EP2882398A1

EP2882398A1 - Automatic device to prevent explosions and to contain the smell of mortuary gases

Info

Publication number: EP2882398A1
Application number: EP13777145.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Martino CONVERTINI
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-08-10
Filing date: 2013-08-09
Publication date: 2015-06-17
Also published as: WO2014024166A1; BR112015002908A2; ITTA20120011A1

Abstract

The present invention consists in applying on the lid the zinc coffin an intake valve connected to a pipe inside the zinc coffin, an inspection glass, two vent output valves, appropriately set at a certain pressure and adapted to the use, redounded, connected with two high-pressure flexible pipes to an air space, with two intake valves set at a pressure lower than the vent valves. On the air space a further outlet valve towards an optional further air space outside the wooden coffin, to be used either as a pressure outlet or to be connected to a high-pressure flexible pipe before opening the coffin, in order to discharge or to suck pressurized mortuary smells in the zinc coffin, to be introduced directly into appropriate containers to be emptied in the sewers, avoiding the leakage of mortuary smells from both the zinc coffin and the air space possibly pressurized full of smells, by preserving the gas, avoiding their emission and thus guaranteeing the inappropriate explosion of the zinc coffin due to the pressure increase.

Description

AUTOMATIC DEVICE TO PREVENT EXPLOSIONS AND TO CONTAIN THE SMELL OF MORTUARY GASES

Description

At present, the law provides a series of regulations for the burial and the transport of corpses. Corpses can be affected by decomposition processes (production of gas and liquids) a few hours after death already, and are thus arranged and closed in a zinc coffin. On the zinc coffin, a lid is placed, also made of zinc, which is hermetically heat-sealed.

The law lays down that on the lid of the zinc coffin a vent valve is placed for the miasmas of the decomposition that, if the valve is not present, can provoke the explosion of the coffin, due to the high pressure that will be generated within the zinc coffin, because of the fermentation of the liquids. This phenomenon is much more evident during summer, due to the very high temperatures. This phenomenon is a problem that the persons in charge and the Department of Health know well and it is regulated by laws. The solution that is currently laid down by law is the aforementioned vent valve called purifier valve.

The presence of smell in graveyards creates discomfort in all the persons who want to visit their beloved ones, furthermore, due to this phenomenon, there is also a potential danger of infection, due to possible contagious diseases of the dead persons. This contagion could be provoked by the diffusion of decomposition materials and organic fluids out of the tomb.

According to the technique known in the art, the coffin is made by a wooden case of fig. 1 (1 ), a zinc case with the closing lid of fig. 1 (2), and on the lid that closes the zinc case of fig. 1 (2) a vent valve called purifier valve, fig. 1 (3) which contains activated carbon which filters the smells, partly abating them and limiting the leakage towards the outside, everything closed by the coffin lid fig. 1 (4). This system is clearly not sufficient, since the smells given off, even though they are limited, have to be summed to the smell of other decomposing corpses present in the graveyard churches, exhaling an unbearable nauseating stink.

Summary of the invention The aim of the present invention is to limit the emission of miasmas from the coffins.

This and other purposes are reached by means of the invention described in detail below. The claims describe preferred alternative embodiments of the invention, and are an integral part of the present description. List of the Figures

Figure 1 shows a coffin according to the prior art.

The remaining figures 2 - 5 refer, on the contrary, to the present invention. Detailed description of the invention

The solution proposed is mere illustrative but not exhaustive and is composed as from fig. 2, fig. 3, fig. 4 and fig. 5.

The wooden case fig. 2 (1 ) which contains the zinc case with its lid fig. 2 (2).

The lid of the zinc case fig. 2 (2) contains two vent valves fig. 2 (6) - 2 (7) regularly regulated at an appropriate pressure, redounded in order to increase the safety, in case one of the two does not work, and thus to avoid any explosion risk of the zinc case in case of overpressures inside the case, example exhaustive but non limitative.

Valves can be also used as pressure outlets, to control the pressure value inside the zinc case or the air space, by means of mechanical pressure gauges or electronic pressure sensors, exhaustive but non limitative example. In fig. 2 (8) - 2 (9) plugs for closing the valves of fig. 2 (6) - 2 (7) are present, used in case the air space is not used and there is the need for using the valves for different uses, exhaustive but non limitative example.

Fig. 2 (10) - 2 (1 1 ) show two flexible high-pressure pipes which connect the two vent valves fig. 2 (6) - 2 (7) to two intake valves fig. 2 (12) - 2 (13) of an air space of fig. 2 (14) having appropriate dimensions and being made of appropriate material both to contain acid gases from the decomposition and the pressure of the fetid gases of the decomposition itself, exhaustive but non limitative example.

The two vent valves of fig. 2 (6) - 2 (7) of the zinc case and the two intake valves of fig. 2 (12) - 2 (13) of the air space of fig. 2 (14) can be connected also directly if the air space is placed directly on the zinc case, exhaustive but non limitative example.

The vent valve fig 4. (15) of the air space fig. 2. 14 comes out from the coffin as from fig. 3 (15) passing through the lid, blocked by the round washer of fig. 3 (16) and the block nut of fig 3 (17), exhaustive but non limitative example.

In fig. 3 (18) closing plug of any normal shape or that recalls the religious symbols of the dead person (e.g. Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, etc.), exhaustive but non limitative example.

The outlet of the vent valve of figure 4 (14) of the air space can be used as a pressure outlet to read its value, as a vent outlet towards a further air space outside the coffin, by connecting a flexible pipe having adequate length and constructive characteristics, to release or to suck the miasmas and the smells in appropriate containers and subsequently to introduce them in the sewers or to introduce them directly in the sewers, during a possible opening of the zinc cases, for various customary operations, exhaustive but non limitative example.

The inspection glass of fig. 2 (23) is useful for a possible visual verification of the decomposition state of the corpses for a possible burial, namely to verify the possibility of proceeding with the burial without opening the zinc case, exhaustive but non limitative example.

The intake valve of fig. 5 (22) connected to the pipe of fig. 5 (24) is used to introduce air from the outside, to suck or extract smells or liquids from the inside, to vent internal smells, to introduce air or chemical substances to possibly accelerate the decomposition of the corpses.

If the valves themselves are not in use, they are blocked by the plugs of fig. 5 ( 22), fig. 2 (8) and fig. 2 (9), to prevent smells emissions, exhaustive but non limitative example. According to a preferred alternative embodiment of the invention, the air space has two intake valves fig. 2 (12) - 2 (13) and a vent valve set at an adequate pressure exhaustive but non limitative example.

Furthermore, the air space can have even more than a vent valve. The vent valves of fig. 2 (6) - 2 (7), can be used as pressure outlets. The vent valves of fig. 2 (6) - 2 (7), can also be connected to an adequate flexible pipe, to suck and discharge directly the miasmas and the mortuary gas in appropriate or directly in the sewers, exhaustive but non limitative example.

According to a preferred alternative embodiment of the invention, the two vent valves of fig. 2 (6) - 2 (7) can be connected directly to the intake valves fig. 2 (12) - 2 (13) of the air space fig. 2 (14) or they can be closed by the plugs of fig. 2 (8) - 2 (9), exhaustive but non limitative example. Furthermore, the two vent valves of fig. 2 (6) - 2 (7) can be connected directly to the intake valves fig. 2 (12) - 2 (13) of the air space fig. 2 (14).

All the parts that form the device can be produced and marketed as a kit or separately or in bulk.

The vent valve (15) can be connected to an air space outside the coffin in order to increase the overall volume available for the fluid expansion. On the lid of the zinc case a valve can be inserted (21 ) to suck from the inside gases or liquids or to introduce chemical compounds from the outside, exhaustive but non limitative example.

Claims

1. Safety device to prevent the explosion and the leakage of miasmas and smells from zinc-coated coffins, comprising: a vent tank (14) arranged between a zinc lid (2) and a wooden lid (4) of the coffin, at least a first vent valve (6, 7) connected to said zinc lid and connected, by means of a flexible pipe (10, 1 ) to a corresponding second intake valve (12, 13) connected to said vent tank (14).

2. Device according to claim 1 , wherein said first valve is set at an appropriate pressure and higher than a setting pressure of said second valve.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said tank (14) is dimensioned, shaped and made of material adequate to the free space between the zinc lid and the external lid of the wooden case.

4. Device according to one of the previous claims, wherein said first and second valve are redounded.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a third valve (15) connected to said vent tank (14) and passing through the wooden lid (4) in order to be accessible from the outside of a respective closed coffin.

6. Coffin comprising an external case made of wood and an internal case made of zinc, with a respective lid made of wood (4) and made of zinc (2) and further comprising the device according to any one of the preceding claims.

7. Coffin according to claim 6, further comprising a fourth valve (21 ) connected to said zinc lid (2), preferably comprising a pipe (24) to suck from the inside gases or liquids or to introduce chemical substances.

8. Coffin according to claim 7, wherein said third valve (21 ) is equipped with a removable plug.

9. Coffin according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said zinc lid comprises an inspection opening closed hermetically, by means a transparent wall, such as a glass or similar.