GB2494665A - Public toilets mounted on a continuously moving carousel - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a slowly moving carousel of individual toilet units that once used, will be automatically cleaned ready for the next user. The toilet facilities provide for a large number of people at venues such as outdoor rock concerts, military events and sporting venues. The individual toilets may be mounted on a continuously moving carousel or track arrangement mounted on either side of a standard lorry trailer. Preferably, 10 toilets will be available for use on each side of the trailer, with two toilets passing through cleaning zones where they are mechanically cleaned and emptied in a separate zone. The water from floors, basins and toilet bowls may be directed into a trough or pipe where it may be pumped to a nearby effluent tank. The trailer may comprise a generator as a source of electrical energy.

Description

The Denness Fast-loo toilet block invention is a set of moving WC units that are constantly cleaned ready for the next user. The units run on a simple track1 with each side of the trailer having approximately ten WC units available for customers and the other two WC units are mechanically cleaned2 in readiness for use in a separate cleaning zone.

The speed of the unit will be timed to allow a suitable period of use, with safety mechanisms and alarms inbuilt should anyone remain in the WC unit after the allofted period, for whatever reason. There is no need to flush the toilets as the cleaning process will remove human waste, by macerating3 it and then the entire unit is hygienically cleaned.

There could be a sink with warm water, a soap dispenser and hand dryer4 for personal cleanliness. The units would be weatherproof, under cover and whilst the WC units will move beneath the fixed ceiling void, the ceiling void within the customer area would be fully lit. The entire unit could be ventilated and heated if required.

Track could also mean conveyor belt, carousel or any moving mechanism that can move smoothly at a slow rate.

2 cleaned could by any means e.g. jet washed, mechanical brushes, etc. Gravity could be used, however maceration would allow the effluent to be transported to a sealed tank many metres away, which would help to eliminate odours.

The hand dryer could be pumped in from a central supply and with an air-defuser in each unit, which would be housed alongside the sink to prevent vandalism and operated by an anti-vandal button.

Each individual toilet unit would be made of a durable waterproof material5, including walls and flooring and possibly resistant to graffiti. Every unit could have a robust mirror.

Every unit would have a full height door and possibly an occupancy light above6 that would indicate whether or not the toilet is in use, this could be triggered by the door latch which could be opened externally in the case of an emergency.

The individual WC units would pass through cleaning ends7 or zones every 5 minutes and it is where the toilet would have the effluent removed8 and then get a suitably powerful jet wash or receive a mechanical cleaning action, to completely clean and sanitize the entire unit.

The waste water from the floors, basins and toilet bowls would be directed into a trough or pipe, where it could be recycled, pumped or removed to a nearby effluent tank9. Finally jets of air could force the water from the floor, seat and sink to ensure every individual toilet unit is clean and ready for the next customer.

The Denness Fast-loo unit could be the size of a standard lorry trailer. It could have an generator installed to operate the unit by fossil fuels to create the electrical energy to heat the water and service the pumps, or it could be connected to a suitable electrical supply depending upon location and availability. A cold water supply would be required and the pressure would need to be established to maintain operational use. It could even have a small quantity of scent, sprayed into each unit before each customer uses it. It could also incorporate smoke alarms to prevent smoking if required.

Any suitable material would suffice e.g. glass fibre walls, plastic, metal or any combination of materials that could be constantly cleaned without rapid deterioration.

6 The light could be an "Engaged" sign within the door lock mechanism, or any other way of indicating customer use.

There are two cleaning zones that every individual unit passes through to be ceaned S Sucked out similar to an aircraft toilet with a suitably strong pump, then macerated before being pumped into a nearby foul drainage system or holding tank or tanker or any suitable recepitcal.

Tank could be a tanker of any suitable container of human waste or suitable drain connection.

Each unit could be vented to a suitable air change rate.

The materials used in the construction would be suitably inflammable and could be aesthetically pleasing, similar to other good quality public WCs.

Toilet paper could be fed through a Passive Infra-Red operated dispenser1° or any device that is vandal resistant and could be topped up automatically.

The doors could open inwards and the customer could leave the unit as soon as they were finished, or anytime during the 5 minute travel period11. If the toilet is still occupied for more than the allotted period (approximately 5 mins) the entire rotation would stop at the final disembarking point to allow the customer to leave that unit. An alarm could be triggered encouraging the person to leave the toilet and to warn the operator that someone may need assistance.

A timer12 or clock could be provided to indicate the time left for each customer within the toilet.

The Denness Fast-loo unit could be the equivalent of 2,800 individual plastic chemical toilets as the number of customers it could provide for, could be more than 14,000/hour13 all using hygienically clean, warm, dry, well lit, odour free, WC units, perfect forfestivals, sporting events, military use or any large public gatherings.

Each customer would only have access to the first two units, but would only have to wait around 30 seconds for a new unit to appear. This would help to maintain an orderly queue, eliminating dozens of queues for many individual toilet units.

1° The dispenser could be a mechanical or electrical unit, located in the best place strategically and could utilise the passive infra-red trigger system " The period is approximate, but to known criteria (approximately 1km/hour) 12 Audible, visual, digital, lazer, etc., indicator 13 Approximately two customers every 30 seconds (60 X 60 X 4 = 14,400/hour) The removal of effluent could be extremely efficient as it could be suction pumped away to a mobile tanker or foul drain system that would dispose of it in the usual way.

The sensation of movement could be very smooth and should be less noticeable than using a toilet on a train, ferry or aeroplane.

No strong chemicals14 would be necessary so it would be far more environmentally friendly than a chemical toilet and far less smelly. Also one Denness Fast-loo could drastically reduce the labour and C02 gases that would be necessary to transport the equivalent number of chemical toilets15 and reduce all the associated transport and storage costs.

Other permutations of this rotating unit could include disabled WCs, shower units and urinals which would be very similar to the above unit.

This unit could be located permanently within a building16 and could be constructed to either a single or double sided unit to meet the needs of the user and the building profile. Speeds could be reduced or increased to match the number of individual toilet units required.

A turnstile or similar mechanism could be fitted if a fee was required as a payment for use.

Figure 1 shows a plan view of the moving toilet units, with the two cleaning zones either end of the unit.

Figure 2 shows a section through the toilet units from the customer side, with a toilet, hand washing facilities and optional mirror.

Figure 3 shows a lorry trailer version of the unit with steps up to the doors and steps down from the unit once used. It also shows a pedestrian platform and hand rail that could be folded up across the doors and the steps folded up into the platform, making it very quick to set up. It could also be a stand-alone unit on jack legs (or similar).

Apart from basic cleaning detergents.

Approximately 2800 chemical toilets ° Such as a sports stadium, army base, theatre or a concert hall

Claims (5)

1. <claim-text>Claims 1. The Denness Fast-Icc provides a slew moving carousel of individual toilet units that are constantly cleaned after every use, ready for the next user.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. The Denness Fast-leo described in Claim 1 above would be suitable for large, pop concerts, military gatherings, sporting events or any venue where many toilets are required.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. The Denness Fast-Icc described in Claim 1 above would have suitable safety features included to ensure privacy, personal safety and warning mechanisms incorporated within it.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. The Denness Fast-leo described in Claim 1 above would provide a smooth, slowly moving ride for the user.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWSClaims 1 A toilet block comprising a plurality 01 inthvkiual toilet compartments mounted on a carousel, wherein in use, the carousel is continuously moving an each toilet and or compartment is cleaned at least once during at least one cycle or part of a cycle of the carousel, without the carousel stopping.
2. 2. The toilet block claim I, wherein the carousel may be a track means or a conveyor belt.
3. 3. The toilet block claim I wherein each compartment may comprise washing facilities, extract ventilation and electric light.
4. 4. The toilet block claim 1, may be mounted on a trailer for mobility.
5. 5. The toilet block claim 1, may be part of a permanent structure such as a building, F offices, stadiums, airports, prisons or educational centres. 0 0 * * 0 * 0* 00 * 0 0 0 *</claim-text>