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The invention relates to a pump assembly for a toilet, in particular a marine toilet. More in particular the invention relates to a pump assembly for connection with a sewer inlet port and a toilet waste outlet port, said pump assembly comprising a base connection member arranged to be placed on and/or attached to a fixed object such as a toilet, a floor or a wall, a motor with a rotatably driven shaft, and a pump housing with a pump waste inlet port and a pump waste outlet port and with pumping means connected to said rotatably driven shaft, said pumping means being arranged to pump waste from said pump waste inlet port to said pump waste outlet port. The invention also relates to a pump assembly for connection with a water source outlet port, a sewer inlet port and a toilet, said toilet comprising a toilet flush water inlet port and a toilet waste outlet port, said pump assembly comprising a pump housing with a pump flush water inlet port, a pump flush water outlet port, a pump waste inlet port and a pump waste outlet port, and with means arranged to selectively allow water to flow from said pump flush water inlet port to said pump flush water outlet port, and with means arranged to selectively pump waste from said pump waste inlet port to said pump waste outlet port. The pumping means preferably comprise a macerator.
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Such a pump assembly is described in
US 2008/0216225 . Marine toilet pumps regularly fail. If the pump assembly needs maintenance or needs to be replaced, the respective ports are disconnected from each other one by one, and the pump is unmounted from its base. A disadvantage of the known pumps is that during these tasks sewer material leaks from the hoses and tubes, and therefore maintenance or replacement of these pump assemblies is not a very popular job. Often users hire plumbers to do the job, who are not always available and who have to be paid. The invention aims at a pump assembly, which is easier, less costly and/or less unappealing to maintain and/or replace.
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According to one aspect of the invention said pump housing with said pumping means are detachably connected to said base connection member with said motor and said driven shaft. The motor is one of the more expensive parts of the pump, which with prior art pumps can be a reason for a user not to dispose the pump but to repair or clean the pump. With the pump assembly of the invention, in case of failure of the pump the pump housing can be detached from the base connection member with said motor, and the pump housing can then simply be disposed or recycled while the motor can continue to be used with a replacement housing with pumping means.
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Said base connection member preferably comprises mounting means for mounting said connection member to said fixed object.
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Said base connection member further preferably comprises said toilet waste outlet port in communication with a toilet waste inlet port, and said sewer inlet port in communication with a sewer outlet port, and wherein said pump waste inlet port is detachably connected to said sewer outlet port, and said pump waste outlet port is detachably connected to said toilet waste inlet port. Furthermore said base connection member preferably comprises a water source inlet port in communication with a water source outlet port, a flush water outlet port in communication with a flush water inlet port, and wherein said pump housing further comprises a pump flush water inlet port detachably connected to said water source outlet port and a pump flush water outlet port detachably connected to said flush water inlet port, and wherein said pump housing further has means, for instance a valve or a fluid pump, arranged to selectively allow water to flow from said pump flush water inlet port to said pump flush water outlet port. The pump motor may be arranged to also pump said flush water through said pump housing, or alternatively a separate pump motor may be provided for pumping the flush water. Preferably said second motor is also detachably connected with the flush water pumping means.
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Said pump housing preferably comprises a second rotatably driven shaft connected to said pump means, wherein said respective ports and said shaft on said base connection member are arranged in alignment with the corresponding respective ports and said second shaft on said pump housing, such that said respective pairs of ports and said shafts can be connected or disconnected from each other substantially at once.
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Said pump assembly is preferably arranged such that, while connected to the base connection member, the pump housing extends substantially above said base connection member. Said pump assembly is further preferably arranged such that, while connected to the base connection member, the ports and said shaft on said pump housing extend downward.
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Preferably said respective ports and said shaft on said base connection member and on said pump housing are arranged in one row. Said base connection member and said pump housing preferably comprise latch means for detachably connecting said two members. Said base connection member and said pump housing are preferably arranged such that the respective pairs of ports and shafts can be disconnected from each other by moving said pump housing away from said base connection member substantially in the direction of the axes of said ports and shafts.
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Said system further preferably comprises a lid, said lid comprising four blind ports matching the ports on said second connection member, wherein the blind ports on said lid are arranged in alignment with the corresponding respective ports on said pump housing, such that said respective ports can be closed or opened substantially at once. In this manner the user can easily attach the lid to the pump assembly, and dispose the pump with the lid at his convenience without leakage of sewer material.
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Said base connection member is further preferably provided with two drain openings and a drain connected to said drain openings, said drain openings being located in said toilet waste outlet port and said sewer inlet port respectively, such that if the respective pairs of ports on said base connection member and pump housing are connected to each other said drain openings are closed. When a user puts the other end of the drain in a container and then disconnects the pump assembly from the first connection member, the waste outlet port and the sewer inlet port are automatically drained, whereby the chance of flooding is minimized.
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According to another aspect of the invention, the pump assembly of the invention further comprises a first connection member comprising said toilet waste outlet port, and said sewer inlet port, a second connection member comprising said pump flush water inlet port, said pump flush water outlet port, said pump waste inlet port and said pump waste outlet port, wherein said respective ports on said first connection member are arranged in alignment with the corresponding respective ports on said second connection member, such that said respective pairs of ports can be connected or disconnected from each other substantially at once. Preferably said first connection member further comprises said water source outlet port, said toilet flush water inlet port, and said second connection member further comprises said pump flush water inlet port, said pump flush water outlet port.
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Preferably said second connection member is rigidly connected to said pump housing. Preferably said pump assembly is arranged such that, while connected to the first connection member, the pump housing extends substantially above said second connection member. Preferably said pump assembly is arranged such that, while connected to the first connection member, the ports on said second connection member extend downward. Preferably said first connection member comprises mounting means for mounting said connection member to a fixed object such as a toilet, a floor or a wall, such that the ports on said first connection member extend upward.
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The invention also relates to a toilet pump connection system, comprising a first connection member and a second connection member, said first connection member comprising at least two ports, each of said at least two ports being in communication with a secondary port on said first connection member, said secondary ports being arranged to be connected to respectively a toilet waste outlet port and a sewer inlet port; and said second connection member comprising at least two ports, each of said at least two ports being in communication with a secondary port on said first connection member, said secondary ports being arranged to be connected to respectively a pump waste inlet port and a pump waste outlet port of a pump housing; wherein said respective primary ports on said first connection member are arranged in alignment with the corresponding respective primary ports on said second connection member, such that said respective pairs of primary ports can be connected or disconnected from each other substantially at once. Preferably said first and second connection members each comprise four ports, said first connection member further comprising said water source outlet port, said toilet flush water inlet port, and said second connection member further comprising said pump flush water inlet port, said pump flush water outlet port.
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The invention will be elucidated by the following description of a preferred embodiment, as shown in the drawings, wherein:
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a toilet with a pump assembly;
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of the pump assembly of figure 1 in the disconnected state;
- Figures 3A, 3B and 3C is a partial cross section through the left port of the pump assembly of figure 1 in three phases of connection;
- Figure 4 is a perspective view in partial cross section of the pump assembly of figure 1 and a lid;
- Figure 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a toilet with a pump assembly;
- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the electric motor and transmission means used in the pump assembly of figure 5; and
- Figure 7 is a perspective view of the pump assembly of figure 5 in the disconnected state.
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According to figure 1 a pump assembly is connected at one side to a marine toilet 1, having a flush water outlet port 101 and a waste outlet port 102, by a flush water inlet tube 2 and a toilet waste outlet tube 3. On the other side the pump assembly is connected to a water source outlet tube 4 and a sewer inlet tube 5.
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The pump assembly comprises a base connection member 6, a pump connection member 7 and a pump 8. The pump 8 is a well known device, comprising a housing with means (not shown) for pumping water in its upper portion and means (not shown) for pumping waste material in its lower portion. To that end the housing has a flush water inlet port 9, flush water outlet port 10, a waste outlet port 11 and a waste inlet port 12. The pump 8 further comprises a control button or manual pump handle 13 at its upper side.
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As shown in figure 2, the base connection member 6 comprises a box shaped housing with a flange 14 around its lower periphery, with mounting holes 15 for screwing the base connection member 6 to the floor of a boat. The housing of base connection member 6 comprises four inner tubes, each tube with one opening in the upper wall of the housing and the other opening in one of the side walls of the housing. The openings in the side wall of the housing are formed by protruding tube ends such that the respective tubes 2, 3, 4, 5 can be easily connected, and form, from left to right, a sewer inlet port 16, a toilet waste outlet port 17, a water source inlet port 18 and a flush water outlet port 19. The openings in the upper wall of the housing form from left to right a sewer outlet port 20, a toilet waste inlet port 21, a water source outlet port 22 and a flush water inlet port 23.
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The pump connection member 7 comprises a plate which can rest on top of the upper wall of the base connection member 6. The upper wall of the base connection member 6 has an upright peripheral edge 24, which surrounds the edge of the plate of the pump connection member 7. The plate comprises four openings. At one side of the plate the openings are formed by protruding tube ends. Said tube ends are provided with flexible rings, for instance of rubber. The tube ends form, from left to right, a waste inlet port 25, a waste outlet port 26, a flush water inlet port 27 and a flush water outlet port 28. The outer diameters of the respective tube ends 25, 26, 27, 28 and the rubber rings thereon are such that they tightly fit in the respective ports 20, 21, 22, 23 of the base connection member. The location of these ports 20, 21, 22, 23; 25, 26, 27, 28 are such that the respective pairs of ports 20 and 25; 21 and 26; 22 and 27; 23 and 28 are aligned with each other, so that the ports of the pump connection member can be inserted into the ports of the base connection member in one move.
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The waste outlet port 11 and a waste inlet port 12 of the pump 8 are rigidly connected to the respective openings on the other side of pump connection member 7 by tubes 29, 30 and suitable connection means, such that the pump and the pump connection member form one rigid body, which his easy to handle. The flush water inlet port 9 and flush water outlet port 10 are connected to the respective openings by hoses 31, 32. The connection means are non-permanent, so that the pump connection member 7 can be re-used separately.
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The base connection member 6 and the pump connection member 7 are provided with co-operating latch means 33, 34, such that the members 6, 7 can be easily connected to and disconnected from each other.
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The ports 20, 21, 23, 24 are provided with drain openings 35 in their cylindrical side walls, at a distance below the upper wall of the base connection member. These openings are all mutually connected by descending tubes, which end in a drain port 36 in the side wall of the base connection member, to which a flexible drain tube can be connected.
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In figure 4 a lid 37 is shown, comprising a housing with four blind ports 38, 39, 40, 41, which are closed at the bottom. The diameters and location of the blind ports in the lid 37 correspond exactly to the diameters and location of the ports 20, 21, 22, 23 in the base connection member.
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According to figure 5 the pump assembly is to a large extend identical as the assembly of figures 1 - 4. However, the pump housing 108 is formed integrally with the pump connection member 7, and forms a elongated enclosure extending substantially in horizontal direction. The base connection member 6 is provided with an electromotor 113, which is attached to the same side wall where the ports 16, 17, 18, 19 are provided, with its driving shaft 114 extending horizontally in the interior of base connection member 6. At the outer end of the shaft 114 a bevel gear wheel 115 is mounted. In the interior of the base connection member 6 also a vertical shaft is rotatably mounted, having a second bevel gear wheel 116 at its lower end which mates with the bevel gear wheel 115, and a female connection piece 117 at its upper end, having a non-circular opening extending in axially upward direction. The base connection member 6 is provided with a driving shaft port 42 through which the connection piece 117 can be mated. The axis of the driving shaft port 42 extends parallel to and in line with the ports 20, 21, 22, 23 in the upper wall of the base connection member 6.
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In the interior of pump housing 108 a vertical shaft is rotatably mounted, having a male connection piece 118 at its lower end, and a bevel gear wheel 119 at its upper end. The male connection piece 118 fits in the opening of female connection piece 117 in a releasable manner. Further a horizontal shaft 121 is rotatably mounted in the pump housing 108, having at its outer end a bevel gear wheel 120 which mates with bevel gear wheel 119. The shaft 121 runs through a bearing in a dividing wall 124 which separates the flush water part of the pump with the waste part of the pump. The shaft 121 is provided with a water pump rotor 122 and a waste pump macerator 123 and pump 125 in the respective parts. It should be noted that the interior of the pump housing 108 is only schematically shown and that not all internal parts of the pump 108 are shown, as such a water pump and waste macerator pump is well known in the art.
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The system as shown in figures 5 - 7 can further be provided with a lid 37 as shown in figure 4, wherein an additional blind port (not shown) for accommodating the male connection piece 108 is provided in a similar manner.
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The pump housing 108 with the pump connection member can be easily disconnected from the motor 113 by releasing the co-operating latch means 33, 34 and moving the male connection piece 118 upward and out of the female connection piece 117. In the same move ports 25, 26, 27, 28 are disconnected from ports 20, 21, 22, 23. Connection of a new or maintained pump housing 108 to the base connection member 6 can be achieved in the reverse manner.
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Although the invention is exemplified by embodiments thereof, the scope of the current teaching is not restricted to said embodiment. The skilled person will appreciate that many modifications can be made and that equivalent features may substitute the described features without departing from the teachings of the invention.
