U.S. patent application number 12/543652 was filed with the patent office on 2010-03-04 for fixed location, ultra-low flush, sewage-holding vessel restroom system.
Invention is credited to Kenneth Earlywine.
Application Number | 20100050330 12/543652 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41723162 |
Filed Date | 2010-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100050330 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Earlywine; Kenneth |
March 4, 2010 |
FIXED LOCATION, ULTRA-LOW FLUSH, SEWAGE-HOLDING VESSEL RESTROOM
SYSTEM
Abstract
A restroom system can include a fixed-in-place restroom
building, a flush toilet housed in the restroom building, a water
supply system in communication with the flush toilet, and a
sewage-holding vessel in communication with the flush toilet.
Sewage can be received in the flush toilet and water can be
supplied from the water supply system to the flush toilet in an
amount less than 1 gallon of water per flush. Sewage effluent can
be flushed from the flush toilet, transported to the holding
vessel, and extracted from the sewage-holding vessel and to a
sewage hauling vehicle tank. The sewage effluent can be transported
away from the restroom system in the sewage hauling vehicle
tank.
Inventors: |
Earlywine; Kenneth;
(Vancouver, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Goff Patent Law PLLC
P.O. Box 625
Brush Prairie
WA
98606
US
|
Family ID: |
41723162 |
Appl. No.: |
12/543652 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61093079 |
Aug 29, 2008 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
4/321 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03D 3/10 20130101; E03D
7/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
4/321 |
International
Class: |
E03D 1/00 20060101
E03D001/00 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: receiving sewage in a flush toilet in a
restroom system, the restroom system comprising: a fixed-in-place
restroom building; a flush toilet housed in the restroom building;
a water supply system in communication with the flush toilet; and a
sewage-holding vessel in communication with the flush toilet;
supplying water from the water supply system to the flush toilet in
an amount less than 1 gallon of water per flush; and transporting
sewage effluent from the flush toilet to the holding vessel.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises
automatically locking one or more doors in the restroom building
when freezing temperatures are sensed within the restroom
system.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises
non-residential use of the restroom system.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: extracting the sewage
effluent from the sewage-holding vessel and to a sewage hauling
vehicle tank; and transporting the sewage effluent in the sewage
hauling vehicle tank.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the restroom system further
comprises a waterless urinal in communication with the
sewage-holding vessel.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the restroom system further
comprises an electric power supply system.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein transporting sewage effluent from
the flush toilet to the holding vessel comprising introducing
pressurized air to the sewage effluent.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein supplying water from the water
supply system comprises pressurizing the water.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrofitting an
existing vault toilet restroom building with the flush toilet to
provide the restroom system.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the restroom system inhibits
freezing of water in the restroom building.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the restroom system inhibits
freezing of water in the restroom building by passing air through a
passage wherein the air absorbs heat from the ground before
entering the restroom building.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the restroom system inhibits
freezing of water in the restroom building by automatically
flushing a toilet.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the restroom system inhibits
freezing of water in a bowl of the toilet by circulating air
through a base of the toilet.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the restroom system inhibits
freezing of water in the restroom building by enhancing circulation
of air using a flue stack.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the restroom system inhibits
freezing of water in the restroom building by decreasing
circulation of external air through the restroom building during
times when an external temperature drops below a predetermined low
temperature.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the restroom system inhibits
overflow of sewage from the holding vessel.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the restroom system directs air
through a ventilation system in the restroom building.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the restroom system does not
include septic treatment features.
19. A method comprising: retrofitting an existing vault or
composting toilet restroom system with one or more flush toilets to
produce a flush toilet restroom system, the retrofitting
comprising: replacing a vault or composting toilet riser housed in
a fixed-in-place restroom building with a flush toilet that is
designed to use less than one gallon of liquid per flush in the
fixed-in-place restroom building, the flush toilet being in
communication with a sewage-holding vessel that was previously in
communication with the vault or composting toilet riser; connecting
a water supply system to the flush toilet; and connecting a power
supply system to the flush toilet restroom system.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises
automatically locking one or more doors in the flush toilet
restroom system when freezing temperatures are sensed within the
flush toilet restroom system.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises
non-residential use of the restroom system.
22. The method of claim 19, wherein the vault or composting toilet
restroom system is a vault toilet restroom system, and wherein the
vault or composting toilet riser is a vault toilet riser.
23. The method of claim 19, wherein the vault or composting toilet
restroom system is a composting toilet restroom system, and wherein
the vault or composting toilet riser is a composting toilet
riser.
24. The method of claim 19, further comprising installing a
waterless urinal in communication with the sewage-holding
vessel.
25. The method of claim 19, further comprising: receiving sewage in
the flush toilet; flushing the flush toilet, the flushing
comprising supplying water from the water supply system to the
flush toilet in an amount less than 1 gallon of water per flush;
transporting sewage effluent from the flush toilet to the holding
vessel; extracting the sewage effluent out of the sewage-holding
vessel and to a sewage hauling vehicle tank; and transporting the
sewage effluent in the sewage hauling vehicle tank.
26. The method of claim 19, further comprising connecting the flush
toilet to a source of pressurized air.
27. The method of claim 19, wherein the water supply system
pressurizes water supplied to the flush toilet.
28. The method of claim 19, wherein the flush toilet restroom
system inhibits freezing of water in the restroom building.
29. The method of claim 19, wherein the flush toilet restroom
system inhibits freezing of water in the restroom building by
passing air through a passage wherein the air absorbs heat from the
ground before entering the restroom building.
30. The method of claim 19, wherein the flush toilet restroom
system inhibits freezing of water in the restroom building by
automatically flushing a toilet.
31. The method of claim 19, wherein the flush toilet restroom
system inhibits freezing of water in the restroom building by
decreasing circulation of external air through the restroom
building during times when an external temperature drops below a
predetermined low temperature.
32. The method of claim 19, wherein the flush toilet restroom
system inhibits freezing of water in a bowl of the flush toilet by
circulating air through a base of the flush toilet.
33. The method of claim 19, wherein the restroom system inhibits
freezing of water in the restroom building by enhancing circulation
of air using a flue stack.
34. The method of claim 19, wherein the flush toilet restroom
system inhibits overflow of sewage from the holding vessel.
35. The method of claim 19, wherein the flush toilet restroom
system comprises a ventilation system.
36. The method of claim 19, wherein the flush toilet restroom
system does not include septic treatment features.
37. A restroom system comprising: a fixed-in-place restroom
building; a flush toilet housed in the restroom building, the flush
toilet designed to use less than 1 gallon of water per flush; a
water supply system connected to supply water to the flush toilet;
and a sewage-holding vessel in communication with the flush toilet
to receive sewage effluent from the flush toilet, the
sewage-holding vessel including an outlet for extracting sewage
effluent from the sewage-holding vessel.
38. The restroom system of claim 37, wherein the restroom system is
configured to automatically lock one or more doors in the restroom
system when freezing temperatures are sensed within the restroom
system.
39. The restroom system of claim 37, wherein the restroom system is
in a non-residential setting.
40. The restroom system of claim 37, further comprising a waterless
urinal in communication with the sewage-holding vessel.
41. The restroom system of claim 37, further comprising a power
system configured to supply electric power to the restroom
system.
42. The restroom system of claim 37, further comprising an air
pressurizing system configured to supply pressurized air to assist
in moving sewage effluent to the sewage-holding vessel.
43. The restroom system of claim 37, wherein the restroom building
houses a waterless urinal in communication with the sewage-holding
vessel.
44. The restroom system of claim 37, wherein the flush toilet is a
first flush toilet and the restroom houses the first flush toilet
and a second flush toilet designed to use less than 1 gallon of
water per flush, the second flush toilet being in communication
with the sewage-holding vessel so that the sewage-holding vessel
receives sewage effluent from the first flush toilet and the second
flush toilet.
45. The restroom system of claim 37, wherein the water supply
system comprises a water-holding vessel.
46. The restroom system of claim 37, wherein the water supply
system comprises a water pressurizing system.
47. The restroom system of claim 37, wherein the restroom building
is a vault toilet restroom building that has been modified for use
with the flush toilet.
48. The restroom system of claim 37, comprising means for
inhibiting freezing of water in the restroom building.
49. The restroom system of claim 37, wherein the restroom system is
configured to inhibit freezing of water in the restroom building by
passing air through a passage wherein the air absorbs heat from the
ground before entering the restroom building.
50. The restroom system of claim 37, wherein the restroom system is
configured to inhibit freezing of water in the restroom building by
automatically flushing the flush toilet.
51. The restroom system of claim 37, wherein the restroom system is
configure to inhibit freezing of water in the restroom building by
decreasing circulation of external air through the restroom
building during times when an external temperature drops below a
predetermined low temperature.
52. The restroom system of claim 37, wherein the restroom system is
configured to inhibit freezing of water in a bowl of the flush
toilet by circulating air through a base of the toilet.
53. The restroom system of claim 37, wherein the restroom system is
configured to inhibit freezing of water in the restroom building by
enhancing circulation of air using a flue stack.
54. The restroom system of claim 37, comprising means for
inhibiting overflow of sewage from the holding vessel.
55. The restroom system of claim 37, further comprising a restroom
ventilation system.
56. The restroom system of claim 37, wherein the restroom system
does not include septic treatment features.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a non-provisional application claiming
priority to U.S. Provisional application No. 61/093,079, filed Aug.
29, 2008, entitled Fixed-in-Place Stand-Alone Flush Restroom, which
is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The description relates to fixed-in-place restroom systems,
and in particular to the use of ultra-low volume flush toilets and
sewage-holding vessels in such restroom systems.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Fixed building restrooms currently employ vault toilets,
composting toilets, or conventional flush toilets. As used herein,
fixed building, fixed-in-place, fixed location, and similar terms
refer to restroom buildings being attached to a permanent
foundation and/or partially placed within an excavation. These
terms can be contrasted with movable restrooms, which can include
standard "porta-potties", mobile restrooms, restrooms mounted on
trailers, floating restrooms, and the like. A restroom building is
a building whose primary features include restroom features, such
as toiletry, washroom, and/or shower features. Vault toilet
buildings are equipped with toilet risers through which human waste
and urine are deposited to a waste storage vault below, without
mechanical assistance. Composting toilet buildings have a
composting chamber located below the toilet riser instead of a
waste-holding tank.
[0004] These restroom options have advantages and disadvantages.
Restroom buildings employing vault or composting toilets do not
require water, sewer, or electrical service and thus are well
suited to remote locations, needing only heavy truck access for
installation, maintenance, and waste removal. However, restrooms
employing either vault or composting toilets are vulnerable to
users depositing inappropriate materials in them.
[0005] In addition, the public generally perceives vault toilets as
being unsanitary, smelly, and unsightly (being able to peer down at
human waste in the holding tank). Debris and high concentrations of
toilet paper deposited in vaults makes pumping operations
difficult, unsanitary, and expensive. Vault waste disposal is a
problem in some areas due to its concentration of urine and waste
and because toxic materials are sometimes added to reduce odors.
The waste is concentrated because, unlike flush toilets, no water
dilutes the waste. Many small wastewater treatment plants are
unable to process undiluted vault waste. Consequently, the waste
must either be diluted or hauled to a larger wastewater treatment
plant that can process undiluted sewage.
[0006] Occasionally, restroom buildings are equipped with
composting toilets. These restrooms are very expensive to purchase
and maintain. They are labor intensive, frequently do not work, and
potentially endanger employees through pathogen exposure and
confined space hazards.
[0007] Restrooms equipped with conventional flush toilets have none
of these disadvantages. However, they require connection to a
pressurized water system and to a sewer or on-site septic system.
These utilities are often unavailable in remote locations, are
expensive to construct, and may not be feasible. In many locations,
flush restrooms also require heat to keep the water lines from
freezing. Accordingly, in locations that do not have water, sewage,
or electrical services, flush toilets may be impractical and
permanent restroom buildings are typically equipped with vault
toilets. Conventional flush toilets and urinals have environmental
issues related to their use of large amounts of water.
[0008] In an effort to make vault toilet restroom buildings more
acceptable to the public, many fixed vault toilet restrooms have
been designed to meet the specifications of the "sweet smelling
technology", or "SST", developed by the U.S. Forest Service over
the past 20 years. The main SST design features for these buildings
include the following: [0009] waste vaults made of plastic or
sealed concrete; [0010] large black plastic stacks that use solar
gain and flue design to create negative pressure in the sewage
vaults, which in turn creates a downdraft through the toilet riser
to direct odors away from the interior building spaces; [0011]
access to the sewage vault through an exterior manhole for pump-out
servicing (previously, vault toilets were pumped out through the
toilet riser); [0012] provision of separate sewage vaults for each
toilet riser in order to eliminate cross-flow conditions wherein
air passes down one toilet riser, over the waste material below and
then out another toilet riser into the building; and [0013] fresh
air vents located to minimize the possibility of drafts bringing
odors up the toilet risers into the occupied spaces.
[0014] Moveable ultra-low volume flush toilet restrooms have been
commercially available for many years. However, similar technology
has not been developed for application in fixed restroom buildings.
Two examples of portable toilet restrooms with self-contained
sanitation systems (i.e., sanitation systems that do not require
sewer or on-site septic systems) include those manufactured by
Water-Loo, Inc; and Turkstra. The reason these moveable restroom
designs have never been adapted as fixed location restrooms appears
to be primarily due to their high cost per-use. The Water-Loo model
was designed for railroad crews and is equipped with wheels set on
the railroad tracks. The treated effluent is leaked onto the
railroad tracks below. The cost per use is high, but for such
specialized use this is not a primary concern. The Turkstra
portable restroom is promoted as a portable golf course toilet
where high cost per use might be acceptable.
[0015] Joe Welch Companies, Inc. manufactures a self-contained
moveable flush restroom that is fitted with wheels and can be
connected to a conventional trailer hitch for easy relocations.
These units were first delivered in 1997 to the National Park
Service at Lake Powell National Recreation Area. They were
specifically designed by the engineering staff at Glen Canyon
National Recreation Area for environmental protection as moveable
units that could be located and relocated along the fluctuating
shorelines of Lake Powell. Previously, single user portable vault
toilets (of the kind used on construction sites) were placed on the
lakeshore. These proved to be so unpopular that beach visitors
resorted to unsanitary practices in and near the water, causing
high fecal coliform counts in the lake water. This led to multiple
beach closures. Accordingly, the moveable flush units were designed
primarily to protect the environment. In this unique situation, the
possibility of a relatively high cost per use was not a deterrent
to their development. To date, it is believed that nearly all of
the fully self-contained moveable flush toilet restrooms built by
Joe Welch Companies, Inc. have been purchased by the National Park
Service, although some may have been purchased by individuals.
Public marketing efforts by Joe Welch Companies to sell these units
appear not to have overcome customer perceptions that these units
would be impractical due to high cost per use.
[0016] The moveable self-contained waterborne sanitation restrooms
that are commercially available cannot take advantage of resource
opportunities specific to a site, such as alternative water and
power sources. For example, the unit manufactured by Joe Welch
Companies, Inc. cannot take advantage of available grid power or
site supplied water. They cannot be fitted with large capacity
tanks or connected to sewage tanks that serve multiple restrooms.
Furthermore, the units that are commercially available cannot
function in freezing temperatures; they have no variability in
architectural design or size; they have no flexibility on the
number of fixtures, or the types of fixtures, such as the addition
of showers, sinks, or drinking fountains.
SUMMARY
[0017] There has long been a need for more pleasant permanent
stand-alone toilet facilities in locations not served by standard
utilities. This need is apparent from the significant effort that
the U.S. Forest service and others have put into making vault
toilets more pleasant for users. The SST design features reduce the
odors within a vault toilet restroom building. They do not
eliminate the foul odors that occur externally to the building in
areas that are downwind. Despite the significant efforts of the
U.S. Forest Service and others to improve vault toilet restroom
buildings, the negative public perception of these restrooms
remains. Accordingly, there is, and has been for some time, a
significant need for fixed location restrooms that do not have the
drawbacks of vault and composting toilet systems in locations
without sewer or on-site septic systems.
[0018] The present inventor has taken an entirely different
approach to filling this need. While the development of remote
fixed restroom buildings over the past several decades has been
focused on making vault toilet systems bearable for users, and
composting toilets practical, the present inventor has shifted his
focus to the development of waterborne toilet systems for fixed
restroom buildings with embodiments that can work even in remote
locations. Accordingly, the fixed location, ultra-low volume flush,
sewage-holding vessel restroom systems described herein represent a
significant advance in this area of technology that would not have
been suggested or made predictable by prior systems.
[0019] According to one embodiment, a restroom system is provided.
The restroom can include a fixed-in-place restroom building, a
flush toilet housed in the restroom building, a water supply system
in communication with the flush toilet, and a sewage-holding vessel
in communication with the flush toilet. A sewage-holding vessel is
a vessel (such as a tank or vault) that is configured to hold
sewage effluent so that the sewage effluent can be extracted from
the tank and hauled away. A sewage-holding vessel is for holding
sewage effluent to be hauled and thus does not include the septic
features of a septic tank. The restroom can derive its electricity
from on-site resources without connection to a grid power system.
Sewage can be received in the flush toilet, and water can be
supplied from the water supply system to the flush toilet in an
amount less than 1 gallon of water per flush. Sewage effluent can
be flushed from the toilet bowl and transported to the
sewage-holding vessel, and extracted from the sewage-holding vessel
to a sewage hauling vehicle tank. The sewage effluent can then be
transported in the sewage hauling vehicle tank to a remote sewage
disposal location.
[0020] According to another embodiment, a restroom system can
include a fixed-in-place restroom building and a flush toilet
housed in the restroom building. The toilet can use less than 1
gallon of water per flush. A water supply system can be connected
to supply water to the toilet. In addition, a sewage-holding vessel
can be in communication with the flush toilet to receive sewage
effluent from the flush toilet. The sewage-holding vessel can
include an outlet for extracting sewage effluent from the
sewage-holding vessel.
[0021] According to yet another embodiment, an existing vault or
composting toilet restroom building can be retrofitted with one or
more flush toilets to produce a flush toilet restroom building. The
retrofitting can include replacing vault or composting toilet
risers housed in a fixed-in-place restroom building with flush
toilets. The flush toilets can be designed to use less than one
gallon of water per flush, and can be in communication with a
sewage-holding vessel that was previously in communication with the
vault or composting toilet risers. An internal or external water
supply system can be connected to the flush toilet, and a
self-contained or grid power supply system can be connected to the
flush toilet restroom system.
[0022] This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form. The concepts are further described
below in the Detailed Description section. This Summary is not
intended to identify key features or essential features of the
claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the
scope of the claimed subject matter. The features described herein
may be used separately or in combination. For example, many of the
features described below, such as the features related to frost
protection, may have uses other than in fixed-in-place restroom
systems with ultra low volume flush toilets. Similarly, the
invention is not limited to implementations that address the
particular techniques, tools, environments, disadvantages, or
advantages discussed in the Background, the Detailed Description,
or the attached drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a top sectional site and building plan view of a
restroom system for Site #1, with most mechanical room equipment
not shown.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1,
with most mechanical room equipment not shown.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 1,
illustrating mechanical room equipment.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a partially cut-away top view of a vault plan for
the restroom system of FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating electrical
components and connections of the restroom system of FIG. 1.
[0028] FIG. 6 is a top site plan view of an alternative restroom
system for Site #2.
[0029] FIG. 7 is a top building plan view of a restroom building in
the restroom system of FIG. 6, with most mechanical room equipment
not shown.
[0030] FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 7,
with most mechanical room equipment not shown.
[0031] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 7,
illustrating mechanical room equipment.
[0032] FIG. 10 is a top site plan view of an alternative restroom
system for Site #3.
[0033] FIG. 11 is a top building and site plan view of an
alternative restroom system for Site #4, with most mechanical room
equipment not shown.
[0034] FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line G-G of FIG. 11,
with most mechanical room equipment not shown.
[0035] FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line H-H of FIG.
11.
[0036] FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 11,
illustrating mechanical room equipment.
[0037] FIG. 15 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating some
electrical components and connections of the restroom system of
FIG. 11.
[0038] FIG. 16 is a flow diagram illustrating general techniques
relating to fixed-in-place stand-alone flush restroom systems.
[0039] FIG. 17 is a flow diagram illustrating general techniques
relating to retrofitting existing restrooms to form fixed-in-place
stand-alone flush restroom systems.
[0040] The description and drawings may refer to the same or
similar features in the same or different drawings with the same
reference numbers.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
I. Fixed Location, Ultra-Low Flush Restroom System Features
[0041] Prior fixed-in-place flush restroom buildings have required
a water system and either a sewer or septic system. If there is a
potential for freezing, building heating is required. Thus, such
restrooms have not been used in many remote locations. The
described embodiments provide restroom features that allow flush
toilet restrooms to operate almost anywhere that has motorized
vehicle access. These features can include ultra-low volume flush
toilets and sewage holding vessels. The ultra-low volume flush
toilets can produce a low amount of sewage effluent to be stored in
the holding vessels and hauled away. Such toilets can also use a
low amount of water. The restroom systems may also provide freeze
protection without the need to heat the restroom buildings. In some
embodiments, restroom systems may also contain one or more of the
following features: [0042] waterless urinals; [0043] devices that
prevent sewage spills and overflows; [0044] water-holding tanks;
[0045] equipment that pressurizes water for flushing toilets;
[0046] equipment that pressurizes air for flushing toilets; [0047]
in-ground tanks, vaults, or basements for containment of water,
sewage, or equipment; [0048] power derived from grid power, solar
array(s), wind turbine(s), storage batteries, mini-hydro, on-site
combustion generators, or a combination thereof; [0049] water
provided by connection to an existing on-site potable water system;
by connection to an on-site irrigation system; by collection of
ground water, surface water, or rainwater; by hauled water; or by
any combination thereof; [0050] flue stacks for ventilation; [0051]
mechanical equipment that enhances or controls ventilation; [0052]
systems designed to prevent freezing of the water system; [0053]
maintenance features such as pump-out and fill piping; gauges or
indicators that show water levels, sewage levels, and battery
charge; and automatic door locks for times that the restroom needs
to be closed (i.e. after dark in public parks; when holding vessel
is full; when water tank is empty; when electrical power is
disrupted; when water pressure is lost; etc.); [0054] septic tanks
that treat sewage prior to hauling; [0055] porta-potty disposal and
washdown sinks, fixtures, and drainboards; [0056] water conserving
faucets and sinks, such as those that turn off automatically after
a short period of time; [0057] water purification devices to remove
pathogens from untreated water; [0058] water conserving showers,
such as those that turn off automatically after a short period of
time; and [0059] communal men's and women's rooms equipped with
multiple fixtures and with privacy partitions.
[0060] In some embodiments, restroom systems may be entirely new
constructions. However, in other embodiments, existing restroom
buildings such as vault or composting restroom buildings may be
converted to fixed location, ultra-low volume flush, sewage holding
vessel restroom systems. The restroom systems and restroom
buildings may be put to non-residential use in non-residential
settings, such as in campgrounds, golf courses, etc.
[0061] The fixed location, ultra-low volume flush, sewage holding
vessel restroom systems described herein can avoid drawbacks of
vault and composting toilet building systems. The described
restrooms can be substantially odorless, both internally and
externally. They may be implemented without existing water service
or connection to an on-site septic system or public sewer, which
are used for conventional flush toilet restrooms. They can produce
highly conserved sewage effluent that is less likely to have trash
and chemicals, and that can often be economically hauled to
standard sewage treatment facilities, typically without alteration
or dilution. The restrooms described below may be implemented
without installing new utility service lines or systems, and they
may utilize existing on-site power resources and water resources
(supplemented by hauled water if needed).
II. Factors Pointing Away From Fixed Location, Ultra-Low Flush
Sewage Holding Vessel Restroom System
[0062] Several factors would have pointed those in the fixed
location restroom industry away from developing, marketing, or
deploying a fixed location, ultra-low volume flush, sewage holding
vessel restroom system. Thus, doing so would not have been
suggested by or predictable from prior restroom systems. However,
the present inventor has made several discoveries, which reveal
that--contrary to the accepted wisdom in the industry--fixed
location, ultra-low volume flush, sewage holding vessel restroom
buildings are feasible and desirable. To understand why those in
the industry would have been pointed away from fixed location,
ultra-low volume flues, sewage holding vessel restrooms, the
following should be considered: [0063] A. The industry that
specializes in the science of self-contained fixed location toilet
buildings is largely unaware of developments in mobile ultra-low
volume flush toilet technologies. [0064] B. The industry that
specializes in the science of self-contained fixed location toilet
buildings would assume that self-contained flush restroom buildings
would require hauling copious amounts of sewage effluent and flush
water and would therefore be too expensive to be practical. [0065]
C. The industry that specializes in the science of self-contained
fixed location toilet buildings (vault and composting) would assume
that self-contained flush toilet restroom buildings have
significantly higher construction (capital) costs than vault or
composting toilet buildings. [0066] D. The industry that
specializes in the science of self-contained fixed location toilet
buildings (vault and composting) would assume that a potable water
supply would be required for a flush toilet system. [0067] E. The
industry that specializes in the science of self-contained fixed
location toilet buildings (vault and composting) would assume that
self-contained flush toilet restroom buildings need to be heated to
prevent freezing of the water system in locations subject to
freezing temperatures during the use season. [0068] F. Making a
self-contained flush toilet restroom building practical and
applicable to a variety of site conditions may require many
different design solutions, many of which are not intuitive.
[0069] These factors and some of the present inventor's discoveries
that helped him overcome these factors are discussed below.
A. The industry that specializes in the science of self-contained
fixed location toilet buildings is largely unaware of developments
in mobile flush toilet technology.
[0070] The community that specializes in fixed location restroom
buildings deals with a market dominated by campgrounds, parks, and
highway rest areas. It is far removed from the community that
designs mobile flush toilet systems for RV's, buses, trains,
airplanes, and boats; where minimizing water usage has become a
science unto itself. Therefore, the fixed location restroom
industry has remained unaware of the applications of ultra-low
volume toilets and waterless urinals that are durable enough for
public use and that can drastically reduce the cost of pumping and
hauling sewage.
B. The industry that specializes in the science of self-contained
fixed location toilet buildings would assume that self-contained
flush restroom buildings would require hauling copious amounts of
sewage effluent and flush water and would therefore be too
expensive to be practical.
[0071] The inventor has discovered that through the use of
ultra-low volume flush toilets and waterless urinals the amount of
water needed for a flush toilet restroom can be reduced by
approximately 90%, and the amount of sewage produced can be reduced
by approximately 86%, when compared to standard low flow flush
toilets and urinals. Table A and B below compare the amounts of
water used and sewage effluent produced by 1000 typical uses where
a public restroom building is equipped with 1 quart per flush
toilets, such as the Microphor model LF520 toilet, and waterless
urinals, instead of standard "low volume flush toilets and
urinals." The Site #1 restroom building illustrated in FIGS. 1-4
and discussed below can have a sewage-holding tank capacity of
2,335 gallons. If this restroom is equipped with one quart per
flush toilets, then the capacity of the sewage-holding tank can be
8,876 uses. In some locations this can represent an entire use
season, requiring only one pumping per year, which is the maximum
time interval recommended for pumping vault toilets.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE A ESTIMATED SEWAGE GENERATED AND WATER USED
WITH MICROPHOR FLUSH TOILETS (1 quart per flush) AND WATERLESS
URINALS, PER 1000 USES vol./ element use unit uses volume unit # 2
(bowel water 0.375 gallons 200 75 gallons movement) waste 0.08
gallons 200 16 gallons urine 0.04 gallons 200 8 gallons # 1 (urine
only) water 0.25 gallons 400 100 gallons female urine 0.08 gallons
400 32 gallons # 1 (urine only) urine 0.08 gallons 400 32 gallons
male TOTAL 16 gallons WASTE TOTAL 72 gallons URINE TOTAL 175
gallons WATER TOTAL 263 gallons EFFLUENT * Table shows a # 2 use
requiring more flush water than a # 1 use. This is due to the
assumption that # 2 usage will sometimes require more than one
flush.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE B ESTIMATED SEWAGE GENERATED AND WATER USED
WITH STANDARD "LOW VOLUME" FLUSH TOILETS & URINALS, PER 1000
USES vol./ element use unit uses volume unit # 2 (bowel water 2.4
gallons 200 480 gallons movement) waste 0.08 gallons 200 16 gallons
urine 0.04 gallons 200 8 gallons # 1 (urine only) water 1.6 gallons
400 640 gallons female urine 0.08 gallons 400 32 gallons # 1 (urine
only) water 1.6 gallons 400 640 gallons male urine 0.08 gallons 400
32 gallons TOTAL 16 gallons WASTE TOTAL 72 gallons URINE TOTAL 1760
gallons WATER TOTAL 1848 gallons EFFLUENT * Table shows a # 2 use
requiring more flush water than a # 1 use. This is due to the
assumption that # 2 usage will sometimes require more than one
flush.
[0072] In addition, flush toilet effluent is typically
significantly less expensive to pump out and dispose of than vault
waste. Hauling costs may be further reduced if the flush toilet
effluent is hauled to a nearby location served by a sewer manhole
or septic drain-field system, which are options not typically
available for vault waste. Additionally, the quantities of water
delivered by hauling can be reduced or eliminated by using on-site
non-potable water, such as rainwater, ground water, surface water,
or irrigation water.
C. The industry that specializes in the science of self-contained
fixed location toilet buildings would assume that self-contained
flush toilet restroom buildings have significantly higher
construction (capital) costs than vault toilet buildings.
[0073] Vault toilet restroom buildings typically have no mechanical
elements. The self-contained restroom buildings described below
have ultra-low volume flush toilets involving electrical and
mechanical operators and controls. Additionally, they may be
equipped with waterless urinals, solar arrays, batteries, water
pumps, accumulator tanks, temperature controlled ventilation
dampers, water tanks, gauges, controls, etc. Those in the industry
would therefore assume that the construction costs for
self-contained flush toilet restroom buildings would be higher than
restroom buildings equipped with vault toilets.
[0074] However, the present inventor has discovered that vault
toilet buildings can require more floor space per toilet than the
restrooms described below. This is particularly true when the vault
toilet buildings are built per SST guidelines, which require
separate toilet rooms, flue stacks, vaults, and access manholes for
each toilet. Many flush toilets can be accommodated under one roof
in some embodiments, such as Site #3 discussed below, creating an
economy of scale that can result in lower capital costs per toilet
than for vault toilet buildings. Reducing the amount of floor space
per toilet can significantly reduce the overall cost because it is
believed that the toilet building alone can represent as much as
60% of the capital costs for the ultra-low volume flush toilet
buildings described herein. As additional toilets and urinals are
added under one roof, the restroom building remains mechanically
the same except for the additional flush toilets and urinals. Thus,
there is an economy of scale with the restroom systems described
herein, with the capital cost per toilet decreasing with the number
of toilets installed.
[0075] Additionally, the present inventor has discovered that some
existing vault toilet buildings can be economically converted to
waterborne restroom systems according to embodiments described
below, such as Site #4. Once converted, the vault toilet building
can become a restroom building served by ultra-low volume toilets,
and possibly with waterless urinals. Converting the existing vault
or composting restrooms could be much less expensive than
constructing new flush toilet buildings where owners desire this
improvement.
D. The industry that specializes in the science of self-contained
fixed location toilet buildings (vault and composting) would assume
that a potable water supply would be required for a flush toilet
system.
[0076] Conventional thinking is that public flush toilet buildings
require connection to public water systems. In some locations this
is not possible or may be very expensive to install and maintain.
However, for those embodiments described herein where restrooms are
without plumbing fixtures for drinking, bathing, or hand washing,
potable water is not required. For those embodiments where plumbing
fixtures for drinking, bathing, or hand washing are provided, a
non-potable water supply can be used, provided the restroom is
equipped with a water purification system that removes pathogens.
Thus the embodiments described herein may operate without a potable
water supply.
E. The industry that specializes in the science of self-contained
fixed location toilet buildings would assume that self-contained
flush toilet restroom buildings need to be heated to prevent
freezing of the water system in applications subject to freezing
temperatures during the use season.
[0077] Conventional thinking holds that preventing freezing of the
water supply system would require heat produced by grid power,
combustion power generation, natural gas heat, or propane heat. In
many locations, grid power and natural gas are not available.
Combustion power generation and propane heating have several
drawbacks. For example, they require gas storage and have
environmental, security, cost, and safety issues. However, as
described herein, the present inventor has discovered several ways
to protect the water supply system from freezing without resorting
to conventional heating methods. These methods include controlling
and limiting exterior/interior air exchange; capturing ground heat
through heat exchanged under the building or through the water
vault; circulation of ground conditioned air through the mechanical
room and under and around the toilet bowls; and automatic flushing
of the toilets when the water in the bowls approaches freezing
temperatures.
F. Making a self-contained flush toilet restroom building practical
and applicable to virtually any site condition requires many design
solutions, many of which are not intuitive.
[0078] Those in the fixed-in-place restroom industry would have
been deterred from developing self-contained water-borne restroom
buildings because of the many issues that would need to be
addressed, including water conservation, reducing hauling costs,
spill prevention, power supply, mechanical operators and controls,
freeze protection, water purification, and pressurizing water. The
present inventor has found ways to address these issues in
comprehensive designs, as described below with reference to several
examples of restroom systems.
[0079] The present inventor has discovered that for fixed location
flush toilet restroom buildings to be practical in areas not fully
served by sewers, potable water, and grid power, several desirable
features can be addressed by design. They include minimizing water
usage and sewage production and providing on-site sewage effluent
storage. The system can also include other features, such as system
controls, a building that is essentially odor free inside and
outside, and safeguards to prevent sewage spills. Components and
sub-systems of the described system can be included to address the
design features listed above. These components and sub-systems can
include ultra-low volume flush toilets (using less than 1 gallon
per flush), leak resistant sewage tanks or vaults, and mechanical
and electrical systems and controls. These flush toilet features
have not previously been suggested or otherwise made predictable
for fixed-in-place restrooms. Instead, the resources that have gone
into improving fixed restrooms in remote locations over the past
several decades have focused on improving vault and/or composting
toilet restroom systems.
III. Restroom System Embodiments at Various Sites
[0080] The described restroom system embodiments may be utilized in
combinations that are customized for the specific site conditions
and/or the needs of specific users or site owners. Generally, the
combination of embodiments may capitalize on the existing assets
for each site. For example, if a potable water system is not
available, then the best alternative water source could be hauled
water or an on-site source such as ground water, surface water,
irrigation water, or rainwater, or a combination thereof. If grid
power is not available at the site, then the marginal power needs
of the restroom could be supplied by solar array(s), or by storage
batteries, which are periodically rotated with new batteries or
batteries that have been charged off-site. If frost protection is
desirable at a particular location, it can be provided without
heating the building.
[0081] Since there are many possible combinations of embodiments of
the described restroom system, and many possible floor plans, it is
not practical to include drawings of all possible options. The
embodiments described below will make it apparent to persons
skilled in this area of technology that they may implement
different combinations of features, depending on the available
resources at the site. The drawings and description below
demonstrate that restroom buildings as described herein can be
configured to provide affordable and practical service in locations
where the current accepted wisdom in this technology area would
suggest that a flush toilet restroom is impractical, and that vault
toilet or composting toilet restroom buildings are the only
reasonable option. To this end, details are provided herein that
address embodiments for four different site conditions.
[0082] It should be noted that the subject matter defined in the
appended claims is not necessarily limited to the benefits
described herein or the details of particular embodiments. A
particular implementation of the invention may provide all, some,
or none of the benefits described herein. Although operations for
the various techniques may be described herein in a particular,
sequential order for the sake of presentation, it should be
understood that this manner of description encompasses
rearrangements in the order of operations, unless a particular
ordering is required. For example, operations described
sequentially may in some cases be rearranged or performed
concurrently. Techniques described herein with reference to
flowcharts may be used with one or more of the systems described
herein and/or with one or more other systems. Moreover, for the
sake of simplicity, flowcharts may not show the various ways in
which particular techniques can be used in conjunction with other
techniques.
A. Site#1
[0083] This hypothetical location has no available sewer or septic
system, no grid power, and no on-site water source. The location
may be subjected to periodic sub-freezing temperatures during the
use season. It does have good solar exposure and ample
precipitation. In this case, the configuration of the restroom
building chosen by the designer and owner might be as depicted in
FIGS. 1-5.
[0084] The illustrated restroom system (100) can include a building
(102) with approximately 97 square feet of interior space, although
many different configurations and/or sizes of restroom buildings
could be used. The building (102) can include a floor (104), a
front exterior wall (106), a pair of side exterior walls (108), a
rear exterior wall (110), and a roof (112).
[0085] The building (102) can include two toilet rooms (120) that
can be mirror images of each other, however in this example they
are not equipped the same. Each toilet room (120) can be defined by
the rear exterior wall (110), a side exterior wall (108), the front
exterior wall (106), and a side interior wall (122) that extends
from the front exterior wall (106) back to the rear exterior wall
(110), and between the floor (104) and the roof (112). The toilet
rooms (120) can each be equipped with standard grab bars (124) and
may have a turning radius (126) sufficient to accommodate a
wheelchair, such as a 5 foot turning radius.
[0086] The building (102) can also include a mechanical room (128)
between the two toilet rooms (120). The mechanical room (128) can
be defined by the side interior walls (122) and the front and rear
exterior walls (106, 110). The mechanical room (128) can extend
from the floor (104) to a mechanical room ceiling (132), which can
divide the mechanical room (128) from a mechanical room attic
(134). The mechanical room attic (134) can be located directly
above the mechanical room (128) and can be defined by the front and
rear exterior walls (106 and 110), the side interior walls (122),
the mechanical room ceiling (132), and the roof (112). The building
(102) can also include toilet room doors (140) and a mechanical
room door (142) in the front exterior wall (106).
[0087] Each toilet room (120) can house an ultra-low volume flush
toilet (150) located adjacent to the interior side wall (122) of
the toilet room (120). Toilet operators or controls (152), which
are devices used to operate the toilet (150), can be incorporated
into the toilet (150) and/or located near to or remotely from the
toilet (150). Such operators (152) can include a control system; a
connection to an electric power supply system; and a connection to
a water supply system. The toilets can be any ultra-low volume
flush toilets (i.e., toilets using less than one gallon of water
per flush), such as a flush toilet using less than about 0.75
gallons per flush or less than about 0.5 gallons per flush. In one
embodiment, the toilet (150) can be a Microphor model LF320
stainless steel toilet available from Microphor of Willits,
California, which can be set to use between 0.25 and 0.5 gallons
per flush. In one embodiment, the operators (152) can be standard
operators also available from Microphor for the LF320 model. These
operators (152) can be configured in a conventional manner
according to standard techniques, such as those set forth in
installation instructions from Microphor. One toilet room (120) is
shown equipped with a sink (153); a paper towel dispenser (154); a
waste container (155); and a urinal (156) such as the waterless
urinals available from Waterless Co. under the name Del Mar model
2901. The waterless urinals (156) can be installed and configured
in a conventional manner, per the manufacturer's instructions from
Waterless Co.
[0088] The restroom system (100) also includes a sewage storage
system (158), which can include one or more sewage-holding vaults
or tanks (160). Holding vessels, such as the holding vaults (160)
hold sewage effluent to be hauled away, but the vessels do not
include septic treatment features within the vessel. However, in
some embodiments sewage effluent may receive primary treatment by
passage through a septic tank or other septic treatment device
before being removed by hauling. In the illustrated example, the
sewage storage system (158) includes one subterranean
sewage-holding vault (160) for each toilet room (120), with the
vault positioned beneath the rear portion of the associated toilet
room (120). Each toilet (150) and urinal (156) can be configured to
drain into the associated sewage-holding vault (160) so that the
vault (160) receives the sewage effluent from that associated
toilet room (120). Each sewage-holding vault (160) can be accessed
through a vapor-tight cover (161) of a manhole in the
sewage-holding vault (160). Alternatively, the restroom system
(100) could include just one sewage-holding vault (160), and it
could be located somewhere other than beneath the building
(102).
[0089] The sewage-holding vault (160) can be a subterranean precast
concrete sewage-holding vault (160), and can be equipped with an
impermeable liner or coating (162) to seal the vault. The sewage
storage system (158) can also include standard sewage pump-out
piping (164) that is configured to mate with sewage pump-out
equipment associated with a sewage transportation vehicle, such as
by having a standard quick-connect feature. Each sewage-holding
vault (160) can be vented by a small vertical pipe (166) that
extends up from the sewage-holding vault (160) and through the roof
(112) of the building (102).
[0090] Each sewage-holding vault (160) can be equipped with one or
more standard float switches to alert operators and/or disable the
flushing system if the sewage-holding vault (160) becomes too full.
For example, each sewage-holding vault (160) can include a float
switch or level sensor (167) connected to a device (168) to alert
an operator that the sewage-holding vault (160) should be pumped
out soon. This device (168) can be an indicator light, a level
indicating gauge, or a signal transmitter (168). Each
sewage-holding vault (160) can also include a higher level float
switch (169) that can activate an electric lock on the toilet room
doors (140) and/or shut down at the water supply system (170),
which is part of the restroom system (100), before the effluent in
the sewage-holding vault (160) can overflow. These float switches
and the corresponding control circuitry will be described in more
detail below.
[0091] The water supply system (170) can supply pressurized water
to the toilets (150). The water supply system (170) can include a
water storage vault (172) beneath each of the toilet rooms (120),
such as a subterranean water storage vault (172) which can have an
impermeable liner (173). The building can be equipped with a
rainwater collection system (174) which can include standard rain
gutters (176), as well as standard downspouts (178) leading into
the water storage vaults (172). The water supply system (170) can
also include water fill piping (180), which can be standard piping
for receiving additional water to supplement collected rainwater.
For example, the water fill piping (180) can be configured to
connect to a water-hauling vehicle. The water supply system (170)
can also include a water pressurization system (182) that includes
a water pump (184) connected to draw water from the water storage
vault (172) and feed it into an accumulator tank (186), which is
connected to the toilets (150) and sink (153) to supply pressurized
water. The water pump (184) can be a standard water pressurizing
pump, such as a "Classic 2088" water pump available from Shurflo,
and the accumulator tank (186) can be a standard tank, such as a
3400-002 tank available from Shurflo. The water system can be
equipped with a water purification system (188), such as the
"Water-fixer, model 500" to deliver pathogen free water to the sink
(153). In addition, the water storage vaults (172) can have
block-outs (190) high on their side walls that allow excessive
rainwater or filling water inflows to spill out of the vault, thus
preventing overfilling of the water storage vaults (172). The water
supply system (170) also includes water lines (192) that connect
the various other components of the water supply system.
[0092] The restroom system (100) can also include a power supply
system (210) that includes a solar panel (212), such as the model
GEPV-50 solar panel available from General Electric. The power
supply system (210) can also include a controller (214), such as
the 12 volt, 15 amp controller equipped with a digital voltage
meter available from Prostar. The power supply system can also
include one or more standard storage batteries (216), such as two
MK model 8G27 storage batteries. The restroom system (100) could
have as few as one battery, or several batteries, depending on what
the owner wants, as well as the electrical demands and the power
source. The storage batteries (216) can be connected in a
conventional manner to be recharged by the solar panel (212), to
supply the power needs of the restroom system (100). The solar
panel (212) can be mounted on top of a flue stack (218) that
extends up along the rear exterior wall (110). For example, the
solar panel (212) can be mounted with a rotatable base (220), which
allows a user to pivot the solar panel (212) to face in a desired
direction (such as south when in the northern hemisphere) no matter
what the building orientation is.
[0093] The restroom system (100) can include a frost protection
system (230). The frost protection system (230) can include one or
more of several components to protect the restroom system (100)
from freezing temperatures. For example, the frost protection
system (230) can include building insulation in the exterior walls
(106, 108, and 110) and the roof (112); insulation around plumbing
equipment such as the water pump (184) and the accumulator tank
(186); and/or water lines (192) that do not break when frozen.
[0094] During use, the ventilation for the restroom building (102)
can be passively enhanced by the influence of the flue stack (218).
The flue stack (218) can be vented through the grill (234) into the
mechanical room attic (134). As air flows over the top of the flue
stack (218), the venturi effect can create negative pressure in the
stack (218), which in turn creates negative pressure in the
unducted portion of the mechanical room attic (134). Relief air
into the mechanical room attic (134) can be supplied from the
toilet rooms (120) via the return ventilation grills (236). Relief
air can be supplied into the toilet rooms (120) from the outside as
described below. Thus, air can be circulated to continually provide
fresh air to the toilet rooms (120), so long as there is air
flowing over the flue stack (218).
[0095] In this example for site #1, the frost protection system
(230) can include a passive heating and ventilation system (232)
that controls air into the building (102) and collects energy from
the earth when required. When outside temperatures are above
freezing, fresh unconditioned air from outside can flow through the
building (102) through a series of grills and ducts. When outside
sub-freezing temperatures occur the air flow can be limited to air
with temperatures that have been moderated by energy absorbed from
the earth.
[0096] When outside temperatures are above freezing, air flow can
be sequenced as follows: air is drafted up the flue stack (218)
having flowed from the mechanical room attic (134) through a
flue-to-attic grill (234) in the rear exterior wall (110); having
flowed from the toilet rooms (120) to the mechanical room attic
(134) through a pair of ventilation grills (236) located in the
side interior walls (122); having flowed from the outside to the
toilet rooms (120) through ventilation grills (238) and supply
ducts (240) in the side interior walls (122) and through a
mechanically controlled damper (250) location high on the front
exterior wall (106).
[0097] When outside temperatures drop below the set point of an
external thermostat switch (252) the mechanically activated damper
(250), such as model CD50 damper available from Ruskin, can be
activated and closed. When this happens, unconditioned outside air
no longer flows through the building (102) according to the airflow
described above. When the damper (250) is closed air flow can be
sequenced as follows: air is drafted up the flue stack (218) having
flowed from the mechanical room attic (134) through a flue-to-attic
grill (234) in the rear exterior wall (110); having flowed from the
toilet rooms (120) to the mechanical room attic (134) through a
pair of ventilation grills (236) located in the side interior walls
(122); having flowed from the mechanical room (128) through
ventilation openings (260) in each toilet's (150) metal housing and
through the interior space between each toilet's (150) metal outer
housing and inner metal toilet bowl and through the mechanical
access hole (262) at the back of each toilet (150) in the
mechanical room wall (122); having flowed from the outside through
floor grates (268) in the mechanical room floor (104) through
exhaust ventilation chases (270) cast in the walls of the water
storage vaults (172) through a serpentine route through the plenums
(276) beneath the bottom of the water storage vaults (172) through
intake ventilation chases (280) cast in the walls of the water
storage vaults (170) through intake grates (282) that are exposed
to the outside air. This routing can provide conditioned relief air
that is influenced by the ground temperatures found in and under
the water storage vaults. As this air travels through the
mechanical room (128) and through the space under and around the
bowls of the toilets (150) it can help keep the toilets (150) and
the components of the water supply system (170) in the mechanical
room (128) from freezing.
[0098] The plenum (276) can be created under the water vault liner
(173) by framing (286), such as wood or metal framing, on a
concrete floor (288) of the water storage vault (172). A plate
(292), such as a steel plate, can be located on top of this
framing, and the bottom of the tank liner (173) can rest on this
horizontal plate (292). The horizontal plate (292) can extend from
wall to wall in both directions. Each vertical chase (270 and 280)
can be enclosed by a vertical plate (296), such as a metal plate,
covering the exposed vertical face of the chase (270) extending
downward from the respective grates (268, 282) to the top of the
plenum (276). The framing (286) under the horizontal plate can
direct air flowing through the plenum (276), forcing the air to
travel a serpentine route. This serpentine route can increase
mixing and contact time of the air with the metal plate (292) above
and the concrete vault floor (288) below. During freezing weather
this process can condition the air by raising its temperature. A
plenum drain (298) can be located in the vault floor (288) near the
center of this plenum space (276) to allow any condensation to seep
out. A similar plenum and venting system can be installed in the
sewage storage tank to increase air flow, but it is not illustrated
in the drawings. This type of venting system (232) can be useful
aside from its use with the described restroom systems. For
example, this type of venting system could be used for general
heating and cooling of a general purpose building. Referring to
FIG. 5, the electrical components of the restroom system (100) are
illustrated in a schematic wiring diagram. As can be seen, the
solar array or panel (212) and the batteries (216) can be connected
by positive and negative leads to the battery charge controller
(214), which regulates the charging of the batteries (216) by the
solar panel (212) and the output of power from the batteries (216)
to the other electrical components. The batteries (216) can output
12 volt power, although other voltages could also be used,
depending on the batteries and the needs of the other electrical
components. If the electrical components have different voltage
needs, then standard power converters can be used, as needed.
[0099] Power to a damper controller (310), which controls the
damper (250), can be routed through a standard 12 volt DC-to-24
volt DC power converter (308), such as a Solar Converter Inc, model
EQ122420 converter, if the damper controller is a 24 volt device.
An exterior mounted thermostat switch (252), such as a standard
thermostat switch found in a typical RV, can be mounted on the
exterior rear wall (110) or some other place outside the building
(102), and can be wired to close the circuit and power the damper
actuator or controller (310), such as a Belimo model TF24 actuator,
to close the damper (250) when the outside temperature reaches a
predetermined low set temperature. The thermostat switch (252) can
open the circuit to allow the damper (250) to open when the outside
temperature reaches a predetermined high set temperature.
[0100] The lower-level alert float switch (168) in the
sewage-holding vault (160) can be wired to close a circuit to power
an indicator light or gauge (320) when the level of the sewage
effluent in the sewage-holding vault (160) is at or above the alert
float switch (168). Thus, the alert float switch (168) and the
indicator light or gauge (320) can indicate to maintenance
personnel that sewage effluent should be pumped out of the
sewage-holding vault (160). The higher level float switch (169) can
be wired to open a circuit to shut off power to the water pump
(184) if the level of the sewage effluent in the sewage-holding
vault is at or above the level of the shut-off float switch (169).
In addition to, or instead of, shutting off power to the water pump
(184), the shut-off float switch (169) can be wired to open a
circuit to shut off power to an electric strike (324) for the
associated toilet room door (140), thereby locking the toilet room
door (140). Thus, the shut-off float switch (169) can shut off the
water supply system (170) and/or lock the toilet room door (140) to
keep the sewage-holding vault (160) from overflowing. Because the
electric strike (324) is unlocked when it has power and locked when
it has no power, the toilet room doors (140) will also be locked if
the overall power supply system fails. As an alternative to
shutting off a water pump, the shut-off float switch (169) could
actuate a valve, such as a solenoid valve, to shut off the water
supply system. For example, this could be done in embodiments where
there is no water pump in the water supply system.
[0101] Power can also be supplied from the batteries (216) to the
toilet controls (152), which control the operation of the toilets
(150), and to an air compressor (330), if such an air compressor is
used to supply pressurized air to the toilets (150).
[0102] The restroom system (100) and the other restroom systems
discussed below can be constructed according to conventional
building techniques, unless otherwise noted. Standard lighting,
windows, and/or skylights may be added. Additionally, all piping,
wiring and other building materials can be conventional
commercially available materials.
B. Site#2
[0103] Referring to FIGS. 6-9, Site #2 is located on a golf course
where the closest available sewer line is located at the clubhouse,
which is a significant distance away from the site. The site is not
served by road access, but is adjacent to a golf cart path (400),
which is not designed for heavy trucks, such as those normally used
to pump toilet and septic systems. There is no nearby potable
water, but there is a non-potable buried irrigation water main
(402) near the golf cart path (400). The restroom system (410) may
be exposed to periodic freezing temperatures. The site does not
have good solar exposure.
[0104] The restroom system (410) can include a restroom building
(412) with approximately 80 square feet of interior space. The
building (412) can include a floor (414), a front exterior wall
(416), a pair of side exterior walls (418), a rear exterior wall
(420), and a roof (422). The building (412) can include two toilet
rooms (430) that can be mirror images of each other. Each toilet
room (430) can be defined by the rear exterior wall (420), a side
exterior wall (418), the front exterior wall (416) including a
toilet room door (431), and a side interior wall (432) that extends
from the front exterior wall (416) back to the rear exterior wall
(420), and between the floor (414) and the roof (422). The toilet
rooms (430) can each be equipped with standard grab bars (434).
Even though the toilet rooms do not have a 5-foot wheelchair
turning radius, they can meet federal accessibility standards.
[0105] The building (412) can also include a mechanical room (438)
between the two toilet rooms (430). The mechanical room (438) can
be defined by the side interior walls (432) and the front and rear
exterior walls (416, 420) and an access door (440). The mechanical
room (438) can extend from the floor (414) to a mechanical room
ceiling (442), which divides the mechanical room (438) from a
mechanical room attic (444). The mechanical room attic (444) can be
located directly above the mechanical room (438) and can be defined
by the front and rear exterior walls (416 and 420), the side
interior walls (432), the mechanical room ceiling (442), and the
roof (422).
[0106] The restroom building (412) can be equipped with ultra-low
volume flush toilets (450) located adjacent to the interior side
wall (432) of each toilet room (430). Toilet operators (452), which
are devices used to operate the toilets (450), can be incorporated
into the toilets (450) and/or located near to or remotely from the
toilets (450). Such operators (452) can include a control system; a
connection to an electric power supply system; a connection to a
water supply system; and a connection to a pressurized air system,
such as an air compressor. In this embodiment, the toilets (450)
can be Microphor model LF520 toilets available from Microphor of
Willits, Calif., and the operators (452) can be standard operators
also available from Microphor for the LF520 model. These operators
(452) can be configured in a conventional manner according to
standard techniques, such as those set forth in installation
instructions from Microphor. Each toilet room (430) can also house
a urinal (456), such as the waterless urinals available from
Waterless Co. under the name Kalarahi model 2003. The waterless
urinals (456) can be installed and configured in a conventional
manner, such as by following instructions from Waterless Co. The
LF520 toilet can use as little as one quart per flush, and it can
macerate the sewage for easier pumping. The LF520 requires
pressurized air, and it is fitted with pressurized air fittings,
which can be served by a small air compressor (457), such as the
Microphor model 5000 air compressor.
[0107] The restroom system (410) also includes a sewage storage
system (458). In the illustrated example, the restroom building
(412) does not have a vault beneath it. Instead, the sewage storage
system (458) includes a sewage-holding tank (460) located near the
golf cart path (400). The sewage-holding tank (460) can be equipped
with a quick-connect pump-out pipe (462). The sewage-holding tank
(460) can be equipped with one or more standard float switches to
alert operators and/or disable the system if the sewage-holding
tank (460) becomes too full. For example, the sewage-holding tank
(460) can include an alert light float switch (not shown) at one
level to alert an operator that the sewage-holding tank (460)
should be pumped out soon, such as by activating an indicator light
(461). The sewage tank (460) can also include a shut-off float
switch (not shown) at a higher level to shut down at least a
portion of a water supply system (discussed below), which is part
of the restroom system (410), if the sewage level in the
sewage-holding vault (460) is too high. These float switches and
the corresponding control wiring (466) can be the same as for Site
1, which is described above with reference to FIGS. 1-5, except
that the wiring (466) extends between the sewage holding tank (460)
and the restroom building (412). The sewage-holding tank (460) can
be accessed by opening an essentially vapor-proof manhole cover
(470).
[0108] Sewage can flow to the holding tank (460) through a buried
sewer line (472). Toilet drains (473) and urinal drains (474) can
connect to the buried sewer line to empty urine and sewage effluent
from the toilets (450) and urinals (456) into the sewer line (472).
At the end of the sewer line (472) proximal to the restroom
building (412), a vertical vent (475) can extend up from the sewer
line (472) and through the building roof (422). A cleanout riser
(476) can also extend up from the sewer line (472) at the end
proximal to the restroom building (412). The slope and other design
features of the sewer line (472) can be according to known methods,
and can be done to comply with local regulations.
[0109] Sewage effluent can be removed from the sewage-holding tank
(460) using a small trailer (not shown) equipped with commercially
available equipment, including a plastic holding tank for sewage;
an electric pump; a small electric generator; and a pump-out hose
with a quick connect fitting. This trailer could be towed by an
ATV, light truck, or tractor to a sewer manhole at the clubhouse or
to a nearby sewage treatment facility, where it could be emptied.
This trailer and its equipment are not described in detail herein
because standard equipment can be used.
[0110] The water supply system (480) of the restroom system (410)
can include a standard valve box (482) installed on the irrigation
main (402), and a main restroom water supply line (484) running
from the valve box (482) to the restroom building (412). The main
restroom water supply line (484) can be connected to the toilets
(450) with standard restroom building water supply lines (486) and
other standard plumbing components and techniques.
[0111] The restroom system (410) can also include a power supply
system (510). Because the site has poor solar exposure and no
convenient connections to grid power, the power supply system (510)
can include two banks of batteries (514) in the mechanical room
(438). Each battery can be a standard storage battery, such as an
MK model 8G27 battery. Each bank can have one or more batteries.
For example, each bank can include two batteries connected in
parallel, for a total of four batteries--with two in use, and two
spares. One bank at a time can be connected to the restroom
building electrical system and to a voltage meter (516). When the
voltage is sufficiently depleted in one bank of batteries, a person
can connect the second bank to the electrical system and the
voltage meter (516). The two partially depleted batteries can be
transported to the golf course maintenance facility for connection
to a battery charger. Once recharged, they can be returned to the
restroom to serve as the spare battery bank.
[0112] The restroom system (410) can also include a frost
protection system (530). The frost protection system (530) can
include one or more of several components to protect the restroom
system (410) from freezing temperatures. For example, the frost
protection system (530) can include building insulation (531) in
the exterior walls (416, 418, and 420) and the roof (422);
insulation around plumbing equipment; and/or water lines (486) that
do not break when frozen.
[0113] As another example, the frost protection system (530) can
include a passive ventilation system that brings air into the
building (412) using ventilation air with temperatures moderated
through heat exchanged from the earth below the building (412)
circulated as follows: air is drafted up the flue stack (533)
having flowed from the mechanical room attic (444) through a
flue-to-attic grill (534) in the rear exterior wall (420); having
flowed from the toilet rooms (430) to the mechanical room attic
(444) through a pair of ventilation grills (536) located in the
side interior walls (432); having flowed from the mechanical room
(438) to the toilet rooms (430) through ventilation openings (560)
in each toilet's (450) metal housing and through the interior space
between each toilet's (450) metal outer housing and inner metal
toilet bowl and through the mechanical access hole (562) at the
back of each toilet (450) in the mechanical room wall (432); having
flowed from the outside through floor grates (568) in the
restroom's floor slab (414) through a ventilation pipe manifold
(570) in the ground below the building (412). The ventilation pipe
manifold (570) can be used if there is no water tank below the
building to transfer earth temperatures to the supply air, as there
is at Site #1. The ventilation pipe manifold (570) can be
perforated to allow moisture to escape, such as by draining through
perforations in the bottom of the manifold pipe (570).
[0114] During use, the ventilation system (532) at Site #2 can work
the same as the ventilation system (232) described above with
reference to Site #1, except that the intake air can flow through
the buried ventilation pipe manifold (570), rather than through a
plenum beneath a water vault, and the damper and the associated
ductwork, grills, and activator can be omitted.
[0115] The electrical components for the restroom system (410) at
Site #2 can be similar to the electrical components described above
for restroom system (100) at Site #1, with reference to FIG. 5.
C. Site#3
[0116] Referring to FIG. 10, Site #3 is a lakeside day-use county
park in a remote location. Site, environmental, and soil conditions
make the installation of an on-site septic drain field impractical.
However, there is a good site for a septic drain field on county
land a mile away. The county wishes to construct two restroom
buildings located near an access road (600). Each building is to
have a men's and women's restroom with multiple stalls and wash
sinks. There is a nearby spring (604) that can provide adequate
flush water and has enough elevation to supply the pressure head
needed to flush the toilets. (Water could have been supplied by a
submersible pump placed in the lake, but the spring source was
considered the better option in this particular circumstance.) Both
preferred restroom locations have large trees that inhibit the use
of solar panels on the buildings. The climate is mild during the
use season and freezing is not an issue. The water in the system
will be drained during the winter months.
[0117] Considering these desired features and site conditions, a
restroom system (610) can include two similar restroom buildings
(612). The restroom buildings (612) can each have a men's side
(614) and a women's side (616), and each can house multiple
ultra-low volume flush toilets (618) and urinals (620), as well as
sinks (622) and an external cold water shower (624). The toilets
(618) and urinals (620) can be the same as the toilets and urinals
discussed above with reference to Site #1 and/or Site #2. The
restroom buildings can be constructed according to standard
building construction techniques.
[0118] The restroom system (610) can include a water supply system
(630), which can include buried water lines (632) running from a
collection box located at the spring (604) to the restroom
buildings (612), and a filtered water purification system such as a
Pentek CBC-20 (not shown). The restroom system (610) can also
include a power supply system (640) that includes a solar collector
(642), including a standard solar array and a mast located near the
access road (600) where there is good solar exposure. The power
supply system (640) can also include buried electrical cables (644)
connected to the solar collector (642) and to the restroom
buildings (612) in a conventional manner.
[0119] In addition, the restroom system (610) includes a sewage
storage system (650). The sewage storage system (650) can include
buried sewer lines (652) extending from the restroom buildings
(612) to a junction manhole (654), and from the junction manhole
(654) to a single large sewage-holding tank (656) located near the
road (600) where there is sufficient drop from the restroom
buildings (612) to the holding tank (656) for the sewage effluent
to flow by the force of gravity through the sewer lines (652). The
holding tank (656) can be equipped with an access cover (660) and a
pump-out pipe (662).
[0120] Because freezing is not an issue at this site during the use
season, ventilation into the toilet rooms and mechanical room can
be provided by standard site proof wall and door grills (not
shown). The restrooms can be locked at dusk so that no building
lighting is needed.
[0121] The electrical components for the restroom system (610) at
Site #3 can be similar to the electrical components described above
for the restroom system (100) at Site #1, with reference to FIG. 5.
However, one electrical system can power the indicator light and
toilet controls in both restroom buildings (612), and there is no
need for a thermostat switch, water pump, or a damper controller.
An upper shut-off float switch (not shown) can prompt a valve
actuator, such as a solenoid, to shut off water to the toilets
(618), such as by shutting off water to the entire buildings (612),
if the sewage-holding tank (656) gets too full.
D. Site #4
[0122] Site #4 had an existing precast concrete vault toilet
restroom building originally manufactured by CXT Inc., model
"Double Cascadian with Chase", which has approximately 96 square
feet of interior space and is located at a site with good solar
exposure and adequate rainfall. These CXT units include four buried
precast concrete vaults placed directly under the precast concrete
building unit. The CXT units have two identical vaults for sewage
holding. The other two vaults are empty and unused, but are an
appropriate size to serve as water holding vaults.
[0123] FIGS. 11-15 show the details of a restroom system (800)
formed by retrofitting a CXT vault toilet restroom building.
Retrofitting could also be done with other restroom buildings, such
as other CXT buildings or other non-CXT vault or composting toilet
buildings. The finished restroom system (800) will be described
first, and a retrofitting technique will be described second.
[0124] The illustrated restroom system (800) can include a building
(802) with about 96 square feet of interior space, although many
different configurations and/or sizes of restroom buildings could
be retrofitted. The building (802) can include a floor (804), a
front exterior wall (806), a pair of side exterior walls (808), a
rear exterior wall (810), and a roof (812).
[0125] The building (802) can include two toilet rooms (820) that
can be mirror images of each other. Each toilet room (820) can be
defined by the rear exterior wall (810); a side exterior wall
(808); the front exterior wall (806); a side interior wall (822),
which extends from the front exterior wall (806) back to the rear
exterior wall (810) and between the floor (804) and the roof (812).
The toilet rooms (820) can each be equipped with standard grab bars
(824).
[0126] The building (802) can also include a mechanical room (828)
between the two toilet rooms (820). The mechanical room (828) can
be defined by the side interior walls (822) and the front and rear
exterior walls (806, 810). The mechanical room (828) can extend
from the floor (804) to a mechanical room ceiling (832), which
divides the mechanical room (828) from a mechanical room attic
(834). The mechanical room attic (834) can be located directly
above the mechanical room (828).
[0127] The building (802) can also include toilet room doors (840)
in the front exterior wall (806) and a mechanical room door (842)
in the rear exterior wall (810). In addition, the building (802)
can include ceiling insulation (844) in the mechanical room ceiling
(832), as well as mechanical room wall insulation (846) on the side
interior walls (822) in the mechanical room (828).
[0128] Openings in the floor (804) for the original vault toilet
risers can be covered with metal plates (848), equipped with sealed
openings to accommodate the septic pipes exiting the bottom of each
toilet (850). As an alternative these existing floor opening could
be filled in with concrete plugs. Each toilet room (820) can house
an ultra-low volume flush toilet (850) located adjacent to the
interior side wall (822) of the toilet room (820). Toilet operators
or controls (852) can be incorporated into the toilets (850) and/or
located near to or remotely from the toilets (850). Such operators
(852) can include a control system; a connection to an electric
power supply system; and a connection to a water supply system. In
this embodiment, the toilets (850) can be Microphor model LF320
toilets available from Microphor of Willits, Calif., and the
operators (852) can be standard operators also available from
Microphor for the LF320 model. These operators (852) can be
configured in a conventional manner according to standard
techniques, such as those set forth in installation instructions
from Microphor.
[0129] Water lines can extend from each toilet (850) and through an
access hole (854) located behind each toilet (850) in the
associated side interior wall (822) into the mechanical room (828).
Each toilet room (820) can also house a urinal (856), such as the
waterless urinals available from Waterless Co. under the name
Kalarahi model 2003. The waterless urinals (856) can be installed
and configured in a conventional manner, such as by following
instructions from Waterless Co. The LF320 toilet can use as little
as one quart per flush.
[0130] The restroom system (800) also includes a sewage storage
system (858), which can include one or more sewage-holding vaults
(860). In the illustrated example, the sewage storage system (858)
includes one existing subterranean sewage-holding vault (860) for
each toilet room (820), with the vault positioned beneath the rear
portion of the associated toilet room (820). Each toilet (850) and
urinal (856) can be configured to drain into the associated
sewage-holding vault (860) so that the vault (860) receives the
sewage effluent from that associated toilet room (820).
Alternatively, the restroom system (800) could include just one
sewage-holding vault (860), and it could be located somewhere other
than beneath the building (802).
[0131] Each sewage-holding vault (860) can be a subterranean
precast concrete sewage-holding vault (860), which may or may not
be equipped with a plastic liner (862) to seal the vault. A
sewage-holding vault access cover (863) can be opened to provide
access to each sewage-holding vault (860). The sewage storage
system (858) can also include standard sewage pump-out piping (864)
that is configured to mate with sewage pump-out equipment
associated with a sewage transportation vehicle. Each
sewage-holding vault (860) can be vented by a small vertical pipe
(865) that extends up from the sewage-holding vault (860) and
through the roof (812) of the building (802). A toilet drain (866)
can extend down from each toilet (850) to the corresponding
sewage-holding vault (860), and a urinal drain (867) can extend
down from each urinal (856) to the corresponding sewage-holding
vault (860).
[0132] Each sewage-holding vault (860) can be equipped with one or
more standard float switches to alert operators and/or disable the
system if the sewage-holding vault (860) becomes too full. For
example, each sewage-holding vault (860) can include an alert float
switch (868) at one level to alert an operator that the
sewage-holding vault (860) should be pumped out soon. Each
sewage-holding vault (860) can also include a shut-off float switch
(869) at a higher level to shut down at least a portion of a water
supply system (870), which is part of the restroom system (800), if
the sewage level in the sewage-holding vault (860) is too high.
These float switches and the corresponding control circuitry can be
similar to the float switches and circuitry described above with
reference to Site #1.
[0133] The water supply system (870) can supply pressurized water
to the toilets (850). The water supply system (870) can include
water storage vaults (872) beneath each of the toilet rooms (820),
such as the existing subterranean water storage vaults (872) which
may be equipped with an impermeable liner or coating (873). A
rainwater collection system (874) can include standard rain gutters
(876), as well as standard downspouts (878) leading into the water
storage vaults (872). The water supply system (870) can also
include water fill piping (880), which can be standard piping for
receiving additional water to supplement collected rainwater. For
example, the water fill piping (880) can be configured to connect
to a water hauling vehicle.
[0134] The water supply system (870) can also include a water
pressurization system (882) that includes a water pump (884) that
is connected to draw water from the water storage vault (872) and
feed it into an accumulator tank (886), which is connected to the
toilets (850) to supply pressurized water to the toilets (850). The
water pump can be a standard water pressurizing pump, such as a
"Classic 2088" water pump available from Shurflo, and the
accumulator tank can be a standard tank, such as a 3400-002 tank
available from Shurflo.
[0135] In addition, the water storage vaults (872) can have drains
(890) high on their side walls that allow excessive rainwater or
filling water inflows to spill out of the vault, thus preventing
overfilling of the water storage vault (872). The drains (890) can
extend through the same holes in the water storage vault (872)
through which the downspouts (878) enter the water storage vault
(872). The water supply system (870) also includes water lines
(892) that connect the various other components of the water supply
system.
[0136] The restroom system (800) can also include a power supply
system (910) that includes a solar panel (912), such as the model
GEPV-50 solar panel available from General Electric. The power
supply system can also include a controller (914), such as the 12
volt, 15 amp controller equipped with a digital voltage meter
available from Prostar. The power supply system can also include
one or more standard storage batteries (916), such as two MK model
8G27 storage batteries. The storage batteries (916) can be
connected to be recharged by the solar panel (912), and to supply
the power needs of the restroom system (800) in a conventional
manner. The solar panel (912) can be mounted on top of a flue stack
(918) that extends up along the rear exterior wall (810). For
example, the solar panel (912) can be mounted with a rotatable base
(920), which allows a user to pivot the solar panel (912) to face
in a desired direction (such as south when in the northern
hemisphere) no matter what the building orientation is.
[0137] The restroom system (800) can include a frost protection
system (930). The frost protection system (930) can include one or
more of several components to protect the restroom system (800)
from freezing temperatures. For example, the frost protection
system (930) can include building insulation (844, 846) attached to
the mechanical room walls (822) and ceiling (832); insulation
around plumbing equipment such as the water pump (884) and the
accumulator tank (886); and/or water lines (892) that do not break
when frozen.
[0138] As another example, the frost protection system (930) can
include a ventilation system (932) that controls the circulation of
air into the building (802). This ventilation system (932) can
include the flue stacks (918), which are vented into the toilet
rooms (820) through flue-to-toilet room grills (934) in the rear
exterior wall (810), existing vents in the exterior walls (935),
ventilation grills (936) located in the metal bases of the toilets
(850), floor grates (937) in the mechanical room floor (804), and
the rain collection downspouts (878).
[0139] During use, the ventilation for the restroom building (802)
can be passively enhanced by the influence of the wind blowing over
the opening of the flue stack (918) due to the venturi effect which
can create negative pressure in the stack (918). As interior air
exits the stack (918) makeup air from the interior of the building
(802) flows through the associated flue-to-toilet room grill (934);
having flowed from the toilet rooms (820); having flowed from the
mechanical room (828) through ventilation openings (936) in each
toilet's (850) metal housing and through the interior spaces
between each toilet's (850) metal base exterior and the inner metal
toilet bowl and through the mechanical access hole (854) at the
back of each toilet (850) in the mechanical room wall (822); having
flowed from the outside through floor grates (937) in the
restroom's floor slab (804); having flowed through the air space
above the water in the water storage vault (872); having flowed
through the building's rain down spouts (878). Outside air can also
flow into the toilet rooms (820) through the existing vents (935)
located at the bottom of the side and back exterior walls (808,
810). These vents can be retrofitted with bug screens or filters to
inhibit airflow enough that airflow priority is always given to the
air exiting the base of the toilets having traveled a path of
lesser resistance and having been conditioned by the influence of
ground temperatures surrounding the in-ground water storage
vault.
[0140] In addition, when the temperature of some point within the
building (802), such as the water within the toilet bowls falls
below a set point, the toilets (850) can automatically flush to
replace the water in the toilet bowls with warmer water from the
water storage vault (872). This automatic flushing feature will be
described more below.
[0141] The electrical components for the restroom system (800) at
Site #4 can be basically the same as the electrical components
described above for restroom system (100) at Site #1, with
reference to FIG. 5. However, there is no 12 VDC to 24 VDC
Converter (308), or Vent Damper Controller (310), or Air Compressor
(330).
[0142] Referring to FIG. 15, a schematic illustrates the components
to make the toilet (850) automatically flush when the water in the
toilet bowl drops close to freezing. A standard manual flush switch
(852) can send a pulse signal to the toilet controls (1105),
resulting in commencement of the flush cycle when a user manually
actuates the switch (852) or when the switch (852) is tripped by a
motion sensor, depending on the embodiment. A temperature sensor
(1100) can be affixed to the bottom of the bowl of each toilet
(850). Leads from the temperature sensors (1100) can be connected
to a temperature controller (1110). When one of the sensors (1100)
reports temperatures near freezing, the controller (1110) can
activate a relay switch (1120), which can send a pulse signal to
the associated toilet controls (1105), resulting in commencement of
the flush cycle. The signal between the controller (1110) and the
relay switch (1120) can be moderated by a delay timer (1130). The
delay timer (1130) can prevent subsequent automatic flushing pulses
from being transmitted to the toilet controls (1105) until enough
time has passed to allow the metal toilet bowl to warm to a
temperature at or near the temperature of the water in the bowl.
Referring to FIGS. 11-15, as an alternative to or in addition to
automatic flushing, the temperature sensors (1100) and the
temperature controller (1110) can be wired to open a circuit to
shut off power to an electric strike (such as the strike (324)
discussed above and illustrated in FIG. 5) for the associated
toilet room door (840), thereby automatically locking the toilet
room door (840). This can be done when one of the sensors (1100)
reports freezing temperatures (i.e., temperatures that indicate
water in the system could be frozen, such as temperatures at a
predetermined level near, at, or below freezing). Some other
temperature sensor, such as a thermostat within the restroom
building (802) could be used instead of the temperature sensors
(1100) affixed to the toilet bowls. This automatic door lock
feature can keep users from continuing to use the restroom system
(800) while water in the restroom system is frozen. As is discussed
herein, the equipment in the restroom system (800) can be designed
to survive freezing water, such as by including elastomeric water
lines (892) that can withstand freezing water, and having a
submersible water pump that is submerged in the water tank (872) to
help avoid freezing of the water pump.
[0143] Retrofitting an existing precast vault restroom building to
convert it into the restroom system (800) with ultra-low volume
flush toilets will now be described. The precast house can be
lifted or jacked off the existing precast vaults below so that
impermeable liners or coatings (873) can be installed in the unused
chambers under the front of the building for service as water
storage tanks (872). The unused chambers in the existing precast
vaults may be used as water storage vaults (872) without applying
sealants or installing liners if these chambers are found to be
water-tight. If this is the case, lifting or jacking up the
existing building (802) can be avoided by sealing the drains
located in the floor of the unused vault chambers with a non-shrink
grout placed through a hole drilled in the floors (804) of the
toilet rooms (820). These drilled holes can be filled in or fitted
with a cover plate after the grouting operation. As an alternative
to using the existing unused chambers, a new water storage tank can
be placed outside of the existing building's footprint. The
existing sewage-holding vaults (860) typically will not require
modification, except that they can be equipped with float switches
(868 and 869), which can be hung from the bottom of the cover plate
(848). The electrical wiring for the float switches can be routed
through a hole in the cover plate (848), through the base of the
toilets (850) into the mechanical room (828). Holes can be core
drilled through the floor (804) of the building (802) above the
sewage-holding vaults (860) to add the quick-connect pump-out pipe
(864), a through-the-roof vent (865), and urinal drains (867). The
restroom building (802) can be equipped with the electrical and
plumbing equipment discussed above, including the toilets (850),
water pump (884), accumulator tank (886), solar panel (912),
controller (914), and storage batteries (916). The existing flue
stacks can be replaced with stacks (918) of the same dimensions,
except that the flue stacks (918) can have airtight seals at their
bottoms and be equipped with a side vent corresponding to the
flue-to-toilet room grill (934). One flue stack (918) can have the
solar panel (912) attached to a rotatable mounting (920) at the
top. Holes can be drilled through the roof (812) and ceiling of the
mechanical room (832) for running the electrical cables serving the
solar panel (912).
[0144] Holes can be core-drilled through the floor above the water
storage vault for the addition of water fill pipes (880), and water
lines (892). The outside walls of each water storage tank (872) can
be cored or cut to allow penetration of the downspouts (878) of the
rainwater collection system (874). These openings can also serve as
overflow drains for the water storage tank (872). Access holes
(854) for the toilets (850) can be cut out of the side interior
walls (822) behind the toilets (850) to allow access for water
supply lines (892).
[0145] A ceiling (832) can be installed above the mechanical room
(828). Ceiling insulation (844) can be applied to the mechanical
room ceiling (832). Mechanical room wall insulation (846) can be
applied to the side interior walls (822) in the mechanical room
(828). Further, insulated wall panels and insulated ceilings (not
shown) can be added to the toilet rooms (820). The building's (802)
restroom doors (840 and 842) can be insulated and fitted with
weather-stripping and thresholds to reduce undesirable airflow. The
water lines (892) in the mechanical room (828) can be elastomeric
to inhibit breaking if water in the water lines (892) freezes. The
existing sewage waste tank access holes and covers (863) can remain
unchanged. The existing floor openings for the vault toilet riser
are shown being closed off with a sealed cover (848), which can be
a plate or the floor openings could be filled with doweled concrete
plugs or covered in some other manner. Lighting could be added (not
shown).
IV. Techniques for Making and Using Restrooms
[0146] Referring to FIG. 16, general techniques relating to
fixed-in-place stand-alone flush restroom systems will be
described. A restroom system, such as one of the restroom systems
(100, 410, 610, 800) described above or some other restroom system,
can be provided (1200). Sewage can be received (1210) one or more
times in the restroom system, and a toilet can be flushed (1220)
one or more times. The sewage effluent can be transported (1230) to
a sewage-holding vessel, such as a tank or vault. The effluent can
be extracted (1240) from the vessel to a sewage hauling vehicle,
such as by pumping, and can be transported (1250) in the sewage
hauling vehicle.
[0147] Referring to FIG. 17, providing a flush restroom system can
include retrofitting an existing vault or composting toilet system.
This can include replacing (1300) a vault or composting toilet with
a flush toilet, connecting (1310) the toilet to a water supply, and
connecting (1320) the flush toilet restroom system to a power
supply. The flush toilet can also be connected (1330) to a source
of pressurized air.
[0148] While the invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will
be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in
form and details may be made therein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
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