DEVICE FOR DESTROYING BACTERIAL FLORA

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for destroying bacteria which accumulates in drainage pipes and the like. Previously, no device has been provided which will destroy bacteria which accumulates in drainage pipes. This invention provides a housing (5, 58) provided in the S-bend of a drainage pipe and includes a heating element (32, 34, 68) which causes water and bacteria which gathers in the housing (5, 58) to boil to destroy bacteria. Heat is also transferred to the drainage pipe to destroy any bacteria which gathers on the side of the pipe. The invention may also include a timer (80) to supply power to the heating means (32, 34, 68) for a desired amount of time and also may include an automatic actuator (62) which causes the timer (80) to supply power to the heating means (32, 34, 68) when water and/or contaminated matter passes down the drainage pipe.

Description: DEVICE FOR DESTROYING BACTERIAL FLORA This invention relates to a device for destroying bacterial flora by the sterilization of contaminated waste which contains the bacterial flora. In hospitals, for example, waste materials are often disposed of by pouring the material down sinks and the like. This waste material may therefore gather in the S-bends or the like, of drainage pipes where bacterial flora in the waste material flourishes. The bacterial flora which builds up on the drainage pipe is extremely dangerous, particularly in the hospital environment where it is possible that sterile equipment may be contaminated by the bacterial flora. Indeed, it has been known for a patient in a hospital to contract a sickness which has been attributed to bacterial flora contamination of instruments which have been used in connection with the patient. The present invention seeks-to overcome this problem by providing a device which will destroy bacterial flora which gathers in the drainage pipes. The present invention may therefore be said to reside in a device for destroying bacterial flora by sterilization of contaminated waste which contains the bacterial flora, said device comprising a housing, said housing has an inlet to allow waste material to pass into said housing, heating means in said housing for heating the waste material such that any bacterial flora which gathers in or on said housing may be sterilized by heat from said heating means, to thereby destroy said bacterial flora. Preferably, the device of this invention is adapted to be placed in a drainage pipe between a sink and an outlet of the S-bend of the drainage pipe. Accordingly, any bacterial flora which does not pass completely through a drainage pipe to which the device is connected and in fact collects on the drainage pipe, and in the housing will be destroyed by heat passing through the housing and by boiling water in the housing. Most preferably, the heating means comprises a heating element and the housing comprises a cylinder located in the S-bend of the drainage pipe, the heating element extending longitudinally in the cylinder such that waste material flushed down the sink with water gathers in the cylinder whereby the water is boiled by the heating element and heat is conducted through the drainage pipe via steam and the boiling action of the water and waste material to destroy bacteria in the water as well as bacteria which collects on the inside of the drainage pipe. Preferably, the device includes an actuator which automatically actuates the heating element when water or the like passes down the drainage pipe. In a second embodiment, said housing is defined by a first member which receives a second member therein, the first member being at least partially spaced from the second member. Preferably, the second member is in contact with said first member along one side and said second member contains said heating means such that heat from the heating means may be conducted from the second member to the first member. Preferably, the heating means comprises two heating elements releasably sealed within said second member, said second member containing fluid for conducting heat from the elements to the second member. Preferably, the fluid is oil and preferably the housing has an outlet for allowing contaminated waste to pass from the housing. A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention, FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal, cross-sectional view of the device of figure 1, FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram of a circuit for supplying power to the device of Figures 1 and 2, FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a second and preferred embodiment of the invention, and FIGURE 5 is a circuit diagram for the embodiment of figure 4. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the device 10 comprises first outer member 12 of generally cylindrical form. The first memier 12 has an inlet 14 and an outlet 16. The outlet 16 may be a straight pipe which is connected with a drainage pipe (not shown) above the S-bend thereof or it may have an S-bend 18 integral therewith. A second cylindrical member 20 is provided in the first member 12 and forms a housing 5 as best seen in Figure 2 and is spaced from the first member at their ends 22 and 24 and about the circumference of the members. The first and second members define a housing 27 in which contaminated waste can gather as will be explained hereinafter. The outer member 12 has an open end 26 which is closed by a plate 28 rigidly connected to the second cylindrical member 20 when the second cylindrical member 20 is located within the first member 12. The plate 28 is connected to the first member 12 by bolts 30 to securely maintain the second member 20 within the first member 12. A pair of heating elements 32 and 34 are removably located in the second member 20. The elements 32 and 34 are held in a cap 36 which is screw threaded by thread 38 into an opening in the plate 28 which opening is provided with a cooperating screw thread. The elements 32 and 34 are supported by a support 40 and are independently powered by electrical energy supplied via an insulated conductor 42. An air bleed 44 may be provided through plate 28 to allow escape of any air from the interior of the second member 20. The second member 20 is filled with a fluid having a high boiling point, for example, non-carbon oil. Figure 3 shows a schematic circuit diagram for supplying power to the heating elements 32 and 34. rihe electrical energy is first conveyed through circuit breakers 36 from a conventional 240V outlet 38 to a timer 40 and then to the elements 32 and 34. The circuit breaker is used to disconnected power in the event of a failure in the heating elements 32 and 34 which may otherwise cause a "black out" in the area in which the device is used. The circuit breakers 36 are particularly advantageous if the device is to be used in a hospital to prevent any possibility of power supply disruption to essential equipment maintained in the hospital. The timer 40 which may be a Venner synchronous motor-driven multiset time switch may be used to selectively supply power to the elements 32 and 34 as it may not be necessary to continually heat the oil in the second member 20. Indeed, if the sink or the like, beneath which the device is connected is not used regularly, it may only be necessary to supply energy to the elements for a few hours a day. In operation, contaminated waste which is poured into the sink will pass down the drainage pipe (not shown) and through the device 10. Generally, the contaminated waste will be flushed down the sink with water from a tap above the basin (not shown) to which the drainage pipe and device 10 are attached. As the waste passes through the device it will tend to build up on the inside surface of the first member 10 and on the outside surface of the second member 20 as well as in the S-bend 18. Electrical energy which is supplied to the elements 32 and 34 will cause the same to heat the oil contained with the second member 20. Since oil has a high boiling point, the oil will become extremely hot and conduct heat to the second member 20. The second member 20 will in turn conduct heat into the first member 12 with the result that the entire device 12 will become extremely hot. The heat will therefore destroy any bacterial flora which may be present in the waste which gathers in the device 10 and any water and waste trapped in the housing 5 will be boiled, which boiling will also destroy bacteria in this waste and the boiling water will assist in destroying bacteria on the inside of the drainage pipe. The extent of heat conduction in the inlet and outlet pipes 14 and 16 can be controlled by selecting an appropriate length of inlet and outlet pipe and securing the same to the drainage pipe with appropriate connections (for example} connectors 50 and 52 in figure 1) with a heat resistant gasket disposed therebetween. Preferably, the first and second members 12 and 20 are fabricated from 16 gauge copper tube and the ends of these members which are joined are preferably silver braised. In the second and preferred embodiment shown in figures 4 and 5, a basin 50 has a drainage pipe 52 connected therewith by a coupling 54. Formed in the S-bend 56 of the pipe 52 is a water cylinder 58. The cylinder 58 may be formed integral with the pipe 52 or may be welded or otherwise coupled into the pipe. Above the cylinder 58, a branch 60 is provided and a flow switch 62, preferably a FS15 flow switch manufactured by M.E. Mack & Co. Pty. Ltd., of Box Hill, Victoria, Australia, is connected to the branch 60 by a coupling 65. The flow switch 62 includes a tongue or paddle 64 which extends into pipe 52 substantially across the diameter of the pipe 52. The tongue 64 has an aperture 66 therein to prevent waste material flushed down the sink from being trapped above the tongue 64. The branch 60 and flow switch 62 form an angle a with the pipe 52 of preferably about 850 so that the branch is slightly inclined to prevent water from building up or remaining in the branch 60. The cylinder 58 includes a heating element 68 and a probe 70 of an over-temperature cut-out mechanism to be described hereinafter. The heating element 68 and probe 70 are mounted on a member 72 which is screw-threaded into the cylinder 58 and contains contacts for supplying power to the element 68. A cover 74 is provided at the end of the cylinder 58 to house the member 72 and a manual reset cut-out switch 76. The probe 70 has a bellows type heat sensor or thermostat, preferably that made by T. L. Thermatic Controls Ltd., Canada, certified under E53438 therein, which is coupled to the switch 76 so that when the temperature in the cylinder 58 reaches a predetermined value the bellows expands to open switch 76 which normally closed. The function of the flow switch 62 is well known and will therefore not be fully described. Suffice it to say that when the tongue 64 is contacted by water of waste material, the tongue is displaced downwardly in figure 4 to actuate a micro switch represented schematically at 78 to complete a circuit to a pneumatic timer 80. The timer 80 is preferably an Agastat (trade mark) 7000 Series timer made by Amerace Ltd of Ontario, Canada. The timer may be "pre-programmed" to supply power, once actuated for a predetermined amount of time, to the heating element 68 in combination with a double pole relay 82 preferably manufactured by N.H.P. Pty. Ltd., of Rivers Street, Richmond Victoria, Australia, the function of which shall be clear from the following description of figure 5. Referring to figure 5 the micro-switch contact 78 which is normally open is closed by movement of tongue 64 when water or waste material is flushed down pipe 52. Closure of switch 78 supplies power to timer 80 which closes a double pole switch 84 which in turn supplies power to the double pole relay 82 which causes double pole switch 83 to close and thereby supply power to heating element 68. The over temperature cut-out switch 76 is provided in the series circuit to the double pole relay 82 and is coupled to the bellows (not shown) located in probe 70. If the temperature of the probe 70 reaches a predetermined value, for example a temperature indicative of the cylinder 58 boiling dry, the bellows (not shown) expands and causes switch 76 to open which in turn cuts off power to relay 82 which opens switch 83 to cut off power to element 68 to prevent the element from burning out. The switch 76 must be reset manually in order to again supply power to relay 82. Since the cylinder 58 is located in S-bend 56 of the pipe 52, the cylinder will normally have water therein, which water forms the normal plug in the S-bend. Upon water and waste material being passed down pipe 52, the flow switch 62 will actuate the heating element 68 as detailed above, to cause the water and waste material in cylinder 58 and the remainder of the S-bend 56 to be heated. As noted above, the timer 80 may be progranmled to supply power for a predetermined amount of time. It has been found that about 6 minutes is required to boil the water in the S-bend 56 and depending upon the nature of the bacteria which accumulates in the pipe 52, a further 2, to about 24 minutes may be required to destroy the bacteria in the pipe. Accordingly, the timer 80 may be programmed to supply power to the element 68 for between o and 30 minutes to destroy bacteria, with about 8 to 10 minutes being found the most suitable time period. Once this period has elapsed the timer automatically shuts off power to the element and remains in this condition until actuated by the flow switch 62. When actuated, the element 68 which is in contact with the water and waste material in the S-bend 56, boils the same to destroy bacteria therein. The boiling action in the cylinder causes boiling water to bubble throughout the pipe 52 and heat from the boiling water is circulated through the pipe 52, branch 60 and cylinder 58 to destroy any bacteria which may adhere to the surfaces of these members. Any bacteria, which of course passes out of pipe 52 is not a problem since it is not capable of contaminating sterile equipment. Heat resistant washers (not shown) may also be provided in the coupling 54 and at the outlet 90 of the pipe 52 to prevent heat conduction beyond pipe 52. A steam trap (not shown) may also be provided at the top of the pipe 52 to prevent steam from escaping from sink 50. The cylinder 58 may have a screw threaded inspection plug 85 which may be unscrewed to allow the inside of the cylinder to be inspected. The embodiments of this invention destroys substantially all bacteria which otherwise has been found to flourish in contaminated waste and the like which adheres to drainage pipes.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A device for destroying bacterial flora by sterilization of contaminated waste which contains the bacterial flora, said device characterized by a housing (5,58), said housing has an inlet (14,52) to allow waste material to pass into said housing, heating means (32,34,68) in said housing for heating the waste material such that any bacterial flora which gathers in or on said housing (5,58) may be sterilized by heat from said heating means (32,34,68). 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said housing (5,58) is defined by a first member (12) which receives a second member (20) therein, the second member (20) is in contact with said first member (12) at least along one side and said second member contains said heating means (32,34) such that heat from the heating means may be conducted from the second member (20) to the first member (12), said heating means (32,34) comprising two heating elements (32,34) releasably sealed within said second member (20), said second member (20) containing fluid for conducting heat from the elements (32,34) to the second member (20), such that waste which gathers in said housing (5) between the first and second members may be boiled by heat conducted from the second member to destroy bacteria in the housing. 3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said housing (5,58) comprises a water collecting housing (58), said water collecting housing (58) having the heating means (68) therein such that waste material collected in said housing may be boiled by said heating means (68) to destroy bacteria therein. 4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said housing (5,58) has an outlet (16) and said inlet (14) and said outlet (11) are adapted to be coupled with a drainage pipe (52) from a sink (50) or the like such that water together with the waste material can pass through the housing and out of the drainage pipe. 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein said housing is located in an S-bend (56) in the drainage pipe (52) such that waste material and water which generally form a water plug in the S-bend (56) will also be trapped in the housing (5,58) such that said heating means (32, 34,68) can selectively boil the water and waste material to destory bacteria in the waste and the boiling of the water together with the heat conduction through the pipe (52) also causing bacteria on the insidie of the drainage pipe between the sink (50) and the outlet (90) of the S-bend (56) to also be destroyed. 6. A device according to claim 1 or claim 3, wherein said device includes an actuator (62) for actuating said heating means (68) when water or waste material passes into the housing (58). 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said actuator (62) comprises a tongue member (64) projecting into the path of waste material and water into the housing (58) such that the water or waste material contacting said tongue (64) will cause the tongue (64) to move to close a contact (78) to thereby actuate the heating means (68). 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein a timing means (80) is coupled between said actuator (62). and said heating means (68) to actuate the heating means (68) for a desired time upon actuation of the actuator (62). 9. A device for destroying bacteria by the sterilization of contaminated waste which contains the bacteria, said device being characterized by: a housing t581 having an inlet and an outlet for connecting in an S-bend (56) of a drainage pipe (52) for allowing the waste material and water to pass into said housing for forming a plug in the housing and S-bend (56); a heating means (68) associated with said housing (58); ; an actuating means (62) for locating in the path of said water material in said drainage pipe (52) such that when said waste material passes said actuating means (62), said actuating means actuates the heating means (68) to boil the waste material and water which forms the plug in said housing (58) and S-bend (56), the boiling action of the water and waste material extending throughout the housing (58) and drainage pipe (52) between a basin (50) and outlet (90) of the S-bend (56) to destroy bacteria in the waste material and water as well as bacteria on the inside of the drainage pipe (52). 10. A device according to claim 9 wherein said actuating means (62) is housed in a branch (60) connected to said drainage pipe (52) above said housing (58), said branch (60) being inclined relative to said drainage pipe (52) to prevent water and waste material from collecting in the branch (60), said actuator (62) including a tongue member (64) which extends into the drainage pipe and a switch (78) such that when water and waste material contact the tongue member (64), the tongue member (64) is displaced to actuate the switch (78) to supply power to the heating means (68). 11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said tongue member (64) is provided with at least one aperture (66) to allow waste material in solid form to pass through the aperture. 12. A device according to claim 10, wherein a timer means (80) is coupled between the actuating means (62) and the heating means (68) such that upon actuation of the actuating means (62) the timer means (80) supplies power to the heating means (68) for a desired amount of time to cause boiling of the water and waste material. 13. A device according to claim 9, wherein said heating means comprises a heating element (68) disposed in said housing for directly heating the water and waste material in said housing. 14. A device according to claim 9, including shut-off means (70,76) for shutting off said heating element (68) if the water and waste material in the housing is completely boiled off or drops below a predetermined level.

Inventors: GEMMELL, LESLIE WALLACE
Applicants: GEMMELL, CRAIG, PAULL, NOEL W.
Application year: 1980
Main classification: A61L11
IPC codes: E03C1, A61L2, C02F1, A61L11