Apparatus for the compaction and disposal of refuse

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR THE DISPOSAL OF REFUSE FROM A MULTILEVEL APARTMENT BUILDING AND THE LIKE, COMPRISING A CHUTE EXTENDING FROM THE UPPER LEVELS OF SAID BUILDING TO A LOWER LEVEL OF SAID BUILDING INTERIORLY THEREOF, A STATIONARY REFUSE PACKER LOCATED AT SAID LOWER LEVEL AND HAVING AN INLET OPENING BENEATH SAID CHUTE AND AN OUTLET OPENING, A PORTABLE CONTAINER SUPPORTED FOR TRANSLATIONAL MOVEMENT AND HAVING AN INLET OPENING AT ONE SIDE THEREOF, SAID PACKER AND SAID CONTAINER HAVING COOPERATING ELEMENTS FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING SAID CONTAINER TO SAID PACKER WITH THE INLET OPENING OF SAID CONTAINER IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE OUTLET OPENING OF SAID PACKER, SAID PACKER HAVING A COMPACTION MECHANISM FOR MOVING REFUSE FROM SAID CHUTE THROUGH THE ALIGNED OPENINGS INTO SAID CONTAINER AND COMPACTING THE REFUSE THEREIN, SAID CONTAINER HAVING AN OUTLET OPENING AT THE TOP PROVIDED WITH A COVER AND RELEASABLE MEANS FOR HOLDING THE COVER NORMALLY CLOSED, SAID CONTAINER HAVING ELEMENTS ADAPTED TO MATE WITH CORRESPONDING ELEMENTS OF THE CONTAINER LIFTING AND DUMPING MECHANISM OF A SELF-LOADING VEHICLE, WHEREBY SAID CONTAINER MAY BE FILLED WITH COMPACTED REFUSE FROM SAID CHUTE, MOVED OUT OF SAID BUILDING TO SAID VEHICLE, EMPTIED INTO SAID VEHICLE, AND RETURNED TO SAID PACKER.