Abstract A trash compactor with a housing having a head space at its top, a trash container at its bottom and a trash loading space between the head space and the trash container, a trash loading port in the side of the housing aligned with the trash loading space, a pressure platen and a lazy tong or scissors extension linkage mounted at the top of the housing and operable to move the platen between one or more advanced positions in which the extension linkage spans across the trash loading space and the platen is imposing compacting pressure on trash within the container, and a retracted position in which the extension linkage and platen are withdrawn into said head space, thus leaving the intervening trash loading space open for loading trash into the container through said loading port and without having to withdraw the container from the housing for loading purposes.
A scissors linkage comprising laterally spaced sets of scissors links each set comprising inner and outer interconnecting links, a first laterally extending torque arm rigidly interconnecting the innermost links of said sets and free of connection to the outermost links of said sets, a second laterally extending torque arm rigidly interconnecting the outermost links of said sets and free of connection to the innermost links of said sets, said torque arms transmitting forces between interconnected links of said sets to balance forces as between said sets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
A scissors linkage comprising laterally spaced sets of scissors links each set comprising inner and outer interconnecting links, a first laterally extending torque arm rigidly interconnecting the innermost links of said sets and free of connection to the outermost links of said sets, a second laterally extending torque arm rigidly interconnecting the outermost links of said sets and free of connection to the innermost links of said sets, said torque arms transmitting forces between interconnected links of said sets to balance forces as between said sets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention of claim 1 in which the first arm comprises a hollow tube rigidly interconnecting the innermost links of said sets, said second arm being coaxial within said tube and rigidly interconnecting the outermost links of said sets.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The linkage of claim 1 in combination with a platen and means interconnecting the platen to said linkage to maintain the links centered with respect to the linkage as the scissors linkage expands and contracts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The linkage of claim 3 in which said means comprises a track on the platen, track followers on the ends of the scissors links and a stabilizer link between the platen and the scissors linkage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 1 in which said laterally spaced sets of scissors links each comprise crossed links which intersect intermediate their ends, said torque arms being connected to said corresponding links at said intersection.