AU598593B2 - Water closet system having a liquid separator - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1952 59V859 3 Form 10 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. Cl: Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published; Priority: Related Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT q Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Torsten AXESSON NYPONTUNET 22 S-181 48 LIDINGO

SWEDEN

Actual Inventor:

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41 t .4 Address for Service: CLEMENT HACK CO., 601 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia, Complete Specification for the invention~ entitled; WA~TER CLOSET SYSTEM HAVING A IXQUID

SEPARATOR.

The following statement is a full description of this~ -Tvention including the best method of performing it known to me:'a n.

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Applicant and inventor: Torsten Akesson Nypontunet 22 S-181 48 LIDINGO, Sweden Title: Water closet system having a liquid separator.

The present invention generally relates to water closet SC C Systems, and the invention is more particularly concerned with a water closet system of the closed or non-drained type and having a liquid separator providing improved possibilities of using water closets in connection to water closet systems of the closed type ane, h3virkg a lavatory which is connected to a composting chamber or a vlosed collection tank which may be coo emptied occationaly.

Previously known water closet systems of the closed type in which the lavatory is connected to a collection tank generally have utilized lavatories of the lean-flushing type o .°,consuming a relatively little amount of flushing liquid, for instance 3 liters of liquid for each flushing, Even such little amount of flushing liquid have necessitated the installation of very large collection tanks or composting chambers for the purpose of extending the necessary time intevvals for emptying the tank of chamber.

In toiiet systems of the composting type the amount of liquid alsQ must be restricted so that the composting process can proceed, I V t Therefore the lavatory, which normally is of the, type including an open. pipe, must be placed straight above the composting chamber so that the material including feces, JI paper, urine etc. can fall freely down into the composting chamber. The placing of the lavatory straight above the composting chamber has lead to installation problems. A further disadvantage in such types of lavatories is that f odours and insects may enter the toilet room from the composting chamber.

For having a toilet flushing system work it is necessary to use a certain least amount of flushiing liquid for transporting the solid or semi-solid material like feces, paper etc. through the discharge pipes. The necessary amount of liquid is partly depending of the inclination of the pipe system.

The invention is based on the observation that a liquid flowing in an inclined, and also in a vertical, pipe mainly follows the inner walls of the pipe, emven if the walls of the pipe are curved, supposing only that the flow of 020.11 liquid is little in relatipn to the total capacity of the pipe, whereby the pipe provides a sufficikently large wall *0 area# a to vo:4" The invention provides a water closet, system comprising a lavatory, a collection tank or a composting chamber and a discharge piping between said lavatory and tank or chamber, characterized in a liquid separator means interconnected in the discharge piping extending between the lavatory and collection tank or Composting cJ-arner and arranged to separate any liquid from the combinjA material received from the lavatory and comprising an inlet pipe provided below the lavatory and connected to the discharge '1 piping and an outlet pipe connected to said tank or composting chamber, and in which the lower edge the inlet pipe is widened, and the upper edge of the outlet pipe ie of 11115 at least the same cross section area as the non-widened portion of the inlet pipe, and the widened edge of the inlet pipe is of a least the same cross Section area as said up r Odge of the outlet pipe.

Now the invention wvill be described more in detail ith reference 3.

to a couple of practical embodiments thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the described and illustrated embodiments thereof and that many modifications may be presented within the scope of the apended claims.

In the drawings figure i is a diagrammatical elevation view of a first embodiment of a toilet system according to the invention, Figure 2 is a vertical cross section view of a liquid separator included in the toilet system of figure 1. Figure 3 is an elevational view of a modified embodiment of a toilet system, and figure 4 is a vertical cross section through a liquid separator included in the toilet system of figure 3. Figure 5 is a side view filter adapted to be connected to the liquid draining part of the toilet system, Figure 6 is a cross section along line VI-VI of figure 5, and figure 7 is a vertical cross section through the same filter, Figure 8 is a cross section through an H apparatus connected to the liquid draining part of the toilet the ground, The embodiment oC the invention shown drawings generally comprises a lavatory I which is connected to a collection tank or a composting chamber 2 over a discharge piping 3 in which a liquid separator 4 interconnected.

The collection tank or composting chamber 2 ia tit mounted on a lower level 5 than the level 6 o4 the lavatory I and preferably also aside of the lavatory. The lavatory I may be mounted on the floor 6 of a building, whereas the tank or chamber 2 is placed on a subfloor or on the ground Underneath the building lotor 6. By placing the tank or chamber 2 aside of the lavatory it is possible to locate the lavatory and/or the tank or chamber on any suitable place in the building, It is also possible to place the tank or chamber 2 right underneath the lavatory, but in such case the discharge piping 3A preferably is formed with an S-turn 7 as indicated with the

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dotted lines in f igure 3 in order to make sure that the liquid from the lavatory mainly follows the inner surface of the piping. The piping 3 or 3' generally has to be mounted inclined as known in connection to drains.

The liquid sep~arator 4 which is interconnected in the discharge piping 3 is mounted above and adjacent the tank or chamber 2 and in a vertical position. The liquid separator 3 comprises an inlet pipe 8 which is directly connected to the discharge piping 3 fromx the lavatory 1, an outlet pipe 9 which Is directly connected to the tank or chamber 2, and a liquid container 10 sealingly enclosing the outlet end 11. ot the inlet pipe 8 and the inlet end 12 of the outlet pipe 9. The lower end or the outlet end of the inlet pipe 8 is widened to a cone 13 or a similar menns, and preferably also the upper end or inlet end 12 of the outlet pipe 9 is widened to a cone 14 or similar means. The inlet and outlet pip#,s 8 and 9 extend co-axially with the upper end 12 of the outlet pipe 9 located above the outlet end 1.1 of the inlet pipe, Preferably the discharge piping 3, the liquid separator 4 with the inlet, and outlet pipes 8 and 9 and the liquid container 10 and thq 0tank or chamber 2 are in sealed connection with each other to prevent odour from leaving the system, As ucual the system, may be evacuiated by a chimney like pipe, The solid or semi-solid material received fro3m the lavatory I. via the di~charge piping 3 and lzaving the inlet 040 pipe 8 of the separator falls directly and freely down into ~,the collection tank or composting chamber 2 over the outlet 0 pipe 9 whereas the liquid follows the inner surface of the discharge piping 3 and the inlet pipe 8 of the eeparator 4 and drops down to the bottom of the liquid container 10 from the 0 outlet edge 11 of the cone portion 313 of the inlet pipe 8 outside of the inlet edge 12 of the outlet pipe 9.

According to the invention the diameter D2Z of the inlet edge 12 of the outlet pipe 9 is less than the diameter D3 of the outlet edge 11 of the inlet pipe and also the 4 I 4a.

diameter Di of the main portion of the inlet pipe 8 is less than or equal to the diameter D2 of the inlet edge 12 of the outlet pipe 9. Expressed in terms as marked in figure I this means DI D2 D3.

Preferably the bottom the liquid container is sloping down to an outlet 15 through which the liquid is drained continuously or intermittantly. The liquid leaving the outlet 15 of the container 10 is passed to an infiltration chamber or a filter (figures 5-7k and/or to an apparatus reducing the Infiltration of nitrogene in the ground (figure

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0 ft 4/4 '.4 Q 0 0 0 C) 0,.

00A 00 0 The cleaned liquied may be recirculated to the lavatory after having passed the a preliminary filtering or sedimentation unit illustrated in figures 5-8.

It. is presupposed that the amount of liquid including the flushing liquid received from the lavatory is little as compared with the capacity of the discharge piping, and therefore the liquid mainly follows the bottom surface of the discharge piping 3 and is distri~buted over the intire inner surface of the inlet pipe 8 of the liquid separator 4. Therefore the end of the piping 3 connected to the separator may even be vertical as shown in figure 1.

In special cases, for instance when using short discharge pipings 3' between the lavatory I1 and the tank or chamber 2 it may be suitable to connect the discharge piping 3' neripherally as shown in figures of the drawings whereby the~ liquid is brought to flow in spiral form inside the inlet pipe 8. Still the solid and semji-sold materials, which are more heavy, drop right down through the outlet pipe 9 to the tank or chamber 2. in order to make sure that no solid or semi-sold material is passed over to the liquid container 10 guide wires 16, preferably spring wires, may be mounted spaced round the periphery of the in the inlet pipe 8 of the separator 4 and extending dows towards the centre of the outlet pipe 9 from a I,vel above 'the cone portion 13, In the above description the inlet 8 and the outlet 9 of the liquid separator 4 have been characterized as pipes, ofW course said inlet and outlet may be any other means than pipe and ,l~ay have any other shape than a cylindrical pipe as will be obvious to the expert.

The filter illustratd in figures 5, 6 and 7 is intended to kill bacteriae present in the drained liquid, especially coli bacteriae, to a sufficient extent to allow the liquid to be drained in the nature, The filter comprises a filter container 21 having an inlet 22 for the noncleaned water and an outlet 23 for the cleaned water, means 24 for reducing the flow of liquid through the container,~ and means 25 for killing the bacteriae present iny the liquid.

The container is of a subsitially closed type and it can be made of plastic, metal plate or any other resistent material. At 'the bottom the container should be formed so that a relatively large and at the o b

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same time a relatively thin film of liquid is exposed to the bacteriae killing means 25, which is preferably mounted in the uppermost part of the container. The outlet is provided rdirectly at the bottom 27 of the container, and it is as usual formed with a water seal 28. At an end 26 the container is formed with inspection cover 29 for access to the interior of the container.

The means for restricting the flow of liquid through the container may be a spiral body 30 built up at the bottom of the containeir and extending slightly more that one turn, and at the center of which the bore 31 for the outlet 23 is provided. The spiral body has a height which is equal to the bottom edge of the liquid inlet. The spiral body sets the liquid in rotation, and for this purpose also a short partition wall 37 is provided adjacent the inlet opening. The outlet and the spiral should be chosen and designed so that the liquied is maintained in the container for about 1-2 minutes, during which time the liquid is exposed to the bacteriae killing means.

Alternatively the flow restricting means is a restriction valve provided in the outlet conduit, or a buffer body prcvided in the inlet body and designed so as to be able to ackumulate some amount of liquied in case of occational large flows of liquid.

The bacteriae killing means is a fluorescent tube 35 the maIn spectrum of which is within the very short wave range of 25(-600 nm mounted in a tube carrier 36 at the top of the container and preferably cooperating with a reflector 37, Figure 8 shows an apparatus connected to the outlet of the liquid separator and intended to reduce the infiltration of nitrogene in the ground. The apparatus is a sort of mud separator comprislng a closed container 38 having, as usual, an ifiner partition wall 39 and a flow passageway 40 for the drained liquid from which the mud has been separated and provided nn a relatively low level. The container has an 6a.

inlet 41 for non-cleaned liquid on one side of the partition wall 39 and two outlets 42 and 43 provided on the other side of the partition wall 39. One of the outlets 42 is provided on such low level underneath the ground level that the outflowing liquid can be received by the adjacent plants, and the other outlet 43 is provided on a level at which there is 4$ f

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00 0 00 0 0 0 C 00 00 0 0 no frost. Therefore outlet 42 can be considIered a summer outlet and outlet 43 a winter outlet. The connection 44 for, the summer outlet 42 inside the mud separator is substantially T-forme\1 having the openings facing upwards and downwards, and as conventional the outlet is provided on a slight level underneath the inlet 41. The connection inside the container 38 for the outlet 43 is an opwards angularly turned part 45 of the outlet tube which ends with an upwards facing end 46 which is preferably enclosed in a bit of a tube 47 having a larger diameter than the outlet tube 45 and intenlded to eliminate water splash. The upper end '46 of the tube 45 is located on a level slightly aboe the norinal level 48 for the liquid flowing through the summer outlet 42 and on a level slightly underneath the bottom level for the inlet 41.

The drained water flows through the inlet 41 into the first chamber 49 of the mud separator 38 and mud and heavy particles are separated from the water which flows through the opening 40 of the partition wall 39 in to the second chamber 0 As long as the upper outlet called the summer outlet, is free any sewage is drained from the second chamber 50 through the uipper outlet as indicated with the arrow 51. If the outlet 42, for some reason, becomes blocked, what normally happens in the winter time since the upper drainage condiut becomes frozeo, the water level is raised in the two chambers 49 and 5iJ, and wher, the level reaches to or comes above the upper edge 36 of the angle t~joe 45 the sewage water is, in turn, drained through the angle tube 45 and the lower outlet 43, and the liquid in infiltered on a level of the ground which is normally not reached ty the roots of the plants but Which 1 is preferaLly free from frost during the winter. Compare the arrow 52, When the blocking of the upper outlet is removed, for instance after the soil is no longer frozen, the water reenters the upper outlet 42, the liquid level is lowered to normal 'summer level" 48 and any sewage water now flows through the upper outlet 42.

As evident from the above the changning between the upper "summner outlet" 42 and the lower "winter outlet" 43 is made quite automacially and needs no operation of manipulation frou outside the container.

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The tank or chamber 1 receiving feces and other non-liquid products can be formed as a composting container containing a compostable material onto which the non-liquid material from the separator 4 is received and with which said material is at least partly mixed up. The compostable material preferably is placed on an intermediate perforated bottom having air inlets and drainage means, so that any liquid present in the material received from the liquid separator 4 or produced during the decomposition on the composting bed is drained, and so that air (oxygen) favourizing the composting is allowed to pass upwa.'- through the compositing bed, Preferably the composting bed contains means favourizing the decomposition of the feces and other material, for instance composting bacteriae of composting Searthworms, 0 0 0 doQ o a S *t o n a 4 #0

Claims (5)

1. A water closet system comprising a lavatory, a collection tank or a composting chamber and a discharge piping between said lavatory and tank or chamber, characterized in a liquid separator means interconnected in the discharge piping extending between the lavatory and collection tank or composting chamber and arranged to separate any liquid from the combined material received from the lavatory and comprising an inlet pipe provided below the lavatory and connected to the discharge piping and an outlet pipe ccnnected to said tank or composting chamber, and in which the lower edge of the inlet pipe is widened, And the upper edge of the outlet pipe is of at least the same cross section area as the non-widened portion of the inlet pipe, and the widened edge of the inlet pipe is of A least the same cross section area as said upper edge of the outlet pipe.

2. Ak water closet system according to claim 1, characterized in that the liquid separator is mounted aside of the lavatory, and in that the discharge, piping is a o 0 connected to the inlet pipe of the liquid separator over at 0 0Q z 0 least somne inclined portion of said piping.

3. A water closet system according to claim 3. or 2, characterized in that the discharge piping is connected substantially peripherally to the inlet pipe of the liquki-k separator,. A water closet system according to claim 1, 2, or -3, characterized in that both the lower end of th( inlet pipe 00 and the u2pper end of the outlet pipe of the liquid s~parator S are conically widened. A water closet system according to any one of the ooo preceding claims, characterized. in that the lower end of the inlet pipe and the upper end of the outlet pipe of the 3.iquid separator are &sealingly enclose~d In a liquid contalior Mhvihqc an outlet for draining the liquid received from -thes lon edge of the widened portion of the inlet pipe. F_

6. A water closet system according to any one of the preceding clainis, characterized in that the intlet pipe of the liquid separator is formed with wires, preferably spring wires, mounted round the periphery of said inlet pipe and extending obliquely downwards in the direction of the Centre of the outlet pipe for guiding solid or semi-solid material passing the inlet pipe towards the Centre of the outlet ptpe.

7. A water Closet syntem according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlet of the liquid separator is connected to a means for killing bacteriae in the drained liquid and comprising a closed container having an inlet and an outlet, a means likce a spiral, a restriction valve at the outlet or an accumulator buffer at the inlet, and means killing bacteriae present in 4 the drained liquid while maintained in said container for at least i-2 minutes. 3.A water closet system according to any one of the o preceding claitis, characterized in that the liquid outlet is con~ner-ted to a means for reducing the infiltration Ln the 0 grouad of nitrogene and other substances which are difficult 0 0 to decomipose and of a type which can be absorbed and 01 0 inlet and two or more outlets, at least one of which is provided on a level underneath the ground level which is not reached by the roots of the plants whereas the second outlet or outlets is/are provided on a lower level which is 4 frostproof and which is not reached by the roots of the plants, and in which the inlet opening of the low outlet is lolocated on a level slightly above the inlet of the high S outlet and above normal (summer) liquid level, and in that ,co the inlet of both the high and low outlet are located on a level underneath the inlet of the apparatus. S 9. A water closet system according to claim 8 0064 characterized in that the infiltration reducing means is a mud separator consisting of a container and inside said container a partition wall having an overflow opening for i, 1. I r 4 11 liquid between chambers of the separator provided on a low level, and in that the two or more outlets are provided on the outlet side of the mud separator and such that water normally flows through the upper outlet, whereas, if the upper outlet is blocked, the water flows through the low outlet. A water closet system according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the low outlet or outlets are formed with inlet tubes which are facing upwards and whereby the upper edge of each such tube is located on a level above normal liquid level of the container and which is surrounded by a tube having a larger diameter than the said upwards facing inlet tube. DATED THIS 4th DAY OF April 1990 4 4 0 0 0 0 TORSTEN AKESSON By His Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO. Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia 4400, 4 0 4444 0044, 4 0 44 444 Edl i_