US3098144A

US3098144A - Sewage disposal apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3098144A
Application number: US117228A
Authority: US
Inventors: Emmett O Dale
Original assignee: Airstream Inc
Current assignee: Airstream Inc
Priority date: 1961-06-15
Filing date: 1961-06-15
Publication date: 1963-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 1980-07-16

Description

United States Patent 3,098,144 SEWAGE DISPOSAL APPARATUS Emmett 0. Dale, Sidney, Ohio, assignor to Airstream, Inc, Jackson Center, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Filed June 15, 1961, Ser. No. 117,228 1 Claim. (Cl. 219-19) This invention relates to a sewage disposal apparatus and his particular applicability to such an apparatus as applied to self-contained toilets such as are customarily found in house trailers, boats, and similar localities where connection to a sewage system is difficult or impossible.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an electrically powered sewage burner incorporating a blower, and a catalyzer grid for removing offensive odors.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of this invention, it may here be pointed out that mechanical sealed toilet bowls and toilet bowl stands have been utilized in trailers or the like for many years. An object of the instant invention is the provision, in association with such a standard mechanical toilet, of a small tank provided with an electrical burner grid, which will hold approximately five gallons of sewage, and which may be operated at a desired time and place in order to dispose of the sewage in the tank.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a burner .or disposal unit of this character which does not necessitate the employment of separate containers, or a separate bowl, as utilized in previously known items but wherein the sewage is dropped directly into a tank, and burned in the same tank.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a thermal cut-out switch in association with such a device which will preclude the overheating of the electric grid in such manner as to prevent the passage of undue heat to the toilet stand or bowl.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means in association with such a device whereby the toilet may be connected to a standard sewer when such is available.

Still other objects reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic view, partially in section, of a disposal unit constructed in accordance with the instant invention applied to a standard mechanical toilet.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the valve assembly of the toilet.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having reference now to the drawings in detail, there is generally indicated at a standard mechanical toilet bowl which is provided with an outlet 11 which is sealed by a valve member 12. The valve member 12 is mounted on a valve stem 13 which in turn is carried by an arm 14 which is provided exteriorly of the bowl with a pivotal connection 18 to a rod 19. The rod 19 in turn is pivotally secured as at 20 to an operating lever 21 which is pivoted to the bowl as at 22, and which is provided with a foot pedal 23. Upon depression of the toot pedal 23 the valve is moved from the position shown in full lines in FIG. 1 to the dotted line position of FIG. 2 dumping the contents through a suitable opening in the floor 24 of the trailer or the like. Beneath the opening in the floor there is provided a tank generally indicated at 25, which is preferably enclosed in an insulated case 26, and which is provided with an outlet 27 which is normally closed by a plate 28 and screen 29, the latter being pivoted as at 30 to permit opening when it is desired to connect the outlet 27 to a standard sewage disposal system. The lower portion of the tank 25 contains an electric grid 31 which 3,698,144 Patented July 16, 1963 is supplied with power through

lines

32 and 33 which extend to a conventional electric timer 34 which in turn is supplied with power through

lines

35 and 36. An air blower 37 is also provided driven by an electric motor 38 which in turn is supplied with power through lines 39 and 40 which are connected to a thermal switch to be more fully described hereinafter.

From blower 38 a pipe 41 extends to an air inlet 42 in the base of the toilet bowl below the valve 12, the air thence being directed over the grid 31 through the opening in the floor 24. An escape line 46 is provided through which air, together with the gases of combustion from the burning sewage, escapes through an electrical catalyzer 47, to a suitable outlet 43. Catalyzer 47 is energized through

wires

49 and 50, which wires are connected respectively to the wires 39 and 40. It is noted that catalyzer 47 is located above the toilet flood level to induce a convection draft in the exhaust stack 46 s-uflicient to create an air circulation through the air intake 41 to the burning tank 25 and out the exhaust stack 46. Under such conditions the blower can be eliminated or turned off except under exceptional conditions.

In some instances the residual heat in the burner 31 may be greater than in the catalyzer and if both are turned off at the same time an undesirable reverse flow may be set up. In order to obviate this a conventional time delay switch (not shown) may be provided in the catalyzer so that it will continue to retain heat until the main burner 31 has cooled off.

A thermal switch 52 is provided interiorly of the tank, and is connected by means of lines 53 and 54 to the lines 3Q and 40 so that a circuit may be established to the blower 37 and the catalyzer 47 independently of the circuit to the grid 31. The circuit is completed through wires 55 and 56 which extend respectively to the

power wires

35 and 36 in advance of the timer, so that when the main burner element is cut off by the timer, the blower and catalyzer will continue to operate for a reasonable period of time.

In the use and operation of the device when it becomes desirable to dispose of the material held in the tank, the timer switch is turned to the position which corresponds roughly to the amount of material in the tank. The grid 31 is immediately energized, it being pointed out that the burner element is of the conventional resistor type such as used in an electric range, but of the submersible kind, which in turn raises the temperature of the material in tank 25 and the air space thereabove. Air from the blower is introduced immediately under the toilet seat thus maintaining the toilet seat in cool condition and circulated over the top of the sewage material and out through the exhaust line 46. This elevation of temperature within the tank 25 causes normally open thermal switch 52 to close thus completing the circuit to blower 37 and catalyzer grid 47. As the material is brought to a boil the vapors are carried oii through the exhaust system and over the catalyzer grid 47, which is of conventional stainless steel nickel material which changes the molecular structure of the exhaust to render the odors inoffensive.

After the liquid is boiled off, the solids are deposited out on the surface of the burner element 31, and thus begin to char and burn. It is probable that this material would never burst into open flame, but is reduced to a fine ash by charring. The air from the blower is continually forced over the fluids and solids during the cycle carrying otf the vapor and exhaust smoke through the catalyzer grid 47.

When the timer switch shuts off the main burner element through the lines 32 and 63, the blower 37 and the catalyzer 47 continue to run since power is drawn through the thermal switch 52 in the above-described lines, until a thermal switch 52 cools sufliciently to return to its normally open position, thus de-energizing both the blower 37 and the catalyzer 47. This also prevents residual heat from creeping up into the toilet control valve and otherwise possibly damaging wiring or the rubber in the valve and the sealing member of the valve.

From the foregoing it is now apparent that there is herein provided an improved (lCClIlC powered burning sewage disposal apparatus which accomplishes all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that all material herein is to be interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

In a sewage disposal apparatus, the combination of a mechanical sealed toilet bowl stand, a tank underlying said stand, a burner grid in said tank, a mechanical timer switch, an electrical connection between said timer switch and said burner grid, a blower, an air connection between said blower and said tank, an exhaust vent, an electrical catalyzer in said exhaust vent, a thermal switch in said tank, an electrical connection between said thermal switch and said blower, an electrical connection between said thermal switch and said catalyzcr, said thermal switch being maintained in an open condition below a predetermined temperature and closing when heated above said predetermined temperature.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,290,615 McGary Jan. 7, 1919 2,732,564 Potts Jan. 31, 1956 2,771,533 Osberg Nov. 20, 1956 2,808,495 Cole Oct. 1, 1957 2,823,626 Raucher Feb. 18, 1958 2,855,494 Kuebler Oct. 7, 1958 2,862,095 Scofield Nov. 25, 1958 3,020,559 Blankenship et al. Feb. 13, 1962