SELF-ALIGNING TRUNNION 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 trunnion assembly comprising:
a base;
a first axle pivotally coupled to the base;
a rocker pivotally coupled to the base via the first axle, wherein the rocker is pivotable relative to the base about the first axle;
a second axle rotationally coupled to the rocker;
a roller rotationally coupled to the rocker via the second axle, and configured to support a rotating load, wherein the first axle is substantially perpendicular to the second axle such that a pivotable motion of the rocker automatically aligns the roller with the rotating load.
2 . The trunnion assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
an angular adjustment mechanism lockably coupled to the base and configured to fix a pivotal position of the rocker relative to the base.
3 . The trunnion assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a lubricator configured to lubricate the roller as the roller as the roller rotates about the second axle.
4 . The trunnion assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second axle is substantially aligned with a rotational axis of the rotating load.
5 . A thrust trunnion assembly comprising:
a frame;
a first resilient member coupled to the frame;
a carriage resiliently coupled to the frame via the first resilient member and moveable relative to the frame along a first axis;
a first axle rotationally coupled to the carriage;
a first roller rotationally coupled to the carriage via the first axle and configured to support a rotating load in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the rotating load.
6 . The thrust trunnion assembly of claim 5 , further comprising:
a second axle coupled to the carriage;
a second roller coupled to the carriage via the second axle and configured to further support the rotating load.
7 . The thrust trunnion assembly of claim 6 , wherein the rotating load is disposed between the first roller and the second roller.
8 . The thrust trunnion assembly of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the first axle or the second axle is tilted with respect to a rotational axis of the rotating load.
9 . The thrust trunnion assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a second resilient member coupled to the frame at a location opposite from the first resilient member.
10 . 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 drum rotationally supported on the upper frame by one or more self-aligning trunnions, wherein the drum includes an inlet and an outlet both configured to receive solid waste.
11 . The solid waste processing system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more self-aligning trunnions comprises a radial trunnion.
12 . The solid waste processing system of claim 11 , wherein the radial trunnion comprises:
a base;
a first axle pivotally coupled to the base;
a rocker pivotally coupled to the base via the first axle, wherein the rocker is pivotable relative to the base about the first axle;
a second axle rotationally coupled to the rocker;
a roller rotationally coupled to the rocker via the second axle, and configured to support a rotating load, wherein the first axle is substantially perpendicular to the second axle such that a pivotable motion of the rocker automatically aligns the roller with the rotating load.
13 . The solid waste processing system of claim 12 , the radial trunnion further comprising an angular adjustment mechanism lockably coupled to the base and configured to fix a pivotal position of the rocker relative to the base.
14 . The solid waste processing system of claim 12 , wherein the second axle is substantially aligned with a rotational axis of the rotating load.
15 . The solid waste processing system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more self-aligning trunnions comprises a thrust trunnion.
16 . The solid waste processing system of claim 15 , wherein the thrust trunnion comprises:
a frame;
a first resilient member coupled to the frame;
a carriage resiliently coupled to the frame via the first resilient member and moveable relative to the frame along a first axis;
an axle rotationally coupled to the carriage; and
a first roller rotationally coupled to the carriage via the axle and configured to support a rotating load in a direction along a longitudinal axis of the rotating load.
17 . The solid waste processing system of claim 16 , the thrust trunnion further comprising:
a second axle coupled to the carriage;
a second roller coupled to the carriage via the second axle and configured to further support the rotating load.
18 . The solid waste processing system of claim 16 , the thrust trunnion further comprising a second resilient member coupled to the frame at a location opposite from the first resilient member.
19 . The solid waste processing system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a driven member coupled to, and configured to rotate, the drum;
a flexible member configured to engage the driven member;
a rotary actuator;
a driving member coupled to the rotary 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 rotary actuator is pivotable with the upper frame relative to the lower frame such that the rotary actuator can cause the rotation of the drum irrespective of a position of the upper frame relative to the lower frame.
20 . The solid waste processing system of claim 10 , further comprising:
a lift mechanism fixedly coupled to the lower frame and the upper frame and configured to elevate an end portion of the drum proximate to the inlet relative to the outlet.