Waste container, particularly for the collection of toxic waste, such as that from laboratories

Abstract

The invention relates to a waste container (1) comprising a hollow body (2) for receiving a collection bag and a filling opening (3). The container (1) comprises an annular chamber (6) extending around the filling opening (3) and a hollow column (7). The annular chamber (6) is provided with air inlet ports (8) arranged opposite the bottom (4) of the body (2) in an active configuration of the container (1). The column (7), which includes at least one air outlet, extends outside the body (2), adjoining said body (2). Said column (7) houses a forced air circulation device, and said column (7) is, in the active configuration of the container, in fluidic communication with the annular chamber (6) by an airtight fluidic connection (13). Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Waste container, particularly for the collection of toxic waste, such as that from laboratories

[0001] The present invention relates to a waste container, in particular for the collection of toxic waste, such as that from laboratories.

[0002] It relates in particular to a waste container comprising a hollow body for receiving a collection bag and a filling opening, said body having a lower part forming the bottom and an upper part providing access to the inside of the body.

[0003] A number of toxic wastes are produced in various industries. These toxic wastes have the particularity of emitting toxic gases. These toxic gases can be released into the environment when the toxic waste is collected in a container that must be opened and closed to allow for collection. Solutions have been devised to limit this release of toxic gases into the environment and to protect users. However, the solutions developed to date are not entirely satisfactory and do not guarantee that the collection and storage of waste will be carried out under conditions that prevent the release of toxic gases into the environment without hindering the ease of collection.

[0004] An object of the invention is to provide a waste container of the aforementioned type whose design protects users without compromising the ease of use of the container.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a waste container comprising a hollow body for receiving a collection bag and a filling opening, said body having a lower part forming the bottom and an upper part providing access to the interior of the body, characterized in that the container comprises an annular chamber extending around the filling opening and a hollow column, in that the annular chamber is provided with air inlet orifices arranged opposite the bottom of the body in a so-called active configuration of the container, in that the column, which comprises a base, a top and at least one air outlet, extends, outside the body, in a manner adjoining said body, in that said column houses a forced air circulation device, and in that said column is, in the so-called active configuration of the container, in fluidic communication with the annular chamber by an airtight fluidic link.

[0006] The fact that the column, in the so-called active configuration of the container, is in fluidic communication with the annular chamber via an airtight fluidic link This system generates an airflow from inside the body to the inside of the column, passing through the annular chamber. This airflow draws away potentially toxic gases from the body and prevents them from being released into the environment. Integrating the forced air circulation system into the column ensures the quality of the suction. This allows the filling opening to remain open during collection phases without hindering the operator, thus facilitating waste collection. The placement of the annular chamber's air inlets at the base of the body allows the toxic gas flow to enter the annular chamber along a predominantly vertical trajectory, resulting in further increased efficiency.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the filling opening is provided in a hood, said hood being mounted on the body and movable between a position close to and a position away from the body, the position close to the body corresponding to the active configuration of the container. As the annular chamber surrounds the filling opening, the annular chamber is also provided in the hood. This configuration allows the annular chamber to partially close the upper part of the body. The airflow, potentially laden with toxic gases, can thus, by simple displacement along an essentially vertical trajectory, reach the annular chamber without complicating the design of the container.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the hood comprises a frame surrounding the filling opening, the annular chamber and the fluidic link being provided at the level of said frame.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the container includes a closing flap for the filling opening mounted inside the movable frame, preferably pivoting, between an open and a closed position of said filling opening. This closing flap facilitates access to the filling opening and can be permanently opened without affecting the operation of the container.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, in the active configuration of the container, the fluidic link for fluidic communication between the annular chamber and the column opens into the column at the top of said column, and the forced air circulation device is configured to generate an airflow from the top towards the base of said column. Again, the path of the airflow, potentially laden with toxic gases, is simplified to improve the efficiency of collecting and transporting the toxic gases.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the fluidic link for fluidic communication between the annular chamber and the column is formed by an ex- external radial growth of the annular chamber.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the external radial protrusion is in the form of a conduit delimited at least by a peripheral wall provided with an outlet orifice positioned opposite the open top of the column in the active configuration of the container, said conduit being blind.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the annular chamber is delimited by walls forming, in the active configuration of the container, one, a bottom wall of the annular chamber facing the bottom of the container, the air inlet orifices of the annular chamber which are provided in said bottom wall have the form of curved slots with their concavity facing the filling opening surrounded by said annular chamber, said air inlet orifices being distributed circumferentially around said filling opening. This arrangement allows for optimized suction making it possible to limit, or even prevent, any release of toxic gases into the environment.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the annular chamber communicates with the fluidic connection in an area called the communication zone, and the air inlet ports of the annular chamber located away from said communication zone have an opening area larger than the opening area of ​​the air inlet ports of the annular chamber located closer to the communication zone. This design allows for homogeneous air intake over the entire circumference of the annular chamber.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the so-called double-walled column is a column whose peripheral surface, connecting the top and bottom of the column and serving to delimit the column cavity within which the forced air circulation device is housed, is formed by a double wall. This arrangement makes it possible, on the one hand, to avoid the presence of obstacles to the airflow, for example electrical wires, in the column cavity, and on the other hand, to better isolate the airflow, potentially laden with toxic gases, from the outside.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the forced air circulation device divides the interior of the column into two sections, respectively called lower and upper, extending one above the other in the active configuration of the container.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the container comprises at least one filter disposed inside said column, the filter or at least one of the filters being accessible through a filter access opening formed in the peripheral surface connecting the top and the base of the column and serving to delimit the column cavity, this access opening being closed by a hatch. This filter is optional, in particular when the air outlet of the column is connected to a pre-existing air extraction system incorporating at least one filter.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least the hood and the column are parts made of high-density polyethylene, preferably rotomolded. This results in simplified manufacturing. Thus, the annular chamber, the filling opening, and the fluidic connection can be made from a single piece.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the container comprises a sealing gasket formed by one or more seals interposed, on the one hand, between the hood and the column, and on the other hand, between the hood and the body, in the container's active configuration, to allow a sealed flow of fluid from the inside of the body to the column via the annular chamber. The presence of a sealing gasket limits the risk of drawing in uncontaminated outside air. This again results in increased efficiency. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] represents a perspective view of a container according to the invention in active configuration;

[0022] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of a container according to the invention in configuration not active;

[0023] [Fig.3] represents a partially cross-sectional and perspective view of a container in accordance with the invention in active configuration to illustrate the circulation of the airflow potentially laden with toxic gases inside the container;

[0024] [Fig.4] represents a perspective view of a container according to the invention with a portion of the elements in exploded position in the inactive configuration of the container;

[0025] [Fig.5] represents a perspective view of the hood;

[0026] [Fig.6] represents a view from under the hood;

[0027] [Fig.7] represents a perspective view of a container according to the invention in Configuration not active during the setup of a collection bag:

[0028] [Fig.8] represents a schematic cross-sectional view of a container conforming to the invention in the active configuration of the container.

[0029] The container 1 for generally toxic waste of the invention may be of the type shown in Figures 1, 4, and 8. This container 1 comprises a hollow tubular body 2, here circular in cross-section, in the form of a container open at the top. This hollow body 2 therefore has a lower portion forming the bottom 4 and an upper portion 5 providing access to the interior of the body 2. The container 1 also includes a filling opening 3 through which waste can be introduced for collection and storage in the body 2. The filling opening is located in the upper part of the body 2 or above the body 2.

[0030] The body 2 is generally fitted with a waste collection bag 23. For this purpose, the body 2 can be equipped at its upper part 5 with a system 25 for holding the bag 23 in the open position within the body 2. This holding system 25, in the example shown in [Fig. 7], consists of two hoops, generally metallic, pivoting about an axis transverse to the body 2. These hoops, in one position, form a circle extending in a plane substantially parallel to the bottom 4 of the body 2. The bag 23 is thus held in a position in which it follows the wall of the body 2 and presents its upper part in the open position.

[0031] The container 1 further includes an annular chamber 6 extending around the filling opening 3 and surrounding at least partially, preferably totally, the filling opening 3. This annular chamber 6 is provided with air intake orifices 8 arranged opposite the bottom 4 of the body 2 in an active configuration of the container 1, conforming to that shown in [Fig.1].

[0032] In the example shown, the filling opening 3 is provided in a hood 14. The hood 14 is a pivoting hood mounted on the body 2, which pivots between a position close to and a position away from the body 2. The close position of the body 2 corresponds to the active configuration of the container 1. This hood 14 could similarly have been mounted to slide, for example.

[0033] The cover 14 is coupled to the rest of the container by a hinge for pivot mounting. The cover 14 is therefore pivotally movable from a position close to the body 2, in which it rests against the upper part of the body 2, to a position away from the body 2 as illustrated in [Fig. 2]. The position in which the cover 14 is away from the body 2 corresponds to the inactive configuration of the container 1.

[0034] In the examples shown, particularly in Figures 5 and 6, the hood 14 includes a frame surrounding the filling opening 3. The frame is a thick, hollow frame. The frame forms the annular chamber 6.

[0035] The container 1 includes a valve 15 for closing the filling opening 3. This valve 15 is mounted inside the pivoting movable frame of said filling opening 3 between an open and a closed position. This valve 15 is in the form of a circular plate whose shape complements that of the filling opening 3, which is also shown to be circular. This valve 15 is particularly visible in [Fig. 1].

[0036] As illustrated in [Fig. 3], the annular chamber 6 is delimited by walls forming, in the active configuration of the container 1, one, a bottom wall 16 of the annular chamber 6 facing the bottom of the container 1. The air inlet ports 8 of the annular chamber 6 are provided in this bottom wall 16. These air inlet ports 8 each have the shape of a curved slot with its concavity facing towards the filling opening 3 surrounded by the annular chamber 6. These air inlet orifices 8 are distributed circumferentially around the filling opening 3. The filling opening 3 is circular in shape and the air inlet orifices 8 are arranged in a circle around the filling opening 3. The circle is a circle whose center passes through the center of the filling opening 3.

[0037] As illustrated in [Fig. 6], these air inlet orifices 8 have an opening area that can vary from one air inlet orifice 8 to another. The way in which this opening area varies will be described below.

[0038] The container 1 finally includes a hollow column 7 which is attached, that is to say adjacent, to the body 2, extending along the body 2 outside of the body 2. This column 7 includes a base 9, a top 10 and at least one air outlet 11 which, in the example shown, is located at the base 9 of the column 7, as can be seen in [Fig. 3]. Indeed, the column 7 includes a top 10 and a base 9 as well as an air outlet 11.

[0039] This air outlet 11 can open to the open air, as in [Fig. 2], or be connected to a fluid circulation network, as illustrated in [Fig. 3]. This column 7 is, in the examples shown, open at its top 10 and at its base 9. This column 7 has a square external cross-section in the examples shown, but could have been circular or otherwise without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0040] A base allows the column 7 and the body 2 to be held in an upright position, i.e. in the vertical state.

[0041] In the examples shown, the base of the column 7 extends above the ground in the upright position of the assembly. This column 7 houses a forced air circulation device 12, generally in the form of a fan. This forced air circulation device 12 divides the interior of the column 7 into two sections, referred to respectively as lower 71 and upper 72. These lower 71 and upper 72 sections extend one above the other in the active configuration of the container 1, in which the column 7 extends in the upright position.

[0042] The forced air circulation device 12 is preferably positioned in the upper section 72 of the column 7 to be as close as possible to the annular chamber 6.

[0043] As illustrated in [Fig. 4], a grid 24 can be provided between the top of the open column 7 and the forced air circulation device 12. This prevents an operator from injuring their fingers by contact with the forced air circulation device 12 in the inactive configuration of the container 1.

[0044] In the examples shown, the hood 14 and the column 7 are high-density polyethylene parts, preferably rotomolded, i.e., manufactured by rotomolding. The rotomolding process is visible on the final part.

[0045] The container 1 may include at least one filter 19 disposed inside the column 7. This filter 19 may be accessible through an access opening 20 to the filter 19 provided in the peripheral surface connecting the top 10 and the base 9 of the column 7, and serving to delimit the cavity of the column 7. In the examples shown, this access opening 20 is closed by a hatch 21. Such a filter 19 is visible in [Fig. 3].

[0046] Alternatively, and not shown, column 7 may be without a filter and the filter may be placed on the air circulation circuit of the type shown in [Fig.3] which connects the air outlet of column 7 provided at the base of column 7 to a pre-existing air circulation circuit.

[0047] As illustrated in [Fig. 3], the column 7 can be a so-called double-walled column. Indeed, the peripheral surface connecting the top 10 and the base 9 of the column 7, and serving to delimit the cavity of the column 7 within which the forced air circulation device 12 is housed, can be formed by a double wall 18. Thus, the electrical wiring, as well as any element potentially disturbing the airflow, can be arranged between the two walls. The airflow generated by the forced air circulation device 12 is thus subjected to minimal disturbance inside the column 7.

[0048] The column 7 is, in the active configuration of the container, that is to say in the configuration in which the air inlet ports 8 of the annular chamber 6 are arranged opposite the bottom 4 of the body 2, in fluidic communication with the annular chamber 6 by an airtight fluidic link 13, to allow the generation of a channeled airflow from the inside of the body 2 to the inside of the column 7 via the annular chamber 6.

[0049] This active configuration also corresponds to the position in which the hood 14 is brought closer to the body 2 and in particular rests on the body 2 and on the top of the column 7.

[0050] To provide a leak-proof contact between the cover 14 and the column 7, and between the cover 14 and the body 2, the container 1 includes a sealing gasket 22. This sealing gasket 22 may be formed of one or more seals. These seals are interposed, on the one hand, between the cover 14 and the column 7, and on the other hand, between the cover 14 and the body 2, in the active configuration of the container 1 to allow a leak-proof flow of fluid from the inside of the body 2 to the column 7 via the annular chamber 6.

[0051] The risk that the forced air circulation device will draw air from outside the body 2 is thus reduced.

[0052] The circuit of the channeled airflow from the body 2 to the air outlet 11 of the column 7 via the annular chamber 6 is illustrated in figures 3 and 5.

[0053] It is understood that, in this active configuration of container 1, the air, whether or not it contains toxic gas from body 2, cannot be directly vented into the atmosphere from body 2. This air is forced to follow the path dictated by the forced air circulation device 12. However, the interior of body 2 remains accessible through the filling opening 3, which can remain permanently open if the operator so desires, without disrupting this forced air circulation.

[0054] In the non-active configuration of the container 1, as illustrated in [Fig.2], the hood is in a position away from the body 2 and the annular chamber 6 is no longer in fluidic communication via the fluidic link 13 with the top of the column 7, so that the air potentially charged with toxic gas contained in the body 2 can be released into the environment.

[0055] In the active configuration of the container 1, the fluidic link 13, allowing fluidic communication between the annular chamber 6 and the column 7, opens into the column 7 at the level of the top 10 of the column 7, and the forced air circulation device 12 is configured to generate an airflow from the top 10 towards the base 9 of said column 7.

[0056] In the example of Figures 4 and 5, the fluidic connection 13, for fluidic communication between the annular chamber 6 and the column 7, is formed by an external radial protrusion 130 of the annular chamber 6. This external radial protrusion 130 is in the form of a blind conduit, that is to say, a conduit with one end face closed. This conduit is delimited by a peripheral wall provided with an outlet orifice 131 positioned opposite the open apex 10 of the column 7 in the active configuration of the container 1, that is to say, in the configuration in which this external radial protrusion 130 rests on the apex of the column 7. The open end face of the blind conduit opens into the annular chamber 6. The annular chamber 6 communicates with the fluidic link 13 in an area called communication zone 17. This communication zone 17 corresponds to the open end face of the blind conduit.The air inlet orifices 8 of the annular chamber 6 located away from the communication zone 17 have a larger opening area than the opening area of ​​the air inlet orifices 8 located closer to the communication zone 17. This results in homogeneity of the air inside the annular chamber 6.

[0057] The annular chamber 6 and the fluidic link form the hood 14, which is made in one piece. This piece is, as mentioned above, preferably manufactured by rotomolding.

[0058] In the active configuration of container 1, the hood is in a position close to body 2 and rests on body 2 and column 7, as illustrated in [Fig.1].

[0059] The electric forced air circulation device 12 is in operation thanks to the presence of an on / off switch preferably located on column 7. This forced air circulation device 12 generates, permanently, an airflow from body 2 to air outlet 11 of column 7 in active configuration of container 1.

[0060] The air potentially charged with toxic gas and contained in the body 2 is drawn into the annular chamber 6 through the air intake orifices 8, passes from the annular chamber 6 to the top 10 of the column 7 by the fluidic link 13, travels through the column 7 from the top 10 to the base 9 of the column 7 to exit the column 7 through the air outlet 11 of the column 7 provided in the base 9 of the column 7, this base 9 being away from the ground.

[0061] This permanent circulation does not in any way prevent the operator from using the container 1 as a conventional bin by introducing waste into the body 2 through the filling opening 3 which can be closed by a flap 15.

[0062] Such a waste container 1 can be used for the collection of toxic waste without the release of toxic gas into the environment.

Claims

Claims

1. Waste container (1) comprising a hollow body (2) for receiving a collection bag (23) and a filling opening (3), said body (2) having a lower part forming a bottom (4) and an upper part (5) for access to the interior of the body (2), characterized in that the container (1) comprises an annular chamber (6) extending around the filling opening (3) and a hollow column (7), in that the annular chamber (6) is provided with air intake orifices (8) arranged opposite the bottom (4) of the body (2) in a so-called active configuration of the container (1), in that the column which comprises a base (9), a top (10) and at least one air outlet (11), extends, outside the body (2), adjacent to said body (2), in that said column (7) houses a forced circulation device (12) of air, and in that said column (7) is, in the so-called active configuration of the container,in fluid communication with the annular chamber (6) by an airtight fluid connection (13).,

2. Waste container (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the filling opening (3) is provided in a cover (14), said cover (14) being mounted, on the body (2), movable between a position close to and a position separated from the body (2), the position close to the body (2) corresponding to the active configuration of the container (1).

3. Waste container (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the cover (14) comprises a frame surrounding the filling opening (3), the annular chamber (6) and the fluid connection (13) being arranged at the level of said frame.

4. Waste container (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises a valve (15) for closing the filling opening (3) mounted inside the movable frame, preferably pivoting, between an open position and a closed position of said filling opening (3).

5. Waste container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, in the active configuration of the container (1), the fluid connection (13) for fluid communication between the annular chamber (6) and the column (7) opens into the column (7) at the top (10) of said column (7) and in that the forced air circulation device (12) is configured to generate an air flow from the top (10) towards the base of said column (7).

6. Waste container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fluid connection (13) for fluid communication between the annular chamber (6) and the column (7) is formed by an external radial protrusion (130) of the annular chamber (6).

7. Waste container (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the external radial protrusion (130) is in the form of a conduit delimited at least by a peripheral wall provided with an outlet orifice (131) positioned opposite the open top (10) of the column (7) in the active configuration of the container (1), said conduit being blind.

8. Waste container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the annular chamber (6) is delimited by walls forming, in the active configuration of the container (1), one, a bottom wall (14) of the annular chamber (6) facing the bottom (4) of the container (1), in that the air intake orifices (8) of the annular chamber (6) which are formed in said bottom wall (16) have the shape of curved slots with a concavity facing the filling opening (3) surrounded by said annular chamber (6), said air intake orifices (8) being distributed circumferentially around said filling opening (3).

9. Waste container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the annular chamber (6) communicates with the fluid connection (13) in a zone called the communication zone (17) and in that the air intake orifices (8) of the annular chamber (6) remote from said communication zone (17) have an opening area of ​​greater dimension than the opening area of ​​the air intake orifices (8) of the annular chamber (6) closer to the communication zone (17).

10. Waste container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the so-called double-skinned column (7) is a column whose peripheral surface connecting the top (10) and the base (9) of the column (7) and serving to delimit the cavity of the column (7) inside which the forced air circulation device (12) is housed is formed by a double wall (18).

11. Waste container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the forced air circulation device (12) divides the interior of the column (7) into two sections, respectively called lower (71) and upper (72), extending one above the other in the active configuration of the container (1).

12. Waste container (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the container (1) comprises at least one filter (19) arranged inside said column (7), the or at least one of the filters (19) being accessible through an opening (20) for access to the filter (19) formed in the peripheral surface connecting the top (10) and the base (9) of the column (7) and serving to delimit the cavity of the column (7), this access opening (20) being closed by a hatch (21).

13. Waste container (1) according to claim 2 or one of claims 3 to 12 taken in combination with claim 2, characterized in that at least the cover (14) and the column (7) are parts made of high-density polyethylene, preferably rotationally molded.

14. Waste container (1) according to claim 2 or one of claims 3 to 13 taken in combination with claim 2, characterized in that the container (1) comprises a sealing gasket (22) formed of one or more seals interposed on the one hand, between the cover (14) and the column (7), on the other hand, between the cover (14) and the body (2), in the active configuration of the container (1), to allow a sealed circulation of a flow of fluid from the interior of the body (2) towards the column (7) via the annular chamber (6).

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