Macerator

Abstract

A macerator 1, suitable for macerating bedpans 30, comprises a maceration chamber 10 having an opening 12 at a top of the maceration chamber; an impeller 20 adjacent a base of the maceration chamber,

Description

Technical Field The invention relates to a macerator. Background of the Invention Macerators process solid waste products by reducing the solid product to a slurry in water, which can then be more readily disposed of through conventional drainage conduits. There is a risk of spillage of waste when loading waste into macerators, in particular where the waste is a bedpan holding liquid waste. It is an objective of the current invention to address some of the limitations associated with the current state of the art. Summary of the Invention A first aspect of the invention provides a macerator for macerating bedpans, comprising a maceration chamber having an opening ata top of the maceration chamber; an impeller adjacent a base of the maceration chamber, an openable lid for covering the opening in the top of the maceration chamber which, wherein the lid is openable to provide user access to insert maceratable materials into the maceration chamber, and wherein the opening comprises a diameter measured between the highest point and the lowest point of the opening, and wherein the diameter is inclined at an angle of between 10 and 45 degrees to the horizontal. Providing a macerator having an inclined opening providing access to the maceration chamber of the macerator may allow a user of the macerator to more easily load waste to be macerated into the macerator compared to a macerator having a substantially horizontal opening. The inclined opening may be particularly useful when bedpans containing waste are loaded into the macerator, as the inclined opening may reduce the likelihood of waste spilling out of the bedpan and onto an external surface of the macerator. The macerator may be wall mounted or floor mounted. When floor mounted it is assumed that the floor will be substantially horizontal, e.g. less than around 5 degrees from horizontal. The impeller may be arranged to rotate about an impeller axis arranged substantially vertically. A portion of the impeller may be located at a lowest point of the base. The macerator may be a generally gravity fed macerator such that waste to be macerated and macerated waste is drawn through the maceration chamber and any subsequent drainage systems at least partly by gravity. Providing an impeller arranged to rotate about a substantially vertical impeller axis may therefore increase the region over which waste may be macerated since the impeller is provided adjacent the base of the maceration chamber. In particular providing at least a portion of the impeller at a lowest portion of the base may reduce the likelihood of any waste falling outside of the macerating region due to gravity. The macerator may have a drain inlet adjacent the impeller. The drain inlet may be (solely) gravity fed, i.e. in the absence of a pumped drainage system coupled to the drain inlet. The drain inlet may be always open. At the end of each macerator cycle the maceration chamber may fully drain through the drain inlet. The impeller may comprise one or more projections for macerating extending from the impeller into the maceration chamber. The one or more projections may be directly visible (i.e. line of sight) to the user via the opening when the lid is open. Each projection may also be referred to as a blade, a finger or a stud. Each projection may be fixed to the impeller such that it rotates with the impeller to follow an orbit around the impeller axis. Providing at least one projection may assist in macerating waste, for example the projection(s) may help to break apart any large solid waste such as whole bedpans into smaller solids. The projections may also help to free any solid waste which becomes stuck or trapped in a region away from the impeller. Where the macerator is filled with water to aid maceration, the projections may help to create movement of water within the maceration zone, which may further aid maceration and / or flow of macerated waste. The macerator may have a front side for positioning nearest a user. The inclined diameter of the opening may slope downwardly towards the front side. Providing the front of the opening lower than a rear side of the opening may improve the ease of loading waste to be macerated, in particular bedpans containing waste, into the macerator from in front of the macerator. The lid may have a pivotal connection to a body of the macerator. A pivotal connection may provide a convenient means of coupling the lid to the macerator. A pivotal connection may also improve the ease of opening the lid for a user, for example by allowing them to open the lid using one hand. The macerator may have a rear side for positioning furthest away from the user, and wherein the pivotal connection is towards a rear of the body. Providing the pivotal connection towards a rear of the body of the macerator may further improve ease of opening the lid for a user accessing the macerator from the front of the macerator. The pivotal connection may be a simple hinge, or a complex hinge providing a kinetic. The macerator may have a rear side for positioning furthest away from the user. In the open position the lid may be adjacent the rear side. Arranging the lid to be adjacent the rear side of the macerator in the open position may position the lid further from the user in the open position. This may improve the ease of loading waste into the macerator from the front. The diameter of the opening may form an angle of between 10 and 30 degrees to the horizontal, preferably an angle of around 20 degrees. Providing the diameter of the opening at approximately 20 degrees may be optimal for ease of access to insert the maceratable materials into the maceration chamber whilst ensuring compactness of the macerator. The opening may be substantially circular. A substantially circular opening may provide a convenient shape into which waste of a variety of shapes and sizes may be loaded into the macerator. Alternatively, the opening may be an oval or other shape, including a non-regular shape. The opening may be non-planar. The opening may be curved or comprise a step change with respect to the diameter of the opening measured between the highest point and the lowest point of the opening. Providing a non-planar opening may improve the ease of loading waste into the macerator from, for example, a side of the macerator. The profile of the opening may be tailored to improve the ease of loading specific waste to be macerated, such as for example a bedpan, into the macerator. A non-planar opening may also improve sealing of the lid to the opening and / or accommodate a variety of lid opening mechanisms for coupling the lid to the maceration chamber. An upper portion of the maceration chamber may have a side wall formed as a substantially right circular cone truncated by the opening. A right circular cone may provide a convenient shape for manufacturing the maceration chamber. The outward taper away from the opening, particularly towards the rear of the maceration chamber, may also help with insertion of the maceratable materials in a horizontal orientation through the angled opening from the front side of the macerator. A lower portion of the maceration chamber may have a side wall extending from around the circumference of the base. The side wall may make an angle of at least 90 degrees with the base at all points around the circumference. Providing a lower side wall portion meeting the base of the maceration chamber at an angle of at least 90 degrees may help to direct the flow of macerated waste around the maceration chamber, which may help further maceration of the waste. The base portion having the impeller may lie substantially parallel to the diameter of the opening. Providing the base portion having the impeller parallel to the inclined opening may improve ease of manufacture of the maceration chamber. Providing an inclined base may also encourage waste to be macerated and / or macerated waste to fall towards the lowest portion of the base, which may help, for example, drainage of macerated waste out of the maceration chamber. The base portion having the impeller may lie either horizontal, or at an angle to the horizontal. Providing an inclined base may encourage waste to be macerated and / or macerated waste to fall towards the lowest portion of the base, which may help, for example, drainage of macerated waste out of the maceration chamber. The base portion having the impeller may be inclined at an angle to the horizontal and inclined oppositely to the diameter of the opening. Providing a base inclined oppositely to the opening may reduce the likelihood of waste falling into the maceration chamber from splashing back out through the opening. The maceration chamber may define a maceration zone in a lower part of the chamber volume, and in which the impeller causes maceration of maceratable materials. Providing the maceration zone in a lower part of the chamber volume may reduce the likelihood of waste to be macerated avoiding the maceration zone. This may reduce the likelihood of waste remaining after a maceration cycle. The macerator may be configured to process maceratable products including incontinence briefs, pads, pans, wipes or dog waste. The macerator may be configured to receive a maceratable pan in a substantially horizontal orientation through the opening. Arranging the macerator to receive a bedpan in a substantially horizontal orientation through the opening may reduce the likelihood of waste within the bedpan being spilt during loading of the bedpan into the maceration chamber, since the bedpan does not need to be tilted to be received in the macerator. The macerator may comprise a cleaning fluid inlet into the maceration chamber for cleaning all interior surfaces of the maceration chamber. Providing a cleaning fluid inlet into the maceration chamber for cleaning the interior of the maceration chamber may improve hygiene and cleanliness of the macerator by removing any waste stuck to the walls of the maceration chamber following maceration. The lid may comprise a first lid portion and a second lid portion, the first lid portion movably coupled to the second lid portion (e.g. by a hinge). Providing the lid as two connected portions may for example allow the volume occupied by the lid in an open position to be smaller than that of a lid comprising a single portion only. Brief Description of the Drawings One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a macerator; Figure 2 shows a side view of the macerator of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view of a macerator according to a first example; Figure 4 shows a macerator according to a second example; Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view of a macerator according to a third example; Figure 6 shows a cross sectional view of a macerator according to a fourth example; Figure 7 shows a cross sectional view of a macerator according to a fifth example; and Figure 8 shows a macerator according to a sixth example. Detailed Description Figure 1 shows a macerator 1 for macerating solids with water to produce macerated waste (which may be referred to as a slurry) which may more easily be distributed through drainage systems such as waste pipes, for example in a hospital. The water may be introduced to the macerator 1 using nozzles (not shown). More generally, the macerator 1 may comprise a cleaning fluid inlet into the maceration chamber (such as nozzles injecting water) for cleaning all interior surfaces of the macerator 1. This process of maceration may also be referred to as processing waste. In particular, the macerator 1 is suitable for macerating bedpans. A bedpan is here defined as a container used to collect waste, such as for example urine or faeces from a bed-bound patient. Bedpans suitable for maceration by the macerator 1 are disposable and manufactured from a maceratable material, such as for example a pulp. The maximum dimensions of a bedpan suitable for maceration by the macerator 1 may be 370 millimetres by 320 millimetres by 140 millimetres. The macerator 1 may further be configured to process healthcare waste such as incontinence briefs, pads, wipes or dog waste. The macerator 1 is a free-standing macerator comprising a lid 2 movable between a closed position (as shown in Figure 1) and an open position (as indicated in Figure 2). The lid 2 may be coupled to a body 4 of the macerator 1 via a pivotal connection 6. The pivotal connection 6 may comprise a simple hinge joint, and movement of the lid 2 may be manual or electrically actuated. The lid 2 may comprise a handle for lifting and / or may be opened using a foot pedal (not shown). The macerator 1 comprises a maceration chamber 10 in which solid waste is macerated as shown in Figure 3. There is provided an opening 12 at the top of the maceration chamber 10. In the closed position, the lid 2 covers the opening 12 to prevent access to the maceration chamber 12. The lid 2 may comprise a seal, optionally a compressible seal, configured to form a watertight seal with the macerator body 4 when the lid is in the closed position. When the lid 2 is in the open position as shown in Figure 3, a user of the macerator (who may be referred to hereinafter as a user) is provided access to insert or load waste to be macerated into the macerator chamber 10 via the opening 12. The opening 12 may be substantially circular, which may provide a convenient shape for allowing waste of varying shapes and / or sizes to be loaded into the maceration chamber 10. Alternatively, the opening 12 may be oval, rectangular or any other shape. The shape and / or size of the opening 12 may be selected based upon the waste to be macerated. Adjacent the base of the maceration chamber 10 there is provided an impeller 20 arranged to rotate about an impeller axis Al. The impeller 20 is configured to break apart solid waste and may therefore comprise one or more projections 22 extending from the impeller 20 into the maceration chamber 10 to move and break apart large pieces of solid waste as the impeller 10 rotates. Each projection 22 may also be referred to as a rotating projection, a blade, a finger or a stud. The one or more projections 22 are directly visible to the user (i.e. line of sight) via the opening 12 when the lid 2 is in the open position as described previously. That is to say that there is no obstruction between the opening 12 and the one or more projections 22. Arranging the maceration chamber 10 in this way may reduce the likelihood of maceratable waste loaded through the opening becoming lodged or stuck in a position or location which cannot be captured by the one or more projections. Water is introduced into the maceration chamber 10 to form a slurry as the large pieces of solid waste are broken apart. The macerator may have a drain inlet adjacent the impeller. The drain inlet may be (solely) gravity fed, i.e. in the absence of a pumped drainage system coupled to the drain inlet. The drain inlet may be always open. At the end of each macerator cycle the maceration chamber may fully drain through the drain inlet. The opening 12 comprises a diameter D measured in a straight line between two points around the perimeter of the opening 12. It will be appreciated that the opening 12 may be non-circular and still comprise a diameter D, and further that the diameter D does not necessarily refer to the greatest straight-line distance between two points around the perimeter of the opening 12. The diameter D is here defined as the straight line measured between the highest point 12a and the lowest point 12b around the perimeter of the opening, as indicated by the crosses in Figure 3. The highest and lowest points 12a, 12b about the perimeter of the opening 12 are measured relative to the horizontal. In all embodiments, the diameter D of the opening 12 is inclined at an angle of between 10 degrees and 45 degrees relative to the horizontal. Preferably, the diameter D forms an angle of between 10 degrees and 30 degrees with the horizontal, further preferably an angle of 20 degrees to the horizontal, which be optimal for ease of access to insert the maceratable materials into the maceration chamber whilst ensuring compactness of the macerator. The angle that the diameter D forms with the horizontal may be selected based upon the maximum size of a bedpan or other waste to be received by the macerator 1. Given the maximum size of a bedpan suitable for maceration by the macerator 1 described previously, an angle of 20 degrees may allow the leading edge of the bedpan to pass through the opening 12 and into the maceration chamber 10 without a user of the macerator 1 needing to move their hand inside the macerator 1. Inclining the opening relative to the horizontal may reduce the likelihood of waste being spilt whilst being loaded into the maceration chamber. In the example shown in Figure 3 the macerator 1, in particular the opening 12, is configured to receive a bedpan 30. The bedpan 30 contains waste to be macerated and is itself made from a maceratable material. Providing an inclined opening allows a user of the macerator 1 to load the bedpan 30 at least partly into the maceration chamber 10 without having to tip the bedpan 30 or move their hand inside the maceration chamber 10. This reduce the likelihood of waste being spilt outside of the maceration chamber 10. The macerator 1 may comprise a front side 4a and a rear side 4b, the front side 4a positioned nearest a user and the rear side 4b positioned away from the user when waste is loaded into the maceration chamber 10. It is preferable to provide the opening 12 as defining a diameter D that slopes downwardly towards the front side 4a of the macerator 1, to improve the ease of loading waste to be macerated into the maceration chamber 10. Where the lid 2 is pivotally coupled to the macerator 1, it may be preferable to position the pivotal connection between the lid 2 and the macerator body 4 towards the rear side 4b of the macerator 1. More generally, it is preferable to provide a lid 2 which, when in the open position, is adjacent the rear side 4b of the macerator 1 such that it does not obstruct access to the maceration chamber 10 from the front side 4a. There may be occasions where it is beneficial for a user to load waste to be macerated into the maceration chamber 10 from a left or right side 4c of the macerator, as shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 2. As such, the opening 12 may be made non-planar as shown in Figures 4 and 5. For clarity the lid of the macerator 1 has been omitted in Figure 4. The shape of the opening 12 may be selected so as to match or suit a specific type of waste to be loaded, for example a bedpan intended to be loaded in a particular orientation. The non-planar shape of the opening 12 may by symmetric as shown in Figures 4 and 5 or in an alternative embodiment (not shown) the opening 12 may be asymmetric. Providing a non-planar opening 12 may also improve ease of loading waste to be macerated into the maceration chamber 10. As shown in Figure 5 for example, the non-planar opening may comprise a first portion 13 and a second portion 14. The first portion 13 is arranged parallel to the horizontal, whilst the second portion 14 extends from the first portion 13 at an angle inclined relative to the horizontal to define the inclined diameter D described previously. In this way the opening 12 defines a maceration chamber 10 having a rear surface that extends higher than the front surface, such that a user may load maceratable waste (such as a bedpan) partially into the maceration chamber 10 without needed to put their hand through the opening 12 and without tipping the waste loaded into the macerator 1. This is particularly useful when a user is loading a bedpan into the macerator 1 since the bedpan may be loaded in a substantially horizontal orientation through the opening 12. This removes the need to tip or tilt the bedpan before it passes through the opening 12, which could otherwise result in the waste inside the bedpan spilling or splashing as it is loaded into the maceration chamber 10. It will be appreciated that where the opening 12 and hence body 4 of the macerator 1 defining the opening is non-planar, the lid 2 may be formed to match the non-planar profile of the body 4 and form a seal around the opening 12 as described previously. As shown most clearly in Figure 3, the base of the maceration chamber 10, in particular the portion of the base to which the impeller 20 is adjacent, may be substantially parallel to the opening 12. Where the opening 12 is non-planar, the base may be aligned parallel with the inclined diameter D defined by the opening 12. In an alternative embodiment such as that shown in Figure 5, the base of the maceration chamber 10 may be inclined relative to the horizontal and in a direction opposite to that of the inclined diameter D. That is to say that where the diameter D slopes downwardly towards the front side 4a of the macerator 1, the base slopes downwardly towards the rear side 4b of the macerator 1. Where the base is inclined relative to the horizontal, it is preferable to provide a portion of the impeller 20, in particular a portion of the periphery of the impeller 20, located at the lowest point of the base. This is because waste will naturally move towards this point under the effect of gravity, and hence positioning the impeller 20 to interact with waste at this point will reduce the likelihood of waste avoiding maceration and / or becoming trapped in a position that cannot be macerated. In a further embodiment shown in Figure 6, the base lies parallel to the horizontal and the impeller axis Al lies substantially parallel to the vertical. This arrangement may be beneficial in increasing the portion of the impeller 20 located at the lowest point of the base (i.e. the entire base) and hence the volume in which maceration can occur (for example where the impeller 20 is used in conjunction with a cutting ring (not shown) about the periphery of the impeller to macerate waste). Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of a macerator 1, comprising a maceration chamber 10 having an upper portion 10a and a lower portion 10b. The impeller 20 has been omitted for clarity. The lower portion 10b defines the base of the maceration chamber 10 which is inclined oppositely to the diameter D as described with reference to Figure 5. As such this will not be described again in detail. The upper portion 10a of the maceration chamber 10 extends from the lower portion 10b to the opening 12 and forms a portion of substantially right circular cone. A right circular cone is here defined as a cone having a circular base, the vertex of the cone lying directly above the centre of the circular base in a direction measured perpendicular to the base of the cone. The right circular cone is truncated by the opening 12 such that the upper portion 10a defines a frustoconical volume having tapered sides. The outward taper away from the opening, particularly towards the rear of the maceration chamber, may also help with insertion of the maceratable materials in a horizontal orientation through the angled opening from the front side of the macerator. Providing the upper portion 10a tilted away from the user may for example allow a bedpan loaded into the maceration chamber 10 to tip away from the user and hence pour any contents stored therein into the maceration chamber 10 and away from the user. This may reduce the likelihood of the user coming into contact with waste to be macerated. The lower portion 10b of the maceration chamber 10 comprises a side wall extending from around the circumference of the base. It will be appreciated that the base may be noncircular and still have a circumference, which may alternatively be referred to as the perimeter of the base. The side wall may form an angle of at least 90 degrees with the base at all points about the circumference. Where the impeller 20 is adjacent the sidewall, the portion of the side wall adjacent the impeller may extend substantially perpendicularly from the base. Arranging the lower portion 10b as such may help to improve the orbit of water and waste within the maceration chamber 10 during maceration, which may help with maceration and / or reduce the likelihood of waste avoiding maceration. The lower portion 10b, alternatively a region within the lower portion 10b, may define a maceration zone at the base of the maceration chamber 10 where maceration occurs. Waste within this zone is macerated by the impeller 20, optionally along with the projections 22 described previously with reference to Figure 3. Figure 8 shows a final embodiment of a macerator 1 similar to that shown in Figure 1. Like features are labelled using corresponding reference numerals and will not be described again in detail. The macerator 1 of Figure 8 includes a lid 2 comprising a first lid portion 2a coupled to a second lid portion 2b. In the embodiment shown the first lid portion 2a is coupled to the second lid portion 2b via a pivotal connection, such that the first lid portion 2a may be opened to partially provide access to the opening (not shown in Figure 8) covered by the lid 2 in the closed position. In alternative embodiments (not shown), the first lid portion 2a may be coupled to the second lid portion 2b via a sliding connection, a rotating connection, a removable connection or any other suitable form of coupling. It will be appreciated that although only shown as comprising two lid portions 2a, 2b, the lid 2 may comprise any number of lid portions. Providing the lid 2 as such may allow the lid 2 to be partially opened such that a portion of the opening 12 is accessible. This may help to reduce the likelihood of waste splashing back out of the maceration chamber 10 as it is loaded into the macerator 1. Providing a multi-portion lid 2 may also reduce the volume occupied by the lid 2 in an open position compared to a single piece lid. Various modifications, whether by way of addition, deletion and / or substitution, may be made to all of the above described embodiments to provide further embodiments, any and / or all of which are intended to be encompassed by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A macerator for macerating bedpans, comprisinga maceration chamber having an opening at a top of the maceration chamber;an impeller adjacent a base of the maceration chamber,an openable lid for covering the opening in the top of the maceration chamber which,wherein the lid is openable to provide user access to insert maceratable materials into the maceration chamber, andwherein the opening comprises a diameter measured between the highest point and the lowest point of the opening, and wherein the diameter is inclined at an angle of between 10 and 45 degrees to the horizontal.

2. A macerator according to claim 1, wherein the impeller is arranged to rotate about an impeller axis arranged substantially vertically, and wherein a portion of the impeller is located at a lowest point of the base.

3. A macerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the impeller comprises one or more projections for macerating extending from the impeller into the maceration chamber, wherein the one or more projections are directly visible to the user via the opening when the lid is open.

4. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the macerator has a front side for positioning nearest a user, and the inclined diameter of the opening slopes downwardly towards the front side.

5. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid has a pivotal connection to a body of the macerator.

6. A macerator according to claim 5, wherein the macerator has a rear side for positioning furthest away from the user, and wherein the pivotal connection is towards a rear of the body.

7. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the macerator has a rear side for positioning furthest away from the user, and wherein in the open position the lid is adjacent the rear side.

8. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the diameter of the opening forms an angle of between 10 and 30 degrees to the horizontal, preferably an angle of around 20 degrees.

9. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the opening is substantially circular.

10. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the opening is non-planar.

11. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein an upper portion of the maceration chamber has a side wall formed as a substantially right circular cone truncated by the opening.

12. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein a lower portion of the maceration chamber has a side wall extending from around the circumference of the base, wherein the side wall makes an internal angle of at least 90 degrees with the base at all points around the circumference.

13. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the base portion having the impeller lies substantially parallel to the diameter of the opening.

14. A macerator according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the base portion having the impeller lies either horizontal, or at an angle to the horizontal.

15. A macerator according to claim 14, wherein the base portion having the impeller is inclined at an angle to the horizontal and inclined oppositely to the diameter of the opening.

16. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the maceration chamber defines a maceration zone in a lower part of chamber volume, and in which the impeller causes maceration of maceratable materials.

17. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the macerator is configured to process maceratable products including incontinence briefs, pads, pans, wipes or dog waste.

18. A macerator according to claim 17, wherein the macerator is configured to receive a maceratable pan in a substantially horizontal orientation through the opening.

19. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the macerator comprises a 5 cleaning fluid inlet into the maceration chamber for cleaning all interior surfaces of the maceration chamber.

20. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid comprises a first lid portion and a second lid portion, the first lid portion movably coupled to the second lid 10 portion.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS:-Claims1. A macerator for macerating bedpans, comprisinga maceration chamber having an opening at a top of the maceration chamber;5 an impeller adjacent a base of the maceration chamber,an openable lid for covering the opening in the top of the maceration chamber which,wherein the lid is openable to provide user access to insert maceratable materials into the maceration chamber,10 wherein the opening comprises a diameter measured between the highest pointand the lowest point of the opening, and wherein the diameter is inclined at an angle of between 10 and 45 degrees to the horizontal, andwherein an upper portion of the maceration chamber is tapered outwardly away from the opening at a rear of the maceration chamber.

152. A macerator according to claim 1, wherein the impeller is arranged to rotate about CD an impeller axis arranged substantially vertically, and wherein a portion of the impeller is CM located at a lowest point of the base.^^20 3. A macerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the impeller comprises one or moreprojections for macerating extending from the impeller into the maceration chamber, wherein the one or more projections are directly visible to the user via the opening when the lid is open.25 4. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the macerator has a frontside for positioning nearest a user, and the inclined diameter of the opening slopes downwardly towards the front side.

5. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid has a pivotal 30 connection to a body of the macerator.

6. A macerator according to claim 5, wherein the macerator has a rear side for positioning furthest away from the user, and wherein the pivotal connection is towards a rear of the body.

357. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the macerator has a rearside for positioning furthest away from the user, and wherein in the open position the lid is adjacent the rear side.5 8. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the diameter of the openingforms an angle of between 10 and 30 degrees to the horizontal.

9. A macerator according to claim 8, wherein the diameter of the opening forms an angle of around 20 degrees to the horizontal.

010. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the opening is substantially circular.

11. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the opening is non-planar.1512. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein an upper portion of the maceration chamber has a side wall formed as a substantially right circular cone truncated C\Jby the opening.^^20 13. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein a lower portion of themaceration chamber has a side wall extending from around the circumference of the base, CM wherein the side wall makes an internal angle of at least 90 degrees with the base at all points around the circumference.25 14. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the base portion having theimpeller lies substantially parallel to the diameter of the opening.

15. A macerator according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the base portion having the impeller lies horizontal.3016. A macerator according to any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the base portion having the impeller lies at an angle to the horizontal.

17. A macerator according to claim 16, wherein the base portion having the impeller is35 inclined oppositely to the diameter of the opening.

18. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the maceration chamber defines a maceration zone in a lower part of chamber volume, and in which the impeller causes maceration of maceratable materials.5 19. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the macerator is configuredto process maceratable products including incontinence briefs, pads, pans, wipes or dog waste.

20. A macerator according to claiml9, wherein the macerator is configured to receive 10 a maceratable pan in a substantially horizontal orientation through the opening.

21. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the macerator comprises a cleaning fluid inlet into the maceration chamber for cleaning all interior surfaces of the maceration chamber.1522. A macerator according to any preceding claim, wherein the lid comprises a first lid portion and a second lid portion, the first lid portion movably coupled to the second lid portion.27 01 2618

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