Page 3. SD Enthusiasts' Club Magazine - Summer 2008.
A SHORT HISTORY OF REFUSE COLLECTION VEHICLES.
By Steve Jones, Tim Byrne and the Editor.
Part 13. Drum Loaders.
A Dennis-Eagle Elite with Faun Rotopress body. Photo: Tim Byrne.
The familiar design of the concrete mixer with its rotating cylindrical body has found its equivalent in refuse collection vehicle design. The Kuka body originated from the Keller & Knappich Corporation in late 1920's Germany. Essentially this consists of a rotating drum type body that has appeared as the Eagle Speedyload, the Kuka Shark and the Kuka/Laird [now Faun] Rotopress.
Refuse is loaded into the rear hopper and is then carried forward, tumbled and broken down by drum rotation. Weight is always distributed along full length of the drum. With all the drum free space filled; as loading continues the load is compacted by the action of the stationary helical compression cone against the rotating refuse. For discharge the rear door is opened and the drum is rotated in reverse direction to screw out the refuse.
This Faun Rotopress on Seddon Atkinson chassis is discharging green waste.
The design ensures that there is no liquid leakage from the body. To discharge the contents the drum is rotated anti-clockwise. Since refuse is broken down in this system, drum loaders are very popular for use for green refuse collection. In 1965 Laird introduced the Shark into the U.K. This design is manufactured under licence by a number of Companies - the Calabrese Rotapak uses the same system but the drum is rotated by an electric motor rather than the Rotoprss's hydraulic drive. In Greece the Kaoussis Company produce drum loaders mounted on Mercedes cab/chassis.