phase of
an associated waste
supply pipe and/or waste collection unit.
In such conventional systems 1 that are sectioned or branched into several
pipe branches 2B-D,
it is in most cases necessary to provide comparatively expensive sectioning
valves SV in each
pipe branch 2B-D. In the absence of such sectioning valves SV, the waste
transport efficiency
and not least the overall waste transport economy of the system 1 and its
piping 2 would be
extremely poor, due to the large volume of the open but inactive branches, in
turn requiring a
high air velocity and thus an overcapacity of the vacuum producing machines.
However, even
with the use of such sectioning valves SV there will be an increase in the
piping cross-section at
the branching 3, leading to the discussed higher air-speed requirement. As was
discussed briefly
in the introduction it is also a known fact that a further consequence of the
conventional
branching 3 is that when waste is transported in "a receiving pipe" past an
inactive branching 3,
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waste will enter the inactive branch "backwardly". Although this is a
manageable problem in
systems where only one waste fraction is transported, it will cause serious
problems in multi-
fraction systems where it is necessary that each fraction arrives at a
collecting station or truck at
a set time so that it does not "pollute" other fractions.
The invention will be explained below with reference to exemplifying
embodiments and vari-
ations thereof that are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures 2-15B.
Said drawing
figures very schematically illustrate embodiments of the invention that may be
employed in
waste collection systems 1 having the general configuration as illustrated in
Fig. 1. It shall be
emphasized, though, that the invention shall not be restricted to any such
specific application
but may instead be used for any applicable type of branching in piping of a
vacuum waste
collection system. It will become clear from the following description that,
within practical
limits, the invention covers embodiments for branching transport piping in
optional ways, as
required for different applications.
To eliminate the described problems and disadvantages, the invention suggests
a new approach
for configuring a branching for waste transport piping 2 of typical vacuum
operated waste
collection systems 1 as exemplified in Fig. 1. According to the invention,
transport efficiency in
such waste transport piping 2 is improved by temporarily completing
substantially the full, un-
interrupted circumferential surface of a waste receiving transport pipe in the
area of an associated
branching for a waste supply pipe or waste collecting unit, in an inactive
phase of the latter.
Expressed otherwise, in the operating phase when waste from other parts of the
system 1 are to be
transported past an inactive branching, the waste receiving transport pipe on
both sides of such a
branching is extended through or past the branching so that the cross-
sectional area of the waste
receiving transport pipe is maintained substantially continuous past the
branching. Such a
branching configuration will provide an efficient and cost effective waste
transport causing
essentially no air pressure reduction, no air speed reduction, no turbulence
problems and/or no
waste backflow into the branching as waste is transported past the latter.
The basic principles of the inventive branching solution for enhancing waste
transport are
described below with reference to Figs. 2-7 that schematically disclose a
first exemplary
embodiment of an inventive branching connector configuration 10 for use in
waste transport
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piping 2 of typical vacuum operated waste collection systems 1, as exemplified
in Fig. 1. This
branching connector 10 comprises a first generally straight connector portion
11 that has first
and second open ends 11A, 11B and that in an installed condition in the piping
2 forms part of
a waste receiving transport pipe 2A of said piping 2; a second connector
portion 12 that has a
first upper end 12A and a second bottom end 12B for attachment to the first
connector portion
11 and opening into a branching orifice 15 (see Figs. 4 and 7) therein. The
second connector
portion 12 extends generally at an angle a to the first portion 11. Said angle
a may for different
applications vary from 90 down to a practical lower limit that need not be
specified here.
In the embodiment of Figs. 2-7 the branching connector first portion 11 has a
right-angular cross-
section, preferably a square cross-section, at least in the area thereof where
the second connector
portion 12 is attached thereto. The second connector portion 12 likewise has a
right angular cross-
section at least in the area of its attachment to the first connector portion
11. In Figs. 2 and 3 the
free ends 11A, 11B and 12A, of the first and second connector portions 11 and
12, respectively,
are provided with transition portions 13 for connection to a waste receiving
transport pipe 2A and
a waste supply pipe 2B-D, respectively, having a circular cross-section. The
side or sides of the
right-angular connector portions 11, 12 are preferably chosen so that said
connector portions have
a cross-sectional area being generally equal to that of the associated waste
receiving and waste
supply pipes 2A, 2B-D. This will secure that there is no substantial increase
in the cross-sectional
area that might otherwise cause turbulence and a decrease in air speed.
A connector valve 17 is supported close to the orifice 15 for movement (double
arrow R in Fig. 5)
between a transport position TP allowing air and waste flow AWl through the
waste receiving
pipe 2A and the first connector portion 11, and a waste supply position SP
allowing air and waste
flow AW2 from the branched off waste supply pipe 2B-2D to the receiving pipe
2A. In Fig. 5 the
reference designation MP denotes a non-fixed transition position for the valve
17 in its movement
between the two distinct end positions TP and SP. The valve 17 is moved to the
transport position
TP, at least partly or substantially covering the orifice 15, when waste is to
be transported in the
waste receiving pipe 2A-D in an inactive phase IP (see Fig. 6) of the branched
off waste supply
pipe 2B-2D, as will be explained further below. Lilcewise, the valve 17 is
moved to the supply
position SP exposing the orifice 15 and at least partially blocking the cross
section of the waste
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receiving pipe and first connector portion 2A-D, 11, in an active phase AP
(see Fig. 7) of the
second connector portion 12 and an associated waste supply pipe 2B-2D.
In this embodiment the connector valve 17 consists of a single valve lid that
in the transport
position TP at least substantially covers the orifice 15. In fact, the lid 17
may or may not
provide an at least substantially vacuum tight seal for the orifice 15. In
cases where the
inventive branching connectors are used for sectioning transport piping and
where the associated
valve lids form a vacuum tight seal against the orifice 15, sectioning valves
SV may be
dispensed with altogether. In the supply position SP the valve lid 17 may or
may not leave open
a reduced flow area in the first connector portion 11, past the valve lid 17.
The valve lid 17 may
be supported freely rotatable on or by means of a pivot pin 18, whereby the
position of the valve
lid 17 is controlled by gravity and by vacuum air flow through the first or
second connector
portions 11 and 12. In an alternative configuration of this embodiment of the
branching
connector 10 (see Fig. 8) the connector valve lid 17 may likewise be supported
on a pivot pin 18
but is rotatable (double arrow R) between the transport TP and supply SP
positions by means of
an actuator means 19. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the actuator 19 is in this
case a fluid cylinder,
preferably a pneumatic cylinder, being pivotally attached at its rear end 20
to the exterior of the
connector 10. A free end 22 of the piston rod 21 of the actuator 19 is
mechanically, pivotally
connected to the valve lid 17 through a link arm 23 and the pivot pin 18. In
the case where it is
desirable to leave open a reduced flow area in the supply position (indicated
at SP2 in Fig. 5) this
is preferably achieved by physically stopping the lid 17 in a position where a
free end thereof is
distanced from a bottom wall of the first connector portion 11, such as by
means of a not
illustrated physical stop in association with the pivot pin 18 or the link arm
23.
A method of operating the described branching connector according to the
invention shall now be
briefly explained with reference specifically to Figs. 6-7. In an inactive
phase IP (Fig. 6) of the
second connector portion 12 and of the associated waste supply pipe (not
illustrated in Figs 6 and
7), coinciding with the system condition for allowing a flow AWl of suction
air and waste W
through the first connector portion 11 and the associated waste receiving pipe
(likewise not
illustrated here), the connector valve 17 is caused to at least partly cover
the orifice 15. Specifi-
cally, this is done by causing the valve lid 17 to swing upwardly, as
described either automatically
by the air flow in the first connector portion 11 or forced by an actuator 19,
to the transport
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position TP, being extended substantially flush with the upper circumferential
surface of the first
connector portion 11. This action closes the branching orifice 15 and serves
to complete substanti-
ally the full, uninterrupted circumferential surface of said first connector
portion 11 and thereby of
the entire waste receiving transport pipe during said waste supply inactive
phase IP.
5
In an active phase AP (see Fig. 7) of the second connection portion 12 and of
the associated waste
supply pipe, coinciding with the system condition for allowing a flow AW2 of
suction air and
waste W through said second connector portion 12, the connector valve 17 is
caused to move to
the supply position SP where it is extended into the first connector portion
11 and the
10 associated waste receiving transport pipe, opening and exposing the
branching orifice 15. This is
done by causing the valve lid 17 to swing downwardly, as described either
automatically by
gravity and air flow in the second connector portion 12 or forced by an
actuator 19, to the supply
position SP. In other words, in said supply position SP the valve 17 opens the
branching orifice 15
to permit flow AW2 of air and waste W therethrough and to at least partially
block the cross-
sectional area of the first connector portion 11 and thereby of the waste
receiving transport pipe.
The invention, as described, provides significant advantages over the prior
art and the most
important benefits obtained thereby, are as follows:
- By closing the inactive branch pipe, waste is prevented from entering the
branch pipe back-
wardly, which may otherwise occur due to turbulence-induced pressure
variations resulting
from the air and waste transport. In systems where different waste fractions
are transported
such closing of inactive supply branches leads to cleaner, non-polluted
fractions.
- A vacuum tight closing of inactive supply branches also means that the
conventional
sectioning valves may in most cases be eliminated. Such an elimination of the
sectioning
valves results in a major cost reduction and also allows for a reduction of
the air speed
since the use of the connector valve removes an otherwise existing cross-
sectional area
increase under the sectioning valve, that adversely affects the waste
transport.
- For an entire waste collection system the use of branching connectors of the
invention
would additionally lead to reduced energy consumption due to the fact that
leakage
from inactive branches may be reduced, even in case the connector valve is not
made
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completely fluid tight in the transport position and due to the fact that the
air speed of
the waste transport air flow may be reduced as a consequence of the eliminated
cross-
sectional area expansions in the transport piping. Likewise, a reduced
pressure drop
through the branchings is achieved due to the reduced turbulence and in turn
allows for
a reduction of the required fan capacity and installed effect.
- The branching connector has a simple geometry and is easy to manufacture at
a com-
paratively low cost. It may be regarded as a bend or alternatively as a
straight pipe since
the flow at all times goes only one way.
- The overall volume of the piping will be reduced so that the system becomes
"stiffer",
meaning that there is a smaller active transport piping volume and that
emptying may
therefore be speeded up, since it talces less time to evacuate air and to
build vacuum.
- Determining the location of the main wear of the branching will be easier
and it will
likewise be easier to compensate for such wear at the actual "impact location"
instead of
over-dimensioning the entire branching. Wear plates may easily be applied to
such "impact
areas" that will be clearly defmable already by the manufacturing. This means
that it
will not be necessary to provide thick and/or expensive material in the entire
branching.
An alternative embodiment of the branching connector according to the
invention will now be
described with reference to Fig. 9. Here, the described basic inventive
principles are employed
for connecting the downstream outlet pipe 24 from a discharge valve 25 of
conventional waste
inlets WI (examples of such waste inlets are disclosed in our earlier European
Patent No. EP 1
401 742 B1) or waste chutes WC, to the waste receiving pipe in the form of a
main transport
pipe 2A or a branch pipe 2B-D in piping 2 of a waste collection system 1 of
the general kind
illustrated in Fig. 1. In this second embodiment the branching connector 10'
is similar to the one
of the described first embodiment. The main difference is that the second
connector portion 12'
of the branching connector 10' connects essentially at a right angle a' to the
first connector
portion 11', enclosing the orifice 15' therein. In the illustrated embodiment
the outlet pipe 24
has a conventional circular cross-section and connects to the second connector
portion 12'
through a transition portion 13'. However, it shall be emphasized that the
invention covers also
configurations where the outlet pipe 24 from the discharge valve 25 has a
corresponding right-
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angular cross-section and connects directly to said second connector portion
12' or where the
connector portions likewise have a round or circular cross-section.
For the operation of this embodiment of the connector 10' and connector valve
17', the valve lid
may preferably be directly mechanically connected, through an indicated link
19', to con-
ventional means 26 - including a pneumatic cylinder and a linkage - for
operating the respective
discharge valve 25, so that the connector valve 17' follows the movement of
the discharge valve
25. In its fully open position the connector valve 17', shall preferably not
completely close the
waste receiving pipe 2A-D/first connector portion 11' but shall leave open a
restricted flow area
under or around the valve 17'.
The use of the branching connector 10' of the invention in the application of
Fig. 9 gives most of
the above indicated advantages to the waste transport. Specifically, in the
waste transport
position TP (Figs. 6 and 7), the connector valve 17' here closes off the
enlarged space under the
discharge valve 25 to prevent the turbulence of air flow and decrease of air
speed that would
otherwise occur. Since the waste transfer area inside the branching connector
10' becomes sub-
stantially equal in size to the area inside the transport pipe, there is no
expansion from transport
pipe to branching connector. Therefore, waste in the transport pipe can be
easily transferred
without any air turbulence and reduction of air speed when passing the
branching connector 10'.
By excluding turbulence and avoiding air speed as well as air flow reduction,
transfer of waste to
a collection station or truck will be easier, and pipe blocking can be
prevented with unamended
air volume and operation conditions. Therefore, the waste transport efficiency
will be increased.
Specific for this application of the invention is also that, as the weight of
waste temporarily stored
on the discharge valve of today's waste inlets generally increases and waste
on the discharge valve
may therefore be compacted more and more, it will become vital to provide good
emptying and
transport conditions for the insert/chute connections, eliminating the risk of
blockage caused by
compacted waste. Therefore, in the case of waste discharge from a relevant
inlet or chute, the
valve lid will open downwardly with or shortly before the inlet discharge
valve, so that a major
part of the waste transport area of the waste receiving pipe upstream of the
branching connector is
blocked. Thus, air speed inside the connector 10' is accelerated in a moment
when waste is
discharged, so the transport of the discharged waste from the inlet or chute
can be easily started.
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A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 10-13. This
embodiment is intended
for an application similar to the one of the second embodiment disclosed in
Fig. 9, likewise for
use in waste insert or waste chute applications to secure that there is no
difference between the
air pressure in a branching connector 30 and the air pressure in a waste
receiving transport pipe
2A-D during waste transport past the branching connector 30. As discussed
above for the second
embodiment, this third embodiment likewise eliminates turbulence of air flow
and reduction of
air speed at a branching area to promote effective and secure emptying of
waste temporarily
stored on a discharge valve 40 of a waste inlet WI or waste chute WC.
The branching connector 30 of the third embodiment is basically a conventional
branching
connection for use in connecting waste inlets WI and waste chutes WC to a
transport pipe 2A-D.
A main branching portion 31 accommodates a lower inlet/chute section 45, a
discharge valve 40
associated with the end of the lower inletlchute section 45 and means 39 (such
as cylinder and
linkage means not specifically shown here) for controlling movement of the
discharge valve 40,
as described briefly in relation to Fig. 9. The branching connector 30 has a
lower connector
portion 32 that upwardly communicates with the waste collection unit WC, WI of
a typical waste
collection system 1 and specifically with the outlet from the refuse discharge
valve 40 thereof. A
bottom end 33 of the connector 30 is attached to the waste receiving transport
pipe 2A-D and
encloses and downwardly coinmunicates with a branching orifice 35 in the
actual waste receiving
transport pipe 2A-D.
The modified branching connector 30 of the invention is provided with a
connector valve 37
consisting of two lid parts 37A, 37B that are each connected through a
respective hinge
38A, 38B to an area 36 of the waste receiving transport pipe 2A-D close to a
respective
edge of the branching orifice 35 inside the bottom end 33 of the connector 30.
Said lid parts
37A, 37B each have a generally curved shape having a curvature essentially
corresponding
to that of the normally circular waste transport pipe 2A-D and are pivotal
around their
respective hinges 38A, 38B. The lids are pivotal in mutually opposite
directions, between a
downwardly pivoted open, with regard to the branching orifice 35, position and
an upwardly
pivoted closed position. Said downwardly pivoted open position forms the
supply position
SP for the active phase AP that was described above in connection with the
first
embodiment and that allows for a waste discharge flow from the inlet or chute
WI and WC,
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14
respectively, and the upwardly pivoted closed position forms the waste
transport position TP for
the inactive phase IP that was likewise described above. In the transport
position TP the
connector valve 37 covers and preferably provides a fluid tight seal for the
orifice 35, so that
waste may be transferred past the branching in a transport pipe that has an
essentially
uninterrupted circumference as well as transport area and that may therefore
be said to have
been extended into and past the branching. In the supply position SP the
connector valve 37
partly bloclcs the waste receiving transport pipe 2A-D leaving open a reduced
flow area past the
connector valve lids 37A, 37B.
The valve lids 37A, 37B are directly mechanically connected to a respective
motor device 41
through a corresponding linkage 43 (Figs. 11-12). Said motor devices 41 are in
the illustrated
embodiment pneumatic cylinders that with the ends of their piston rods 42 are
connected to
said linkage 43 that includes plates 43 that are attached to an upper surface
of the respective
lid 37A, 37B and that will contribute to the above explained effect of
reducing the waste
transport pipe air flow area past the lids 37A, 37B in the supply position SP.
It may also be
possible to vary the size and/or shape of said plates 43 to further reduce the
transport pipe flow
area just before the valve 37 when the lids 37A, 37B are in the open supply
position SP. This will
increase air speed in the branch and may also be used to intentionally create
turbulence at this
position in order to spread out waste more effectively into the receiving
transport pipe 2A-D.
As mentioned, the valve lids 37A, 37B are pivoted in opposite directions
between the transport
and supply positions TP and SP and reverse, and the pivotal movements are
preferably linked to
each other as well as to the movement of a discharge valve 40 of the
associated waste collection
unit WC, WI. In the latter case there will be no need to provide additional
control or operating
means, such as electric driving means, and there is no need to consider any
additional design
changes. Specifically, the motor devices 41 for the valve lids 37A, 37B may be
drivingly
connected to a discharge valve 40 control means (not illustrated), for
controlling the position of
the valve lids in dependence upon the position of the discharge valve 40.
Thus, the lids 37A,
37B may be opened as well as closed together with the associated discharge
valve 40.
For both of the second and third embodiment that are used in combination with
a waste inlet WI
or waste chute WC discharge valve 25 and 40, respectively, the connector valve
17' and 37,
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respectively is preferably opened shortly before the opening of the associated
discharge valve.
This will in most cases secure optimal emptying conditions
A further advantage of the inventive branching configuration and especially of
the third
5 embodiment thereof, is that it can be easily applied to and also retrofitted
in existing facilities
for the enhancement of waste transport and collection efficiency therein. In
fact, all or most of
the inventive branching connector features may in many cases be retrofitted to
branching
connectors used in existing systems.
10 Finally, two embodiments of an alternative use of the branching connector
of the invention
will now be explained with reference to Figs. 14A-B. In these embodiments a
branching
connector, preferably having the general configuration of the alternative
first embodiment of
Fig. 8, is in essence reversed and used as a waste diverter valve 110; 210 for
diverting different
fractions Fl, F2 of waste into separate containers WCF1, WCF2 in a waste
collection terminal
15 CT and into different temporary storage pipes WSPF1, WSPF2, respectively,
directly down-
stream of waste inlet units WIF1, WIF2.
Briefly, in such applications two waste fractions Fl, F2, such as recyclable
paper/compostable
matter and combustible household waste, are deposited into the waste
collection system
through separate and/or separately operated waste inlets WIF1 and WIF2, and is
transported
separately, at different times to a waste collection tenninal CT through a
common transport
pipe 102A; 202A. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 14A the branching
connector 110 of
the invention may in such an application be reversed and used as a diverter
valve in the actual
waste collecting terminal CT. Thereby one end 111A of the first connector
portion 111 is
connected to the transport pipe 102A, in the relevant case through a
transition portion 113 as
described above. A second end 111B of the first connector portion 111 is
connected to a waste
container WCF1 for the first fraction Fl and a free end 112A of the second
connector portion
112 is connected to a waste container WCF2 for the second fiaction F2.
Redirection of the
relevant fraction Fl, F2 from the transport pipe 102A to the designated
container WCF1 or
WCF2 is performed by means of the valve lid 117 that is moved by an actuator
119 between
the respective positions DP1 and DP2 for conducting the first waste fraction
Fl to the first
container WCF1 and the second fraction F2 to the second container WCF2,
respectively.
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16
In the embodiment illustrated briefly in Fig 14B the two waste fractions Fl
and F2 are again
deposited in separately operated waste inlets WIF1 and WIF2 that in this case
are both
connected to the same waste chute WC. The two different fractions Fl, F2 are
at different times
deposited in the chute WC and temporarily stored in an associated waste
storage pipe WSPFI
and WSPF2, respectively, by using a branching connector 210 of the invention.
The fractions
Fl, F2 are then stored in their respective storage pipes until they are ready
to be transported
separately to a central waste collection unit, such as the terminal CT of Fig.
14A, through a
common transport pipe 202A and subsequent to the opening of a respective
storage valve
SVFl, SVF2. Thereby one end 211A of the first branching connector portion 211
is connected
to the waste chute WC, in the relevant case through a transition portion 213
as described above.
A second end 211B of the first connector portion 211 is connected to a waste
storage pipe
WSPF1 for the first fraction Fl and a free end 212A of the second connector
portion 212 is
connected to a waste storage pipe WSPF2 for the second fraction F2.
Redirection of the relevant
fraction Fl, F2 from the designated waste inlet WTF1 and WIF2, respectively,
through the waste
chute WC and to the designated storage pipe WSPFI or WSPF2 is, like in the
embodiment of
Fig. 14A, performed by means of the valve lid 217 that is moved by an actuator
219 between
the respective positions DP1 and DP2 for conducting the first and second waste
fractions Fl and
F2, respectively, to their respective storage pipes WSPFl and WSPF2,
respectively.
Also, the invention is in no way restricted to the illustrated types of valve
lid supports. Instead,
the valve lid or lids of the illustrated valves may be supported in optional
ways. One exempli-
fying alternative lid support configuration is very schematically illustrated
in Figs. 15A-B. In this
embodiment the valve lid 17" is supported and operated in a manner that is
kn.own per se from
i.a. coach and bus doors. Here the schematically shown branching connector 10"
is very similar
to the one of the embodiment of Fig. 9 and the connector itself will not be
described any further.
However, the branching connector 10" valve lid 17" is pivotally carried,
through pivot 22", by
an angled swing or link arm 23" that is in turn pivotally supported, through
pivot 18" in the
second connector portion 12". A guide arm 28" is likewise pivotally connected,
through pivot
28A", to the lid 17" and is stationary but pivotally supported, through pivot
28B", in a side wall
29" of the second connector portion 12". The swing arm 23" is positively swung
around pivot
18" by a suitable, preferably pneumatic drive (not specifically illustrated)
to move the lid 17"
between the above discussed transport TP and supply SP positions. Through the
combined action
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17
of the swing arm 23" and the guide arm 28" the lid 17" will move first in a
direction outwardly
from the second connector portion 12" and then in a sliding movement along the
first connector
portion 11" and will during the entire movement from position TP to position
SP, and reverse,
be maintained substantially parallel with a central plane CP of the first
connector portion 11 ". As
a further modification the lid might also have a support configuration such as
that of sliding
doors for mini vans etc. that are operated by means of pivoting link arms
and/or guide tracks.
In further, alternative, but not specifically illustrated embodiments of the
invention, variations of
the illustrated branchings may be employed without departing from the scope of
the invention.
One example thereof is the use of differently oriented branching connectors
than the illustrated
ones where the second connector portion (and the connected supply pipe) is
always extended
generally in a vertical plane. Thus, in the embodiments of Figs 2-8, of Figs.
14A as well as of Figs
15A-B the second connector portion might likewise be extended in a horizontal
or other plane.
The invention has been described in connection with what is presently
considered to be the most
practical and preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments. The invention is therefore intended to cover
various modifications and
equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended
claims.
