Dental amalgam separation and recycling system

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. A dental amalgam separation system for removing and collecting particles from a dental liquid effluent drawn by means of a vacuum, comprising: (a) an air-water separator tank for receiving said effluent, said air-water separator tank having an air-water separator tank inlet in fluid communication with a vacuum external to the air-water separator tank, an air-water separator tank liquid effluent outlet and an air-water separator tank air outlet; (b) a detachable collection container, said collection container acting primarily under the influence of gravity to cause sedimentation of said particles, and having a collection container inlet port detachably connected to said air-water separator tank liquid effluent outlet, and said collection container also having an effluent outlet port; (c) wherein the air-water separator tank further comprises a suction conduit; (d) wherein the collection container effluent inlet port and the collection container outlet port are not the same height; (e) wherein the collection container comprises one or more keyways cast into its outside top mating surface of said collection container; and (f) said air-water separation tank has one or more corresponding keys cast into its mating surface, such that the keys of the air-water separation tank must be aligned with the keyways of said collection container in order for said collection container and said air-water separation tank to mate securely.

2. The dental amalgam separation system of claim 1, further comprising a shipping cap, wherein said shipping cap can be connected securely with the collection container, when the collection container effluent inlet port is detached from said air-water separator tank liquid effluent outlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

(4) 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.

(5) FIG. 4 a is a schematic view of an embodiment of a recycling container and cap system of the invention.

(6) FIG. 4 b is a schematic perspective depiction of an embodiment of a recycling container and cap system of the invention.

(7) FIG. 5 a is a schematic inside view of an embodiment of a recycling cap for the recycling containers of the invention.

(8) 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. 1Backplate 2Waste Inlet (from dental practice) 3Air/water Separator Top 4Top Support Bracket 5Air/Water Separation Tank 6Suction tube 7Air/Water Separator Base 8Outlet Tube (to vacuum system) 9Recycling Container Top 10Lower Support Bracket 11Restrictor 12Detachable Recycling Container 13Retaining Pins (2) 14air-water separator tank effluent outlet port 15recycling container inlet port 16recycling container outlet port 17recycling container threads 18two tier recycling cap 19O-ring groove 20cap plugs 21O-ring

(9) 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.

(10) FIG. 6B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

(11) 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.

(12) FIG. 7B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

(13) 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.

(14) FIG. 8B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

(15) 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.

(16) FIG. 9B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

(17) 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.

(18) FIG. 10B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

(19) 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.

(20) FIG. 11B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

(21) 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.

(22) FIG. 12B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

(23) 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.

(24) FIG. 13B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

(25) 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.

(26) FIG. 14B is a schematic view of the same embodiment, viewing the top of the container from directly above.

(27) 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.

(28) 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

(29) 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.

(30) 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.

(31) Removal of solid particles from liquid suction effluent is effected by sedimentation.

(32) 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.

(33) 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.

(34) In another embodiment of the invention designed to minimize the space required to install the amalgam recycling system the air-water suction tube is internalizedwithin the air-water separator tank.

(35) 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.

(36) 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.

(37) 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.

(38) 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.

(39) 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.

(40) 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.

(41) 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.

(42) 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.

(43) 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.

(44) 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.

(45) 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.

(46) 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.

(47) 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.

(48) 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.

(49) 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.

(50) 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.

(51) The invention as described above also includes the following non-limiting claims, which describe particular embodiments of the invention.