DRIVE ASSEMBLY FOR DRUM FOR PROCESSING MIXED SOLID WASTE
A rotatable drum system includes a frame and a drum rotationally supported thereon. Paddles in an interior of the drum are angularly offset from the longitudinal axis. An eccentric opening offset from the longitudinal axis forms the egress. Mixed solid waste agitated by the paddles while in the drum. Trunnions may support the drum. An actuator may be pivotable with an upper frame relative to a lower frame and the actuator can cause drum rotation irrespective of a position of the upper frame relative to the lower frame. A trunnion assembly with a rocker pivotally coupled to a base thereof via a first axle, enables the rocker to be pivotable relative to the base about the first axle. A second axle may be rotationally coupled to the rocker. A roller may be rotationally coupled to the rocker via the second axle, and configured to support a rotating load.
1 . A solid waste processing system comprising:
a lower frame configured to be disposed on a support surface;
an upper frame pivotally coupled to the lower frame;
a drive system coupled to, and movable with, the upper frame relative to the lower frame; and
a drum rotationally supported on the upper frame, wherein the drum includes an inlet and an outlet both configured to receive solid waste.
2 . The solid waste processing system of claim 1 , wherein the drive system comprises:
a rotary actuator fixedly coupled to the upper frame;
a driven member fixedly coupled to, and configured to rotate, the drum; and
a driving member coupled to the rotary actuator and the driven member, wherein the rotary actuator is pivotable with the upper frame relative to the lower frame such that the rotary actuator can cause rotation of the drum irrespective of a position of the upper frame relative to the lower frame.
3 . The solid waste processing system of claim 2 , further comprising a flexible member, wherein the driven member and the driving member are coupled to one another by the flexible member such that the flexible member causes the rotation of the drum via the driven member.
4 . The solid waste processing system of claim 3 , wherein the flexible member comprises at least one of a chain, a roller chain, a v-belt, or a gear belt.
5 . The solid waste processing system of claim 3 , wherein the driven member and the driving member each comprise at least one of a sprocket, a gear, or a pulley.
6 . The solid waste processing system of claim 2 , further comprising a carriage, wherein the carriage is coupled to the upper frame and supports at least a portion of the drive system.
7 . The solid waste processing system of claim 6 , wherein the carriage is disposed below the drum.
8 . The solid waste processing system of claim 6 , wherein the carriage is nested within the lower frame.
9 . The solid waste processing system of claim 6 , wherein the rotary actuator and the driving member are supported on the carriage.
10 . The solid waste processing system of claim 2 , wherein the rotary actuator comprises at least one of an engine, a motor, a gearbox, a transmission, or a variable frequency drive.
11 . The solid waste processing system of claim 1 , wherein the drive system is reversible.
12 . The solid waste processing system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of self-aligning trunnions, wherein the drum is rotationally supported on the upper frame by the plurality of self-aligning trunnions.
13 . The solid waste processing system of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the self-aligning trunnions comprises a radial trunnion.
14 . The solid waste processing system of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the self-aligning trunnions comprises a thrust trunnion.
15 . A rotatable drum system comprising:
a lower frame;
an upper frame pivotally coupled to the lower frame;
an actuator fixedly coupled to the upper frame;
a drum rotationally supported on the upper frame by one or more trunnions;
a driven member coupled and configured to rotate the drum;
a flexible member configured to engage the driven member; and
a driving member coupled to the actuator and configured to rotationally drive the flexible member such that the flexible member causes a rotation of the drum via the driven member, wherein the actuator is pivotable with the upper frame relative to the lower frame such that the actuator can cause the rotation of the drum irrespective of a position of the upper frame relative to the lower frame.
16 . The rotatable drum system of claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of self-aligning trunnions, wherein the drum is rotationally supported on the upper frame by the plurality of self-aligning trunnions.
17 . The rotatable drum system of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the self-aligning trunnions comprises a radial trunnion or a thrust trunnion.
18 . The rotatable drum system of claim 15 , wherein:
the flexible member comprises at least one of a chain, a roller chain, a v-belt, or a gear belt; and
the driven member and the driving member each comprise at least one of a sprocket, a gear, or a pulley.
19 . A method processing municipal solid waste comprising:
rotating a drum;
causing the drum to receive the municipal solid waste, wherein the rotation of the drum converts the municipal solid waste into processed municipal solid waste; and
tilting the drum to affect a characteristic of the processed municipal solid waste, wherein the characteristic includes at least one of a throughput or a particle size of the processed municipal solid waste.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein:
the drum includes an inlet configured to receive the municipal solid waste, and an outlet both configured to expel the processed municipal solid waste;
the drum is rotationally supported on an upper frame;
the upper frame is pivotally coupled to a lower frame, to enable the tilting of the drum;
the lower frame is configured to be disposed on a support surface; and
a drive system is coupled to, and movable with, the upper frame relative to the lower frame and configured to cause the rotation of the drum.