Battery Collection Bin With Sensor-Triggered Fire Suppressant
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for recycling and disposing of batteries require trained handlers and extensive caution, leading to inefficient and inconvenient processes, especially for unstable battery compositions, and lack automated safety measures for thermal events.
Innovation Solution
A battery collection system with an automated chute and fire suppressant dispensing mechanism that allows consumers to safely deposit batteries without assistance, using sensors to determine fire suppressant needs and prevent thermal events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional methods are used to collect and store batteries, then safety can be maintained through trained handlers and cautionary processing, but the process becomes inefficient and inconvenient requiring extensive manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables consumers to personally prepare and deposit batteries without requiring trained handlers. The automated fire suppressant dispensing system provides self-service safety, allowing unassisted battery collection while maintaining protection against thermal events through sensor-activated suppressant distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
Manual handling and cautionary processing by trained personnel is replaced with an automated system featuring sensors, fire suppressant dispensing mechanisms, and electronic controls. This substitution eliminates the need for human intervention in battery preparation and storage while maintaining safety through automated monitoring and response systems.
2Reliability
If trained handlers personally prepare each battery for safe transportation, then safety is ensured, but the process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
Fire suppressant is pre-positioned in the storage container and automatically dispensed when thermal events are detected. The system performs preliminary safety preparation by having suppressant ready before any thermal event occurs, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual preparation of each battery while ensuring safety is maintained.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system performs the safety function that previously required trained handlers to personally prepare each battery. Sensors monitor battery conditions and trigger automatic fire suppressant dispensing, replacing manual preparation processes with self-service automation that significantly reduces processing time.
3Reliability
If extensive cautionary processing is applied to batteries, then safety is improved, but the operational complexity and inconvenience increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Consumers can personally deposit batteries into the collection system without requiring assistance from trained personnel or following complex preparation procedures. The automated fire suppressant dispensing system provides self-service safety, allowing unassisted battery collection while maintaining protection against thermal events.
Solution Approach 2:
Complex cautionary processing procedures are replaced with simple battery deposition into an automated system. Sensors and fire suppressant dispensing mechanisms handle safety concerns automatically, eliminating the need for consumers to follow extensive preparation instructions or receive training on safe battery handling.
4Reliability
If automated fire suppressant dispensing is implemented, then response to thermal events is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fire suppressant system serves multiple functions: it acts as a safety mechanism for thermal events, a storage medium for battery protection, and an automated response system. By integrating these functions into a single system with sensor-activated dispensing, the patent reduces overall complexity compared to having separate systems for each function while maintaining improved thermal event response.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe, efficient, and convenient battery disposal or recycling without trained personnel, preventing thermal events through intelligent fire suppressant distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a fire suppressant dispensing mechanism configured to selectively dispense fire suppressant from the fire suppressant cartridge into the transport drum when a battery is deposited therein via the chute
Implementation Method 2
one or more sensors configured to determine one or more of a fill level, volume, or weight of the transport drum within the enclosure, thermal properties within the enclosure
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to systems, non-transitory computer-readable media, and methods for collecting batteries and other devices for disposal or recycling. In particular, in one or more embodiments, the disclosed systems provide a battery collection bin comprising a transport drum within an enclosure and a removable cartridge or internal basin filled with fire suppressant. Also, in some embodiments, the disclosed systems detect deposit of a battery through a feed chute into the transport drum and determine, based on signals from one or more sensors, a fill level, volume, or weight of the transport drum. In response, embodiments of the disclosed systems utilize a dispensing system to dispense a measure of fire suppressant from the removable cartridge or internal basin into the transport drum to prevent unwanted thermal events. Additional mechanisms and related methods for streamlined and safe collection of batteries and other devices are disclosed.