Abstract: There is disclosed a waste collecting device having a container for receiving waste therein. The container has an end wall and an ejector panel. The container encloses a waste receiving volume. The ejector panel has an opening therethrough for allowing access to the waste receiving volume for receiving the waste. The waste collecting device further has a compactor outside the waste receiving volume being operable for pushing the waste in the container through the opening. The ejector panel is movable within the waste receiving volume and relative to a floor of the container for pushing the waste out of the waste receiving volume. A method of operating a waste collecting device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The mechanical arm system can include a garbage container holder and at least one mast. The holder can have guiding wheels engaged with adjacent tracks of the mast, the two adjacent tracks both having a lower portion extending upwardly along the mast, the lower portion of the first track being located forwardly of the lower portion of the second track, the lower portion of both tracks leading into corresponding upper portions which are curved rearwardly. The system can have a primary mast and a secondary mast slidably mounted to the primary mast, with the garbage container slidable mounted to the secondary mast. A driving link can simultaneously connect the primary mast to the secondary mast, and the secondary mast to the holder in a manner that when the driving link is moved, both sliding movements are performed in the same direction.

Abstract: A mechanical arm designed to provide automated garbage collection with smooth, constant movement (i.e. movement that has minimal jerk/shock) thereby resulting in limited shock stress on the components and leading to high durability. The mechanical arm including a horizontal displacement system having a plurality of sections rollingly engaged to one another and a motor mounted to an immobile section for drivingly extending section in a generally horizontal orientation, a vertical displacement system having a plurality of masts rollingly engaged to one another and a motor mounted to a first mast for drivingly extending a second mast in a generally vertical orientation, and/or a grabber system having a plurality of fingers mounted to a frame and operated by a single motor.

Abstract: There is disclosed a waste collecting device having a container for receiving waste therein. The container has an end wall and an ejector panel. The container encloses a waste receiving volume. The ejector panel has an opening therethrough for allowing access to the waste receiving volume for receiving the waste. The waste collecting device further has a compactor outside the waste receiving volume being operable for pushing the waste in the container through the opening. The ejector panel is movable within the waste receiving volume and relative to a floor of the container for pushing the waste out of the waste receiving volume. A method of operating a waste collecting device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The mechanical arm system can include a garbage container holder and at least one mast. The holder can have guiding wheels engaged with adjacent tracks of the mast, the two adjacent tracks both having a lower portion extending upwardly along the mast, the lower portion of the first track being located forwardly of the lower portion of the second track, the lower portion of both tracks leading into corresponding upper portions which are curved rearwardly. The system can have a primary mast and a secondary mast slidably mounted to the primary mast, with the garbage container slidable mounted to the secondary mast. A driving link can simultaneously connect the primary mast to the secondary mast, and the secondary mast to the holder in a manner that when the driving link is moved, both sliding movements are performed in the same direction.

Abstract: There is disclosed a waste collecting device having a container for receiving waste therein. The container has an end wall and an ejector panel. The container encloses a waste receiving volume. The ejector panel has an opening therethrough for allowing access to the waste receiving volume for receiving the waste. The waste collecting device further has a compactor outside the waste receiving volume being operable for pushing the waste in the container through the opening. The ejector panel is movable within the waste receiving volume and relative to a floor of the container for pushing the waste out of the waste receiving volume. A method of operating a waste collecting device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The mechanical arm system can include a garbage container holder and at least one mast. The holder can have guiding wheels engaged with adjacent tracks of the mast, the two adjacent tracks both having a lower portion extending upwardly along the mast, the lower portion of the first track being located forwardly of the lower portion of the second track, the lower portion of both tracks leading into corresponding upper portions which are curved rearwardly. The system can have a primary mast and a secondary mast slidably mounted to the primary mast, with the garbage container slidable mounted to the secondary mast. A driving link can simultaneously connect the primary mast to the secondary mast, and the secondary mast to the holder in a manner that when the driving link is moved, both sliding movements are performed in the same direction.

Abstract: The mechanical arm system can include a garbage container holder and at least one mast. The holder can have guiding wheels engaged with adjacent tracks of the mast, the two adjacent tracks both having a lower portion extending upwardly along the mast, the lower portion of the first track being located forwardly of the lower portion of the second track, the lower portion of both tracks leading into corresponding upper portions which are curved rearwardly. The system can have a primary mast and a secondary mast slidably mounted to the primary mast, with the garbage container slidable mounted to the secondary mast. A driving link can simultaneously connect the primary mast to the secondary mast, and the secondary mast to the holder in a manner that when the driving link is moved, both sliding movements are performed in the same direction.

Abstract: There is disclosed a waste collecting device having a container for receiving waste therein. The container has an end wall and an ejector panel. The container encloses a waste receiving volume. The ejector panel has an opening therethrough for allowing access to the waste receiving volume for receiving the waste. The waste collecting device further has a compactor outside the waste receiving volume being operable for pushing the waste in the container through the opening. The ejector panel is movable within the waste receiving volume and relative to a floor of the container for pushing the waste out of the waste receiving volume. A method of operating a waste collecting device is also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a lifting assembly for selectively loading a container onto a chassis of a vehicle and unloading the container from the chassis, the lifting assembly comprising: a frame connected to the chassis; an arm having a first end pivotably connected to the frame and a second end releasably connectable to the container; and a pivoting actuator having a first actuator portion pivotably connected to the frame and a second actuator portion pivotably connected to the arm between the first and second ends thereof, the second actuator portion being linearly movable relative to the first actuator portion for pivoting the arm relative to the frame to selectively move the container towards the frame and away from the frame. There is further provided a cargo-carrying vehicle comprising the lifting assembly and a method for unloading a container mounted on a chassis of a vehicle from the vehicle.

Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle is provided with a dual chute system for receiving sorted refuse from curbside containers that have one or two compartments. A powered lifting system elevates the curbside container, dumping sorted refuse into the dual chute system. A divided diverter plate with two panel portions present within the vehicle chute allows an operator to direct refuse into selected, segregated storage compartments within the refuse vehicle. In this manner, presorted refuse from the curbside container may be collected without any intermingling of such presorted refuse. The diverter plate has one driven portion and one free swinging portion. These portions may be joined by a temporary link to allow the free swinging panel portion to be positioned by the driven panel portion.

Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle is provided with a dual chute system for receiving sorted refuse from curbside containers that have one or two compartments. A powered lifting system elevates the curbside container, dumping sorted refuse into the dual chute system. A divided diverter plate with two panel portions present within the vehicle chute allows an operator to direct refuse into selected, segregated storage compartments within the refuse vehicle. In this manner, presorted refuse from the curbside container may be collected without any intermingling of such presorted refuse. The diverter plate has one driven portion and one free swinging portion. These portions may be joined by a temporary link to allow the free swinging panel portion to be positioned by the driven panel portion.

Abstract: A process for preparing a solid composite electrolyte comprising at least one compound of the BIMEVOX family is provided. The process comprises at least one step of preparing a mixture of one or more compounds of the BIMEVOX family with one or more chemically inert compounds, at least one step of compacting the mixture obtained, and at least one sintering step during which the temperature reached, over a nonzero time interval, has a value greater than the optimum sintering temperature for the compound of the BIMEVOX family.

Abstract: Process for separating oxygen from a gas mixture containing it employs a solid-electrolyte electrochemical cell, where the cell includes a homogeneous structure of one or more BIMEVOX derivatives, with dynamic electrodes created "in situ" that are reversible and self-adaptive, and at least two current collectors.

Abstract: A refuse collection vehicle having multiple compartments for recyclable material is provided with a compacting assembly that includes a sub-compartment that does not change in size during compaction operations.

Abstract: The invention relates to ceramic materials usable as tritium producing material in a thermonuclear fusion reactor. These materials are constituted by lithium zirconate substituted by copper in the form of solid solutions of the type Li.sub.2 ZrO.sub.3.

Abstract: A composite structure comprising:(i) a solid electrolyte which is an O.sup.2- anion conductor and essentially impermeable to gases;(ii) a cathode; and(iii) an anode, wherein the cathode and anode are porous to gases and wherein the electrolyte is in contact with the cathode and anode,wherein at least one of the cathode and anode is a voluminal electrode comprising (a) at least one BIMEVOX compound and (b) an electronic conductor, forming a distinct solid phase, dispersed in the BIMEVOX compound so as to define, within respective volumes of the voluminal electrode, a plurality of triple contact points between an ambient gaseous atmosphere, the electrolyte, and the electronic conductor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell comprising a solid electrolyte conductive for O.sup.2- anions in contact with an anode and a cathode of identical or different composition, the electrolyte solid being comprised of a composition derived from Bi.sub.4 V.sub.2 O.sub.11 of which at least one of the cationic constituent elements is substituted by at least one substituting element chosen such that the gamma phase structural type of Bi.sub.4 V.sub.2 O.sub.11 is maintained, as well as the equilibrium of charges, at least one of the anode or the cathode including two parts, a first part being of a mixed electronic and ionic conductive material in contact with the solid electrolyte, the second part being an electronic conductive material superposed on the first part. The invention equally relates to the use of the electrochemical cell with a view towards the separation or the extraction of oxygen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrochemical cell comprising a solid electrolyte which conducts O.sup.2- anions in contact with an anode and a cathode of identical or different composition, the solid electrolyte being comprised of a composition derived from Bi.sub.4 V.sub.2 O.sub.11 of which at least one of the constituent cationic elements is substituted by at least one substituting element such that the gamma phase structural type of Bi.sub.4 V.sub.2 O.sub.11 is maintained as well as the equilibrium of charges, at least one of the anode or of the cathode is a material containing at least one element of substitution of said composition derived from Bi.sub.4 V.sub.2 O.sub.11, that element being in a metallic or cationic state. The invention equally relates to the use of the electrochemical cell with a view towards the separation or extraction of oxygen.

Abstract: A stack of parts, such as the stator disks of a turbomolecular pump, the parts being stacked alternately with spacers, includes a spacer having a knife-shaped deformable portion. When the stack is installed for the first time, the portion is compressed so as to take up the tolerances of the stack between abutment surfaces, e.g. delimited by a pump body and a corresponding casing. The invention applies in particular to turbomolecular pumps and aims to eliminate the operations of adjustment, re-machining, or matching that are usually required when installing a stator assembly.