US3195149A - Apparatus for chlorination of toilet disposal - Google Patents

Description

y 1965 G. R. CARLSON 3,195,149

APPARATUS FOR GHLORINATION OF TOILET DISPOSAL Filed Dec. 18, 1962 INVENTOR 6057/; me A. Gmusmv /7 TTOR/Vf Y United States Patet 3,195,149 APPARATUS F621 CHLQRINATHEN @F TQTLET DESPUSAL Gustave R. Carlson, Metuchen, NJ; Margit N. arlson, executrier of said Gustave R. Carlson, deceased Filed Dec. 18, 1962, Ser. No. assess 11 iairns. (til. i-lil) This invention relates to an apparatus or what might be termed a system for caring for chlorination of discharges from a toilet in maintaining desired sanitation, particularly in discharges from boats, vessels or the like to avoid polluted conditions in discharges into waterways, such as lakes, rivers, streams, bays and the like. More particularly, the invention deals with an apparatus and/ or system employing manual and automatic controls for eilicient operation of the apparatus or system in any use to which it may be installed.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 of the drawing shows a diagrammatic arrangement of the apparatus or system, with parts of the respective units being illustrated in section or in part section; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged section on the line 22 of FIG. 1, omitting part of the structure.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of my invention, I have shown in FIG. 1 of the drawing the five primary units of the apparatus or system, namely the toilet unit 10, the chlorinator or treatment unit 11, the injector unit 12, the chlorine flow valve unit 13 and the chlorine or other chemical storage unit 14. At 15 is indicated what might be termed a signal station, constituting part of the apparatus.

The unit 19 comprises a toilet bowl, diagrammatically seen at 16, having a water inlet, as at 17, controlled by a solenoid valve 18, one circuit wire of which is indicated at 19 and the return to the battery or other source of electric supply is indicated at 20. At this time, it is pointed out that, in all future reference to battery return, it will be apparent that this can be to any source of electrical supply, depending entirely upon the use or installation of the apparatus or system.

Also in the inlet pipe 17 is a water pump inlet 21 through which water passes when the solenoid valve 18 is actuated to admit water into the bowl through the pipe 22. At 23 is shown a pump actuated by a manually operated lever 24 pivoted, as seen at 25, and to which the rod of the piston actuating the pump 23 is coupled, as seen at 26. The lever 24 includes, at its end, a handgrip portion 24'. The discharge of the pump 23 or, in other words, the waste discharge from the bowl 16, is indicated at 27 and in this discharge is arranged a backwater check valve, as diagrammatically seen at 28, Extending from the discharge 27 is a pipe, diagrammatically illustrated by dotdash lines at 29, which extends to a lower inlet 39 of the tank 31 of the chlorinator unit 11. The upper and lower walls 32 and 33 of the tank have suitable bracket means, as at 32, 33', for mounting of the tank on a suitable support. Suitably coupled with the bottom wall 33 is an electric motor 34, having circuit wires 35 and 36,the latter extending to the battery, the motor actuating a macerator device 37 arranged in the lower inlet section 38 of the tank 31. The section 38 is divided from an outlet section 39 by a perforated screen at) to maintain the larger particles in the inlet section during the treatment thereof. Suitably coupled with the wall 32 and extending into the outlet section 39 is a pipe 41, an extension to which is diagrammatically illustrated by dot-dash lines at 41,

djdhdd Patented July 20, 1965 ice appear that the pipe 41 extends partially into the upperend of the stand pipe 44. As clearly noted in FIG. 1 of the drawing, the upper surface of the pipe 42 has, at opposed sides of the stand pipe, discharge openings 42' and the one end of the pipe 42 includes a closure cap 42".

Considering FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing, it will be apparent that the inlet includes an extension 30' which passes into the section 38, the extension being open at one side, as clearly seen at Call" in FIG. 2 of the drawing, and integral with or otherwise coupled with 30 is an annular conical bailie portion 45 arranged centrally with respect to the stand pipe 42 and substantially enveloping the lower discharge end of the same, the baflle 45 having a discharge opening 45' directly above the fan or macerator device 37. The battle 45 includes a rounded extension 45" disposed at the upper end of 30 for directing the flow of the waste material from the toilet into the lower section 38 and out through the open side of 30', as will be clearly apparent from a consideration of FIG. 2, to bedirected to the fan 37.

When the fan or macerator is in operation, it will be apparent that a whirling-type flow will prevail up around the battle and downwardly through the opening 45' in operation of the treatment unit 11. It will be understood that the waste pipe 43, when the system is applied to boats, will discharge into the water from the boat.

The iniector unit 12 comprises an inverted cup-shaped casing 46, within which is arranged a rubber or other diaphragm 4'? supported on the casing by an inlet housing 48, into which chlorine or other chemical is introduced, as indicated at 49. Coupled with the inlet 49 is a pipe, illustrated in dot-dash lines at 50, which extends to an inlet and outlet coupling 51 on the casing 52 of the chlorinator flow valve unit 13.

Supported in the upper portion of the casing 46 is a flow control switch 53, having inlet and outlet actuators, as at 54 and 55. Another switch 56 is also supported in the casing and has a start and stop actuator 57. Extending from the switch 56 is a circuit wire 58, which couples with wires 19 and 35, as seen at 59, and at 60 is shown a circuit wire, which extends to battery. Also coupled with the wire 35 is a wire 61, which extends to the signal station 15 supporting an electric bulb, as diagrammatically seen at 62, and from the station 15 extends a wire 63 to the battery. The bulb 62 can be of any desired color, preferably red, to denote improper functioning of the apparatus or system, as and when this bulb continues to signal for an undue length of time. Slidably mounted in the casing 46 is a plunger or operating rod 64, having an enlarged knob or head 65 facilitating manual operation by the foot or otherwise. 1 Coupled with the plunger 64 within the casing 46 is a switch operating cup-shaped element 66, which constitutes part of a coupling for engagement with the diaphram 47, as diagrammatically illustrated. The diaphram 47, together with the plunger 64, is normally retained in the position illustrated by a coil spring 67 suitably coupled or fixed to the casing 46 and the element 66 and this spring serves to assist in return of the plunger 4 to its normal raised position, as shown. The admission of the chlorine or other chemical into the housing 48 and casing 46 controls primarily the return of the plunger to normal position.

The casing 52 of the unit 13 includes an inlet coupling 68 in opposed relationship to the outlet coupling 13" and the pipe between the two couplings includes a T- coupling 69 coupled with the coupling 51. Between 68 and 69 is arranged an inlet solenoid flow control valve 70 and between 13' and 69 is arranged a similar outlet valve 71. Coupled with the valve 70 is a circuit wire 72 which extends to the switch 53 and a similar circuit wire 73 extends from the valve 71 to the switch 53, both valves 70 and 7 1 being grounded to the battery, as at 74 and 75.

The chlorine or chemical storage'unit 14 includes a container 76 supported by a bracket housing 77, the container being preferably of transparent or translucent material, so that a gauge opening in 77, as indicated at 78 can indicate the level of chlorine in the container for timely replacement by removing a vented cap 79. Attached with the container 76 is a discharge coupling 89 and extending from the coupling to the coupling 68 of the unit 13 is a pipe, as diagrammatically illustrated in dot-dash lines at 81. apparatus or system will be readily understood from the foregoing detailed description and the following statement.

In the first place, it will be apparent that there are two cycles of operation, namely the mechanical and the automatic or electric control. The system is normally filled with fluid at least to the extent required, including the pipes or other connections between the respective units. After human waste has been deposited in the bowl 16, the plunger 64 of the unit 12 will be depressed.

Instantaneously, the two actuators 55 and 57, which.

will be spring pressed, -Will be released to close the circuit through the switches 53 and 56 to actuate the motor 34, illuminate the bulb 62 and actuate the solenoid valve 18. At the same time, the outlet solenoid valve 71 will be actuated, permitting discharge of the chemical from the unit 12 through the pipes 41-53 into the lower section 38 of the unit 11. The above downward pressure on the plunger 64 continues until the head 65 strikes the actuator 54. The toilet. pump 23 is actuated to discharge the waste from the bowl into the unit 11, thus. completing the second phase of the manual operations which are performed.

During the two phases of the manual cycle, the opening of the valve 71 permits a measured amount of the treatment chemical portion to be discharged from the measuring chamber in the unit 12 into the unit 11. This operation raises the chemical concentration of the chlorinator slightly before injection of the free waste into the unit 11 and action of the macerator 37 by means of the motor 34 will hasten the uniform mixing of the treatment chemical solution with the contents of the unit 11. Upon completing the operation of the pump 23, it will be understood that the hackwater check valve 28 will prevent return of the waste to the unit 10.

In connection with the discharge of the waste through the valve 28, it will be understood that this valve will operate to a degree to apply a squeezing action upon the solid particles and, accordingly, assist in functioning of the unit 11. The operation of the macerator 37 will continue during such time as the motor 23 remains in operation. During the above stage of the operation, it will be understood that treated solution in the unit 11 has been discharge through the pipe 43. It Will further be apparent that the use of the screen 40 prevents any of the solid untreated waste from passing directly into the outlet section 39 of the unit 11; whereas, the bafile 45 provides the desired flow in accelerating the break-up of the solids and action of the treatment chemical. In the discharge from the unit 11 through the pipe 43, it will be understood that the pipe 42 will control and prevent any return flow back into the unit 11. after the pump 23 has ceased to operate.

By discharging the treatment chemical from 41 directly into 44 and directly over the macerator device 37, a more The function and operation of the thorough mixture of the chemical with the discharge into the section 38 will be accomplished.

In the above cycle of operation of depressing the plunger 64, as and when the head 65 strikes the actuator 54 of the switch 53, the circuit to the solenoid valve 71 will automatically be closed and the circuit to the solenoid valve 70 opened to allow the chemical treatment solu-' tion in the container 76 to pass downwardly through the pipe 81 and thenthr-ough the pipe 56 into the measuring chamber of unit 12, which operation causes the plunger 64 to raise by action of the fluid upon the diaphragm 47. A special size of orifice will be provided in the coupling 8%) to control the return of flow and, accordingly, the upward movement of the plunger 64 which is assisted to a slight degree by the spring 67. This return of flow determines the period of time for the treatment cycle in unit 11 to take place, which treatment cycle is checked as and when the element 66 on the plunger strikes and operates the actuators 55 and 57 to stop the motor 34 and to close the solenoid valve 70. It will also be understood, at this time, that the previously ignited bulb 62 will cease to. be illuminated, which will signal that the cycle of operation has been successfully completed. If this bulb remains illuminated, notice is then given that something has not properly functioned in the system and an appropriate check would be made. Otherwise, the system is now ready for a further operation, as noted above.

It will be understood that the showing in the accompanying drawing is schematic and no proportions as to relative sizes are to be considered; for example, the unit 14 will have a capacity to handle numerous operations of the apparatus or system before replacement of the chemical in the container 76. In some instances, one unit, as at 14, can be of suifiicient capacity to supply several operations of the unit 11 11, 12 and 13.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A chlorination apparatus of the character defined, comprising a series of spaced units, namely a toilet bowl unit, a treatment unit, an injector unit, a flow valve unit and a chemical storage unit, a'pipe placing the bowl unit in communication with said treatment unit, a pipe plac ing the injector unit in communication with the flow valve unit, a pipe placing the chemical storage unit in communication with the flow valve 'unit, a pipe placing the flow valve unit in communication with the treatment unit, said flow valve unit having'a pair of electrically actuated valve means for controlling flow of a chemical from said chemical storage unit to the injector unit and from said injector unit to said treatment unit through said valve unit, said injector unit including two. switches, one switch having a pair of actuators, the other switch having a single actuator, a plunger operating in the injector unit for actuating means controlling discharge of chemical from the injector unit into said treatment unit, said plunger having means operatively engaging the actuators of said switches to control operation of said valve means of said flow valve unit in controlling delivery of a chemical to the injector unit and discharge of chemical from said injector'unit into said treatment unit, a motor actuated macerator in said treatment unit actuated by one of the switches in said injector unit, the toilet bowl unit having a water intake, a solenoid valve controlling said intake and actuated by said last named switch, a pump at the toilet bowl unit for discharge of waste material from the bowl of said unit into said treatment unit through the pipe placing the bowl unit in communication with the treatment unit, and a back Water check valve in said last named pipe adjacent the bowl of said toilet bowl unit.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said treatment unit comprises a tank, screening means dividing said tank into a lower inlet section and an upper outlet section, and said macerator being arranged in and operating in the inlet section of said unit.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a signal station is in circuit with the second named switch of said injector unit so as to be actuated during the full operation of the macerator of the treatment unit and the solenoid valve of the toilet bowl unit.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the chemical storage unit includes means gauging contents of the chemical in the container of said unit.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the pump of said toilet bowl unit includes means for manual actuation thereof.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said injector unit includes a diaphragm actuated by the plunger of said unit in introduction of the chemical into said injector unit.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the injector unit includes tensional means assisting movement of the plunger in one direction.

8. In chlorination apparatus of the character described, a toilet bowl unit having inlet conduit means, a treatment unit into which discharge from said toilet bowl unit is adapted to be passed, said treatment unit comprising a tank divided by screening means into a lower inlet section and an upper outlet section, a discharge for said outlet section, said treatment unit including electrically actuated means for agitating the waste delivered to the inlet section of said unit by discharge conduit means from the toilet bowl unit in the operation of discharge from the toilet bowl unit, means for delivering a measured quantity of treatment chemical solution from a source of supply, first into the upper section and then into the central portion of the inlet section of said treatment unit directly above and adjacent said agitating means, and said toilet bowl unit having pump means for controlling the discharge therefrom through said discharge conduit means to said treatment unit.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein manually actuated means closes an electric circuit to said electrically actuated agitating means, the inlet conduit means of said toilet bowl unit including a solenoid valve in said circuit and actuated simultaneously with actuation of the agitating means of said treatment unit, said means for delivering the measured quantity of treatment chemical solution to said lower inlet section comprising an ejector unit including a plunger actuated diaphragm, and a switch in said circuit and on the injector unit actuated by means on said plunger to control the circuit to the solenoid valve of said toilet bowl unit and agitator means of said treatment unit.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein a flow control unit is employed in conduit means between said treatment unit and said injector unit, said flow control unit having a pair of valves, said injector unit including a second switch actuated by said means on the plunger in controlling operation of said pair of valves on said flow control unit for controlling said delivery of chemical solution to said injector unit and then from said injector unit to said treatment unit.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein the circuit to the first named switch includes a signal station indicating proper functioning of the apparatus.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,005,075 10/1 1 Rosenstock 4-222 1,996,325 4/35 Cox 4-10 2,337,203 12/43 Marple 210-86 XR 2,678,914 5/54 Kalinske 210-219 2,785,638 3/57 Moller 103-227 XR 2,792,974 5/57 Smith et a1 222-383 XR 2,858,939 11/58 Corliss 210-152 XR 2,951,251 9/60 Belden 4-10 3,012,675 12/61 Phelps et a1 210-86 3,044,077 7/62 Belden 4-10 3,094,247 6/63 Marchi 22276 XR HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

REUBEN FRIEDMAN, HERBERT L. MARTIN,

Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. A CHLORINATION APPARATUS OF THE CHARACTER DEFINED, COMPRISING A SERIES OF SPACED UNITS, NAMELY A TOILET BOWL UNIT, A TREATMENT UNIT, AN INJECTOR UNIT, A FLOW VALVE UNIT AND A CHEMICAL STORAGE UNIT, A PIPE PLACING THE BOWL UNIT IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID TREATMENT UNIT, A PIPE PLACING THE INJECTOR UNIT IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE FLOW VALVE UNIT, A PIPE PLACING THE CHEMICAL STORAGE UNIT IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE FLOW VALVE UNIT, A PIPE PLACING THE FLOW VALVE UNIT IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE TREATMENT UNIT, SAID FLOW VALVE UNIT HAVING A PAIR OF ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED VALVE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING FLOW OF A CHEMICAL FROM SAID CHEMICAL STORAGE UNIT TO THE INJECTOR UNIT AND FROM SAID INJECTOR UNIT TO SAID TREATMENT UNIT THROUGH SAID VALVE UNIT, SAID INJECTOR UNIT INCLUDING TWO SWITCHES, ONE SWITCH HAVING A PAIR OF ACTUATORS, THE OTHER SWITCH HAVING A SINGLE ACTUATOR, A PLUNGER OPERATING IN THE INJECTOR UNIT FOR ACTUATING MEANS CONTROLLING DISCHARGE OF CHEMICAL FROM THE INJECTOR UNIT INTO SAID TREATMENT UNIT, SAID PLUNGER HAVING MEANS OPERATIVELY ENGAGING THE ACTUATORS OF SAID SWITCHES TO CONTROL OPERATION OF SAID VALVE MEANS OF SAID FLOW VALVE UNIT IN CONTROLLING DELIVERY OF A CHEMICAL TO THE INJECTOR UNIT AND DISCHARGE OF CHEMICAL FROM SAID INJECTOR UNIT INTO SAID TREATMENT UNIT, A MOTOR ACTUATED MACERATOR IN SAID TREATMENT UNIT ACTUATED BY ONE OF THE SWITCHES IN SAID INJECTOR UNIT, THE TOILET BOWL UNIT HAVING A WATER INTAKE, A SOLENOID VALVE CONTROLLING SAID INTAKE AND ACTUATED BY SAID LAST NAMED SWITCH, A PUMP AT THE TOILET BOWL UNIT FOR DISCHARGE OF WASTE MATERIAL FROM THE BOWL OF SAID UNIT INTO SAID TREATMENT UNIT THROUGH THE PIPE PLACING THE BOWL UNIT IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE TREATMENT UNIT, AND A BACK WATER CHECK VALVE IN SAID LAST NAMED PIPE ADJACENT THE BOWL OF SAID TOILET BOWL UNIT.

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