Decomposition Fluid Collection Tray with Neutralizing Agents
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for managing decomposition fluids from corpses, such as those used in burial grounds, often lead to soil and groundwater contamination due to leakage from coffins and burial vaults, especially in densely populated areas, where the risk of contamination increases with multiple burials in a single grave.
Innovation Solution
A tray with a hollow body and drainage system is designed to collect and neutralize decomposition fluids, featuring a sloping upper surface guiding fluids into closed chambers with drainage apertures, reinforced ribs, and compartments containing neutralizing agents like ammonia, along with a filter membrane and anti-microbial coatings to prevent contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If burial vaults with sealed plastic lining are used to prevent fluid leakage, then environmental protection is improved, but the system becomes prone to failure and flooding which increases contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a tray as an intermediary component between the coffin and the burial vault. This tray actively collects decomposition fluids through drainage apertures and channels them to collection regions, preventing direct contact with the vault lining. The tray acts as a mediator that manages fluid flow proactively rather than relying solely on the passive sealing of the vault, thereby reducing contamination risk while maintaining system reliability.
2Productivity
If multiple coffins are buried in a single grave to increase land usage, then land efficiency is improved, but the risk of soil and groundwater contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fluid management function by providing individual trays for each coffin, even when multiple coffins are placed in a single grave. Each tray independently collects and manages fluids from its associated coffin through dedicated drainage apertures and collection regions. This segmentation ensures that fluid contamination from one coffin does not directly affect adjacent coffins or the surrounding soil, enabling increased burial density while maintaining environmental safety.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If formaldehyde embalming fluid is used to preserve bodies, then body preservation is improved, but toxic pollution and carcinogen release occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts toxic embalming fluids from the burial environment by collecting them in the tray's closed chambers. The drainage apertures and sloping surfaces direct formaldehyde-containing fluids away from the coffin and into contained collection regions. By removing these toxic substances from direct contact with soil and groundwater, the system maintains the body preservation benefits of formaldehyde while eliminating its harmful environmental effects.
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
Effectively collects and neutralizes decomposition fluids, reducing the risk of soil and groundwater contamination, and can be integrated into grave lining systems to manage fluids from multiple coffins in a single grave, ensuring environmental safety.
Implementation Method 1
the upper surface of the tray slopes downwardly from a peripheral region towards at least one collection region to guide fluids towards the at least one drainage aperture
Implementation Method 2
The at least one neutralising and/or treatment agent may comprise at least one of a fluid capable of neutralising formaldehyde embalming fluid, such as ammonia
Data Source
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AI summary
A tray (1) comprising a hollow body for placement within or beneath a coffin for collecting and/or treating decomposition fluids from a corpse within said hollow body wherein said tray comprises an upper wall (2) and a lower wall (4) defining at least one closed chamber therebetween, said upper wall being provided with at least one drainage aperture (8a,8b) in an upper surface (6) through which fluid collected on said outer surface of the upper wall can pass into said at least one closed chamber to be retained and/or treated therein.