HIGH PRESSURE LOW LIQUID VOLUME WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

BACKGROUND

[0001 ] Low flush and pressure assisted toilets are substantially similar to conventional toilet systems with the addition of relatively expensi ve electric pumps or complex plumbing that use line pressure for charging a tank. Typical water usage in these low flush and/or pressure assisted toilets is about 1.26 to about 1.4 gallons per flush. Whether a low flush or pressure assisted toilet, the known systems tend to suffer from "splash back" problems. These systems are also noisy when flushed. What is needed in the industry is a toilet system that is quieter, uses substantially less water per flush, and reduces splash back while producing sufficient pressure to effect cleansing and waste removal from a toilet bowl.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure is directed in general to toilet systems that utilize approximately 0.5 gallons (2 liters) of fluid or water per flush (GPF). A toilet system according to an aspect of the present disclosure uses less than half of the liquid of standard low flush toilets. Moreover, approximately 0.5 GPF is less than a third of the U.S. Government requirement of 1 .6 GPF for gravity tank-type toilets, flushometer tank toilets, and electro m ec h an i c a 1 hydraulic toilets as specified in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations. See 10 C.F.R. Part 430.

[0003] While reducing liquid consumption per flush, the present disclosure also increases pressure by utilizing incoming mains pressure water to compress air in a sealed compartment or space near or above the toilet. Opening a flush valve releases water in the sealed compartment, which is propelled by the compressed air. This highly pressurized water may be diverted three ways - to:

• a rim-spray disposed at or near the top of the toilet bowl, which is arranged to clean the interior sides of the bowl,

• an outlet located at or near a bottom of the bowl jet to push the contents of the bowl through a waste pipe, and

• a Venturi conduit further down the waste pipe that develops a low pressure area that helps pull or "suck" the bowl's contents through the waste pipe simultaneously with the pushing action provided above.

[§004] By sucking as well as pushing the waste down the pipe, rather than pushing alone, the combined effect prevents "splash back" or "up splash" in. the bowl and also reduces chances of clogs or back-ups in the bowl.

[0005] In one embodiment according to an aspect of the present disclosure, a high pressure, low liquid volume toilet system may include a commode having an interior for receiving waste; a charging vessel in communication with the commode; a liquid supply line connected to the charging vessel, the liquid supply line configured for delivery of a liquid to the charging vessel to pressurize the liquid; a junction disposed proximate the commode for directing the pressurized liquid from the charging vessel to a spray line depending from the junction and disposed in the interior for rinsing the commode with a first portion of the liquid diverted at the junction; to an exhaust line depending from the junction, the exhaust line having a first section interposed between the junction and the interior of the commode and a second section exiting the commode, a second portion of the liquid being diverted at the junction to the first section of the exhaust line to push waste into the second section of the exhaust line; to an exhaust pipe disposed downstream of second section of the exhaust line; and to a Venturi line interposed between the junction and the exhaust pipe, a third portion of the liquid being diverted at the junction to the Venturi line, the second portion of the liquid in the second section of the exhaust line meeting the third portion of the l iquid in the Venturi line to form a low pressure area upstream of the exhaust pipe, the low pressure area being configured to pull the waste as the first section of the exhaust line pushes the waste into the second section of the exhaust line.

[0006] In this embodiment, the Venturi line is between about 0.5 to about 0.9 of a length of the exhaust line. More particularly, the Venturi line may be spaced about twenty-one inches from the junction but may be spaced from about nineteen to about twenty-three inches from the junction. Comparatively, the exhaust line is spaced about thirty inches from the junction but may be spaced from about twenty-eight to about thirty-two inches from the junction.

[0007] Further in this embodiment, the Venturi line may have an inner diameter of about ¾ inch to about two inches, more particularly, of approximately one inch. Also, the exhaust pipe may have an inner diameter of about 1 ½ inches to about 2½ inches, more particularly, of approximately two inches.

[0008] This embodiment may include a valve or other mechanism for activating the system.. [0009] The liquid in the charging vessel in this embodiment may be approximately 0.5 gallons and may be pressurized in the range of about 75 pounds per square inch (psi) to about 100 psi.

[00010] The first portion of the liquid diverted at the junction in this embodiment is between about 10% to about 20% of the 0.5 gallons; the second portion between about 40% to about 45%; and the third portion of the liquid diverted at the junction is between about 40% to about 45%.

[0001 11 In another embodiment, a low fluid volume Venturi toilet system may include a toilet; a charging vessel in fluid communication with the toilet; a fluid supply line connected to the charging vessel, the fluid supply line configured for delivery of a fluid to the charging vessel to pressurize the fluid; a junction disposed proximate the toilet, the junction being configured to direct the pressurized liquid from the charging vessel to: a spray line disposed in the toilet; an exhaust line depending from the junction, a quantity of the fluid being diverted at the junction to the exhaust line to push waste from the toilet; an exhaust pipe disposed downstream of the exhaust line; and a venturi interposed between the junction and the exhaust pipe, a portion of the liquid being diverted at the junction to the venturi, the quantity of the liquid from the exhaust line meeting the portion of the liquid from the venturi to cause a low pressure area pull on the waste as the exhaust line pushes the waste to the exhaust pipe.

[00012] In a further aspect of the disclosure, a method of operating a high pressure, low liquid volume toilet system may include providing a sealed fluid container; connecting a fluid supply line to the fluid container; turning on the fluid supply line; permitting fluid from the fluid supply line to enter the fluid container; compressing ambient air within the sealed fluid container to charge the sealed fluid container with pressurized air thereby pressurizing the fluid; releasing the pressurized fluid; and diverting the pressurized fluid in a direction of a toilet, in a direction of an exhaust line, and in a direction of a venturi, the exhaust line and the venturi meeting to form a low- pressure area whereby the venturi and the exhaust line cooperate to simultaneously pull and push waste from the toilet in a direction of a waste pipe.

[00013 | In another embodiment, a low fluid volume Venturi toilet system may include a toilet; a charging vessel in fluid communication with the toilet; a fluid supply line connected to the charging vessel, the fluid supply line configured for delivery of a fluid to the charging vessel to pressurize the fluid; a junction disposed proximate the toilet; a spray line connected to the junction, a quantity of the fluid being diverted at the junction to the spray line to push rinse an inside the toilet; an exhaust line connected to the junction, a quantity of the fluid being diverted at the junction to the exhaust line to push waste from the toilet; an exhaust pipe disposed downstream of the exhaust line; and a venturi interposed between the junction and the exhaust pipe, a portion of the liquid being diverted at the junction to the venturi. the quantity of the liquid from the exhaust line meeting the portion of the liquid from the venturi to pull on the waste as the exhaust line pushes the waste to the exhaust pipe.

[00014] Additional aspects and advantages of the present subject matter are set forth in, or will be apparent to, those of ordinary skill in the art from the detailed description herein. Also, it should be further appreciated that modifications and variations to the specifically illustrated, referred and discussed features and elements hereof may be practiced in various embodiments and uses of the disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter. Variations may include, but are not limited to, substitution of equivalent means, features, or steps for those illustrated, referenced, or discussed, and the functional, operational, or positional reversal of various parts, features, steps, or the like. Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such variations upon review of the remainder of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[00015] A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:

[00016] FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a waste disposal system according to an aspect of the disclosure, particularly showing a high pressure liquid storage compartment with a toilet seat and lid (in phantom for clarity);

[00017] FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of the waste disposal system as in. FIGURE 1 ;

[00018] FIGURE 3 is a top perspective view of a portion waste disposal system as in FIGURE 1 ;

[00019] FIGURE 4 is partial plan view of the waste disposal system as in FIGURE 1, particularly showing a partially cut-away waste disposal pipe (an inner bowl is shown in phantom for clarity); [00020] FIGURE 5 is a partial perspective view of a waste catchment portion of the waste disposal system as in FIGURE 1, particularly showing low water consumption in a test environment; and

[00021] FIGURE 6 is schematic view of a waste disposal system according to another aspect of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[00022] Detailed reference will now be made to the drawings in which examples of the present disclosure are shown. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features of the drawings. Like or similar designations of the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of the disclosure.

[00023] The drawings and detailed description provide a full and written description of examples of the disclosure, and of the manner and process of making and using these examples, so as to enable one skilled in the pertinent art to make and use them, as well as the best mode of carrying out the disclosure. The examples set forth in the drawings and detailed description are provided by way of explanation only and are not meant as limitations of the disclosure. The present disclosure thus includes any modifications and variations of the following examples as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[00024] With reference now to FIGURE 1, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, an exemplary waste disposal system is designated in general by the element number 10 and broadly includes a commode or toilet bowl 12 and a pressurized container 14. The desired size of the container 14 will determine how much fluid is used and contribute to the achieved pressure within the system 10. In this example, fluid flows from a fluid or water supply line 16 and enters the container 14, which, being sealed, begins to compress air within the container 14, as indicated by a dashed line in FIGURE 1. Stated another way, although this example is not to scale, about 0.5 gallons (2 liters) fills to the dashed line thereby compressing the air above the dashed line. Once the container 14 is filled or "charged" with liquid and air, the waste disposal system 10 is ready for flushing. Those skilled in the art will understand that although the exemplary container 4 shown in FIGURE 1 is cylindrically shaped, the container 14 is not limited to that size or shape. Further, the container 14 may be referred to herein as a vessel, reservoir, compartment or the like. In an intended use environment, the container 14 may be disposed in a wall of a bathroom (not shown) or otherwise hidden from view.

[00025 J Also shown in FIGURE 1, the system 10 includes various liquid diversion conduits or lines such as a bowl spray supply line 18, a Venturi line or venturi 20, and a waste exhaust line 22 that becomes line 22A. These lines stem from a junction 24, also referred to herein as a Y-junction, divide, intersection, or the like. Likewise, the term line is used for various components for brevity; however, the various "lines" referenced within the disclosure may be tubes, pipes or other conduits and are not limited to a particular shape, size, or material and not all are alike. Similarly, although water may be used in many commercial or home environments, the various embodiments of the disclosure may employ other liquids in addition, or as an alternative to, water, such as chemical solutions. [00026] FIGURE 1 further shows a flush valve 26, a bowl rim-spray apparatus 28. and a seat and lid combination 30 (shown in phantom for clarity). The lines and the fluid therein separate but come together again (as depicted by fluid flow arrows) at a low pressure area 38 then exit into a drain or exhaust pipe 36 into a septic tank or sewer system as depicted by a container 32 in this example. An operation of the system 10 in general, and these components in particular, are discussed in greater detail below.

[00027] Many of the components of the waste disposal system 10 are shown most clearly in FIGURE 2. Here, the fluid (not shown) enters the container 14 through the hose or pipe 16. Upon pressurization of the fluid in the container 14 as described below, the flush valve 26 may be activated to send the pressurized fluid in a direction of the Y-junction 24 (which is shown in FIGURE 2 as a horizontally oriented handle but may be vertically oriented or it may be a button or other activation device). The fluid separates at the Y-junction 24 with a portion continuing to the spray supply line 18, a portion continuing to the venturi 20, and a portion to the waste exhaust line 22. As shown, the waste exhaust line 22 enters the bowl 12 and exits the bowl 12 as line 22A. Similarly, line 18 feeds into the bowl rim-spray apparatus 28, which is disposed under the seat 30. Simultaneously, another portion of the fluid enters the Venturi line 20. As briefly introduced above and described by exemplary operation below, the separated fluid comes together again at or near the venture or low pressure area 38 and drains out through the pipe 36 to the tank 32.

[00028] Turning now to FIGURE 3, a j -shaped arrow depicts the flow of fluid from the tank 14 (having been charged by hose 16) into the junction 24 where the fluid subsequently flows into the lines 18, 20, and 22 as discussed above and as indicated here by a three-way arrow. The relative openings (not shown) into 18, 20, and 22 are similar to the inflow to the junction 24 thus avoiding a pressure drop.

[00029] FIGURE 4 best shows the bowl rim-spray apparatus 28, and the exhaust line 22A and a waste hatch or opening 22 B discharging fluid and waste 34. As shown, a standard inner toilet bowl is shown in phantom to most clearly show the bowl spray supply line 18 supplying the rim spray line 28 with pressurized fluid 34 A. Although the exemplary hose 28 may have relatively small holes 29 formed therein to spray water 34 A into the bowl 12 under pressure, the rim spray line 28 can be formed as part of the bowl 12. such as by molding a channel or raceway with spaced apertures 29 in or near an upper periphery of the bowl 12 to release the pressurized spray 34A downward into the bowl 12. As shown, the phantom inner portion of the bowl 12, in use, would terminate in an exit hole (also in phantom) leading into the waste hatch 22B.

[000301 FIGURE 5 shows that the size of the container 14 (see FIGURE I ) determines how much fluid is used by the system 10. The size of the container 14 also contributes to the achieved pressure within the system 10. Here, the waste and fluid have been removed from the bowl 12 (see FIGURE 1) and deposited in the tank 32 due to the combined action of the spraying, pushing and pulling effects of the various water flows described above. More specifically, FIGURE 5 shows a catchment bucket 32A placed in the experimental test tank 32 to measure and test the efficiency of the prototypical system. As shown, following discharge of the system 10, approximately 1 gallon (4 liters) is used in two exemplary flush cycles (i.e., 2L or 0.5 gallons per flush) — accounting for nominal displacement by waste volume. In actual operation, waste would exit to a sewer pipe or into a septic tank in the same manner as in a standard toilet, rather than be collected in the test bucket 32A.

[00031 ] By way of exemplary operation of an embodiment according to the disclosure, FIGURE 6 shows a waste disposal system 110 with water (illustrated as a double-headed arrow) flowing from a supply line 116 and entering a container 1 14. The container 114, being sealed, begins to compress air within the container 114 by the rising water 134 (the air compression being indicated by a downward directed arrow within the tank 114). Stated another way, although this example is not to scale, about 0.5 gallons of water 134 fills to the illustrated line thereby compressing the air above the dashed line. Once the container 114 is filled or "charged" with water and air, the waste disposal system 110 is ready for flushing. Here, for example, a ball valve 126 is activated. As shown, the ball valve 126 is disposed between the container 1 14 and fluid lines 118, 120 and 124. It will be appreciated that the disclosure is not limited to a handle-type valve 126 or to a one-way ball valve. Various alternatives are contemplated and within the scope of the disclosure, such as a push button type valve 126 and/or a gate valve.

[00032) With continued reference to FIGURE 6. after activating the valve 126, the water 134 flows under pressure of about 75 to about 100 pounds per square inch (psi), particularly about 90 psi i this example, from the container 114 into the bowl spray supply line 118 into a bowl 112, as well as into the Venturi line 120, and the bowl exhaust line 122. Depending upon the inner diameter (I.D.) of the lines, various portions or amounts of the water 134 may flow into each of the lines. In this example, about 10-20% of the 0.5 gallons travels to the hose portion of the line 118, about 40- 45% to the exhaust line 122, and about 40-45% to the Venturi line 120. That portion spraying from the hose portion of the line 118 is under approximately 70 to about 85 pounds per square inch (psi), more particularly about 78 psi of pressure, which, though relatively small in volume, easily cleans an interior of a bowl 112.

[00033] Also in FIGURE 6, the Venturi line 120 in this example has about a one inch I.D. and is approximately twenty-one inches (21") from the three-way junction 124. On the other hand, the exhaust line 122 is spaced approximately thirty inches (30") from the three-way junction 124. Due in part to the difference in line lengths, any release of pressurized air reaches the rim-spray line 128 before it reaches a downstream venturi 138. This reduces noise as well as decreases the chances of spraying or blow back up the bowl. Relative pipe or line length may be changed to accommodate different installation requirements. More particularly, while the length of both the Venturi and the exhaust lines 120, 122 may vary, the Venturi line 120 will be proportionally shorter than the exhaust line 122 (without limitation, about .5 to about .9 of a length of the exhaust line 122) so that the any remaining compressed air is released down the confines of the waste pipe rather than at the bowl waste hatch 134. This prevents "explosive" release of the air, which both reduces the noise and prevents up splash in the bowl 1 12.

[00034] FIGURE 6 further shows that portion of water 134 travelling through the Venturi line 120, continuing into an exhaust pipe 136, here about two inches l.D. As shown, the exhaust line 122 A and the Venturi line 120 meet proximate the Venturi or low pressure area 138. As the low pressure area 138 transitions into the pipe 136, a vacuum or pull on the waste and discharging water 134 is effected at the same time the waste is being pushed out of the line 122 A into the pipe 136.

[00035] In the matter of (incompressible) flow of water (or other liquid), the theoretical pressure drop at the low pressure area 138 can be represented using Bernoulli's equation:

P ( 2 l\

[00036] 2 ^* - ¹ /

[00037] where p is the density of a fluid, υι is a relatively slower fluid velocity where a pipe is wider and υ ₂ is a relatively faster fluid velocity where the pipe is narrower.

[00038] While preferred embodiments have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will recognize that other changes and modifications may be made to the foregoing examples without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. For instance, various durable materials can be used for the tank and pipes as described herein and a variety of shapes and geometries can be achieved using different molds. Various pipe sizes may be utilized to adjust fluid volume and outlet pressures. It is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.