초록 ▼

A processor and method for treating infectious waste utilizes a processing chamber having an inlet for delivering processing water at an elevated temperature and under pressure into the processing chamber, an opening in the processing chamber for receiving of infectious waste and for removing treate

A processor and method for treating infectious waste utilizes a processing chamber having an inlet for delivering processing water at an elevated temperature and under pressure into the processing chamber, an opening in the processing chamber for receiving of infectious waste and for removing treated waste, an agitator for opening the waste material to the action of the water at elevated temperature and pressure. A basket and/or a sieve may be carried in the processing chamber to facilitate drainage of spent processing water, and an apparatus may be included for removing neutralized waste through the opening in the processing chamber either by inverting the processor or by removing and inverting the basket and/or sieve.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system for processing infectious waste to neutralize the waste, said system comprising: a processing chamber for receiving infectious waste and processing water with said processing water being at an elevated temperature sufficient to process said infectious waste, said pro

What is claimed is: 1. A system for processing infectious waste to neutralize the waste, said system comprising: a processing chamber for receiving infectious waste and processing water with said processing water being at an elevated temperature sufficient to process said infectious waste, said processing chamber forming an opening through which to receive and remove said waste; a closure member carried adjacent to said processing chamber, said closure member positionable over said opening formed in said processing chamber so as to seal the processing chamber closed and removable from said opening of said processing chamber to permit receipt of said waste and removal of said waste after said waste has been neutralized; a holding tank connected to said processing chamber, said holding tank supplying said processing water at said elevated temperature sufficient to process said infectious waste to said processing chamber; and a filter disposed between said processing chamber and said holding tank, said filter filtering said processing water that exits said processing chamber and supplying at least a portion of said filtered processing water back to said holding tank to be reused in the processing chamber. 2. A system as in claim 1, further comprising an agitator extending within said processing chamber, said agitator contactable with said waste and processing water. 3. A system as in claim 2, wherein said agitator comprises a rotatable internal shaft, said internal shaft having an axis extends through a process chamber. 4. A system as in claim 3, wherein a tapered blade carrier is connected to a first end of said shaft, said blade carrier having a plurality of blades pivoted about pivot points on said tapered blade carrier. 5. A system as in claim 4, wherein said blades in a resting position are biased upward about parallel to said axis of said internal shaft and, upon rotation of said shaft, centrifugal force causes said blades to extend from said blade carrier about said pivot points into outward positions as measured from said axis of said internal shaft. 6. A system as in claim 5, wherein a plurality of torsion springs operably connects said blades to said blade carrier to permit said blades to sling said waste that wraps around said tapered blade carrier off of said tapered blade carrier and said blades, said wrapped waste is forced upward where said waste moves said blades upwardly overcoming said centrifugal force normally biasing said blades outwardly, causing said blades to sling off said waste, said blades returning to their outward centrifugal forced bias after being freed of said waste. 7. A system as in claim 2, further comprising a sieve apparatus disposed within said processing chamber, said sieve apparatus containing the waste while within said processing chamber and facilitating drainage of said processing water. 8. A system as in claim 7, wherein said sieve apparatus comprises an integral sieve that is positioned in a bottom portion of said processing chamber. 9. A system as in claim 8, wherein said processing chamber is rotatable about an axis to facilitate the delivery and removal of said waste into and from said processing chamber. 10. A system as in claim 9, wherein upon rotation of said processing chamber, said processing chamber discards said waste onto a conveyor. 11. A system as in claim 9, wherein a delivery arm is disposed beside said processing chamber, said delivery arm moveable in a manner that allows said delivery arm to pick up containers holding said infectious waste to dump said containers into said processing chamber. 12. A system as in claim 7, wherein said sieve apparatus comprises a removable basket constructed to be received by said processing chamber. 13. A system as in claim 12, wherein said removable basket has a seal around a top of said basket to retain said waste in said basket. 14. A system as in claim 13, wherein said removable basket has an aperture in a bottom portion of said basket so that, when said basket is placed into said processing chamber, said agitator extends through said aperture in said bottom portion of said basket. 15. A system as in claim 14, wherein said aperture in said bottom portion of said basket is constructed to sealably receive said agitator. 16. A system as in claim 12, further comprising a removal apparatus disposed above said opening of said processing chamber, said removal apparatus lifting said basket from said processing chamber. 17. A system as in claim 16, wherein said removal apparatus comprises a hoist. 18. A system as in claim 7, wherein said sieve apparatus defines holes having a diameter of about 0.020 inch to about 0.078 inch. 19. A system as in claim 7, wherein said sieve apparatus defines holes spaced about 0.040 inches apart to about 0.125 inches apart. 20. A system as in claim 7, wherein said sieve apparatus defines holes that are about 0.033 inches in diameter at a spacing of about 0.055 inches apart. 21. A system as in claim 1, wherein said closure member is lowered onto said processing chamber and latched into position by means of a plurality of latch arms. 22. A system as in claim 21, wherein a first end of each of said latch arms is connected to a rotatable hub carried on said closure member, when said hub is rotated in a first direction said latch arms rotate causing a second end of each of said latch arms to latch said closure member onto said processing chamber, and when said hub is rotated in a second direction said latch arms rotate causing said second end of each of said latch arms to unlatch said closure member from said processing chamber. 23. A system as in claim 22, wherein connecting rods are operably disposed between said latch arms and hub. 24. A system as in claim 23, wherein a hydraulic cylinder rotates said rotating hub. 25. A system as in claim 23, wherein said second end of each of said latch arm has a roller that is moveable under a chamber flange on said processing chamber. 26. A system as in claim 25, wherein the movement of said latch arms causes said rollers to travel slightly past a pivot point on said latch arm, thus locking said closure member into place. 27. A system as in claim 25, wherein said hub comprises a multi-fingered hub. 28. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a transfer tank disposed between said filter and said holding tank, at least a first portion of said process water passing through said transfer tank from said filter to said holding tank under pressure with a second portion of said process water being retained in said transfer tank. 29. A system as in claim 28, further comprising a heat exchanger having two adjacent sides with a first side of said two sides operably connected to said transfer tank and a second side of said two sides operably connected to said holding tank, whereby said second portion of said process water from said transfer tank is drained through said first side of said heat exchanger and new process water being supplied to said holding tank is run through said second side of said heat exchanger so that said second portion of said process water transfers heat to said new process water. 30. A system as in claim 28, wherein said waste in said processing chamber is cooled after the process water is drained from said processing chamber by a supply of water. 31. A system as in claim 28, wherein said filter is connectable to a supply of water to flush said filter on a periodic basis.