Disposal System For Human Waste

Abstract

Apparatus for handling human waste wherein the human waste is delivered to a vessel and heat is applied to the vessel, preferably simultaneously with the application of vacuum, to vaporize the liquid component of the waste material leaving dehydrated waste which can be readily removed.

Description

This invention relates to waste disposal systems and particularly to such systems for handling human waste.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In handling of human waste, it is common to utilize chemicals and incineration. In connection with boats, aircraft and the like large storage facilities are required which must utilize shore or ground facilities for removal. These systems are obviously undesirable and a preferred system would handle larger volumes with smaller storage facilities and would be odor free, require no chemicals and not produce or contribute to environmental pollution.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a waste disposal system which can be utilized in a vehicle, conveyance, home, factory or the like and functions to remove the liquid portion of the waste which is pure water leaving solids that can be readily removed, stored and handled; wherein the liquid removed may be returned to the sea, for example, or may be retained in a storage tank used in the toilet system, or otherwise disposed of in an approved manner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partly diagrammatic view of a system embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly diagrammatic view of a modified form of system;

FIG. 3 is a partly diagrammatic view of a further modified form of system;

FIG. 4 is a partly diagrammatic view of a further modified form of system.

DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the waste disposal system embodying the invention comprises a vessel 10 to which the human waste from the toilet system represented by element 11 is directed through a pipe 12 and periodically controlled by a valve 13. Vessel 10 has an inner lining of Teflon or the like to prevent dried wastes from adhering thereto. The vessel 10 is connected by a pipe 14 to a jet vacuum pump 15 through which liquid such as sea water from a boat is pumped by pump 16 to produce a vacuum within the vessel 10. Heat from a suitable heat source such as the engine of a boat or an airplane is directed through a line 17 to a jacket 18 about the lower section of the vessel 10. The vacuum in the vessel is controlled by a valve 19. By applying vacuum to the vessel, with the valve 13 closed and the valve 19 open, and heat applied to the jacket 18, the liquid portion or component of the human waste in the vessel 10 is vaporized and removed through the line 14 passing through a condenser 20 and overboard through a pipe 21. An activated carbon filter 22 is positioned in line 14 to filter any minor microscopic particles that might be carried along by the liquid.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the vessel 10 is provided with a plurality of blades 23 that function as baffles to reduce surging of liquid.

After the liquid has been removed, vacuum valve 19 is closed and a sliding waste gate 24 in the lower end of the vessel is opened permitting the solid dehydrated waste to be delivered to a disposable bag 25 positioned in an open ended container 26. During the removal of the solid dehydrated waste, continued rotation of the blades 23 agitates and scrapes the solid waste through the opening to the bag 25.

As a result, the major volumetric component of the waste, namely the water, has been removed leaving the dehydrated solid in the bag 25 that can be readily handled.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 2, a macerator 27 is provided in the line 12' which delivers the waste to a sludge tank 28. Waste from the sludge tank 28 is delivered by a pump 29 through valve 13' to the vessel 10' periodically as in the previous form of the invention. Similarly, pump 16' delivers water to a jet pump 15' to produce a vacuum within the vessel 10'. In this form, a condenser 30 is provided within the vessel 10' to condense the vaporized liquid so that it can be delivered to a holding tank 31 through a valve 32 and then fed by a pump 33 through an activated carbon filter 34 to a storage tank 35. The liquid can be removed as desired from the storage tank 35 by a pump 36 to flow through a line 37 back to the toilet system 11' as needed.

In this form of the invention the blades 23' function primarily as scraper blades during the removal of the dehydrated solids from the vessel.

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 3, similar components are designated with similar reference numerals with the added double prime mark. In this form, the macerator 27" is positioned in the tank 28" and an output from the sludge tank is controlled by a valve 13" to the vessel 10". Vacuum is provided in the vessel 10" by vacuum pump 38. A filter 39 is provided to the exterior to filter any small particles that may tend to be carried out through the air drawn by the vacuum pump from the vessel 10".

In the form of the invention shown in FIG. 4, vessel 10a includes an inner plastic-lined wall 40 and a spaced outer wall 41 which define a heating jacket to which hot water from an engine cooling system or a source of hot water is circulated. A movable hollow gate 42 closes the outlet 43 in the lower end of vessel 10a. Hot water is first introduced into gate 42 through inlet 44 and then passes to the heating jacket of vessel 10a through pipe 45, at the lower end of the vessel 10a. The water is removed through outlet 46 adjacent the upper end of vessel 10a and is disposed of overboard or re-used.

A central shaft 47 extends vertically in vessel 10a and is adapted to be rotated. Shaft 47 supports blades 48 pivoted thereto so that they tend to swing out under centrifugal force as the blade rotates. Each blade is preferably made of a plurality of sections 48a so that the blade can be readily deflected to prevent damage or binding. A baffle 49, mounted in vessel 10a, surrounds the shaft 47 and defines an opening 50 through which vapor may pass. A second generally frustoconical baffle 51 is fixed to shaft 47 in overlying relation to opening 50 to prevent direct axial movement of particles. A screen 51a of fine mesh metal, such as Monel, covers the space between shaft 47 and baffle 49 to prevent solid particles from passing out.

Condenser coils 52 are provided in the space about the periphery of baffle 49 defined by an upstanding intermediate portion 53 of baffle 49.

As in the previous forms of the invention, the condenser coils 52 are connected to a water pump 54 which activates a jet pump 55 that draws a vacuum on vessel 10a through a filter 55. Water from vessel 10a passes to a storage tank 56 which stores the water for re-use in the toilets.

Claims

I claim:

1. In a waste disposal system for human waste, the combination comprising

a vessel to which the human waste may be supplied,

means for periodically supplying human waste to the vessel,

means for applying heat to the vessel to evaporate the liquid from the waste material, vacuum producing means for reducing the pressure within the vessel to below atmospheric while heat is being applied,

and means for removing solid waste from the vessel after the liquid has been removed.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 including means for scraping the waste from the interior of said vessel.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 including a filter separating said vacuum producing means from said solids whereby any particles in the vaporized liquid are prevented from passing through the vacuum producing means.

4. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for removing said solid waste from said vessel comprises a gate at the lower end of the vessel,

and a disposable container positioned beneath said gate for receiving the dehydrated solid waste.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4 including means for heating said gate.

6. The combination set forth in claim 2 including means exteriorly of said vessel for holding the waste before it is periodically delivered to said vessel.

7. The combination set forth in claim 6 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a macerator in advance thereof.

8. The combination set forth in claim 6 including pump means for delivering the waste material periodically from said holding means to said vessel.

9. The combination set forth in claim 2 including condensing means for assisting in condensing the liquid waste that is vaporized from the waste within said vessel.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said condensing means is within said vessel.

11. The combination set forth in claim 10 including baffle means between said condensing means and the interior of said vessel.

12. The combination set forth in claim 2 including means for storing and delivering the liquid removed from said vessel for re-use in the toilet system.

13. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein said heating means comprises the engine of a vehicle.

14. The combination set forth in claim 2 including pump and filter means exteriorly of said vessel for assisting in removing the liquid from said vessel and filtering the liquid removed from said vessel.

15. In a waste disposal system for human waste, the combination comprising

a vehicle having an engine,

a vessel in said vehicle to which the human waste may be supplied,

means on said vehicle for periodically supplying human waste to the vessel,

vacuum producing means on said vehicle for reducing the pressure within the vessel to below atmospheric,

means for applying heat from the vehicle engine to the vessel to evaporate the liquid from the waste material while the interior of the vessel is under reduced pressure,

and means on said vehicle for removing the remaining solid waste from the vessel after the liquid has been removed.

16. The combination set forth in claim 14 including means on said vehicle for scraping the waste from the interior of said vessel.

17. The combination set forth in claim 15 including means within said vessel separating said vacuum producing means from said solids whereby any particles in the vaporized liquid are prevented from passing through the vacuum producing means.

18. The combination set forth in claim 15 wherein said means for removing said solid waste from said vessel comprises a gate at the lower end of the vessel,

and a disposable container positioned beneath said gate for receiving the dehydrated solid waste.

19. The combination set forth in claim 18 including means for heating said gate.

20. The combination set forth in claim 15 including means exteriorly of said vessel for holding the waste before it is periodically delivered to said vessel.

21. The combination set forth in claim 20 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a macerator in advance thereof.

22. The combination set forth in claim 15 including pump means for delivering the waste material periodically from said holding means to said vessel.

23. The combination set forth in claim 15 including condensing means within said vessel for assisting in condensing the liquid waste that is vaporized from the waste within said vessel.

24. The combination set forth in claim 23 including baffle means between said condensing means and the interior of said vessel.

25. The combination set forth in claim 15 including means for storing and delivering the liquid removed from said vessel for re-use in the toilet system.

26. The combination set forth in claim 15 including pump and filter means exteriorly of said vessel for assisting in removing the liquid from said vessel and filtering the liquid removed from said vessel.