HK1170711A - Dismountable modular platform for waste disposal facility - Google Patents

Description

Modular detachable platform for waste disposal facility

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of plants designed for collecting waste, and more particularly to plants for unloading vehicles loaded with waste.

The subject of the invention is a modular device consisting of an entrance ramp and a raised platform resting on a bearing surface with specific properties, said platform and ramp being assembled from basic units positioned and held together by specific means.

Background

The increasing strictness of french and european regulations forces local governments to provide sites for collecting waste, in particular waste dumping sites, where individuals can discard waste that has not been picked up by garbage collectors. Government announcements have strengthened the warning of strict enforcement of waste treatment facility operating regulations, which are extremely desirable with respect to good brand image of consumers.

To satisfy these obligations, some local governments invest heavy capital to build large-volume collection centers. This usually involves a project of equipment consisting of a platform equipped with inclined ramps, allowing the entry of vehicles of different tonnage, with a collection tank underneath. However, due to the rapid evolution of urbanized areas and inter-community variation, it is often difficult to predict long-term demand. Finding a suitable place is often tricky and at some point the appropriate choice may become inappropriate after a while.

In order to allow the construction of temporary installations on grounds of different geometries, modular items of equipment are proposed, consisting of platforms equipped with inclined ramps, assembled in different numbers from concrete elements, according to the desired configuration.

Patent application FR 9307801 describes, in its own right, a plant also made with modular elements. The bins, placed against each other, are equipped at their top edges with a supporting floor, which serves as a single parking apron capable of supporting the vehicle from which the contents are unloaded.

Patent application FR 9202567 also describes a plant for collecting and sorting waste, comprising a plurality of modular elements allowing the creation of a platform raised above the ground, said elements being accessible via an access ramp, the bins here also being distributed below along several edges of said platform. The structure requires the construction of columns to raise the assembly. Limited by the plates laying the platform and the plates hinged to it, these uprights form weak points, since the weight is concentrated on a limited surface area and the construction of the installation is slow. At the same time, they involve constructing the foundation on the ground to maintain the stability of the uprights and of the whole structure (see page 5, 1.10). Thus, the structure cannot be completely dismantled and the uprights remain sealed to the foundation.

These devices, made of steel or aluminium plates, also have limited resistance to physical stresses, in particular to the considerable loads they are designed to support, and to impacts during vehicle operation. They may also suffer from chemical attack due to corrosive waste or inclement weather. No specific protection is designed in case of extreme climatic conditions (intense heat or frost make the platform unfeasible). The deformation due to their long-term use often makes them unusable for other locations after removal. Furthermore, the ground under the platform of these structures is not enclosed and is therefore not used at all.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to remedy these disadvantages. It consists of a modular item of equipment designed to collect waste. More precisely, the invention relates to a device designed for unloading waste, consisting of a raised platform and an inclined entry ramp, comprising:

a plurality of juxtaposed support elements forming a raised horizontal surface, said support elements comprising two vertical uprights placed on a surface having a deformation coefficient defined as a function of the waste disposal facility intended for use and allowing the movement of pedestrians and light or heavy vehicles, and having a horizontal top cross-member,

-a plurality of inlet elements forming at least one continuous inclined surface from the load surface to a raised horizontal surface, the inlet elements being constituted by two vertical risers placed on the load surface and an inclined top cross member, and

-fastening means between the support element and the inlet element.

Such a device is based on modular support elements and modular entrance elements prefabricated from concrete, particularly suitable and easy to construct on surfaces having adequate mechanical strength properties. Preferably, the coefficient of deformation of the bearing surface is greater than 0.22 MPa.

The platform of the present invention has several advantages:

the ability to tailor the shape to the desired volume and topography,

the building speed achieved by simply juxtaposing factory-prefabricated modules, without preparing columns or foundations,

-mounting on all surfaces having determined mechanical strength characteristics,

-forming a ground storage area below the horizontal surface of the platform,

-easy to clean and,

-is robust to all tests,

completely removable and re-assemblable, without damage,

-is transportable and is capable of being transported,

less expensive.

Surprisingly, contrary to the a priori knowledge of the person skilled in the art, the applicant has imagined that after several tests it is in fact possible to dispense with the prior production of slabs, for example formed by several plates arranged side by side, and whose function is generally indispensable to provide a flat horizontal and stable surface on which the support element and the inlet element can rest. It is therefore well known in the art of producing structures made of modular elements that such slabs must have a ground coverage at least as large as the platform on which they are supported, to ensure the robustness and stability of the assembly. Such blanks are also commonly used to support a waste collection bin. The flatness and stability of the slabs therefore appear to be indispensable for the integration of the plant as a whole and represent an inevitable step, although limited in terms of time and resources in the production of this type of structure.

Beyond this a priori knowledge, the juxtaposed support elements of the invention are therefore placed on a simple load-bearing surface having specific characteristics expressed as deformation coefficients and form a continuous raised horizontal surface capable of accommodating the vehicle. Thus, the first step of producing the slab is eliminated. The above-ground bedding problem of structures solved in conventional construction systems by rigid slabs is overcome in this case by the strength properties of the bearing surface, saving costs and time.

Contrary to expectations, the whole of the structure is not weakened by the absence of slabs, but is stronger, in particular due to some flexibility of the foundation bed on the ground, allowing the whole structure to move and expand in a small and relative proportion. This makes it possible to indeed prevent excessive rigidity in traditional constructions, which subjects the whole structure to cracking phenomena due to the effect of stresses acting between the vertical lead plates and the slabs on which they rest.

The omission of the slab also has the advantage that it enables an accessible ground surface to be obtained without irregularities due to the thickness of the slab. Thus, the accessibility of the area located below the platform is optimized, as will be explained in detail below.

It is readily apparent that for a given installation, the vertical risers of the support element have horizontal top ridges and all have the same height. Typically, from the samples normally used for collecting waste, a height is chosen which is adapted to the height of a waste bin arranged at the periphery of the device.

The "load bearing surface" of the present invention refers to any type of surface capable of allowing the construction of structures, in particular concrete structures, intended to bear vehicles weighing up to several tons. By way of illustration and not limitation, surface types of the present invention may include metallic or concrete underlayments, asphalt concrete type coatings capable of supporting greater than 0.22 MPa.

It will also be appreciated that for a given installation, the vertical riser of the inlet element has an inclined top ridge and has a variable height, so that a gradual and continuous rise from the ground to the platform height can be provided.

Since the basic principle of the device of the invention is modularity, it is highly recommended that each type of modular element (supporting modular element, entrance modular element) forming the structure of the device is made in a limited number of versions, preferably in a single version, said versions constituting the units of the module. The dimensions of these elements preferably vary within the range of a module having a height of less than 4 meters, a length of less than 10 meters and a width of less than 6 meters. All derivatives are possible within the values of the three dimensions thus defined.

For reasons of material strength, it is advantageous if the vertical riser is arranged on the shortest side of the support element or the inlet element. In cross section, the support element and the inlet element form a modular element in the shape of an inverted U, the branches of the U giving the width of the modular element. When assembling the device of the invention, the modular elements are advantageously arranged in the same direction. For example, a row of elements may be arranged in a row in the length direction. These elements, via their U-shaped face contact, will be referred to as "sequentially adjoining elements". It is also possible to arrange a row of elements in the width direction. These elements, which are in contact via the surfaces of their vertical risers, will be referred to as "adjacent elements". In fact, in the most general case and according to the principle of modularity, a platform is made up of rows of elements that are contiguous in sequence and of adjacent elements. These definitions extend to elements of square, rectangular or triangular design. The calculation of the strength of the modular elements is used without difficulty to establish the optimum dimensions and ranges of the elements forming the device from the point of view set by the present invention.

Without distributing the slabs, it is surprising that the device of the invention is characterized by its stability and robustness, not only due to the characteristics peculiar to the modular elements constituting it, but also due to the fastening means providing the coupling between the support element and the inlet element. These means for fastening together sequentially adjoining elements require additional components.

Surprisingly, the applicant has found that thanks to the particular inverted U-shape of the modular elements used in the present invention, and to their configuration, when the bearing surface has adequate mechanical strength characteristics, it is no longer necessary to use the prior production of prefabricated distributed slabs intended to stabilize the whole structure.

The shape of the modular elements used to build the platform of the waste treatment plant according to the invention also has the advantage of being provided with an enclosed space under the platform consisting of as many "tunnels" as the number of rows of modular elements the platform has. The floor area is conveniently enclosed by the separation of the front and rear outer surfaces of the structure by means of rigid walls. Preferably, on at least one modular element allowing access to the ground area, an access device is provided with one or more hinged opening elements. Preferably, these inlet means consist of any type of door that can be tightly closed or not. An inlet device may also be introduced to communicate between rows of modular elements below the horizontal surface of the platform.

In order to enhance the robustness and cohesion of the device of the invention, fastening means may be used. The fastening may be based on the principle of linking.

For example, the fastening means may comprise at least one system consisting of two rigid coupling plates fastened together at their ends by two threaded rods, each threaded rod passing through the vertical risers of the two sequentially adjacent elements. Therefore, the rigid coupling plates are disposed on both sides of the vertical plates and straddle two vertical plates adjacent in sequence. The whole assembly is kept tight by means of a nut screwed on the thread of the threaded rod.

Provision may also be made to ensure the bonding force by fastening together four elements, namely a first pair of sequentially adjoining elements arranged adjacent to a second pair of sequentially adjoining elements.

For example, the fastening means comprise at least one system consisting of two rigid coupling plates fastened together at their ends by two threaded rods, each threaded rod passing through two adjacently arranged vertical risers of two pairs of sequentially abutting elements. The entire assembly is held tight by tightening a nut on the threads of the threaded rod.

In order to optimize the device and thanks to the value of having many symmetrical elements to increase the flexibility of the combination of modular elements and to ensure a good cohesion of the assembly, the device of the invention is advantageously made up of elements having the same width.

Safety barriers may be installed around the perimeter of the platform for vehicle and human safety. For this purpose, the support element and the entrance element comprise means for fastening the safety barrier, which may for example consist of holes or pegs into which the railing can be fastened. The safety barriers may also be positioned on a fence arranged on the periphery of the platform, said fence making it possible to ensure that the vehicle does not fall off the platform.

Any strong and non-deformable material can be used to produce the modules that make up the device. Advantageously, the support element and the inlet element are prefabricated in concrete. This material has the advantage of imparting stability and fire resistance characteristics to the overall structure. In this way, the ground area particularly meets safety standards, which makes it possible to obtain a closed space, which can be used for various applications, and particularly as a place for storing various products.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, means for heating the platform are provided in at least one horizontal top cross member of the modular elements. These devices would be particularly advantageous in adverse weather conditions, particularly in the case of frost. Preferably, these means are resistors embedded in the concrete slab and powered by any type of power source. Preferably, they are arranged on the top plate of the supporting modular elements forming the flat surface of the platform.

Anti-slip patterns may also be printed on the horizontal top cross-members of the modular elements to prevent people from falling or the vehicle from slipping.

Advantageously, seals may be provided on the surfaces of the support element and the inlet element at the juxtaposition of the modular elements. The flat surface of the platform will then be slightly inclined (of the order of 1 cm per meter) to allow rain water to flow out of the platform.

Likewise, it is also possible to arrange compression strips made of elastic material of the elastomer or rubber type between the walls of the modular elements, at the contact areas of the vertical uprights, to improve the isolation and cohesion of the whole structure. These strips can also be used in the contact area between the vertical riser and the bearing surface of the modular element, further alleviating the possibility of structural expansion while making the contact area uniform.

The device according to the invention is designed in particular for unloading articles or material from a platform into a waste bin arranged below. The collection of waste material brought about by a vehicle is a major application thereof. However, any other application requiring the vehicle to be configured to hang over any receiving container is equally possible.

Drawings

Other particular features and advantages of the invention will be better understood with the aid of the figures and the description which follow, given as non-limiting examples.

Figure 1 shows an overview of an apparatus for unloading waste.

Fig. 2-a, 2-b and 2-c show three different configurations of the unloading device comprising a platform and one or two entrance ramps in top view.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a ramp for accessing a platform.

Figure 4-a is a horizontal cross-sectional view of four support elements arranged in two adjacent pairs of sequentially abutting elements.

Fig. 4-b is a cross-sectional view of fig. 4-a along axis a-a' showing the bin adjacent the platform and the safety rail installed in alignment with the vertical riser.

Fig. 5-a is an enlarged view of a section along the axis a-a' of fig. 4-a, facing the area V, showing in detail the junction between the two support elements and the bearing surface.

Fig. 5-B is an enlarged view of section B-B' of fig. 4-a facing the area W, showing in detail the junction between the two support elements and the bearing surface.

Fig. 6-a shows details of the system for fastening two support elements in a horizontal cross-sectional view.

Fig. 6-b shows details of the system for fastening four support elements in a horizontal cross-sectional view.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a three-dimensional view of an unloading platform 1, which unloading platform 1 can be given access via two entrance ramps 2 and is equipped with safety barriers 6. The raised platform 1 can be given access via two inclined entrance ramps 2. A bin 5 serving as a waste receptacle is arranged on the ground and abuts the platform 1 in a number of different positions. The platform consists of 54 support elements 3 forming a horizontal surface 48. Each ramp 2 is made up of 5 entrance elements 4. Safety barriers 6 are mounted on the periphery of the platform at intermittent heights to cater for the bin 5 to allow vehicle access for waste unloading. Safety barriers, which are opened in the french style, may be installed at the front side of the bin to protect the user. The access device, characterized by a door with two opening elements 60, allows access to the ground of the ground level area located under the platform.

Fig. 2-a, 2-b and 2-c show three different configurations of the unloading device in top view. The position provided for collecting the bin 5 is realized by an area 7 marked on the ground and provided for this purpose.

Fig. 3 shows in a longitudinal sectional view the ramp 2 consisting of several inlet elements 4, said inlet elements 4 extending from successive support elements 3 of the platform 1. The inlet element 4 and the support element 3 are placed on a bearing surface 8. A fastening system 17 is arranged at the joint of the elements 3, 4.

Fig. 4-a shows in a horizontal cross-sectional view four support elements 3 arranged in two adjacent pairs of sequentially adjoining elements. The support elements 3 are each formed by two vertical uprights 12 and a horizontal top cross-member 13. Elements 3-a and 3-b are joined together by the surfaces of vertical risers 12-a and 12-b, respectively, and elements 3-c and 3-d are joined together by the surfaces of vertical risers 12-d, 12-c, respectively. Furthermore, elements 3-a and 3-c are contiguous in sequence, as are elements 3-b and 3-d. The connection of the four supporting elements 3 is achieved by means of a fastening system 17. These support elements rest entirely on the bearing surface 8.

Fig. 4-b shows two adjacent support elements 3 in a cross-sectional view along axis a-a' facing region V. The support elements 3-a and 3-b are each composed of two vertical risers 12 and a horizontal top cross member 13 arranged on the load bearing surface 8. The vertical risers 12-a and 12-b are brought into contact so that the cross members 13-a and 13-b of the support elements 3-a and 3-b form a continuous raised horizontal surface. The safety barrier 6 is positioned on the support element 3 and the inlet element 4 by means of a fastening element 65 of the wall-surrounding type, flush with the outer vertical riser of the platform. Fastening means 16 are used between the support elements 3.

These fastening means are shown in detail on the one hand in fig. 5-a, 5-b and on the other hand in fig. 6-a, 6-b.

Fig. 5-a shows details of the joint between the support element 3 and the bearing surface 8 in a sectional view along the axis a-a'. Fig. 5-B is a cross-sectional view of the same joint along axis B-B' facing region W. A seal 66 is arranged on the top surface in the contact area between the two support elements 13-a and 13-b. Compression strips 67 made of an elastic material of the elastomer type are also arranged in the contact areas between the vertical risers 12-a and 12-b and between the contact areas between the vertical risers 12-a, 12-b and the bearing surface 8.

The four supporting elements 3 are fastened together by means of two systems 17 arranged at different heights. Such a system 17 is shown in fig. 6-b. It is made up of two rigid coupling plates 23, 24, the two rigid coupling plates 23, 24 being fastened together at their ends 25, 26 by two threaded rods 27, 28. The threaded rod 28 passes through two adjacent vertical uprights 12-a, 12-b of two adjacent elements 3-a and 3-b. The threaded rod 27 passes through two adjacent vertical uprights 12-c, 12-d of two adjacent elements 3-c, 3-d. A nut 30 secures the coupling plate and the threaded rod of the system 17.

Fig. 6-a shows the fastening system 17 of two sequentially adjacent support elements 3, which structure is present at the periphery of the device. The two rigid coupling plates 23, 24 are attached together at their ends 25, 26 by two threaded rods 27, 28. The threaded rod 28 passes through the vertical riser 12-e. The threaded rod 27 passes through the vertical riser 12-f. A nut 30 secures the coupling plate and the threaded rod of the system 17.

As an indication, the stress of the structure of the invention is defined by the operating load of the concrete modules constituting it. The maximum pressure applied to the surface layer of the platform accessible by 3.5 tonne vehicles on a 4 meter module as required is 0.22 MPa.

This slight operating stress is far from the stress of a structure of a road surface designed based on the strength of a standard axle loaded to 13 tons and built by a standard twinning reference pressure, i.e. 0.66 MPa.

Claims (16)

1. A device designed for unloading waste, which device is composed of a raised platform (1) and an inclined entry ramp (2), characterized in that it comprises:

-a plurality of juxtaposed support elements (3) forming a raised horizontal surface (48), comprising two vertical risers (12) resting on a surface (8) having a deformation coefficient defined as a function of the waste disposal facility intended for use and allowing the movement of pedestrians and light or heavy vehicles, and having a horizontal top cross-member (13),

-a plurality of inlet elements (4) forming at least one continuous inclined surface from the bearing surface (8) to a raised horizontal surface (48), the inlet elements being constituted by two vertical risers (12) placed on the bearing surface (8) and an inclined top cross member (13), and

-fastening means (17) between the support element (3) and the inlet element (4).

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the deformation coefficient of the bearing surface (8) is greater than 0.22 MPa.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support element (3) and the inlet element (4) form a modular element in the shape of an inverted U, the branches of which give the width of the modular element.

4. A device according to claim 3, characterised in that the dimensions of the modular elements vary within the limits of modules having a height of less than 4 metres, a length of less than 10 metres and a width of less than 6 metres.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises fastening means (16) for fastening two sequentially adjoining elements (3, 4) together.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterised in that the fastening means (16) comprise at least one system (17) of two rigid coupling plates (23, 24) fastened together at their ends (25, 26) by two threaded rods (27, 28) each passing through the vertical risers (12) of two successive abutting elements (3, 4).

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises fastening means (16) for fastening together four elements (3, 4) arranged in a first pair of sequentially adjoining elements adjacent to a second pair of sequentially adjoining elements.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterised in that the fastening means (16) comprise at least one system (17) consisting of two rigid coupling plates (23, 24) fastened together at their ends (25, 26) by two threaded rods (27, 28) each passing through two adjacently arranged vertical risers (12) of two pairs of sequentially abutting elements (3, 4).

9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a safety barrier (6) located at the periphery of the platform.

10. The arrangement as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the safety barrier is arranged on the support element (3) and the inlet element (4) by means of further fastening means (65), preferably flush with the outer vertical riser (12) of the platform.

11. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support element (3) and the inlet element (4) are prefabricated from concrete.

12. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that at least one horizontal top cross member (13) of the modular elements comprises means for heating the platform.

13. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a seal (66) is arranged on the surface of the support element (3) and the inlet element (4) at the interface of the modular elements.

14. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a compression strip (67) made of elastic material is arranged between the walls of the modular elements at the contact area of the vertical uprights (12).

15. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a compression strip (67) made of elastic material is arranged at the contact area between the vertical riser (12) of the modular element and the bearing surface (8).

16. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an access device (60) is provided on at least one modular element, said access device having one or more hinged opening elements allowing access to a pre-partitioned ground area located below the platform.