Detachable Recycling Container

Abstract

The present invention provides dental amalgam recycling systems, useful for recycling particles from a dental liquid effluent drawn, for example, from a suctioning device.

Claims

1-36. (canceled)

37. A detachable dental-amalgam container for use with a dental amalgam separation system, the dental amalgam separation system having an opening for receiving the detachable dental-amalgam container, the opening of the dental amalgam separation system including keying structures, the dental amalgam separation system further a system inlet for receiving dental amalgam effluent, a system outlet, and a vacuum source for moving fluid from the dental amalgam effluent toward the system outlet, the dental amalgam separation system including at least one retaining pin for use with the detachable container, the detachable dental-amalgam container comprising: a main body having an interior volume for receiving the dental amalgam effluent from the dental amalgam separation system, the interior volume being configured to collect the fine particles from the dental amalgam effluent; a container top portion located at a top of the main body and for being receiving by the opening of the dental amalgam separation system, the container top portion including a generally cylindrical upper region having a circular upper surface from which a container inlet port and a container outlet port extend, the container outlet port being positioned nearer to a central point of the circular upper surface than the container inlet port, the container inlet port being positioned nearer to a periphery of the circular upper surface than the container outlet port, the container top portion further including a flange structure located below the upper generally cylindrical region, the flange structure having a lower surface under which the at least one retaining pin of the dental amalgam separation system is received, the flange structure being located radially outward relative to the periphery of the circular upper surface, the flange structure including cut-outs for receiving the keying structures in the opening of the dental amalgam separation system when the container top portion is inserted into the opening of the dental amalgam separation system; and wherein the container inlet port is configured to transfer the dental amalgam effluent that is received by the system inlet into the interior volume of the main body; and wherein the container outlet port is configured to be coupled to the system outlet such that fluid from the dental amalgam effluent is moved from the interior volume of main body, through the container outlet port, and into the system outlet.

38. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 37, further including a pair of plugs configured to seal a container inlet port and a container outlet port of a filled detachable dental-amalgam container, and a cap configured to retain at least one of the plugs on the filled detachable dental-amalgam container.

39. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 37, wherein the cut-outs in the flange extend into only a portion of a radial width of the flange in a radial direction.

40. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 37, wherein the flange extends entirely around the container top portion.

41. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 37, wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are of the same height.

42. A detachable container for use with a dental amalgam separation system, the dental amalgam separation system including an air-water separation tank and a first keying feature for assisting with alignment of the detachable container during mating of the detachable container with the air-water separation tank, the detachable container comprising: a main body having a central axis and an interior volume configured to receive dental amalgam effluent from the air-water separation tank; a container top portion attached to a top of the main body, the container top portion including a generally cylindrical upper region having an upper surface with a generally circular periphery, a container inlet port and a container outlet port being located on the upper surface and projecting upwardly away from the main body, the container top portion further comprising a second keying feature for mating with the first keying feature during mating of the detachable container with the air-water separation tank, the second keying feature being located below the generally cylindrical upper region and being outside the generally circular periphery of the generally cylindrical upper region; and wherein, when the second keying feature is aligned with the first keying feature of the air-water separation tank, the detachable container is capable of mating securely with the air-water separation tank.

43. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 42, wherein the container inlet port and the container outlet port are unaligned with the central axis of the main body, the container inlet port being positioned nearer to a periphery of the circular upper surface than the container outlet port.

44. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 43, wherein the inlet port and the outlet port are of the same height.

45. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 44, wherein, when the detachable container is mated securely with the air-water separation tank, the inlet port is securely connected to a liquid dental-amalgam effluent outlet from the air-water separation tank.

46. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 42, further including a pair of plugs configured to seal a container inlet port and a container outlet port of a filled detachable dental-amalgam container that the detachable dental-amalgam container is replacing.

47. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 46, further including a cap that retains at least one of the plugs on the filled detachable dental-amalgam container.

48. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 47, wherein the cap mates with the generally cylindrical upper region and has an inside surface for engaging both of the pair of plugs.

49. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 42, wherein one of the first and second keying features is a female keying feature and the other of the first and second keying features is a male keying feature configured for mating with the female keying feature.

50. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 49, wherein the second keying feature is the female keying feature.

51. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 50, wherein the female keying feature includes a recess formed in an outermost periphery of the container top portion.

52. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 51, wherein the first keying feature includes two opposing recesses formed in the outermost periphery of the container top portion.

53. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 49, wherein the first keying feature includes two opposing first keying structures, and the second keying feature includes two opposing second keying structures.

54. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 42, wherein the container top portion includes a radially protruding flange located below the upper surface that defines a maximum outer dimension for the container top portion.

55. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 54, wherein the dental amalgam separation system further includes at least one retaining pin for use with the detachable container, and wherein the flange defines a region under which the at least one pin is received for helping to retain the detachable dental-amalgam container to the dental amalgam separation system.

56. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 55, wherein the flange extends entirely around the container top portion.

57. A detachable container for use with a dental amalgam separation system that includes an air-water separation tank, the dental amalgam separation system further including a first keying feature for assisting with alignment of the detachable container to the air-water separation tank when the detachable container is being attached to the air-water separation tank, the detachable container comprising: a main body having a central axis and an interior volume configured to receive dental amalgam effluent from the air-water separation tank, the interior volume being configured to collect the fine particles from the dental amalgam effluent; a container top portion attached to a top of the main body, the container top portion including a generally cylindrical upper region having an upper surface, the container top portion including a container inlet port and a container outlet port located on the upper surface and projecting upwardly away from the main body, the container inlet port being positioned nearer to a periphery of the upper surface than the container outlet port, the container top portion further comprising a second keying feature located below the upper surface and extending outside the periphery of the upper surface of the generally cylindrical upper region, and wherein, when the second keying feature of the detachable container is aligned with the first keying feature, the detachable container is capable of mating with the air-water separation tank; and a container inlet conduit extending downwardly from the container top portion and into the interior volume, the container inlet conduit being coupled to the container inlet port, the container inlet conduit and the container inlet port for transferring the dental amalgam effluent from the air-water separation tank to the interior volume of the main body.

58. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 57, wherein one of the first and second keying features is a female keying feature and the other of the first and second keying features is a male keying feature configured for mating with the female keying feature.

59. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 58, wherein the second keying feature is the female keying feature.

60. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 57, wherein the dental amalgam separation system further includes at least one retaining pin for use with the detachable container, and wherein the container top portion includes a radially protruding flange located below the upper surface that defines a maximum outer dimension for the container top portion, the flange defining a region under which the at least one pin is received for helping to retain the detachable dental-amalgam container to the dental amalgam separation system.

61. The detachable dental-amalgam container of claim 57, further including a restrictor in the interior volume for assisting with removal of the fine particles from the dental amalgam effluent.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of an embodiment of particle removal and recycling apparatus according to the invention, for particular use in a dental office.

[0034] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of an embodiment of particle removal and recycling apparatus according to the invention, for particular use in a dental office.

[0035] FIG. 3 a is a schematic view of an embodiment of a universal adapter for fitting various different sized recycling containers to the air-water separator of the present invention.

[0036] FIG. 3 b is a schematic view of an alternative embodiment of a universal adapter for fitting various different sized recycling containers to the air-water separator of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 4 a is a schematic view of an embodiment of a recycling container and cap system of the invention.

[0038] FIG. 4 b is a schematic perspective depiction of an embodiment of a recycling container and cap system of the invention.

[0039] FIG. 5 a is a schematic inside view of an embodiment of a recycling cap for the recycling containers of the invention.

[0040] FIG. 5 b is a schematic depiction of a recycling cap according to the invention fitting on a partial view of a recycling container according to the invention.

[0041] 1-Backplate [0042] 2-Waste Inlet (from dental practice) [0043] 3-Air/water Separator Top [0044] 4-Top Support Bracket [0045] 5-Air/Water Separation Tank [0046] 6-Suction tube [0047] 7-Air/Water Separator Base [0048] 8-Outlet Tube (to vacuum system) [0049] 9-Recycling Container Top [0050] 10-Lower Support Bracket [0051] 11-Restrictor [0052] 12-Detachable Recycling Container [0053] 13-Retaining Pins (2) [0054] 14- air-water separator tank effluent outlet port [0055] 15- recycling container inlet port [0056] 16- recycling container outlet port [0057] 17- recycling container threads [0058] 18- two tier recycling cap [0059] 19- O-ring groove [0060] 20- cap plugs [0061] 21- O-ring

[0062] FIG. 6A is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a detachable container according to the present invention, viewing the top of the container at an angle.

[0063] FIG. 6B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

[0064] FIG. 7A is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a detachable container according to the present invention, viewing the top of the container at an angle.

[0065] FIG. 7B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

[0066] FIG. 8A is a schematic view of a third embodiment of a detachable container according to the present invention, viewing the top of the container at an angle.

[0067] FIG. 8B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

[0068] FIG. 9A is a schematic view of a fourth embodiment of a detachable container according to the present invention, viewing the top of the container at an angle.

[0069] FIG. 9B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

[0070] FIG. 10A is a schematic view of a fourth embodiment of a detachable container according to the present invention, viewing the top of the container at an angle.

[0071] FIG. 10B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

[0072] FIG. 11A is a schematic view of a fifth embodiment of a detachable container according to the present invention, viewing the top of the container at an angle.

[0073] FIG. 11B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

[0074] FIG. 12A is a schematic view of a sixth embodiment of a detachable container according to the present invention, viewing the top of the container at an angle.

[0075] FIG. 12B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

[0076] FIG. 13A is a schematic view of a seventh embodiment of a detachable container according to the present invention, viewing the top of the container at an angle.

[0077] FIG. 13B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

[0078] FIG. 14A is a schematic view of a eighth embodiment of a detachable container according to the present invention, viewing the top of the container at an angle.

[0079] FIG. 14B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

[0080] FIG. 15A is a schematic view of a ninth embodiment of a detachable container according to the present invention, viewing the top of the container at an angle.

[0081] FIG. 15B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

[0082] According to one aspect of the instant invention, an apparatus is provided for removing and recycling metal-containing particles and other waste particles from effluent, particularly effluent from a dental office. While herein the term “metal particles” may frequently be employed, it is contemplated that the apparatus is capable of separating other solid particles from effluent liquid.

[0083] According to one aspect of the invention, an apparatus for removing metal particles and other solid particles from liquid suction effluent can be installed in a dental office using a pre-existing suction/vacuum pump system. The apparatus may share a common vacuum pump with conventional dental chair suction apparatus, without interrupting the use of suction equipment at the dental chairs.

[0084] Removal of solid particles from liquid suction effluent is effected by sedimentation.

[0085] In accordance with a one embodiment of the invention, the dental office suction effluent is passed from dental chair suction equipment outlets to an air water separator tank via a suitable inlet port for the tank. The air-water separator tank in turn passes effluent into a sedimentary deposit tank, closed on all sides when in use and preferably readily detachable for emptying or replacement.

[0086] In certain aspects of the instant invention the sedimentary deposit tank has a secondary function as a recycling container. In another aspect of the invention this recycling container can have features built in to make recycling easier and to reduce the amount of packaging and waste in the recycling system.

[0087] In another embodiment of the invention designed to minimize the space required to install the amalgam recycling system the air-water suction tube is internalized -within the air-water separator tank.

[0088] FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 shows two views of the separation apparatus according to the present invention in detail. Effluent from the dental chairs and a quantity of air are sucked through a suction apparatus exhaust conduit, through an air-water separator tank inlet 2, and thence into an air-water separator tank 5. The liquid effluent passes out of the air-water separator tank 5 via air-water separator tank outlet port 14, while air passes downstream via the air suction tube 6 while maintaining constant vacuum upstream of amalgam separator.

[0089] The air-water separator tank effluent outlet port 14 passes effluent by gravity out of the air-water separator tank 5 and into the detachable recycling container 12 through the recycling container inlet port 15 for target particle separation by sedimentation. Solids settle and accumulate in the bottom of Recycle container 12. Liquid content of waste flows primarily by gravity, although intermittently assisted by vacuum through Restrictor 11 which slows the flow rate of liquid to assist in sedimentation process and ultimately “clean” effluent discharge through the recycling container outlet port 16.

[0090] Outlet ports 16 and inlet port 15 can be a variety of shapes and sizes, square, oval (as depicted), round or even more unusual shapes like a star. Preferred ports are those that provide a tight seal, allow for easy removal, and do not break. Oval or round are preferred embodiments. Round are most preferred.

[0091] A vacuum at the outlet tube 8 is generated when the vacuum pump is operating, thereby sucking air out of the air-water separator tank 5 via suction tube 6 while maintaining vacuum upstream of amalgam separator apparatus. Effluent from the recycling container 12 passes through the restrictor 11 where remaining non-settable fine particles are removed from the effluent and into the recycling container outlet port 16 to be discharged from the apparatus via common outlet tube 8. Matter sucked by the vacuum pump, generally free of removed solids, is discharged via vacuum pump into a municipal drain of the public sewage system.

[0092] The system is provided with a simple back plate 1 for easy dental office placement as well as removable retaining pins 13 to ensure the recycling container does not detach from the air-water separation tank 5 when there is no vacuum in the system.

[0093] In certain embodiments, the recycling container ports 16 and 15 may be different heights in order to aid in alignment of the detachable recycling container 12 in the air-water separator base 7. In a preferred embodiment, the outlet port 16 engages before the inlet port 15 while during removal the inlet port 15 disengages first. This causes a small volume of fluid to be pulled out of the collection container back into air-water separator tank 5 creating head space and eliminating upward force of vacuum which eases removal of recycle container 12 by operator. Existing devices require rocking, wiggling or applying extensive down force for removal of recycle container 12.

[0094] In one preferred embodiment of the invention designed to minimize recycling costs and waste, the recycling container/sedimentary deposit tank has threads 17 built into the container to enable the addition of a liquid tight top for shipping.

[0095] FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of an adapter according to the invention to enable the use of recycling containers from a variety of sources that are lacking in correctly shaped ports 16 and 15 or otherwise are unable to fit the air-water separator tank 5 according to the invention due to shape differences.

[0096] FIG. 4 a shows a schematic diagram of the recycling container and cap system (see FIG. 5 for more cap 18 detail) according to the present invention. The cap 18 is a two tier shape to allow for a tight grip by both a big and smaller hand in order to achieve a strong seal as required by the invention. An O-ring 21 is provided and fits into an O-ring groove on the recycling container 12. Plugs 20 are used to provide a first leak proof seal for the recycling container 12. These plugs 20 are held in place by the cap 18 when the cap is threaded onto the recycling container as depicted in FIG. 5b.

[0097] FIG. 6 through FIG. 15 show several embodiments of a recycling container of the present invention, which include the inlet port and outlet port on the top mating surface, and irregular keyways cast into the outer top mating surface.

[0098] Generally, under present practice, the dental staff will not be able to remove deposited sediment from the recycle container nor remove accumulated particle residues from the restrictor unit themselves. Thus, it is desirable that such removal be done by a competent effluent residue processing facility. Therefore, under present practice, it is expected to be preferred that the recycling container with its enclosed restrictor unit be removed when full, or periodically replaced by fresh tanks from time to time as required. The spent tank with an accumulation of metallic and other particles can then be sent to a processing facility for proper disposal of the targeted metallic particles, such as mercury, and recovery of precious metals such as silver.

[0099] Although the sedimentary deposit process is effective to remove a satisfactorily high proportion of the target particles desired to be removed from the effluent, the recycling container desirably includes an outlet restrictor right in the chamber to catch any floating materials as well as any other materials that did not settle out.

[0100] If the recycle container is not changed as required or filled beyond normal capacity, waste liquid from dental practice may back up into air water separator tank. Should this occur, effluent overflows through the air suction tube and into the outlet port and is discharged into the vacuum pump draw line and thence eventually into the municipal drain. However, it is desirable that the system should operate in such a manner as to avoid having the air-water separator tank become completely full, since effluent exiting through the air outlet port will contain particles that will not be separated by the separator. If, however, such a by-pass condition occurs at no time will the suction generated by the vacuum pump be lost or interrupted at the dental office.

[0101] In a further embodiment of the invention oriented towards large-scale institutional applications, in which many dental chairs or other sources of effluent are connected to the same suction and drain services, several parallel-connected recycling containers and associated apparatus, each such composite apparatus including a air-water separator tank and preferably one, or alternatively two attached recycling containers, may be operated in parallel to provide sufficient treatment capacity for large effluent volumes.

[0102] All publications, web-sites, patents and patent applications cited in the specification are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for the disclosure for which they are cited.

[0103] Having read the above specification, other alternatives and variants of the above described methods and apparatus suitable for practicing the methods will occur to those skilled in the technology. Such alternatives, modifications and variants fall within the scope of the present invention.

[0104] The invention as described above also includes the following non-limiting claims, which describe particular embodiments of the invention.