GB2359008A

GB2359008A - Storage device for waste impregnated with flammable and volatile liquids

Info

Publication number: GB2359008A
Application number: GB9929627A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence John Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-12-16
Filing date: 1999-12-16
Publication date: 2001-08-15
Also published as: GB9929627D0

Abstract

A waste storage device for receiving and storing waste impregnated with flammable liquids, comprises a body 1 containing a receiver 7 for the waste materials, an opening 2 in the body 1, a closure 3 for the opening 2, filter means 6, and means 9 for drawing air from the receiver 7 through the filter means 6. The receiver 7 may be provided by a removable basket, which may be used on its own or in conjunction with a disposable porous bag. The means 9 for drawing air downwardly from the receiver 7 through the filter may be an electrically-powered fan, which may be mounted in a duct 10 having an opening grille (11, fig 2) in the side of the casing 1, through which air can be discharged. The fan 9 can be driven by an electric motor 13 which is of a type safe for use in flammable atmospheres, and can be controlled by an electric controller 14 linked to a micro switch 16 located in the rim of the casing 1, which is held open by the weight of the closed lid 3, but actuated by opening of the lid 3. The control means may also have a timing means to operate the fan 9 at predetermined periods of time after the lid 3 has been closed, and may be able to warn of the need to replace the filter means 6, or to detect the absence/presence of the filter means 6. The filter means 6 may incorporate activated carbon, which is held in a readily-replaceable cartridge, the carbon layer is protected by a fibrous filter material held within a rigid supporting framework. The lid 3 may open automatically, detecting the approach of a user's hand by a short range passive infra red detector.

Description

2359008 - 1

WASTE STORAGE DEVICE Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a waste storage device, for example for receiving and storing for disposal waste cleaning materials impregnated with flammable liquids.

Background to the Invention

Some industries and occupations produce quantities of waste materials such as cleaning wipes or the like in which flammable liquids, or volatile liquids producing harmful or unpleasant-smelling vapour, have been soaked up. For example, in the application and maintenance of false fingernails, excess adhesives and varnishes are removed using cotton wool or other absorbent wipes, and varnish removing fluids are also usually applied by means of cotton wool or wipes. After use, these wipes are typically disposed of simply by dropping into a waste basket or bin. Such a practice gives rise to a considerable hazard, because the materials are often readily vaporised and highly flammable, and dangerous concentrations of vapour can build up in and around the basket or bin, needing only an ignition source, such as a care] essly-discarded cigarette, to cause a fire or even an explosion. In addition, even if fire does not ensue, or if the liquid is not flammable, the vapours can be irritant or harmful to health in excessive concentrations, or simply give rise to an unpleasant smell.

While sealing the waste materials in bags or the like might reduce the amount of free vapour in the atmosphere, the bags themselves remain a significant fire hazard. Summary of the Invention

According to the invention, there is provided a waste storage device, comprising a body containing a receiver for the waste materials, an opening in the body for access to the receiver, a closure for the opening, a filter means for absorbing organic vapour, and means for drawing vapour-containing air from the receiver and passing the air through the filter means.

Preferably, the receiver includes a removable receptacle for the waste materials, for example a basket or a porous bag. The bag may be disposable.

The means for drawing the vapour-containing air from the receptacle is suitably an electrical ly-powered fan. The fan, whose motor will preferably be of a spark-free type for use in flammable atmospheres, may be mains-powered or battery-powered, and the device suitably includes electronic control means to control the operation of the fan, and optionally to perform monitoring functions to warn of the need to replace the filter after a predetermined total operating time. The fan may be arranged to operate on opening of the closure, which may be a hinged lid. Alternatively, means may be provided to detect the approach of the user's hand to open the closure or lid, and to start the operation of the fan before the lid is opened. For example, a short-range passive infra-red detector may be used near to the lid to detect the approach of the user's hand and to cause the fan to be switched on, a switch associated with the lid preferably being used as a reserve in case the user's hand is not detected.

Timing means may ensure that the fan operates for a predetermined time after the lid is closed again, to minimise the risk of build-up of vapours within the body.

The filter means may be positioned beneath the receiver, with a fan located beneath the filter means and arranged to draw air downwardly from the receiver through the filter means, to be discharged outside the body. Alternatively, the fan may be ar- ranged to circulate air within the body in a closed cycle to reduce the risk of emitting vapours to the outside.

The closure or lid is preferably mounted in such a way that it cannot be left open. Thus, it may be arranged so that gravity closes the lid after use, or a spring may be incorporated to urge the lid towards its closed position. The lid or the opening is preferably provided with a seal therearound to minimise the risk of escape of vapour from the receiver when the fan is not operating.

The filter means suitably incorporates an absorbent/adsorbent material such as activated carbon. This is suitably presented as a readilyreplaceable cartridge in which a layer of carbon-containing material is protected by a simple filtering layer of fibrous ma- terial and held within a rigid supporting framework. Means may be provided for preventing the fan from operating when the filter means is not present. Such means may take the form of a micro-switch or other electrical detector requiring the physical presence of the cartridge to complete or to break a detector circuit. This same circuit may be used to indicate to the controller that the cartridge has been changed, resetting a timer to indicate the need to change the cartridge after a predetermined period of time (within which the cartridge retains its effectiveness).

While a convenient arrangement is for the fan to draw air downwardly through a filter located beneath the receiver, other arrangements are possible within the scope of the invention, for example drawing air from the upper part of the receiver, or even from within the lid, and passing it through a filter located at one side of or below the receiver. The filter cartridge may be mounted so as to be replaceable from outside the receiver, for example locating in a slot in the side of the casing and simply sliding in and out of the slot when being replaced.

The device is envisaged as self-contained unit of a size comparable with a typical waste-paper basket, for use in nail treatment salons and the like, but it could be in other sizes and configurations to suit specific flammable waste handling needs. Brief Description of the Drawings

In the drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the device; and Figure 2 is an elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

Referring to Figure 1, the device comprises a hollow casing 1 having an opening 2 at the upper end thereof and a hinged lid 3 to close the opening. The casing is suitably formed of metal, but could be formed of other materials, such as fire-resistant plastics materials. The lid 3 is provided with a handle 4 on its upper surface to facilitate opening. A circumferential support 5 is provided inside the casing 1 in the lower part thereof, the casing being adapted to carry a filter element 6. The filter element 6 comprises a plastics frame supporting a sandwich construction of fabric or paper filter sheets with a layer of activated carbon 6b therebetween. The frame is adapted to form a seal with the support 5, for example by the frame or the support being provided with a surface layer of a resilient material such as silicone rubber. Supported on the filter element 6 is a removable basket 7 for receiving the waste material 8 therein. The basket 7 may be used on its own or in conjunction with disposable porous bags for convenient disposal of the waste material.

A fan 9 is mounted in the space beneath the filter element 6 within a duct 10 having an opening grille 11 (Figure 2) in the side of the casing 1 for the passage of air to the outside of the casing. The fan is suitably of the cylindrical type having a plurality of elongate blades around the periphery, the air being drawn in at the ends of the cylinder through apertures 12 in the duct 10 and expelled through the grillel 1. The fan is driven by an electric motor 13 which is of a type safe for use in flammable atmospheres, the motor 13 being controlled by an electronic controller 14 which is in turn connected to the electric mains supply by way of an external power cord 15. The controller 14 is linked to a micro-switch 16 in the rim of the casing which is held open by the weight of the lid 3 in its closed position, such that opening the lid causes the micro-switch 16 to close, signalling to the controller 14 to start the operation of the fan. The controller 14 includes timing means to cause the fan to continue to run for a predetermined period of time after the lid is closed again, to ensure that the concentration of flammable vapour within the casing is kept to a minimum. It will be appreciated that other arrangements of controller and fan may be employed in place of that described, and that other types of fan, for example an axial fan rather than a centrifugal fan, may be employed.

Claims

1 A waste storage device, comprising a body containing a receiver for the waste materials, an opening in the body for access to the receiver, a closure for the opening, a filter means for absorbing organic vapour, and means for drawing vapourcontaining air from the receiver and passing the air through the filter means.

2. A waste storage device according to Claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a removable receptacle for the waste materials.

A waste storage device according to Claim 2, wherein the removable receptacle is a porous bag.

4. A waste storage device according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the means for drawing the vapour-containing air from the receptacle is an electrical ly-powered fan.

5. A waste storage device according to Claim 4, comprising electronic control means to control the operation of the fan.

6. A waste storage device according to Claim 5, wherein the electronic control means is adapted to monitor total operating time and to warn of the need to replace the filter means.

7. A waste storage device according to any of Claims 4, 5 and 6, wherein the fan is arranged to operate in response to opening of the closure.

8. A waste storage device according to any of Claims 4, 5 and 6, comprising detection means for detecting the approach of the user's hand to open the closure and to start the operation of the fan in response thereto.

9. A waste storage device according to Claim 8, wherein the detection means comprises a short-range passive infra-red detector.

10. A waste storage device according to any of Claims 4 to 9, comprising timing means to operate the fan for a predetermined time after the closure is re-closed.

11. A waste storage device according to any of Claims 4 to 10, wherein the filter means is positioned beneath the receiver, and the fan is arranged to draw air downwardly through the filter means.

12. A waste storage device according to Claim 11, wherein the fan discharges air outside the body.

13. A waste storage device according to Claim 11, wherein the fan circulates air within the body in a closed cycle.

14. A waste storage device according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure is mounted in such a way that it cannot be left open.

is.

closed by gravity.

16. A waste storage device according to Claim 14, wherein a spring is incorporated to urge the closure towards the closed position thereof.

17. A waste storage device according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure and the opening are provided with a seal therebetween.

18. A waste storage device according to any preceding claim, wherein the filter means incorporates activated carbon.

19. A waste storage device according to Claim 18, wherein the activated carbon is held in a readily-replaceable cartridge.

A waste storage device according to Claim 14, wherein the closure is 20. A waste storage device according to Claim 19, in which a layer of car bon-containing material is protected by a simple filtering layer of fibrous material and held within a rigid supporting framework.

21. A waste storage device according to any preceding claim, comprising means for detecting the presence or absence of the filter means and for permitting or preventing the operation of the means for passing the air through the filter means ac cordingly.

22. A waste storage device, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.