US3793942A

US3793942A - Spray actuator for refuse compactor

Info

Publication number: US3793942A
Application number: US00275092A
Authority: US
Inventors: L Martiniak; M Race
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1972-07-25
Filing date: 1972-07-25
Publication date: 1974-02-26
Anticipated expiration: 1991-02-26

Abstract

Manual operating means is controlled externally and is used to open the flow control or spray valve of a deodorant or disinfectant containing aerosol container that is carried within an upper access chamber of a refuse compactor. The container may be mounted on the inside of a swingable access door that opens through a front wall of the compactor above upper reaches of a refuse compartment or on a wall member within the access compartment. The manual actuating means has an outside mounting for operation from or adjacent to the door.

Description

United States Patent 1 Martiniak et al.

[ 1 SPRAY ACTUATOR FOR REFUSE COMPACTOR [75] Inventors: Leonard J. Martiniak, Waukesha;

Marlin L. Race, Elm Grove, both of Wis.

[73] Assignee: General Electric Company,

Louisville, Ky.

22 Filed: July 25,1972

21 Appl.No.:275,092

[52] US. Cl 100/73, 100/229 A, 222/180 [51] Int. Cl 1330b 15/30 [58] Field of Search... 222/162, 174, 180, 181, 185, 222/402.15; 312/31, 31.2, 31.3; 100/45,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,636,862 l/1972 Bottas 222/180 X 2,866,472 12/1958 Risely 222/180 X 2,943,766 7/1960 Orr 222/180 2,904,223 9/1959 Ryan 222/162 [451 Feb. 26, 1974 2,673,008 3/1954 Ryan 222/180 X 2,534,464 12/1950 Marini 21/77 X 3,229,858 1/1966 Lesa 222/180 X 3,028,055 4/1962 Wood 222/180 3,224,644 12/1965 Davis 222/18 C Primary Examiner-Stanley H. Tollberg Assistant ExaminerLarry Martin Attorney, Agent, or FirmFrancis H. Boos, Jr.

[5 7 ABSTRACT Manual operating means is controlled externally and is used to open the flow control or spray valve of a deodorant or disinfectant containing aerosol container that is carried within an upper access chamber of a refuse compactor. The container may be mounted on the inside of a swingable access door that opens through a front wall of the compactor above upper reaches of a refuse compartment or on a wall member within the access compartment. The manual actuating means has an outside mounting for operation from or adjacent to the door.

9 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEBZB I974 SHEET 1 BF 5 PATENTED FEB26 I974 sum 3 OF 5 SPRAY ACTUATOR FOR REFUSE COMPACTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention pertains to a remote control means or actuator for operating a spray dispenser valve and particularly, to a manually operated system or apparatus arrangement for use with a refuse compactor, within an access compartment thereof and in association with an access or entrance door or partition wall thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art Compactor devices for household use are coming into vogue, particularly since they facilitate storage and transportation of garbage, refuse or waste material that is to be removed to some central receiving or treating location. Devices of this sort have gained popularity due to the general trend towards improved ecology.

It has been customary in devices of this sort to provide for the use of a spray container for the purpose of deodorizing, disinfecting or doing both to the refuse material that is introduced into a compactor unit. Heretofore, to make a compactor unit more automatic, apparatus has been devised for causing a jet or spray application to be accomplished, for example, upon closing an access door. However, it has been determined that an automatic device of this sort tends to get out of adjustment. Difficulty has also been encountered from the standpoint that it is wasteful of the spray fluid or liquid, in that it operates regardless of whether or not it is needed for a particular opening and closing operation of the door. In other words, the door may be opened and closed for inspection purposes or the refuse being introduced may not be of a type or quantity requiring a spray application. Although automatic, such an apparatus does not fully relate to actual spray requirements. Further, there is generally no way to immediately determine when the spray operation is no longer effective, whether the container is empty or the automatic mechanism is out of adjustment or damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has thus been an object of the present invention to devise a remotely controlled, improved actuating means or device for a spray valve used to dispense the fluid content of a deodorant or disinfectant container which may be directly manually controlled by the person operating the compactor.

A further object has been to develop means or an operating system that can be effectively manually operated externally of the access door of a compactor, either on the door or on an adjacent panel, which may be positively operated for a spray application of fluid, and which will be automatically returned to its starting position when manual force is released therefrom.

These and other objects of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art from the illustrated embodiments and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a greatly reduced side perspective view in elevation of a compactor unit having an access door provided with a deodorizing or disinfectant pressure spray can or container that may be operated by an actuator device or mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmental side elevation in partial section of a compactor door assembly showing a spray actuator device or mechanism constructed and mounted in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a fragmental front view in elevation showing the device of and on the scale of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a horizontal section on the same scale as and taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view in elevation on the same scale as and similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating a modified construction of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view in elevation on the same scale as and similar to FIG. 3, but showing the modified construction of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a horizontal section on the same scale as FIGS. 5 and 6 and taken along line VIIVII of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a fragmental side elevation in partial section, on the scale of FIGS. 2 and 5 illustrating a further embodiment of the invention. In this view, actuator means is shown holding a spray valve in its open position.

FIG. 9 is a back view in elevation on the same scale as and showing the construction of FIG. 8 in its mounted relation with respect to a back panel of an access door of a compactor. The actuator means is shown in the same position as in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmental side view in elevation on the same scale as FIG. 9, particularly illustrating operative connections between an operating cable means and a horizontally or transversely positioned crankshaft. In this view, the actuator means is shown in its valve releasing position.

FIG. 11 is a fragmental back view in elevation on the scale of FIG. 9, and particularly illustrating the construction and operation of throw actuator means mounted on the crankshaft of the apparatus of FIG. 9. The actuator means is shown in the same position as in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a greatly reduced side perspective view in elevation on the scale of FIG. 1 showing a modified embodiment of a compactor unit of the invention in which the upper access door has been eliminated and the front panel or door of the drawer or bin extends to cover the open front end of an access compartment.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged fragmental side section in elevation of the compactor unit of FIG. 12 and illustrating the mounting of a spray actuator device therein; it is on the scale of and taken along the line XIII-XIII of FIG. 15.

FIG. 14 is a side section in elevation of the scale of and taken along the line XIV-XIV of FIG. 15.

FIG. 15 is a fragmental back end view in elevation on a reduced scale of FIGS. 13 and 14, showing details of the construction of a partition-like mounting plate that may be removably positioned in the upper compartment of the unit of FIG. 12 to carry a spray can and operating means therefor.

And, FIGS. l6, l7 and 18 are horizontal sections on the scale of and taken along the

lines

16, 17 and 18 of FIG. 15.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In carrying out the invention, a manually operated spray actuator device, means, mechanism or system has been devised which extends along the inside area of an access door of a compactor unit and either exits through an upper portion of the door or through a panel adjacent to the door. A springlike clamp or mounting bracket is provided for removably positioning an aerosol spray container or can on a wall or back of the door for movement therewith. The spray actuator is manually controlled in order that a spray jet may be projected independently of the opening of a closing of the door and at any desired time. It has a longitudinally extending operating means, rod or cable member I that extends from an outer finger, handle or button operator portion to move the operating means positively under manual force in one direction and cooperate with a spray nozzle and flow control valve assembly to compress the valve and open it momentarily for spraying a jet of liquid or fluid therefrom. The device or means is so mounted and constructed that it may be automatically returned to its starting or initial operative position on release of manual force by the closing spring action of the nozzle and valve assembly. Thus, only one direction of positive manual force need be applied in accomplishing the requisite spraying of the compartment or refuse in the compartment of a compactor.

FIG. 1 shows a typical compactor unit that has a slide bin or drawer G adapted to carry a refuse receiving bag, a front framing panel construction C, an upper cross-extending top or roof panel D and a hinge, outwardly swingable access door E. In the embodiment of the invention of FIGS. 2 to 4, an inwardly positioned, slidable, operating means or rodlike member 22 has an operator finger or handle portion 23 carried by the access door E. When lifted or slid upwardly, the operator portion 23 will cause inwardly positioned, slidable operating member or means 22 to move upwardly a corre sponding distance and lift spray nozzle and flow control valve assembly B against or inwardly with respect .to its aerosol fluid container A in its stationary or fixed mounted position on the access door E to provide a fluid spray application.

In a second embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7-, operating member or means 34 operates through an outwardly projecting, pivoted, .operator finger or handle portion 33 that is integral therewith and is pivotally carried on the door E by a mount 31 and a pivot pin 32. The container A is directly carried for movement on the operating member 34. A fixed bottom bracket 35 engages the spray nozzle of the assembly B of the container A and thus, downward movement of the container relative to the spray nozzle and valve assembly, as effected by the downward movement of the operating member 34 and upper movement of the operator means or finger 33, will open the valve and cause a fluid spray application. Spring return action of the spray nozzle, as in other embodiments, may be employed to move the operating means 34 to its original position when manual force is released.

In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, a push button 43 moves a longitudinally extending operating means, member or cable 42 downwardly to swing a crank arm or shaft 50 from an initial or starting up position of FIGS. 10 and 11 through an angle of about 10 to a down valve-opening position of FIGS. 8 and 9. The cable 42 is shown connected at its inner, lower or operating end to the crank arm of shaft 50 that has a main, transverse extending shaft portion 52 mounted on and extending horizontally of an inner wall of access door E. An actuator or bifurcated throw cam means 60 is shown mounted by a Phillips head set screw 61 on an inner end of the shaft portion 52 to compress or move the spray nozzle of the assembly B container A vertically upwardly or inwardly and cause a spray jet application. In this embodiment, a manual pushing force applied to the push button 42 applies sufficient force to open the spray nozzle.

Referring particularly to the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 2, 5 and 8, conventional aerosol pressure spray can or container A containing, for example, a disinfecting or deodorizing pressure fluid therein, is adapted to be removably mounted or secured in a suspended relation from a back panel or frame structure of the access door E by a mounting clamp or bracket 10. The container A is shown as having a conventional spray nozzle and flow control valve assembly B that is normally urged by springlike means outwardly to a closed position, and that will be opened by pressure applied to the nozzle or to a flange mounted thereon to move the assembly B inwardly with respect to the container A, in opposition to outward closing force of nozzle spring pressure. The door E may, as shown, be swingably mounted by hinge means F for in and out movement with respect to an upper, frontwardly positioned, cross-extending, portion of the panel frame C for the housing of the compartment. The hinge means F may be of any conventional type, such as a self-return spring type or a piano type.

The door E, when swung outwardly, provides inspection access to a compacting compartment of the unit above its slide drawer G and may be operated by means of an outwardly extending, angle-shaped, hand grip portion 18 that is mounted on an upper portion of its rim 19 and located adjacent the upper cross-extending roof panel D. In accordance with the invention, means is provided for both somewhat flexibly removably mounting the container A in a suspended relation from the inside of the door E and for remotely, manually enabling the valve and a spray nozzle assembly B to be opened for spraying a quantity of liquid or fluid from the container A at any time, as desired, irrespective of whether the door E is being opened, is open, is being closed or is closed.

The door E is shown provided with a front panel or enclosing plate member 15 and a back closing-off plate member or panel 16 that are secured in a spaced-apart relation by an upper, cross-extending portion of an end or edge flange or rim 19. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4, a reinforcing, backwardly positioned, and vertically or longitudinally extending angle member 17 is shown secured, as by welding, to the back panel 16. The flange of the member 17 serves as a mounting flange for the mounting clamp or bracket 10 which is adapted to support the container A in a vertically suspended relation. As shown, the clamp or bracket 10 may be of a straplike somewhat flexible metal construction and has an upper clip portion 10a and a lower hook portion 10b. When a container A is to be inserted into the position of FIG. 2, its front rim may be pivotally entered on the hook portion 10b and then tilted into position in such a manner that the clip portion 10a will spring into clamping engagement within its concave upper end. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the clamp or bracket 10 has a secure stationary or fixed mounting on the flange of the member 17 by some suitable means, such as metal screws or rivets l1.

Longitudinally or vertically extending operating or actuating means 22 of FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 is shown of rodlike construction along the inside of the front panel for relative movement with respect thereto. spaced apart mounts are secured to the back side of the panel 15 to slidably guide and retain the operating means or member 22. The operating means 22 has an angle-shaped downwardly extending, backwardly offset portion 24 terminating in a horizontal connector foot portion that is looped or eyelet-formed to provide a nozzle-engaging open portion therein between its opposed spaced-apart finger portions, see particularly FIG. 4. The foot portion 25 fits on the cone-shaped nozzle of the assembly B. A secondary or third mount 21 is secured on the back panel or plate member 16 of the door E for slidably receiving the portion 24; it cooperates with the mounts 20 in providing guided vertical up and down or longitudinal movement of the operating means 22 with respect to the door E.

The lower portion 24 of the operating means extends through a slot in the panel 16 so that it may be freely moved with a positive upward actuation by an upward force applied to the outwardly, forwardly extending manual actuator or operator means, finger or handle portion 23. It will be noted that the operator means 23 extends outwardly through a vertical slot or open space within the front panel 15. Thus, a manual upward pull or force application to the operator means or finger 23 will cause the connector foot portion 25 to engage position-limit means in the form of a washer-like flange 65 to move the nozzle assembly B inwardly or upwardly to open its valve and hold it open as long as force is applied to the means 23. Once positive force is released, then the normal resiliency of the assembly B may be employed to cause it to automatically close or move downwardly or outwardly with respect to the container A and carry the operator means 22 therewith to return it to its initial or starting position. In FIG. 2, a tension spring 37 is shown connected by

lugs

38a and 38b between the operating member 22 and the back door panel 16 to provide supplemental or independent return force for aiding in or for fully effecting return movement of the operating means 22 to its starting position.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the same reference numerals and alphabetic designations are used for parts that are similar in construction and utilization to parts of the embodiment of FIG. 2. The mounting bracket or clamp 10, instead of being securely or fixedly mountedon the door E, is fixedly mounted on a straplike metal operating member 34 by rivets 11. The operating member 34, instead of being adapted to cooperate with and move the valve and nozzle assembly B with respect to the container A, cooperates with and moves the container A with respect to the assembly B.

A lower, separate, stationary mounting clip or bracket 35 of angle-shape is secured by rivets or metal screws 36 to the back panel 16 of the door E and has, see particularly FIG. 7, a horizontal eyelet or hookshaped nozzle-engaging foot portion 35a. Thus, when the operating means or member 34 moves the container A downwardly relative to the fixed mounting clip 35 through the agency of its connection to the clamp or bracket 10, the valve and spout assembly B will be moved inwardly against the resiliency of its spring means to thereby open its spray control valve and eject its fluid or liquid content.

The operating means or member 34 is angle-shaped at its upper end to extend both through the inner and

outer panels

15 and 16 of the door E, and is pivotally positioned with respect to the door by the pivot pin 32. It will be noted that the operating member 34 is maintained in a slidably guided relation along the back reaches of the access door E by a pair of vertically spaced-apart mounts 30 that may be secured by metal screws to the back side of the back panel 16 of the door.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, l0 and 11, access door E is shown with the container mounting and carrying bracket or clamp 10 directly secured on back panel 16 by rivets or metal screws 11. The nozzle and valve assembly B is opened by a flexible, cablelike operating means which, as shown, has an outer guided cable sheath 40 and inner flexible wire, rod or cable 42 which is the immediate operating means. The upper end of the cable sheath 40 is secured by threaded collars or palnuts 44 to an inwardly offset mounting panel or shelf portion 41 that is shown formed within top panel D of the compactor housing. The upper end of the cable or wire 42 has push button 43 secured thereon, as by a set screw, and at its lower end is formed in the shape of a loop or eyelet portion 42a to operatively fit on a reduced end portion 51 of the crankshaft 50. A pair of opposed washers 46 and a cotter pin 47 are shown in FIG. 9 as mounting the eyelet or loop portion 42 in an operating position on a reduced outer end 51 of the crankshaft 50. The lower end of the sheath 40 is reinforced and held in a suitable spaced relation from the loop portion 42a of the wire or cable 42 by a tightly wound spring that may be heat-staked in position about the lower end of the sheath 40.

The main shaft portion 52 of the crankshaft is operatively mounted on the back panel 16 by a crossextending, bearing collar and mounting assembly that is positioned to extend therealong. A spaced pair of angle-shaped support plate structures 59 are welded to project from the back panel 16, and a pair of spacedapart tabs 57 secure the assembly 55 on the plate structures 59 through the agency of rivets or metal screws 58 (see FIGS. 10 and 11). An end bearing 53 and clip ring 54 are associated with one end of the bearing assembly 55 and an end bearing assembly 56 is associated with the other end thereof. The inner end of the main shaft portion 52 serves as a mounting means for a throw type of bifurcated, camlike actuator 60 that is provided with a pair of cam fingers or bifurcations 62. The bifurcations 62 have a 10 positioned relationship with respect to the crankshaft 50 and are adapted to engage an encircling flange about the nozzle assembly B to move the spout and control valve of the assembly B to the open position of FIGS. 8 and 9 when desired.

As shown particularly in FIGS. 10 and 11, the camlike actuator means 60 has a swing stop finger 63 projecting in an opposite or relation with respect to the cam fingers 62. The swing stop means or finger 63 is adapted to cooperate with a pair of 10 spaced-apart stop abutments or bent end portions of a pair of backwardly projecting

metal bars

64a and 64b that are welded to an associated one of a pair of angle-shaped support plate structures 59 (see FIGS. 8 and 11). The

stops 64a and 64b cooperate with the finger 63 to positively limit the swing of the cam fingers 62 between positions of FIGS. 10 and 8, and as controlled by the swing of crank arm or shaft 50 and the operation of the push button 43. In this particular embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the nozzle and flow control valve assembly B is provided with a circular operating flange or washer 65 mounted by sliding it on the end of the nozzle to a position at which it has a tight frictional engagement with the cone-shaped body of the nozzle. The flange or washer 65 has a bore diameter such that it has an upwardly spaced relation from the end of the nozzle when it is secured thereon. A slide-on frictional fit is sufficient. The shaft 52 and the actuator 60 are mounted on the panel 16 beyond the vertical axis of the nozzle and control valve assembly B, and the base connectionbetween the fingers 62 hasa backward extension so as to clear the nozzle assembly B on all sides thereof and provide an unrestricted jet spray from the nozzle when the control valve assembly is opened by the action of the fingers 62. g

FIG. 12 shows a compactor unit of a simplified construction from the standpoint that the upper access door E of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 11 has been eliminated. As shown, front panel frame C has a crossextending central portion or strip 77 defining the lower extent of an upper access compartment of the unit which, along with upper roof panel D and side walls of the housing of the unit serves to position or mount a cross-extending, central baffle or partition-like mounting plate or wall member 70. The partition 70 defines an upper, front, access compartment or chamber for receiving and mounting a spray container or can A. The partition wall member 70 has an upper pair of cross-extending mounting flanges 70a that, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, have vertical slots 70b to receive threaded stems 75. Each stem 75 extends backwardly from an associated square-shaped mounting washer or spacer block 74 and is adapted to receive a nut 75a. The washers 74 are secured, as by welding, on an inner side of a front flange end portion 73 of the roof panel D; their horizontally extending, threaded stems or bolts 75 vertically adjustably secure the flanges 70a of the wall member 70 in position by means of the nuts 75a.

Opposite side edge flange portions 70c of the member 70 are shown as slightly backwardly bent or offset, side-mounting flanges which, see FIG. 15, are adapted to guidably interfit or forwardly slide into position along a pair of inwardly extending alignment pins or lugs 68 that are carried by side walls of the housing of the unit. Lower, flange-like end portion 70d of the member 70 has a group of transversely spaced-apart holes 70e therein to receive small latching nubbins 76a that are carried within spring-like clips 76 of suitable material, such as metal. The clips 76 (see FIGS. 14, 15 and 18) are of an upwardly open or inverted U-shape and are secured, as by welding, along their front sides to extend inwardly from an end of an associated one of a pair of cross-extending, strip-like members 77 of the panel frame C. Each member 77 carries a pair of the clips 76 (see FIG. 18) and is secured by weld metal w to the back side of the frame C. The clips 76 removably receive and position the lower, flange-like edge portion 70d of the member 70. As shown particularly in FIG. 14, the back side of each clip 76 carries the small nubbins 76a that are adapted to extend through an associated aligned hole e in the lower edge portion 70d of the wall member 70 to mount it in position within the upper compartment of the unit.

The wall member 70 has a centrally disposed, backwardly offset, mounting portion of rounded shape for receiving and supporting a spray can or container A. The upper end of the container A is adapted to be pivoted into position on nose or U-shaped foot portion 81 (see FIGS. 14 and 18) and beneath a strap-like, springable, mounting clamp or bracket 82. The clamp or bracket 82 is secured to extend upwardly from and along the inside of the mounting portion 80 by suitable means, such as rivets 83. An upper horizontal foot portion of the clip 82 is adapted to snap within the upwardly positioned, concave bottom end of the container A to thus hold it in position on a central nose 81 of the plate 70. Operation of the nozzle B of the spray can A is accomplished by means of a vertically extending operating rod 85. The operating rod 85 is mounted on the front side of the panel 70 (see FIGS. 13 and 14) and is provided with vertically spaced-apart guide mounts 92 and 93 to operatively receive and position it for vertical up and down movement therein and along the wall member 70. At its upper end, the rod 85 v has a sidewise-extending operating finger or handle portion 86 which may be operated from the front of the unit or its recess compartment when the front door of the drawer or bin G has been moved to the open position of FIG. 12.

Lower end portion 87 of the rod 85 is, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, provided with an angle portion which extends into and terminate in horizontal foot 88 that has a central, open portion to receive the nozzle B. The foot 88 fits over the nozzle B and against its flange 65 in such a manner that an upward pulling or sliding movement of the operating rod 85 will force the nozzle B inwardly and open its valve to spray disinfecting or deodorizing fluid from the container or can A.

Although the nozzle B has a spring action which tends to move the rod 85 downwardly to a return position, a positive return means is illustrated as employing a tension spring 90. The spring 90 is at its upper end connected to a projecting pin or lug 85a on the rod 85 and, at its other or lower end, is connected to a pin or lug 91 that projects from the lower guide mount of a pair of slotted upper and lower guide mounts 92 and 93. The rod 85 is adapted to slide within guide mounts 92 and 93 that are secured to project from the plate member 70.

We claim:

1. In an improved refuse compactor unit of the character shown and described having frame and wall members defining a lower compacting compartment and an upper access compartment that is open downwardly to the compacting compartment, wherein a pull-out drawer is operatively mounted within the compacting compartment for receiving refuse when the drawer is in a frontward-outer position, wherein the upper compartment has a closing-off front wall and the frame has a fixed panel adjacent to the front wall that extends across the frame in a fixed relationship with respect thereto, and wherein a replaceable fluid spray container has a flow control valve and spray nozzle assembly at one end thereof provided with spring-like means for urging the nozzle towards a valve-closing position, the combination of clamping means secured to a back portion of said front wall for detachably receiving and positioning the container in a substantially vertically extending relation therealong and with its valve and nozzle assembly extending endwise-downwardly therefrom, a washer-like flange carried on the nozzle in an upwardly spaced-apart relation from its spray end, operating means carried on said front wall and positioned for movement within the access compartment to open the fiow control valve by moving the valve and nozzle assembly axially endwise-inwardly relative to the container, said operating means having spaced-apart nozzle-receiving finger portions adapted to engage said washer-like flange and apply inward valve-opening pressure for directing a fluid spray downwardly into the refuse-receiving drawer, said operating means having connecting means extending upwardly along the access compartment, said connecting means being operatively connected at its lower end to said finger portions, manual actuator means mounted externally of the upper compartment and connected to an upper end of said connecting means for effecting valve-opening actuation of said finger portions upon manual in-pressure movement of said actuator means, means for opening and closing-off the access compartment to expose said container for replacement thereof, and said actuator means being adapted for manually opening the valve of the valve and nozzle assembly both when the drawer is in inner as well as outer positions with respect to the lower compacting compartment.

2. In a refuse compactor as defined in claim 1, said connecting means being a flexible cable, and said manual actuator being a push button.

3. In a refuse compactor unit as defined in claim 2, said operating means having a crankshaft, said cable being secured to one end of said crankshaft, and said finger portions being mounted on the other end of said crankshaft.

4. In a refuse compactor unit as defined in claim 3, opposed stop means cooperating with and positively limiting swinging movement of said finger portions between opening and closing positions of the nozzle and valve assembly.

5. In a refuse compactor unit as defined in claim 4, means cooperating with said push button means for mounting it on and to extend outwardly through said fixed panel.

6. In a refuse compactor unit as defined in claim 1, said means for opening and closing-off the access compartment being hinge means swingably mounting said front wall on the frame for in and out movement with respect to said access compartment.

7. In a refuse compactor unit as defined in claim 6, spring means connected to said operating means for urging it towards a return position after release of manual valve-opening movement of said actuator means.

8. In an improved refuse compactor unit of the character shown and described having frame and wall members defining a lower compacting compartment and an upper access compartment that is open downwardly to the compacting compartment, wherein a pull-out drawer is operatively mounted within the compacting compartment for receiving refuse when it is in a frontward-outer position, and wherein a replaceable fluid spray container has a flow control valve and spray nozzle assembly at one end thereof with spring-like means for urging the valve towards a valve-closing position, the combination of a front wall within and extending across the upper compartment, a mounting wall portion positioned substantially centrally of said front wall and open forwardly therethrough for detachably receiving and supporting the container in a substantially vertically extending position with its valve and nozzle assembly extending endwisedownwardly therefrom to a position below said mounting wall portion, a front door panel carried by said pull-out drawer and extending upwardly to both close-off the upper and lower compartments when the drawer is in an innermost position within the lower compartment, means removably positioning said front wall in a backwardly spacedapart relation within the upper compartment and with respect to said front door panel when said door panel is in a closed position, the nozzle having positionlimiting means thereon, and operating means carried by said front wall and projecting forwardly therefrom and adapted to engage said position-limiting means of the nozzle for moving the valve and nozzle assembly endwise-inwardly with respect to the container upon manual actuation of said operating means to open the control valve and provide a spray-release of liquid from the container through the nozzle downwardly towards and into the lower compartment.

9. In a refuse compactor unit as defined in claim 8, spring means connected between said front wall and said operating means for urging said operating means towards a return position after manual operation has been effected for opening the control valve.

Claims

1. In an improved refuse compactor unit of the character shown and described having frame and wall members defining a lower compacting compartment and an upper access compartment that is open downwardly to the compacting compartment, wherein a pull-out drawer is operatively mounted within the compacting compartment for receiving refuse when the drawer is in a frontward-outer position, wherein the upper compartment has a closing-off front wall and the frame has a fixed panel adjacent to the front wall that extends across the frame in a fixed relationship with respect thereto, and wherein a replaceable fluid spray container has a flow control valve and spray nozzle assembly at one end thereof provided with spring-like means for urging the nozzle towards a valve-closing position, the combination of clamping means secured to a back portion of said front wall for detachably receiving and positioning the container in a substantially vertically extending relation therealong and with its valve and nozzle assembly extending endwise-downwardly therefrom, a washerlike flange carried on the nozzle in an upwardly spaced-apart relation from its spray end, operating means carried on said front wall and positioned for movement within the access compartment to open the flow control valve by moving the valve and nozzle assembly axially endwise-inwardly relative to the container, said operating means having spaced-apart nozzlereceiving finger portions adapted to engage said washer-like flange and apply inward valve-opening pressure for directing a fluid spray downwardly into the refuse-receiving drawer, said operating means having connecting means extending upwardly along the access compartment, said connecting means being operatively connected at its lower end to said finger portions, manual actuator means mounted externally of the upper compartment and connected to an upper end of said connecting means for effecting valve-opening actuation of said finger portions upon manual inpressure movement of said actuator means, means for opening and closing-off the access compartment to expose said container for replacement thereof, and said actuator means being adapted for manually opening the valve of the valve and nozzle assembly both when the drawer is in inner as well as outer positions with respect to the lower compacting compartment.

8. In an improved refuse compactor unit of the character shown and described having frame and wall members defining a lower compacting compartment and an upper access compartment that is open downwardly to the compacting compartment, wherein a pull-out drawer is operatively mounted within the compacting compartment for receiving refuse when it is in a frontward-outer position, and wherein a replaceable fluid spray container has a flow control valve and spray nozzle assembly at one end thereof with spring-like means for urging the valve towards a valve-closing position, the combination of a front wall within and extending across the upper compartment, a mounting wall portion positioned substantially centrally of said front wall and open forwardly therethrough for detachably receiving and supporting the container in a substantially vertically extending position with its valve and nozzle assembly extending endwise-downwardly therefrom to a position below said mounting wall portion, a front door panel carried by said pull-out drawer and extending upwardly to both close-off the upper and lower compartments when the drawer is in an innermost position within the lower compartment, means removably positioning said front wall in a backwardly spaced-apart relation within the upper compartment and with respect to said front door panel when said door panel is in a closed position, the nozzle having position-limiting means thereon, and operating means carried by said front wall and projecting forwardly therefrom and adapted to engage said position-limiting means of the nozzle for moving the valve and nozzle assembly endwise-inwardly with respect to the container upon manual actuation of said operating means to open the control valve and provide a spray-release of liquid from the container through the nozzle downwardly towards and into the lower compartment.