Apparatus for monitoring the fullness of a compactor

Claim 1

A system for monitoring the fullness of a compactor waste receiving container, comprising: (a) a closed container having a waste receiving aperture; (b) a compactor unit operably associated with said container and including means for receiving waste to be compacted; (c) waste compacting ram means associated with said compactor unit aligned with said aperture and adapted for being displaced between a first waste-receiving position and a second waste-compacted position adjacent said aperture; (d) cylinder and piston means associated with said compactor unit and connected to said ram means and adapted for reciprocally displacing said ram means between said first and second position; (e) fluid supply means operably connected to said cylinder and piston means for supplying pressurized fluid thereto for displacing said ram means; (f) control means operably associated with said fluid supply means and adapted for interrupt the supply of pressurized fluid to said cylinder and piston means when said ram means is in said second position for thereby maintaining said ram means in said second position; (g) fluid pressure-actuated switch means in fluid association with said cylinder and piston means and cooperating with said control means for measuring the fluid pressure of said cylinder and piston means for a pre-selected time period when said ram means is in said second position whereby said fluid pressure is generated by compacted waste bearing against said ram means and thereby pressurizing said cylinder and piston means proportional to the fullness of said container; (h) signal means are associated with said switch means for signaling said container fullness; and, (i) means associated with said fluid supply means for preventing fluid flow from said cylinder and piston means while the fluid pressure is measured by said switch means.

Claim 2

A system for monitoring the fullness of a compactor waste receiving container, comprising: (a) a closed container having a waste receiving aperture; (b) a compactor unit operably associated with said container and including means for receiving waste to be compacted; (c) waste compacting ram means associated with said compactor unit aligned with said aperture and adapted for being displaced between a first waste-receiving position and a second waste-compacted position adjacent said aperture; (d) cylinder and piston means associated with said compactor unit and connected to said ram means and adapted for reciprocally displacing said ram means between said first and second position; (e) fluid supply means operably connected to said cylinder and piston means for supplying pressurized fluid thereto for displacing said ram means; (f) control means operably associated with said fluid supply means and adapted for interrupt the supply of pressurized fluid to said cylinder and piston means when said ram means is in said second position for thereby maintaining said ram means in said second position; (g) fluid pressure-actuated switch means in fluid association with said cylinder and piston means and cooperating with said control means for measuring the fluid pressure of said cylinder and piston means for a pre-selected time period when said ram means is in said second position whereby said fluid pressure is generated by compacted waste bearing against said ram means and thereby pressurizing said cylinder and piston means proportional to the fullness of said container; (h) signal means are associated with said switch means for signaling said container fullness; and, (i) means associated with said fluid supply means for preventing fluid flow from said cylinder and piston means while the fluid pressure is measured by said switch means.

Claim 18

A system for monitoring the fullness of a compactor waste receiving container, comprising: (a) a closed container having a waste receiving aperture in one end thereof; (b) a compactor unit releasably secured to said container at said one end; (c) a waste transfer system associated with said compactor unit and adapted for storing waste and for transferring stored waste to said compactor unit; (d) an hydraulically operated cylinder and piston assembly is disposed within said compactor unit and is aligned with said aperture and the cylinder thereof is pivotally connected to said compactor unit; (e) a waste compacting ram is connected to said piston and is adapted for being displaced thereby between a waste-compacting second position adjacent said aperture and a first waste receiving position spaced therefrom whereby stored waste is transferred to said compactor unit ahead of said ram when in said first position; (f) a hydraulic fluid supply system is operably connected to said cylinder for displacing said piston and thereby said ram and includes control valve means for shifting said piston direction of displacement whereby said ram is reciprocally displaced between said second and first positions; (g) control means are operatively associated with said fluid supply system for interrupting the supply of fluid when said ram is in said second position and for monitoring the pressure in said cylinder generated by compacted waste bearing against said ram whereby said pressure is proportional to the fullness of said container; (h) signal means are operatively connected to said control means and are adapted for indicating said container fullness; and, (i) a check valve is associated with said fluid supply system for preventing unintended fluid flow during said predetermined time period and for permitting fluid flow from said system in one direction only.

Claim 19

A system for monitoring the fullness of a compactor waste receiving container, comprising: (a) a closed container having a waste receiving aperture in one end thereof; (b) a compactor unit releasably secured to said container at said one end; (c) a waste transfer system associated with said compactor unit and adapted for storing waste and for transferring stored waste to said compactor unit; (d) an hydraulically operated cylinder and piston assembly is disposed within said compactor unit and is aligned with said aperture and the cylinder thereof is pivotally connected to said compactor unit; (e) a waste compacting ram is connected to said piston and is adapted for being displaced thereby between a waste-compacting second position adjacent said aperture and a first waste receiving position spaced therefrom whereby stored waste is transferred to said compactor unit ahead of said ram when in said first position; (f) a hydraulic fluid supply system is operably connected to said cylinder for displacing said piston and thereby said ram and includes control valve means for shifting said piston direction of displacement whereby said ram is reciprocally displaced between said second and first positions; (g) control means are operatively associated with said fluid supply system for interrupting the supply of fluid when said ram is in said second position and for monitoring the pressure in said cylinder generated by compacted waste bearing against said ram whereby said pressure is proportional to the fullness of said container; (h) signal means are operatively connected to said control means and are adapted for indicating said container fullness; and, (i) a check valve is associated with said fluid supply system for preventing unintended fluid flow during said predetermined time period and for permitting fluid flow from said system in one direction only.