Pressure differential material transport and disposal system

• US 7,118,054 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2002
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tommin Enterprises LLC
• Original Assignee: Tommin Enterprises LLC
• Inventors: Grimes, Richard Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Rosenbaum, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/480,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20040173698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,588 Days
• Field of Search: 241/19, 241/69, 241/81, 241/60, 241/61, 241/46.013, 209/142
• US Class Current: 241/19
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 5/38 Built-in suction cleaner installations, i.e. with fixed tube system to which, at different stations, hoses can be connected
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 7/0095 Suction cleaners or attachments adapted to collect dust or waste from power tools
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/0063 External storing devices; Stands, casings or the like for the storage of suction cleaners
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/04 with driven brushes or agitators
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/102 Dust separators cyclones A47L9/16
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/122 Pipe-line systems for waste water in building pipe-line systems in general F17D
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/26 Object-catching inserts or similar devices for waste pipes or outlets E03C1/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/266 Arrangement of disintegrating apparatus in waste pipes or outlets; Disintegrating apparatus specially adapted for installation in waste pipes or outlets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 241/38 Solid waste disposal

Abstract

A pressure differential material transport system to transfer materials with an airflow to a sewer system. Embodiments of the pressure differential material transport system may be used for residential or industrial applications to dispose of materials to the sewer or to a comminutor to reduce the size of materials prior to disposal.

Claims

1. A method of disposing of a material, comprising the step of:

a. generating an airflow having airflow characteristics;

b. transferring a material flowable responsive to said airflow having said airflow characteristics from a material location to a material separator;

c. altering said air flow characteristics within said material separator;

d. separating said material from said airflow, wherein said material separates from said airflow due to adjusted air flow characteristics; and

e. transferring said material separated from said airflow having adjusted air flow characteristics to a sewage system.

2. A method of disposing of a material as described in claim 1, wherein said sewage system is selected from the group consisting of a septic system, and a municipal sewer system.

3. A method of disposing of a material as described in claim 1, wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of liquids, solids, water, and food.

4. A method of disposing of a material as described in claim 1, wherein said step of altering said air flow characteristics within said material separator comprises altering velocity of said airflow.

5. A method of disposing of a material as described in claim 1, wherein said step of altering said air flow characteristics within said material separator comprises altering direction of said airflow.

6. A method of disposing of a material as described in claim 1, wherein said step of altering said air flow characteristics within said material separator comprises altering volume of said airflow.

7. A method of disposing of a material as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of venting said airflow from said material separator to atmosphere.

8. A method of disposing of a material as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of venting said airflow from said material separator to a vent stack of said sewage disposal system.

9. A method of disposing of a material as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of comminuting said material separated from said airflow.

10. A method of disposing of a material as described in claim 1, further comprising the step of sealing said sewage system during said step of generating an airflow having airflow characteristics.

11. A method of disposing of a material as described in claim 1, further comprising the step conducting said airflow having airflow characteristics to a material location.

12. A method of comminuting a material, comprising the step of:

a. separating a material flowably responsive to an airflow having airflow characteristics, wherein said material separates from said airflow due to alteration of said air flow characteristics;

b. transferring said material separated from said flow of air having adjusted air flow characteristics to a comminutor; and

c. comminuting said material transferred to said comminutor.

13. A method of comminuting a material as described in claim 12, further comprising the step of transferring said material separated from said airflow having adjusted airflow characteristics to a sewage system.

14. A method of disposing a flowable material, comprising the step of:

a. providing a material transfer conduit;

b. fluidically coupling a pressure differential generator to said material transfer conduit, wherein upon activation said pressure differential generator establishes an airflow in said material transfer conduit;

c. joining a material separator to said material transfer conduit, wherein said material separator alters characteristics of said airflow; and

d. coupling said material separator to a sewage system to receive said material separated from said airflow.

15. A method of disposing a flowable material as described in claim 14, wherein said material separator is configured to alter velocity of said airflow.

16. A method of disposing a flowable material as described in claim 14, wherein said material separator is configured to alter volume of said airflow.

17. A method of disposing a flowable material as described in claim 14, wherein said material separator is configured to alter direction of said airflow.

18. A method of disposing a flowable material as described in claim 14, further comprising the step of transferring said flowable material within said material transfer conduit with said airflow to said material separator.

19. A method of disposing a flowable material as described in claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a storage element into which said material transfer conduit retracts.

20. A method of disposing a flowable material as described in claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a surface interface element coupled to said material transfer conduit.

21. A method of disposing a flowable material as described in claim 20, further comprising the step of flexibly conforming at least a portion of said surface interface element to a surface.

22. A method of disposing a flowable material as described in claim 21, further comprising the step of coupling a liquid application element to said surface interface element.

23. A method of disposing a flowable material as described in claim 22, applying a liquid to said surface from said liquid application element.

24. A method of disposing a flowable material as described in claim 14, further comprising the step of fluidically coupling a comminutor to said material separator.

25. A method of disposing a flowable material as described in claim 24, further comprising the step of comminuting said material separated by said material separator.

26. A method of disposing a flowable material as described in claim 25, further comprising the step of joining a sink basin to said comminutor.

27. A method of disposing a flowable material, comprising the steps of:

a. positioning a material transfer conduit conducting an airflow proximate to a flowable material;

b. introducing said flowable material into said airflow;

c. separating at least a portion of said flowable material from said air flow; and

d. transferring said at least a portion of said flowable material separated from said air flow to a sewage system.

28. A method of disposing a flowable material, comprising the steps of:

a. positioning a material transfer conduit conducting an airflow proximate to a flowable material;

b. introducing said flowable material into said airflow;

c. separating at least a portion of said flowable material from said air flow; and

d. transferring said at least a portion of said flowable material separated from said air flow to a comminutor.

29. A method of disposing a flowable material as described in claim 28, further comprising the step of transferring said at least a portion of said flowable material separated from said air flow to a sewage system.

30. A waste disposal device, comprising:

a. a comminutor chamber having a comminutor chamber inlet and a comminutor chamber outlet;

b. a comminutor located within said comminutor chamber;

c. a comminutor drive assembly coupled to said comminutor; and

d. a material separator fluidically coupled to said comminutor chamber inlet, wherein said material separator has a first inlet configured to fluidicly couple said comminutor chamber to a sink basin and a second inlet coupled to a material transfer conduit through which air flow transfers flowable material which separates from said air flow within said air separator and transfers to said comminutor chamber.

31. A material disposal system as described in claim 30, wherein said comminutor chamber has a substantially vertical cylindrical configuration.

32. A material disposal system as described in claim 31, wherein said comminutor comprises a circular disk rotatable about a vertical axis in said cylindrical comminutor chamber.

33. A material disposal system as described in claim 32, further comprising at least one material comminution element coupled to said circular disk.

34. A material disposal system as described in claim 33, wherein said at least one material comminution element coupled to said circular disk is selected from the group consisting of projections, blades, and centrifugal hammers.

35. A material disposal system as described in claim 34, a screen element having a plurality of apertures located between said inlet and said outlet of said comminuation chamber, wherein said plurality of apertures allow material reduced to a size smaller than the largest of said plurality of apertures to pass through to said outlet.

36. A material disposal system as described in claim 35, wherein said screen element has a location sufficiently close to said at least one comminution element to shear said material between said at least one comminution element and said screen element.

37. A material disposal system as described in claim 30, wherein said comminutor chamber, said comminutor, and said comminutor drive assembly, comprise a garbage disposer.

38. A material disposal system, comprising:

a. a material transfer conduit having an internal volume;

b. a pressure differential generator coupled to said material transfer conduit, wherein said pressure differential generator establishes an airflow having airflow characteristics within said internal volume of said material transfer conduit, and wherein said airflow transfers material flowably responsive to said air flow characteristics through said internal volume of said material transfer conduit;

c. a material separator coupled to said material transfer conduit, wherein said material separator has a configuration which alters said air flow characteristics to allow at least some of said material to separate from said air flow;

d. a sewage system coupled to said material separator, wherein said at least some material transfers to said sewage system for disposal.

39. A material disposal system as described in claim 38, wherein said pressure differential generator establishes a portion of said internal volume of said material transfer conduit.

40. A material disposal system as described in claim 38, wherein said airflow characteristics include velocity of said airflow.

41. A material disposal system as described in claim 38, wherein said airflow characteristics include direction of said airflow.

42. A material disposal system as described in claim 38, wherein said airflow characteristics include volume of said airflow.

43. A material disposal system as described in claim 40, wherein said configuration which alters said airflow characteristics reduces said velocity of said airflow within said material separator.

44. A material disposal system as described in claim 41, wherein said configuration which alters said airflow characteristics changes direction of said airflow toward a surface within said material separator.

45. A material disposal system as described in claim 42, wherein said configuration which alters said airflow characteristics alters the volume of said airflow.

46. A material disposal system as described in claim 43, 44, or 45, wherein said material flowably responsive to said airflow separates from said airflow due to gravitational force.

47. A material disposal system as described in claim 38, wherein said configuration of said material separator has sufficient internal volume to reduce said velocity of said airflow sufficiently to allow said gravitational force to separate said material flowably responsive to said air flow characteristics.

48. A material disposal system as described in claim 38, wherein said material separation element further comprises an airflow outlet to return a portion of said airflow to atmosphere.

49. A material disposal system as described in claim 48, wherein said airflow outlet further comprises a closure sealably responsive to liquid.

50. A material disposal system as described in claim 49, wherein said airflow outlet conducts said portion of said airflow to a sewer ventilation system.

51. A material disposal system as described in claim 38, further comprising a comminutor fluidically coupled to said material separator.

52. A material disposal system as described in claim 51, wherein said comminutor chamber has a substantially vertical cylindrical configuration.

53. A material disposal system as described in claim 52, wherein said comminutor comprises a circular disk rotatable about a vertical axis in said cylindrical comminutor chamber.

54. A material disposal system as described in claim 53, further comprising at least one material comminution element coupled to said circular disk.

55. A material disposal system as described in claim 54, wherein said at least one material comminution element coupled to said circular disk is selected from the group consisting of projections, blades, and centrifugal hammers.

56. A material disposal system as described in claim 55, a screen element having a plurality of apertures located between said inlet and said outlet of said cominuation chamber, wherein said plurality of apertures allow material reduced to a size smaller than the largest of said plurality of apertures to pass through to said outlet.

57. A material disposal system as described in claim 56, wherein said screen element has a location sufficiently close to said at least one comminution element to shear said material between said at least one comminution element and said screen element.

58. A material disposal system as described in claim 57, wherein said comminutor chamber, said comminutor, and said comminutor drive assembly, comprise a garbage disposer.

59. A material disposal system as described in claim 51, further comprising a sink basin coupled to said comminutor, wherein a second material transfer conduit transfers waste material from said sink basin to said comminutor.

60. A material disposal system as described in claim 38, wherein said material flowably responsive to said airflow characteristics is selected from the group consisting of liquids, and solids.

61. A material disposal system as described in claim 59, further comprising a closure operably coupled to said pressure differential generator, wherein said closure seals said comminutor from said sink basin.

62. A material disposal system as described in claim 61, further comprising a sewage system fluidically coupled to said outlet of said comminutor.

63. A material disposal system as described in claim 62, further comprising a second closure operably coupled to said sewage system, wherein said second closure seals said comunuation from said sewage system.

64. A material disposal system as described in claim 63, further comprising a storage element into which at least a portion of said material transfer conduit retracts.

65. A material disposal system as described in claim 64, wherein said material transfer conduit comprises a flexible hose.

66. A material disposal system as described in claim 65, wherein said flexible hose has an external diameter of between about three-quarters inch and about one and one-half inches.

67. A material disposal system as described in claim 66, further comprising a surface interface element fluidically coupled to said material transfer conduit, wherein said surface interface element conducts said airflow across a surface to transfer material flowably responsive to said airflow characteristics from said surface to said airflow within said internal volume of said material transfer conduit.

68. A material disposal system as described in claim 67, wherein said surface interface element has a configuration to differentiate said material based upon material size.

69. A material disposal system as described in claim 68, wherein a portion of said surface interface element flexibly conforms to said surface.

70. A material disposal system as described in claim 69, wherein said portion of said surface interface element that flexible conforms to said surface comprises a squeegee.

71. A material disposal system as described in claim 70, wherein said portion of said surface interface element that flexibly conforms to said surface comprises at least one brush element.

72. A material disposal system as described in claim 71, further comprising a brush drive assembly.

73. A material disposal system as described in claim 72, wherein said brush drive assembly comprises at least one rotation axis about which said at least one brush element rotates;

and a brush rotation drive to which said at least one brush element is operably coupled.

74. A material disposal system as described in claim 73, wherein said at least one brush element removably couples to said brush drive assembly.

75. A material disposal system as described in claim 74, further comprising a pad removably coupled to said surface interface element.

76. A material disposal system as described in claim 75, wherein said pad element removably couples to said at least one brush element.

77. A material disposal system as described in claim 66, further comprising a plurality of interchangeable surface interface elements, wherein said plurality of interchangeable surface interface elements conduct said airflow across a surface to transfer material flowably responsive to said airflow characteristics from said surface to said airflow within said internal volume of said material transfer conduit.

78. A material disposal system as described in claim 67, wherein said surface is selected from the group consisting of a table top surface, a counter top surface, a sink surface, a kitchen appliance surface, a floor surface, a carpet surface, a cabinet surface, and a glazing surface.

79. A material disposal system as described in claim 67, further comprising a liquid application assembly comprising:

a. a liquid source;

b. a liquid application element;

c. a liquid transfer conduit between said liquid source and said liquid application element; and

d. a liquid delivery system to transfer liquid from said liquid source to said liquid application element through said liquid transfer conduit.

80. A material disposal system as described in claim 79, wherein said liquid application element is coupled to said surface interface element.

81. A material disposal system as described in claim 80, wherein said liquid source comprises a liquid reservoir.

82. A material disposal system as described in claim 79, wherein said liquid delivery system comprises sufficient gas pressure applied to said liquid within said liquid reservoir to transfer said liquid from said liquid source to said liquid application element through said liquid transfer conduit.

83. A material disposal system as described in claim 79, wherein said liquid delivery system comprises an electric pump fluidically coupled to said liquid source and said liquid transfer conduit.

84. A material disposal system as described in claim 79, wherein said liquid source comprises a pressurized water in a pipe.

85. A material disposal system as described in claim 84, wherein said liquid delivery system comprises a coupler element between said water pipe and said liquid transfer conduit through which a part of said pressurized water transfers from said water pipe to said liquid transfer conduit.

86. A material disposal system as described in claim 79, wherein said liquid transfer conduit is routed within said internal volume of said material transfer conduit.

87. A material disposal system as described in claim 79, further comprising a cleaning material soluble in said liquid.

88. A material disposal system as described in claim 87, wherein said cleaning material soluble in said liquid is selected from the group consisting of detergent, bleach, antimicrobial, and ammonia.

89. A material disposal system as described in claim 79, further comprising a pressure differential actuator to activate said pressure differential generator.

90. A material disposal system as described in claim 89, further comprising a surface interface element holder, wherein said surface interface element removably engages with said surface interface element holder.

91. A material disposal system as described in claim 90, wherein said surface interface element holder comprises an annular collar that mates with a handle coupled to said surface interface element.

92. A material disposal system as described in claim 91, wherein said surface interface element holder further comprises said pressure differential generator actuator, whereby said pressure differential generator operates upon removal of said surface interface element from said surface interface element holder, and whereby said pressure differential generator ceases operation upon return of said surface interface element to said surface interface element holder.