GB2452587A

GB2452587A - A household waste vacuum compactor

Info

Publication number: GB2452587A
Application number: GB0809554A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Frederick Dytham
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-22
Filing date: 2008-05-27
Publication date: 2009-03-11
Also published as: GB0716353D0; GB0809554D0

Abstract

A household waste compactor comprises a base 9 containing a vacuum pump 8, a clamping ring 2, 3 to support the neck of a refuse sack 10 in an open position, a column 6 to support the clamping ring above the base so that the sack 10 is freely suspended, a lid 1 that provides an airtight seal when closed against the clamping ring, and an airtight channel 7 passing through the lid 1 and the column 6 to connect the vacuum pump 8 to the interior of the refuse sack 10 when the lid 1 is closed. When the bin lid 1 is shut, the pump 8 is turn on and air is removed from within the refuse sack and the waste within the sack is compressed. Once the air has been removed from the sack 10, the neck of the sack may be tied off. Preferably the end of airtight channel in the lid has a nozzle (15, fig 4) that protrudes into the neck of the sack 10. The lid may also contain a filter (14, fig 4) across the airtight channel and have a rubber seal (4, fig 4) attached to the underside of the lid 1 to provide an airtight seal.

Description

VACUUM WASTE BIN

PROBLEM

Many councils are Introducing fortnlghtly collections for wheelle' bins, and, if th. lid l raised are either refusing to.mpty the bin, or ar, leaving behind a waste bag. This has caused a great deal of aggravation between householders and refus. collectors. The problem occurs when too much rubbish Is generated for on. wheelie' bin and collectors refuse to remove *xtra rubbish. Depending on the size of a family, some households produce enough wast. to fill more than on. bin each we.k.

There has been a proposal by the government to reduce the size of wheelle' bins to force people to re-cycle more household waste. As most people already re-cycle as much as possible, a smaller bin will mean less space for normal household waste.

SOLUTION

One solution to th. problem is to physically compact the rubbish by hand In the wheelie' bin. This would be a messy operation, as bags containing waste could break open, and it could also prove difficult for someone with a physical disability.

Observation ha. shown that a bin liner containing domestic waste and tied at the top with string contains a lot of air. It Is In effect a balloon filled with rubbish. Tests have proved that removing the air greatly reduces the size of the bag and compacts the waste in the process.

The VACUUM WASTE Compactor solves the problem by removing the air from within the bin liner and compacting the waste In the process.

THE INVENTION

The invention provides a frame that will hold a bin liner that l secured at the top. A lid provides access to the liner so that waste can be inserted. A vacuum motor is housed in a compartment at the base of the fram. and air Ii withdrawn from the bin liner through ducts in the top lid and liner support and a tube In the coiumn. When the bag i full the lid I. held closed by a catch and the motor i switched on. The air is withdrawn from the bin liner, which Is then tied with a piece of string to prevent air re-entering the liner.

The motor is switched off and the liner removed.

THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows a side view of the waste compactor with the liner hanging freely from the top assembly and the pipe running from the vacuum motor in the base to the top of the column.

Figure 21. a front view of the waste compactor showing the size of the column in relation to the base and top assembly.

Figure 31s a plan view and side view of the base.

Figure 4 i a view of the top assembly showing how air is ducted from the nozzle, through the top lid and liner support to the top of the column and the pipe to the vacuum motor. Also shown is how the liner Is held In place by the clamping ring. A switch is located on top of the column to activate the motor. A filter I. Incorporated in the top lid to comply with health and safety regulations.

FIgure 5 shows the top lid with the nozzle, filter, air ducting and rubber seal that prevents air getting into the liner when the vacuum is In process. An enlarged view of the nozzle shows grooves cut from the central hole to the outside diameter, these grooves help to prevent the nozzle being blocked by the liner during the later stages of air extraction.

Figure 8 shows the locking ring, the central aperture of the locking ring locates over the liner support to secure the bag.

Figure 7 shows the bin lIner support with the liner In position prior being secured by the liner-clamping ring.

Figure 8 shows the common hinge that allows the top lid and liner clampIng to operate Individually or together.

DESCRIPTION

The Vacuum waste compactor comprises a frame to hold a bin liner for domestic waste. Fig.1&2. The base of the frame i of a cylindrical construction and houses the vacuum motor, Fig.3 A column, Fig. 182 supports the top assembly Fig 4, that consists of a liner support plate Fig 7, a liner-clamping ring Fig 6, and the top lid Fig 5. There is an aperture in the centre of the liner support plate, and a larger aperture in the liner-clamping ring to enable the clamping ring to fit over the liner support plate to secure th. liner.

The top lid and liner clamping ring us. a common hinge so they can be raised and lowered together or independentiy Fig. 8.

A rubber seal i attached to the underside of the top lid to provide an airtight seal, Fig.5.

Air is extracted from the bin liner via a nozzle, ducts in the lid and liner support and a pipe In th. column to the vacuum motor Fig. I & 3.

A switch Fig 4 activates the motor.

OPERATION

A bin liner has to be inserted into the frame. To do this, the top lid is secured to the liner-clamping ring by a catch.

A catch on the liner-clamping ring is released and the iin*r clamping ring and top lid ar, raised together.

A bin liner Is put into the centre of the liner support and draped over the raised ring on the support; care must be taken not to block the hole between the clamping ring and liner support with the liner, as this would obstruct air extraction. The liner, clamping ring is lowered and secured by a catch; this holds the liner firmly in position.

A catch I. released to enable the top lid to be raised so that domestic waste can be put Into the liner. Avoid inserting sharp objects so as not to puncture the liner.

When the liner is full th. top lid i closed and secured by a catch. The motor Is activated by switch.

When all the air has been removed from the liner the liner i, tied tightly with a piece of string.

Hold the liner and release th. catch to raise the linir-clamping ring to removs the liner.

Switch off motor.

Ensure th. iin.r Is airtight.

Repeat operation.

OPTIONS

The VACUUM WASTE Compactor can be manufactured in various sizes and configurations depending on the size of liner required. A Vacuum Waste Compactor could be manufactured to enabl. a domestic vacuum cleaner to be connected to the lid to remove the air from the bin liner.

Th. Vacuum Waste Compactor could be incorporated in a kitchen worktop, with a door in the front to enable removal of the liner.

Two semi-circular doors could be attached to the column to Improve the looks of the waste compactor.

Claims

4 CLAIMS 1. A household waste compactor, comprising: a base containing a vacuum pump; a clamping ring from which a refuse sack may be suspended such that the clamping ring holds open a neck of the refuse sack; a lid that may be opened to provide access to the interior of the refuse sack or closed to form an airtight seal against the clamping ring; a column supporting the clamping ring above the base such that the exterior of a refuse sack suspended from the clamping ring is freely accessible; and an airtight channel passing through the lid and through the column to connect the vacuum pump to the interior of the refuse sack when the lid is closed.
2. A household waste compactor according to claim 1, wherein the lid is hinged relative to the clamping ring.
3. A household waste compactor according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the clamping ring is hinged relative to a fixed ring, whereby a refuse sack may be suspended by trapping its neck between the clamping ring and the fixed ring.
4. A household waste compactor according to claim 3, wherein the lid and the clamping ring share a common hinge axis.
5. A household waste compactor according to any preceding claim, wherein the airtight channel also passes through the clamping ring.
6. A household waste compactor according to claim 5, wherein the airtight channel is a rigid channel formed within the column, the clamping ring and the lid.
7. A household waste compactor according to any preceding claim, wherein the airtight channel ends in a nozzle that protrudes from the lid through the clamping ring, the nozzle defining a hole of smaller cross-section than the cross-section of the airtight channel.
8. A household waste compactor according to claim, wherein an exterior surface of the nozzle has cuts or grooves intersecting the hole so that the edge of the hole does not lie completely in a flat plane.
9. A household waste compactor according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid further comprises a filter across the airtight channel.
10. A household waste compactor substantially as described in this specification with reference to the drawings.