EP1181225B1 - Lid for waste containers and process for eliminating odours from waste containers - Google Patents

Lid for waste containers and process for eliminating odours from waste containers Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1181225B1
EP1181225B1 EP00927668A EP00927668A EP1181225B1 EP 1181225 B1 EP1181225 B1 EP 1181225B1 EP 00927668 A EP00927668 A EP 00927668A EP 00927668 A EP00927668 A EP 00927668A EP 1181225 B1 EP1181225 B1 EP 1181225B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lid
exhalation
odour
filtering panel
vapours
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP00927668A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1181225A1 (en
Inventor
Loris Bressan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Simoni Giuliana
Original Assignee
Simoni Giuliana
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Simoni Giuliana filed Critical Simoni Giuliana
Publication of EP1181225A1 publication Critical patent/EP1181225A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1181225B1 publication Critical patent/EP1181225B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65F—GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE
    • B65F7/00—Cleaning or disinfecting devices combined with refuse receptacles or refuse vehicles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65F—GATHERING OR REMOVAL OF DOMESTIC OR LIKE REFUSE
    • B65F1/00—Refuse receptacles; Accessories therefor
    • B65F1/14—Other constructional features; Accessories
    • B65F2001/1489—Refuse receptacles adapted or modified for gathering compostable domestic refuse

Definitions

  • This invention refers to a lid jointed to a waste container for material with odour-producing exhalation as well as to a process for eliminating odours from such a waste container.
  • a small opening such as a slot, protected by liner, may be provided for in the lid this serves only to reduce the rush of offensive gaseous materials from the soiled diapers stored in the container (shell) caused by the draft pulled by rapid opening of the lid by the access of air from outside thus creating a counter-pressure (column 9, lines 48 to 59).
  • EP-A-0 597 282 there has been described a collecting container for organic wastes from household, small businesses or the like to be led to composting or fermenting in which a ventilation aperture has been disposed in the lid of the collecting container and it has been provided for a bio filter disposed interchangeably within the collecting container in front of the ventilation aperture.
  • a ventilation aperture has been disposed in the lid of the collecting container and it has been provided for a bio filter disposed interchangeably within the collecting container in front of the ventilation aperture.
  • a special embodiment there are disposed on the lid several somewhat sloping ventilation apertures on the top and additionally lateral apertures.
  • the problem underlying to the invention is to create a lid for a waste container by which the odour-producing exhalation is eliminated from the gases and vapours emanated by the waste and also the non-adsorbed gases and vapours are rapidly eliminated in a simple way to a largest extent as well as a corresponding process for eliminating odour-producing exhalation from waste containers.
  • a subject matter of the invention is a lid jointed to a waste container for material with odour-producing exhalation, the lid being fitted internally with means for eliminating the said exhalation in a removable interchangeable way, said means being disposed distant from the undersurface of the upper part of the lid, the lid having laterally disposed ventilation holes in a number and of sizes sufficient to let out the non-adsorbed gases and vapours passed through the means for eliminating the said exhalation to the outside, characterised in that the means for eliminating the said exhalation is a filtering panel consisting of or comprising an adsorbent for the odour-producing exhalation and that the ventilation holes lead into a space at the front of the lid between an extended portion of the upper part of the lid and a horizontal or almost horizontal portion of the lateral border of the lid parallel or almost parallel to the upper part of the lid.
  • the non-adsorbed gases and vapours are such not or essentially not producing odour.
  • the present invention mainly differs in that by the arrangement of the filtering panel distant from the undersurface of the upper part of the lid and the lateral arrangement of the ventilation holes an intensive chimney effect is created by which the gases and vapours liberated from the odour-producing substances are rapidly drawn out of the container by the draught through the chimney-type arrangement of the ventilation holes.
  • the present invention mainly differs in that the lid of it has a sufficiently large space for creating a very intense chimney-like draught of the non--adsorbed gases and vapours through the holes. Moreover the lid is strictly prevented from receiving rain from outside because of that it has no holes on the top.
  • the filter material is of another type and its working is more simple and reliable. Hence contrary to the filter material of the said publication it is absolutely necessary to strictly exclude the entering of water as it has been realised according to the invention.
  • the filtering panel is disposed parallel or a little inclined in relation to the undersurface of the upper part of the lid. This for the reason that the gases and vapours come from below.
  • the filtering panel occupies an entire or nearly entire section inside the lateral border of the lid. This has the advantage of making sure that all odour-producing exhalation comes to the filtering panel and is adsorbed.
  • the filtering panel is inserted between two nets by having been fixed to the border joints of the nets the latter being fixed to lateral border portions of the lid.
  • the filtering panel is fixed to border portions of the lid.
  • the adsorbent material is activated carbon.
  • this is such prepared from carbonized material of vegetable origin by a heat treatment giving to them a great porosity.
  • carbonized material are coconut shells, wood of any type, peat, fossile coal, viscose rayon, polyacryl nitrile fibres, polystyrene and caoutchouc.
  • ion exchangers and silica gel are examples of further adsorbent materials.
  • the thickness of the filter panel is from 3 to 8 mm, particularly from 5 to 8 mm, for example 5 mm. Such great thicknesses are advisable for the case that the filter panel remains for longer periods, such as one year, in the lid. The greater the thickness of the filter panel the greater the adsorbing capacity.
  • the adsorbing capacity of the adsorbent is >4,5 mg/cm 2 , calculated on fluorobenzene of a concentration of 10%, or >3 mg/cm 2 , calculated on fluorobenzene of a concentration of 100%.
  • a subject matter of the invention is also a process for eliminating odours from waste containers by using a lid according to the invention.
  • the ventilation openings 5 ensure constant elimination of the gases and vapours produced in the container: in fact, immediately after having been produced, all the gases and vapours flow in a fine fluid layer in contact with the filter, the odour-producing exhalations are completely or almost completely adsorbed by the latter and the rest of gases and vapours immediately discharged to outside, completely or almost completely cleaned of their odour-producing fraction.
  • there is at most an extremely low concentration of odour-producing gases in the empty space inside the container both in the transitory phase after a quantity of waste is introduced and in the stationary phase, i.e. during the potentially long time lapse between one introduction of waste and another.
  • the filter 2 consists of a panel made of an adsorbent material that is capable of adsorbing every odour-producing exhalation deriving from the putrefaction of biomasses. This filter 2, fitted inside the ventilated lid, eliminates the odour-producing gases and vapours that have accumulated while the container was shut.

Abstract

The invention is concerned with a lid for a waste container in which the adsorbent is in the form of a filtering panel (2) consisting of or comprising the adsorbent for the odour-producing exhalation permitting the passage of the non-adsorbed gases and vapours and the lid (1) has ventilation openings (5) in a number and of sizes sufficient to let out the non-adsorbed gases and vapours passed through the filtering panel (2) to outside. The invention also relates to a process for eliminating odours from waste containers by using an adsorbent, in which the odour-producing exhalation is adsorbed on a filtering panel (2) and the non-adsorbed gases and vapours passed through the filtering panel (2) are lead to the environment.

Description

FIELD OF THE ART
This invention refers to a lid jointed to a waste container for material with odour-producing exhalation as well as to a process for eliminating odours from such a waste container.
STATE OF THE ART
Different types of waste containers have been known.
From US patent 5,158,199 there has been known a diaper container (shell) with a lid lined with a pad of adsorbent material, such as activated carbon, for adsorbing a substantial amount of noxious gaseous materials having offensive odours (column 10, lines 9 to 24). However, this lining must be in close lying relationship with the undersurface of the lid (column 8, lines 13 to 15). This has the drawback that the non - adsorbed gases and vapours cannot pass through the lining but accumulate. Though a small opening, such as a slot, protected by liner, may be provided for in the lid this serves only to reduce the rush of offensive gaseous materials from the soiled diapers stored in the container (shell) caused by the draft pulled by rapid opening of the lid by the access of air from outside thus creating a counter-pressure (column 9, lines 48 to 59). This illustrates that the small opening is not in a position to function in the sense of letting out the non-- adsorbed gases and vapours, not to say without the noxious ones which latter is impossible already because of the fact that the liner is in close lying relationship with the undersurface of the lid.
Similar diaper containers without any opening have been known from US patents 5,022,553 and 2,411,430.
From EP-A-0 826 610 there has been known a container for receiving particularly biologic wastes with a lid and a filter in which to the inside of the lid a housing has been attached which contains filter material and is in contact with the interior of the container through apertures and with the outside air through further apertures through the lid. The filter material can be an adsorbent, for example, activated carbon, root wood or the like. However, the filter housing and thus the filter material is directly attached to the inside of the lid and the ventilation openings are disposed vertically. This has the following drawbacks. There is no circulation of the gases and vapours and the non-adsorbed gases and vapours cannot issue on the entire surface of the filter but only where there are apertures and the same applies for issuing from the lid. Furthermore there is the risk of rain entering from outside thereby destroying the adsorbent. Thus summarising the elimination of the gases and vapours is unsatisfactory.
In EP-A-0 597 282 there has been described a collecting container for organic wastes from household, small businesses or the like to be led to composting or fermenting in which a ventilation aperture has been disposed in the lid of the collecting container and it has been provided for a bio filter disposed interchangeably within the collecting container in front of the ventilation aperture. According to a special embodiment (column 6, lines 29 to 35 and Fig. 4) there are disposed on the lid several somewhat sloping ventilation apertures on the top and additionally lateral apertures. However, though it has been indicated that by a chimney-like effect the interior of the container is exhausted or ventilated, respectively, because of the fact that there has been provided only for a small free space in the lid there is no sufficient draught to attain a satisfactory elimination of the non-adsorbed gases and vapours. Furthermore because of the aperture(s) on the top of the lid there is still a risk of rain entering from outside, even in the said special embodiment. A further drawback is the complicated and hence unreliable working of the filter in view of that it is a bio filter. This bio filter contains micro-organisms on a support with high surface area, such as lava or expanded clay, which micro-organisms degrade the odour-producing gases and vapours. In order to be effected this the substances polluting the air must be absorbed mainly by the water of the filter introduced into a damp material of it (as regards the bio filter see column 2, line 55 to column 3, line 16). The water would destroy materials of the type of activated carbon. Moreover the degradation of the odour-producing gases and vapours is a relatively slow procedure so that a complete elimination of them hardly can be achieved.
The problem underlying to the invention is to create a lid for a waste container by which the odour-producing exhalation is eliminated from the gases and vapours emanated by the waste and also the non-adsorbed gases and vapours are rapidly eliminated in a simple way to a largest extent as well as a corresponding process for eliminating odour-producing exhalation from waste containers.
DESCRIPTION
Surprisingly this has been solved by the invention.
A subject matter of the invention is a lid jointed to a waste container for material with odour-producing exhalation, the lid being fitted internally with means for eliminating the said exhalation in a removable interchangeable way, said means being disposed distant from the undersurface of the upper part of the lid, the lid having laterally disposed ventilation holes in a number and of sizes sufficient to let out the non-adsorbed gases and vapours passed through the means for eliminating the said exhalation to the outside, characterised in that the means for eliminating the said exhalation is a filtering panel consisting of or comprising an adsorbent for the odour-producing exhalation and that the ventilation holes lead into a space at the front of the lid between an extended portion of the upper part of the lid and a horizontal or almost horizontal portion of the lateral border of the lid parallel or almost parallel to the upper part of the lid.
The non-adsorbed gases and vapours are such not or essentially not producing odour.
The fundamental differences and surprising advantages of the subject matter of the present invention as compared to the Prior Art are as follows:
Not only the odour-producing exhalation is completely or almost completely adsorbed on the filtering panel but also the non-adsorbed gases and vapours are eliminated by letting them out to outside of the container contrary to the Prior Art according to which this is not possible because the adsorbent is in the form of a lining on the undersurface of the upper part of the lid in light relationship to it so that the gases and vapours cannot pass through the lining there not being sufficient space for creating a sufficiently intense chimney-like draught. A further reason are the other pressure conditions in both cases.
Whereas according to US patent 5,158,199 the pressure of gases and vapours in the diaper container is low, this can become very great in waste containers. By that in the said Prior Art it has been indicated that the small opening in the lid lets in air into the space under the lid this leads away from the invention by which contrary to the above the non-- adsorbed gases and vapours are discharged from the waste container to outside. If the construction according to the said Prior Art for diaper containers would be used for waste containers the pressure created in them would imply the risk of damage of the containers even by bursting because of the great pressure created.
From EP-A-0 826 610 the present invention mainly differs in that by the arrangement of the filtering panel distant from the undersurface of the upper part of the lid and the lateral arrangement of the ventilation holes an intensive chimney effect is created by which the gases and vapours liberated from the odour-producing substances are rapidly drawn out of the container by the draught through the chimney-type arrangement of the ventilation holes.
From EP-A-597 282 the present invention mainly differs in that the lid of it has a sufficiently large space for creating a very intense chimney-like draught of the non--adsorbed gases and vapours through the holes. Moreover the lid is strictly prevented from receiving rain from outside because of that it has no holes on the top. As compared to EP-A-0 597 282 the filter material is of another type and its working is more simple and reliable. Hence contrary to the filter material of the said publication it is absolutely necessary to strictly exclude the entering of water as it has been realised according to the invention.
Advantageously the filtering panel is disposed parallel or a little inclined in relation to the undersurface of the upper part of the lid. This for the reason that the gases and vapours come from below.
Suitably the filtering panel occupies an entire or nearly entire section inside the lateral border of the lid. This has the advantage of making sure that all odour-producing exhalation comes to the filtering panel and is adsorbed.
According to an embodiment the filtering panel is inserted between two nets by having been fixed to the border joints of the nets the latter being fixed to lateral border portions of the lid.
According to another embodiment the filtering panel is fixed to border portions of the lid.
Preferably the adsorbent material is activated carbon. Conveniently this is such prepared from carbonized material of vegetable origin by a heat treatment giving to them a great porosity. Examples for such carbonized material are coconut shells, wood of any type, peat, fossile coal, viscose rayon, polyacryl nitrile fibres, polystyrene and caoutchouc. Examples for further adsorbent materials are ion exchangers and silica gel.
Advantageously the thickness of the filter panel is from 3 to 8 mm, particularly from 5 to 8 mm, for example 5 mm. Such great thicknesses are advisable for the case that the filter panel remains for longer periods, such as one year, in the lid. The greater the thickness of the filter panel the greater the adsorbing capacity.
Preferably the adsorbing capacity of the adsorbent is >4,5 mg/cm2, calculated on fluorobenzene of a concentration of 10%, or >3 mg/cm2, calculated on fluorobenzene of a concentration of 100%.
A subject matter of the invention is also a process for eliminating odours from waste containers by using a lid according to the invention.
If in rare cases it is necessary the non-adsorbed gases and vapours are sucked off through the holes.
The invention will now be described with reference to the figures of the drawings attached herein, for the sole purpose of providing an example.
Figure 1
shows a lateral view of the outside of the lid, tightly closed on a waste container.
Figure 2
shows a cross section of the lid tightly closed on the container.
Figure 3
illustrates a section of the lid in the opening position.
Figure 4
is a sectional diagram showing the outflow of odour-producing exhalations through the adsorbent materials of the filtering panel.
Figure 5
shows the filtering panel made of adsorbent materials.
In all the figures, each element is marked as follows:
1
indicates the lid.
1a
indicates the upper part of the lid.
2
indicates the filtering panel fitted inside the lid.
3
are arrows indicating the flow of odour-producing exhalations through the filtering panel and the outflow of the non-adsorbed gases and vapours.
4
indicates the waste container.
5
indicates the ventilation openings located on the lid to allow the outflow of odour-producing exhalations emanated by waste. of the lateral border of the lid.
The figures clearly and immediately demonstrate the functionality of the ventilation openings 5 illustrated in detail in figure 4. The ventilation openings 5 ensure constant elimination of the gases and vapours produced in the container: in fact, immediately after having been produced, all the gases and vapours flow in a fine fluid layer in contact with the filter, the odour-producing exhalations are completely or almost completely adsorbed by the latter and the rest of gases and vapours immediately discharged to outside, completely or almost completely cleaned of their odour-producing fraction. As a result there is at most an extremely low concentration of odour-producing gases in the empty space inside the container, both in the transitory phase after a quantity of waste is introduced and in the stationary phase, i.e. during the potentially long time lapse between one introduction of waste and another. When the lid is removed in order to introduce waste, the air contained in the empty space inside the container is immediately discharged, carrying with it at most a minimal quantity of odour-producing gases and vapours; the concentration of these gases is so low that the user will not be exposed to unpleasant odours. The filter 2 consists of a panel made of an adsorbent material that is capable of adsorbing every odour-producing exhalation deriving from the putrefaction of biomasses. This filter 2, fitted inside the ventilated lid, eliminates the odour-producing gases and vapours that have accumulated while the container was shut. Thus no foul odours are released when it is periodically opened for the introduction of waste, especially in summertime when the environmental conditions are further exacerbated by the presence of insects, parasites and different animals. In the warmer seasons, moreover, the organic waste inside the container putrefies at a faster rate. It is evident that the lids constructed according to the invention may have different proportions and structural dimensions.

Claims (9)

  1. Lid (1) jointed to a waste container (4) for material with odour-producing exhalation, the lid (1) being fitted internally with means (2) for eliminating the said exhalation in a removable interchangeable way, said means (2) being disposed distant from the undersurface of the upper part (1a) of the lid (1), the lid (1) having laterally disposed ventilation openings (5) in a number and of sizes sufficient to let out the non--adsorbed gases and vapours passed through the means (2) for eliminating the said exhalation to the outside, characterised in that the means (2) for eliminating the said exhalation is a filtering panel consisting of or comprising an adsorbent for the odour-producing exhalation and that the ventilation openings (5) lead into a space at the front of the lid (1) between an extended portion of the upper part (1a) of the lid (1) and a horizontal or almost horizontal portion (6) of the lateral border of the lid (1) parallel or almost parallel to the upper part (1a) of the lid (1).
  2. Lid according to claim 1, characterized in that the filtering panel (2) is disposed parallel or a little inclined in relation to the undersurface of the upper part (1a) of the lid (1).
  3. Lid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the filtering panel (2) occupies an entire or nearly entire section inside the lateral border of the lid (1).
  4. Lid according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the filtering panel (2) is inserted between two nets by having been mounted to the border joints of the nets the latter being mounted to lateral border portions of the lid (1).
  5. Lid according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the filtering panel (2) is mounted to border portions of the lid (1).
  6. Lid according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the adsorbent material is activated carbon.
  7. Lid according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the thickness of the filter panel (2) is from 3 to 8 mm.
  8. Lid according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the adsorbing capacity of the adsorbent is >4,5 mg/cm2, calculated on fluorobenzene of a concentration of 10%, or >3 mg/cm2, calculated on fluorobenzene of a concentration of 100%.
  9. Process for eliminating odours from waste containers by using a lid according to claims 1 to 8.
EP00927668A 1999-06-02 2000-05-29 Lid for waste containers and process for eliminating odours from waste containers Expired - Lifetime EP1181225B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT1999BO000301A IT1310387B1 (en) 1999-06-02 1999-06-02 LID FOR WASTE CONTAINERS.
ITBO990301 1999-06-02
PCT/IB2000/000728 WO2000075049A1 (en) 1999-06-02 2000-05-29 Lid for waste containers and process for eliminating odours from waste containers

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1181225A1 EP1181225A1 (en) 2002-02-27
EP1181225B1 true EP1181225B1 (en) 2004-10-20

Family

ID=11344030

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP00927668A Expired - Lifetime EP1181225B1 (en) 1999-06-02 2000-05-29 Lid for waste containers and process for eliminating odours from waste containers

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1181225B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE280108T1 (en)
AU (1) AU4605300A (en)
DE (1) DE60015121D1 (en)
IT (1) IT1310387B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2000075049A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2599146B (en) * 2020-09-28 2023-09-06 Storm Environmental Ltd Waste container and lid
GB2608342B (en) * 2020-09-28 2024-03-27 Storm Environmental Ltd Lid

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2411430A (en) 1945-09-07 1946-11-19 Hollis C Hodson Diaper container
US5022553A (en) 1990-05-29 1991-06-11 Pontius Jeffrey S Temporary diaper storage container
US5158199A (en) 1990-05-29 1992-10-27 Columbus Industries, Inc. Temporary diaper storage container
DE4239191A1 (en) * 1992-11-11 1994-05-19 Dynamics Umweltschutz Organic waste collection containers
DE29513069U1 (en) * 1995-05-05 1995-11-09 Dynamics Umweltschutz Lid design for collection containers with biofilters
DE29613202U1 (en) * 1996-07-30 1996-11-07 Stoerk Kuefers Paul Container for holding waste materials

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE280108T1 (en) 2004-11-15
EP1181225A1 (en) 2002-02-27
DE60015121D1 (en) 2004-11-25
WO2000075049A1 (en) 2000-12-14
IT1310387B1 (en) 2002-02-13
ITBO990301A1 (en) 2000-12-02
ITBO990301A0 (en) 1999-06-02
AU4605300A (en) 2000-12-28

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