Wheel and container in particular for waste, equipped with at least one such a wheel

The invention relates to a wheel and a container in particular waste, with at least one such wheel.

Known container comprising a tank consisting of a bottom and a side wall, provided with a rim defining the opening of the vessel, and generally a hinged lid relative to the vessel between two extreme positions of opening and closing, respectively displaced towards a face of the wall lateral and down over the ledge.

Near the bottom of the tank, these containers are provided with wheels, generally two in number or four.

When these containers are used in courses buildings, they are made available to residents, and emptied periodically by road services. AT Currently, these containers are mostly made of plastic material such as polyethylene.

Examples include documents on such containers.

EP-A-435 733 describes a container equipped pads of elastic material protruding between the underside of the lid and the rim of the vessel for damping the cover make contact.

DE-A-35.17.723 also describes a container fitted reported depreciation skates, elastic material.

A wheel having the features of the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in EP-A-0508902.

A drawback of these containers is that they are relatively noisy, especially at their shifting.

As part of the integration of such containers in the city, he was sought technical solutions to reduce noise induced by their use.

Among the chosen research areas, most relate to opening and closing noise lids, as in the cited documents.

The research focus of the invention is to reduce rolling noise of a collection container waste, especially on uneven ground.

Because the clearances between the wheels, the metal shaft and the vessel of a container, this bearing can generate a noise of about 90 DbA at source.

And the vessel acting as a sounding board, that noise constitutes a nuisance to the environment the container is used.

It would therefore be desirable to limit the vibration transmission replacing the contact plastic / metal with plastic against plastic touch, and without fragile parts of additions and / or expensive.

It would also be desirable to facilitate maintenance and replacement of wheels to ensure their quiet operation, among others.

None of the cited documents provides a solution efficient and reliable to the problem of noise caused by vibration of the wheels during travel of the container and transmission by the tank.

The object of the invention is to solve this problem simple, lightweight and economical.

To this end, an object of the invention is a wheel, especially for a container, particularly for collecting waste, comprising:<ul><li>a tank forming in particular collection receptacle Waste, possibly with a cover;</li><li>mounting means of the wheel on the vessel; and</li><li>a support shaft, forming part of means mounting and usually extended in a direction axial; the wheel being arranged to allow its immobilisation on the axis with the mounting means.</li></ul>

The wheel includes a sleeve rigidly secured a hub including a free end is provided with Outside, a guide surface substantially cylindrical intended to be housed internally and rotation, in a part of the vessel such that tab, this part belonging to the mounting means, while the sleeve present inside, extended from housing the hub and opening out at the free end provided with the scope, this housing being intended for following introduction the axial direction of the support axis.

The sleeve comprises at one end of the scope opposite the free end in the axial direction, a shoulder circumferential projection and a radial duct, opening into the housing and for guiding a finger Wheel locking support on the axis following the axial direction.

According to another feature, the housing sleeve has at least three internal projections radial guiding in rotation, intended to guide with a contact surface and limited radial clearances, the wheel relative to the bearing pin, in mounted position of the wheel.

According to yet another feature, the sleeve and the wheel hub are integral and piece, one with the other.

A feature provides that the conduit is provided with an access opening on a radial slot face of the hub, whilst the locking finger, which is permanently biased by an elastic member such as spring, towards the axis of the wheel, is provided with a form of engagement with a tool, to allow the radial displacement a finger at the outer periphery of the hub, under the effect of the tool and counter to the elastic member, so as to obtain the unlocking of the wheel and axis in the axial direction.

In one example, the light is arranged on an face of the hub opposite to the sleeve, in the direction axial, light possibly having a shape complex to exclusively allow access to a tool corresponding shape.

Another object of the invention is a container in particular for the collection of waste and equipped with at least a wheel as briefly mentioned above, and for example two or four wheels disposed close to a bottom wall of its tank.

Other characteristics of the invention result the description which follows, with reference to the drawings attached in which:<ul><li>Figure 1 is a schematic view of a container according to the invention in the closed state, in elevation, and seen side;</li><li>Figure 2 is a partial view in section along the plane II-II of Figure 1, which shows a wheel according the invention, provided with a quick release system;</li><li>Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, which represents another embodiment of the hub wheel according to the invention, provided with protuberances or internal splines to reduce radial clearances; and</li><li>Figure 4 is a front view along the arrow IV of Figure 2, of a wheel hub according to the invention.</li></ul>

Referring at first more especially to Figure 1 which illustrates an example of A container comprising a part forming a receptacle 1 and part 2 lid.

Part 1 or tank comprises a bottom 3 and a side wall 4 adjacent to the bottom and provided at the opposite the latter to a flange 5 facing outwards defining an opening 6.

When the container is in its normal position use for filling, the base 3 is placed at its lower part, the side wall 4 extends substantially vertically and the opening 6 is placed partly higher.

The rim 5 comprises itself an edge 7 directly adjoining the opening 6 and a drooping wing 8 7 adjoining the border and directed toward the bottom 3.

In the embodiment shown, the side wall 4 has a substantially square or rectangular shape with rounded corners.

Furthermore, the side wall 4 and the bottom 5 have general shape of a truncated pyramid with a large base upper and lower base smaller. Therefore, the part 1 forming a receptacle has a larger footprint towards the opening 6 that towards the bottom 3.

There is also provided wheels 9 carried by a axis 10 itself carried by the side wall 4 in the area 11 provided a reserve for this purpose.

On the other hand, the wall 4 may comprise reliefs, reserves, configurations such as 12 functional or aesthetic. This is especially the stiffening the part 1 and its guiding means in overturning of the container to be emptied.

The cover 2 has an outer face 13, visible when the lid is in the closed position and inner face 14 directed towards the opening 6 when the lid is in closed position.

The lid 2 is generally provided with means for such as gripping handle 15.

The cover 2 is associated with the portion receptacle 1 so as to form a whole with it. This association is mobile, the cover 2 may be in two closed extreme positions (Figure 1) or opening.

In the embodiment shown, the lid 2 is pivotally mounted on the receptacle portion 1. A For this purpose, there is provided a pivot pin 16. This is found to be substantially parallel to the axis 10. The axis 16 is carried by a bracket 17 attached to the side wall 4 to 6 and the opening of the arms or wings 18 extending wall of the cover 2.

In other embodiments can be envisaged although not shown, the pivot axis of the lid 2 of the receptacle portion 1 extends substantially parallel to the general direction of the portion 1 receptacle rather than orthogonally as was described with reference to FIGS.

In other embodiments, the lid 2 is slidably mounted with respect to the portion receptacle 1. Finally, the lid 2 can be mounted on the receptacle portion 1 through combined means pivot / slide.

here we include the cover 2 in position Total opening is directed downwards, towards the bottom 3 coming against the side wall 4 and above substantially in line with the wheels 9.

Note that, between the extreme closed position and the extreme open position which has just been described, there is an intermediate position in which the lid 2 is placed substantially horizontally towards outside of the receptacle portion 1.

This intermediate position is to use common for this type of container.

The container A comprises in the example shown, the least one inner partition 19 extending between the bottom 3 and the opening 6 (or the lid 2) and, on either on the other, up to the side wall 4.

This partition 19 is rigidly associated with the receptacle portion 1. It separates the part forming a receptacle 1 into at least two compartments 20. Each compartment 20 has a clean opening, the opening 6 being shared for this purpose by or partitions 19.

The partition 19 extends, when the container is in normal position of use for filling, in vertical position and substantially parallel to the axes 10 and 16.

A partition such as 19 can be removably mounted and / or adjustable in position.

The container as described above is preferably made of plastic so to be rigid enough to not be a overweight to be handled and, finally, be properly maintained.

It should be noted that the lid 2 rests here on the flange 5 in the closed position, via pads Depreciation 21.

In the example, the pads are formed by a pair pads of elastic material, such as rubber, coming absorb the lid closing and noise are placed in contact tank lid-rim.

The cover here is amortized both opening and closing, adaptable to tanks existing. It may also be preferred, in contrast to some proposed solutions have the (s) pad (s) elastic (s) absorbing the shock and noise of closure not on the cover, but on the tank flange. In Indeed, the vessel flange is wide and can receive resilient pads of larger size.

This arrangement is also advantageous because the noise produced by a lid, both opening and closing, is a function of its mass in movement; by placing the resilient pads on the vessel and not on the lid is slightly reduces the mass of the latter.

Given the position of a damper pad located on a cover at the area that describes the greater arc, reduces the kinetic energy it must absorb the end of opening or late closing the lid.

Similarly, the container 1 is equipped in some embodiments of a travel limiting device the opening and / or a braking device of the end of this opening, to reduce the noise of Use this container.

In a not shown example, at least one wing as formed here by 17 console, coupled Solidarity of the vessel, is provided so that the lid can be folded in the closed position on the rim, and open position towards a face of the wall lateral.

At least a first wing has a limiter stroke, acting on the flange 18 associated, limiting the movement of the lid, while at least one wing 17 of the tank has a lower edge with a convex profile. At least one corresponding wing 18 of the cover has an abutment surface of which a concave profile is substantially complementary to that of the edge.

The latter and the abutting surface being arranged so that in the opening of the cover 2, the edge and the surface come into partial contact interrupting the rotation of the a determined distance to cover the side wall 4 of the vessel 1.

A space is then formed between the edge and the surface to allow an elastic deformation damping of the wing of the cover 2 until the edge and surface substantially marry without the cover 2 from hitting the tank 1.

now describe a wheel 9, on its assembly the vessel 1 of the container A, and its benefits.

To do this, reference is made to Figures 2, 3 and 4 more specificaly.

The wheel 9 is especially intended for a container, including waste collection, such as container A.

The latter comprises means 22 for mounting the wheel 9 on the tank which cooperate with the axis 10 of support. The axis 10 forming part of the mounting means 22 is usually extended in an axial direction "B". The wheel 9 is arranged to allow its immobilization on axis, with the mounting means 22.

Here, the wheel 9 comprises a sleeve 23 rigidly secured to a hub 24. A free end 25 of the sleeve 23 is provided at the outside with a guide surface 26 substantially cylindrical intended to be housed internally and rotatably, in a part of the tank 1 such that the tab 27. This part is up to 27 mounting means 22.

The sleeve 23 has on the inside a housing 28 extensive from the hub 24 and opening to the end 25 provided free of reach 26. This housing 18 is for introducing the axial direction B of the support axis 10 in the wheel 9.

This particular structure allows to limit to so especially effective and simple noises rolling.

Is obtained an optimization of functions of A pieces of container for its working.

Thus, the axis 10 of rigid material such as metal primarily fulfills the function of supporting the wheel 9 on the vessel 1. It also provides positioning this wheel 9, and participates in its capital (as see below), as well as its rotation guide.

For its part, the scope 26 refines the guidance wheel rotation 9 by limiting the games in means Installation 22. But also, the portion 26 when mounted in the lug 27, which is provided for this purpose with a bore, provides a soft touch here against plastic plastic, between the means 22 and the wheel 9, in particular at the rotation of the latter.

Figures 2 and 3, the sleeve 23 has to 29 a of the scope end 26 opposite the end free 25 in the axial direction B, a shoulder 30 peripheral projection.

Following the example of Figure 3, the housing 28 of sleeve 23 comprises at least three internal projections 31. The protrusions 31 are here radial splines guiding in rotation, for guiding a surface contact and limited radial clearances, the wheel (9) by relative to the axis of support 10, in the mounted position. The grooves 31 are extended in the direction B, substantially from the bottom of the housing 28 to near the right of the shoulder 30.

Note that in the examples, the sleeve 23 and the hub 24 of the wheel 9 are integral and one-piece, with each other. Here they are made by casting injection of synthetic material. And a full bandage 32, is mounted on a closing part attached 33 of hub 24.

The band 32 is of flexible synthetic material and / or rubber, according to the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2.

It also provides in some embodiments that the sleeve 23 and the hub 24 are two parts separate, assembled one to the other. However, the scope is integrated here as the sleeve 23 and are t not obtained by addition of an end piece of the sleeve.

Figures 2 and 4 it is seen that the sleeve 23, and here also the hub 24 comprises a radial conduit 34 opening into the housing 28.

The duct 34 serves to guide a pin 35 of the wheel lock 9 of the axis 10 of the support, following the axial direction B. This conduit is provided with a light 36 radial access. The light emerges on one face of hub 24.

The locking finger 35 which is biased permanently by a spring element 37 such as a spring, B or towards the axis 10 of the wheel 9, is provided with shape 38.

The shape 38 allows the input engagement of a tool with the pin 35 to allow its radial movement toward the outer periphery of the hub 24, under the effect of the tool and counter to the elastic member 37, of so as to obtain the unlocking of the wheel and the axis the axial direction.

This radial displacement is depicted by arrow C in Figure 2, in one direction and in opposite direction under the effect of the element 37.

In the example, the light is arranged on one side 39 called outer hub 24 opposite the sleeve 23, the axial direction B.

This structure makes assembly and / or disassembly quick and easy wheel 9. The latter can be maintained and / or changed in order to ensure the container At a smooth ride, smooth and silent.

In Figure 4, light 36 has a form Complex here substantially "pear". This allows light only access to the finger 35 by means of a tool Special correspondingly shaped key here. This is provided for security issues, including to prevent involuntary dismantling of the wheels 9, or theft.

The invention also provides a container including A for the collection of waste, and equipped at least one wheel as briefly mentioned above. In the example illustrated, the A container has two wheels 9 arranged close a bottom wall 3 of the tank 1. It is also possible four wheels 9, optionally directional.

The invention is obviously not limited to the embodiments embodiments described and / or illustrated. For example, a wheel 9 is mounted directly as here, either via a swivel plate or not, on the tank.