Human-Excretion Container Disinfection With In Situ Reactive Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cleaning and disinfection devices for human waste containers face challenges such as inadequate germ destruction, particularly of spores, and the handling of aggressive, corrosive, or unstable chemical disinfectants, leading to potential contamination and operational difficulties.

Innovation Solution

A method involving an emptying step, washing with a cleaning fluid, and a disinfection step where reactive components are mixed to form a disinfectant agent in situ, ensuring thorough disinfection and reducing the need for hazardous chemical storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If chemical disinfectants are used for disinfection, then disinfection effect is improved, but handling safety and stability deteriorate due to aggressive, corrosive, or unstable properties

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedisinfection effectVSAvoidhandling safety
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters by using reactive components that convert into disinfectant agents in situ, transforming stable storage materials into active disinfectants only when needed. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining stability during storage and transport while achieving effective disinfection during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces reactive components as intermediaries that react to form disinfectant agents. These intermediaries are stable and safe to handle, but when combined, they produce powerful disinfectant agents in situ, thus resolving the contradiction between handling safety and disinfection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If conventional disinfection methods are used, then general disinfection is achieved, but sporicidal effect deteriorates due to inadequate germ destruction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegerm destructionVSAvoidsporicidal effect
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs strong oxidizing agents formed from reactive components that can achieve sporicidal effects. The oxidation process is powerful enough to destroy spores and other resistant microbial forms, resolving the limitation of conventional disinfection methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #38Strong oxidants (Accelerated oxidation)

Solution Approach 2:

The disinfectant agents are generated in situ and act quickly to destroy germs and spores, then decompose into harmless substances. This short-lived, high-impact approach achieves reliable germ destruction without requiring persistent chemical presence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If reactive components are mixed to form disinfectant agents in situ, then handling safety is improved, but device complexity worsens due to mixing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandling safetyVSAvoidmixing mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is designed to automatically mix reactive components and generate disinfectant agents without requiring complex external mixing mechanisms. The reactive components self-react upon contact, simplifying the device structure while maintaining handling safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical mixing systems with chemical self-reaction mechanisms. The reactive components automatically convert into disinfectant agents through their inherent chemical properties, eliminating the need for complex mixing devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Device complexity

If steam disinfection is used, then equipment simplicity is maintained, but disinfection reliability deteriorates due to insufficient spore destruction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveequipment simplicityVSAvoidsporicidal effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the disinfection process by introducing reactive components that form strong oxidizing disinfectant agents. This enhances the sporicidal effect beyond what steam alone can achieve, while maintaining relatively simple equipment through in situ generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

The method achieves a universal, reliable disinfection effect, effectively reducing microbial contamination by at least 10^-5, addressing the limitations of existing technologies and ensuring safe, efficient treatment of human waste containers.

Implementation Method 1

at least one mixing of at least two reactive components to form at least one disinfectant agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP4291253B1Method for treating containers for human excretions
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 MEIKO MASCHINENBAU GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4291253B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4291253B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4291253B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for treating at least one container (112) for human excretions. The method comprises the following steps: a. at least one emptying step, comprising the emptying of the container contents from inside at least one cleaning chamber (114) into at least one drain (116), the drain (116) having at least one odor trap (118); b. at least one washing step, comprising at least one impingement of the container (112) with at least one cleaning liquid in the cleaning chamber (114); and c. at least one disinfecting step, comprising at least a mixing of at least two reactive components for producing at least one disinfecting agent and impingement of the container (112) with the disinfecting agent. The invention also relates to a cleaning and disinfection apparatus (110) for treating at least one container (112) for human excretions.