GB2563822A

GB2563822A - Macerating method and macerator apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2563822A
Application number: GB1709335.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thurlow Stewart; Lewis Jack
Original assignee: Haigh Engineering Co Ltd
Current assignee: Haigh Engineering Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-06-12
Filing date: 2017-06-12
Publication date: 2019-01-02
Anticipated expiration: 2037-06-12
Also published as: GB201709335D0; GB2563822B

Abstract

A method of macerating a product comprises the steps: (i) introducing the product into a macerator chamber 2; (ii) macerating the product using a macerator blade 3 for a cutting operational period; and (iii) introducing water into the chamber during the cutting operational period, wherein the water is intermittently introduced during the cutting operational period at a plurality of timed instances. Also disclosed is a macerator apparatus 1 comprising: a chamber 2 housing a macerator cutting blade 3; water introduction means 11 for introducing water into the chamber; and a control means 7 for controlling the timing of the operation of cutting blade and water introduction means. The controller 7 controls the cutting blade 3 to operate for a cutting operational period and introduces water intermittently during the cutting operational period at a plurality of timed instances.

Description

MACERATING METHOD AND MACERATOR APPARATUS

The present invention relates to a method of macerating and to macerator apparatus of the type for the disposal of a waste product typically found in a medical or care service establishment, such as a hospital or care home.

Macerators typically comprise a hopper having a lid, a blade for macerating an item, a water inlet, a drain, and a controller. Operation of the macerator takes place by inserting an item into the chamber, closing the lid, and setting the device to run a maceration cycle.

After closing the lid, a typical maceration cycle involves introducing water into the hopper and macerating the products until they are small enough to pass to the drain; and disposing the contents via the drain.

In this regard, EP 2 207 622 discloses a maceration process involving an initial maceration of the product without water, followed by spraying the product with water as maceration takes place. When the products are small enough, they can pass through slots in the hopper into the drain, whereupon they are disposed of via the drain. A problem with such known macerators is that they produce a relatively high level of noise. In environments where the patients are be adjacent to such devices, and particularly for example at night where a patient's sleep is not to be disturbed, this noise is particularly problematic. Quality sleep is in this regard a vital component to recovery and wellbeing.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus and associated method to alleviate such a problem.

According to a first aspect ofthe present invention, there is provided a method of macerating a product comprising the steps:- introducing the product into a macerator chamber; macerating the product using a macerator blade for a cutting operational period; introducing water into the chamber during the cutting operational period; wherein the water is intermittently introduced during the cutting operational period at a plurality of timed instances. Water is hence not introduced into the chamber in one long initial fill nor is it continuously introduced throughout the cutting operational period. Its introduction is rather by way of a series of carefully timed bursts which intersperse a plurality of intervals where no water is introduced into the chamber. In this way, the introduction of water is staggered throughout the maceration process such that it can progressively mix into and be absorbed by the waste product pulp that is produced. As such, the adverse noise effects of having too great a volume of unabsorbed water within the chamber can be mitigated.

Preferably, the water is introduced during a plurality of short 1-2 second bursts during the cutting operational period. This has been found to be effective in introducing a correct dosage of water into the chamber.

Conveniently, the water is introduced during a first operational phase comprising a plurality of short bursts followed by a single longer burst. Preferably, in the first operational phase, the water is introduced in three short bursts of 1-2 seconds followed by a longer single burst of 5 seconds.

The bursts of the first phase are preferably separated by an interval of 8 to 10 seconds, preferably 9 seconds. This has been found to be an effective timing relationship between the bursts.

After the first operational phase, there is a second operational phase preferably of 10 to 20 seconds, more preferably 15 seconds where there is no water introduction.

Conveniently, after the second operational phase, water is introduced in a third operational phase which mirrors the first phase.

Preferably, in a fourth operational phase no water is introduced, the fourth operational phase mirroring the second operational phase.

Conveniently, a fifth operational phase is provided which mirrors the first and third operational phases. Thereafter, a sixth operational phase may be provided that mirrors the second and fourth operational phases where no water is introduced. A seventh operational phase may be provided which mirrors the first, third and fifth operational phases.

The method may further comprise an eighth operational phase where water is introduced in a plurality of longer bursts of 10-20 seconds, separated by a pauses of 5 to 10 seconds.

Preferably, in the eighth operational phase, water is introduced for three bursts of 15 seconds separated by three pauses of 5 seconds.

Conveniently, the method further comprises a macerator drainage system, wherein water is introduced to the macerator drainage system at timings which correspond with those of the longer bursts during the fifth and seventh operational phases.

Preferably, the water is introduced to a water trap of the macerator drainage system.

Conveniently, the method further comprises introducing water into the macerator chamber before commencement of the cutting operational period.

Preferably, water is introduced for a burst of 1 second directly before the cutting operational period. This assists in starting the process of softening the product prior to maceration.

Conveniently, the cutting operational period finishes marginally before the end of the eighth operational phase. Preferably, the cutting operational period finishes 1 second before the end of the eighth operational phase.

Conveniently, a lid latch mechanism is controlled to lock the lid closed throughout the cutting operational period, the cutting operational period commencing after the start of a lid latching period and ending before the end of the lid latching period.

Preferably, the cutting operation period commences 1 second after the start of the lid latching period and ends 11 seconds after the end of the cutting operational period. This ensures the safely and waste product containment of the method.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a macerator apparatus comprising:- a chamber housing a macerator cutting blade, water introduction means for introducing water into the chamber, and a control means for controlling the timing of the operation of cutting blade and water introduction means; the controller controlling the cutting blade to operate for a cutting operational period; the controller controlling the water introduction means to introduce water into the chamber during the cutting operational period, wherein the controller controls the water introduction means so that water is introduced intermittently during the cutting operational period at a plurality of timed instances.

Preferably, the control means controls the water introduction means to supply water into the chamber in a plurality of short 1-2 second bursts during the cutting operational period.

The present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:-

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a macerator in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 2 shows a timing sequence of a maceration cycle of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a macerator 1 comprises a body housing a chamber 2 for receiving a product to be macerated. Such macerators may be found within hospital wards or in healthcare rooms, where they can be situated within the vicinity of a patient bed.

Attached to the body is a lid 5 adapted to seal the chamber 2, when for example, the macerator is in use. The lid is hinged and can be locked in a closed position via latch/interlock 25. A means 26 to operate and review the macerator operation can be provided on a facia 8. A foot pedal 22 can be provided to operate latch/interlock 25.

Provided to chamber 2 is an upstream inlet 11, adapted to provide an influx of water to the chamber. The inlet 11 is fluidly coupled to a cistern and/or pump arrangement 6 coupled to an inlet water supply 10. The inlet may however simply be connected directly to inlet water supply and rely on supply pressure. The influx of water via the inlet 11 is controlled by a controller 7.

At the base of the chamber 2 is a drain 4, fluidly connected to a drain pipe 14 for the outflux of waste from the chamber 2. Operation of the drain 4 may be controlled by the controller 7.

Also provided at the base of the chamber 2 is means 3 for macerating the item or items in the chamber 2. The means 3 may be one or more cutting blades driven by a suitable motor. The means 3 may be controlled by the controller 7.

Additional inlets 9 and 15 are provided downstream of the first water inlet 11 and chamber 2, the operation of such inlets being controlled by the controller 7.

The first downstream inlet 9 is provided to the drain 4, and affords additional water flow to the drain to aids the flow of debris from the macerator. Inlet 9 is adapted to influx water received via a water supply, for example by a hose 12 or similar, connected to either a pump or directly to a domestic water supply.

The second downstream inlet 15 is connected via hose 13 to a P-trap 16 provided to the drain pipe 14. This inlet 15 can be in the form of an aerated jet, which is used to flush pulp away and to create a foam to clear and disinfect the drainage pipework from the macerator. Disinfectants or the like may be added to assist this effect.

As described above, the various components of the macerator are controlled by the controller 7 and are hardwired in electrical communication therewith by way of suitable wiring 17. Wireless connection may however also be used, to connect the components together and/or to control the macerator remotely.

Referring to Figure 2, further details will now describe the operational timing sequence of a maceration cycle as performed, for example, by the apparatus 1 of the present invention. The invention is in this regard not strictly limited to the apparatus of Figure 1.

As will be seen from Figure 2, the overall cycle length is defined by the period that the lid is locked in a closed position. This is predominantly for safety reasons to avoid injury and the possibility of contamination as a result of opening of the lid mid-cycle. The full cycle of the embodiment is substantially 265 seconds.

With the lid locked and product to be macerated within the macerator chamber, a short burst of water is introduced into the chamber. The macerator cutting blades are then started and continue to operate for a cutting operational period, which ends a safe time, namely substantially 11 seconds, before the lid is released from the locked position.

During the cutting operational period, the pump supplies water to the main chamber inlet 11, the drain inlet 9 and the downstream inlet 15 at certain specific timings as defined in the timing ladder shown in Figure 2.

Of note, in each of first, third, fifth and seventh operational phases, inlet 11 supplies three short burst of water and 1 longer burst of water. The short bursts last substantially 1 second and the longer burst lasts substantially 5 seconds. The short bursts are separated by a period of substantially 9 seconds. Each burst supplies around 0.2 litre of water.

Between the first, third, fifth and seventh operational phases are the second, fourth and sixth operational phases where no water is introduced via any of the inlets. The second, fourth and sixth operational phases last for substantially 15 seconds.

At the end of the fifth and seventh operational phases, inlet 9 is opened for substantially 5 seconds to correspond with the long burst where inlet 11 is open, to thereby provide a flow to the drainage system to assist the movement of pulp through to the drain. Around 1.0 litre of water is supplied to the main chamber and 1.3 litre of water is supplied to the drain.

The pattern of water introduction and no water introduction phases represented respectively by the first and second phases may be repeated as appropriate.

In an eighth operational phase, inlet 11 is activated after a period of substantially 5 seconds to introduce water for three bursts of substantially 15 seconds, separated by inactive intervals of substantially 5 seconds.

At the end of the eighth operational phase, inlet 9 is also activated to inject a substantially 5 second burst of water into the drain.

Inlet 15 is also activated in the fifth, seventh and eighth operational phases for bursts of substantially 5 or 10 seconds to supply a fluid flow downstream of the P- trap.

The cutting operation cycle ends marginally, namely substantially 1 second, before the end of the final burst of the eighth operational phase at inlet 11.

Byway of the above operational timing ladder, the overall cycle time is longer than a standard cycle but is substantially quieter, the reduction in noise making it ideal for night time operation, allowing patients to be undisturbed.

Water usage is carefully controlled to ensure it is not excessive and optimises noise reduction.

Whilst the above describes a specific example of the invention, it will be understood that features may be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims:-

1. A method of macerating a product comprising the steps:- introducing the product into a macerator chamber; macerating the product using a macerator blade for a cutting operational period; and introducing water into the chamber during the cutting operational period; wherein the water is intermittently introduced during the cutting operational period at a plurality of timed instances.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water is introduced during a plurality of short 1-2 second bursts during the cutting operational period.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein water is introduced during a first operational phase comprising a plurality of short bursts followed by a single longer burst.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein in the first operational phase, water is introduced in three short bursts of 1-2 seconds followed by a longer single burst of 5 seconds.

5. The method according to claim 3 or4, wherein the bursts ofthe first operational phase are preferably separated by an interval of 8 to 10 seconds.

6. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein after the first operational phase, there is a second operational phase of 10 to 20 seconds, where there is no water introduction.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein after the second operational phase, water is introduced in a third operational phase which mirrors the first operational phase.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein in a fourth operational phase no water is introduced, the fourth operational phase mirroring the second operational phase.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein a fifth operational phase is provided which mirrors the first and third operational phases.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein a sixth operational phase is provided that mirrors the second and fourth operational phases where no water is introduced.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein a seventh operational phase is provided which mirrors the first, third and fifth operational phases.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising an eighth operational phase where water is introduced in a plurality of longer bursts of 10-20 seconds, separated by a pauses of 5 to 10 seconds.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises a macerator drainage system, wherein water is introduced to the macerator drainage system at timings which correspond with those of the longer bursts during the fifth and seventh operational phases.

14. The method according to any preceding claim, further comprising introducing water into the macerator chamber before commencement of the cutting operational period.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein water is introduced for a burst of 1 second directly before the cutting operational period.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein the cutting operational period finishes before the end of the eighth operational phase.

17. The method according to any preceding claim, wherein a lid latch mechanism is controlled to lock a lid closed throughout the cutting operational period, the cutting operational period commencing after the start of a lid latching period and ending before the end of the lid latching period.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the cutting operation period commences 1 second after the start of the lid latching period and ends 11 seconds after the end of the cutting operational period.

19. A macerator apparatus comprising:- a chamber housing a macerator cutting blade, water introduction means for introducing water into the chamber, and a control means for controlling the timing of the operation of cutting blade and water introduction means; the controller controlling the cutting blade to operate for a cutting operational period; the controller controlling the water introduction means to introduce water into the chamber during the cutting operational period, wherein the controller controls the water introduction means so that water is introduced intermittently during the cutting operational period at a plurality of timed instances.

20. The macerator according to claim 19, wherein the control means controls the water introduction means to supply water into the chamber in a plurality of short 1-2 second bursts during the cutting operational period.