Installation Requirements & Technical Information for a:

1. Chairside/Single Operatory Unit
2. Centrally Located Unit
3. Dry System
4. 18" or 24" Units

When The Amalgam Collector™ is placed in a chairside location, either directly beside the chair, under the counter, or inside the delivery cabinet, the principle remains the same. For several reasons, we recommend that the chairside HVE and the saliva ejector be connected to a small particle trap with a disposable 0.7 mm mesh filter. We will supply this trap at installation if it is not present prior to that time. From this particle trap emanates a flexible tube leading on toward the central vacuum system.

In simplified terms, The Amalgam Collector™ is just patched into this outgoing line. One just severs this flexible tubing and attaches the piece originating from the trap to the incoming materials line of the assembly and attaches the common outgoing materials line of The Amalgam Collector™ to the remaining piece of tubing continuing on to the central vacuum system. Variations of this theme occur depending on the relative positions of the trap and The Amalgam Collector™ canister. For example, if the canister is positioned close to the trap, it is not necessary to cut the tubing leading from the trap, but rather disconnect it. Then the incoming materials line is attached directly to the trap and the common outgoing materials line is attached to the previously detached flexible tubing leading to the central vacuum system.

It is necessary to have access to the installed unit in order to manipulate the common control valve for the outgoing air and outgoing liquid tubing. The Amalgam Collector™ requires a stable platform 8" wide and a vertical space of approximately 18" since the standard chairside model is 12" tall. This height requirement can be reduced to 15" if a special 9" version of The Amalgam Collector is ordered. If the vertical space available is 24" or more, a unit up to 18" tall could be placed inn this chairside location. This taller unit is the most advantageous in terms of the periodic maintenance and the eventual emptying of the unit.

Advantages of Chairside or Operatory Based Unit

• Conserves Water
  No need to flush all lines leading to the central vacuum generator. Flush only the line from the patient to the unit.
• Ease of Monitoring
  Better access in the operatory for visual monitoring and liquid release than having to go to the location of the central vacuum pump.
• Collects only Required Sediments
  Placement of the unit only for restorative chairs avoids collecting pumice from hygiene operatories. Disposal or recycling costs are reduced.
• More Economical Servicing
  Less sediment buildup means a longer time before emptying or replacing the unit (approximately 3-5 years). Long-term savings after the initial investment.

Installation Requirements for a Centrally Located Unit

When The Amalgam Collector™ is placed in a central location, the basic principle remains the same as detailed in the Principles and Procedures Web page. The Amalgam Collector™ requires a stable platform (floor or shelf) 8" wide for the CE18 models and 10" wide for the CE24 models. The vertical space required is from 24" to 30" for the CE18 models and a minimum of 30" for the CE24 models.

To protect the pump of a wet ring system, the prefilter installed with it must remain in place. The Amalgam Collector™ will be placed in service between the connection to the hard plumbing of your central collection system and the vacuum pump prefilter.

For a dry system, The Amalgam Collector is placed in the incoming line for the air-water separation tank.

As an example for a wet ring vacuum system and in simplified terms, The Amalgam Collector™ is just patched into the flexible line from the wall to the vacuum pump. It is necessary only to remove the threaded adapter of the input line from the prefilter, thread it into the adapter that is the open end of the Incoming Materials Assembly of The Amalgam Collector™ and then thread the adapter at the end of the Outgoing Liquid Assembly of your unit into the opening of the prefilter. Variations of this can occur depending on the desired location of The Amalgam Collector™ canister and the need or desirability to replace or upgrade the tubing originally leading from the wall to vacuum pump. (Old lines are often partially clogged.)

The following information is for the 18" (or 24") units of The Amalgam Collector with flexible tubing with 1-inch connections:

It is necessary to have access to the installed unit in order to observe the liquid and sediment levels and to manipulate the control valves for the outgoing air and outgoing liquids. The Amalgam Collector™ requires a stable platform 8" (10") wide and a vertical space of approximately 30" (36"). The standard parts and tubing supplied with The Amalgam Collector™ kits requires the canister to be within 6 feet of the wall connection to the hard plumbing and within 4 feet of the vacuum pump or the air-water separation tank. Changing the lengths of flexible tubing pieces can vary the distance. The relative vertical location with respect to the existing vacuum pump is basically immaterial since the average vacuum system pulling 10 to 12 inches of Hg can bull water up to a height of at least 6 feet. Because the vacuum system itself empties the canister, a gravity flow is not needed so it is not necessary to install The Amalgam Collector™ in a position above the pump level. This superior position is permissible, however.