GARBAGE DEODORIZING SYSTEM

Abstract

A system for sanitizing and deodorizing garbage chutes using methane sensors in the trash chute that includes an ozone generating unit at the bottom of the trash chute. The system can include an ozone sensor as a safety device to ensure that ozone levels do not surpass a predetermined amount. The present invention works with a controller that controls the ozone generator based on a schedule program for a predetermined time of day. The present invention in an embodiment can include a plurality of additional sensors such as airflow detectors, occupancy detectors and the like.

Claims

1. A garbage deodorizing system for installation into a garbage store, comprising: a. an ozone generator for generating ozone in the garbage store; b. an ozone sensor for detecting ozone concentration in the garbage store; and c. a controller for controlling the ozone generator to generate ozone based on the detected ozone concentration and a determined time of day.

2. A garbage deodorizing system according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a timer for determining the time of day.

3. A garbage deodorizing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the controller controls the ozone generator based on a schedule program and the determined time of day.

4. A garbage deodorizing system according to claim 3, wherein the timing program further accounts for one or more of: the time of year, working days, and holidays.

5. A garbage deodorizing system according to any preceding claim, wherein the controller stops the ozone generator from generating ozone if the ozone detector detects ozone exceeding a designated stop concentration level.

6. A garbage deodorizing system according to claim 5, wherein the designated stop concentration level is set at different levels for different times of day.

7. A garbage deodorizing system according to any preceding claim, wherein the ozone sensor is provided in a housing separate to the ozone generator.

8. A garbage deodorizing system according to any preceding claim, further comprising an occupancy detector for detecting the occupancy of the garbage store by a person, and wherein the controller stops the ozone generator from generating ozone if the occupancy detector detects a person in the garbage store.

9. A garbage deodorizing system according to any preceding claim, wherein the occupancy detector is a motion detector.

10. A garbage deodorizing system according to any preceding claim, further comprising an airflow detector for detecting airflow vented from the garbage store, and wherein the controller stops the ozone generator from generating ozone if the airflow detector detects that the rate of airflow drops below a threshold.

11. A garbage deodorizing system according to any preceding claim, wherein the airflow detector comprises mounts for installation at a top of a garbage chute.

12. A garbage deodorizing system according to any preceding claim, further comprising a second ozone detector for detecting ozone in a garbage chute, and wherein the controller stops the ozone generator from generating ozone if the second ozone detector detects ozone exceeding a designated second stop concentration level.

13. A garbage deodorizing system according to claim 12, wherein the designated second stop concentration level is set at different levels for different times of day.

14. A garbage deodorizing system according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the designated second ozone detector comprises mounts for installation at a top of a garbage chute.

15. A garbage deodorizing system according to any proceeding claim, further comprises a central controller for receiving feedback data from the controller.

16. A garbage deodorizing system according to claim 15, wherein the central controller comprises an input for receiving other feedback data from other garbage stores.

17. A garbage deodorizing system according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the feedback data is transmitted from the controller to the central controller via one of a cable connection, a GSM module, or an internet connection.

18. A garbage collection installation, comprising: a garbage store for storing garbage; an ozone generator for generating ozone in the garbage store and being mounted to a wall of the garbage store; a n ozone sensor for detecting ozone concentration in the garbage store and being housed in a separate unit to the ozone generator and mounted to an opposing wall of the garbage store; and a controller for controlling the ozone generator to generate ozone based on the detected ozone concentration and a determined time of day.

19. A garbage deodorizing system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A garbage collection installation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Illustrative embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a garbage deodorizing system according to a first embodiment of the invention; and

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a garbage deodorizing system according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a garbage deodorizing system according to a first embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the garbage deodorizing system is installed into a garbage store 3 which is connected to a garbage chute 2, which can be accessed through intake door 1. The top of the garbage chute 2 has a venting chimney. In use, a user of the garbage collection system disposes of rubbish through intake door 1, from where it falls down chute 2 into a garbage bin 4 located in the garbage store 3.

[0039] The garbage deodorizing system comprises an ozone generator 5 which emits ozone into the garbage store 3 under the control of control panel 10. The ozone outlet of the ozone generator is preferably configured to direct a stream of ozone gas into the garbage bin 4. The control panel 10 includes a timer for monitoring the time of day and a timer schedule program for controlling the ozone generator's activity based on the determined time of day. In this embodiment, the control panel 10 comprises a touch screen for inputting control options and programming the timer schedule program.

[0040] A central controller 13 is also provided in this embodiment in the form of a computer for receiving control information from control panel 10, as well as other control panels 12 associated with other garbage deodorizing systems located in other garbage stores, for example, in the same building complex. Central controller 13 is able to monitor the received control information and centrally adjust settings by providing feedback instructions to control panels 10 and 12. In this embodiment, data received and transmitted between central controller 13 and the control panels 10 and 12 is directed through data accumulation unit 11.

[0041] Within the garbage store 3 is located ozone sensor 6 for sensing the ozone concentration within the store itself, and motion sensor 14 for detecting if the garbage store is occupied by a person. Both sensors transmit sensed data to control panel 10, in this embodiment via wired connections, although a wireless connection may also be used. The ozone sensor 6 is provided in a housing separate to the ozone generator 5 and is fitted to a wall of the garbage store 3 at location away from the ozone generator, and preferably on an opposing wall of the garbage store to provide the maximum separation between the units. This is to allow any generated ozone to mix with the ambient air before reaching the ozone sensor 6. This thereby helps to provide a more accurate reading of ozone concentration at the ozone sensor.

[0042] Motion sensor 14 is mounted to a wall of the garbage store and is configured to minimize the risk of being inadvertently triggered by other movements caused by, for example, falling garbage or moving rodents. In this embodiment, this is achieved by directing the sensor of motion detector 14 toward a location where only the movement caused by a person entering the garbage store 3 is detected. However, other techniques may be used, such as using passive infrared sensor configured to ignore heat signatures smaller than that of a person. In such an arrangement, occupancy by a person may thereby be detected, whereas radiation emitted from any rodents will be ignored.

[0043] Air flow meter 9 is located at the top of garbage chute 2 at the junction with the venting chimney, and is used to measure the airflow vented from the garbage chute 2. A further ozone sensor 7 is provided for detecting the ozone levels in the air leaving air flow meter 9. A control relay 8 is provided for feeding the sensed data back to control panel 10.

[0044] The garbage deodorizing system of FIG. 1 monitors and controls the amount of ozone in a garbage store's ambient air and strikes a balance between effective sanitation and a safe environment for users of the garbage store. In this connection, in use, the control panel 10 uses its timer and the programmed timer schedule to control the operation of ozone generator 5 to vary the amount of ozone generated at different times and may be configured to account for the size of a garbage collection system, the ambient air temperature, and humidity and frequency of garbage disposal in order to maximize the effectiveness of the ozone generated in combatting microorganisms present in garbage collection system. In this respect, the effectiveness of the ozone as a sanitizer depends on several factors, including the amount of ozone applied, the residual ozone in the medium, and various other environmental factors such as medium pH, temperature, relative humidity, and the amount of organic matter in the garbage. For example, the control panel 10 uses the timer to regulate the times that the ozone generator is active in order to optimize effectiveness. For example, the control panel 10 may activate ozone generator 5 at night, when the garbage store 3 is not normally used, and then turn off the generator 5 before the day starts. Alternatively, the ozone generator may remain switched on, but the rate of ozone emitted can be adjusted to a lower level. Moreover, the control panel 10 can be programmed to account for time of year, work days and holidays. The control panel 10 therefore offers users of the garbage store the flexibility to set an ozone limit based on many environmental factors, personal preferences and the dirtiness of the garbage store, while avoiding exceeding regulatory ozone limits.

[0045] In this connection, ozone sensors 6 and 7 are used to detect when ozone levels have exceeded designated limits within the garbage store 3 and garbage chute 2, respectively, and in response to such a detection, control panel 10 turns ozone generator 5 off to prevent a further increase in ozone concentration. The designated limits for each location may be different since higher ozone concentrations may be tolerated in the garbage store 3, as compared to the garbage chute 2, where very high ozone concentrations could leak out through door 1 to the occupied floors of the building. Furthermore, the designated limits may also be varied for different times of day based on the timing schedule program. For example, overnight, a high ozone concentration limit may set based on the maximum allowed regulatory ozone limit. Conversely, during the day time when the garbage store is more likely to be accessed, a lower ozone concentration limit may be set to avoid any perceptible detection of ozone by a building's residents. Once the ozone levels detected by ozone sensors 6 and 7 have dropped back below a preset acceptable level, control panel 10 may then prompt ozone generator 5 to resume generation of more ozone. In this way, excessively high concentrations of ozone for a given situation can be avoided.

[0046] Motion sensor 14 is used to detect if a person enters the garbage store 3 and, in such an event, causes the control panel 10 to turn off ozone generator 5. Although ozone still lingers in the ambient air within the garbage store 3, it is no longer being actively generated and therefore a person can safely use the premises. Furthermore, as a person would typically enter the garbage store via an access door, its opening would allow ozone to escape. This has the effect of reducing the ozone concentration within garbage store 3, with this occurring at the same time as the detected occupancy prevents new ozone from being generated. As such, ozone levels within the garbage store 3 will drop when a person accesses the garbage store, for example to empty garbage bin 4 or manually clean the room. This thereby avoids exposure to very high ozone levels, which could be detrimental for human health.

[0047] In this connection, the rate at which ozone levels drop in the event that the access door to the garbage store is opened may also have a bearing on how high the ozone concentration limit may be set. For example, factors such as the garbage store opening onto the outside of a building or having a large entrance door may mean that ozone in the garbage store is quickly dissipated when the door is opened. Consequently, the control panel 10 may apply a higher ozone concentration limit, allowing greater levels of ozone to be generated within the garbage store for maximizing sanitization. If a person then accesses the store, the ozone level will drop to an acceptable limit sufficiently quickly to avoid harming them. The control panel 10 or central controller 13 may monitor the rate at which ozone is dissipated from the garbage store and adjust the set ozone concentration limits accordingly.

[0048] Air flow meter 9 measures the airflow vented from garbage chute 2. However, in the event that chute 2 gets clogged, the airflow through the chute 2 will be reduced or substantially stopped. Consequently, this reduction in normal airflow can be detected by air flow meter 9, which communicates this back to control panel 10. Control panel 10 may then relay this information as an alert to central control 13 and/or turn off the ozone generator 5 to prevent excessive ozone concentrations from building within the garbage store 3.

[0049] Data from the control panel timer is collected in data accumulation unit 11, which also collects timer data from control panels 12 in other garbage stores. Data is then transferred from data accumulation unit 11 to central control 13 via, in this embodiment, a wired connection.

[0050] Each garbage deodorizing system is able to function as a stand-alone system. However, such a system might not be error-proof and there could be instances of false alarms caused, for example, by electrical failures, user error, poor application engineering, power surges, lightning, and faulty equipment. Therefore, the communications with the central control 13 allow the performance of individual deodorizing systems to be remotely supervised. This arrangement therefore allows for 24-hour monitoring of the garbage deodorizing systems and facilitates a rapid response in case a malfunction occurs somewhere in the network, for example if ozone levels exceed those of regulatory limits.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a garbage deodorizing system according to a second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and functions in the same way. However, in this embodiment, rather than a dedicated wired connection, transmitter 15 is used to transfer data between data accumulation unit 11 and central controller 13. The transmitter 15 may be, for example, a Wi-fi transmitter, and internet connection terminal, or a GSM cellular network transmitter. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the garbage deodorizing system has been installed into a garbage store 3 which does not have a garbage chute. Instead, the roof of the garbage store 3 is provided with vent 16 and the air flow meter 9 connects the vent 16 with venting chimney 2. The remainder of the components of the garbage deodorizing system shown in FIG. 2, as well as their operation, are the same as those shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0052] As will be understood, embodiments of the present invention allow the level of ozone in the garbage store to be controlled to sanitize the garbage therein, as well as avoid potential detrimental effects to users. Furthermore, the feedback systems ensure that ozone levels do not exceed that mandated by any relevant regulatory agencies.

[0053] It will be understood that the embodiment illustrated above show applications of the invention only for the purposes of illustration. In practice the invention may be applied to many different configurations, the detailed embodiments being straightforward for those skilled in the art to implement.

[0054] In this connection, for example, the deodorizing system can be altered to incorporate several ozone generators and/or ozone sensors that may be installed or mounted in various locations within the garbage collection system depending on the height of a building and/or layout of a garbage store, to ensure the most effective sanitation.

[0055] Furthermore, it will be appreciated that although the present invention functions as a garbage deodorizing system, the use of ozone in the deodorizing technique will have a disinfecting and sanitizing effect on the garbage within the store.