CULTIVATION AND DISPENSING OF BACTERIA

Abstract

An apparatus 100 for cultivating bacteria, comprising a conduit 101 having an upstream and a downstream section and the downstream section of the conduit 101 comprising first Venturi eductor means 111 with at least two inlet ports 117, 118 wherein one of said inlet ports 117 is in fluid communication with a supply of nutrient and another one of said inlet ports 118 is in fluid communication with a supply of bacteria such that, in use, nutrient and bacteria are drawn into said Venturi eductor means 111 by a fluid passing along said conduit 101 and said Venturi eductor means 111.

Claims

1-25. (canceled)

26. A method of cultivating bacteria, comprising the steps of: a) providing a conduit with an upstream and a downstream section, the downstream section of the conduit comprising a first Venturi eductor with at least two inlet ports, wherein the at least two inlet ports of the first Venturi eductor are in fluid communication with a supply of nutrient and bacteria respectively, b) passing a fluid along the conduit such that a pressure drop in the first Venturi eductor draws nutrient and bacteria into said eductor to mix therein; c) allowing the bacteria in said mixture to cultivate for a predetermined period of time; d) repeating steps (b) and (c) until a desired amount of bacteria is cultivated; and e) dispensing the fluid to a use location.

27. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of employing a second Venturi eductor in fluid communication with the first Venturi eductor, said second Venturi eductor having at least one inlet port, wherein the at least one inlet port of the second Venturi eductor is in fluid communication with a supply of air such that, in use, air is drawn into said second Venturi eductor by a fluid passing therethrough and wherein the air supplied to the system is drawn from the atmosphere.

28. The method according to claim 27, further comprising the step of employing a mixing chamber into which the contents of the conduit flows to mix therein, wherein the mixing chamber has an outlet port, through which the contents of the mixing chamber is dispensed to a use location, wherein the steps are initiated automatically and governed by a battery powered timer programmed to open and close a solenoid valve at certain times throughout a 24 hour period, and wherein opening the solenoid valve enables water to enter the conduit and pass through the first and second Venturi eductors respectively, drawing bacteria, nutrient and air and then discharging this fluid mixture into a mixing chamber.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of employing a second valve, said second valve associated with the outlet port of the mixing chamber such that the opening and closing of the outlet port is controlled by the second valve.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the second valve is a timer operated valve programmed to operate automatically at pre-set intervals.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the first and second valves are programmed to enable the step of a) a main fill of the mixing chamber, b) an aeration charge of the mixing chamber, and c) flushing of the content of the mixing chamber to the use location.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein the main fill step occurs at approximately 2:10 am.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein one or more aeration charges occur after the main fill and are substantially evenly spaced throughout a period of 24 hours.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the flushing step occurs at approximately 2 am.

35. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of retaining at least 1 litre of fluid in the mixing chamber.

36. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of drawing dormant bacteria suspended in a liquid via the first Venturi eductor.

37. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of drawing nutrient in liquid form via the first Venturi eductor, wherein said nutrient is tailored to cultivate the bacteria upon mixing therewith.

38. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of regulating the pressure upstream of the first Venturi eductor, via a pressure regulator, to ensure fluid is supplied at a desired pressure.

Description

[0050] In order that the invention may be well understood, there will now be described an embodiment thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0051] FIG. 1 is a front view of an apparatus according to the invention with a cover of a casing removed, showing articles contained therein;

[0052] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a conduit of FIG. 1; and

[0053] FIGS. 3(a), (b) and (c) are cross-sectional views of the apparatus according to the present invention showing the mixing chamber before filling for the first time, after filling and after dispensing.

[0054] Referring firstly to FIG. 1, there is shown a bacteria cultivating and dispensing unit 100 that, in use, mounts on the wall of a commercial kitchen above the sink.

[0055] For the purposes of the description herein, “top”, “bottom”, “left” and “right” and derivatives thereof shall be related to the invention as oriented in FIG. 1 as if the unit 100 were wall mounted. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various other orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary.

[0056] The unit 100 comprises a conduit 101, a battery-powered timer 102 and a mixing chamber 103. The conduit 101 and timer 102 are housed in a wall mounted, rotomoulded casing 104 substantially cuboid in shape and the mixing chamber 103 is secured externally and to the bottom of said casing 104 and in fluid communication with the conduit 101. To comply with local water regulations an air gap is provided between the conduit 101 and the mixing chamber 103.

[0057] The conduit 101 is shown in more detail in FIG. 2 and is of the form of an inverted L shape, comprising a horizontal section 105 which enters the casing at the top left corner and runs to the top right corner and a vertical section 106 which runs from the top right corner to the bottom right. This arrangement optimises the size of the casing 104 by allowing room in the bottom left corner of the casing 104 for the timer 102.

[0058] The conduit 101 is, in use, connected to a mains water supply (not shown) such that water enters said conduit 101 at the end positioned at the top left corner of the casing 104 and proceeds through the conduit 101 to be discharged into the mixing chamber 103 via the end of the conduit 101 positioned at the bottom right corner of the casing 104. An outlet port 107 extends from the bottom of the mixing chamber 103 and, in use, is connected to the drainage pipe of a commercial kitchen sink (not shown) at a position upstream of a grease trap.

[0059] Connected in series from left to right along the horizontal section 105 of the conduit 101 is a double check valve 108, pressure regulator 109 and solenoid valve 110 and connected in series from top to bottom along the length of the vertical section 106 of the conduit 101 is a first Venturi eductor means 111 comprising a single Venturi followed by a second Venturi eductor means 112 also comprising a single Venturi.

[0060] The first Venturi eductor 111 has an outwardly cylindrical housing and contains an axially symmetric chamber running its length. This chamber is in four successive sections from top to bottom as shown; a first section 113, a second section 114, a third section 115 and a fourth section 116.

[0061] The first section 113 comprises an inwardly tapering frusto-conical inlet and the second section 114 comprises a narrow parallel-sided duct with two inlets located either side and in fluid communication with said duct. The inlet shown on the left hand side is known as the bacteria inlet 117 and, in use, is connected to a supply of dormant starter bacteria in liquid form. The inlet shown on the right hand side is known as the nutrient inlet 118 and, in use, is connected to a supply of bacteria nutrient, also in liquid form. The composition of the bacteria and nutrient is known in the art and therefore will not be described in more detail.

[0062] In use, water enters the first Venturi eductor 111 through the inwardly tapering frusto-conical inlet of the first section 113. The water then accelerates as the first section 113 narrows causing its pressure to drop. This lower pressure water then enters the parallel-sided second section 114 and the pressure differential between the water passing therethrough and the liquid bacteria and nutrient in fluid communication with said second section 114 draws said bacteria and nutrient into the second section 114 to mix with the water in the duct.

[0063] The chamber then opens out into the frusto-conical third section 115 which smoothly disperses and decelerates the water, nutrient and bacteria mix into the fourth section 116 which is a parallel-sided duct of the same diameter cross section as the mouth of the first section 113.

[0064] The second Venturi eductor 112 is of the same form as the first, with a narrowing, frusto-conical first section 119, a parallel-sided second section 120, a widening frusto-conical third section 121 and a parallel-sided fourth section 122. However, the duct of the second section 120 has only one inlet. This inlet is known as the air inlet 123.

[0065] In use, the water, nutrient and bacteria mix accelerates through the first section 119 of the second Venturi eductor 112 such that, in the same way as with the first Venturi eductor 111, the mix is of a lower pressure when passing through the second section 120. As the air pressure within the second section 120 of the second Venturi eductor 112 drops, the higher pressure air of the surrounding atmosphere is drawn into said second section 120 to mix with the water, nutrient and bacteria passing therethrough. The second Venturi 112 is thus acting as an aspirator. In order to prevent foreign objects being introduced to the system at this point, the air inlet 123 of the second Venturi eductor 112 is covered by a mesh filter (not shown).

[0066] As with the first Venturi eductor 111, the chamber of the second Venturi eductor 112 then opens out into the frusto-conical third section 121 which smoothly disperses and decelerates the water, nutrient, bacteria and air mix into the parallel-sided fourth section 122. This mix is then, in turn, discharged into the mixing chamber 103.

[0067] The mixing chamber 103 is cylindrical in shape and has a capacity in the range of approximately 3.5 to 6 litres. In use, the conduit 101 discharges the water, bacteria, nutrient and air mix into the mixing chamber 103 at the top right corner via an inlet port 124. As mentioned previously, an outlet port 107 extends from the bottom of the mixing chamber 103. This is in fluid communication with the drainage pipe of a commercial kitchen sink.

[0068] A discharge pipe 125 is housed inside the mixing chamber 103. This pipe 125 is connected at one end to the outlet port 107 and is free at its other end. The discharge pipe 125 is of the form of an inverted U shape with the free end providing an inlet for the contents of the mixing chamber 103. The free, or inlet end of the discharge pipe 125 is positioned above the outlet port 107 such that the vertical distance between the inlet end of the discharge pipe 125 and the outlet port 107 defines a height of fluid mixture in the mixing chamber 103 that cannot flow along the discharge pipe 125 and thus out of the mixing chamber 103. The volume of this remaining fluid mixture is 1 litre.

[0069] The discharge of the fluid mixture in the mixing chamber 103 is governed by the level of said fluid mixture in said chamber rising above the apex of the inverted U shaped discharge pipe 125 to thus siphon up said pipe 125 and flow out of the mixing chamber 103. The vertical height of the pipe 125 from inlet end to the apex of the inverted U shape, together with the volume of the mixing chamber 103, thus determines the volume of fluid mixture to be discharged.

[0070] Operation of the unit 100 is automatic and governed by the timer 102. The timer 102 is battery-powered and is supplied un-programmed. Upon installation of the unit 100 the timer 102 is programmed by an installer to open and close the solenoid valve 110 at certain times throughout the day. Opening the solenoid valve 110 enables water to enter the vertical section 106 of the conduit 101 and thus pass through the first and second Venturi eductors 111, 112 respectively, drawing bacteria, nutrient and air as previously described and then discharging this fluid mixture into the mixing chamber 103 when the level of fluid mixture is high enough to siphon along the pipe 125. As such the contents of the mixing chamber 103 are automatically discharged down the discharge pipe 125 to enter the drainage pipe of the commercial kitchen sink upstream of the grease trap.

[0071] The above description discloses a first embodiment of the invention. In a second embodiment of the invention a pipe 125 is not required and the discharge of the mixing chamber is governed by a second valve located at the outlet port 107. The second valve (not shown in the figures) is controlled by the timer 102. The timer 102 is pre-programmed to open and close said second valve in order to discharge fluid from the mixing chamber 103 via the outlet port 107.

[0072] In either embodiment the timer is pre-programmed to run the following cycle over a 24 hour period:

TABLE-US-00001 Fill No. Time of Day Length of time valve is opened for: 1 02:10 27 seconds-Main fill 2 05:00 1 second-Aeration charge 3 07:00 1 second-Aeration charge 4 10:00 1 second-Aeration charge 5 14:00 1 second-Aeration charge 6 18:00 1 second-Aeration charge 7 22:00 1 second-Aeration charge 8 02:00 10 seconds-Flush. Injects the active bacteria

[0073] In the second embodiment the flush step occurs when the timer 102 opens the second valve, whereas in the first embodiment the flush step happens automatically when the level of fluid mixture in the mixing chamber 103 is high enough to siphon along the pipe 125

[0074] The filling and discharging cycle shown in the above table is illustrated in FIGS. 3(a), (b) and (c). The cycle allows for the bacteria, nutrient, water and air mix in the mixing chamber 103 to cultivate over a 24 hour period in order that the dormant bacteria supplied to the system can incubate and grow into active bacteria suitable for breaking down organic material such as fats, oils and greases. The regular aerating of the mixture throughout the cycle also aids this incubation process until the desired amount of active bacteria is contained in the mixing chamber 103 ready to be flushed.

[0075] It will be apparent that the apparatus as herein described could be used with many different strengths, concentration and types, etc, of bacteria and nutrient and thus the timings listed above could be altered to optimise operation of the apparatus given such changes. Furthermore, the time of day of the discharge of active bacteria from the apparatus could be varied in order to maximise the length of time that said bacteria can act on any fats, oils and greases without being washed away by further wastewater. The apparatus could also be programmed to run more than one cycle in a 24 hour period.

[0076] It will also be appreciated that the volume of the mixing chamber 103 could be altered depending on user requirements. A bubbler could be added to the mixing chamber 103 to further aid in aerating the water, bacteria, nutrient and air mix and, finally, a heating element could be added to said mixing chamber 103 to aid growth of the active bacteria.

[0077] The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Alternative arrangements will be apparent to a reader skilled in the art.