Under-sink waste processing unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9862630-B2
Application number	US-201514595481-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 13, 2015
Priority date	Jan 13, 2015
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

Abstract

An under-sink waste processing unit may generally include a housing defining an inlet and an outlet. The inlet may be configured to receive water and waste discharged from a waste disposal. The housing may also define a separation chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and a processing chamber separate from the separation chamber. The waste processing unit may also include a rotatable drive shaft extending within the separation chamber and a screw thread associated with the drive shaft. The screw thread may be configured to be rotated with the drive shaft within the separation chamber so as to at least partially separate the water from the waste received within the inlet. The separated waste may be configured to be dispersed from the separation chamber into the processing chamber for further processing thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An under-sink waste processing unit, comprising:
a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being configured to receive water and waste discharged from a waste disposal, the housing further defining a separation chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and a processing chamber separate from the separation chamber;
a rotatable drive shaft extending within the separation chamber; and
a screw thread associated with the drive shaft, the screw thread being configured to be rotated with the drive shaft within the separation chamber so as to at least partially separate the water from the waste received within the inlet,
wherein the separated waste is configured to be dispersed from the separation chamber into the processing chamber for further processing thereof,
wherein a floor of the separation chamber is at least partially defined by a plunger configured to seal off the separation chamber from the processing chamber, the plunger being associated with a spring configured to apply a biasing force against the plunger that biases the plunger into sealing engagement with a wall of the separation chamber.

2. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 1 , further comprising a motor configured to rotationally drive the drive shaft.

3. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 2 , wherein the housing further defines a motor chamber that is separate from the separation chamber and the processing chamber, the motor being disposed within the motor chamber.

4. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 1 , further comprising a flow propeller associated with the drive shaft, the flow propeller being configured to be rotated with the drive shaft within the separation chamber so as to at least partially separate the water from the waste received within the inlet.

5. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 4 , further comprising a backflow channel defined between the drive shaft and the flow propeller, the backflow channel being in fluid communication with the outlet.

6. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 5 , further comprising a helical projection extending radially outwardly from the drive shaft within the backflow channel, wherein rotation of the drive shaft results in water being pulled through the backflow channel via the helical projection in the direction of the outlet.

7. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 4 , wherein the separation chamber comprises an upper portion and a lower portion, the flow propeller being disposed within the upper portion and the screw thread being disposed within the lower portion.

8. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 1 , wherein the screw thread is configured to press the waste downward towards the plunger when the drive shaft is being rotated such that the plunger is depressed when a pressure applied by the waste onto the plunger is sufficient to overcome the biasing force applied by the spring, wherein depression of the plunger allows for the waste to be dispersed from the separation chamber into the processing chamber.

9. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 1 , further comprising a filter assembly configured to filter odors generated within the processing chamber.

10. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 1 , wherein the housing further defines a waste collection chamber adjacent to the processing chamber, wherein a removable storage vessel is configured to be received within the waste collection chamber.

11. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 10 , further comprising at least one sifting plate separating the processing chamber from the waste collection chamber.

12. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 1 , wherein the waste is configured to be decomposed within the processing chamber.

13. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 1 , further comprising a heating device contained within the housing for heating the waste contained within the processing chamber.

14. A separation device for separating water and waste received from a waste disposal, the separation device comprising:
a housing defining an inlet, a water outlet and a waste outlet, the inlet being configured to receive water and waste discharged from the waste disposal, the housing further defining a separation chamber extending between the inlet and the water and waste outlets;
a plunger at least partially defining a floor of the separation chamber adjacent the waste outlet, the plunger being associated with a spring configured to apply a biasing force against the plunger that biases the plunger into sealing engagement with a wall of the separation chamber;
a rotatable drive shaft extending within the separation chamber; and
a screw thread associated with the drive shaft, the screw thread being configured to be rotated with the drive shaft within the separation chamber so as to separate the water from the waste received within the inlet, the screw thread being further configured to press the separated waste downward towards the plunger when the drive shaft is being rotated,
wherein the separated waste is configured to be dispersed from the separation chamber via the waste outlet and the separated water is configured to be dispersed from the separation chamber via the water outlet.

15. The separation device of claim 14 , further comprising a strainer screen disposed around the screw thread, the strainer screen being configured to allow the separated water to pass therethrough and flow into the water outlet.

16. An under-sink waste processing unit, comprising:
a housing defining an inlet and an outlet, the inlet being configured to receive water and waste discharged from a waste disposal, the housing further defining a separation chamber in fluid communication with the inlet and a processing chamber separate from the separation chamber, the housing defining a waste collection chamber adjacent to the processing chamber;
a rotatable drive shaft extending within the separation chamber; and
a screw thread associated with the drive shaft, the screw thread being configured to be rotated with the drive shaft within the separation chamber so as to at least partially separate the water from the waste received within the inlet,
wherein the separated waste is configured to be dispersed from the separation chamber into the processing chamber for further processing thereof,
wherein a removable storage vessel is configured to be received within the waste collection chamber.

17. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 16 , further comprising at least one sifting plate separating the processing chamber from the waste collection chamber.

18. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 17 , wherein the at least one sifting plate is coated with a decomposition catalyst.

19. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 17 , further comprising a sifter positioned within the processing chamber, the sifter being configured to be rotationally coupled to the removable storage vessel such that rotation of the removable storage vessel results in rotation of the sifter so as to direct processed waste within the processing chamber through a plurality of openings defined through the at least one sifting plate.

20. The under-sink waste processing unit of claim 19 , wherein the sifter is rotationally coupled to the removable storage vessel via a sifter ring extending around an outer perimeter of the housing.

Assignees

• Gen Electric
• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Platts Lauren Nicole
• Gormley Joseph Emil
• Alvord Rebecca Ann

Classifications

• E03C1/2665

  Disintegrating apparatus specially adapted for installation in waste pipes or outlets (disintegrating apparatus per se B02C) · CPC title

• C02F11/16 Primary

  using drying or composting beds · CPC title

• B02C18/0092

  for waste water or for garbage · CPC title

• B02C23/10 Primary

  with separator arranged in discharge path of crushing or disintegrating zone · CPC title