Portable Refuse Extraction and Storage Apparatus
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current refuse extraction and disposal methods, particularly for pet excrement, result in significant plastic and paper waste and require multiple handling steps, as they often rely on bags and separate disposal for each set of droppings.
Innovation Solution
A sanitation apparatus with a storage chamber, extraction mechanism, fluid conduit, and pumping mechanism that allows for the direct transfer and mixing of refuse with fluid for proper disposal without bags, enabling efficient storage and single-step disposal of multiple sets of droppings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bags or containers are used to store animal droppings, then the droppings can be transported and disposed of, but significant volume of plastic and paper waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the storage function from disposable bags and implements it through a reusable container system. The container is designed to be washed and reused multiple times, separating the temporary storage need from single-use waste materials. This eliminates plastic and paper waste while maintaining the ability to transport and dispose of animal droppings reliably.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding bags after single use, the patent implements a recovery system where the container is washed at designated locations and reused. The washing infrastructure recovers the container for continued use, eliminating the need for continuous production and disposal of single-use bags.
2Ease of operation
If bags are used for each set of droppings, then individual disposal is possible, but multiple handling steps and time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple disposal operations into a single container system. Instead of handling separate bags for each set of droppings, the container accumulates multiple instances of animal waste and transports them together to a single disposal location. This merging reduces the number of handling steps and time required while maintaining ease of operation through the simple container design.
Solution Approach 2:
The container performs preliminary storage and accumulation of multiple sets of droppings before final disposal. This preliminary action allows multiple waste collection events to be batched together, reducing the frequency of disposal trips and minimizing the total handling time required.
3Productivity
If traditional disposal methods are used, then droppings can be removed from surfaces, but proper disposal in designated locations is not ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a structured intermediary system consisting of designated disposal locations with washing facilities. This intermediary infrastructure ensures that the container can be properly cleaned and reused, while also ensuring that animal droppings are disposed of in appropriate locations rather than being abandoned. The intermediary system bridges the gap between extraction and final disposal, ensuring both efficiency and reliability.
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
Significantly reduces plastic and paper waste, allows for efficient temporary storage and single-step disposal of animal excrement, and ensures proper disposal in designated locations, such as toilets, minimizing the risk of disease spread.
Implementation Method 1
a pumping mechanism attached proximate the proximal end of the storage chamber, the pumping mechanism in fluid communication with the fluid conduit and the storage chamber, for pumping fluid from a fluid source through the fluid conduit and into the storage chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A portable apparatus for extracting and properly disposing of refuse such as, for example, excrement. The apparatus includes a storage chamber for storing extracted refuse wherein the storage chamber is distinct from the extraction mechanism for extracting the refuse. The apparatus further includes a pumping mechanism for pumping fluid from a fluid source through a fluid conduit and into the storage chamber.