U.S. patent application number 09/552169 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-03 for water saving toilet system.
Invention is credited to Jermier, Donald A..
Application Number | 20020000005 09/552169 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24204206 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020000005 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jermier, Donald A. |
January 3, 2002 |
Water saving toilet system
Abstract
A toilet system having a toilet bowl including at a bottom
thereof a discharge opening. The discharge opening of the bowl is
connected to the intake opening of a treating chamber. A discharge
pump in the treating chamber discharges treated effluent therefrom
to a waste pipe. A conduit free of bends along its length connects
the discharge pump to the waste pipe.
Inventors: |
Jermier, Donald A.;
(Stamford, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BANNER & WITCOFF, LTD.
28 STATE STREET
28th FLOOR
BOSTON
MA
02109
US
|
Family ID: |
24204206 |
Appl. No.: |
09/552169 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/319 ;
4/321 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 9/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/319 ;
4/321 |
International
Class: |
E03D 009/10 |
Claims
1. A toilet system comprising, in combination: a toilet bowl having
at a bottom thereof a discharge opening; a treating chamber having
an intake opening, the intake opening operably connected to the
discharge opening of the bowl; a discharge pump in the treating
chamber for discharging treated effluent therefrom; a waste pipe
for carrying treated effluent from the discharge pump; and a
conduit connecting the discharge pump and the waste pipe, the
conduit being free of bends along its length.
2. The toilet system according to claim 1, wherein the conduit
comprises a discharge port on the discharge pump; an inlet port on
the waste pipe; and a length of pipe connected at one end to the
discharge port and at its other end to the inlet port.
3. The toilet system according to claim 2, further comprising a
trap connected to the waste pipe, the inlet port being located on
the trap.
4. A toilet system comprising, in combination: a toilet bowl having
at a bottom thereof a discharge opening; a treating chamber having
an intake opening, the intake opening operably connected to the
discharge opening of the bowl; a macerator in the treating chamber;
a discharge pump in the treating chamber for discharging treated
effluent therefrom; a waste pipe for carrying treated effluent from
the discharge pump; a conduit connecting the discharge pump and the
waste pipe, the conduit being free of bends along its length; a
motor for operating the macerator and the discharge pump; a valve
connecting the toilet bowl to a source of water and operable to
admit water to the bowl to flush the bowl.
5. The toilet system according to claim 1, wherein the conduit
comprises a discharge port on the discharge pump; an inlet port on
the waste pipe; and a length of pipe connected at one end to the
discharge port and at its other end to the inlet port.
6. The toilet system according to claim 2, further comprising a
trap connected to the waste pipe, the inlet port being located on
the trap.
Description
INTRODUCTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to a water saving toilet
system, and, more particularly, to a water saving toilet system
having an improved discharge piping construction.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,280, dated May 14, 1985, there is
shown and described a water saving toilet system. The system herein
illustrated is similar in many respects to that shown in the
aforesaid patent, but improved in certain aspects, particularly in
that it is provided with improved construction to reduce the chance
of clogging at the discharge of the pump, and an improved
controller to better optimize the timing of various functions of
the toilet system.
[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide a water
saving toilet system which reduces or wholly overcomes some or all
of the difficulties inherent in prior known devices. Particular
objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable or
experienced in this field of technology, in view of the following
disclosure of the invention and detailed description of preferred
embodiments.
SUMMARY
[0004] The principles of the invention may be used to advantage to
provide a toilet system having improved flow of effluent from a
discharge pump to a waste pipe, reducing the possibility of
clogging within the toilet system.
[0005] In accordance with a first aspect, a toilet system comprises
a toilet bowl having at a bottom thereof a discharge opening. The
discharge opening of the bowl is connected to an intake opening of
a treating chamber. A discharge pump in the treating chamber
discharges treated effluent therefrom to a waste pipe. A conduit
free of bends along its length connects the discharge pump to the
waste pipe.
[0006] From the foregoing disclosure, it will be readily apparent
to those skilled in the art, that is, those who are knowledgeable
or experienced in this area of technology, that the present
invention provides a significant advance. Preferred embodiments of
the toilet system of the present invention can provide improved
flow characteristics of treated effluent. These and additional
features and advantages of the invention disclosed here will be
further understood from the following detailed disclosure of
preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Preferred embodiments are described in detail below with
reference to the appended drawings.
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the toilet
system of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the toilet system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 2A is a fragmentary section of a spray head nozzle of the
toilet system FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a plan view, of the treating chamber of the toilet
system of FIG. 1, showing a bypass conductor and a conduit
connecting the pump to the bypass conductor.
[0011] FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the conduit of FIG. 3.
[0012] FIG. 5 is an elevation of the treating chamber of FIG. 1,
showing the bypass conductor partly in section.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevation, with a portion in
section, of a trap pipe of the toilet system of FIG. 1 connecting
the bowl to the treating chamber.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a top view of the trap pipe of FIG. 6.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a plan view in section of the pump rotor of the
pump of the toilet system of FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 9 is a control circuit diagram for controlling the
sequence of operation of components of the toilet system of FIG.
1.
[0017] The figures referred to above are not drawn necessarily to
scale and should be understood to present a representation of the
invention, illustrative of the principles involved. Some features
of the water saving toilet system depicted in the drawings have
been enlarged or distorted relative to others to facilitate
explanation and understanding. The same reference numbers are used
in the drawings for similar or identical components and features
shown in various alternative embodiments. Water saving toilet
systems as disclosed herein, will have configurations and
components determined, in part, by the intended application and
environment in which they are used.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Referring to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown a toilet
bowl 10 supported on a suitable base 12, to which flush water is
supplied by a solenoid-operated valve V and from which effluent is
discharged through a trap 14 into a treating chamber 16 where it is
macerated by a macerator 16A and then pumped by means of a pump 18
through a discharge conductor 20 to a soil pipe.
[0019] The toilet bowl 10 is of generally conventional
configuration, has at the top a cored passage 22 which, as shown in
FIG. 2, extends peripherally around the rear half of the bowl,
through which flush water is delivered to the bowl for flushing,
and a discharge opening 24 at the bottom through which effluent is
discharged. The rear end of the cored passage is connected by a
feeder tube 26 and suitable plumbing 28 to the valve V which, in
turn, is connected to a water supply, not shown, so that operation
of the valve will supply flush water to the cored passage. The
forward ends of the cored passage terminate diametrically opposite
each other approximately halfway between the front and rear ends of
the bowl in openings 30-30 within which there are fixed spray
nozzles 32-32 through which water delivered into the cored passage
is ejected downwardly on the surface of the bowl. The nozzles 32-32
comprise, FIG. 2A, cylindrical plugs 34 containing ports 36 which
are in communication with the cored passage 22 and downwardly-open
slots 38 designed to eject the flush water downwardly in fan shape
against the surface of the bowl so as to wash the surface down.
[0020] The trap 14 for conducting the effluent from the bowl to the
treating chamber, as shown in FIG. 5, has an upwardly-inclined leg
40, the lower end of which is flanged at 42 to fit over an
extension 44 defining the opening 24, and a vertical leg 46
connected at its upper end to the inclined leg 40 and at its lower
end to the treating tank 16.
[0021] As seen in FIG. 1, the treating chamber 16 is mounted on the
supporting structure for the bowl behind the bowl, is of generally
circular cross section, is closed at the bottom, and has an open
top, peripherally of which there is a beveled rim 48. A cover plate
50 having a beveled edge 52 is mounted on the rim 48 and detachably
secured thereto by a locking band 54, the upper and lower edges 56
and 58 of which overlap the beveled portions of the rim and edge.
The locking band 54 provides for easy removal of the cover plate
from the treating chamber. The cover plate supports the macerator
16a, the pump 18 and the drive means therefor. To this end, the
cover plate 50 is provided with a top opening 60 in which there is
mounted a vertical bearing assembly 62 which supports a shaft 64 in
a vertical position with a portion extending above the treating
chamber and a portion extending into the treating chamber. The
portion of the shaft 64 extending above the treating chamber is
fixed by a coupling 66 to the drive shaft 68 of a motor M. The
portion of the shaft 64 extending into 5 the treating chamber has
fixed to it a macerator blade 70 disposed in a horizontal position
at right angles to the axis of the shaft. Below the macerator
blade, the bottom of the treating chamber is structured to provide
an annular toroidal surface 72. The blade 70 and the subjacent
toroidal surface 72 provide for hydraulic attrition of effluent
delivered into the treating chamber. The macerator operates by
hydraulic attrition rather than cutting to disperse and particulate
the solids in the effluent.
[0022] The cover plate 50 is also provided with an opening 74 for
receiving the pump assembly 18 and the latter is mounted in the
opening by means of a ring 76 fastened by bolts 78 to the top plate
and comprises a sealed housing 80 within which there is a stator 82
and a rotor 84. The upper end of the rotor is fixed to a shaft 86
journaled in a bearing 88 mounted on the ring 78. The stator and
rotor 82 and 84 constitute, in conjunction, a worm pump.
[0023] A pulley 90 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 64, a
pulley 92 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft 86, and a belt 94
is trained about pulleys 90, 92 so that the motor M drives the
macerator and the pump simultaneously. A control module 95 is
mounted at the back of a housing 97 of the toilet system.
[0024] The pump 18 has an intake port 96 within treating chamber 16
and a discharge port 98 externally of the treating chamber.
Discharge port 98 is connected by a coupling 100 to a length of
pipe 101, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, which is in turn connected by a
coupling 103 to an inlet port 105 on discharge conductor 20 which,
as previously mentioned, is connected to a waste pipe. The
combination of discharge port 98, pipe 101, and inlet port 105 are
coaxial such that discharge from pump 18 flows in a straight line
to conductor 20, reducing the chance of blockage as effluent is
discharged from pump 18. Thus, effluent flows from pump 18 in an
improved manner through a conduit, free of bends along its length,
to conductor 20, the conduit being formed, in a preferred
embodiment, of discharge port 98, pipe 101, and inlet port 105,
connected to one another by couplings. This alleviates a problem
encountered in prior art systems wherein effluent exiting the
discharge pipe encountered a first 90.degree. elbow, flowed
downwardly, and then encountered a second 90.degree. elbow before
entering the conductor in horizontal fashion. When large amounts of
waste and paper were flushed through such a configuration, the
discharge force of the pump caused the waste and paper to impact
the 90.degree. elbows and lead to plugging of the system. To clear
such clogs is a difficult and time consuming process, and includes
dismantling a major portion of the system. Consequently, the
improved flow of effluent from the pump to conductor 20 of the
present invention realizes a significant improvement in the
operation and efficiency of the toilet system.
[0025] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the discharge conductor 20 is
connected at one end directly to the vertical leg of the trap by
means of a valve assembly 106 comprising a beveled plate 108 which
defines an opening 110, a plate 112 which defines an opening 114
and a flexible valve member 116 positioned therebetween and clamped
in place by a circumferential clamping ring 118. The plate 108 is
fixed to a branch pipe 119 stemming from the leg 46, the axis of
which is inclined upwardly with respect to the vertical axis of the
leg 46 so that the plate 108 slopes downwardly at a diverging angle
with respect to the axis of the vertical leg. The plate 112 is
fixed to the discharge pipe 20 at an angle such as to be parallel
to the plate 108. As thus constructed, the valve assembly slopes
downwardly and divergently with respect to the axis of the vertical
leg of the trap. The flexible valve member 116 is arranged to open
inwardly with respect to the conductor 20 by a pressure head within
the vertical leg of the trap and to close by gravity in the absence
of a head in the vertical portion of the trap. Normally, when the
pump is in operation, it produces a low pressure in the vertical
portion of the trap so that the low pressure, in conjunction with
the gravitational disposition of the valve member 116, ensures that
the valve will be held closed under normal conditions. An angular
disposition of the valve is of importance to prevent siphoning of
the effluent from the vertical leg of the trap when the system is
at rest. When the system is in use and, for some reason, the pump
becomes disabled, a pressure head developed in the vertical leg of
the trap 110 will open the valve 116 and allow the effluent to flow
directly through the conductor 20 to the waste pipe. The pressure
head can be provided by dumping water into the bowl or, if the
valve V is operative, supplying water to the bowl through the
valve.
[0026] In prior toilet systems of this kind, diaphragm and gear
pumps have been used for effecting discharge of effluent. However,
in accordance with this invention, it has been found that a screw
pump is considerably more satisfactory and effective insofar as the
flush cycle is concerned. The stator 82 is comprised of flexible
rubber and the rotor is plastic. In order to reduce the friction
load of the plastic rotor in the flexible rubber stator, a portion
of the worm at one end has been reduced to the root diameter of the
worm. As herein illustrated, FIG. 8, the rotor 84, which is
comprised of Bakelite, is 4.28 inches axial length. The diameter of
the worm is 1.12 inches and has a helix angle of 25 degrees with a
lead of 1.648 and at one end a portion a 1.12 inches in length
reduced to a uniform diameter of 0.0875 inches. By reducing the
portion a at the one end to the root diameter of the worm, the
friction between the rotor and stator can be materially reduced,
thus reducing the power input necessary to drive the pump.
[0027] A flushing cycle of the toilet system in normal operation is
sequenced by the control circuitry of control module 95 so that
motor M is started first, simultaneously driving macerator 16A and
discharge pump 18, followed by energization of a solenoid to open
the valve V for supplying flush water to the bowl. In a preferred
embodiment, the bowl is flushed with 2 and 1/2 quarts of water
during the flushing cycle. While the valve is still open and
flushing is still occurring, the discharge pump 18 stops. The
flushing operation is subsequently stopped by closing of the valve
V. Macerator 16A is in operation during the entire time that
discharge pump 18 is in operation.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a wiring diagram showing a timer T which provides
for sequencing the operation of the valve V and motor M during the
flushing cycle, so as to start the motor before opening the valve
and to stop the motor before closing the valve. In the circuit,
there is shown a normally open switch SW for energizing the
circuit, the motor M for driving the macerator and pump, a solenoid
S for activating the valve V, and a timer T powered by a power
source P and controlling the sequenced operation of motor M and
solenoid actuated valve V. Timer T is preferably sealed in epoxy in
module 95 to protect it from moisture, heat, and other
environmental conditions.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the timing of the sequence of the
steps during the flushing cycle of the system is as follows. The
total operation run time of the flushing cycle is eight seconds,
and during that time, timer T of the control circuit performs three
separate functions. At the start of the sequence, that is, time
zero, the timer first energizes motor M, which then runs for the
first five seconds of the cycle and is then deenergized. The timer
also provides a delay of one and a half seconds from time zero, at
which time the solenoid is opened, opening valve V to provide
rinsing of toilet bowl 10. The timer then provides for the solenoid
and valve V to remain open until the end of the eight second run
cycle. Such a combination of timing sequences has been found to be
particularly advantageous. The particular timing of the components
of the toilet system described herein utilizes a minimum of water
to efficiently evacuate and rinse the bowl, as well as efficiently
treat and discharge the waste from the toilet system. Closing the
normally open switch SW during the flushing cycle preferably does
not affect operation of the either of the delay cycles, that is,
the first delay of 1 1/2 seconds before the solenoid and valve
open, or the second delay of 6 1/2 seconds during which the valve
remains open and the bowl is flushed.
[0030] In a preferred embodiment, timer T is calibrated to an
accuracy of .+-.2%. Motor M preferably is a 1/4 BP motor with a 20
amp in-rush, 10 amp run capacity, and in-rush time of approximately
1 second. Solenoid S preferably has a 2 amp in-rush, a 0.45 amp run
capacity, and an in-rush time of approximately 0.2 seconds. The
supply voltage from power source P to timer T is preferably
unfiltered 115 V.A.C. at 60 Hz, with a voltage variation of
.+-.10%, with transients not to exceed 400 volts for 1
milli-second.
[0031] It is to be appreciated that although timer T is shown here
in conjunction with a specific configuration of a water saving
toilet, other constructions of toilets appropriate for the use of
such a timer having the performance characteristics described
herein are considered within the scope of the invention.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the power to motor M is supplied
initially to the starting circuit of the motor, preferably for
approximately 400-600 milliseconds, more preferably approximately
500 milliseconds, and then the power is switched to the running
circuit of motor M for the remainder of the five second period
during which motor M runs. By switching power from the starting
circuit to the running circuit in this manner, the expense of a
separate starting switch in the motor is eliminated.
[0033] In light of the foregoing disclosure of the invention and
description of the preferred embodiments, those skilled in this
area of technology will readily understand that various
modifications and adaptations can be made without departing from
the scope and spirit of the invention. All such modifications and
adaptations are intended to be covered by the following claims.
* * * * *