Waste disposal apparatus

Abstract

Apparatus for locating in a sewage conduit of a building for retaining non-degradable items like nappies, sanitary towels, baby wipes or heavy paper from passing through the conduit, and comprising an

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus for location within a sewage conduit of a building which is designed to retain for subsequent disposal relatively non-degradable items such as nappies, sanitary towels, baby wipes and heavy paper to prevent such items creating blockages within the conduit and enabling fluids and other treatable material to pass without hindrance to a septic tank or mains sewer connected to receive effluent from the building. BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Presently, a significant number of waterways, sea fronts and residential areas are being regularly polluted with effluent discharged legally or otherwise from partially or fully blocked sewers. Such pollution clearly represents a health risk to the general public and the present invention sets out to provide a solution to this problem. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In one aspect the invention provides apparatus for location in a sewage conduit of a building which, in use, retains for subsequent disposal relatively non-degradable items passing through said conduit, the apparatus comprising an open-topped chamber including a floor, side walls and a removable cover, the chamber further including entry and discharge openings positioned in opposed side walls of the chamber at locations above the floor level of said chamber for respectively receiving sewage passing through the conduit and discharging the fluid content of such sewage to a septic tank for subsequent treatment, the discharge opening being at least partially closed by an apertured plate to inhibit the discharge from the chamber of relatively untreatable matter other than through the removeable cover. The discharge opening is preferably bordered by a plurality of inwardly projecting barbs to assist retention of untreatable items within the apparatus. Each opening is preferably bordered by a relatively short duct connectable to adjoining sewer pipes. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 taken from one side of the apparatus with its lid removed; and Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus taken from the other side of the apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The illustrated apparatus essentially comprises a box-like receptacle 10 closable by a removable lid 12 and including opposed walls 14, 16 each including an opening 18, 20 located at a position above the base 22 of the receptacle. Typically, the receptacle 10 is produced from a relatively non-degradable material such as aluminium or stainless steel. In use, the receptacle 10 forms part of underground pipework operable to transfer sewage from a building to a septic tank remote from the building. When installed, access to the lid 12 can readily be accomplished through a suitably positioned ground level removable cover positioned immediately above the receptacle. The lid 12 is provided with a handle 24 to assist opening and closing of the lid. The receptacle 10 includes on one side an inlet collar 26 connectable to a sewage pipe (not shown) leading from a property, and on its opposite side an outlet collar 28 connectable to a pipe for transferring sewage to a mains sewer or septic tank facility. As will be seen from Figure 1, the outlet collar 28 includes a perforated plate 30 which covers a significant proportion of the collar. Typically, the perforated plate extends to between 60% and 70% of the area of the collar 28. The periphery of the collar 28 includes an array of inwardly projecting barbs 32 to assist retention of items such as sanitary towels and nappies within the receptacle 10. The function of the perforated plate 30 is to retain within the body of the receptacle all relatively non-degradable items such as gloves, baby wipes, sanitary towels and heavy paper. Upon evidence of a possible blockage, the receptacle can readily be accessed by opening the lid 12 to facilitate removal of the retained items. Thus, the shape, dimensions and locations of the perforations of the plate 30 are selected to ensure that all or a significant proportion of non-degradable items are retained within the receptacle . It will be appreciated that the foregoing is merely exemplary of apparatus in accordance with the invention and that modifications can readily be made thereto without departing from the true scope of the invention as set out in the appended claims .

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