Horizontal trash compactor

Claim 2

A trash compactor comprising: a. an elongated chamber, b. said chamber including a rectilinear section and a curvilinear section, c. said curvilinear section being of S-shape conformation and comprising a pair of spaced, reversely curved portions connected by a straight portion, d. means for admitting trash to the interior of said rectilinear section, e. a packer assembly movable longitudinally of said rectilinear section for forcing trash in advance thereof into said S-shape curvilinear section, whereby the trash is compressed by frictional engagement with the wall thereof, and f. power means engageable with said packer assembly for moving the latter longitudinally of said rectilinear section.

Claim 3

The trash compactor of claim 1 wherein: a. said curvilinear section of S-shape conformation lies in a vertical plane.

Claim 4

The trash compactor of claim 1, wherein: a. said curvilinear section of S-shape conformation lies in a horizontal plane.

Claim 5

The trash compactor of claim 1, with the addition of: a. gate meanas positioned on said curvilinear section and movable into the interior thereof, for impeding the passage of trash therethrough, to effect compaction of the trash, and b. means for moving said gate means into said curvilinear section.

Claim 6

The trash compactor of claim 4, wherein: a. said means for moving said gate means into said curvilinear section comprises a spring member engaged with said gate means for normally moving the latter inwardly of said curvilinear section to an operative position, b. said gate means being forced to an inoperative position against the tension of said spring member by a predetermined force created within said curvilinear section by the trash being forced therethrough.

Claim 7

The trash compactor of claim 4, wherein: a. said means for moving said gate means comprises power members carried by said curvilinear section and engageable with said gate means.

Claim 8

The trash compactor of claim 1, wherein: a. said means for admitting trash to the interior of said rectilinear section includes an opening therein.

Claim 9

The trash compactor of claim 7, with the addition of: a. a hopper mounted on said rectilinear section circumjacent the opening therein for facilitating the delivery of trash through the opening to the interior of the rectilinear section.

Claim 10

A trash compactor comprising: a. an elongated chamber, b. said chamber including a rectilinear section and a curvilinear section, c. said curvilinear section being of S-shape conformation and comprising a pair of spaced, reversely curved portions connected by a straight portion, d. an opening in the rectilinear section for admitting trash to the interior thereof, e. a gate hingedly engaged with said curvilinear section, f. spring means carried by said curvilinear section, g. connecting means extending from said spring means to said gate for normally urging said gate inwardly of said curvilinear section, for impeding the passage of trash therethrough, and h. a packer assembly movable longitudinalLy of said rectilinear section for forcing trash in advance thereof into said S-shape section, whereby the trash is compressed by frictional engagement with the walls of the S-shape section and i. power means engageable with said packer assembly for moving the latter longitudinally of said rectilinear section.

Claim 11

A trash compactor comprising: a. an elongated chamber, b. said chamber including a rectilinear section and a curvilinear section, c. said curvilinear section being of S-shape conformation and comprising a pair of spaced, reversely curved portions connected by a straight portion, d. an opening in the rectilinear section for admitting trash to the interior thereof, e. a gate hingedly engaged with said curvilinear section, f. spring means carried by said curvilinear section, g. connecting means extending from said spring means to said gate for normally urging said gate inwardly of said curvilinear section, for impeding the passage of trash therethrough, and h. a packer assembly movable longitudinalLy of said rectilinear section for forcing trash in advance thereof into said S-shape section, whereby the trash is compressed by frictional engagement with the walls of the S-shape section and i. power means engageable with said packer assembly for moving the latter longitudinally of said rectilinear section.

Claim 12

The trash compactor of claim 9, wherein: a. said spring mans includes a cylinder having a cap at one end, b. means connecting one end of said cylinder to said curvilinear section, c. a threaded shaft extending through said end cap into said cylinder, d. a convolute spring within said cylinder around the threaded shaft, e. one end of said convolute spring being engaged with said end cap, f. a movable end plate positioned within said cylinder and engaged by the free end of said convolute spring, and g. means engaged with the terminal of said threaded shaft proximate said end plate, said means being adjustable longitudinally of said threaded shaft to relocate said movable end plate to vary the spring tension on said gate.

Claim 13

The trash compactor of claim 9, wherein: a. said curvilinear section is disposed in a vertical plane.

Claim 14

The trash compactor of claim 9, wherein: a. said curvilinear section is disposed in a horizontal plane.

Claim 15

The trash compactor of claim 9, wherein: a. said packer assembly includes a cylinder and piston within said rectilinear section, b. said cylinder being stationarily engaged with said rectilinear section, c. a packer head carried by, and movable with, said piston for moving trash in advance thereof longitudinally of the rectilinear section, and d. guide means on said rectilinear section for preventing vertical movement of said packer head.

Claim 16

A trash compactor comprising: a. an elongated chamber, b. said chamber including a rectilinear section and a curvilinear section, c. said curvilinear section being of S-shape conformation and comprising a pair of spaced, reversely curved portions connected by a straight portion, d. means for admitting trash to the interior of said rectilinear section, e. a packer assembly comprising a mobile member movable longitudinally of said rectilinear section, f. power means engageable with said packer assembly for moving the latter longituinally of said rectilinear section, and g. gate means movable into said curvilinear section for impeding the passage of trash therethrough, to effect compaction of the trash, and h. power means for moving said gate means into said curvilinear section.

Claim 17

A trash compactor comprising: a. an elongated chamber, b. said chamber including a rectilinear section and a curvilinear section, c. said curvilinear section being of S-shape conformation and comprising a pair of spaced, reversely curved portions connected by a straight portion, d. means for admitting trash to the interior of said rectilinear section, e. a packer assembly comprising a mobile member movable longitudinally of said rectilinear section, f. power means engageable with said packer assembly for moving the latter longituinally of said rectilinear section, and g. gate means movable into said curvilinear section for impeding the passage of trash therethrough, to effect compaction of the trash, and h. power means for moving said gate means into said curvilinear section.

Claim 18

The trash compactor of claim 14, wherein: a. said means for admitting trash to the interior of said rectilinear section comprises an opening therein, and b. means on said rectilinear section adjacent the opening for preventing wedging of trash between said chamber and packer assembly.

Claim 19

The trash compactor of claim 15, wherein: a. said means on said rectilinear section includes a breaker bar assembly, b. said breaker bar assembly comprising a boxlike member extending transversely of, and in engagement with, said rectilinear section, c. said box-like member bieng hingedly engaged with said rectilinear section, d. bolts securing said box-like member to said rectilinear section, e. said bolts being broken upon application of force on said box-like member by trash, whereby said boxlike member moves out of engagement with said rectilinear section, and f. switch means actuated by said box-like member upon movement of the latter, g. said switch means being in operative engagement with said power means for halting movement of said packer assembly.

Claim 20

The trash compactor of claim 14, with the addition of: a. guide means for preventing vertical movement of said packer assembly.

Claim 21

The trash compactor of claim 17, wherein: a. said guide means comprises guide rails extending longitudinally of said elongated chamber, and b. wear shoEs mounted on said packer assembly and in sliding engagement with said guide rails.