CA1296312C - Waste disposal system - Google Patents

Waste disposal system

Info

Publication number
CA1296312C
CA1296312C CA000500985A CA500985A CA1296312C CA 1296312 C CA1296312 C CA 1296312C CA 000500985 A CA000500985 A CA 000500985A CA 500985 A CA500985 A CA 500985A CA 1296312 C CA1296312 C CA 1296312C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
waste
hammermill
disinfectant
liquid
operably
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 - Fee Related
Application number
CA000500985A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Martin E. Elliott
Jeffrey C. Rapp
Joseph H. Wilson
Brian K. Southern
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.)
Medical Safetec Inc
Original Assignee
Medical Safetec Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Medical Safetec Inc filed Critical Medical Safetec Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1296312C publication Critical patent/CA1296312C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B09DISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE; RECLAMATION OF CONTAMINATED SOIL
    • B09BDISPOSAL OF SOLID WASTE
    • B09B3/00Destroying solid waste or transforming solid waste into something useful or harmless
    • B09B3/0075Disposal of medical waste
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61LMETHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
    • A61L11/00Methods specially adapted for refuse
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B02CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING
    • B02CCRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN
    • B02C13/00Disintegrating by mills having rotary beater elements ; Hammer mills
    • B02C13/02Disintegrating by mills having rotary beater elements ; Hammer mills with horizontal rotor shaft
    • B02C13/04Disintegrating by mills having rotary beater elements ; Hammer mills with horizontal rotor shaft with beaters hinged to the rotor; Hammer mills
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B02CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING
    • B02CCRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN
    • B02C19/00Other disintegrating devices or methods
    • B02C19/0056Other disintegrating devices or methods specially adapted for specific materials not otherwise provided for
    • B02C19/0075Other disintegrating devices or methods specially adapted for specific materials not otherwise provided for specially adapted for disintegrating medical waste
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B02CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING
    • B02CCRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN
    • B02C21/00Disintegrating plant with or without drying of the material
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B02CRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING; PREPARATORY TREATMENT OF GRAIN FOR MILLING
    • B02CCRUSHING, PULVERISING, OR DISINTEGRATING IN GENERAL; MILLING GRAIN
    • B02C23/00Auxiliary methods or auxiliary devices or accessories specially adapted for crushing or disintegrating not provided for in preceding groups or not specially adapted to apparatus covered by a single preceding group
    • B02C23/18Adding fluid, other than for crushing or disintegrating by fluid energy
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10STECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S241/00Solid material comminution or disintegration
    • Y10S241/606Medical/surgical waste comminution

Abstract

S P E C I F I C A T I O N
WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
Abstract of the Disclosure A waste disposal system for treating and disposing of infectious waste articles in a substantially controlled, closed, aseptic environment and for converting such infectious waste articles into a safely disposable, non-infectious non-toxic residue of solid waste independent from disinfecting liquid waste. A waste delivery conveyor transfers waste articles from an input region to preliminary waste processing apparata for preliminarily fragmenting the waste for further treatment by the system. Disinfectant spray is deposited on the waste as it enters the preliminary waste processing appara-tus with the fragments resulting therefrom, together with the disinfestant liquid, being transferred to rotary hammermill elements to convert the fragment disinfectant solution to a solution of fine waste particles and disinfectant solution.
Liquid solid particle separator apparata then separates the solid waste particles from the liquid disinfectant for inde-pendent evacuation of same. The system further includes vacuum ventilation elements to maintain any released bacteria or par-ticles within the system until completely processed and dis-infected with system switching controls serving to operate and sequence operation of the system components relative to one another by computer.

Description

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E~ACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates, in general, to waste management facilities and in particular to a waste disposal system for treating and disposing of infectious waste articles in a substantially controlled, closed, aseptic environment for conversion of same into independent safely disposable non-infectious, non-toxic solid waste residues and independent liquids.
Within the last fifteen years, emphasis has been directed towards the design of waste disposal treatment methods and sys-tems which more effectively deal with the complex problemsassociated with treating and disposing of the many glassware, needles, syringes and substantially hazardous waste discarded from a hospital environment, for example, together with the highly infectious tissues, test tubes, slides, etc. that accompany such hazardous products in a medical or research facility. Over the years, on-site incinerators with their associated high costs of operation and ineffective utilization of costly resources such as natural gas, petroleum and the like, have been utilized to dispose of such dangerous and infectious waste on a bulk basis, while adversely affecting the environment through the release of potentially toxic exhaust and vapors emanating from incineration of, for example, plas-tics used in substantial volumes within such facilities.
During the above more recent years, several systems and apparata have been developed which may be utilized to process, -.

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~2~363~L2 on a relatively small scale, portions of the waste articles which emanate from hospital, research and experimental facili-ties while, generally, not being capable of disposing and permanently treat~ng, for safe release into sewerage or land fill, most, if not all of the articles contemplated for trash or discard in such an environment. Indeed, U.S. Patent No.
3,926,379 covering a syringe disintegrator discloses such a `'specialized" disposal apparatus in which hypodermic syringes may be pulverized and disinfected for subsequent disposal. The assignee of the present invention, through its U.S. Patent No. 4,618,103, issued October 21, 1986 and U.S. Patent No.
4,619,409 issued October 28, 1986, disclose yet additional systems for disintegrating some forms of hospital waste.
The present invention is directed towards a waste disposal system capable of accepting, processing and effectively disposing o~ virtually all the waste materials a present facility is typically desirous of discarding, in a non-furnace environment without the need for incineration -- a system in which all the waste is "neutralized" so as to be safe, after processing, for sewerage or land fill release through mechanical alteration of the waste articles and treatment with disinfectants which, in combination, more effectively obviate the need for incineration.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a waste disposal system which more effectively disinte-grates and fragments a vast majority of dispo~able materials as , 3~
to make them noninfectious and capable of subsequent disposal via conventional sewerage and land fill techniques.
It is an additional object of the present invention to accept large volumes of waste materials of virtually any com-position typically found in a hospital, medical, experimental or laboratory environment, for disinfection and disposal of same -- in an environment where disintegration is optomized for complete disinfection.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide 1~ for such a waste disposal system in which disinfectant itself may be generated on a on-site basis at reduced costs in an environment where detergents are not needed so as avoid impair-ing the effect of the disinfectant used during the disposal treatment operations.
As an additional object of the present invention is the provision of a waste disposal system that mechanically disinte-grates the majority of discarded materials from such an "infec-tious" environment to substantially small particulate compon-ents for complete disinfection of same, where immediately prior to disposal of the by-products of said treatment, the solid waste and liquid disinfectant components developed during pro-cessing are separated through an effective new liquid-solid separation technique for bulk utillzation.
As a further object of the pres~ent invention is the pr~ovi-sion of a waste disposal system which relies upon preliminary fragmentation of the wast~e materials, followed by subsequent , , :
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.- , , " ' 29~ 2 violent disintegration of the remaining fragmented particles for complete envelopment within disinfectant solution, and for substantial impregnation thereof, while safely rnaintaining the immediately surrounding environment fcee of bacteria-laden air or particles carried by the air within the system. The system further treats and releases such air maintained within the system through a series of ~ilters so as to yield all by-products of the disposal process safe to personnel both inside and outside the facility, and to the environment in general.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent in view of the present specification, claims and drawings.

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S~MMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention comprises a waste disposal system for treating and disposing of infectious ~7aste articles in a substantially controlled, aseptic environment as well as a system for converting this infectious waste into a safely disposable, non-toxic, non-infectious residue through disinte-gration and disinfection techniques.
The system includes input means into which accumulated quantities of waste artlcles are initially placed for subse-quent treatment and disposal of same. From the system input means the waste is delivered from a first delivery end to a recond delivery end positioned substantially opposite to the ~irst delivery end. Preliminary waste processing means are located proximate to this second delivery end of the waste delivery means for prelim1nari1y restructuring the waste arti-cles into substantially small waste fragments for further treatment and disposal of same by the waste disposal system.
AIso located proximate to the second end of the waste delivery means~and~proximate to the prel1minary w;aste pro-cessing means are disinfectant~spray~means for dlspensing a ~0 disinfectant liquiù used to envelop~anù impr~egnate~the waste articles and waste fragments towards disinfection of existing bacteria within the waste~articles~themselves and the prelimi-~narily restruct~ured waste ragments.~ The envelopment~and impregnation of the disinfectant liquid into the waste ar~ticles ;
themselves~is~assi~sted ir~st1y by~the~force oE the spray as ~ 6 , . : . , : ~ ~: : :, ~ . :
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129~3~ ~

well as by the preliminary processing operation which firstly fraqments the pieces, as well as by other portions of the disposal syste~ which, in disintegrating the waste articles into smaller and smaller particles serves to assist in their disinfection by the disinfecting liquid.
The disinfecting liquid solution and waste fra~ments pass from the preliminary waste processing means by frag~ent solu-tion channeling means having a first and second end, with its first end proximate to the preliminary waste processing means and its second end operably attached to a rotary hammermill means. This rotary hammermill is capable of receiving the waste fragment-disinfectant solution from the fragment solution channel for the purpose of vlolently dislntegrating these waste article fragments at a substantlally high speed in the substan-tially liquid enviconment of the disinfectant solution, so as :
to create a waste partlcle-dlslnEectant solutlon. The rotary hammermill means are powered by hammermill motor means operably coupled thereto, and emanating from~the hammermill i~self is a hammermill partlcle-~so~lutLon transmlssion apparatus~having a ~0 first and second~end~throu~gh~which the wsste~particle ~di~sinfec-tant solution is routed out~of the rotary~hammermill for fur-ther treatment by the waste~dlsposal system.
From the~rotary hammèrmill~ the~;substantial~ly~disintegrated waste part~cle dl~slnf~ectant so~lutlon~pa~ss~es~t~hrough~a llqul~d solid~particle separa~t~lon~means operably~att~ached~to the ham~

~2963~Z
mermill transmission means for separating, on a continuous basis, the disintegrated particles of solid waste from any excess enveloping and impregnating disinfectant liquid. This liquid solid particle separator includes operable connections to liquid evacuation means and solid par~icle evacuation means for disposal of the disinfectant liquid and solid waste parti-cles separately from one another.
The waste disposal system further includes system vacuum ventilation means operably associated with the system's compon-ent segments or "stations" for effectively precluding the inad-vertent release of bacteria and/or other contamination during the treatment and disposal of waste articles by the system.
Furthermore, system switching control means are operably asso-ciated with one or more of the waste input means, waste deliv-ery means, preliminary waste processing means, disinfectant , spray means, rotary hammermill means, liquid solid particle separation means and system~vacuum ventilation means, to con-trol the activation and seguenclng of one or more of these structural components relativè to the other co-operating com-~0 ponents.
In one embodim~ent of the~lnvention the~waste disposal system includes a disinfectant storage facility for containing accumulated quantlties~of dlsinfectan~t liquid. Tbls dlslnfec-~tant storage means ~Is~ operably~con~nected~t~o the disinfectan~t ~;
spray means for supplying, ~through~appropriate liquid conduits, ~ ~ :
desired amounts;of~dls~inf;ectant liqu~id~ for spraylng~of s;ame ~ ~

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onto the waste articles at the abovesaid posi~ion adjacent one or more oE the second delivery end of the waste delivery means and the preliminary waste processing means. It is further contemplated in this embodiment that the invention additionally includes disinfectant generation means which generates a disin-fectant solution containing sodiumhypochlorite and wa~er. In such an embodiment, the disinfectant generation means comprises an on-site disinfectant generator operably coupled to the dis-infectant storage means by additional disinfectant conduit, by creating for storage the sodiumhypochlorite compound which is created through electrolytic processing of a brine solution.Furthermore, in this embodiment, the generated sodiumhypochlor-ite solution is stored after generation, in disinfectant stor-a~e means, after which it is combined with water to form a two tenths (.2%) percent concentrate solution, having a p~ of 8.5, for subsequent supply to the spraying means, as needed.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention the waste delivery means comprises a substantially inclined motoci~ed conveyor`apparatus which has, at its first delivery end, a system input means inteqrated thereinto for initial placement of the quantities of waste articles for subsequent treatment and disposal. This conveyor apparatus further includes a sub-stantially flat, continuous conveyor belt with laterally posi-tioned bars thereupon~for effectively transferring waste ar~ti-cles to the second deli ery end, proximate the preliminary `_ :

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waste processing means, as a driving motor operably attached to the conveyor apparatus is activated by the system's switching control means to transfer the waste articles riding upon the conveyor apparatus. Preferably, the laterally positioned bars and the conveyor apparatus itself are formed of a substantially elastomeric material such as urethane or rubber. FurthermOre, in this preferred embodiment the conveyor apparatus includes on~ or more draped slitted curtains suspended immediately above 1~ the conveyor belt along its longitudinal path of movement. The slitted curtains permit an uninterrupted passage of the accumu-lated waste articles on the conveyor belt as the conveyor belt moves from the first delivery end to the second delivery end of the waste delivery means for subsequent carrying of the arti-cles into the preliminary processing means.
The conveyor apparatus further includes substantially sealed conveyor housing above and about the conveyor belt from which the slitted curtains are suspended, the curtains co-operating with the housing to preclude the harboring, backflow ~0 and inadvertent release of potential particles or bacteria p~esent in the system proximate to the waste delivery means and to reduce and isolate noise emanating from the rest of the s~stem. It is contemplated that the one or more draped slitted curtains would be constructed of a substantially vinly material to more effectively enable smooth unobstructed passage of s~id waste articles past the slitted curtain as they move upwardly on the conveyor belt as well dS to simplify the overall clean-63~

ing of the slitted curtain. Likewise, the conveyor apparat~shousing enclosure would be constructed of a substantially _stainless steel material, in the form of an enclosure chute, to preclude the undesired harboring of bacteria in the proximity of the waste delivery means.
With further regard to maintaining sanitary conditions proximate to the waste deli~ery means, in this preferred embodiment the system input means includes, at a position proximate the first delivery end, a drain located at the lower-1~ most region of the conveyor apparatus to enable the draining ofrinsing solution which may be used to rinse the waste delivery means and system input means between operations of the waste disposal system in order to wash away potential accumulation of errant disinfectant spray or infected or bacterial laden waste particles.
In the waste disposal system of the present invention, the preliminary waste processing means preferably comprises a dual element counter-rotating cutter-shredder apparatus. In such preliminary waste processing means each of the dual elements ~o possesses a plurality of shredding disks in which each disk has three shredding teeth fashioned thereinto, with the disks sequentially articulated in alternating fashion between one another so that one element nests within the shredding disks of the other element. Associated with the cutting disks of the dual elements are a series of stationery jogging members oper-~, 11 Ei3~

ably disposed in sequential fashion within adjacent positionsamong the cutting disks. The cutter-shredder is powered and driven by a cutter-shredder motor operably attached to each of .
the counter-rotating dual elements -- a Motor which preferably includes a torque reactive control in order to instantaneously react to overloads occuring within the cutter-shredder so as to be capable of deactiving and stopping the shredder in the event of a jam.
In this preferred embodiment, the preliminary waste pro-cessing means is operably disposed in a substantially sealed housing immediately surrounding the dual counter-rotating shredding elements. This shredder housing has, attached to its upper region, a substantially sealed chute element which oper-ably communicates with the substantially sealed conveyor appa-ratus housing formed about the waste delivery means. The sealed chute element receives the accumulated waste articles at said second delivery end of the waste delivery means to in turn transfer same, through gravity, to the nip formed between the dual element counter-rotating shredder disks in the preliminary 2~ waste processing means. In this same embodiment, the spray means comprise a substantially horizontally spray bar extending the axial length of the dual elements and fixedly restrained in position thereover for substantially showering the disinfectant liquid from its position along the top of the sealed chute ~ith a vertically downward orientated spray. This disin~ectant spray serves to continuously dispense disinfectant over the .

9~ 2 accumulated quantities of waste articles as the articles reach the second delivery end, while the waste articles fall by gravity into the shredder-cutter apparatus as well as while the waste articles await and enter the fragmentation process per-formed by the shredder-cutter -- continuously bathing even the waste fragments released from the preliminary processing means into the fragment solution channeling means leading to the rotary hammermill. Preferably, the sprayer means dispenses the liquid disinfectant spray at a rate approximating thirty gal-lons per minute onto the waste articles and the waste article fragments located therebelow.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotary hammermill means comprises a high speed hammermill apparatus capable of violently disintegrating the waste article fragments created by the preliminary processing means, mixing them with the enveloping and impregnating disinfectant liquid solution so as to eEfectively disintegrate the fragments into relatively small waste particles for improved penetration and impregnation by the l`iquid disinfectant. This in turn enables the complete 2~ and substantial disinfection of bacteria carried by such waste atticles.
In order to channel the fragment-liquid solution from the preliminary waste processing means, solution channeling means in a form of a substantially sealed channel member are operably connected in a sealed relatlonship to the sealed preliminary waste processing housing surrounding the preliminary waste pro-cessing means. At the first end of the channeling means the fragment-liquid solutlon is received by the channeling means for transferring same, through both gravity and ejection from the shredder, to a side entry aperture in the rotary hammermill housing at the second end of the fragment solution channeling means. The rotary hammermill itself is disposed within a sealed hammermill housing through which the hammermill motor is operably coupled to the hammermill apparatus disposed there-within, with the entry aperture fabricated at an axially offsetposition into the side wall of this sealed hammermill housing.
The hammermill apparatus itself comprises a primary rotat-ing member directly and operably connected to the hammermill motor through a hammermill axle. A plurality of hammer members are operably mounted for pivotal movement about the outer periphery of the primary rotating member and these hammers, together with the plurality of fragment jogging members oper-ably positioned at the upper interior periphery of the hammer-mill apparatus ho~sing, co-operate to effectively disintegrate the waste article fragments received from the preliminary pro-cessing means upon rotation of the primary member and hammer members of the hammermill. Additionally, a plurality of aper-tures are located at and through the bottom peripheral region of the hammermill housing for releasing the waste particle~-disinfectant solution after disintegration of same by said rotary hammermill means -- releasing said solution into the .., .. :
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first end of the hammermill transmission means. These release apertures include a plurality of substantially small circular release apertures leading through the hammermill housing as well as an overload release aperture maintained in a normally sealed position during normal operation of the hammermill by a releasable covering door operably connected to door positioning means. The door positioning means are capable of opening the covering door and overload release aperture when speed detec-tion means disclose a jam within the hammermill apparatus SG as 1~ to expedite the release of accumulated waste particle-disinfec-tant solution out of the rotary hammermill apparatus and into the hammermill transmission means. Preferably, the speed detection means comprises a rotary speed sensor positioned about the hammermill axle for detecting an abrupt reduction in speed to, in turn, activate the covering door to immediately open, to more rapidly evaculate the waste particle-disinfectant solution from the interior of the hammermill apparatus housing.
The door positioning means comprises a pneumatically operated piston operably affixed at one end of the covering door to operate same upon the occurrence of a jam while maintaining same in a normally closed position at all other times.
The primary rotating member of the hammermill apparatus is suspended for rotation within opposite faces of the hammermill housing by a plurality of hammermill bearing assemblies oper-ably communicating with the primary rotating member through the 12~3~ ~

hammermill axle. Each of the plurality of hammermill bearing assemblies has means for withstanding contamination arising out o the migration of waste particle disinfectant solution ema-nating from wLthin the hammermill housing and along the axle, potentially into portions of the bearing, so as to preclude corrosion and interference of the migrating particles-solution with the bearing.
In the preferred embodimPnt, the means for withstanding contamination in each bearing assembly comprises the utiliza-tion of at least one bearing spacer means immediately adjacenteach of the bearing assemblies with the bearing spacers coming in direct and operably communication with respective portions of the axle. An inlet and an outlet fitting positioned in eàch of the bearing spacers permits attachment thereto of an incom-ing and outgoing flushing conduit respectively for operable communication with the intertor of the spacer itself. Flushing medium may then be pumped through the flushing conduits to enter into and exit from the bearing spacer. This flushing medium is pumped continuously during the operation of the hammermill apparatus to flush each bearing spacer to, in turn, clean out portions of migrating waste particles and disin-fectant solution which could otherwise enter and adversely affect the bearing assemblies themselves. In this embodiment it is contemplated that the bearing assembly further compri~se a slinger element operably and fixedly attached to the axle within each bearing spacer for further assisting in the centri-__ ' fugal dispecsion of the flushing medium so as to fur~her bene-ficially assist the flushing of migrating waste particles and disinfectant solution out of each beaeing spacer and through and out of the exiting flushing conduit.
Another embodiment of means for withstanding contamination in the bearing assemblies comprises a continuous greasing appa-ratus operably and fixedly attached to the bearing elements within each bearing assembly which, under pressure, intermit-tently and effectively circulates fresh greasing medium into and about the bearing elements. This accordingly assists in precluding the inadvertent contamination, corrosion and undesired creation of excess friction about the rotating bear-ing element by constantly greasing same while further flushing out traces of migrating waste particles and disinfectant solu-tion reaching such rotating elements.
In the preferred embodiment also the rotary hammermill motor means are operably connected to the primary rotating member within the hammermill housing through a quick-release coupling apparatus means which automatically releases the motor means from its connection with the primary rotating member upon the occurrence of a torque limiting jam. Upon the occurrence oE such a jam, the change in rotating speed of the hammermill is sensed to activate the quick release coupling operably communicating with the hammermill. The quick release co~pling disconnects the motor means from the hammermill apparatus upon . ' ' the occurrence of such a jam and, automatically, assists the motor to "wind down" to avoid a free riding motor situation after such a disconnection. The quick release coupling further includes features capable of warning and notifying the operator of the waste disposal system of the occurrence of the motor disconnection and wind down.
From the bottom of the hammermill and particularly the r~lease apertures, the waste particle-liquid solution enters the hammermill transmission means comprising a substantially sealed chute assembly in operable and sealed communication with the hammermill housing operably surrounding the hammermill, so as to transfer the particle-liquid solution from the hammermill at the transmission means first end to the liquid-solid parti-cle separation means at the second end of the hammermill trans--mission means.
In t;~e preferred embodiment, the liquid solid particle separation means comprises a substantially sealed particle separator housing operably attached in sealed fashion to the second end of the hammermill transmission. At the attachment ~a ~egion there exists a particle separator entry aperture through which the disintegrated particles of solid waste and the enve-loping-impregnating disinfectant liquid jointly enter the par-ticle separator for separation therebetween. Continuous con-veyor sieve means are operably positioned immediately adjac~nt the particle separator entry aperture for collecting the solid particle-liquid solution therefrom and for separating excess .

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, quantities of the disin~ectant liquid from the solid waste particles.
Preferably, the conveyor sieve comprises a substantially continuous looped conveyor element formed by a plurality of interlocking articulated separator belt components. Each such separator belt component includes means for attachment to its immediately adjacent equivalently structured separator belt component as well as a substantially planar surface for sup-porting the solid waste particles. Additionally a plurality of slotted apertures are formed through these components through which the disinfectant liquid may pass downwardly towards col-lection adjacent the liquid evacuation means. The conveyor sieve is powered by separator motor means to collect the waste particle-liquid solution on a continuous basis from the hammer-mill transmission means, with the conveyor sieve itself posi-tioned in a substantially upwardly inclined orientation to deliver the solid waste particles to the solid particle evacua-tion means and direct the flow of the separated disinfectant liquid to the liquid evacuation means for subsequent indepen-dent disposal of same, respectively. Preferably, the separator belt components are possessed of slotted apertures of a sizecapable of releasing the majority of disinfectant liquid mixed with the solid waste particles thereupon while being substan-tially incapable of releasing any substantial volumes of solid waste particles therethrough so as to substantially direct most .
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of the solid waste particles to the solid waste particle eva-cuation means.
In the preferred embodiment also, the solid particle-liquià separation means includes routing plate means positioned between the upper and lower portions of the continuous conveyor sieve belt. This routing plate serves to direct the separated disinfectant liquid and particles small enough to pass through the slotted apertures in the separator belt components away from the backside of the lower portion of the conveyor sieve to a disposable position proximate to the liquid evacuation means.
The liquid solid separator further includes conveyor sieve shoulder regions immedia~ely proximate to the longitudinal edges of the conveyor sieve with brush elements positioned operably adjacent these longitudinal edges to further route the solid waste particles toward the solid waste particle evacua-tion means. The liquid solid particle separator further includes a scraper element positioned immediately adjacent the conveyor sieve at its uppermost climb proximate to the solid waste evacuation means to direct solid waste particles which may be adhering to the conveyor sieve, due to the existance of a small amount o~ liquid, so as to prompt same into the solid waste evacuation means.
Not only the solid waste particles-liquid solution from the hammermill is going into the liquid solid separation means.
The solid waste particulate and impregnating disinfectant which are being flushed from the bearing spacers proximate to the , -, '. ' ', . : ' - .

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hammermill bearing assemblies is also being couted into the liquid solid separator notwithstanding the relatively small amount of such contaminants being flushed in such a manner.
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In the preferred embodiment of the invention the liquid evacuation means comprises a drain assembly operably communi-cating with the user's sanitary or sewage transmission line while the solid waste particle evacuation means comprises a storage container or receptacle such as a wheeled cart capable of accumulating the solid waste disintegrated particles prior to removal to an appropriate land fill facility. In this embodiment the solid waste particle evacuation means further includes a placement detection sensor operably associated therewith which serves to deactivate operation of the liquid-solid particle separator when the solid waste particle evacua-tion means or ~heeled cart, for example, is out of position. A
"cart-full" detector may also be utilized to disclose to the operator the need to replace a full cart with an empty one.
Furthermore, it is contemplated that the liquid evacuation means may include evacuation filter means to preclude the undesired evacuation of potentially accumulatable solid waste particles directly through the liquid evacuation drain leading to the sewage lines. With such a small build-up of solid waste proximate to the liquid waste evacuation means it is contem-plated that a screen or other filtering means can be changed at scheduled intervals by disposing of any additional solid waste .

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129~3~l2 particles at said position into the solid waste evacuation means relatively close thereto.
The system vacuum ventilation means comprises an operably connected series of housinss about the waste delivery means, the preliminary waste processing means, the hammermill means, and liquid solid separation means which co-operate with the fragment solution channeling means, the hammermill solution transmission means and the one or more slitted draped curtains to form a substantially sealed uni-directional ventilation circuit. This ventilation circuit is attached at the liquid solid waste separator to fan exhaust means for circulating air within the ventilation circuit in said one direction through and out of same. The rotary hammermill itself further acts as a supplemental exhaust means to augment the uni-directional exhausting of potentially bacteria laden air therethrough at an exhaust rate less than that of the fan exhaust means to pre-clude the forced release of airborne contaminants emanating from the rotary hammermill. The ai-r within the ventilation circuit ls then directed from the system input means towards and through the liquid solid separator to in turn, be released from the fan exhaust means.
Preferably, the fan exhaust means further comprises two or more independent ventilation circuit extension means operably attached in a substantially sealed affixation to the solid~
liquid particle separator housing for channeling the air within the ventllation circuit therefrom. In this embodiment, filter-Z~3~3~

ing means are operably associated with each of the two or moreindependent ventilation circuit extension means to ~ilter mists, vapors, waste particles and bacteria from the air prior to ieS release from the system. A blower apparatus is operably associated with each of the two or more independent ventilation circuit extension means for creating the uni-directional flow of the air, for driving the air through the filteriny means and for ultimately discharging the filtered air from the waste disposal system.
1~ In this embodiment additionally, the filtering means includes a plurality of filtering media to filter the mists, vapors, particles, etc. in the air. This plurality of media includes a hog hair, polyester, pleated and hepa filtering media to effectively filter the air prior to its release from the waste disposal system, preferably at a location external to the facility housing the present waste disposal system. Fur-thermore, in this embodiment, each such filtering means includes a filtering monitor to disclose the occurrence of filter sàturation of each media element to, in turn, appropri-ately notify an operator so that a media element can be replaced.
The overall waste disposal system of the present invention includes system switching control means relying upon computer controlled switching and sequencing apparata. The computer controlled switching and sequencing apparata include monitors . ` . :
3 ~ ~ d with diagnostic means to disclose switching control sequencing operations and problems as they occur, and further include indicia output means for disclosure of diagnostic messages.
The switching control means f~rther preferably includes a remote test switching apparatus capable of being physically relocated to any position along the waste disposal system to enable the remote isolated testing of any structural components by one operator, without assictance, while permitting simultan-eous viewing of the results of the component testing by said single operator.
It is additionally contemplated that the invention further includes elastomeric mounting means operably interposed among the supporting structures for one or more of the waste delivery means, the preliminary waste processing means, the rotary ham-mermill means, the liquid solid particle separation means, the system vacuum ventilation means and system switching control means to effectively isolate and reduce the extent of vibration and noise emanating from same.
The invention further contemplates utilizing spray means 32 (or separate spray means) between machine operations to counter the corrosive effects of disinfectant on metallic machine parts such as the preliminary processing shredder. At the end of a machine operative period, prior to machine shut-down (after processing of all waste therethrough) a dilute~
mixture of disinfectant solution and water is sprayed, followed by a spray of just water and finally a solution of water sol---. 12~G~12 uble oil with water -- to deposit a film of oil on such machine parts during extended down times of the system. This film of oil is removed upon startup of the system, by the disinfectant solution utilized in processing the waste.

: 25 1~9~ Z
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRA~!7I!~GS
Fig. 1 of the drawings is an elevated side schematic view of the present waste disposal system showing, particularly, its system input means, waste delivery means, preliminary processing means, rotary hammermill assembly, liquid solid particle separa-tion means, and system vacuum ventilation means;
Fig. 2 is a top plan schematic view of the waste disposal system of Fig. 1 showing the same operational components thereof together with its switching system component means, disinfectant spray applicator and additional structure of the vacuum ventila-1~ tion means;
Fig. 3 is an elevated side view, in partial cross section, showing the system input and waste delivery means delivering contaminated waste articles to the delivery chute positioned immediately above the preliminary processing shredder, as well as a portion of the rotary hammermill means and solid particle liquid solution separator means, which have been illustrated in an orientation of attachment opposite to that of actual config-uration, solely for purpose of illustration, as well as showing the system's disinfectant storage and disinfectant generation ~0 means;
Fig 4 is an elevated side view, in partial phantom, showing the waste particle-disinfectant liquid separation means and par-ticularly showing entry of liquid impregnated particulate ~aste thereinto as well as the operational structure for separating such solld waste from such liquid waste together with liquid and , ~29~;31~, solid evacuation means and vacuum ventilation connections;
Fig. 5 is a top perspective view of the continuous conveyor sieve located within the solid-liquid separation means of Fig. 4 showing particularly, the structuce of the articulated belt seg-ments, the shoulder rail brush assembly adjacent the edges of the conveyor sieve as well as the plate member operably interposed between the top portion of the conveyor and the bottom returning portion of the conveyor, to preclude the dropping of solid par-ticulate onto the underside of the returning bottom conveyor sieve portion;
Fig. 6 is an elevated side view of the rotary hammermill apparatus particularly displaying the hammermill housing, the hammer elements, the primary rotating element, together with the hammermill transmission chute and jam release door;
Fig. 7 of the drawings is an elevated front view of the hammermill apparatus of Fig. 6 showing particularly the position-ing of the primary rotating element and hammers within the ham-mermill housing, the hammermill bearing and bearing spacer con-struction as well as the sensing detector and flushing conduits associated therewith;
Fig. 8 is an elevated side view of a portion of the rotary hammermill means showing, particularly, the hammermill motor and breakaway coupling component, the bearing assembly showing utili-zation of a bearing spacer for continuous flushing during opera-tion of the hammermlll, the slinging component to assist in such .. .~ . .

129G~31~

flushing, and a constant greasing fitting to constantly lubricate the bearing elements;
Fig. 9 is an elevated side view of the hammermill apparatus of Fig. 6 taken from the opposite side showing, particularly, fabrication and placement of the release apertures, the jam release door and activation mechanism therefor, the jogging ele~
ments at the top of the hammermill housing and bearing assemblies or rotation of the primary rotating element;
Fig. 10 is a bottom plan view taken along lines iO-10 of Fig. 9 and looking in the direction of the arrows showing, parti-cularly, the orlentation of the release apertures and jam release door assembly with the associated activation mechanism for open-ing same upon occurrence of a jam;
Fig. 11 is a slde elevational view of the preferred embodi-; ment of filter assembly show~ng, in partlal breakaway fashion, the four different filter medla utilized within same prior to discharge of the ventilated air from out of the disposal system;
Fig. 12 IS a front elevational view of the switching controlmeans particularly showing the diagnostic indicia in place there-upon; and Fig.13 is a front elevational view of the system switchingcontrol means comprising a remote test switchlng apparatus~for single-handed testing of~component~functions along the waste disposal system.

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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWI~IGS
While this invention is susceptable of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, one specific embodiment, with the under-standing that the present disclosure is to be considered as an examplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.
Applicants' waste disposal system 20 is shown in Fig. 1 as comprising waste delivery means conveyor 22 having system input region 23 with side structure 28. As shown in Fig. 1, the waste delivery means conveyor apparatus is operably run by motor 29 connected to transmission mechanism 30 for bringing the waste articles up to and into chute 33 (Fig. 2) operably attached to preliminary waste processing housing 34 in preliminary processing means 24. After the waste articles are processed into relatively smaller waste article fragments within prellminary waste pro-cessing means 24, they are conveyed into hammermill 25 within hammermill housing 36 for subsequent dlsintegration into rela-tively fine waste particles.
The disinfectant impregnated waste particles are then trans-ferred to hammermill transmission means 26 to solid~particle-liquid separation means 21 including separator housing 43 and conveyor sieve motor means 44, for subsequent disposal of sepa-rated li~uid by Iiquid evacuation means (not shown in Fig.-~I) and independent solid waste evacuatlon mea;ns 45 poslt~ioned proximate ~ ;
to solid waste evacuator sensor 46 ~beneath solid liquid~separator ~ 29 ~ ~ ~

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21.
Also shown in Fig. 1 are vacuum ventilation extension con-duit 38 leading to filter 39, conduit 40 between filter 39 and exhaust fan 41 and ventilation exhaust means 42 through which filtered ventilated air is discharged from ventilation exhaust system 27 into the atmosphere. Switching control system 37, in co-operation with a computer, sequences and controls the switch-ing operations of the various motor driven components as well as sequences and controls all liquid and lubcicant processes.
1~ Waste disposal system 20 is also shown in Fig. 2 which displays, in increased detail, system input means 23 in which the lowermost end of waste delivery conveyor apparatus 50 is shown together with lateral bar 53 for assisting in the delivery.of waste articles from the first delivery end to the second delivery end, with said first delivery end proxlmate to the system input wall structure 28. Waste articles continue belng conveyed upwardly within waste delivery means housing 51 having housing cover 52, from which the one or more draped split curtalns (not .
shown in Fig. 2) are suspended. Motor 29 coupled to~conveyor 20 transmission 30 operates, through rOtatlon,~Con~veyor apparatus 50 So as to deliver the waste articles into the preliminary pro-cessing means 24.
Disinfectant condu~t 31~1S;~al~so;~shown;1n~ ~lg.~ 2 Eor trans- ;~
mitting dlsinfectant from~the disln~fectant~storage means to dis~
infectant llquld spray~means~32;operably posi~tioned~over prel~i~m~

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inary waste processing chute 60 underneath chute cover 64. Below chute 60 positioned within housing 34 of preliminary waste pro-cessing means 24, is a dual element shredder having rotating elements`63 and 61 together with stationary members such as member 62 spaced between the toothed disks thereof, for prelim-inarily shredding and cutting the waste articles introduced therewithin. The preliminary waste processing means is driven by motor 58 operably connected by shredder axle 59 to both elements 61 and 63 within the shredder.
Fragmented waste articles combined with the impregnating disinfectant liquid solution introduced by spray means 32 is then reintroduced through fragment-solution conduit 65 leading into hammermill 25 at a position offset from the center of the hammer-mill itself. Hammermill motor 35 transmits rotary movement through coupling 66 to~the primary rotating member and hammers of hammermill 25 (not shown in Fig. 2) located within hammermill housing 36 to disintegrate the waste fragments and liquid solu-tion into a particle-liquld solutlon which is transferred via hammermill transmission means 26 into~liquld-solid separator 21.
~0 Conve~or sieve 75 located underneath liquid solid separator hous-ing cover 68 serves to separate solid waste particles from the disinfectant liquid within liquid-solid separator 21, enabling the reIease of primarily liquld~di;sinfectant to~appropriate sewerage drain lines as well as enabl~lng e~vacuatl~on of~solld~
particulate into solid~waste evacuation means 45. The conveyor sieve 75 is operated~by mot~or~44 located at the top of liquid :

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solid separator 21. Fig. 2 additionally illustrates the connec-tion of ventilation extension conduits 38 and 67 which are oper-ably and independently connected to filters 39 and 69 and exhaust fans 41-74 and 71-73, respectively, comprising the vacuum venti-lation system 27 so as to enable exhaust of prefiltered venti--lated air through exhuast conduits 42 and 72, respectively.
Also shown in Fig. 2 are system control switch means 37 within housing 54 as well as remote conduit 55 connecting remote test switching apparaeus 56 which enables test switching of the various operational components of the waste disposal system by enabling a single operator to remotely test an isolated struc-tural component, while permitting simultaneous viewing of the results of such component testing through utilization of remote switches such~as remote switch 57.
Waste delivery means 22 is additionally shown in Fig. 3 together with system entry side member 28 proximate to the system input means 23. ~Accumul~ated wasee arelcles e2, 86, 88 and 92 are shown being processed through the waste disposal 20 with waste articles~82 being inserted at~syseem input 23~inta~sald system ~0 atop elastome~ic conveyor belt S0 with lateral bar 53 towards prompting secure movement of ehe waste~articles off ehe inclined structure of waste delivery means~22.~ ~Waste delivery means 22 ~urther includes conveyor~pulleys;8~0~and 81~1n~which~81~is oper-;
ably conneceed~ to motor~mes~ns ~29 and~tran~smlsslon~means 30 from~
Fig. 2, ;or rper~lon ~t ~c~nveror `elt ~O,~a~ ~ell as wsste : . . . .

129t;;312 delivery suppor~ structure 122 and waste delivery apparatus hous-ing portions 51 and 52. As accumulated waste articles progress upwardly within chute 91 formed by conveyor housing 51, the articles pass a series of split vinyl curtains such as curtains 83, 85, 87, 89 and 90, all suspended from housing cover 52 and interposed for the purpose of collectively obstructing an inad-vertent backflow of potentially contaminated air and particles from Eurther disposal operations ~downstream" of the waste deliv-ery means, and for reducing noise. These slitted curtains fur-ther permit uninterrupted passage of the accumulated waste arti-cles on the conveyor belt while still permitting the entry of air into the system proximate to the system input means for appro-priate ventilation in one direction, namely into and through the overall disposal treatment process prior~to release from the exhaust and filter means. Also shown embodying waste delivery means 22 are later~al bar 84 between split curtains 83 and 85 as well as drain assembly 123 positioned in the lowermost portion of system input means 23~to enable the rinsing down of waste deliv-ery means 22 between disposal treatment operations, as desired, towards rinsing away potential waste particles which~may be : :
present on conveyor beIt 50 as well as rinsing down any accumula-tions of disinfectant spray whlch may~have misted or~migrated back into the waste dellvery a~rea. ~
Disinfectant spray means 31 is shown~attached to spray~bar 32 at the top of chute 33 which is operably attached to conveyo~
houslng 51 in sealed conElguratlon.~ Spray baL;32 lS ~preferr~aDly ~ 33~
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located immediately below preliminary processing means chute cover 64 and is operably connected to disinfectant conduit 31 emanating immediately from disinfectant spray storage means 99 which, in the preferred embodim~nt, is further connected by disinfectant conduit means 119 to disinfectant generation means 120. Spray bar 32 or a similarly situated spray mechanism above the shredder, may also be used during extended shut downs in system operation to channel firstly diluted disinfectant, then water, and finally a water-soluble oil and water over the exposed machine parts to fight corrosion of these parts from the disin-fectant solution used during waste treatment. A protective film of oil is thus directed to such machine parts, coating the~ until system startup.
In Fig. 3 accumulated waste articles 92 are shown falling by gravity off of waste delivery means conveyor belt 50 into chute region 9~ while it is being sprayed with disinfectant spray liquid 93, preferrably at a rate approximating thirty gallons per minute. As previously discussed, in the preferred embodiment, the disinfectant spray itself comprises a two tenths (.2%) per-cent concentrated solution of sodiumhypochlorite (NaOCl) having apH of 8.5 which is generated on an "on-site basis" through elec-trolytic action on an appropriate brine solution. Alternatively, an ozone disinfectant may be utilized.
Waste articles 92 in thelr anprocessed form continue to be sprayed continuously ss same fall lnto the~nip formed between ~ 34 ~

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counter-rotating shredder elements 63 and 61 within shredder assembly housing 34. Shredder element 63 utilizes, preferrably, a plurality of shredded teeth such as tooth 95 while shredder 61 celies upon a plurality of teeth, preferrably three in number, as exemplified by shredder tooth 96, and both of the dual elements 61 and 63 respectively co-operate with jogging members 62 and 97 respectively, which are fixed in stationary position between adjacent positions alonq the cu~ting disks. Additionally, pre-liminary processing housing 34 is shown directly communicating in sealed attachment with chute housing 33 so as to effectively integrate preliminary processing means 24 into the substantially sealed uni-directional ventilation vacuum system.
The waste articles such as those disclosed by waste articles 92 are pre-shredded and cut into substantially smaller fragments 98 ~hich, in turn, are routed into an offset entry aperture adja-cent fragment solution channeling means (not shown in Fig. 3), attached to hammermill 25 at a position in hammermill housing 36.
Fragments 98 accordingly enter the hammermill at a substantially offset position relative to hammermill axle 117 and are further ~isintegrated through the violent hammermill driving action of primary rotating member 103 with hammer members 101, 104, 106 and 110, operably and pivotally attached at rotating pivots 102, 105, 107 and 109, respectively. The entire hammermill chamber 100 comprises a substantially thin laterally position cylindric~1 cavity which is also shown in Figs. 6, 7, 9 and 10 together with hammermill housing 36 operably and sealingly attached to prelim-~z~

inary processing means housing 34. Additionally shown in phantomin Fig. 3 are covering door 112 and door positioning means 111, preferably comprising a pneumatic piston responsive to a jam sensor for opening the overload release aperture for expedited ~elease of accumulated particles-liquid solution processed within hammermill chamber 100.
Hammermill transmission means 26 is shown disposed in oppo-site direction solely for purpose of illus~ration in Fig. 3 and is operably sealed to the bottom of hammermill housing 36 for the purpose of routing disintegrated solid particle-disinfectant solution from the hammermill for further processing by the solid waste-liquid solution separator means 21, shown in Fig. 3 as including solid-liquid separator housing 116 operably sealed to the second énd of waste particle-liquid solution transmission means 121 as well as including conveyor sieve 115, routing plate 118 and lower separator pulley 113 with pulley axle 114.
Liquid-solid separator 21 is shown in Fig. 4, in partial section, with hammermill transmission means 26 forming a chute 121 in which a combined solution of fine particulate of solid waste and liquid disinfectant enters the entry aperture region 116 of the liquid-solid particle separation means 21. Immedi-ately below entry aperture 116, the combined solid-liquid solu-tion falls onto conveyor sieve portion 115a, which portion is the top continuously rotating portion of sieve conveyor 115 with sieve portion llSb;being the bottorn returning portion of said .

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continuous looped belt apparatus. At this point the combined mixture is moved upwardly through pulleys 113 and 135, with pulley axles 114 and 136 respectively, with the ~ajority of excess disinfectant liquid so~uti~n being separated from the particulate waste supported on conveyor sieve ll5a through grav-ity, said excess disinfectant liquid being permitted to fall through a substantial plurality of small release slots within the component elements of conveyor sieve 115a. The remaining disin-fectant impregnated solid particles 132 proceed towards pulley 135 where they either fall off as solid particles 133, into solid waste evacuation means 45 or are alternatively scraped off conve-yor sieve 115 through scraper 134 spanning the lateral width of conveyor sieve ll5a, likewise into solid waste evacuation means 45. If waste evacuation means 45, here comprising a wheeled cart, is not in operative position under pulley 135 and belt end 115a to receive the solid waste, such absences being detected by position electric-eye sensor 46, this in turn shuts down the operation of liquid-solid waste separation means 21. While solid waste is being delivered to solid waste evacuation means 45, ~o liquid disinfectant falling from the conveyor sieve belt accumu-lates in bottom 139 of the lower housing of separation means 21, accùmulating at bottom region 139 for release through drain 137 to, for example, municipal sewerage lines.
Also shown in Fig. 4 is routing plate 141 positioned b~tween upper conveyor sieve portion ll5a and lower conveyor sieve por-tion 115b for the purpose of routing falling disinfectant liquid 3~

and any small ~mount o~ relatively fine solid particles which may pass through conveyor sieve 115, such as liquid solution fine particulate 140, about the back of the bottom side of lower conveyor sievé 115b, so as to avoid potential problems with the undesirable distribution of solution and particu~ate along the backside of the conveyor sieve to preclude inadvertent jamming or wear problems. Router 141 in routing plate 140 distributes this primarily liquid solution beyond the periphery of the lower belt portion 115b so as to accumulate same in the lower resevoir 1~ region 139 of the liquid solid separator housing 43 which, again, is operably and sealingly attached to hammermill t~ansmission 26, and which further includes housing cover 68 which, preferrably, is removable for facilitated access into the liquid-solid separa-tion means. Through such a construction, liquid-solid particles 143 entering from transmission means 26 are introduced onto the conveyor sieve at 142 for subsequent separation into disposable liquid 139 and disposable solid waste 132 and 133.
Also shown in Fig. 4 are ventilation extension attachment regions 130 and 131 operably attached to ventilation circuit ~ extensions 38 and 67 respectively. Each of these two independent ventilation circuit extensions are affixed at the farthest end of the solid-liquid particle separation means 21 for channeling the air from same to separate and independent filter and exhaust fan components while maintaining the air ventilating through the overall disposal system 20 in a safe, controlled ~ni-directional - 3l2963~
route.
A portion of conveyor sieve 115 is shown in Fig. 5 in which upper sieve portion llsa and lower sieve portion 115b are shown together with routing plate 118 operably interposed therebetween and extending the width at least equal to the width of the conve-yor sieve itself, so as to be able to distribute falling liquid and fine particulate away from the backside components 144 and 145 of lower sieve portion 115b. Router 141 is shown which re-routes the falling primarily liquid solution about the edges of the lower sieve portion 115b as same is routed by gravity towards router 141. Additionally shown in Fig. 5 are conveyor sieve shoulder region 146 with shoulder member 147 and brush element 148 positioned adjacent to the longitudinal edge of conveyor sieve 115 to further route the separated solid waste particles toward the solid waste particle evacuation means. The conveyor sieve is shown to be a conveyor belt made up of separator belt components such as belt component 144 which is possessed of a plurality of slotted apertures such as aperture 149, of a size capable of releasing the majority of disinfectant liquid solution mixed with the solid waste particles introduced onto sieve por-tion 115a, while being incapable in size of releasing any sub-stantial volumes of solid waste particles deposited thereon so as to substantially di;ect most of the solid waste particles dir-ectly to the solid waste particle evacuation means.
Hammermill 25 is shown in Fig. 6 with housing 36a through 36d in operable and sealed attachment to the second end of the '~ ', " " ' " ' 12963~1 ~

fragment solution channeling means emanating from preliminary waste processing housing 34. This operable and sealed connection occurs at entry aperture 108a in housing panel 36a. The various housing components are operably sealed to one another through a bolt-spacer arrangement so as to form interior hammermill chamber 100, through bolts such as bolt 160 through 166 and spacer sec-tion 167 (as shown in Fig. 7). Fragment jogging members such as jogging members 188 through 190 are positioned in the upper interior periphery of the hammermill housing chamber 100 for co-operation with pivotally rotatable hammers 101, 104, 106 and 110.
Hammers 104 and 110, for example, are pivotally attached to primary driving element 103 at pivots 105 and 109, respectively.
~lso shown in Fig. 6 are bearing assembly 175, incoming and outgoing flush attachment fittings 180 and 181, which co-operate with a bearing spacer assembly located directly behind hammermill bearing assembly 175 towards improving avoidance of contamination and/or excess friction created from the potential migration of waste particle disinfectant solution along hammermill axle 117.
Attached to these respective inlet and outlet fittings 180-181, preferably located on each side of the hammermill so as to accom-modate each said hammermill bearing assembly, are incoming and outgoing flushing conduits such as outgoing flushing conduits 320 and 321 shown schematically in Fig. 7. These conduits enable the introduction of flushlng medium through the bearing spacer to, in turn, clean out these portlons of migrating waste particles and ~. .

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disinfectant solution foc transmission of then-contaminated flush medium to liquid solid particle separation means 21. Also shown in Fig. 6 are hammermill transmission means 25 affixedly sealed to hammermill housing assembl~ 36a through c, emergency aperture cover door 112 with pneumatic door positioning means 111 and mounting regions 172 and 173 through which the overall hammermill apparatus is mounted to its supporting structures.
The hammermill assembly of Fig. 6 is also shown in Fig. 7 in which rotary hammermill means 25 includes housing faces 36a and 1~ 36b, hammers 101, 106, 203 and 202, with hammers 101 and 202 attached at pivot pin 211 and hammers 106 and 203 attached at pivot pin 210. Also shown in Fig. 7 are hammermill transmission means 26 with second end 168, and flushing conduits 320 and 321.
Primary rotating element 103 is shown attached to hammermill axle 117, with said axle being supported by bearing assemblies 175 and 221, respectively, each spaced away from the housing by bearing spacers 177 and 222, respectively. Flushing fittings 180 and 181 on bearing spacer 222, and fittings 182 and 183 on bearing spacer 177, respectively co-operate to appropriately flush potentially migrating waste and disinfectant from entering the respective outwardly positioned bearing assemblies 221 and 175. Chamber 100 is formed through compressive attachment of housing sides such as housing components 36a and 36b, through bolt and spacer devices such as bolts 160, 165, 164, 162, 166 and spacer 167. Torq~e indicating sensor 178b is also shown positioned about a portion of hammermill axle 117 in order to detect drastic slowdowns in :3 29~ 2 the rotary torque of same, in order to actuate covering door operator 111 towards rapid evacuation of particle-liquid solution from within hammermill chamber 100; with sensor 178b maintained in position about axle 117 through sensor bracket 178a.
Coupling means 66 is shown in Fig. 8 as comprising a quick-release coupling apparatus 212 which is capable of automatically releasing motor means 35 from its connection along motor axle 213 from primary rotating member 103, upon the occurrence of a torque limiting jam. Upon se?aration of motor 35 a portion of quick release coupling 212 moves leftwardly to contact sensor switch 214 which serves as a warning device for notifying the operator of the occurrence of the motor disconnection. Electrical control means operably connected between coupling 212 and motor 35 assist in automatically winding down the operation of the motor so that it cannot freely accelerate with no load. A closer view of one bearing contamination protection means is also shown in Fig. 8 in which bearing assembly 175 is spaced apart from hammermill hous-ing portion 218 by bearing spacer 177 having flush entry means 182a and flush exit means 183a operably associated therewith.
Through such an arrangement, flushing medium can enter the center of the bearing spacer and, through centrifugal agitation of slinger 216 fastened to hammermill axle 217 at fastening means 220, such flushing medium is pumped into, through and out of said bearing spacer 177, carrying with it potential waste particles and disinfectant solution which may migrate towards the bearing E;3~

elements 215 of bearing 175 along axle 217. As an additional means for prevention of contamination, grease conduit 260 is provided for connection with a pressurized greasing apparatus at bearing region 261, for intermittently and effectively circulat-ing fresh greasing medium into and about bearing elements 215 to further preclude the undesired contamination, corrosion and/or undesired creation of excess friction about these bearing ele-ments while further flushing out any additional traces of migrat-ing waste particles and disinfecting solution which may reach 10 these rotating elements, notwithstanding the flushiny operation occuring within bearing spacer 177.
Hammermill 25 is also shown in Fig. 9 together witn housing 36, hammermill chamber 100, jogging members 191 through 193, hammers 200 through 203, hammermill axle 217, flushing fittings 182 and 183, bearing assembly 175, sealed access port 108b, disconnection sensor bracket 187 as well as electrical switching conduit box 186, for enclosure of sensor circuitry, and mounting means 204 and 205. Cover door 112 is shown connected to posi~
tioning means 111 capable of opening and exposing emergency release aperture 195 (Fig. 10) in the event of a jamming situa-tion. Additionally, shown in Fig. 9 are a series of normally operative release apertures such as release apertures 194 which, in the preferred embodiment, comprise a series of columns and rows of half inch diameter release apertures through which t,he disintegrated solid waste particles, together with impregnated disinfectant solution may be released for exit through hammermill transmission means 26. Apertures 194 and jam release aperture 195 is also shown in the bottom plan view of Fig. 10 in which cover door 112 is in its open position with positioning means 111, a pneumatic piston extended to open same upon the occurrence of such a jam, to release solid and liquid solution from the bottom circular portion 176 of hammermill housing 36.
As described hereinabove the system vacuum ventilation means includes two or more independent ventilation circuit extensions in sealed affixation to the solid-liquid particle separator for channeling air, in a single controlled direction, through the ventilation circuit. Filtering means are operably associated with each of the two independent ventilation circuit extensiOn means to filter mists, vapors, waste particles and bacteria from the air before releasing the air from the system. In Fig. 11 one such filter 39 is shown as comprising a series of filter sub-housings 253 through 255 with a particular stainless steel hepa housing delineated at removable sections 258 and 259 for co-operation with hepa filter 307 within hepa filter housing 254.
Access to the hepa filter is accomplished through disassembly of hepa housing fittings 256 and 257. Air impregnated with said mists, vapors and/or particulate are introduced at filter entry 250a to firstly pass through hog hair filter 301, is then passed through polyester filter 302 and pleated filter 303 before being passed through hepa filter 307. Saturation of the filters is detected by vacuum sensing switch 320 capable of signalling the _.

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operator at s~ch time that air press~re within chamber 255 is affected by a saturated filter. The well-filtered air exits ~rom the filter for discharge through filter exit 250b and subsequent exhaust fans such as exhaust fans 41 and 74 of ~ig. 2. Hog hair filter 301 serves to remove mists and saturated vapors from the ventilated air while polyester filter 302 serves to stop par-ticles, together with high surface coverage pleated filter 303.
The stainless steel interior of hepa filter housing 254 is pre-ferably covered, together with aluminum separators 300 within 1~ hepa filter 307, with an epoxy substance to prevent corrosion by any remaining chlorine vapors which may still be present in the air as it travels through hepa filter 307 in hepa filter housing 254.
General switching control 57 is shown in Fig. 12 as includ-ing a general on/off switch 273 with indicator light 275 and diagnostic means 274 and 276 within switch housing 272, which electrical components are operably and electrically connected through conduit 271 to the power supply and controlling computer which sequences the operation of the various components embodied ~0 by the waste disposal system. The system switching control means further comprises remote test sw:itching apparatus 277 operably connected to the sequencing and controlling computer through electrical conduit 278 which includes independent switching means, such as switching means 279 through 281 for each of ~he motorized and fluid operated components within housing 282, so that a single individual can test, in isolation, any one of the ., ' ~ ' :

Z963~L2 structural ope~able components of the waste disposal system while being capable of simultaneously viewing the operation of each said component without having to run back and forth to the gen-eral switching means of Fig. 12, and without the need for a second operator.
As mentioned hereinabove relative to the hammermill, other components of the waste disposal system such as the waste deliv-ery means, the preliminary waste processing means, the liquid solid particle separation means, the system vaccum ventilation means and the system switching control means are contemplated as being mounted on elastomeric mounting means to further isolate and effectively reduce the extent of vibration and noise emanat-ing from these particular components.
The foregoing description and drawings merely explain and illustrate the invention and the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the amended claims are so limited as those skilled in the art who have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without depart-ing from the scope of the invention.

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Claims (37)

  1. Claim 1.
    A waste disposal system for treating and disposing of infec-tious waste articles in a substantially controlled closed aseptic environment and for converting said infectious waste articles into a safely disposable noninfectious and nontoxic residue through the thorough disintegration and disinfection of such articles, said system comprising:
    - system input means into which accumulated quantities of said waste articles are initially placed for subsequent treatment and disposal of same;
    - waste delivery means operably connected to said waste input means at a first delivery end for transferring said accumu-lated quantities of said waste articles to a second delivery end, said second delivery end being positioned substantially opposite said first delivery end;
    - preliminary waste processing means operably positioned proximate to the second delivery end of said waste delivery means for preliminarily restructuring said waste articles into substan-tially small waste fragments for further treatment and disposal of same by said waste disposal system;
    - disinfectant spray means operably positioned adjacent one or more of said second delivery end of said waste delivery means and said preliminary waste processing means for enveloping and impregnating one or more of said waste articles and said waste fragments in a bacteria killing disinfecting liquid solution through the spray emitted by said spray means and the operation of said preliminary waste processing means;
    - said disinfecting liquid solution and waste fragments being jointly directed from said preliminary waste processing means by fragment-solution channeling means having a first and second end with said first end being operably positioned adjacent said preliminary waste processing means, - rotary hammermill means operably attached to the second end of said fragment-solution channeling means for receiving said waste fragment-disinfectant solution from said fragment solution channeling means, and for violently disintegrating same at a substantially high speed, into a waste particle-disinfectant solution, - said rotary hammermill means being powered by hammermill motor means operably coupled thereto;
    - hammermill solution transmission means having a first and second end through which said waste particle-disinfectant solu-tion is routed out of said rotary hammermill for further treat-ment and disposal by said waste disposal system;
    - liquid-solid particle separation means operably attached to the second end of said hammermill transmission means for separating, on a continuous basis, said disintegrated particles of solid waste from said enveloping and impregnating disinfectant liquid;
    - said liquid-solid particle separation means including operable connections to liquid evacuation means and solid parti-cle evacuation means for disposal of said disinfectant liquid and said solid waste particles respectively;
    - system vacuum ventilation means operably associated with said disposal system for effectively precluding the inadvertent release of bacteria and other contamination during the treatment and disposal of said waste articles by said system; and - system switching control means operably associated with one or more of said waste input means, waste delivery means, preliminary waste processing means, disinfectant spray means, rotary hammermill means, liquid-solid particle separation means and system vacum ventilation means for controlling the activa-tion and sequencing of one or more of same relative to one or more of the others.
  2. Claim 2.
    The waste disposal system of Claim 1 in which the invention further comprises disinfectant storage means for containing accu-mulated quantities of said disinfectant liquid, - said disinfectant storage means being operably connected to said disinfectant spray means for supplying, through disinfec-tant conduit means, desired amounts of disinfectant liquid for spraying of same onto said waste articles at said position adja-cent one or more said second delivery end of said waste delivery means and said preliminary waste processing means.
  3. Claim 3.
    The waste disposal system according to Claim 2 in which the invention further comprises disinfectant generation means;
    - said disinfectant liquid comprising a disinfectant solu-tion of sodiumhypochlorite and water;
    - said disinfectant generation means comprising an on-site disinfectant generator operably coupled to said disinfectant storage means for creating said sodiumhypochlorite compound through electrolytic treatment of a brine solution, - said generated sodiumhypochlorite being combined with water after storage in said disinfectant storage means to form a two tenths (.2%) percent concentrate solution having a pH of 8.5;
    - said generated disinfectant, upon combination with said water to form said two tenths (.2%) percent concentrate solution, being supplied to said spraying means through said disinfectant conduit means.
  4. Claim 4.
    The invention according to Claim 1 in which said waste delivery means comprises a substantially inclined motorized con-veyor apparatus;
    - said conveyor apparatus including, at a first end, said system input means for initial placement of said quantities of said waste articles for subsequent treatment and disposal, - said conveyor apparatus further including a substantially flat continuous conveyor belt with laterally positioned bars positioned thereupon for effectively transferring said waste articles to said second delivery end proximate the preliminary waste processing means, as a driving motor operably attached thereto said conveyor apparatus is activated by said system switching control means to transfer said waste articles there-upon.
  5. Claim 5.
    The invention according to Claim 4 in which said laterally positioned bars and said conveyor apparatus belt are formed of a substantially elastomeric material, - said elastomeric material being selected from the class of elastomeric materials composed of urethane and rubber.
  6. Claim 6.
    The invention according to Claim 4 in which said conveyor apparatus includes one or more draped slitted curtains suspended immediately above said conveyor belt along the longitudinal path of said conveyor belt;
    - said slitted curtains permitting uninterrupted passage of said accumulated waste articles thereon said conveyor belt as said conveyor belt moves same from said first delivery end to said second delivery end of said waste delivery means;
    - said conveyor apparatus further including a substantially sealed conveyor housing about said conveyor belt, - said slitted curtains being suspended from the top of said housing and cooperating with said housing to preclude the harbor-ing, backflow and inadvertent release of potential bacteria and backflowing waste particles present in said system at said waste delivery means and for reducing and isolating noise associated with said system.
  7. Claim 7.
    The invention according to Claim 6 in which said one or more draped slitted curtains is constructed of a substantially vinyl material to more effectively enable unobstructed passage of said accumulated waste articles on said conveyor-belt and to simplify the cleaning of said one or more slitted curtains;
    - said conveyor apparatus housing enclosure being con-structed of a substantially stainless steel material in the form of a chute to preclude the undesired harboring of bacteria in the proximity of said waste delivery means.
  8. Claim 8.
    The invention according to Claim 1 in which said system input means includes, at a position proximate to said first delivery end, drain means located at the lowermost region of said conveyor apparatus to enable the draining of rinsing solution used to rinse said system input means and waste delivery means between operations of said waste disposal system so as to drain away accumulations of disinfectant spray, infected and bacteria laden waste particles.
  9. Claim 9.
    The invention according to Claim 1 in which said preliminary waste processing means comprises a dual element counter-rotating cutter-shredder apparatus, - each of said dual elements possessing a plurality of three tooth shredding disks which are respectively and sequentially articulated in alternating fashion between one another, - each of said cutting disks of said dual elements cooperat-ing with a series of stationery jogging members operably disposed in sequential fashion within adjacent positions amongst said cutting disks, - said cutter-shredder being powered and driven by cutter-shredder motor means operably attached to each of said counter-rotating dual elements.
  10. Claim 10.
    The invention according to Claim 9 in which said preliminary waste processing motor means includes a torque reactive con-trolled motor which reacts to overloads occuring within the cutter-shredder means by deactivating and stopping said shredder in the event of jamming therewithin.
  11. Claim 11.
    The invention according to Claim 9 in which said preliminary waste processing means is operably disposed in a substantially sealed shredder housing immediately surrounding said dual coun-ter-rotating shredding elements;
    - said shredder housing having attached thereto, at its upper region, a substantially sealed chute element in operable communication with a substantially sealed conveyor apparatus housing formed about said waste delivery means, - said sealed chute element receiving said accumulated waste articles at said second delivery end of said waste delivery means for, in turn, transferring same, through gravity, to the nip formed between said cutting disks among said dual counter-rotat-ing shredder elements in said preliminary waste processing means.
  12. Claim 12.
    The invention according to Claim 11 in which said spray means comprises a substantially horizontally positioned spray bar extending the longitudinal length of said dual elements and fixedly restrained thereover, for substantially downward vertical spraying of said disinfectant liquid, from a position along the top of said substantially sealed chute;
    - said disinfectant spraying means serving to continuously dispense said liquid disinfectant over said accumulated quanti-ties of waste articles as said articles reach said second deliv-ery end, while said accumulated waste articles fall, by gravity, into said shredder-cutter apparatus for preliminary fragmenta-tion thereof;
    - said liquid disinfectant surrounding and impregnating both the waste articles awaiting fragmentation by said shredder-cut-ter, as well as the fragments being released therefrom into said fragment-solution channeling means, in turn leading to said rot-ary hammermill means.
  13. Claim 13.
    The invention according to Claim 12 in which said sprayer means dispenses said liquid disinfectant spray at a rate approxi-mating thirty gallons per minute onto said waste articles and said waste article fragments therebelow.
  14. Claim 14.
    The invention according to Claim 1 in which said rotary hammermill means comprises a high-speed hammermill apparatus capable of violently disintegrating the waste article fragments immersed and impregnated in said disinfectant liquid solution so as to effectively disintegrate said fragments into substantially small waste particles for improved penetration thereby by said disinfectant liquid to, in turn, enable the complete and substan-tial disinfection of bacteria carried by same, - said fragment solution channeling means comprising a sub-stantially sealed channel member operably connected in sealed relationship to a sealed preliminary waste processing housing surrounding said preliminary waste processing means, at said first end of said channeling means and in sealed operable connec-tion with a side entry aperture in said rotary hammermill means at the second end of said fragment solution channeling means;
    - said rotary hammermill means including a substantially sealed hammermill housing through which said hammermill motor means is operably coupled to the hammermill apparatus disposed therewithin, - said entry aperture operably positioned in offset fashion within one side wall of said substantially sealed hammermill housing.
  15. Claim 15.
    The invention according to Claim 14 in which said hammermill apparatus further comprises;
    - a primary rotating member directly and operably connected to said hammermill motor means through hammermill axle means, - a plurality of hammer members operably mounted for pivotal movement about the outer periphery of said primary rotating member;
    - a plurality of fragment jogging members operably posi-tioned at the upper interior periphery of said hammermill appara-tus housing for more effectively disintegrating said waste arti-cle fragments during rotation of said primary member and hammer members; and - a plurality of apertures located at and through the bot-tommost peripheral region of said hammermill housing for release of said waste particle-disinfectant solution after disintegration of same by said rotary hammermill means into the first end of said hammermill transmission means.
  16. Claim 16.
    The invention according to Claim 15 in which said release apertures include a plurality of substantially small circular release apertures leading through said hammermill apparatus hous-ing into said first end of said hammermill transmission means;
    and - an overload release aperture maintained in a sealed posi-tion during normal operation by a releasable covering door oper-ably connected to door positioning means capable of opening said covering door when speed detection means disclose a jamming situation within the hammermill apparatus, thereby expediting the release of accumulated waste particle-disinfectant solution out of said rotary hammermill apparatus and into said hammermill transmission means upon such a jam occurrence, - said speed detection means comprising a rotary speed sen-sor positioned about said hammermill axle means for detecting an abrupt reduction in speed thereof to, in turn, activate said covering door to immediately open to more rapidly evacuate waste particle-disinfectant solution from the interior of said hammer-mill apparatus housing;
    - said door positioning means comprising pneumatic piston means operably affixed at one end to said covering door to oper-ate same upon said occurrence of jamming, maintaining same in a closed position at all other times.
  17. Claim 17.
    The invention according to Claim 15 in which said primary rotating member of said hammermill apparatus is suspended for rotation about opposite faces of said hammermill housing by a plurality of hammermill bearing assemblies operably communicating with said primary rotating member through said hammermill axle means;
    - each of said plurality of hammermill bearing assemblies having means for withstanding contamination from migration of said waste particle-disinfectant solution emanating from within said hammermill housing and along said axle means towards por-tions of said bearing means, to further preclude corrosion and interference of said migrating particles-solution into said bear-ing.
  18. Claim 18.
    The invention according to Claim 17 in which said means for withstanding contamination in each said bearing assembly com-prises;
    - a plurality of bearing spacer means each providing a cavity immediately adjacent each said bearing assembly, said bearing spacer in direct and operable communication with respec-tive portions of said axle means;
    - an inlet and outlet fitting positioned in each said bear-ing spacer means permitting attachment thereto of an incoming and outgoing flushing conduit for operable communication with the interior of said bearing spacer means;
    - flushing medium pumped through said flushing conduits to enter into and exit from said bearing spacer, - said flushing medium being pumped continuously during the operation of said hammermill apparatus to flush each said bearing spacer to, in turn, clean out said portions of migrating waste particles and disinfectant solution which could otherwise enter and adversely effect said bearing assemblies.
  19. Claim 19.
    The invention according to Claim 18 in which said means for withstanding contamination in each said bearing assembly further comprises a slinger element operably and fixedly attached to said axle means within each said bearing spacer means for further assisting, through the creation of centrifugal dispersion, the flushing of said migrating waste particles and disinfectant solu-tion out of said bearing spacer and through and out said exiting flushing conduit.
  20. Claim 20.
    The invention according to Claim 17 in which said means for withstanding contamination in each said bearing assembly com-prises a continuous greasing apparatus operably and fixedly attached to bearing elements within each said bearing assembly which continuously and effectively circulate fresh greasing med-ium into and about said bearing elements, to further preclude the inadvertent contamination, corrosion and undesired creation of excess friction about said rotating bearing elements by con-stantly greasing same, while further flushing out traces of migrating waste particles and disinfectant solution reaching said rotating elements.
  21. Claim 21.
    The invention according to Claim 15 in which said rotary hammermill motor means are operably connected to said primary rotating member within the hammermill apparatus housing through quick release coupling apparatus means which automatically releases said motor means from connection with said primary rotating member upon the occurence of a torque limiting jam;
    - said torque limiting jam situation being sensed to acti-vate said quick release coupling through torque sensing apparatus operably communicating with the hammermill apparatus, - said quick release coupling disconnecting said motor means from said hammermill apparatus upon the occurence of a jam and controlling, automatically, the winding down of the otherwise free riding motor means after such disconnection;
    - said quick release coupling further including warning means for notifying the operator of said waste disposal system of the occurence of said hammermill motor means disconnection and wind down.
  22. Claim 22.
    The invention according to Claim 1 in which said hammermill transmission means comprises a substantially sealed chute assem-bly in operable and sealed communication with a hammermill hous-ing operably surrounding the hammermill portion of said rotary hammermill means so as to communicate with the bottom end of said hammermill housing at said first end of said hammermill transmis-sion means, - said hammermill transmission means communicating with said liquid solid particle separation means at said second end.
  23. Claim 23.
    The invention according to Claim 1 in which said liquid solid particle separation means comprises;
    - a substantially sealed particle separator housing means operably attached, in sealed fashion, to the second end of said hammermill transmission means;
    - particle separator entry means immediately adjacent the second end of said hammermill transmission means through which said disintegrated particles of solid waste and said enveloping-impregnating disinfectant liquid jointly enter said liquid solid particle separation means for separation therebetween;
    - continuous conveyor sieve means operably positioned imme-diately adjacent said particle separator entry means for collect-ing said solid particle - liquid solution therefrom and for separating said disinfectant liquid from said solid waste parti-cles;
    - said conveyor sieve comprising a substantially continuous looped conveyor element formed by a plurality of interlocking articulated separator belt components;
    - each said separator belt component including means for attachment to immediately adjacent equivalently constructed sepa-rator belt components, a substantially planar surface for sup-porting said solid waste particles and a plurality of slotted apertures through which said disinfectant liquid may pass towards collection adjacent said liquid evacuation means;
    - said conveyor sieve powered by separator belt motor means to collect said particle-liquid solution on a continuous basis from said hammermill transmission means;
    - said conveyor sieve further positioned in a substantially upwardly inclined orientation to deliver said solid waste par-ticles to said solid particle evacuation means and direct the flow of said separated disinfectant liquid to said liquid evacua-tion means for subsequent independent disposal of same, respec-tively.
  24. Claim 24.
    The invention according to Claim 23 in which each of said separator belt component is possessed of said slotted apertures of a size capable of releasing the majority of disinfectant liquid mixed with said solid waste particles thereupon, while incapable of releasing any substantial volumes of solid waste particles therethrough so as to substantially direct most of said solid waste particles to said solid waste particle evacuation means.
  25. Claim 25.
    The invention according to Claim 24 in which said liquid-solid particle separation means further includes;
    - routing plate means positioned between the upper and lower portions of said substantially continuous conveyor sieve means;
    - said routing plate serving to direct both said separated disinfectant liquid and particles small enough to pass through said slotted apertures in said separator belt components away from the back side of the lower portion of said conveyor sieve to a position proximate to said liquid evacuation means, - said liquid-solid particle separation means further including conveyor sieve shoulder regions immediately proximate to the longitudinal edges of said conveyor sieve with a brush element positioned operably adjacent said longitudinal edges to further route said solid waste particles towards said solid-waste particle evacuation means;
    - said liquid-solid particle separation means including scraper means operably positioned immediately proximate said conveyor sieve and said solid waste evacuation means to direct said solid particles from said conveyor sieve into said solid waste evacuation means.
  26. Claim 26.
    The invention according to Claim 18 in which said outgoing flush conduits emanating from said bearing spacers are directed for routing said flushing fluid and any associated solid waste particles and disinfectant into said liquid-solid particle sepa-ration means for treatment therewithin.
  27. Claim 27.
    The invention according to Claim 1 in which said solid waste particle evacuation means has placement detection means operably associated therewith;
    - said detection means serving to deactivate operation of said liquid-solid particle separation means when said solid waste particle evacuation means is out of position.
  28. Claim 28.
    The invention according to Claim 1 in which said liquid evacuation means includes evacuation filter means to preclude the undesired evacuation of accumulated solid waste particles dir-ectly through said liquid evacuation means.
  29. Claim 29.
    The invention according to Claim 1 in which said system vacuum ventilation means comprises an operably connected series of respective housings about said waste delivery means, prelim-inary waste processing means, hammermill means and liquid solid separation means, together with said fragment solution channeling means, said hammermill solution transmission means and said one or more slitted draped curtains co-operating to form a substan-tially sealed uni-directional ventilation circuit, - said ventilation circuit being attached at said liquid-solid waste separation means to fan exhaust means for circulating air within said ventilation circuit in said one direction, through and out from same, - said rotary hammermill means further acting as supple-mental exhaust means to augment the uni-directional exhausting of potentially bacteria-laden air therethrough, at an exhaust rate less than that of said fan exhaust means, to preclude the forced release of airborne contaminants emanating from said rotary ham-mermill means, - said air within said ventilation circuit being directed from said system input means towards said liquid solid separation means and, in turn, through and out said fan exhaust means.
  30. Claim 30.
    The invention according to Claim 29 in which said fan exhaust means comprises;
    - two or more independent ventilation circuit extension means operably attached, in substantially sealed affixation, to said solid-liquid particle separation means housing for channel-ing said air within said circuit therefrom;
    - filtering means operably associated with each of said two or more independent ventilation circuit extension means to filter mists, vapors, waste particles, and bacteria from said air prior to release therefrom;
    - a blower apparatus operably associated with each of said two or more independent ventilation circuit extension means for creating said uni-directional flow of said air, for driving same through each said filtering means and for ultimately discharging said filtered air from said waste disposal system.
  31. Claim 31.
    The invention according to Claim 30 in which each said filtering means includes a plurality of filtering media to filter said mists, vapors, waste particles and bacteria in said air, - said plurality of media including hoghair, polyester, pleated and hepa filtering media to effectively filter said air, prior to release of same from said waste disposal system.
  32. Claim 32.
    The invention according to Claim 31 in which each said filtering means includes filter monitoring detectors to disclose the occurrence of an overly saturated filtering media element to an operator of said waste disposal system.
  33. Claim 33.
    The invention according to Claim 1 in which said system switching control means includes computer controlled switching and sequencing apparata;
    - said computer controlled switching and sequencing apparata including monitor means with diagnostic means to disclose switch-ing control sequencing operations and problems as they occur and including indicia output means for disclosure of said diagnostic messages.
  34. Claim 34.
    The invention according to Claim 33 in which said system switching control means further includes a remote test switching apparatus capable of being physically relocated to any position along said waste disposal system to enable the remote, isolated testing of any structural components thereof by one operator while permitting simultaneous viewing of the results of said switch testing.
  35. Claim 35.
    The waste disposal system of Claim 1 in which the invention further comprises elastomer IC mounting means operably interposed among the supporting structures for one or more of said waste delivery means, preliminary waste processing means, rotary ham-mermill means, liquid-solid particle separation means, system vacuum ventilation means and system switching control means, to isolate and effectively reduce the extent of vibration and noise emanating from same.
  36. Claim 36.
    The waste disposal system of Claim 1 in which the invention further comprises;
    - component corrosion control means for spraying onto and through one or more of said waste delivery means, said disinfec-tant spray means, said preliminary waste processing means, said fragment solution channeling means, said rotary hammermill means and said hammermill solution transmission means, a corrosion preventive coating means when said system is not being used to treat and dispose of infectious waste articles.
  37. Claim 37.
    The invention according to Claim 36 in which said component corrosion control means includes said disinfectant spray means for emission of said corrosion preventive coating therefrom, - said corrosion preventive coating comprising a plurality of solutions sprayed upon and through said one or more means, - said plurality of solutions including a diluted solution of said disinfecting liquid solution, water, and finally, a solution of water-soluble oil and water for coating thereonto said one or more means of said waste disposal system.
CA000500985A 1985-07-24 1986-02-03 Waste disposal system Expired - Fee Related CA1296312C (en)

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US06/758,439 US4578185A (en) 1985-07-24 1985-07-24 Waste disposal system

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Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2005097215A1 (en) * 2004-04-05 2005-10-20 Peter Klaptchuk Treatment of biomedical waste
EA010188B1 (en) * 2004-04-05 2008-06-30 Питер Клапчук Treatment of biomedical waste
US7550111B2 (en) 2004-04-05 2009-06-23 Peter Klaptchuk Treatment of biomedical waste
CN100540062C (en) * 2004-04-05 2009-09-16 彼得·克拉普特楚克 The method that is used to handle the equipment of refuse and is used to handle biomedical waste

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AU574256B2 (en) 1988-06-30
AU5226186A (en) 1987-01-29
US4578185A (en) 1986-03-25

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