Abstract: An apparatus for removing liquid from a composite mixture of liquid and solids comprising a hopper 16 mounted atop a compactor ram assembly 10, having a snout section 12 and an extruder section 14 mounted in a generally axial direction to the compactor ram assembly 10. Wet waste material is loaded into the hopper 16 and falls onto a loading floor 158. A hydraulically operated ram 208 compresses the wet material into the snout and extruder sections 12, 14. Under pressure from the ram 208, liquid in the waste material escapes from numerous drainage holes 25 in the loading floor, the snout section top, bottom and sides 24, 22, 20, the extruder section top, bottom and sides 30, 28, 26 and holes 212 in the ram face 210. A platen 80, pivotally mounted to the extruder top plate 30 near the exit of the device and biased with a constant pressure, controls the back pressure in the extruder and snout sections 14 12.

Abstract: A vertical trash compactor (10) comprises a dual ram assembly (18) for compacting trash which has been placed into an open top container (16) through a loading door (28). A primary ram unit (20) is pivotally mounted to a housing (12) for movement between a retracted loading position above the container (16) and a normal position adjacent to the top of the container (16). A secondary ram (22) unit is mounted to the primary ram unit (20) for pivotal rotation in a direction opposite the primary ram unit (20), between a retractive position relative to the primary ram unit (20) and an extended position within the container (16). A door lock (30) is also provided whereby the loading door (28) cannot be opened unless the primary ram unit (20) is in the retracted loading position.

Abstract: A file cabinet (10) including slidably mounted drawers (18) is provided with an interlock mechanism which prevents the simultaneous opening of two drawers. The interlock mechanism includes an elongate channel (24) having a fixed length and depth. Slidable within the channel (24) along the length thereof are blocks (42) and wedges (44). The blocks (44) include at least one end surface (48) which is at an acute angle relative to the bottom wall (28) of the channel (24). The wedge members (44) are displaceable relatively into and out of the depth of the channel. The wedge members have surfaces (52) complementary to and in sliding contact with the end surfaces (48) of the blocks. The length of the channel (28) is less than that of the combined length of all of the block (42) and wedge members (44) disposed therein and at least as long as the combined length of the block and one of the wedge members.