A flush system particularly adapted for toilets from which waste in pneumatically evacuated. A flush valve selectively admits flush fluid, under pressure, into the system. A portion of the flush fluid admitted to the system is directed into the toilet bowl to serve as a prerinse, a flush rinse and, to some extent, an after rinse; a portion is directed to actuate a soil discharge valve; and, a portion is directed to fill the reservoir compartment of an accumulator to serve as the bowl prefill for the subsequent use cycle. In both the soil discharge valve and the accumulator the flush fluid must overcome a predetermined resistance. The operation of the soil discharge valve and the accumulator are not only related to each other by virtue of their predetermined resistance to actuation in response to the pressure of the flush fluid but are also related to the period of time during which the flush valve remains open either by timing the open stage of the flush valve or by making the closure of the flush valve responsive to the pressure of the flush fluid within the system itself.
A water closet, in particular a water closet which is connected to a discharge vacuum conduit, comprises a container which is divided into a first and second compartment by means of a movable wall, the compartments being each connected by means of a conduit to either a source of water under pressure or the flushing device of the closet pan by the intermediary of a valve mechanism. On actuation of the valve mechanism the second compartment of the container is connected to the source of water under pressure, whereby the movable wall is shifted by the water flowing into the second compartment and forces the water present in the first compartment into the flushing device of the closet pan. Once the second compartment is filled, the valve mechanism is switched by a member connected to the movable wall so that the first compartment is connected to the source of water under pressure, while the second compartment is connected to the flushing device of the closet pan so that the water present in the second compartment is supplied to the flushing device.
A vacuum suction type urinating aid, includes the urine transport tubes of plural urine suction units connected to a common urine tank through corresponding solenoid valves. The urine tank is connected at its upper part, to a vacuum suction device. Each of the plural urine suction units is composed of a urine receiver provided with a urine suction opening to be applied to a urinating region, an air suction hole separate from the urine suction opening, and a urine outlet, with one of the urine transport tubes being connected to the urine outlet of a respective urine receiver.
Toilet apparatus especially adapted for use in oriental countries wherein water conservation is practiced and the user seeks to make minimal physical contact with the toilet facilities. The toilet apparatus is installed in a step-like structure that has a slot or recess in the step into which the bowl assembly is fitted with the major portion of the peripheral edge of the bowl assembly essentially flush with the top of the step so that the user can squat on the step out of contact with the bowl when using the toilet facilities. A valve assembly is secured to the bottom of the slot or recess for closing the outlet of the bowl and a measured quantity of water is available in a flush conduit for gravity feed flushing when a flush control means is actuated. To facilitate installation of the apparatus in step structures of irregular or inconsistant dimensions, the valve assembly and bowl have a telescoping joint to enable the installer to adjust the vertical position of the bowl relative to the mounted position of the valve assembly.
A toilet installation is disclosed which is especially suited for pleasure boats. A discharge tank is disposed under a toilet fixture and connected with it through an inlet orifice. A flexible obturating member comprising a flexible flap member and a downwardly opening cup-shaped float member is fixed at one side of the inlet orifice so that the flexible obturating member hangs in the discharge tank when the latter is not pressurized. Compressed air from an air compressor is carried through a conduit for pressurizing the discharge tank and expelling the effluent from the discharge tank through a drain orifice, the outlet end of the conduit is aimed at the underside of the float member so that compressed air issuing from the conduit thrusts the obturating member against the inlet orifice thereby sealing off the discharge tank from the tiolet fixture. A second tank for clean water is preferably provided having a distributor valve unit which selectively connects the hollow rim of the toilet fixture with the interior of the second tank for conveying flushing water thereto and brings the conduit into communication with compressed air from the air compressor. Liquid level detectors are provided in the discharge tank to detect the level of effluents. All nonreturn valves provided have similar open float members which are not in the effluent flow path.
A vacuum toilet system for a vehicle (such as a boat) has numerous advantages. A single pump with valves on opposite sides of it may be used as both the vacuum source and for discharging sewage from a holding tank. Two sets of multiple heads may be selectively connected to two pumps for emergency purposes. The vacuum toilet includes a sealing element with an integral movable valve engaging element including polytetrylflouroethylene and synthetic rubber, and at the same durometer (55-65). The initial passageway provided by movement of the valve with respect to the seal is disposed directly above the center line of an orifice. An anti-siphon valve assembly has a simple construction of a housing with parallel legs and anti-siphon air passage in alignment with one of the legs. A spray nozzle extends from the other legs of the anti-siphon valve assembly. The toilet funnel/orifice is universally connected to conduits. The vacuum tank is blow molded of plastic, has universal ports including one continuous from the tank walls so that no accumulation takes place in the tank. Longitudinal ribs along the tank provide for easy connection to a support. A vacuum sensor is mounted to one of the vacuum tank ports with fasteners disposed exteriorly of the tank, and without the need for an O-ring. The pump comprises a rolling diaphragm pump in a housing with a sump, and the stem from the pump is plastic with pegs that are staked or ultrasonically welded to the movable pump element. A powdered metal crank arm connects the pump stem to a drive motor, the crank arm being the fail-safe part of the pump.
