PATEL, Chetan (10 Athemic Avenue, LynfieldAuckland, 1042, NZ)
LOVETT, Bradley James (82 Leybourne Circle, Glen InnesAuckland, 1072, NZ)
PATEL, Chetan (10 Athemic Avenue, LynfieldAuckland, 1042, NZ)
| CLAIMS: 1 . A toilet including: ) a hopper for storing bulking agent; ) a collector for receiving and collecting excrement; ) a feeding mechanism configured to feed bulking agent from the hopper to the collector; and iv) an actuator mechanism configured to actuate the feeding mechanism. 2. A toilet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuator mechanism is configured to actuate the feeding mechanism in response to movement or position of a toilet lid and/or toilet seat. 3. A toilet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuator mechanism is configured to actuate the feeding mechanism in response to movement or position of a door. 4. A toilet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuator mechanism is configured to actuate the feeding mechanism in response to a user action. 5. A toilet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuator mechanism is configured to actuate the feeding mechanism in response to detection of a user presence. 6. A toilet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuator mechanism includes an electronic or optical sensor. 7. A toilet as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the feeding mechanism includes an auger, screw, valve, wheel or blower arranged to feed bulking agent from the hopper to the collector. 8. A toilet as claimed in any preceding claim including a spreader configured to cause bulking agent supplied by the feeding mechanism to be substantially dispersed within the collector. 9. A toilet as claimed in claim 8 wherein the spreader is positioned below an outlet of the feeding mechanism in order to spread bulking agent as it is fed. 10. A toilet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuator mechanism includes a toilet lid and/or toilet seat, a mechanical connector being connected to the toilet lid and/or toilet seat and arranged such that movement of the toilet lid and/or toilet seat drives the feeding mechanism. 1 1 . A toilet as claimed in claim 10 wherein the mechanical connector includes a ratchet. 12. A toilet as claimed in claim 1 1 wherein the ratchet is connected to a feeding mechanism in the form of an auger. 1 3. A toilet as claimed in claim 1 including a cable connecting a door with the toilet lid, movement of the door driving movement of the toilet lid and therefore driving the feeding mechanism. 14. A toilet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuator mechanism is configured to actuate the feeding mechanism in response to movement of a toilet seat caused by a user sitting on the toilet seat. 1 5. A toilet including: i) a hopper for storing bulking agent; ii) a collector for receiving and collecting excrement; and iii) a feeding mechanism configured to continuously feed bulking agent from the hopper to the collector. 16. A toilet as claimed in any preceding claim, being a composting toilet. 1 7. A toilet as claimed in any preceding claim being a portable toilet. 18. A bulking agent dispenser for a toilet, including a feeding mechanism configured to feed bulking agent from the hopper to the collector; the feeding mechanism being configured for attachment to a hopper for storing bulking agent and to an actuator for actuating the feeding mechanism. 19. A toilet as claimed in claim 1 or 15 substantially as herein described. 20. A toilet substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. 21 . A bulking agent dispenser for a toilet as claimed in claim 18 substantially as herein described. 22. A bulking agent dispenser for a toilet substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to bulking agent dispensers and more specifically, but not exclusively, it relates to bulking agent dispensers for automatically adding a bulking agent to waste piles in toilets and to toilets including such dispensers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Typically, composting toilets (also known as dry toilets) are provided with a bucket of wood shavings with a scoop that sits next to the toilet bowl. This requires users to manually scoop wood shavings into the toilet with each use. This means the wood shavings are not added at even intervals, and are not evenly distributed through the pile. This also requires the user to know to use the scoop and how to use the scoop, i.e. the user is required to know the correct quantity of wood shavings to scoop out, and when to do so. The wood shavings must be in an easily accessible container. This encourages moist air to rehydrate the wood shavings whilst in storage, which ultimately increases the moisture in the pile, and thus reduces the effectiveness of the wood shavings as a bulking agent. Waste piles in existing toilets are therefore not supplied optimally with bulking agent. This leads to various problems, such as excessive or insufficient moisture in the compost pile, which can lead to slow or ineffective composting, increased odours and other problems. All of these problems slow or prevent acceptance of composting toilets by the public and due to the high maintenance required, composting toilets are not in mainstream public use. It is an object of the invention to address one or more of the problems discussed above. It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved bulking agent supply arrangement for a composting toilet. It is a further object of the invention to provide improved supply of bulking agent in order to stimulate the composting process by encouraging airflow throughout the composting pile. Each object is to be read disjunctively with the alternative object of at least providing the public with a useful choice.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect the invention provides a toilet including: a hopper for storing bulking agent; a collector for receiving and collecting excrement; a feeding mechanism configured to feed bulking agent from the hopper to the collector; and an actuator mechanism configured to actuate the feeding mechanism. Preferably the actuator mechanism is configured to actuate the feeding mechanism in response to movement or position of a toilet lid or toilet seat. Preferably the actuator mechanism is configured to actuate the feeding mechanism in response to movement of a toilet seat caused by a user sitting on the toilet seat. Alternatively the actuator mechanism may be configured to actuate the feeding mechanism in response to movement or position of a door. Alternatively the actuator mechanism may be configured to actuate the feeding mechanism in response to a user action. Alternatively the actuator mechanism may be configured to actuate the feeding mechanism in response to detection of a user presence.
The actuator mechanism may include an electronic or optical sensor.
Preferably the feeding mechanism includes an auger, screw, valve, wheel or blower arranged to feed bulking agent from the hopper to the collector.
Preferably toilet includes a spreader configured to cause bulking agent supplied by the feeding mechanism to be substantially dispersed within the collector.
Preferably the spreader is positioned below an outlet of the feeding mechanism in order to spread bulking agent as it is fed. Preferably the actuator mechanism includes a toilet lid and/or toilet seat, a mechanical connector being connected to the toilet lid and/or toilet seat and arranged such that movement of the toilet lid and/or toilet seat drives the feeding mechanism. Preferably the mechanical connector includes a ratchet.
Preferably the ratchet is connected to a feeding mechanism in the form of an auger. Alternatively the toilet may include a cable connecting a door with the toilet lid, movement of the door driving movement of the toilet lid and therefore driving the feeding mechanism. In a second aspect the invention provides a toilet including: a hopper for storing bulking agent; a collector for receiving and collecting excrement; and a feeding mechanism configured to continuously feed bulking agent from the hopper to the collector.
Preferably the toilet is a composting toilet.
Preferably the toilet is a portable toilet.
In a third aspect the invention provides a bulking agent dispenser for a toilet, including a feeding mechanism configured to feed bulking agent from the hopper to the collector; the feeding mechanism being configured for attachment to a hopper for storing bulking agent and to an actuator for actuating the feeding mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a top view of part of a toilet, including an auger system and toilet lid, according to one embodiment;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the toilet of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a side view of the toilet of Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 is a schematic view of a toilet according to a further embodiment; Figure 5 is a cutaway perspective view of a toilet according to another embodiment; and
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the toilet of Figure 5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The Applicant's apparatus automatically adds a bulking agent to waste piles in toilets. The system is suitable for addition of bulking agent to waste piles in composting or dry toilets (and is described below in this context), but may find wider application. The Applicant's system is particularly suited to use in portable toilets, including portable composting toilets. Note that, in such toilets, composting need not be completed within the toilet, as portable composting toilets may be emptied at any stage of the composting process. The system could also dry out completely, preventing further composting. The system stimulates the composting process by encouraging airflow throughout the waste pile. The system also reduces the overall moisture content of the pile by correct application of bulking agent. The bulking agent is introduced to the compost pile via an automated dispersal system. The attached figures illustrate an automated bulking agent dispenser and a toilet including such a dispenser. Many different arrangements will serve to apply bulking agent to the waste pile, however the invention will be described with reference to one embodiment in which a feeding mechanism in the form of a screw auger turns when the toilet lid is closed to dispense bulking agent from a hopper which has the bulking agent (such as wood shavings) stored inside it. A spreader may be provided to disperse the bulking agent as the auger turns and dispenses the bulking agent. Figure 1 is a top view of one embodiment. A toilet lid 1 may be mounted to pivot about a pivot axis 2. A drive rod 3 may extend along the pivot axis and be mounted with the toilet lid such that the two rotate together. A ratchet connection 4 may be provided between the drive rod 3 and an auger shaft 5. The auger shaft 5 may have a suitable auger screw 6 mounted to it. The auger screw may sit in the bottom of a hopper 7, as is clear from Figure 2, which is a perspective view of this embodiment. In this embodiment, in use, when the toilet lid is lowered the drive rod 3 rotates and the ratchet mechanism 4 transmits this rotational motion to the auger shaft 5. This results in the auger screw rotating and bulking agent being moved by the auger towards an opening in the lower right hand corner of the hopper (as shown). Bulking agent is therefore dispensed from the opening when the toilet lid is lowered. When the toilet lid 1 is raised, the drive rod 3 rotates. However, the ratchet mechanism 4 operates such that this rotation is not transmitted to the auger shaft 5. In an alternative embodiment, bulking agent could be dispensed when the toilet lid is raised rather than lowered. As can be seen most clearly in Figure 2, the auger screw may sit in a substantially cylindrical but open-topped lower section 10 of the hopper 7. Figure 2 also shows the bulking agent 1 1 held in the hopper 7.
Figure 3 is a side view of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2. This view clearly shows the pivot axis 2. Also shown is the opening 12 which allows bulking agent to exit the hopper 7 under the action of the auger screw 6. Bulking agent passing through the opening 12 may fall onto a spreader 13, which helps to distribute the bulking agent in a desired manner into the collector 15. Bulking agent falls on the spreader and then slides outwards to fall evenly over the compost pile. The spreader may be a flat plate, or may have any appropriate curvature to promote spreading of the bulking agent. The collector may be defined by any suitable container, chamber, bag, sack or other suitable receiving structure. Waste is collected in the collector and together with dispensed bulking agent forms the waste pile.
The screw auger can be of various different lengths with various different pitches and diameters. In one embodiment the auger screw could range from 50mm - 700mm in length with a pitch which could range from 5mm to 200mm. More specifically the auger is preferably a screw auger around 350 mm long with a pitch of around 50mm. The overall auger diameter less the central shaft diameter is preferably in the range 4mm to 20, preferably around 6mm. (This dimension is essentially the size of the auger's helical screw or "flight")
Figure 4 is a schematic side view of a further embodiment. A toilet seat 1 ' may be positioned above a collector 1 5. The toilet seat 1 ' may be mounted on biased mountings 20, which bias the seat 1 ' upwards away from the collector 15. The mountings 20 could include any suitable arrangement of springs or other biasing devices. The back of the seat may be positioned adjacent a toothed wheel or cylinder 21 . A pawl may also be arranged with respect to the wheel or cylinder 21 so as to form a ratchet mechanism allowing the wheel of cylinder to rotate in only one direction (in this embodiment as shown, anticlockwise).
A hopper and auger may be included but are not shown in this embodiment. Any suitable arrangement, including either arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 3 or Figures 5 and 6, could be used to deliver bulking agent from the hopper onto a spreader 1 3 and into the collector 15. Rotation of the auger may be driven by rotation of the wheel or cylinder 21 . Thus, in this embodiment, when a user sits on the seat 1 ', their weight forces the seat 1 ' downwards against the bias applied by then mountings 20. This movement causes rotation of the wheel or cylinder and therefore rotation of the auger to deliver bulking agent into the collector 15. When the user stands up, the seat 1 ' moves upwards due to the bias applied by the mountings 20. Rotation of the wheel or cylinder 21 is prevented by the pawl 22.
In this embodiment bulking agent is added to the collector when the user sits down. Application of bulking agent is therefore caused by movement of the seat under the user's weight. However, the ratchet mechanism could equally operate in the opposite direction, such that there is no rotation when the seat moves downwards and rotation is allowed when the seat moves upwards due to the bias applied by mountings 20. In this alternative, bulking agent would be applied when the user stands up and removes their weight from the seat. Figures 5 and 6 show a further embodiment. The toilet may include a seat plate 25 with a moulded-in seat 1 '. A hopper 7 may be provided behind and on each side of the seat 1 '. The seat plate 25 may be mounted such that it pivots around an axis running along its front edge 26. When a user sits down, the seat plate pivots downwards under the user's weight, with a formation 27 at the rear of the seat plate 25 causing rotation of the ratchet cylinder 21. This drives a pair of augers (not shown), one in each hopper 7, to deliver bulking agent from both sides into the collector via the spreader 1 3. The collector is not shown in Figures 5 and 6, but will sit in space 29 beneath the seat 1 '. A pawl 22 is arranged in a similar manner to the pawl in Figure 4.
In this embodiment a preliminary "priming" mechanism may also be included. A foot plate 30 is mounted below the seat plate 25. This foot plate 30 is arranged to move upwards and downwards. Each end of the foot plate sits on a part of a side element 31 . Each side element is pivotally mounted at its front edge 32 to the toilet structure. A top end 34 of each side element 31 sits against an underside of the seat plate 25 and is biased upwards by a biasing element (not shown) sitting between the side element 31 and the toilet structure. In its normal position, in the absence of a user, this prevents movement of the seat plate 25. When a user stands on the foot plate 30, it moves downwards and causes the side elements 31 to pivot downwards, out of contact with the seat plate 25. When the user, from a position standing on the foot plate 30, sits down, the seat plate 25 moves under their weight to cause application of bulking agent.
The toilet may also include a urine separation system, as shown in Figure 5. Urine entering the front part of the chamber below the seat 1 ' is captured by separation unit 35 and diverted to any suitable chamber or evaporation system. This keeps the urine out of the collector 1 5, which helps to keep the moisture content in the collector in a desirable range for reduced odour and effective composting. As described above, the screw auger is used to retrieve the bulking agent from the hopper as the toilet lid (or alternatively the toilet seat) is moved. It is preferably connected directly to the lid hinge, which then turns the screw auger when rotated. As the auger turns, it dispenses the bulking agent onto the pile. It dispenses a substantially even amount every time, and the action is fully automated. A vertical auger inside the hopper could be used to deliver the bulking agent. This design also relies on the auger mechanism being advanced via the movement of the seat.
Alternatively, any other mechanism for moving bulking agent from the hopper to the compost pile could be used in place of the screw auger. For example, the moving mechanism could work on gravity as opposed to a screw auger, the bulking agent being dispensed through its own weight. A wheel system could dispense the bulking agent in pockets mounted on the wheel as the wheel turns. Alternatively a wall could be provided which moves as a screw turns which causes the bulking agent to shift to one corner of the hopper and through a chute.
A gear or wheel (either vertical or horizontal) with a number of compartments could be used, rotating to let through a specific amount of bulking agent as each compartment in the wheel rotates to a dispensing position. The vertical gear could have movement induced by the movement of the toilet lid/seat.
A blower could be used to blow bulking agent into the collector. A vertical valve could be used, sitting beneath the hopper and moving mechanically as the toilet lid/seat moves. This valve would open and let the bulking agent through to the compost pile. This design could also work with any form of actuator (e.g. a button on top of the hopper) which would open the valve allowing the bulking agent to drop.
All of the above variations are operated without the need for electricity; however variations could include feeding mechanisms operated by electricity or any suitable power source.
The auger mechanism described above relies on movement of the auger being caused by movement of the toilet lid. However, any suitable actuator or actuation mechanism could be used. For example, the invention also covers movement of the auger via a manual actuator, such as a button. In this case, actuation of the button could force the auger to move and deliver the bulking agent. The actuating mechanism may be driven by movement of a door, toilet lid, foot paddle or a button. Alternatively, the actuating mechanism could sense a position, movement, user presence or action through any suitable arrangement of optical or electronic sensors. Actuation could be triggered in response to: a user action; a user presence; a position or movement of the toilet lid or seat; a position or movement of a toilet door.
Various configurations of chutes or openings may be used for introducing bulking agent into the collector.
The spreader may simply be a stationary plate as described above, or may be spring loaded to open as the auger turns and dispenses the bulking agent. The spreader is used to disperse the bulking agent evenly over the compost pile in a consistent manner. The spring-loaded spreader would automatically close when a user is using the toilet. This reduces the slow build up of wastes that may collect on the dish as the toilet is used. The spreader could have different shapes and sizes as variations.
The hopper is simply a container that holds the bulking agent. It may have any suitable shape, but could simply be a rectangular container located near the toilet lid. Possible variations of the hopper include different shapes and sizes of the container. Preferably a lid is provided on the hopper, in order to prevent or reduce the absorption of moisture by the bulking agent stored therein. The bulking agent is a material which is used to increase the aeration of the waste pile and/or to increase the airflow in the waste pile. The bulking agent also absorbs moisture in the compost pile and provides carbon-rich content to balance the nitrogen-rich waste. Wood shavings are particularly suitable as a bulking agent. However, other bulking agents could be used, such as sawdust, other wood waste products, paper, compost, leaf litter, or other biodegradable material. Generally the bulking agent is a solid material rather than a liquid. The Applicant's system provides a mechanically automated bulking agent dispenser that does not require the user of the toilet to be educated in order to operate the toilet correctly.
The Applicant's system also provides a mechanically automated bulking agent dispenser that keeps bulking agent in a sealed environment, preventing moisture uptake from the air. The Applicant's system also provides a mechanically automated bulking agent dispenser that evenly distributes bulking agent throughout a compost pile.
While the present invention has been illustrated by the description of the embodiments thereof, and while the embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the Applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departure from the spirit or scope of the Applicant's general inventive concept.
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