US2675562A - Sanitary water closet - Google Patents

Description

April 20, 1954 Filed Aug. 4, 1952 S. DUNER SANITARY WATER CLOSET 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

April 20, 1954 DUNER 2,675,562

SANITARY WATER CLOSET Filed Aug. 4, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i 32 37 q 21 J b 22 35 30 1/ Z; 2 7 1 3g INVENTOR 4/ i 35 5M jMZP/Z 26 29 J5 BY Patented Apr. 20, 1954 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE SANITARY WATER CLOSET Sven Duner, Chicago, 111., assignor to Duner Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a water closet for use in moving vehicles such as railway cars. It relates particularly to flushing means for such a closet.

It is the primary object of the new device to keep the water closet sanitary, even upon extended use, with a minimum of first cost and maintenance expense.

The manner in which this is achieved will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment, in connection with the drawing appended hereto. Of course it will be understood that a number of specific features, described and illustrated herein, are shown only to provide a complete and specific description of a preferred embodiment. The scope of the invention should be measured by the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing: 7

Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodlmen hereof.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional elevation of this embodiment.

Figure 3 is an enlarged elevation, in a view generally similar to Figure 2, of details from Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a plan view of such details.

Figure 5 is a section through such details along lines 5-5 in Figure 3.

The apparatus comprises a hopper III which is shown as being integral with a hopper foot ll, mounted by means of a flange 12 on the floor I3 of the railroad car or other vehicle. A double pan mechanism is shown, comprising an upper pan or bowl [4 inside the hopper foot II, adjacent the joint between the hopper foot and the hopper, and a lower pan or draft closure l5 adjacent the bottom of the hopper foot I l. The hopper and the two pans are flushed by the opening of a flush valve l6. For this purpose a lever I 1 actuates suitable mechanism (not shown) to insure the proper sequence of operations, which usually consists in first opening the valve, then closing the lower pan, then opening the upper pan, then closing the flush valve, further closing the upper pan, and finally opening the lower pan.

The upper pan I l forms a bowl-shaped member with an opentop and is held in horizontal position when closed. In said position a downwardly projecting flange 18 forming an integral outlet section of the hopper l0 and inwardly spaced from the hopper foot I l, extends into the pan or bowl [4. A generally annular space I9 is formed between the outside of this flange l8 and the inside of the hopper foot I I. This space is required to accommodate the pan or bowl l4 and the opening and closing movements thereof. However it has been found that this space, and equipment therein, tends to produce unsanitary conditions, upon extended use of the hopper.

In order to allow the opening and closing movements mentioned, the bowl or pan i4 is supported and pivoted by a shaft 20 which is usually installed in a back portion of the space H). For reasons known to the art it is practically necessary that this shaft extends through both side walls of the hopper foot, and through the back portion of the space [9. Outside the hopper, on both sides thereof, the shaft is connected with levers 2|, connected through said mechanism (not shown) with the actuating lever ll. The shaft 20, extending through the space l9, forms an obstruction therein, and provides surfaces for the accumulation of dirt. So does the top edge of the bowl I4.

Theoretically, of course, the entire space 19 and all equipment therein is out of the path of the materials to be flushed out of the hopper. Actually, however, particles of dirt are carried into said space by liquid droplets, sprayed out of the column of flush water descending through the flange l8. Such liquid droplets tend to drift into the space H), and some of them, with dirt carried thereby, tend to deposit on any surfaces of and in that space.

It is important to note that the dirt, causing unsanitary conditions in the space I9, is carried into said space by a mere spray of liquid droplets. Recognition of this fact has led me to the thought that another mere spray, positively induced and suitably directed, is sufiicient to overcome the trouble; in other words, that the cleaning of this space can be achieved by minor amounts of water, formed into a proper spray, while of course the cleaning of the hopper l0 and of the inside of the bowl It requires a solid flushing stream, not a mere spray. I found this confirmed in practice.

I also found it possible to use the valve 16 as a source of flush water in known manner, and additionally as a source of the required spray water; the usual pressure for flushing being sufficient for the new sprayingpurposes, and the newly required amounts of water being minor. Basic features of the walve iii are known from Patents 936,706 and 1,711,635 of J. C. Duner. The valve comprises a generally cylindrical housing 22 secured to the hopper by suitable fastenings 23. One end 24 of the housing is usually connected to a sourc 25 of water under a pressure such as twenty pounds per square inch, and provides a seat for an inlet valve disc 26. At the other end 21 the stem 28 of this valve disc is inserted in the housing 22 through a suitable stuffing box 29. A spring 30 within the housing 22 bears against the end 24 and against a collar 3| on the stem 28 and urges the valve stem and valve into closed position. Well known parts of the mechanism (not shown) actuated by the lever IT are adapted to push the stem 28 against this spring and thus to open the valve. The water from the inlet connection 25 thereupon flows past the valve seat, 24' into the housing 22.

The water leaves the new valve housing 22 through a large outlet 32 and a small outlet 33, both of which extend radially from. said housing. The large outlet 32 leads to the usual flush fitting 34 in the top part of the hopper It". The small outlet connection 33 is connected with the space !9- below the hopper. "r ltdsconnection is effected by a flexible tube: iihjoinedto the valve housing 22 by a conventional tube fitting 36 and to the hopper foo-toy especial spray fitting 31.

The spray fitting 31 has an inlet 32 outside the hopper, connected withthe fiexib-le tube 35 by a conventional tube fitting and at least two outlets 4t and ti inside the space I found it necessary for the purposes described, to use these two outlets 48 and M. I also found this sufficient, with usual water supply conditions. Thus it is possible touse a single compact fitting 31, minimizing the cost of connecting the valve It to the space is.

I further found it desirable to: point the first spray outlet 40 directly againstthe shaft 2!]. While water issues from this outlet All as a more or less compact stream it is converted into. the required spray by impingement against the shaft 20. Since the region of that shaft is the most obstructed and most unwnitary part. of the space l9 I prefer tomake the outlet 4.0; slightly larger than the additional spray outlet. 4|. The latter outlet, by means of conventional tubing 42, is connected w-ith'a part: or the space H closer to the front than-is the shaft 28. De.- sirably, it discharges in a tangential direction as shown. It is also possible to distribute themain part of the spray along the shaft. 211-bp a flared-out construction of the spray outlet Ail, which can be produced for instance by milling out said outlet in the manner suggested by Figures 3 and 5.

A further saving can be achieved byv utilizing the fitting 31 additionally for the known. purpose of carrying away any drip from the valvev 16. The usual drip pan 43 can be connected with the space l9 by a separate: flexible tube 44. connected with the fitting 3.1 by a port 45. Thus the fitting 31 serves as a multiport unit, requiring only a single joint ie between the outside of the fitting and the corresponding opening in thehopper foot H.

In actual practice I found that standard tests of sanitation can be met with the new spray device over much longer service periods than with- 4 out this device; other conditions being equal. For instance the shopping of railroad cars can be effected at intervals wellbeyond one year, when using this spray device. Shorter intervals have given rise to objectionable conditions, without this device. The sanitation of the water closet portion of a railroad car is one of the critical operations in the entire operation of the maintenance shops for passenger cars. It therefore appears that substantial savings in railroad operation are allowed by the simple and inexpensive devices disclosed herein.

I claim:

1. A water closet for a moving vehicle, comprising a hopper; a hopper foot; a downwardly projecting flange of the hopper inside the top part of the hopper foot, forming an annular space in said top part; a bowl having an open top into which the downwardly projecting flange normally projects; a horizontal shaft extending through the back part. oisaidannular space. to support and. tilt said bowl; means: to rock said shaft; a flush valve for said hopper; and bowl; a. connection between said flush valve and the top of said hopper; a. spray fitting. in the. top part of the hopper foot, connected to. the. valvethe. spray fitting. having. a first spray outlet in. said annular space opposite the: shafit. and a; second. spray outlet closer to the. front oi said annular space, said two spray outlets. together, being smaller than said flush connection.

2. Apparatus. as described in claim Ladditionally comprising a drip pan. below said valveand a further connection, comprising said spray fitting, between said drip pan and. said annular space. and providing a. port communia catively connected with said drip pan and said. annular space.

3. A water closet for a moving vehicle, con sisting of a hopper a hopper foot; a. downwardly projecting flange of the hopper inside the: top part of the hopper foot, forming an annular space in said top part; a bowl having; an open top into which the downwardly proi cting, flange normally projects; a. horizontal shatt. extending through the back part of said annular spaeeto, support and tilt said bowl;- means to rock said shaft; a flush valve for said hopper and bowl; a connection between said flush valve. and. the top of said hopper; a spray fitthiga in the: top part of the hopper foot, connectedto the valve,, the. spray fitting having a fiarediacle and providing a first spray outlet in said .annular space opposite the shaft and providing a: second tangentially directed spray outlet. closer to the: front of said.v annular space, said. twospray cute: lets, together, being. smaller than said flush. connection.

References Cited in. the file of this. patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS:

Number Name Date 525,104 Herrick Aug; 28; 1894 1,256,320 Holmes Feb. 12,, 1918 1,290,615 McGary Jan. '7, 1 919 1,292,146 Taylor Jan. 21, 19"19' 1,613,849 Riegel Jan. 11, I927

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